Pegg’s hobby for the birds — literally
|
So far, that hasn’t been a problem.
With an eye for design and the patience to work until he has a quality product, Gene has himself a pretty satisfying operation.
“I’m not in a hurry for anything,” said Gene, 73, who makes his birdhouses and a variety of other odds and ends as strictly a hobby. “I make just enough money doing this to cover my nails and my paint. They way I figure it, if you want to buy a birdhouse, it’s cheap. If not, I’m still going to eat three meals a day.”
Gene’s wife, Audrey, says selling the birdhouses is usually his last resort.
“He gives more away than he sells,” said Audrey. “That’s just the way he is. For anniversaries and birthdays, he just gives them away.”
Gene and Audrey are living their retirement years on Kennedy Street, which is not too far from where Gene was born and raised. He grew up in a household that included five brothers and two sisters and he went to school at Fairview where Gordon Smith was his teacher.
Gene says all of his siblings have since passed on, all except for his older brother, Alvin Pegg, who is best known around these parts as a Church of Christ preacher. Gene is also a devout Christian and has spoken to groups himself.
“I’m no preacher,” Gene said. “I might say a few words at a retirement home or someplace like that, but I’m not a preacher.”
He is, however, handy with a hammer and nails. He built one of the sheds he still uses for painting his creations and has made dozens of items he uses around the house.
When it comes to painting, Gene has plenty of experience. He worked over 30 years for General Motors in Michigan where he painted Cadillacs. After retiring from GM, he was quick to move back home where he’s been for the last 18 years.
“Up there, it’s rush, rush, rush. It’s life in the fast lane,” said Gene when asked about the Michigan lifestyle. “I’m happy living here on this hill.”
As for his hobby, Gene keeps his expenses low by using materials other people have tossed out. In fact, he has used leftover lumber and an old doorknob to make one of the birdhouses he has on display in his front yard. He’s used spare PVC pipe and old coffee cans to make various bird feeders around his house.
“I figure why not recycle,” said Gene. “It’s just as good.”
Gene used to be a regular at the Civic Center’s annual craft fair back when the show was still a three-day event. The fact he had to tend to his booth on Sunday was one reason he decided to stop doing the show.
“I’ve got other priorities on Sunday other than sitting there at that show,” said Gene, who indicated he’s put his name on the show waiting list since there are no longer hours on Sunday.
As for some of the biggest news in their lives, it didn’t take long for Gene and Audrey to produce pictures of their great grandchildren – a set of twins born Sept. 20.
“If you get her going with those pictures, she’ll never stop,” said Gene.
You could say the same thing about Gene. He’s been giving away birdhouses for so long, don’t look for him to stop anytime soon.