And when I was a kid, my big brother taught me to make one from a piece of alder or maple. I have thought about showing my grandchildren how to make one. The time of year is significant, as you need the sap to be up so as to enable you to slip the bark. I've made them with one or two holes when I was young, but I think he might have made one with even more. I thought he was wonderful to teach me so many things as he did. All big brothers are not created equal, but I had/have a good one.