Manzanita Pens

cc licensed (BY) flickr photo shared by cogdogblog

I am so excited to open the package from Andy Mckiel.

I had seen his photos of arbutus trees, and commented about the similarity of the arbutus I had seen in BC

cc licensed ( BY SA ) flickr photo shared by Alan Levine

with the manzanita that grows right here in Arizona.

I sent Andy this thick branch I found while out hiking

cc licensed ( BY SA ) flickr photo shared by Alan Levine

(it was dead) (and heavy).

I mailed it to Andy in Winnipeg. Yet the second time I mailed a piece of Arizona wood to an internet friend in Canada who returned them as crafted pens (Hi Windsor Di!)– see

cc licensed ( BY SA ) flickr photo shared by Alan Levine

Andy described the wood in his letter as "a treat! Great smell and even better texture when working with it I wanted to turn a small bowl to send you but the chunk is sorta laced with cracks and wormholes. So much so that it even made for some challenges turning pens and pencil."

Thanks so much Andy, these are really special. Now I need to practice some pen-person-ship.