Southern guy's take on The Help

Southern guy's take on The Help

1)  Chick Flick

2)  really slow (for mr. a.d.d anyway)

3)  But I'm so glad this movie was made.  So important.  These issues sooo need to be discussed.  In the beginning of the Movie, set in the early '60s, one of the actors said something like "we don't talk about this around here".  Well, obviously we've made some wonderful progress on many of these fronts, but WE STILL AREN'T TALKING about these issues.

We can't continue to make progress, until we acknowledge the atrocities we (or previous generations) made with the American Indians, with racial issues, and I'm sure plenty more.  This is complex stuff here.  So many unique perspectives.  No, Southerners aren't the only one's to blame.  But what does that matter.  Unbelievable mistakes have been made.  Let's acknowledge them, discuss them, and learn from them  Let's talk.

Southern guy's take on The Help

Eaux Eaux sink

Eaux Eaux sink

Love this modern interpretation of an ocean wave - in the bathroom.  See more on the super cool Yanko Design Site.

Eaux Eaux sink

creek rock art

creek rock art

Here's a close up.  As you can see, our 4 month old golden, sassafras, was quite intrigued as well. 

After the rain has risen, and is back down to navagable levels, I'll try to get back down to it to see it in v.2.0

creek rock art

rock art

rock art

With seven inches of rain forecast, this morning, I took the pups, and paddled the kayaks down to the park to load 'em into the truck and move to higher ground.

I was mezmerrized by this rock art sculpture that was just sitting there in the creek.  Really amazing.  I totally appreciate this "work of art".

But why?  I'm not sure.  Maybe it's that it's so natural.  This organic medium came from the creek, is sitting in the creek.  Maybe it's the impermenance of the sculpture.  Maybe it's that i have no iinformation about the artist, to cloud my judgement.  No knowledge of their previous work, or notoriety, or lack of. 

With all the rain that will probably arrive overnight, it will surely be in a modified form tomorrow.  Or maybe it will survive, for a while.  Or maybe it's that it is made for people (paddlers) to appreciate (I'm guessing here) but as far as I can tell, the artist won't be receiving any recognition.  But then, maybe they will from this blog.

If you art the artis of this beautiful Cypress Creek sculpture, I'm interested to know who you are.  My guess is that you are around 12 years old.  Your parents allowed you to build this while they drank another beer on your paddle down the creek.  Or maybe it was a famous artist or musician in town recording another top ten. 

rock art

Wildlife and natural history artist Karen Carr

Wildlife and natural history artist Karen Carr

What a pleasure it was visiting with famed wildlife and natural history artist Karen Carr and her husband Ralph while in Montgomery last weekend.  From New Mexico, Karen's work in "The Land of Alabama" exhibit brought us thousands of years +++ back in time as we walked thru time.  Really amazing work.  Karen works on professional projects throughout the U.S as well as abroad.  Her work can be seen in Museums, The Smithsonian, The Field Museum and on and on and on.

I hope to see more of Karen and Ralph through the year, possibly during phase two of the Museum of Alabama, or who knows.

It's still great fun making new friends, particularly when we share a creative passion.

Wildlife and natural history artist Karen Carr

walnuts number one for antioxidents

walnuts number one for antioxidents

Well, it's no secret that walnut is one of my top fav wood species for furniture.  More and more, walnuts are being seen in receipes for meals (or wonderful additions to) around the Wade home.  Now, I just came across this info saying that walnuts are the top ranked nut in antioxidents. 

I don't know much about this antioxident thing, but it seems to be becoming commonn knowledge to be amazingly beneficial to health, wellness, and longevity.  And, yesterday, I was scanned to find my antioxident levels.  I was surprised to see that it was 45,000 (or was it 42,000??). 

I love data, and specific numbers to show progress (or loss) in whatever field happens to be of my interest when it's available.  And it's really cool that my morning routine of juicing (fresh carrrot, cellery, apple, blueberries) 32 oz each morning (when I'm in town) seems to be paying off. 

Is it my ego, or my fear of death that seems to be leaning me toward pumping up these numbers?  Don't really know, but seems like a fun project that doesn't seem to have any side effects that I can see.

Here's the article on my favorite wood species, and fast becoming my favorite NUT.

walnuts number one for antioxidents

Museum furniture discussion

Museum furniture discussion

Have to admit that I was more than a little nervous preparing for my 30 minute discussion to the museum and art community.  I've generally been avoiding public speaking for several decades.  It's the one fear that I've decided that I can get through life without overcoming.

But, by talking about a subject that I'm passionate about, once it got going, was really a piece of cake.  The primary problem is that I don't think I got half way through the talk.  Many more slides were not shown.  Really fun to have broken through this little barrier.  And, I'm actually looking forward to trying my hand at it again.

Museum furniture discussion

Alabama Department of Archives and History-entrance

Alabama Department of Archives and History-entrance

There were a total of ten of our (RWF) tables on display during the Grand Opening ceremonies.  This included two benches that they purchased for "The Land of Alabama" gallery.

Here is a pic of the first one you might have seen as you entered the building.  We completed this one piece slab maple low table just in time for the event.  I hope to get some better pics of this beauty soon. 

By the way, this wonderful memorial was to honor Alabama's sons who fought with Spain in the late 1900's, and was dedicated in 1940.

Alabama Department of Archives and History-entrance

Beth Maynor Young's amazing photography

Beth Maynor Young's amazing photography

I'm not sure where I've been, not to know about Beth's amazing work.  After ten years with Southern Living, she's been hiking, paddling, camping, and no telling what else around the state and capturing some of the most amazing shots I've ever seen.

I'm blown away by her work (maybe more of an obsession?).  What a joy it was to learn about her wonderful life's work. 

Looking forward to learning more and helping her spread the word about the amazing beauty we have right here in our little state.

Cheers Beth!

Beth Maynor Young's amazing photography

Museum of Alabama - Dr. John Hall

Museum of Alabama - Dr. John Hall

John Hall weavese Alabama's archeological history into mezmerizing stories.  So much fun to learn about "the land of alabama".

Museum of Alabama - Dr. John Hall

Museum of Alabama grand opening

Museum of Alabama Grand opeining

What fun we had in Montgomery.  It's always wonderful to visit with people that appreciate your work.  And it seemed that we were blanketed with new friends in Montgomery.  The weekend started with a real Alabama waterfront, al fresco dining experience, heat, humidity cicadas and all on Thursday night.  Ed Bridges, the consummate Southern gentleman hosted this wonderful gathering of the consultants, designers, artists, illustrators and photographers that collaborated on this amazing project-all new friends.

Really couldn't believe the building where the Alabama Department of History and Archives houses the newly inaugurated Museum of Alabama.  Really stunning.  This building was built in the '40s.  The interior is just as stunning as the exterior.

 

Museum of Alabama Grand opeining

Thank you Steve Jobs

Just saw on the news that Steve Jobs has resigned from Apple Computer.  I don't know if anyone has created more, better, products that have improved my life more than Steve has.  27 years of Macs and iproducts is enough I suppose.  Thank you Steve Jobs.

organic maple dining table finds amazing home

Organic maple dining table

This organic maple dining table found an amazing home.  Our friends from "across the River" Rusty and Lisa Alexander, have been building an amazing home.  And yesterday we delivered this quite amazing organic maple dining table (iidssms).

This beautiful home was designed by acclaimed Winter Park architect Phil Kean, and is quite unique, particularly for our area.  Beautifully modern, simple lines everywhere you look. 

And, it seems that everywhere you look there's also a view of our beautiful Wilson Lake.

The Alexander's are being quite generous with sharing it.  They are still planting sod, welding a beautiful floating staircase, and completing all the details, hopefully in time for our upcoming Shoals tour of homes.  If you are local (or not) and want to see a modern home done well, this might just be a good chance. 

The next opportunity will be when the NAHB (National Home Builder's) have their annual show.  Phil's own home will be the 2012 New American Home and open for views during the show in February.

I'm going to have to get back over here to the Alexander's when there's better light, or with a photographer that know's what he's doing for some pics of the home and the organic maple dining table that do it justice.

Organic maple dining table

Curiosity, creativity and hard work

Andrew Zuckerman discusses curiosity, creativity and hard work.  I'm so far behind on my posts and what we've been up to lately, but this is better.  Enjoy .  .  .

Solid Cherry Daybed set just out of finishing room

Solid Cherry Daybed set

We've been working on this solid cherry daybed set for a while.  Honestly, I don't know much about daybeds.  This one's meant to be used more as a couch or chair, or just slide out the overlapping console table and you've got your traditional daybed.

The couch/chair idea seems to work pretty well when pillows are placed on the bed/against the console - with the console table and pillow acting sort of like a chair back.

We plan to sell this two piece unit as a set.  We don't make or sell the mattress, that seems to be widely available or custom made through your decorator.

Solid Cherry Daybed set

Anderson's donate $150,000 Ipads for our students

$150,000 Ipads for our students

From today's TimesDaily, Anderson Foundation is donating $150,000 in Ipads to local schools.  This is big, in so many ways. 

Amazingly generous, and beneficial gift toward the areas furture.  Thanks (again) to our very generous Anderson friends.

$150,000 Ipads for our students

Puppy's first kayak trip down Cypress Creek

Puppy's first kayak trip down Cypress Creek

      Bella-Architect Joey Leavitt's pupp decided to escort us this trip (the brown one).

Great timing this past weekend.  I sooo needed to some R&R, and our new golden retriever has now had all her shots and the vet (I mean Linda) ok'd her to take her first trip down Cypress Creek.  I don't think there's a better way to commune and get (my mind) back to a calm creative place that right in the middle of nature.  And for me, immersion is almost manditory.

We are so fortunate to have this beautiful natural wilderness surrounding us.  And it's really good to see more and more folks enjoying it.  Having lived on the creek most of my life, I typically simply put in behind the house, paddle upstream to our favorite spot - just below the old brick plant and confederate uniform plant where the creek turns and the water really flows.

Puppy's first kayak trip down Cypress Creek

killer low head dam

Killer low head dam

I needed a quiet stress free weekend, and, for the most part, I found one.  What a special pleasure it was to paddle our golden retriever puppy down our backyard creek for the first time (next post).

Much like we've done for almost 50 years, we put in at Cox Creek Bridge.  And, within ten minutes we are greeted by THE DAM.  The dam that has been killing our residents for decades.  The dam that was built without approval of the Corp of Engineers. 

But the really terrifying thing about it is that it looks/sounds/feels so harmless.  It's nothing like Niagara Falls, that you can hear from miles away.  This little dam actually looks like a nice little "whitewater moment".  A brief and short change in water elevation - the kind of thing that paddlers on a hot summer day are looking for.

The dam's innocense is so misleading, it continues to even mislead it's critics, who believe that it's only dangerous when the water is high - like after a rain.  This is absolutely not true, and believing this and particularly printing this in the paper will only cause more deaths.

I have a particular interest in this problem for several reasons;  1)  Dad and I were the founders of the Great Cypress Creek Raft Race back in the late 70's and early 80's.  Hundreds of mostly locals enjoyed the creek during this summertime event.  After a few years of the event, the city installed this dam.  After realizing how dangerous it was, and after seeing our insurance for the race skyrocket, we cancelled what some resident's have claimed to be the best event in the city (certainly the wettest).

2)  I have been sucked under into the dam's undertow.  Several year's ago, I (and my Dad's dog Wilbur) were both pulled under.  I had ignorantly paddled thru the opening of the dam on an inner tube and Wilbur followed close behind.  We were both pulled under, only for maybe 20  seconds?, before arriving back at the surface for air (and life).  But back at the surface, I even then had trouble getting out of the reverse currrent's grip.  I was held appro 5' from the dam.  Swimming toward the concrete wall or away didn't work, but to the side did.  I instantly had more "respect" for this innocent looking dam, and have portaged my kayaks around ever since.  I've often thought of the irony, had it turned out differently, of "Cypress Creek Raft Race Found drowns in Cypress Creek.  Whew, gives me chills remembering the event.

3)  I've lived most of my life on the creek.  Through the summer months I've been seeing more and more residents enjoying it, typically paddling down the Raft Race Route of Cypress Creek Bridge to  the Park below the Nelson Starkey (still miss him) Bridge.  And when talking with many of the younger nature lover's, I can see that they really don't "believe" the risk.

It's way past time to solve this killer problem.  Our current City Council had nothing to do with the installation of the dam.  But it's totally their responsibility to solve the problem.  I'm thinking that it needs to be blown up.  But I don't  know the details or all the alternatives.  I also don't even know exactly if the dam is actually providing water, or is just a backup or what?  I guess that's the first question here.

Back off the soap box (for now)

this week's agenda

It's always good to get back home, sleep in our bed, and get back to my very comfortable zone, the studio.  After weekend storms, the sky has cleared, the humidity has plummeted (a good thing for me) and it actually felt almost cool on the way to work at 7:00 this morning (although the forecast for the afternoon is an even 100).

For the week's agenda.  Let's see.  Plenty of work outside with the Lucas planer.  Have several more oak slabs to plane.  Then, tomorrow or thursday, we'll convert it (the lucas) back over to what it was made for, a sawmill, and slab some of the beautiful trees folks have dropped off recently.  Looks like cherry and oak will be the flavors of the week.  Both from friends.  Both with interesting stories that we look forward to sharing.

Inside we've got lot's of projects to complete, as well as new pieces to build.  Amazing massive maple slabs that will become a very natural edge dining table and low table.  Each approx 8' long.  A couple of really small, almost rustic but with a mid century modern vibe (hopefully) in the works.  Refinishing the 14' long conference table that has been on display at Robert Trent Jones of the Shoals club house. 

Planning the presentation for Montgomery.  Considering a September visit to the HD Boutique show in Miami.  Choosing a couple of pieces for the Tupelo Furniture Market.  Planning our booth layout for High Point.  Designing the two page ad for the High Point Resource guide. 

Oh, and we should have our monthly monoLOG newsletter published next week.  Clearly all of this isn't due this week.  Thank goodness for that, and for work (which happens to be play). 

(Southern) Sour Dough Bread

Southern Sour Dough Bread

As more distant visitors stop by the website and blog (and our studio), one area that I'd like to share is the best of the South.  Seems like the news only shows the "other" side.  And there is such a wonderful, thoughtful, creative, colorful side to our people and places that most have never heard of, I'm looking forward to sharing as I come across it.  But as (almost) always, with all honesty and in full disclosure, I will also share "the other side" when it bothers me or get my attention.

This little nagging pet peeve has been lingering for a few years.  And bubbled back up during our Saturday morning visit to the local farmers market this morning. 

It all started several years ago, when my hygienist started making bread and cookies.  I rarely eat sweets, but everyone raves over her desserts.  Then one First Friday she was displaying a one of my favorite things; sour dough bread.  I was so pumped.  I purchased a loaf, took it home, heated it up, and . . . total disappointment.  It tasted like dessert.  The next month I saw Laura again, and told her that someone must have enjoyed my sour dough bread, and that I ended up with someone's dessert.  Well, she quickly explained that "southern sour dough" bread is sweet.  -  Although to be clear, the note on the bread lists it as "sour dough".  She explained again, that I should know where I live, and that Southerners like it (everything) sweet.  Confused and disappointed, and gave it one last try.  Asking Laura if she'd ever been to San Francisco (no) or had she ever tried (non southern) sour dough bread (no).  My last question was why the heck does she even call it sour dough bread since there is clearly absolutely nothing sour about it.  Again, she had a great reply that the bread begins with a "sour dough starter". 

Again, this was years ago.  I clearly lost this battle, and if I was going to survive any future dental work I knew that I'd better quit while I was ahead.  And I did.  That is, until now.  Over the past year, this same Groundhog Day routine has been repeating itself - several times.  I'll find another vendor at First Friday street fair selling sour dough bread.  I'm pumped.  I buy.  I take it home and it's NOT SOUR.  Same thing at our Farmers Market.  Same conversation.  Same outcome.  Same disappointment.

The only thing I can come up with is that locals are knocking off Laura's bread, calling it the same thing Laura is, and selling it to unsuspecting locals.  Which, I might add are developing quite a following. 

Ok, to today.  Although there still is no sourdough bread at the farmer's market.  There is some amazingly wondeful fresh, real crusty savory bread.  Sorry I don't have any bread pics.  I was too busy sharing my excitement this morning.  But I look forward to taking some video's, spreading the word, and doing what I can to help this unique (in our community) true artist continue her trade for many many pounds to come.

Southern Sour Dough Bread

Oh, just to clarify.  I having norhin against sweet bread, cakes, pies, sweets, etc.  Just don't taunt us by calling it sour dough.  A few of us know better.