Village Squire, 1973-06, Page 13strands of the cane that had become
twisted. She varnishes the baskets
Mr. Vodden makes and helps repair
electronic equipment that Mr. Vodden
repairs to be used by other blind persons.
Besides the custom work he does with
the chairs, he weaves tops for stools
which 'ze sells. The parts are purchased
for the frame then assembled and Mrs.
Vodden finishes them. Then he works
on the weaving.
"It's been a big help to me," he says,
"to have something to do. Since I lost
my sight, I've learned to type, you
know not fast, but I can type a letter
for myself. Then I learned brail and
I play cards all the time."
He fixed radios and televisions while
he ran the hardward and when he lost
his sight, he learned how to repair
the cassette players for the blind which
gives them a change to hear books read.
"We started off fixing them and I'd
tell Myrtle what was wrong and she'd
do the work on them. Then she got so
she didn't hardly have to ask what to do.
Most of his supplies come from Cana-
dian National Institute for the Blind.
He buys the bases for his baskets for
instance, then puts spokes in them and
weaves the reed through carefully around
a form. He doesn't make too many
baskets because he's busy with chair •
caning which takes so much time, but
what baskets he does make are quickly
snapped up. A nephew who works in
Listowel hospital took one home but had
to go to work on the way back so took
it to the hospital with him. He left it
laying around and soon people began
admiring it. He told them to write
their names down if they'd like any
and orders for 100 came in. Now the
list has grown to about 200, all from
within the hospital.
Summertime is not a booming season
for production of his chairs and baskets
but in the winter time, his wife says,
they both go down to the basement
workshop in the evening and work, he
weaving and she varnishing. The two
have worked together for years since
they ran a bakery in Blyth from 1930
to 1953, before he switched to the
hardware business.
Now, however, there are three of
them to work together. The third
member of the family is Chipper a
black Labrador retreaver whose been
trained as a seeing eye dog. Its the
second dog Mr. Vodden's had. He
originally got a dog last fall but had
to give it up when he went into the
hospital for an operation and it couldn't
get along with others while he was away.
But Chipper came this spring and with
it has been the chance for Mr. Vodden
to get out on his own. Every morning
he walks several blocks to the post office
to get the mail. At home, he still
acts like a puppy and gives rise to a good
number of stories in the family.
Life is full for Harold Vodden today.
His is a prime example of how a handi-
cap need not be a stumbling block to
happiness.
September begins a
NEW
Sunday School year.
Come and see the various
curriculums we handle with
special church rates.
Also available
* Visual aids
* Attendance incentives
* Awards
* Class registers
RaflIanl Lite
centre
Box 546 - 57 Albert
Clinton - 482-3128
BRING THIS VALUABLE COUPON
OUR COMPLETE STOCK
OF MEN'S SUITS ON SALE
Double Knits, Polyester and Wool and All Wools
Sizes 38 to 48
Regular $89.95 to $95.00
CLEARANCE
$69.95 to $85.00
Regular $110.00 to $115.00
CLEARANCE $99.00 to $110.00
Regular $125.00 to $135.00
CLEARANCE $99.00 to $125.00
TON'S
(LUCKNOW) LTD.
PHONE 528-2126
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