>> HI, I'M ERIC FORD FROM MADE HERE.

DIRECTOR HERZOG PROFILES A TOWNSHEND, VERMONT CHAINSAW CARVER.

CHARLIE REFLECTS ON HIS LIFE AS AN OUTDOORSMAN AND HOW HIS PASSION FOR THE CHAINSAW BROUGHT HIM TO WHERE HE IS TODAY IN THIS FASCINATING BIOPIC.

HIS JOURNEY ENDS AT THE BIG E, IN MASSACHUSETTS, WHERE HE SELLS HIS ARTWORK TO ADMIRERS.

ENJOY THE FILM AND THANKS FOR WATCHING.

>> I ACTUALLY LOVE THE WINTERTIME.

IT'S VERY TRANQUIL TO ME TO MORE OR LESS FORGET SOME OF THE WORK, I ALMOST HAVE AN EXCUSE THE WIND IS BLOWING, THERE'S A FOOT OF FROZEN SNOW OUTSIDE WHERE I ALMOST CAN'T WORK.

AND THE WINTERS A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE PLAY IN THE SNOW AND ACTUALLY ENJOY LIFE.

TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING HERE IS A LITTLE TOUGHER.

I HAVE ALWAYS WORKED FOR MYSELF AND I FIT IN HERE PERFECT.

WORKING FOR YOURSELF YOU'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE AS OPPOSED TO WORKING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

WORKING BY THE HOUR WITHOUT HAVING A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

A SLOWER PACE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE SERVICE PER SE, IT'S SO SKETCHY, THERE'S A ROCK OVER HERE TO STAND ON, A CORNER IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE GROCERY STORE YOU CAN MAKE A PHONE CALL AT.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S ACTUALLY THE DRAW THAT PEOPLE SEEM TO LIKE.

THE OLD FASHIONED WHERE YEARS BEHIND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY BUT THAT'S ALMOST SOME OF THE APPEAL IN LIVING IN VERMONT IS THE BACKWARDNESS, HAVE THE MOM AND POP STORES, THE LITTLE LOCAL GENERAL STORES.

THAT IS OLDER FASHIONED FEELING GOING BACK LIKE THE OLD DAYS.

>> I HAD JUST GOTTEN OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND I WAS MORE OR LESS INTO BACKPACKING.

I HAD HAD A JOB AT A FACTORY FOR A WHILE.

FRIEND OF MINE I GREW UP WITH WAS WORKING FOR A COMPANY CALLED AS POLICEMAN TREE SERVICE.

HE WAS THE FOREMAN LOOKING FOR A GUY TO FILL IN FOR A DAY.

HE HIRED ME FOR THE DAY, AND ACTUALLY TAUGHT ME HOW TO RUN A CHAINSAW.

I HAD NEVER RAN ONE.

MY FATHER NEVER HAD A CHAINSAW.

IT WAS THE CRAZIEST THING TO GRAB SOMETHING THAT MADE SO MUCH NOISE, WAS SO SHARP AND BEING INTIMIDATED BY THE MACHINE TO BEGIN WITH THAT VERY FIRST DAY.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE FOR SURE.

NOTHING I LOOKED REAL FORWARD TO AS FAR AS RUNNING THE CHAINSAW PER SE, IT'S MORE ABOUT WHAT I'M ACCOMPLISHING WITH THIS TOOL THAT'S ACTUALLY THE REWARDING PART OF IT.

I'M 60 YEARS OLD AND I'M STILL RUNNING CHAINSAWS.

IT'S MY TOOL OF CHOICE I GUESS.

SO THE WINTER TENDS TO REALLY LET US CHILL OUT, RECHARGE EVERY BATTERY WE HAVE IN US SO WE GET A GOOD AT LEAST TWO MONTHS OFF, MINIMAL LABOR.

I'M SO EXCITED TO GET THAT CARVING THAT I WISH I COULD.

I'M REALLY WAITING FOR THE SNOW TO LEAVE BUT AT THE SAME TIME I'M CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO ACTUALLY GET BACK OUT THERE AND START DOING SOME WORK.

>> WE DID MOVE OUT HERE IN FEBRUARY OF 1956, IN THIS HOUSE, AND I HAD CHARLIE AND JUNE.

I GOT PREGNANT ON MY HONEYMOON.

WE BOUGHT THIS HOUSE.

MY BROTHER LIVED DOWN THE STREET FROM US AND HE SHOWED US THIS NEW PROJECT THAT WAS UP HERE AND WE LIKED IT SO WE PUT A DOWN PAYMENT ON IT AND THIS IS WHERE CHARLIE WAS BORN.

CHARLIE WAS SO LOVABLE HE SLEPT ALL NIGHT, ATE GOOD.

WHEREVER I TOOK HIM PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS A LITTLE GIRL HE WAS SO PRETTY.

I LOVED IT WHEN HE WAS SMALL.

HE LOVED TO PLAY WITH THE HOSE, GET IT ON AND EVERYBODY GOT A LITTLE BIT OF THIS AND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT, ESPECIALLY JEFFREY.

THEY FOUGHT TOOTH APPEARED NAIL.

AFTER A WHILE THEY GOT ALONG.

THEY BECAME GOOD FRIENDS.

HE LIKED MAKING THINGS.

HE ALWAYS DID.

WE BOUGHT HIM AN ERECTOR SET AND HIS FATHER HELPED HIM MAKE A BIG TOWER.

WE BOUGHT LINCOLN LOGS AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT HE WAS REALLY GETTING INTO THINKING THAT HE LOVED TO MAKE THINGS.

CHARLIE WAS NOT COLLEGE MATERIAL AND HE KNEW IT.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT HE HAD BRAINS.

KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

HE WAS ABLE TO LEARN A LOT OF THINGS.

THAT KID KNEW HOW TO SURVIVE IF ANYTHING WOULD HAPPEN.

>> YOU DIDN'T EAT HARDLY ANY OF THIS ONE, THOUGH.

>> GREAT WHEN YOU'RE EATING YOUR OWN MAPLE SYRUP.

>> WE MADE IT.

WE TAPPED THE TREES IN OUR YARD AND WE BOIL IT DOWN ON OUR WOODSTOVE.

AND THIS YEAR WE MADE ABOUT TWO GALLONS, WHICH TAKES ABOUT 80 GALLONS OF SAP.

BLUEBERRIES WERE GROWN UP THE HILL FROM US AT OUR FRIEND MARILYN'S HOUSE.

THEY PICKED SO MANY THAT THEY GAVE US THIS BAG AND ANOTHER BAG.

SO THEY ARE FROZEN.

THERE'S A TRICK TO FREEZING BLUEBERRIES.

YOU CAN'T JUST PUT THEM IN THE BAG.

YOU GOT TO FREEZE THEM FLAT ON A COOKIE SHEET FIRST AND THEN PUT THEM IN THE BAG OR THEY GET ALL MUSHY.

THEY ARE HARD TO USE IN COOKING BUT WORK GREAT FOR PANCAKES.

PLOP THEM ON ON ONE BY ONE.

CAN'T MIX THEM WITH THE BATTER, YOU JUST PUT THEM ON AFTER YOU DROP THE BATTER.

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT.

AWWW!

>> IS YOUR FRESH MAPLE SYRUP GOOD?

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO START MY GENERATOR.

I HAVE A LITTLE PUMP HERE WHERE YOU PLAN ON GETTING WATER FROM, THE BROOK OR THE RIVER?

WE'RE COMING OVER TO DO IT NOW.

NOW OR NEVER.

I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN GET MY GENERATOR WORKING.

IF WE DO THAT I GOT A PUMP HERE OR AN EXTENSION CORD AND I HAVE SOME BARRELS AND I ALSO HAVE MY LITTLE GARDEN CART THERE I GOT FROM THE BIG E. WE'LL BRING A BUNCH OF GEAR OVER AND TRY TO GET YOU WATER FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

I GUESS WE'RE READY TO GO, DAN.

TURNING OUT TO BE AN AWESOME DAY.

>> WE BOUGHT THE PROPERTY IN VERMONT, WE WERE BUILDING A SMALL CAMP.

I CAME UP WITH A LOAD OF WOOD IN THE OLD FLATBED TRUCK, STOPPED AT THE LOCAL BEGIN MILL UP THE STREET FOR DINNER.

I MET THIS GUY ROGER.

WE SORT OF HIT IT OFF.

IT US WHAT WINTERTIME AND I HAD NOWHERE TO SLEEP OTHER THAN MY TRUCK.

I COULDN'T FIND A MOTEL.

HE OFFERED ME A PLACE TO STAY.

AS I GOT TO KNOW ROGER HE WAS VERY GOOD FRIENDS WITH PAT.

HE WOULD COME AND VISIT AND BRING PAT OVER AND THAT WAS MORE OR LESS HOW WE MET HER.

JENNIFER HIT OFF VERY WELL WITH PAT.

THEY WERE BOTH LEFTIES.

THEY JUST SEEMED TO HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

SHE WAS LIKE THE SECOND PERSON WE MET IN VERMONT.

PAT IS SUCH A SWEETHEART.

SHE HAS SEEN ADVERSITY AS FAR AS HER HEALTH, HIP REPLACEMENTS, SHOULDERS REPLACEMENTS AND THAT GIRL JUST KEEPS PLUGGING ALONG.

>> SAM, MY PONY.

THIS IS AJACKS, MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD.

A LOT OF THESE RACE HORSES GET DAMAGED BECAUSE THEY RUN THEM AT TWO YEARS OLD.

THEY END UP IN THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE OR SOMEPLACE ELSE.

I BOUGHT HIM IT WAS A WOOPS, AND HIS MOTHER WAS A FULL-BLOODED HORSE AND HIS FATHER A SHETLAND PONY.

HE'S 14 HANDS EVEN SO HE'S STILL A PONY BUT A LARGE PONY.

>> YOUR HOURS CREEPS ME OUT SOMETIMES.

GETS RIGHT UP ON YOU AND STARES AT YOU.

>> HE DOES LIKE TO BE CLOSE.

>> I LIKE THE PEACE AND QUIET OF BEING ON A DEAD END ROAD.

PEOPLE ARE MORE FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL, NOT AS CRICKY.

MORE DOWN TO EARTH.

YOU'RE COMFORTABLE.

YOU WEAR WHAT YOU WANT TO WEAR.

WHEREVER YOU GO THERE'S SOMEONE YOU KNOW.

I HAVE NOT FOUND ANYBODY IN VERMONT THAT I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS WITH THAT DOESN'T KNOW SOMEBODY THAT I KNOW ALREADY.

WE DO A LOT OF -- WE DON'T ALWAYS PAY IN CASH.

I GOT SCRAPS OF WOOD THAT ARE NO GOOD FOR ME BUT SIGNS FOR THE SIGN BEARERS.

I DON'T FIND MANY PEOPLE WHO TURN THEIR NOSE AT HELPING ANYBODY.

>> ALL RIGHT!

>> I HAVE HAD HORSES SINCE I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN WITHOUT ONE.

IT GOT ME GOING AND I'M STILL RIDING AT MY AGE.

MOST PEOPLE YOU'RE STILL RIDING HORSES?

THEY ARE EXPERIENCED.

YOU GET INTO THE WOODS AND SEE STUFF THAT YOU WOULDN'T SEE JUST WALKING AROUND.

YOU GET TO SEE A LOT MORE.

I DON'T CARE IF I RIDE SO MUCH I JUST LIKE BEING AROUND THEM.

HAPPY TO CLEAN THE STALL AS I AM TO GET ON THE BACK OF A HORSE.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

HERE YOU GO.

>> BECAUSE I DO HAVE INTEREST AND LOVE OF HORSES AND BEING OUTSIDE, KEPT ME HEALTHIER LONGER, HELPS THE HEALING PROCESS.

GIVES YOU GOOD SPIRIT.

REFRESHING.

MAKES ME HAPPY.

IT'S HOME.

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS JOB.

YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION, DROPPING THESE TREES.

THERE'S ALWAYS WIDOW MAKERS AS THEY CALL THEM HANGING ABOVE YOUR HEAD.

AS LONG AS YOU PLAY EDWARDS UP AND A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY.

[LAUGHTER] I'M WAY TOO OLD TO BE LOGGING IN THE WOODS, BUT I LIKE STAYING BUSY.

WITH THIS LOGGING JOB, THE SHAPE I WAS IN AND THE SHAPE I AM IN NOW AFTER WORKING A COUPLE OF MONTHS I LOST A BUNCH OF WEIGHT AND I GOT A GOOD WIND GOING.

I JUST FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT WORKING HARD AGAIN.

WE START AROUND 8:00, GO OUT, USUALLY CUT FROM 20 TO 25 TREES WHICH CREATE CLOSE TO A LOAD AND A HALF FOR A LOG TRUCK TO GET OUT OF HERE.

OR A THOUSAND BOARD FEET.

WE JUST CUT AND WE TRY TO DO A NICE JOB AS WE'RE DROPPING THE TREES WE MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A MESS SO WE GO BACK AND CUT THE THINGS THAT GOT BROKEN AND WHAT HAVE YOU AND GET IT SO IT LAYS DOWN, LOOKS GOOD.

STARTED LOGGING IN THE LATE '70s.

I GOT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, WENT TO WORK FOR AUSTIN TREE COMPANY.

I DID A LOT OF CLIMBING AND BUCKET WORK THEN TOOK ON MY OWN CREW.

FROM THERE I JUST WANTED TO BE ON MY OWN SO I GOT MY OWN EQUIPMENT, HAD MY OWN CREW, AND AT ONE POINT WE HAD THREE SKIDDERS AND TWO LOG TRUCKS.

I HAD A SAWMILL RUNNING FOR NINE YEARS DOWN IN CONNECTICUT.

I JUST REALLY ENJOYED ALL THE VERSATILITY OF LOGGING.

DIFFERENT ASPECTS BETWEEN CAN THE CUTTING THE TREES, MILLING THE TREES.

I DON'T WANT TO GET MUCH CLOSER TO THE ROAD.

>> NO.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS ONE OR NOT.

IN THE WINTERTIME WHEN I WAS SLOW WITH THE TREE SERVICE KEN WOULD HIRE ME ON AND WE WOULD WORK IN THE WOODS TOGETHER.

IT WAS LIKE A FILLER FOR WINTERTIME.

>> I GREW UP WITH CHARLIE.

WE DIDN'T REALLY RUN IN THE SAME CIRCLES FOR A LONG TIME BUT IN HIGH SCHOOL WE DID FOR A WHILE.

I WAS MORE IN THE TREE SERVICE AND KEN WAS A TREE CLIMBER ALSO BUT HE GOT INTO FIREWOOD AND LOGGING AND I WENT MORE TOWARDS TREE CLIMBING.

>> AT THAT POINT I MOVED TO MONTANA.

I CAME BACK A FEW TIMES AND CHARLIE GOT INTERESTED IN COMING OUT WEST.

OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF ADVENTURES.

HE USED TO LIKE TO GRAB ME OFF ONE OF MY STKWROBS SAY, OKAY, CHARLIE, WE'RE HEADING TO MONTANA.

THREE, FOUR YEARS WE PROBABLY WENT BACK AND FORTH EIGHT, NINE TIMES.

WE FLEW SOMETIMES.

WE DROVE.

THERE WAS SOME ADVENTURE THERE.

>> HE HAS HELPED ME PULL THROUGH ON THIS JOB.

I'M NORMALLY HERE BY MYSELF.

AT MY AGE I'M 61 YEARS OLD, IT'S GETTING TOUGH.

>> I ENJOY BEING OUT IN THE WOODS, I ENJOY WORKING FOR MYSELF.

IT'S KIND OF WHAT I KNOW.

>> KEN HAS BEEN KIND OF EASY ON ME.

TELLING ME TO TAKE A BREAK WHEN I NEED A BREAK.

WHEN I HAVE MY OLD MAN MOMENTS.

I SORT OF FELT WHEN I WAS YOUNG THEY'RE I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE OUTSIDE.

WE USED TO HAVE A SCHOOL AT THE END OF OUR STREET AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BROOK THAT RAN BACK THROUGH THERE CALLED TURKEY BROOK.

WE USED TO MAKE FORTS OUT THERE, RIGHT UP INTO OUR TEENS AND WE ENDED UP DRINKING OUR FIRST BEERS IN SOME OF THESE LITTLE FORTS WE CREATED BUT WE DO A LOT OF HIKING AROUND THERE.

PLAY COWBOYS AND INDIANS WITH STICKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE OUTDOORS WAS SOMETHING I ALWAYS ENJOYED.

I THINK IT SORT OF BROUGHT ME TO THAT POINT THROUGHOUT MY LIFE WHERE I ENJOYED IT.

I WAS KNOW PLOWING IN THE WINTERTIME AND READING THE UP IN IN THE MORNING AND I CAME ACROSS AN AD THAT SAID LAND STARTING AT $5,000 AND UP.

ME AND JENNIFER CAME UP AND CHECKED OUT TWO OR THREE OF THESE LOTS.

THEY WERE FINANCING THEM TOO.

I CAME AND LOOKED AT THIS LOT AND DECIDED ON THIS.

SO WE PUT $2,000 DOWN.

AND HAD LIKE $166 A MONTH PAYMENTS.

IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL FOR US.

AT THE TIME WE LIVED IN CONNECTICUT, HAD NO PLANS ON MOVING ANYWHERE ELSE.

WE HAD A PLACE TO GET AWAY AND SLOWLY JUST BUILT A LITTLE CAMP, A PLACE TO HANG OUT.

>> WHEN WE FIRST BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, I ENDED UP IN AN ALASKAN SAWMILL AND LOTS OF PINE LOGS SO I WAS THINKING OF A WAY TO USE THE MATERIAL UP AND WE CAME UP WITH SAWMILLING.

THIS IS HOW THIS CAMP WAS BUILT.

BY US TAKING RAW LOGS AND MILLING FRAMING LUMBER SO EVER COUPLE OF WEEKS I WOULD COME UP WITH ANOTHER LOAD OF WOOD AND TACK IT ON.

I HELPED A FRIEND OF MIN BUILD A LOG HOME IN MONTANA WHERE WE USED TO GO ON THE FOURTH OF JULY AND WE WOULD GO OUT THERE PERIODICALLY TO DO SOME WORK LOGGING.

I HAPPENED TO HELP HIM BUILD A LOG HOME OUT THERE.

I REALLY LOVED THE LOG HOMES A LOT.

SO ONCE AGAIN I'M LOOKING THROUGH A LOG HOME MAGAZINE AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE A LOG HOME SHOW IN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

I'M LIKE, WE OUGHT TO GO.

I THINK THIS WILL BE REALLY FURTHER IN THE MAGAZINE A YELLOWSTONE LOG HOMES WAS LOOKING FOR DEALERS.

AND A LITTLE LIGHT WENT OFF AND I CALLED THEM UP, I BECAME A DEALER OF LOG HOMES FOR YELLOWSTONE LOG HOMES.

I'M GOING TO THIS LOG HOME SHOW IN WORCESTER KNOWING VERY LITTLE ABOUT TRYING TO SELL A LOG HOME.

I ACTUALLY DID SELL A LOG HOME THERE.

AFTER WE SOLD SEVERAL I HAD ONE WHERE I WAS WORKING OUT OF CONNECTICUT AND THERE WAS HALF A TRUCK COMING OUT OF IDAHO DIDN'T HAVE ANY LOGS ON IT.

THIS PARTICULAR HOUSE WE BUILT SO WHAT I DID I SPLIT THE BILL WITH THE CUSTOMER THAT WE WERE BUILDING FOR AND HAD MY LOG HOME LOGS ONLY SHIPPED OUT HERE.

A LOT OF IT WAS PAID FOR ON THE COMMISSION FROM THE SALE I MADE WITH HIM.

IT HAPPENED SO QUICK I HAD NOWHERE TO PUT THE LOGS, SO WE USED A FRIEND OF OURS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN OVER HERE TO STASH THE LOGS UNTIL I WAS READY TO BUILD SOMETHING.

LOG HOMES IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION.

WE WERE BUILDING THIS AND ADDING ON TO THIS WITH NO IDEA THIS LOG HOME WOULD COME WITHIN THE NEXT SIX-MONTHS.

STARTED CONCENTRATING ON A FOUNDATION FOR THAT.

AS WE WERE BUILDING IT WAS TIME WHEN WE WENT BROKE.

WE WERE BUILDING THIS OUT OF OUR POCKET AND WE NEEDED LUMBER AND WE NEEDED THIS AND THAT.

IT STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES.

TOOK THREE YEARS TO START FROM PRETTY MUCH FINISH.

A LOT OF IT WAS DONE BY ME BUT I HAD A COUPLE LOCAL KIDS WHO HELPED.

THEY WERE HERE WHEN THE TRAIN WAS HERE FOR TWO DAYS SETTING LOGS, BEAMS FOR THE CEILING AND ALL THAT.

BUT THERE WAS TIMES I WOULD COME HERE AND WORK BY MYSELF.

LEAN A BOARD UP, GO UP A LADDER, PULLED THAT UP, NAIL THAT IN.

TAKE ANOTHER MEASUREMENT, COME DOWN OFF THE LADDER, DOING WHATEVER YOU HAD TO DO.

AS WE WERE BUILDING THIS HOUSE I WAS CARVING INSIDE OF IT.

AT THAT POINT THE CARVING REALLY GOT TO ME.

I REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH DOING IT.

I JUST WAS MAKING STUFF OUT OF WOOD.

IT WAS JUST REALLY NEAT.

IT WAS VERY HARD.

IT WAS HARD TO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I KNEW WHAT IT TOOK LIKE A LOT OF THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IS PRACTICE.

WE KEPT AT IT.

WE JUST NEVER GAVE UP.

>> GET THE WOOD, DAN.

WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS ATTACH A PULLEY TO THIS TREE, WANT TO LINE UP TO THOSE LOGS, HOOK IT TO THE TRUCK AND SUCK THEM OUT OF THE WOODS.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THE PULLEY ENDED UP IN THE OTHER TRUCK, DAMN IT!

I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO BE TO DO THAT.

I LEFT MY PULLEY IN THAT BLACK TRUCK.

YEP.

WE HAVE A DAY WE CALL DION'S MONDAY.

SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE THIS DAY WHERE WHATEVER I TOUCH SEEMS TO JUST GO WRONG.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO WORK.

PROBLEM WITH DOING THINGS BY HAND IS YOU GOT TO DO IT BY HAND.

[LAUGHTER] INSTEAD OF A PULLEY I'M GOING TO TRY TO JUST GET THIS ROPE TO RUN INSIDE OF THIS AND IT MAY STILL WORK.

>> WORKING BY MYSELF A LOT, SOLVING THESE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS, IT'S A CHALLENGE IN ONE RESPECT BUT IT WEARS ON YOU A LITTLE BIT.

SOMETIMES YOU ALMOST FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO GIVE UP.

A LOT OF TIMES ON A DAY LIKE THAT I'LL GET ON MY FOUR-WHEELER OR SOMETHING, TAKE MY DAUGHTER, WE GO FOR A LITTLE RIDE, STAND BACK AND LOOK AT THE SITUATION FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

I'M GOING TO GO TO THAT AND THEN TO THE TRUCK.

I'M GOING TO HOOK IT UP AND I'M GOING TO COME IN AND CUT IT INTO A SHORTER PIECE.

GOT TO USE THESE SPECIAL BOWLING KNOTS.

I STILL SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEM UNDONE.

THEORETICALLY I CAN MAKE STUFF WORK.

I THINK I GAINED WEIGHT ON THAT GRINDER TODAY!

[LAUGHTER] >> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MISTAKES THAT I LEARNED AN IMPORTANT LESSON.

DON'T FORGET YOUR PULLEY!

I THINK IT'S MORE OR LESS A VERMONT THING BEING HANDS ON.

WE TEND TO HAVE FRIENDS WHO DO COME UP AND I DO TEND TO GET SOME HELP BUT I HAVE WORKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT EVEN MENTIONED TO ME I CAN TELL YOU WORK ALONE A LOT BECAUSE OF THE WAY I GO ABOUT THINGS.

A LITTLE BIT MECHANICAL ABOUT IT.

NOT WORKING LIKE WITH THAT OTHER PERSON.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SKILL SET THAT I HAVE.

SO THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ME IN THE TRAIN OF THOUGHT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING ABOUT DOING.

>> I'M GOING TO BACK THIS TRUCK UP AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT LOG OUT OF THERE!

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT HARD WORK IS SOME OF THE CHALLENGE OF IT BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S IN MY DNA TO GET OUT THERE AND SORT OF DO THE HOMESTEAD HARD WORK THING THAT I SORT OF ENJOY.

I LOVE GETTING MY HANDS INTO THINGS AND JUST WORKING IT.

IT SEEMS TO WORK.

FEELS LIKE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT IN MY MIND I'M DOING WHAT I WAS BUILT TO DO, MAYBE, OR SOMETHING.

I JUST ENJOY PICKING UP A PROJECT.

WHETHER IT'S MAKING A PIECE OF FURNITURE FOR THE HOUSE OR BUILDING THE HOUSE, IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET THAT EXACT FEELING WHY I FEEL IT'S NECESSARY TO DO IT.

BUT IT'S SO REWARDING TO ME FOR SOME REASON THAT I JUST ENJOY IT.

>> THERE YOU GO, YOU PIECES OF WOOD!

WHEN I HAD MY TREE SERVICE I JUST ALWAYS FELT LIKE WITH THE SPARE WOOD, TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT DREW ME TO IT.

I HAD SEEN ANOTHER CHAINSAW CARVER AT ONE TIME.

I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE COOLEST THING IN THE WORLD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT BUT I JUST NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS I COULD ATTEMPT TO EVEN TRY TO DO WHAT THIS GUY HAD DONE.

REALLY AMAZED ME.

A LITTLE BIT OF A DREAM COME TRUE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

SO MAYBE IN THE BACK OF MY MIND AS I WAS TRYING TO JUST MAKE TABLE SLABS AND DIFFERENT THINGS I WAS TRYING TO ATTEMPT IT.

>> THE MUSIC SETS THE TONE FOR MY WORK.

TIME MEANS ALMOST NOTHING.

I DO SEEM TO DRIFT OFF SOMEWHERE ELSE INTO ANOTHER DIMENSION OR SPACE.

PEOPLE LIKE THE BEARS.

AS FAR AS THE CARVING GOES.

I HAVE LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BEAR ATTITUDE I THINK ANYWAYS A LITTLE BIT.

I HAVE BEEN CALLED BEAR A COUPLE TIMES BY A FEW PEOPLE.

SIZE AND HEIGHT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE WIDTH OF THE BEAR.

WE USUALLY CARVE THE BEAR SO THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING LIKE HOLDING A SIGN, A LANTERN, A PLANT.

I START CARVING THE HEAD, APPEARED IT GIVES ME AN IDEA ABOUT WHERE I CAN GET THE ARM.

THAT SORT OF DETERMINES HOW THE BEAR IF IT'S GOING TO SIT SQUAT DOWN OR MORE STANDING UP STRAIGHT.

TALL.

EVEN IF IT DOESN'T QUITE GO I SOMETIMES FORCE IT INTO MAKING IT SQUATTER OR STANDING FUNNY.

SOMETIMES I CRACK MYSELF UP BECAUSE A LEG WILL GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER THAT I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE.

SO SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK AND MISTAKES WILL BE MADE.

THAT'S WHERE I HAVE LEARNED THE MOST, ACTUALLY, IS BY MAKING MISTAKES OR TRYING TO CORRECT THEM AND MAKE IT LOOK BETTER.

I'LL PROBABLY GET 20, MAYBE 40 MINUTES ACTUALLY IN THE CARVING, PUT THE EYEBALLS IN AND DO PRELIMINARY SANDING FOR JENNIFER.

BASIC DESIGN IS THE SAME BUT OUR EXPRESSIONS HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY FROM WHEN WE STARTED.

WE'RE GETTING REAL CLOSE TO LIKE A SMILEY BEAR WHERE BEFORE THEY WERE EXPRESSIONLESS BEARS.

>> A FEW PEOPLE SAID I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WOULD BE SOME KIND OF ARTIST.

WHEN I'M OUT WORKING I'M IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD.

I'M JUST ME AND MY BEAR.

MY MIND WANDERS SO SOMETIMES YOU THINK OF SOMETHING NEW OR SEE SOMEBODY EL ELSE'S WORK.

FLAME ON YOUR HOUSE.

YOU WILL BLOW UP!

YOU NEVER WANT TO HAVE THIS IN PROXIMITY TO YOUR FLAME.

YOU WILL BLOW UP!

SAME THING WITH THIS.

YOU MUST BE CAREFUL.

THERE'S A REASON THERE'S A LITTLE CONNECTOR HERE BECAUSE JEN ACCIDENTALLY CLEANED HER TOOL AND PUT IT DOWN AND IT PUT A HOLE IN IT BECAUSE IT WAS HOT.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

I DO HAVE A REAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN MY SHOP IN CASE IT GETS OUT OF HAND.

WHEN I GET THEM THEY ARE ALL RAW WOOD AND SO I HAVE A TORCH AND I BURN THEM UP WITH A TORCH TO GET THEM BROWNED.

SOME PEOPLE PAINT OR STAIN THEM.

WE BURN THEM.

THEN I SAND OFF THE SNOUT AND THE EARS.

EVEN IT OUT A LITTLE.

I CAN TWEAK IT A LITTLE.

ROUND IT OFF.

THE CHAINSAW IS NOT ABLE TO ROUND THINGS OFF.

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT IN THE FACE.

SOME HAVE A LONGER NOSE, SOME A SHORTER NOSE, SOMETIMES THE EYES ARE A LITTLE OFF OR THE EARS ARE DIFFERENT.

I KNOW SOME BEARS I GO, WOW, THIS ONE IS REALLY GOOD, I LOVE THIS ONE, THEN SOME BEARS I GO, I HATE THIS BEAR!

I REMEMBER THAT BEAR UNTIL I SELL IT.

[LAUGHTER] SHE HELPS ME SO MUCH.

SHE'S MY BEST PERSON I HAVE EVER HAD.

SHE COULD ALMOST DO MY JOB.

ALMOST.

SHE HELPS ME BURP THEM AND SAND THEM.

SMALLER WORK THAT FREES ME UP TO DO THE STANDING PART.

IT GETS OLD SOMETIMES BUT IT'S STILL ONE OF THE BEST JOBS BECAUSE SELF-EMPLOYED I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER TO ANYONE BUT ME AND CHARLIE.

I LIKE IT.

WE MAKE A GOOD TEAM.

>> THE FIRST TIME I EVER MET JENNIFER ME AND A FRIEND, HE HAD A LANDSCAPING COMPANY, HAD A COMPANY PICNIC.

>> THERE WAS THIS GUY CHARLIE THERE WITH ANOTHER GIRL SO I DIDN'T LOOK AT HIM.

>> SHE WAS VERY OUTGOING, VERY BUBBLY, A LOT OF ENERGY.

A YEAR OR SO WENT BY, AND I HAD NOT SEEN HER.

>> I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST SAW HIM AT THE BAR HE WAS SITTING ON A BAR STOOL LEANING BACK WITH HIS LEATHER VEST ON.

FULL OF HIMSELF.

>> ONE OF THE FIRST DATES WE HAD WE HAD A CHRISTMAS TREE BURNING PARTY WHICH WE HAD EVERY YEAR.

SHE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO HANG OUT IN SOMEBODY'S HOUSE ON THE LAKE AND BURN SOME BRUSH OR SOMETHING.

WE HAD LIKE A HUNDRED TREES ON THE BEACH, EVERYBODY HANGING AROUND A BIG BONFIRE.

>> I HAD MY LUNCH TRUCK AT BRADLEY AIRPORT CHARLIE WOULD DRIVE UP WITH HIS BIG DUMP TRUCK AND A COUPLE OF HELPER GUYS AND WITH HIS BIG THREE INCH LOG.

THEY WERE ROUGH AND TOUGH GUYS COMING TO SWING ME AROUND.

THEY WERE LIKE THAT'S YOUR BOYFRIEND?

I'M LIKE, YEAH.

CLIMBS TREES AND PLAYS WITH CHAINSAWS.

WHEN I SOLD MY LUNCH TRUCK I HAD TO GET A DIFFERENT VEHICLE.

I GOT A VAN AND WE ENDED UP DRIVING DOWN AND SLEEPING IN OUR VAN FOR TWO WEEKS.

WE WENT TO SPEED WEEK.

>> I HAD NEVER BEEN TO FLORIDA.

I DON'T THINK AT THAT POINT I EVER REALLY TRAVELED ALL THAT FAR.

>> CARPET, MATTRESS IN THE BACK, SAND CHAIRS, A GRILL, A COOLER.

WE WERE GOOD.

>> THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

A REAL NICE EXPERIENCE.

>> THIS IS CHARLIE GETTING READY.

HEY, CHARLES!

>> JENNIFER IS NOT A MOODY PERSON.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR WAS SOMEONE I COULD GET ALONG WITH.

LIVE MY LIFE WITHOUT REALLY HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT BEING BITCHED AT.

>> WE WERE AT THE HARLEY SWAP MEET AT STAFFORD MOTOR SPEEDWAY STAYING OVERNIGHT.

WE HAD TENTS AND STUFF.

>> WE WERE DRINKING ALL DAY AND THIS AND THAT, HAVING A REALLY GOOD TIME.

MOOD STRUCK ME AND I GOT DOWN ON ONE KNEE AND ASKED HER IF SHE WOULD MARRY ME.

TO THINK BACK ON IT IT WAS AN ODD THING TO DO AT A BIKER RALLY.

FOR SOME REASON IT CAME OUTTA ME.

>> GOT MARRIED AT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH MOSTLY FOR CHARLIE'S MOM.

I'M NOT CATHOLIC.

I WENT THROUGH ALL THE CLASSES, OUR RECEPTION WAS AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE ON CRYSTAL LAKE.

>> WE MUST HAVE HAD LIKE OVER 100 PEOPLE.

>> WE HAD 230 PEOPLE.

>> WE TOOK A HONEYMOON TO LAKE TAHOE.

>> WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE REDWOOD FORESTS.

CHARLIE WAS DRIVING.

HI TO MAKE HIM STOP AND I DROVE OR WE WOULD CRASH.

>> THAT WAS REALLY NEAT CHECKING OUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA LIKE THAT.

>> DEW SOME COOKING.

>> WHAT KIND OF COOKING?

>> DRUNK COOKING.

>> DRUNK COOKING IS SOMETHING ME AND ROD STARTED YEARS AGO WHEN HE FIRST MOVED UP TO VERMONT.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN EVERY NIGHT BUT IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY OTHER NIGHT ONE OF US WOULD COOK SUPPER.

IT STARTED GETTING A LITTLE BIT OUT OF HAND WITH SOME OF THE RECIPES AND THINGS WE TRIED.

>> LINGUINI, CHICKEN AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO ADD SOME STUFF TO IT LIKE MAYBE BACON.

>> FILMING DRUNK COOKING.

THAT'S AWESOME!

[LAUGHTER] >> WE MADE COCKTAILS.

WHAT IS YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE DINNER TONIGHT?

>> I'M WATCHING.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHAT ARE YOU MAKING?

>> I'M MAKING A CAPTAIN DIET GINGER ALE.

LESS SUGAR, NO CAFFEINE.

>> CHEERS.

>> NECTAR OF THE GODS.

MAY THE GODS BE WITH YOU THE NEXT DAY.

[LAUGHTER] >> LIKE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE, YOU READ?

>> I DO.

I WAKE UP A LITTLE BUILT.

THOSE GUYS LAUGH AT ME A LITTLE BIT BUT I DON'T WAKE UP -- YOU KNOW.

I NEED TO CHILL OUT FOR A LITTLE WHILE IN THE MORNING JUST TO WAKE UP.

>> THESE ARE MY HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINES.

>> OH, JEEZ.

WHAT'S TODAY, MONDAY?

LET'S START WITH MONDAY.

I'M NOT SURE THE NAME OF IT BUT A THEN A BABY ASPIRIN.

SHOULD KEEP THE TIKER GOING TODAY.

NICE!

>> ARE YOU STARTING TO FEEL OLD NOW?% >> LITTLE BIT, YEAH.

>> LITTLE BIT?

>> GLAD I DON'T BUILD ANY MORE OR CLIMB TREES AT LEAST.

>> I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE BIG E, I DON'T THINK WE WILL HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING TOO MANY BEARS OUT THERE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T NEED THEM ANY MORE.

EVERYBODY HAS A BEAR.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

WE CAN KEEP COMING.

>> READY FOR ANOTHER DAY.

>> FANCY PLACE TO PUT THE KEY.

>> ALL RIGHT NOW THEN.

>> EXCITED ABOUT THE BIG E. >> DO YOU GET EXCITED ABOUT THE BIG E?

>> I DO FIRST FOUR, FIVE DAYS, BUT IT HASN'T WORN OFF YET.

I REALLY LIKE IT.

I REALLY DO.

REAL BUSY DAY, SIT THERE WITH A DOLLY WALKING A MILE OR MORE JUST TO DELIVER A BEAR TO KEEP IT ALL GOING.

BY THE WEEKEND THESE WILL ALL BE FILLED UP, PEOPLE HANGING OUT.

IT'S A PRETTY GOOD PARTY HERE TOO >> SNEAKING UP ON YOU, GIRLS.

>> TAKE A PHOTO OF US.

[LAUGHTER] HERE WE ARE, HOME.

17 DAYS.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT SEEMS TO TAKE THREE DAYS MORE OR LESS TO FIND THE RIBBON.

BY THEN BETWEEN LACK OF SLEEP, OVER WORK, YOU SEEM TO GET THIS GLAZE OVER YOUR EYES WHERE YOU JUST LOOK REALLY TIRED.

BUT THEN AFTER THE THIRD DAY, THEN WE START TO FIND OUR RHYTHM.

ROCK 'N' ROLL, BABY LIFE, IT COMES IN STAGES.

BEING 60 YEARS OLD AND BEING ABLE TO REMEMBER MY ATTITUDE OR MY PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE WHEN I WAS 20 AND WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT SORT OF BEING BULLET-PROOF, NO FEAR A LITTLE BIT.

THEN YOU GET INTO THE 30s AND THEN YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN LEARN SO MUCH MORE ABOUT LIFE AND RELATIONSHIPS AND PEOPLE, YOU GET INTO YOUR 40s AND WE LEARN EVEN MORE AND YOU START TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF PHILOSOPHY AND YOU SORT OF THINK, WELL, I'M NOT SO BULLET-PROOF AND HAVE YOUR MID LIFE CRISIS.

SORT OF GROW IN YOUR 40s.

YOU GET INTO YOUR 50s YOU START TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT.

SEEMS LIKE IN YOUR 50s YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR PARENTS WERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO TELL YOU AS YOU WERE GROWING UP.

NOW IN MY 60s YOU TEND TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE BIG PICTURE.

YOU START TO THINK, YEAH, I MAY HAVE ANOTHER SO MANY MORE YEARS.

LIFE SEEMS TO BECOME REAL ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, AND YOU WANT TO TRY TO LIVE EVERY DAY TO THE FULLEST.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THE 70s WILL BRING?

>> VERMONT PUBLIC, PARTNERING WITH LOCAL FILMMAKERS TO BRING YOUR FOR MORE VISIT VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG.