Post installation and progress on a compassion commission

©2019 Fiona Dempster - Detail of rust added to the weathered post with tank top, rocking chair sculpture and the mountains in the background

 A significant amount of time over the weekend was spent working on drainage and finishing a set of steps around the concrete water tank.

I did manage to work with Fiona on finishing a weathered and rust post; and installing it at the top of the tank stairs.

©2019 Fiona Dempster - Hammering horseshoe nails - they will rust beautifully

©2019 Fiona Dempster - Getting the position and angle right before hammering the post into the ground

©2019 Fiona Dempster  - Installed with ginkgo and mountains 

©2019 Fiona Dempster - Looking towards the other three posts installed near the garden shed 

©2019 Barry Smith - Post at top of tank stairway 

©2019 Barry Smith  - Section of tank stairway

And I found a couple of hours to start a small commission on compassion. The Thich Nhat Hanh quote on compassion (Compassion is a verb.) is to be stamped on a larger brass leaf similar to the pages in my unbound book on compassion. It is be gifted to a person who is helping another through a time of grief. I have decided to make two versions: the brass one as requested; and also a trio of leaf forms that includes the quote but also the words kindness and gentleness.

©2019 Barry Smith  - The starting point - metal from the metal stash

©2019 Barry Smith  - One silver-plated placemat becomes 7 leaf blanks and bits for smelting

©2019 Barry Smith  - Brass leaf form emerging

©2019 Barry Smith  - Quote stamped on brass leaf blank

©2019 Barry Smith  - Quote and other words stamped on the blanks

©2019 Barry Smith  - Leaf forms folded and cut ready for hammering

I'm always moved when folk commission leaf words in times of grief or illness - I think the words and the acts of giving can be very powerful.