What ends up on The Picket Board can start from just about anywhere. In the shop, out in the yard, beside a birdhouse, on the lawn mower, staring at an old photo, or just something I noticed along the way.
Sometimes my mind wanders while I’m at it. One thing gets me thinking about another, and an old memory might pop up that I haven't thought about in years.
Every now and then, I'll write something down. Nothing fancy, just something I noticed, remembered, or got to thinking about.
That's pretty much The Picket Board. I hope you find something you enjoy.
— JT
They Just Do
Someone asked me why the birds in FenceBoard Flyers fly airplanes when they can already fly. I didn't have much of an answer at the time. Turns out, the more I thought about it, the worse my answer got.
When They Leave the Nest
While cutting the grass, I got to wondering what a momma or poppa bird thinks when the young ones leave the nest. That got me thinking about my own parents, my grown kids, and a feeling that's hard to explain.
Where Did Time Go?
When I was younger, summers seemed to last forever. Now I can lose five years without hardly noticing. An old baseball picture got me wondering where all that time went.
Thinking on the Mower
I've always enjoyed cutting grass, but it took me years to realize why. Somewhere between the first lap and the last, the noise fades away, the distractions disappear, and whatever's been on my mind starts sorting itself out.
What About Me?
After writing about my dad, I could almost hear my mom asking, “What about me?” The more I thought about it, the more I realized how much she would’ve loved being part of Fenceboard Flyers and The Picket Board.
The Pencil’s Always Missing
The easy answer is that I'm misplacing them. I'm not completely convinced.
Radio in the Shop
Sometimes a song brings back a place, a face, or a moment you didn't even realize you'd forgotten.
Birds on the Wire
There’s almost always a bird on the wire. Not random, not just resting—more like a pause between where they were and where they’re going next.
When the Grackles Come By
Every year, right around the same time, the yard fills up with grackles. It starts with a few, then suddenly the whole place is covered—moving, working, and gone again before you really notice it.
Who Said Birds Aren't Cool?
I didn’t expect building birdhouses would turn me into the guy who stands in the yard watching birds, but here we are. Once you slow down enough to notice them, it’s hard not to respect them.
Where Do All the Birds Go?
Yesterday the yard was full of birds. Then it snowed, and almost all of them disappeared. This winter, now that I’m paying attention, I’m starting to notice where they go.
Every Birdhouse Gets a Name
I don’t choose the name ahead of time. I build the house, finish it, and wait for it to reveal itself. Otherwise, it’s just wood and screws.
Brushes — So Many Choices
I just needed a paintbrush. I didn't realize that meant deciding between about twenty different kinds of them.
The Day a Bird Got Me
I was working off the tailgate of my truck when a bird in the oak tree above me made a decision I didn’t see coming.
What are They Saying
The birds in the yard always seem to have something to say. I just wish I knew what they were talking about.
Things I Keep
I cleaned out a corner of the shop the other day and realized I keep small things I probably shouldn’t — boxes, jars, twist ties — little objects that feel too useful to toss and too useless to use.
A FenceBoard Flyer
While I was working the yard, a little bird kept coming in sharp and sure, no wasted motion. Watching it for a minute set off an idea I didn’t see coming.
Mama Bird Said, “Back Away”
Most days the yard feels like neutral ground, but one afternoon a chickadee made it clear I’d stepped a little closer than she liked.