We had had lots of food, water, supplies, an emergency radio, LED flashlights, candles, even an solar panel for recharging batteries & electronics on hand. Plus, with some methylated spirits used for paddlemaking in storage, I made a few simple chimney stoves with used pop cans from the recycle bin to boil enough water for endless tea and a lamb & vegetable stew for dinner. We had plenty of firewood and wood shavings to burn and keep us warm too.
I was counting on our baby boy (who turned 3 months yesterday) for entertainment, but with the lights out, both he and my wife simply fell asleep right after the sun went down at 5pm. So for entertainment, I set about carving a model canoe with a chunk of basswood and my carving knives...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR81mmpXGoOYfpdkrwj17Lx9Cq-0wIegnYgBwMo8_0P4mGF3tep0jw_osr47yHtPbQgnuQBhqPD3fMA1PC-ymvrOtlLdZwE9Zn5VKGou6J29f1s18SjIskQocyrzDjtBPkrz_7BHZOlCz/s400/DSCN9722_rs.jpg)
Block of basswood with rough image
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypGbg0S3mLmgVWNMVUx3_rgHIopD2Je3JfpIfc91h0wPkTxxjN_Sh8EfNgInIYlft4TYOpl5g4DtuR_Aba1ReEmcQzZOFtVg1aF2KaoUx11EW8NitQXIhthchkt90PbZsk9nnnJJhr5UB/s400/DSCN9739_rs.jpg)
Rough carved canoe
Doesn't look like much now, but once its been finished, I plan to decorate it with woodburnings to make it look like a bark canoe, complete with lashings and gummed seams...maybe even use it as a tub toy for the boy's bath time. Any future "emergency survival kit" of mine will have to include some basswood and a carving knife to pass the time whittling away.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4rXsS2OHCvI/S7KmcXnfUQI/AAAAAAAAFVI/xHUYyjB1cWE/s800/paddle_divider.jpg)