our first conference table delivered this morning

It took 10 to carry this bigun up the stairs and into it's new home at the Robert Trent Jones club house in Muscle Shoals.  Beautiful new home.  I couldn't be more proud of this 14' conference table.  I'll get more pics of the table and it's new surrounds over the weekend.

navigating thru an alabama bamboo forest

After navigating this sideyard alabama bamboo forest, I took 5 wheelbarrow loads of stone, portland cement and sand down the hillside to the creekside pizzaoven.  This should be near the last of the supplies to complete this long overdue project.

20 foot oak log

A friend dropped off a 12,000 pound, 20 foot oak log yesterday.  It's 36 inches wide on the small end and 48" on the big end.  My 6000 pound Heister forklift wouldn't come close to lifting it off the trailer, so Mr Bradley just pushed it off with my Heister.  I took a little video of it rolling off the trailer.  If it took, I'll try to post this weekend.

The largest slabs I've cut so far were 16 feet long.  Not sure if my sawmill will cut this bigun intact.  Should know before long.

creekside pizza oven

I started this creekside pizza oven several years ago, and got side tracked when we began the remodel of the a-frame.  Found an experienced mason to help with the final couple of stages of this process.  Here is a pic of the oven at this point, along with a sketchup drawing of it with the stone facade and roof beams.  I'm leaning toward building some 4" walnut beams and using clear roofing.  Just a few more saturdays and I think we'll be cooking.

cherry first cut

I'm getting caught up on a few posts from last week.  This was taken right after we made the first cut through this beautiful cherry tree.  It's rare to find a cherry tree this large removed from a residence by the city's utility department.  Really fulfilling to have been able to save it from the landfill though.  Check back in a couple of years, after the natural, then kiln drying process, to see what becomes of her.

southern fried catfish - Linda's b'day choice

Two year's ago, planning Linda's round numbered birthday celebration, I asked her where she wanted to dine.  She chose one of her fav's - Joe's Stone Crabs in Miami Beach.  This year, we saved a few bucks, when Linda chose Taylor's Restaurant, down the road in Russellville, Al.  Mrs. Taylor starts cooking at 4 each morning, and to Linda, tastes exactly like her mom's southern delicacies.

Everything is great at Taylor's, including this scrumptious southern fried catfish. 

finishing - or finally finishing this conference table?

It's looking like we are finishing this 14' oak and walnut conference table.  Plan to apply one more coat of our tung oil/linseed oil mix next week - and move her into her new home at the Robert Trent Jones clubhouse.  I hope to get some pics of the install.

John T. Edge (Southern Foodways Alliance) on Nightline last night

I'm clearly not the only Southerner that struggles to work through our Southern history.  John T. Edge, Director of the Southern Foodways Alliance, always has a refreshing take on it, as well as leading us to a bright future - thru one of my favorite things - FOOD!  Last night on Nightline, he showcased North Charleston's Scotts Barbecue. 

It was interesting to hear him use the term "honest" when describing Scott's, food, and the South in general.  . . .  See the watermelons on the front porch.  Obviously somebody grew some and needed to sell them.

Thank you John T. Edge and the Southern Foodways Alliance for helping us work all this out.

Full parking lot

Our parking lot is almost maxed out, but we only have 5 cars in it!  Several interesting local urban trees have made their way here - to our parking lot lately, and more are on their way.  Our fork lift has been down, and we've been getting behind on our sawmill work.  Always plenty of work in this garden, that's for sure.

eggs benedict with southern fried chicken

On the way hme from Atlanta, we always like to check on my uncle Del.  It was Saturday morning, and he suggested The Trackside Grill (located just under the railroad tracks in Kennesaw, Ga).  Being a world traveler and gourmet cook for decades, I knew it would be good - and it was.  The eggs benedict with southern fried chicken was exceptional, and very delectable change from my usual breakfast of blended fresh carrots, cellery, apples and blueberries (in season). 

eggs benedict with southern fried chicken - a southern treat

MARTA - good example of architectural restoration in Atlanta

When visiting Atlanta, Linda and I usually stay with her sister and family in Alpharetta.  And we almost always take Marta into the business district.  Friday, I was able to slow down for a moment, and enjoy (and take this pic) of this wonderful piece of architectural restoration way.  It's deep into the underground Five Points Marta station.  Throughout the MARTA complex is full of modern precast concrete, marble and glass.  This building exterior provides an interesting and dramatic counterpoint.  And, one of the best examples of architectural restoration I've seen in Atlanta.

International Woodworking Show

I always look forward to attending the IWF Woodworking show.  Held only every other year, it's the largest woodworking show in North America.  This show provides access to the experts in all fields of woodworking.  Linda and I walked, studied and took notes at this show Wednesday thru Friday. Saturday I was on my own to fend for myself.  We will be implementing several new processes in the near future, and I'll be sure to share as we go.

I've worked (or walked) the Georgian World Congress Center for a couple of decades.  They have continued to remodel and keep quite current throughout.  Here, the business lounge could easily be an AA Admirals club. 

Remembering Centennial Park

As I was walking from the MARTA station, I had a Centennial Park flashback of sorts.  At 1:20 a.m July 27, 1996, Linda and I were sleeping soundly after a wonderful day visiting with our friends from Guatamala who joined us to share in the Olympic spectacle.  Unfortunately, our friends, with their children were still in Centennial Park during the bombing.  Fortunately, Guillermo, Ingrid and their family were fine, but two were killed and 111 were injured.  Each morning, on the way to this amazing woodworking show (IWF) that's only held every two years in Atlanta, I've been taking MARTA to the GWCC stop, and walking thru Centennial Park to the World Congress Center - offering plenty of non woodworking priorities to ponder each morning.

Win this solid walnut bench!

We have officially launched our first give-a-way.

Enter to win this $4000 solid walnut modern bench up to four times, with the following four actions:

1) on Twitter—RETWEET our sweepstakes announcement and FOLLOW robin_wade.
2) if you are a fan of (LIKE) the Robin Wade Funriture facebook page, you can enter again.
3) on your blog—POST about this sweepstakes and enter to win a third time.
4) at the High Point Furniture Market in October—visit our booth and enter in person.

walnut tree trunk slice

Although we had quite a tough time cutting thru this tree trunk, we were able to get several slices out of it.  It was a city tree and had lots of metal that chewed up several changes and bounced around our big sawmill before we were done.

Tennessee Valley Museum of Art - the exhibit

The museum is showcasing local artists.  This exhibit will continues through August 27.  Proud to be among so many amazingly talented neighbors.

The death of a tree

On my way to work this morning, I was driving South on Wood, and the very capable city street crew was hard at it, taking down one of the wonderful old oaks in Wilson Park.  Friday a massive limb fell.  Fortunately nobody was hurt.  The downed limb was hollow, and now revealed an unhealthy tree.  One that was risking the community.  Although it's sad to see this old friend go, it has served us well, and is time.

Is this friend heading for the landfill, or could there possibly be more service in it's future?  Stay tuned.

Florence Green Team Partner

Yesterday, I received notification from the city that we had been approved and been certified as a Green Team Partner.  It's great to see more and more green initiatives introduced by the city.  Proud to be a new Green Team Partner.

Meyer Wells article in the NY Times

Great article in a recent issue of the New York Times about another furniture maker.  Honestly, I had never heard of these guys (Meyer or Wells).  But I'm totally impressed.  Environmentally sensitive.  Clearly artists at heart.  The funny thing is that I felt like I kept reading about our operation all the way through the article. Great read if you have a few minutes.  Kudos to Meyer Wells.

thick walnut slab

  

In 2006 I cut a few walnut logs into 8" thick slabs.  Really just to test how long it would take them to air dry - before going into the kiln.  As well as what kind of shape they were in (cracks, etc).  Well, after four years, I sent left them in the kiln for a month and just received them back yesterday.  Although they are fairly dry, they are not down to the 7% moisture content that we need for our normal furniture manufacturing processes.  But, it should be fine for a few things like a small sculpture, legs or areas that don't require much joinery, etc.