A strange arrival and flash from my past

[masonsailor2]

I had an unexpected arrival yesterday. 35 years ago my wife and I were expecting our first child and at the same time we were also building our first house. We were living in a 30' travel trailer with a wooden deck out front which was about 50 yards from the house site. I was working the local ER from 1500-2330 and building the house from about 0700 until 1330 and all days off. My only stationary tool was a Mark V which we had purchased new in 1979 with the band saw , jointer and belt sander. I made the decision that I wanted to build a cradle for her to come home to so I took a few days off building the house and built a cradle. The push was to get the house done before the birth but it became apparent that was definitely not going to happen. The SS and everything else was being stored on the deck under a tarp. Anyway that's the story of the cradle. After my daughter out grew it we didn't really have a place to store it and my sister in law was expecting so we gave her the cradle. After her son outgrew it it was around in their house for a while and then she gave it to a friend who was expecting and that was the last time anyone in the family saw it. Now 35 years later my daughter is expecting our first grandson. My sister in law, without telling us, went on a quest to find it and using Facebook etc and about six months work later she actually located it. Unbelievable. It was in the care of a family in Columbus GA. From what we can tell it has passed hands numerous times to end up there. It was shipped here and arrived Sat in a box and was a total suprise. Tears were definitely flowing. It is not ours to keep. I will strip it down and refinish it as it definitely shows it's years but when we are done we have agreed to return it to them. They graciously have agreed to allow us to use it anytime in the future as needed for our family. They were not willing to sell it.
Paul

[algale]

Great story! And a beautiful crib. Your work is always a cut above!

[JPG]

I see your wife's influence even back then.

[masonsailor2]

The baby shower was today and the refinished cradle was delivered. I had to grind it down to bear wood and then it has 6 coats of Watco for finish. I also had to make a new knob for the stop as the original was lost.
Paul

[BuckeyeDennis]

What a wonderful story, Paul! Was it a surprise for your daughter at the shower, or did she already know about it?

[JPG]

Beautiful and well done as usual! Is the 'knob' laser etched?

Orion???

[Gene Howe]

Wow, Paul. Quite a neat story and, what a 35 year journey for that gorgeous cradle.

[rjent]

What an amazing story. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Were you born an expert woodworker LOL, that is a stunning piece! ....

[masonsailor2]

No my daughter knew all about it. No suprise there. The knob was laser etched. I turned the mahogany knob with a recess in it and then turned a piece of bubinga to fit in the recess. Laser etching works best in hard woods and end grain. Then I just sliced off a wafer and glued it in. That way I had a couple of tries with the fit. What you are not able to see is I also had a brass plate made with my daughters name and birthdate and my grandson to be's name and room for the birthdate. I was forbidden to show a picture of it due to full name and date of birth.
Paul

[masonsailor2]

Oh and his name is Orion.