I can’t see tools without thinking of my husband Bob who had every tool on earth. Here is a poem I wrote about him. It’s been on my blog before so hope this is acceptable. Click on this link to read the poem: https://judydykstrabrown.com/2016/11/27/you-have-become-the-art-you-lived-for/
Here is a photo of him at his happiest, in the studio creating:
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
Am I in error to assume that some of Bob’s art materials were hazardous? I know that in recent years I’ve grown much more careful with what I use. I know people in boatbuilding who can’t go near a boat building shop that used epoxy, because they were less than cautious with it over the years and now have a severe sensitivity. It’s true art can hurt you.
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I know that it was epoxy resin that killed him. He used it to fuse the wood and metal and stone and then would carve afterwards to make the joins perfect. He would sometimes bring the sculptures into the house to dry in front of the wood stove and the whole house would fill with the smell of the epoxy. I finally put an end to this practice–very quickly, actually. He had a very expensive ventilation system installed with tubes to all of his saws and drills, etc. but I don’t think he used it after the first month or so. He’d wear a mask when working with redwood but got reckless even there. And the big barrel of solution he soaked wood in to make it fireproof was caustic as well. In the frenzy of creation, he would just get reckless. We had a lifesized cardboard cutout of him at his memorial wearing an “Art Can’t Hurt You” Tshirt. It was an in joke as we were all sure it had in his case.
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a big part of my move to make the greenhouse the primary workshop was safety – all finishing gets down outside , except for stuff like mineral oil and wax. I got rid of the worst the stuff, and never use epoxy anymore.
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Good for you. Bob spent almost all his time doing art or traveling to sell it for the 14 years of our marriage. He absolutely loved it and I know was so happy to be doing it full time and not having to teach, so I guess he lived life as he wished so happy he had these years.
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❤️ Lovely to revisit that smile.
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Nothing like tools to make a guy smile!!!
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Nothing like tools to make a guy smile!!! So true, dear.
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Thank you for sharing this poignant memory Judy. Sometimes the things we love can bring agony and pain for us.
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Pingback: WDYS # 154 -A Roundup post – Keep it alive
Of course this is more than acceptable. A fine tribute poem as muscular as the man
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Lovely dedication. KL ❤
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