Held this year during the "Gathering of Woodcarvers"
East Sandwich Fairgrounds, Illinois
September 15-20, 2008
Our "Mini Jackstock" was attended by Mush, Barb, Mary, Tom and Kate. Carving or art classes were available and attended by all carvers, while the non carvers relaxed in the shade.
The instructors at the GOW were excellent and if we didn’t learn anything, that meant we didn’t attend any of the sessions. It was well organized and worth attending if you get a chance.
If we were bored, we could always walk over to the fence by the bleachers and watch them training the pacers. I have always enjoyed watching horses.
We picked up some new friends and are making plans to return another year.
The paved fairground roads where we camped were convenient to the work area because of the wet conditions of the fields where we would have had to camp, otherwise. It would have been a long walk if we had parked in the “back forty”.
’09 is going to be at Doug’s place in Michigan and that’s convenient for me, being just the next state over.
Jackstock is always a pleasant experience, no matter where it is, and we always have a good time. Hope to see you at the next one!
Mary
Jackstock was a little different this time. But different isn't necessarily a bad thing. It was nice to meet
so many other carvers, and to again get to see some I hadn't seen in many years. Although we were among
a multitude of people, we were able to "hang out" with our Jackstock gang as well. We had the pleasure of
making some new acquaintances...Denny and Diane Bell and their two pups were our neighbors. I got to teach for a
couple of days, which is always fun for me. And I took a class on carving Celtic Love Spoons...something I have
wanted to do for a long time. Barb, Mary and I spent one night taking a drawing class with Joe Dillet...lots
of giggles there! :)
Thanks to Mary and Tom, I had a tent to sleep in, and thanks to Barb, a nice, comfy air bed. I spent the first night
with Joe and Sharon Dillett...what delightful people!!! I am really dreading flying. Again my luggage didn't make
the connections and arrived the following day. That scenario is getting a little OLD!!!
We got there just after some of the worst rains and flooding to hit that area. Roads were closed and the camping
area we were supposed to be in was under water. That turned out to be lucky for us, since we ended up much
closer to where all the activities were. The weather for the rest of the week was great!
As always, the best part of the week was getting to spend time with our little "family"...Barb, Mary, Tom, and Kate.
We missed all of you who were not able to make it. Maybe next year? I hope so.
"Home"
