Friday, February 19, 2016

Old Fashioned Work

The Kettle Boys are a regular sight in Confederation Park on the weekends during Winterlude, and longtime readers might remember previous posts. They bring a large kettle, various irons, tools, and some unusual toys along. They demonstrate woodworking or use hot irons, pressing patterns into blocks of wood, and take questions from people around them. It's interesting doing some people watching, such as how kids handle toys that are different from the usual plastic or plush toys they might have encountered. The fellow in the final shot, incidentally, did something rare for me: making me feel short. I'm six feet tall- by the look of him standing up, he's six feet five.

42 comments:

  1. The Winterlude it´s celebrating very well, so I see.

    Tomás.

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  2. Hello William, this is very interesting. I would love to join the crowd to watch them at work.

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  3. I like these kinds of demonstrations. Fun to see how far we've come with technology!

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  4. @Tomas: it is quite a celebration.

    @Bill: it is interesting to watch.

    @Nancy: it's quite an experience.

    @Jan: they're nicely put together.

    @Halcyon: we certainly have.

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  5. My hubby has all his toys from when he was a kid.

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  6. Now that I would really like to see. And it makes me wish I had kept come of the wooden toys from my childhood. Of course by now they would be petrified wood!

    It looks soooooo cold there!

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  7. Holzspielzeug ist klasse habe auch noch was für meine Enkel.

    Gruß
    Noke

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  8. I think I would enjoy seeing these guys at work!

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  9. I like woodworking and wood burning. As a child I had a woodburning set and loved it. Probably burned things I shouldn't have---not me! I do have woodburning set now but never use it. Maybe I will did it out.
    MB

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  10. @Linda: mine are long gone.

    @Lowell: it is delightfully cold!

    @Noke: thanks!

    @Sharon: it was fun to watch them with the crowds.

    @RedPat: they do!

    @MB: I never had one of those.

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  11. What a fun to watch woodworking. Lots of kids must be fascinated by their demonstration!

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  12. Is that ever fun! I've not seen them.
    (ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

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  13. It is always fascinating to watch a craftsman at work!

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  14. That stuff's impressive. They are very talented. Most of my toys were wooden.

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  15. I saw some guys doing just this in Prague....but not that tall. ;)

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  16. They look like they have a lot of fun!

    Janis
    GDP

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  17. How come the Canadians have all the fun?

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  18. @Tamago: they were also fascinated by the toys!

    @Jennifer: they come up from Lanark, so for them it's an easy enough drive on a weekend.

    @VP: that it is!

    @Norma: I saw the Minion, and I knew you'd like it!

    @Red: most of mine were plastic.

    @Pat: this guy certainly was!

    @Janis: I imagine they do!

    @Shelly: it's in our nature. Well, most of our nature. Our former PM never heard of fun.

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  19. I would love to see this in person. Sounds like lots of fun and learning plus photo opportunities :)

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  20. very very cool. i love the minion. neat-o!! ( :

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  21. That looks like quite an event, how great to see children's toy made out of wood and not plastic..

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  22. You reminded me of a fellow I saw in the grocery store the other day. This guy must have been 7' tall.

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  23. I really enjoy watching craftsmen at work!

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  24. There's something so good and so important about that, William

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  25. I do remember this from previous years. I think my son would make you feel short too…he is also six feet five!

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  26. Love the toys. I knew Norma would love the Minion.

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  27. @Tex: indeed!

    @Bill: the world seems so fast paced that we disregard simpler things. This is a good reminder.

    @Beth: when I saw the minion I knew it had to be photographed.

    @Geoff: the toys certainly drew attention.

    @Revrunner: of course when one gets too tall there are drawbacks- like buying clothes.

    @EG: I do too.

    @Cloudia: there is.

    @Lois: that would do it.

    @Mari: thanks!

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  28. Crafts people demonstrating their talents are the best things to see at events like this. Are any of the items offered for sale...just wondering?

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  29. It's interesting to see a setup like this in the middle of a city. These guys look like they've come in from the deep woods.

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  30. I would be tempted to buy one of those toys for myself.

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  31. Enjoyable post, it is so nice to see how things used to be.

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  32. I love wooden toys for children, I think they're making a big comeback! Being not very tall myself I sometimes wonder what the view would be like from up in the lofty heights :)

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  33. Nice woody dolls.
    Very lovely post.

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  34. We have ice sculptures in Toronto. I seen on the news.

    I am sure my Granddaughters boyfriend went to see them.
    It is raining so I suppose the show has ended.

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  35. Nice woodsmen I call them. Hardy strength do do that chopping.

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  36. @Beatrice: I've never thought to look.

    @Kay: that they do.

    @Linda: I certainly would.

    @Denise: I think so too.

    @Grace: thanks!

    @Orvokki: thank you.

    @Carolann: that doesn't surprise me.

    @Mo: that they are.

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