If you香蕉视频直播檙e out and about in Salmon Arm running errands with your little ones in tow, or simply enjoying a sunny afternoon while your children play, you may run into Don Felt. This soft-spoken man of 81 years has an interesting way of keeping himself busy in his retirement, while also putting a smile on many childrens香蕉视频直播� faces.

Chances are, if you take the time to hear his story, he香蕉视频直播檒l offer a gift to you and your children: a handmade rocking horse built from scrap wood destined to be little more than mulch.

Felt ended up in Blind Bay in 1992 after retiring from his position at BC Rail, moving into Salmon Arm 11 years ago. Since then he has taken up woodworking as a way to keep his hands busy and prevent idleness from taking over. Over the years he has constructed a fair number of these horses for lucky toddlers throughout the community and farther afield.

香蕉视频直播淚 had a friend in North Vancouver and he gave me the pattern for them, and he said just go ahead and make them so I did. I香蕉视频直播檓 up to over 300, I香蕉视频直播檝e put the numbers on the bottom of them,香蕉视频直播� he says, pointing to a half-assembled horse on his workbench. 香蕉视频直播淭hat one香蕉视频直播檚 going to be number 319 over there, when I put it together.香蕉视频直播�

The majority of these rocking horses have found loving homes in the community. And these horses are made with near zero impact to Felt香蕉视频直播檚 pocket-book, even serving as a sort of recycling process, repurposing bits of wood that would otherwise end up in the scrap heap.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 all scrap wood, I named them all 香蕉视频直播極ld Scrap,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� he says with a bit of a chuckle. 香蕉视频直播淚 go around to construction sites when the boys are throwing stuff away and I just say 香蕉视频直播榙o you mind? You香蕉视频直播檙e going to throw it away anyways.香蕉视频直播� Might as well turn it into something, save it from becoming mulch.香蕉视频直播�

He doesn香蕉视频直播檛 advertise, though you wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 know it judging by the sheer number of horses he has made. Felt says he prefers to just ask someone out of the blue if they would like one. In fact, he香蕉视频直播檚 usually prepared for an impromptu gift-giving session as he carries around one of his completed rocking horses in the back of his car. His one request: send him a photo of the little one enjoying their new horse for his scrapbook.

香蕉视频直播淲ell if we香蕉视频直播檙e out shopping, and I see some lady get out of the car with a little one or something, I just say hello, hi, I香蕉视频直播檓 Don,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淎nd then I香蕉视频直播檒l just ask 香蕉视频直播榙oes your little one got a horse? No? Have you got a computer and a camera? Well, I香蕉视频直播檒l make a trade!香蕉视频直播� And that works out okay, I haven香蕉视频直播檛 had any complaints yet.香蕉视频直播�

This is how Kevin and Melissa Robinson met the one-man rocking horse factory that is Don Felt, a chance encounter in the Co-Op parking lot that resulted in a special gift for their son, Konner.

香蕉视频直播淚t was a total fluke,香蕉视频直播� Kevin Robinson says. 香蕉视频直播淢y wife just went for a walk, she had to stop in at the Co-Op to grab something, and Don was pumping his gas. He just looks over at my wife and he says 香蕉视频直播榟ey, do you mind if I see the little one in the stroller?香蕉视频直播� She pops him up, puts him up on her hip, he just gave him a smile, she was about to walk away, and he was like 香蕉视频直播榟ey, hold on a second, I think I got something for your son. He had the horse and everything in his car.香蕉视频直播�

Robinson, who works in the meat department at Askew香蕉视频直播檚 Foods, says the unexpected gift means a lot to the family. And, perhaps most importantly, their son Konner loves his new toy.

香蕉视频直播淥h, he香蕉视频直播檚 loving it!香蕉视频直播� he says enthusiastically. 香蕉视频直播淓very other day he香蕉视频直播檚 trying to pull it out from underneath the coffee table and we香蕉视频直播檙e just like, 香蕉视频直播榦kay Konner, you only just turned one, buddy. You can香蕉视频直播檛 even walk yet but you sure love that horse!香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈��

Felt has documented every horse he has given away in a collection of scrapbooks featuring photos of kids happily riding their newest toy, alongside notes of thanks from the families. Flipping through the pages of these scrapbooks will eventually showcase a more tropical climate than one might typically see in Salmon Arm.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e even got some horses down in Puerto Vallarta. Years ago I took them down there in parts, in boxes, three feet long, and then put them all together when we were down there. I just gave them to some kids and some people that I香蕉视频直播檝e known over the years going down there,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淢y wife and I, we started going in 1968, I guess it was. We香蕉视频直播檝e been going every year since.香蕉视频直播�

Felt is quite humble about his hobby. He doesn香蕉视频直播檛 see it as some grand gesture; he香蕉视频直播檚 not looking for recognition for his hand-made philanthropy. To him, it香蕉视频直播檚 just something that keeps his hands busy. Aside from the horses, he also makes a few other odds and ends, such as birdhouses, small water wheels and lamps out of old bits of scrap metal. Always the handyman, Felt sticks by the idea that what香蕉视频直播檚 broken is often easily fixed.

香蕉视频直播淚f you look at my stuff around here, it香蕉视频直播檚 just hanging all over the place,香蕉视频直播� he says, gesturing to the tools lining his workbench and bits of scrap wood waiting in piles to be transformed. 香蕉视频直播淛ust parts and pieces for stuff. Pretty much it just gives me something to do. Well that香蕉视频直播檚 basically it. It keeps me busy. I turned 81 in January, you don香蕉视频直播檛 want to quit being busy right away. I just keep putzing away at things.香蕉视频直播�

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