Joachim Pacheco worried about me trying to carve outdoors in the sun, while the log got wet from the rain. He offered me his sheltered porch as a studio. So every day, I carved on Joachim's beautiful porch, in view of the mountain.

While the research walks with the students were going on, I studied the log to find the forms in it. It's always hard to make that first cut. I finally followed the guidance of a visiting child, who showed me where she felt a dying moth needed to be commemorated. I later found this manicou's shape already in the tree. The chaconia was marvellous to carve: so firm and fine-grained there was no chipping or tearing. You can see how the creamy flesh of the wood contrasted with the deep mahogany colour of the thin, tough bark. I kept this natural coloration.