Trash trees get new life as ‘log deers’ in Abbeville

One man's trash is another man's treasure, it is said.
It can also be said that one man's trash trees are another man's Christmas decorations. Allen Labry can certainly make that claim.
Labry and his wife, Viola, have four reindeer Christmas decorations in their front yard, located off South State Street on Vermilion Street, in Abbeville that are made of the remnants of some trees he recently cleared off his property.
"Those are just some old tree trunks and branches," Labry said. "They are just some trash trees. I was clearing a lot in the back next to the house.
"We put them to good use."
This year’s reindeer are not the first to grace the Labrys’ yard.
“I made some about four years ago,” Labry said.
Creating the decorations initially came at the request of Viola, one made years ago.
"He had made some similar deer years ago after I saw someone in Erath with something like it," she said. "I kept them for a few years and put them out each Christmas.”
That was until age caught up with the decorations.
“The last ones we had,” Allen Labry explained, “my wife kept them in the yard until it rotted so bad its head fell off. That took about three years.
“She wouldn’t let me take it down before that.”
Viola Labry said she found a great void in the front yard for Christmas.
"I told Allen how much I missed our reindeer," she said. "One day I came home and he had already finished two of them."
He completed all four, which now serve once again as a discussion piece.
“I probably finished all four of them in a couple of hours,” Allen Labry said. “We have had people stop by and ask about them.”
Labry added with a laugh, “I think they are kind of ugly.”
Viola Labry said she doesn’t see it that way at all.
“I love our reindeer,” she said with a smile.
Woodworking has been a passion for Allen Labry for many years.
“I’ve been doing this since eighth grade,” Allen Labry said. “I took a woodshop class when I was at Loreuville High and I have had fun with it ever since.
“I really enjoy it.”
Allen Labry creates works from wood throughout the year. Among the finished products are duck boxes, Lazy Suzannes, end tables and coffee tables.
“Nothing too huge,” he said. “I try not to fool around with heavy stuff anymore.”
Labry’s work can be seen and purchased at many of the Downtown Abbeville Farmers’ Markets. The markets take place on several dates each fall and spring in Magdalen Square in downtown Abbeville. Labry said he is by no means selling the items to get rich.
“We just try to get enough money to buy some more lumber and sharpen the tools,” Labry said.