The CAMROSE BOOSTER, April 14, 2020 – Page 28
Todd designs a hat rack to keep busy at home By Lori Larsen
Young artisan 11-yearold Wacey Todd, from an acreage outside of Rosalind, has found a crafty way to keep busy during the time spent away from school and in between homeschooling, that literally has people taking their hats off to him. Wacey is the designer, lead on construction line and possible CEO of what may soon be a blooming business of a rustic, handcrafted take on a cowboy hat rack. “I was bored and wanted to make something,” said Wacey, during a telephone interview. “They are made out of wood and metal and my dad (Tim Todd) helped me a little bit.” Tim is a welder by trade and has been supervising young Wacey on the skills of welding. “I started welding once I started doing this project. It is pretty fun.” Wacey is keen on following all the precautionary measures used when welding with Dad supervising alongside. As for the design of the hat rack, Wacey wanted something that had a western flare, so horseshoes as hooks and old barnwood as the backing was a nobrainer. “My grandpa (Lorne Todd) has helped a bit too, especially with the woodwork and he gets the horseshoes from a friend of his,” said Wacey. The fact that Wacey is a bit of a cowboy himself who does a little roping, may have had a some influence on his design choice. After all, any cowboy worth his weight in mud needs a safe place to hang his cowboy hat. The entire process takes Wacey a couple of
Submitted Photo to left: Eleven-year-old Wacey Todd holds up the two hat racks he made with a little help from dad and grandfather. Bottom photo: With a few lessons and supervision from his dad, Wacey carefully welds the horseshoes together for his hat rack.
days to complete in and around regular school work, home chores and other necessities such as eating and sleeping. “First, I have to make sure to rough out or grind the horseshoes so they are clean. Then I weld the horseshoes together, then paint them.” Wac ey f u r t her explained that he sands down the wood, then uses a torch (with adult super-
vision) to burn the wood in order to bring out the grain of the wood, giving it even more character. “Then after that, we stain and varnish the wood and let it dry, then nail the horseshoes onto the board.” The rack is designed to be hung on a wall, which at this point, Wacey is pretty happy with, but did say there may be room for a different design in the future. The busy 11-year-old
has completed two hat racks thus far. “One is in my room and one I think is going to be for sale on my parents’ Facebook page.” As for future hat racks or other items such as the roping dummy Wacey built last summer and possible sales, Wacey simply said, “Maybe.” Time spent with family, including mom Amber, dad and sisters eight-yearold Julia and two-year-old
Emma, as well as farm animals, also play an important role in Wacey’s life. The Todd family are a joyful reminder that these days spending time with family, learning new skills, crafting with our hands and being genuinely happy are a proven defence against any challenges life hands us.
Bagpipes played locally to show solidarity against virus Murray Green, Camrose Booster In a show of solidarity around the world for those suffering from the coronavirus pandemic and the collective global struggle against the virus, bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” at noon on Easter Sunday. Locally, piper Alex Oliver played to about 33 people in a crescent-wide effort to show their support on 58 Street Close. Alex, a former member of the Canadian Forces Europe Pipes and Drums, agreed to play the bagpipes, but it was his neighbours who gathered everyone outside on April 12 to sing along, while practising social distancing. The song represents courage and transcendence under adversity. Pipers were asked to play at noon in whatever location they were in to give encouragement to fellow citizens at this very trying time in the fight against the coronavirus.