An Artist at Work

By Julia
Wanaka, New Zealand

  Besides being a world-class BS artist, our WWOOFing host Bernie is also a very talented woodworker.  In his earlier days he made a living teaching the art of woodturning and selling his pieces at craft shows.  Nowadays he still turns as a hobby and gives his work away as gifts.

Bernie turning a pepper grinder

Bernie's insignia 

  A few days ago I asked Bernie if he might consider making Tom and I a pair of salt and pepper shakers.  He warned that in exchange for such items he would have to "work us to the bone" on the farm.  In reality, he insisted that the shakers were an early wedding present.  

  Part of the fun was watching Bernie transform a block of wood into a functional piece of art.  It is a meticulous process that must have taken years to master, but he makes it look so easy.

  Bernie made our shakers from reclaimed Rimu wood, a tree native to New Zealand.  Check out the gorgeous grain in the wood!  Since he's such a softie at heart, he surprised us with a matching bowl yesterday. "Since Young Fella (Bernie's nickname for Tom) eats so many damn pistachio nuts, I thought he'd need a bowl for them," he justified.  

Our first wedding gift!

  We celebrated our last nights with Bernie and Anne by enjoying a fantastic crayfish dinner.  The crayfish, a cousin of the lobster, came fresh from the coast that very day.  It was delicious!

Anne made delicious sides to go with the crayfish

  Tomorrow we say goodbye to our goat friends as well as Anne and Bernie.  We will spend a few days winding up the West Coast to our next farmstay in Karamea.  That is, if the car makes it....