I’ve been beating this tree to death for over 3 months now, and as of today, here’s what I’ve accomplished so far: (Check out the previous Newsletters)

The standing bear’s head is still too large, but it is still completely in solid wood. The major consideration that I have had to take into account on this carving has been that the tree has a rotten center. This condition has changed the design of the carving several time, but at this point, the design is pretty well “Locked-In”

This is the inside of the tree just above the sitting cub’s ears. I suspect it was caused by “Carpenter Ants” and that somewhere inside this tree the nest is still active. (I haven’t seen any ants.)

The weather is beginning to change, but I would still like to complete the “roughing-in” of at least the “Standing Bear” before winter puts an end to the carving for the year.

We’ll see how it goes,