Kenny Greer and Sharon Cook, of Salem, are at it again. Not content with the replica of a Dutch Windmill they built in their yard, complete with 86 handmade tulips that wave in the breeze, Sharon told Kenny she wanted a gnome home — because she hadn’t had a dollhouse as a child.
She loves gnomes, and has collected more than 100 of them. A large tree that had to be removed from the front of their house made an ideal location for the gnome home. Then, a vacation in Michigan earlier this year to visit a working Dutch Windmill, the purchase of more gnome statuettes, from 3 feet to 3.5 feet tall, and the challenge was on for Kenny. He loves challenges.
Kenny spent three weeks this May completely engrossed in the construction of his latest work of art. A detail person, Kenny fabricated many of the objects in the gnome home, right down to the spiral staircase, fireplace — even the split logs in the wood box.
There’s a front door, back door, sliding-glass door and the whole top of the gnome home lifts up so you can look inside. Some of the purchased antique dollhouse furniture include an old-fashioned wooden ice-chest, cuckoo clock and wood stove. Kenny cut a miniature moose in half for a moose head on the wall. He used the body and feet of the moose to make an end table. No fooling. There are five lights on the inside, and five on the outside of the gnome home. It lights up at night until 11:30 p.m. A timer turns the lights on and off. A solar light on top of the gnome home rotates through four different colors. You have got to see it.
This gnome home is current with the times. It has a deck and swimming pool. Clevis swims in the swimming pool. You must ask why he is named “Clevis.”
So, what’s the next project for Sharon and Kenny? Let’s see, they have a Dutch Windmill, a gnome home and a pool with fountain. Barn rock from an old barn was used for the construction of the pool. For their backyard, they’re planning a pond with a lighthouse and steamboat. I’m serious. Kenny has already made the air horn for the steamboat. He loves to show it off, giving it a blast of air from his air compressor, the sound echoing throughout Salem.
“Kenny’s at it again,” the neighbors chuckle. Like the riverboats of old, the air horn has that long, low, throaty sound.
If you want an insight into the personality of Kenny Greer, ask to see his shop. He’s rather sheepish about letting people see it. Contrary to their neat-as-a-pin yard, the workshop is a mess — true sign of genius.
Drop in and see for yourself. Sharon and Kenny love to show off their handiwork. An electric eye on their gate lets them know when visitors arrive. A camera in the house keeps watch on the windmill. They need to know what direction the wind is blowing so they can rotate the windmill.
Did I mention the solar-powered humming birds flitting amongst the flowers?
Yep.
Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com