Ecnerwal wrote

No book or video will do you half the good that turning will. But you
can't reasonably expect to learn if you are worrying about a $20 blank -
thus the firewood. If you get something that you want to keep, great -
otherwise, it was going to burn anyway.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

Here here! I had the wood prior to the lathe - a nice large piece (the
stump) of rock/stone maple. Such beautiful grain patterns and color.
I found a few pieces of it the other day and had enough to make a
small bowl with a lid and 3 or 4 pens. I truly wish I had that stump
now that I am 'slightly' better.