I’ve been working on a construction project, and I came across this small tool – shown here with a couple of other larger tools for size comparison – that reminded me of a story.

In May of 1982, Dad took me up to Guelph with a small load of belongings to begin my University career. As we neared the University, he pulled into Canadian tire saying he “needed to get something”. So in we went, to the tool aisle. Dad bought, for me, this small set of vice grips. “Everyone needs their own vice-grips”, he said. LOL! All this many years later, it is a bit rusted, and worn with use, but still very functional. I now own several different sets of varying sizes and I use them frequently around the home and yard to help me fix things up and complete my projects.

Isn’t it odd how the simplest of actions/items can trigger so many memories? I loved growing up on the farm and working around the barn and fields. University…. well I got through it and I did earn a BSc in Wildlife Biology.

This is my most recent project. It isn’t fully complete, but it is ready for the inhabitants. (I will introduce you to them in my next issue). It is my intent that it will be skunk, bobcat, fox, coyote and bear proof. I guess time will tell. For now, here are a couple pics of the process.