My world was better

This week, we lost my dear Aunt Betty Debaryshe (my Dad's older sister) as well as Pulitzer prize winning photo journalist, Charles Moore.  The loss of friends and loved ones continues to surprise me with the continuing reminder that this is the natural way.  Our world is better thanks t0 these two friends and loved ones.

Plinth & Chintz interview March interview

For an outgoing antisocial personality, I almost always have mixed feelings about interviews.  My accountant thinks getting the word out is a good thing.  My ego agrees, but doesn't want to come across as an idiot.  Well, I woke early this morning to rumblings of the thunderstorm that just passed.  And was pleasantly surprised to see Laura MacDonald Stewart's (ASID, IIDA, LEED, AP) interview in her interior design industry's hip online magazine, Plinth & Chintz.  Thanks Laura!

Dalai Lama quotes (HisHoliness) is now following your tweets on Twitter.

I just received a Twitter message from His Holiness!  Well, it was just an auto reply, but it looks like he is following my tweets now??  Just in case, I think I had better be more thoughtful, patient, understanding, and maybe even conscious (if I can) on my future tweets.

Catching up @ whole foods mountain brook

Today I'm appreciative of laptops, wifi, and whole foods market. Setting up an office away from home with a good cup of coffee,

some Greek olives, and a nice quiet office to get caught up on some "desk work".

Weston Smith, discusses lessons learned as HealthSouth CFO

Last night, UNA accounting alumni Weston Smith returned to our campus and taught what I believe might just be one of the best "lessons" some of our accounting students may receive during their education.  During a brief stint in a Montgomery prison, Wesley seems to have more than learned these lessons the hard way.  Wonderful to see him turn a big mistake into an (obviously difficult) gift of knowledge and sharing back to the community.  Quite amazing.

Sassafras and walnut modern bench in the works

Here's a Google Sketchup 3-D detail along with the sassafras timber for this modern bench.

The sun's out - great day to work outside.

Andrea talked his brother n law, Arturo into helping on the sawmill today. I have four of five more of these massive one piece  slabs to plane.  Looking forward to completing our first conference table.

Downtown Florence First Friday is back

It was great to see a few of the heartiest artists back on Court Street showing their latest creations. Here, one of my favorites, master turner, Dave Coker shares his thoughts about the proposed $10 fee.

What makes a great dive?

Linda and I have eaten at some amazing dives all over the country, and beyond.  Although we've dined at some wonderful fine dining restaurants over the years, the awesome hole in the wall , locals spots are the ones we seem to remember.

My number one rule of what makes a great dive:

1)  the owner is the (or one of the) chef(s).  There are great restaurants and dives that don't qualify here.  But, typically, to me, this is the first tell-tale I look for when I'm accessing a potential new dive to try out.

Pictured here is one of several memorable dives on Kapahulu in Honolulu.  We came sooo close to moving to Honolulu a few years back, and one of the top reasons (excuses) was the food.  Several choices serving fresh fish cooked to perfection, within just a few blocks of almost anywhere in on the island.  You don't have to be a kamaiina to eat like a local.  And, it rarely cost over $10 - many times for both of us!

Linda's fav local restaurant - why she starts cooking at 3:30 am

Here a little video clip of the owner of Linda's favorite local restaurant, explaining why she gets started each morning at 3:30.  We've been dining with them since we moved back to the area in 2001, actually, add a couple of decades if you count her previous restaurant.

Anybody recognize this place?

walnut table "pairs" will be heading to Des Moines this Spring

Getting started on a new line that should be lots of fun.  This natural edge walnut slab is being cross cut for a 72" console table top and one leg.  Should be seeing more on the "pairs" concept as it progresses this Spring.

heavy sassafras timber bench

Andrea brought his brother-n-law in to help with the manhandling (can I say that?) of this massive sassafras timber.  Here it is dwarfing my 2000lb 20" jointer.  Andrea is guessing it's a ton.  I laughed, until I gave them a hand.  .  .  Not so funny, really!

Here's the holey part

holey oak desk

Here's a pic of the single slab oak desk we completed last week.

Seth Godin's Blog

I must admit, although I blog, I don't follow any blog's (religiously).  But I do check marketing genius, Seth Godin's blog now and then, and when I do I almost always find some really good stuff.  Today's post is another gem about sprezzatura (I had never heard of it either). 

ok, it's going to be a (natural edge) coffee table

Working out the leg detail and balance on what will be our largest (and oldest) natural edge coffee table to date.

Just found the matching slab for the legs of the oak slab table in the works

This week we got started building our first table from the old tree that provided shade to the parishioners of the St. Luke MB church in Athens, Al.  I've been looking all over for the rest of the matching oak slabs from this tree.  Found the smallest slab, one of the first cuts, to make the matching legs out of.  My carbide tipped planer is only 20" wide.  Anything larger has to be planed outside.  No complaints.  So glad to have it.  But it's lots slower.

feels like a tractor seat

Here's one we made sometime early last year.  It was really just a test run, of an idea I had to make some benches with a tractor seat shape & "feel".  Used this piece of antique heart pine that come from a grain mill in Columbia, Tn.  Well, I never got around to making the benches (yet), but this piece is still sitting on the floor in my office.  I haven't been able to fit it yet.  Whenever I find someone low enough to the ground, the butt is too small.  

two oak slab tables ready for a tung oil rubbing

Urban Forestry & Horticulture Conference

This was my first time I've been invited to exhibit at the (15th) Annual Urban Forestry & Horticulture Conference, and I had a blast.  These guys certainly seem to appreciate what I'm doing, and generally understand the beauty of nature.  There were some great educational conferences going on all day.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to give the event my undivided attention, having to leave the conference a couple of times throughout the day.   (If you look closely, just to the left of Mayor Irons, sits my 220 year old oak slab from the m.b. church in Athens).