I would say that turning a piece of wood that size even on that lathe
would be a really exciting experience when you are getting started.

Then I saw the gouge you tackled the project with... nice.

Being a fellow Texan, I am surprised that if you call your telephone
poles "Texas ebony" you don't call those pics "Texas spindle turning".

Did you have help getting that monster up on the lathe, or did you use
a hoist?

Robert