
Jim Bodette’s been busy lately—creating wooden carvings of some famous characters: Garfield the cat, the Grinch, Snoopy, Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, along with a wreath with a cardinal perched inside it, a star, and a nativity scene—to name a few.
All of those were created at Heritage Pointe of Fort Wayne, a senior living community in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that offers independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, rehab and memory care. Jim and his wife, Gina, have lived at the retirement community for the past eleven years.
Two days each week, Jim, 84, gathers with a half-dozen or so friends in the community clubhouse to learn and practice wood carving skills. They have coffee, bring donuts or cookies to share, do some wood carving, and then go out for lunch afterward.
“It’s a social thing as well as something to do with your hands –to keep your mind active,” says Jim, who’s been doing wood carving as a hobby for about 20 years.
The wood carving group at Heritage Pointe got started about four years ago and welcomes members from within the community, as well as carvers from outside of it. They also welcome novices who don’t know the first thing about carving wood but want to learn.
“We’ll lend them the tools and, if they like it, they can buy tools from us or order them online. We help people get started,” he says.
Creating a piece of art from a piece of wood is like turning a blank canvas into a painting. It takes artistic skills, a vision, and some practice using knives, chisels and gouging, sharpening, and machine tools, sandpaper, and other means to create a smooth finish.
Jim first became interested in wood carving when he was living in Florida, and his brother-in-law invited him to join him at a wood carving club meeting.
It didn’t take long for him to get hooked on the hobby that challenges his mind and hands.
Learning to carve “was hard. It takes a while to develop the skills,” he says.
He’s pleased, however, to see how his skills have grown.
“I never thought I’d be able to do what I can do now,” he says.
Jim has recently expanded his skills to include wood burning, which he uses to create landscapes from wood. Other group members focus on creating animals, characters or shallow relief carvings.
Jim says Heritage Pointe of Fort Wayne supports the group and provides the facilities for it to meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All that’s required is to reserve the room where their meetings are held.
“All you have to do is sign up,” he says.
Jim spreads his love of carving wood to his friends and family, often giving away his carvings as gifts. Every year, his grandchildren receive a wood carving made with his own hands and with all his love poured into them.
“They seem to like them,” he says modestly.
His carvings also decorate his home at Heritage Pointe, where Gina says she thinks her husband’s hobby is “wonderful.
“At least it keeps me out of her hair,” Jim says with a laugh.