Bending the Box

Guess I'm one among millions who appreciate the simplicity of

Shaker style, and who doesn't love the quintessential

oval box. So when I became aware of an opportunity

to be in a workshop to make my own oval box

while living not too far from the once-vibrant 

Canterbury Shaker Village farm operation,

how could I resist?

Three weeks ago, on a Saturday, I drove the 35 minutes

to Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire - 

luckily well within our Mission boundaries - 

to be taught, and shown, and also

to FEEL what it is like to create an oval #3 box

in the fashion that the Shakers have done.

(This quote is from a different historic location.)

As this informational page below outlines,

the Shakers were all about simplicity and usefulness.

They envisioned, then created, then improved upon

the oval box container, using them as we might

employ 'Tupperware' plastic containers today,

to keep and store almost anything except liquids.

The lids were made to fit tightly to keep contents safe.

Here is the historic Brethren's Shop building at

the Canterbury historical village site, where the oval box

class was held. We were in one of the classroom

workshops on the second floor, on the right of this shot,

but on the backside of the building.

This informational sheet describes the building.

It was part of the rich experience to be sitting,

and listening, and watching and working inside.

Long after the Shakers lived and worked here,

others who knew the wood craft have built

objects including oval boxes for sale 

in the Village's gift shop.

 This is the 'looking south' view from the workshop room.

You can see the belt sander, and the stack of fitting forms

for the various sizes of oval boxes that were regularly built.

With total practicality in mind, the boxes with lids in place were 

sized so they could be 'nested' or stacked inside each other

when not in use, to maximize precious living space.

Practical simplicity is what we remember Shakers for,

but it is NOT tied to their religious tenets, interestingly.

This is Dick Bennett, our instructor, who has a long

history as docent, instructor and friend of the Village.

Here he is laying out the pre-cut body and lid cherry strips.

The overlap fingers were roughly cut out before we

started, but we refined and trimmed the 'fingers' of each

that are part of the classic oval box design,

using sharp art knife-style blades.

A slight bevel was trimmed from 

the shaped edge of each finger, as the first step.

Next, the strips were thinned on the upper side

 of the inside butt ends, and on the underside

of the fingers ends using a belt sander.

This step is important to assist the overlap transition, 

with shaping done about 3-4" in from ends only.

After the "thinning", the strips were marked with

penciled initials, then placed inside this copper

basin filled with hot water and oxalic acid for

a 40 minute soak. The water softens the wood 

just enough, and the acid protects

the wood from losing its beautiful cherry coloring. 

The box rests on top of the small electric stove

which was the source of the heat for the acid bath.

After the soak, the base strip is immediately taken

to the two-part (connected) shaping form,

shown here in the vice clamp on the end of Dick's

work bench. The base strip butt end

is positioned at topside center, then carefully and

slowly formed around the shape with controlled

hand pressure, with the base released as needed

to continue to shape the fingers end, then

the two ends brought back together with butt end under,

and the body band is 'snugged' in as tight as possible.

Without letting go, eight tiny copper nails were positioned

and hammered to hold the formed wood strip

together. The nails are short enough that they

only penetrate the depth of the two layers,

and don't really penetrate into the interior.

After the body, the lid rim is formed in similar manner

right on top of the body strip that is still in place,

EXCEPT the lid must be marked with alignment ticks

so that it can be removed from around base, 

taken to the nearby anvil, where the oval ring

is reformed according to the overlap marks so that

 four tiny nails can be tacked in place to hold it.

 Once body and lid ovals are formed, 

the key that holds the form together

is pulled out, the form collapsed together slightly

which allows the box body strips to be

carefully worked off. The lid rim is re-fit onto the body

in prep for the next drying steps.

Each student stepped up to the workbench

and (in front of the other students) repeated the bending,

forming, nailing process. I was second, and

as I got to the lid rim steps, my strip, which had

a defect that was mostly invisible, could not

take the bending pressure and snapped in two.

All the guys and Dick felt sorry for me. 

(Did I mention I was the only woman?)

 But since this is a fairly common challenge,

and is a great object lesson, I didn't mind.

(We quickly repeated the prep steps, including

the soaking while we took an exercise break.)

The final step before drying is to fit a separate

top and bottom oval form into the shaped hull

to prevent it from warping as it dries.

Here, Dick fits these into the sample box.

 Here below is my box with the drying forms in place.

Almost without exceptions, the boxes are made

as 'right handed' boxes, which means that when

the back of the box is tucked against the maker's stomach,

with the nails outward, the maker's right hand

can be placed over the fingers of the box

to sort of duplicate their positions.

Into the drying box they go. In a traditional,

non-workshop setting, the boxes would air dry

for a couple of days. This drying box is a simple

brown corrugated carton, with seams sealed,

and with a vent hole fashioned to accept

a common household hair blow dryer nozzle,

as can be seen at the bottom (silver collar). 

 When the hull is taken from the dryer,

it is given a preliminary sanding to make sure

upper and lower rim edges are "flat" - mostly

at the overlap seams. (The sand paper we used

is purple, and must be used on a known flat surface.)

Not shown are the next steps where the hull and lid

are each placed on top of the MDF with cherry veneer

plaques approx. 1/4" thick that will form floor and 

roof panels, and a pencil tracing made 

along the inside of the oval.

The shapes are rough cut on a band saw,

then this disc sander is used to remove the remaining

material to take it as close to the pencil line as possible.

Final refining is done with hand sanding,

then the panel is fit-checked with the formed bands

until they fit as perfectly as possible.

Here is my box with panels ready to be

finally positioned and attached.

A very light glue is applied to panel edge,

then they are fit together with rim and surfaces even.

The bottom and lid panels are "pegged" into place

using tiny wood shafts, in this case, cut-to-length

square/round tooth picks, shown here.

To simplify the pegging process, pilot holes are

drilled through bands and into side thickness of

the roof or base discs. Dick's workshop had a drill set up in

a sort of jig, laying on its side and strapped in place,

 with a platform where the box component could be slid

to engage the running drill bit at the selected positions

and at the exactly required height,

and the pilot holes were drilled in rapid succession - slick!

The half toothpicks are fit into the holes

(after tiny amount of wood glue is carefully applied

to the hole), then tapped into place with a fine hammer.

Then the excess pick is clipped off. A final sanding

takes the nubs down to be even with the surface.

Final surface preparation now needs to be completed,
including at least three grades of careful hand sanding
of exterior and a bit on the interior as well.
Then patching of the overlap gap, then finishing with linseed oil.

I will cherish this experience, the way it made me feel
to be working with this historic form, and to have a piece
of history to possess and which will recall those fun memories.
Thanks to Dick, and to the others who have worked
and planned and prepared to share in this special way.
The light of my lamp will burn because of them!

Exquisite Feelings That Hint At Salvation

Over the course of a few weeks, I have experienced

a handful of things that have allowed me to

"lift the tent flap" to get a glimpse of what

it may feel like when the Atonement of Christ is in full effect

in my life. When there at the Bar, my sins and failings and

sorrows and burdens are compensated for.

This post will attempt to describe those events

and share the intensity of those feelings.

But first, just a heads-up: there is a hint of Autumn in our air!

Experience One has to do with a situation where it was deemed

necessary to more actively express our commitment to 

the prudent counting of participants. We are trying to more appropriately

use the 'sacred funds' of the mission at our various missionary meeting 

venues where a midday meal is prepared and served.

(NOTE at two venues, people are 'called' to help with this.)

While this is a mission-wide concern, the location where

the ripple effect occurred that brought about the need for

redemption was here where this chapel foyer window (below) 

looks out at a very verdant scene. 

I include it to represent what happened.

Feelings were hurt, and I'm sure it appeared that 'new comers'

did not understand the long-established routine

nor appreciate the extensive history of personal service.

A tacit resignation was tendered, and the extra work devolved

to the Mission Office staff, and specifically to me as coordinator.

Feelings of regret were expressed by us and effusive apologies given.

Following a few-days' delay that included mental hand-wringing,

I received electronic word that the resignation had been 'reversed'.

I was suitably elated, and, expressed gratitude

to Heaven and to others, and my spirits were raised with

a prospect of lightened load, and forgiveness granted,

status quo re-instated.

EXPERIENCE TWO happened in the apartment building
laundry room. In our regular course, the laundry was put into
the commercial washer, and then into the dryer.
When the clothes were removed, nearly everything that
had been in that batch had reddish, waxy stains as shown below
on my night gown. My heart sank, and I desperately scrubbed
by hand and with every conceivable detergent product I had
that would not have guaranteed even worse damage if used.
Some stains seemed to improve, while others did not.
As the final intensive washing step, I decided to try to run things
once more through the machines to see if marks would come out.
I selected the OTHER dryer, assuming the problem was
from the one I had used first.
To our horror, there were MORE stains.
Many of the things that were ruined simply had to be thrown away.
I wish this situation had a happy ending. Mostly it does not.

EXPERIENCE THREE bridges activities across two days.

Late (for us) one evening following a Zone Conference,

feeling very tired as usual, but hoping to get something done

that needed to be "checked off" soon,

I sat down at my laptop to upload, edit photos, and

make a post onto the Mission FB page.

Being somewhat bleary-eyed, I opened the photos series

in my design program by mistake, and not in Photoshop.

Dismayed at the time it would take to close each photo

along the queue line at the top of my screen, I thought

it would be faster to simply close the folders/jobs and exit

that program entirely. I clicked through the "caution" screens in

the usual manner, and didn't think anything of it.

The next morning, squeezing in my shortened-to-30-minutes

creative period before preparing to get into the office,

I attempted to open my 'active' project file in Illustrator.

My intense panic started high and simply soared upward:

there was NO mother file folder on my Desktop screen.

It simply was NOT there. I hunted. I closed and reopened things.

I restarted the computer. I prayed aloud. I searched mentally

for ways to solve this. I formulated question lines to search

in Google. I wondered if my son Riley could help - 

and would he be awake at 5:30 a.m. ET?

* * * * *

I'd like to say that my desperation was quelled when I thought

about praying, but I remained in scramble mode.

My final idea was to absolutely look "behind" each of the icon folders

on my home screen, though I'd never tried this and

it made no sense to think it might work. 

One Folder that had been pre-loaded when I first turned on

my newly-purchased laptop was labeled 'Apple', 

and I clicked it open.

There without any logic, was a two-item list of contents.

The top one was my 'Digital Design Projects' sub-folder.

Still grasping at straws, but with no logical reason for hope,

I clicked it open. There flowed my long list of 2018-19 past

and current projects and designs. 

I had FOUND what had been lost!

It is practically impossible to explain that feeling of

coming 'back to life' that flooded into my heart and mind 

at that moment. I think I actually shed tears of gratitude.

Later, as I shared what had happened and how I had felt --

in the 'before' and in the 'after' -- to my companion,

into my mind wandered the word "exquisite" to describe

the intensity. Of course, that word comes from Alma, who

in chapter 36 verse 21 wrote "there could be nothing so

exquisite and so bitter as were my pains" . . [and] . . .

"on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite

and sweet as was my joy."

Never sure I love learning HARD lessons.

But it is obvious that I needed to increase my understanding

of what it will feel like to be redeemed.

Just like the promise of sunrise through these Goffstown trees,

I know through faith that my Redeemer can do this for me.

My lamp has been filled through these chances
to feel what it will be like to have 
that salvation offered by Jesus Christ 
come to me personally!

First Take: Our Mission Office Life

We have now been serving here almost ten weeks.

Some family and friends  have asked about what 

our office assignments here in Manchester are like.

Our immediate answer is: BUSY.

This post is intended to document our work spaces,

highlight our duties and at least explain

a little more about where we are and

what we are doing.

But first I'll share a couple of images that greet us

right now - at summer's end - as we arrive at work

to the Manchester 1st Ward building on Wind Song Ave.

These beautiful hydrangea bushes grow in

the plantings on each side of the Church back door.

 This funny insect below placidly clung to the glass door

one day last week as people came and went,

opening the door dozens of times throughout the day.

He's a walking stick, included here because Elder Warner

has loved bugs as long as I have known him.

Longer -- really. 

This group photo below was snapped the first week we served,

capturing the office lobby, with (l to r)

Elder Ron Matkin, Sister Sarah Matkin,

Sister Ann Larsen, Elder Dave Larsen,

Elder Vince Warner and Sister Jodi Warner.

There are four senior couples that man the office.

Elder Matkin is the Financial Officer for the Mission,

and coordinates the spending cards, mission expenses

and credit cards, procurement for larger items,

new missionary bedding, payment for apartments, etc. 

He also finds and coordinates those apartments, prepares

and monitors leases and payments/arrangements 

with apartments landlords, and more.

Sister Matkin is "the face" of the Mission Office, 

answering phones and attending to inquiries,

working as secretary, preparing new missionary information,

coordinating the information about those arriving soon,

preparing and coordinating transportation, departure packets,

staff meetings, president communications, helping with

apartments prep or clean out, mission rosters and

regularly-changing area and companionship rosters,

calendaring, and also helps the rest of us with what we do.

(You can see in front of her desk the boxes of bedding

for the incoming [new] missionaries.)

 A couple of weeks after we arrived, and Sister Larsen

the former mission nurse departed, the replacement

nurse Sister Bobbi Hoke and husband Elder Pat Hoke arrived.

Shown below, they work side by side in their cubicle.

(For more convenience, they often move their "operation"

to other larger spaces within the building.) Calls and

situations arise 24/7, so they are regularly on the road

or working from home.

Elder Warner is serving as VC (Vehicle Coordinator).

He manages the large mission fleet, with cars

spread across the three-state mission and many,

many miles of separation between the seven zones

in Vermont, Maine, a tiny part of Massachusetts

and New Hampshire. 

He helps when gas credit cards

don't work like they should, monitors regular service

and maintenance, helps submit incident reports,

defends mission mileage usage, picks up new cars

and coordinates delivery out to the field,

makes monthly reports to Salt Lake about miles driven.

Here is an "emergency" hand off that happened today

(Sunday) when we had to drive unexpectedly

down to Acton Ward in MA to exchange a car

that had "breakdown" symptoms.

You can see that Sister Randall and Sister Semadeni

are quite excited to be getting a new car to drive.

He also monitors the transmitted warning messages 

from the TIWI driver feedback system in each mission vehicle

that helps reinforce safe driving practices.

(Shown below, it is rather a four-letter-word 

around missionaries.)

As new missionaries arrive, he documents their licenses,

gets clearance for future driving privileges,

warns any drivers about violations of the TIWI system,

and suspends their privileges when necessary. 

This funny little yellow fellow is a humorous 'suggested'

replacement for the TIWI unit, shown here simply sitting 

on the dash in Matkins' private car.

Elder Matkin tells us that this device could replace the TIWI,

since it would indicate fast starts, quick braking,

sharp turns, etc. -- if it stays on the dashboard,

the driver is complying with safety directives.

 Another slice of Elder Warner's duties includes

coordinating the transportation during the busy transfer

days when the new missionaries arrive at the nearby

Boston-Manchester Regional Airport with their luggage.

The mission trailer is hooked up to the mission truck,

driven (moving forward ONLY) to wait at the airport

for the arrivals, then loaded and driven to the Mission Home

in nearby Bedford, NH where it is unloaded for that night's

stay. The next day it is re-loaded for transportation to

the Mission Office building, where the missionaries

are assigned to their trainers and then depart to their

new outlying teaching areas. Elder Warner has had to do

hard things, including learn to back up the truck/trailer

into the Mission Home driveway. This picture below celebrates

his "masterful" accomplishment in August (first time).

Look how straight it is!!! (Not mentioning how long it took!)

 Transportation coordination continues as Elder Warner

plans for the departing missionaries to travel

to Concord, MA for a fun and interesting history explore

and a final restaurant meal together at the historic

Colonial Inn. (Couldn't resist including this picture, below.)

Then home again to Mission Home for final discussions,

devotional, Pres. interviews and sleep (doesn't include us).

On third day of transfers, very early in the morning,

the truck and trailer are driven to the airport

as we say goodbye to the Elders and Sisters 

who we can hardly bear to have depart.

As Mission Recorder, my duties focus around

the submission electronically of new convert baptisms,

following up with welcoming packets of media materials, etc.

As mentioned in earlier blog posts, I also receive

printed supply requests, including media copies of

Book of Mormon and Bible, pamphlets, pass along cards, etc.

We have four languages regularly used in NHMM,

including English, French, Spanish and Portuguese,

but also get requests for widely varied languages,

such as Swahili, Arabic, Mandarin, German, Haitian and more.

This image below shows the cartons of Books of Mormon

labeled to be distributed as we travel to the three

zone conference locations (every 6 weeks).

My other duties include ordering replacement

name tags for the missionaries, assembling and

electronically publishing the monthly newsletter (below),

collecting information for the yearly history.

I also take individual and group pictures of new

and departing missionaries, and at the various group

events and conferences, and post through our private

FaceBook communication links to parents.

One of the unexpectedly-demanding duties of this assignment

includes the coordination and sometimes food prep for

the various meetings and activities each month,

most of which are outlying.

(Below, Sister Hernandez poses for a slightly hilarious

take on how my taking photos at the lunch events is viewed by

the young missionaries. She is visiting with Elder Sypher

shown in his apron, who is a helpful, directing force for 

the JSBM site meeting lunches.)

These meetings include from small to large:

Office staff meetings (12 people)

Mission Leadership Conference (around 45 people)

Transfer morning (bagels and snacks for 110 or more)

Followup Training at JSBM, Sharon VT (50-60)

Montpelier/Concord Zone Conf. (80)

Nashua/Exeter Zone Conf (80)

Bangor/Augusta N/Augusta S Zone Conf (80).

In addition there is the autumn Day of Service at Sharon JSBM,

and the Christmas re-configured zone conferences.

We have help in a couple of these outlying events

(such as Elder Sypher at JSBM and the Dawbins in Farmingdale),

but sometimes they fall back to the Mission to furnish.

These are busy, busy days, and we typically try to be at work

by 8 a.m., and sometimes don't leave the office before 5:30 or 6 p.m.

At this point in our Missions, we are feeling much more

comfortable with our duties, and getting used a little bit more

to the constant work load.

These people we serve and who serve us

keep our lamps burning!