Wonderful Video, Gerard.

Reminds me of this video - but a bit more specific:

http://player . vimeo . com/video/18305022

I recognize it's an art/craft, but it's not for me. I did respond to his statement that trees are like persons. To my mind, more like dogs and cats. If they are to live with us, they are to be trained.

But I am a minimal trainer. Don't poop in the house, don't bite, and don't crazy bark. Otherwise, live your life as you please.

Same way for trees. I will cut you back, it's my house and land and sunlight after all, and you can't grow willy-nilly. And if you misbehave or are absolutely the wrong tree in the wrong place and are of no benefit, then cut down you are. But other than than, I leave you to grow as you please.

I have a hard time seeing bonsai as anything other than torture. I sorta cringed watching this video. I'm glad somebody likes it.

"American Bonsai" uh? Could be the start of a new TV series.
Comparison to pets, specifically dogs 'n' cats not that far off. A more comfortable topic than children, with better results.

"Stuffed Pets" is another one. With the wonders of taxidermy these days we can have Fluffy or Fido stuffed in a natural pose and then placed around our homes in favorite positions.
My uncle Louie Lozko, we all called him "Letsgo Lozko", he raised bantam chickens. Whenever one of his favorite hens or cocks would pass away he's haul 'em down to his buddy Josef the Taxidermist and have them stuffed and mounted.
"Dat vay, dey neffer die" sez Letsgo.

I understand Thomas Kincaid has a bunch of settings for a model train board.
The station, a bridge or two, a waterfall, a barn with sheep in the pasture, some sylvan glades and mountain meadows.