Dillon Hodges @ Coldwater Books Saturday night

Our wonderful Southern community seems to be oozing cool.  And to me, singer/songwriter Dillon Hodges is one of the top oozing culprits around here.  Saturday night he released a CD "Seeds I've Sown" at Coldwater Books.  The next James Taylor?  Seems like he might just be.  

Mimosa tree and Mattie posing at Cypress Bend

Gosh, summer was here in full force this weekend.  With temps in the mid 90's, it was a perfect weekend for several cool downs in Cypress Creek.  Since the Great Cypress Creek Raft Race, I don't think I've ever seen so many folks floating the creek.  I really love seeing this.  But I really hate seeing the creek littered.  There was a great group of a local fraternity enjoying it Saturday.  The couple floating behind them saw at least a dozen fresh, empty beer cans following behind.  Seems like some fraternity education might be in order.  And maybe even a fraternity organized creek clean up soon??  

natural herbicide?

Natural Herbicide.  Last week I was so glad to see/find someone with an appreciation of our walnut shavings.  It's long been assumed that the natural toxins in walnut shavings can lame a horse.  Well, our friend Bill Goode found a good use for them - as a natural herbicide.  He's going to use these along the fence rows at his farm.  He promises to give us an update to see just how good it's working.

Revisiting the oak root ball

This one's just about to get the best of us.  We've cut thru a few root balls in the past, but never one this contrary.  Continue to run into deeply embedded dirt and rock - big rocks!.  We'll take a break over the weekend, and next week decide if we'll try again or give up on this one.

walnut beam for new small office enclosure

This week we got started on a small office enclosure for our studio.  This is one of the two 14' long, 3" thick walnut beams that will suport the two 7' wide sliding doors.

Montgomery showing

Wednesday I delivered seven pieces to the Alabama State Council on the Arts Gallery in Montgomery.  I'm honored to be involved in Georgine Clark's show, Echoes From the Woods (group) June 4 – July 18, 2010.

Pressure washing this big oak root ball

We spent the bulk of the day cleaning the rocks, grit and dirt in this big oak root ball.  Got most of the visible stuff, but will have to give it a lot more time before we move it over to the sawmill.  

using a power chisel on the oak conference table

 Hand tools can't be matched in many situations, but this power chisel is taking care of this big old knot in this conference table today.

working out the detail of a couple of dimensional joints in the oak conference table

oak conference table right side up

It's always fun to see a table right side up for the first time.  Particularly one that's been in the planning stages for four years.  I'm happy with the curvey, natural edge walnut stretcher.  There's a bit of walnut joinery to add as well.

our white dog has a turtle obsession

Beaufort, our white (mutt) dog has become totally obsessed with these turtles.  I'm guessing they are snappers, but he hasn't confirmed this yet.  Every time he finds one, he start barking, circling, etc.  This morning, he started turning every one he could find upside down.  (I'm thinking they can't right themselves?).  I followed him around, turning them back over, and putting them back in the creek for an easy get away.  Who say's there's nothing to do down here in Alabama??!

ducks enjoying the sassafras shavings

If you've never smelled sassafras you are in for a treat.  And, to celebrate these ducks one month birthday, we shared our fresh cut sassafras shavings with them.  

walnut with stainless screws

This underside shot of this oak and walnut conference table shows the stainless screws in walnut.

duck on walnut

In celebration of this mallard's one month old birthday, we brought him in to the gallery and gave him a tour.  Soon as he feathers and can fly we'll be releasing him back to the creek.

conference table for Robert Trent Jones club house

This conference table will be on display at Robert Trent Jones golf trail club house later this summer.  It's approx 17' long and will be a 6 legger when complete.  The top is a one piece oak slab that was harvested locally.  The legs are oak as well.  The cross support piece is from a local walnut tree, as well as a couple of joinery pieces - coming.

It's spring and the turtles are doing their thing

Most mornings I walk the pups down to one of my favorite bends in cypress creek.  For the past couple of weeks, there has been evidence of the annual egg laying ceremony.  You can see that this mama turtle isn't particularly pleased with the paparazzi.

natural oak headboard

Yesterday I delivered this amazing natural oak headboard to my friend's wonderful home on Shoals Creek.  This was my first headboard, but I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome.  

Every Spring, after a big rain, driftwood fills his slough.  This piece looks like it came straight out of his slough!

Tony lives on one of my favorite lots around.  It's on a pine shaded peninsula and he just remodeled.  It's a log cabin, but you couldn't see any of the logs once you were inside.  Now, with the remodel, it's - well - amazing.  Oh, just click here if you'd like to see a pic of the http://www.robinwadefurniture.com/natural-oak-headboard/.

lacey stopped by for a visit last week

Lacey Howard, editor of Decor Magazine (Des Moines) was in the area visiting family last week, and stopped by for a brief visit.  Here she's inspecting one of our conference table slabs.

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matching piece

I know the matching slab is in here somewhere.  The big conference table top is ready for the legs, but I can't find the matching / sister slab for them anywhere.

the gallery / showroom

I don't think I posted any pics of the gallery space after the remodel.  Will try to take some better ones soon.