Bob Varner is a master craftsman with wood. Not only does he
make exquisite gift items like the birdhouses pictured here; He even makes
pens.
I have personally enjoyed getting to know Bob. We share a common faith in Jesus Christ and are active members of
thesame local church. Incidentally, we also trace our family lines back to John
and John Quincy Adams.
When Bob appeared in Sunday School recently with these crafts
in hand, I had to capture them on disk. He told me they are made of Ambrosia
Maple, New Zealand Pine and Camphor, finished with CA glue. That was the first
time I realized Super Glue could be used as a finish.
Born and raised in Melvindale, MI, Bob has had a wide range
of employment venues. He began as a journeyman pipefitter and worked on industrial robots for a corporation in Connecticut. His work with robotics put him on a team which developed the GM
bird-and-robot ride at Epcot. In more recent years he and his wife, Julia, moved to
Florida where he worked at Palm Harbor Homes in engineering. Somewhere along the way he picked up various hobbies including martial arts and scuba diving.
I might also add, storyteller. For anyone who gets to know him, Bob has a wealth of engaging tales such as leaving Mexico City just before its major
earthquake and serving as a chauffeur for some noteworthy folks.
If you are in the Lakeland, Florida, area there will be two
opportunities to meet Bob and Julia. They will be displaying his handwork at two
upcoming fairs.
Sometime around September 4th (two months after we headed off on vacation) Judy and I hope to return to Florida and settle back into normal living. It has been a great time of visiting family and friends, speaking at a couple churches and a family camp week, and ferreting out interesting sights both geographical and historical.