So in China its starting to warm up and summer is starting to show its true potential in these parts of China. Summer is sure going to be a hot one! Now where ever you look in China you will always see these stools. Everyone uses them. I sit on one each time I get my shoes shined. At every card table there are at least 4 of them if not more, and they are on the front porches of houses. These wooden stools or chairs or "yizi" in chinese, are very popular. I was lucky enough to stumble across a shop where they are made.
Now every "yizi" or chair I thought was made by machine! Every single chair is made by hand!!! No metal nails, all wood! Don't forget that the crafter himself was like 70 years old! So everything from importing the wood, to shaving all the bark off, soaking them in water to make it bend was all him. Luckily he did have a helper and that was his sweet old wife. The 2 of them worked together to get the chairs completed in record time!
I stood there and watched them work together for quiet awhile. He has been doing it for so long that no exact measurements were needed to make before he started and carving or making cuts in the chairs. No drill press to help make a perfect holes. He used a beveled chisel to make his own perfect sized hole. Their system was like they made the back rest and the seat part were made at different times and I happened to catch the part where they were attaching the backrest to the seats. I said no metal nails and that is true, they used these wooden nails. In the short 15 mins I was there together they finished about 6 stools! 
After that the finished stools were set aside and there they waited to be stained and finished!Most all chairs are stained and dyed to this reddish cherry wood look! Instead of the natural looking wood. These chairs are really cool. Not the most comfortable things, but they are lightweight and so easy to carry around and it beats sitting on the nasty China ground. If I could, I would buy one of these chairs and bring it back but there is no way that it would ever fit in my luggage ;-)It was cool to see this cute old couple working together to make a item to sell and supply for themselves. Also on my little walk I saw another cute old couple working diligently in their garden. Again couples creating something together and spending good quality time together all to benefit themselves and their families. I've noticed that alot of the older Chinese folk spend their time together doing such activities like chair building, gardening and even today I came across a 77 year couple playing badminton. So I added a pic of the couple working in the garden together.
I hope that someday that when I'm older that I can be like the Chinese and work together with my loved one, having a great time with her for the rest of my life. I love everyone and miss ya tons! Please if you want any questions answered please dont be afraid ask. Hope to hear form you soon.
Love,
Jordan
Beijing Time
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