Did you ever have one of those days when everything is going normally, then you find a big box on the front porch and open it and BAM! there’s a remarkable hand-made gift from one of your favorite uncles? No? Well it happened to Joe and me today.

My Uncle Tony calls it an “Ugly Box,” but we’re calling it magnificent. Every side is covered in detailed wood burning and so much color – it must have taken days (weeks?) to make. If this isn’t true folk art I don’t know what is.

This was an incredible surprise and a heck of a house warming present. Thanks Uncle Tony and Aunt Pat!

It wasn’t just a big wonderful box. Inside there was also a round box that Joe mistook for a bongo. He does that sometimes.

This is the top. The detail and color is something else, and lots of texture from the wood burning. The photos don’t do it justice. Sort of like the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office.

The front side is my favorite scene. It reminds me of home, except we always kept the pigs and goats inside the fence, rather than running loose on the hill. And who lets their cows hang out right next to the garden? That’s asking for trouble. The other sides have small towns and a funky cityscape.

Underside of the top of the smaller round box. Inside were two leather bracelets decorated and personalized for Joe. They’re similar to a Tony-made leather bookmark Lia swiped from my folks over Christmas. Now she just needs a Grammy and Oscar for the EGOT.

Signed bottom. This will be important for appraisal purposes on Antiques Roadshow 2125.

Tony made Joe a great box about five years ago, and it’s where we keep all of Joe’s most important things, like his first pair of glasses. Joe has only met Uncle Tony a couple of times, but they hit it off right away. They both speak the quiet language only sincerely good people understand.

Incidentally, Uncle Tony, my Dad and their four brothers (Pat, Peter, Francis and Henry) share the same middle name … Joseph.