inside the slow studio

inside the slow studio

We've got lots going around here.  New stuff, new people, new designs, and thank goodness for plenty of new cups of coffee.

Lot's of preparing for the upcoming High Point Market.  Press Releases.  Marketing books and handouts.  New pieces to complete and show off.

This morning I've got to complete my first snapfish hardbound book.  It'll have the standard 20 page layout.  And they have a full bleed image capability.  I think this will be a wonderful marketing addition in a venue where we can only show a few of our pieces.  This very professional, hard bound 8.5" x 11" photobook should help convey the feel of pieceswe've made previously.

For now, all I've got are few images of what's we've been up to the last couple of weeks.

Quite soon, I'll be letting the cat out of the bag about what's been taking so much of my time lately, and possibly a new waypoint on our fulfilled, rewarding voyage.

inside the slow studio

 

Being an environmentalist sometimes gets a bad rap

Being an environmentalist sometimes gets a bad rap

Miranda Cain - guest contributor

Sometimes being an environmentalist gets a bad rap, but not all environmental gurus are extremists. In fact, most Americans are just coming to grips with the idea of conserving the planet for future generations and promoting the idea that humans, as the dominant species on Earth, have the responsibility to maintain the health of the planet.
As populations rise, the idea of being mindful of waste and usage of natural resources is growing in popularity—and not just among tree huggers, but among young and old alike, community members are concerned about the wasteful nature of our daily lives.
More and more people are taking it upon themselves to help out the world in small but meaningful ways. They do things like walk to the grocery store, use canvas bags for errands around town instead of plastic ones, take shorter showers and buy food locally.
What being green really comes down to is a respect for this place that all of us call home. It’s not about a political party, it’s not about time or money; it’s about maintaining something that our survival depends on—this planet, the water, the air, and the food supply.
Ask yourselves these questions: Can this milk jug be recycled? Did I turn off the lights before leaving? Can I take a shorter shower or turn off the faucet while brushing my teeth? Is composting or recycling possible at my house or in my neighborhood?
Odds are that you answered yes to most of those questions. Make those changes! You don’t have to make big changes—you just have to make small tweaks to your routine and you’ll be contributing to big results.

Being an environmentalist sometimes gets a bad rap

wheatgrass juice - this week's adventure

Through the year's, I've enjoyed a shot of wheatgrass juice from time to time.  I think it's always been out of town.  And probably been in either larger metropolitan areas or at least healthy spots of the world.

Well, fitting right in with some health and aging concerns lately, somehow I came up with the genius idea of growing it so that I could enjoy the potential health benefits on a regular basis.

It's really amazing just how these little organic wheat seeds want to grow.  I know NOTHING about growing anything.  Really haven't slowed down to do it.  I watched a couple of youtube videos on the subject, was given a few little discarded plastic plant trays with holes, purchased some seeds from the health food store, and almost instantly started sprouting.

Rinse the seeds, then soak them for 12 hours.

Rinse them 2 to 4 times a day for a couple of days.

Once the sprouts have grown up, and the little jar is fairly full;

Place them in a tray to grow.  Here you've gotta cover with a newspaper, keep moist, then uncover once the grass is up an inch or two.

There are a few little tricks, but it's all really so simple.  So far so good anyway.

Yesterday I finally gave the grass a haircut and we juiced some.  I LOVE THIS STUFF.  So sweet.  Really.

Linda uses the paint strainer to strain out the fiber part of the grass, just drinking the juice.  This is a great little trick that we use daily with our/my daily breakfast juice of:  kale, carrot, celery, ginger, and a little protein powder added in to the mix.

I seem to love taking things too far, or at least plenty far.  And I feel the juicing, live food, becoming more and more conscious of what I'm eating, health awakening.  We'll see.

Oh, the pick below shows my first attempt.  Sort of a hydraponic technique, just placing the seeds directly

on newspaper, adding a little liquid kelp as nutrition. Grow number 2 is presently using the time tested method of dirt.  I have $80 worth of wheatgrass and sprout supplies ordered which will use an organic, fibrous mat (instead of the newspaper or dirt), that should help eliminate contaminates into the process.

wheatgrass juice - this week's adventure

walnut and maple slabs back home

It's been almost seven years since I started this little business.  Right from the start I realized that soucing these sustainable, american hardwood, thick, natural edge slabs was the first bottleneck.  This "product" that I was looking for just wasn't available on the market. 

Sure wonderful walnut lumber could easily be purchased.  Although expensive, it's a commodity product.  Quite easily accessable from most parts of the country.  But if you are looking for three or four inch thick walnut (or cherry or maple), then you add the natural edge spec to the pile of requirements, we had a problem right from the start. 

And, it took a couple of years to get the word out, find these logs, find sources for these logs, develop relationships with the small loggers and lumber companies all primarily within 60 miles of the studio.

Yesterday, we received one of our last 40' trailer truckloads of now kiln dry lumber that we began sourceing so long ago.  I think I can safely say that the original bottleneck has cleared, and we now have other fish to fry during this little self navigated (with no rules of charts) voyage.

Looks like we have one more truckload to receive next week and we'll have all our hardwood slabs back home, dry and safe.

walnut and maple slabs back home

The Green Flash

We have been on the lookout for a few excellent guest bloggers, each sharing a passion for a unique niche area of ours.

I was quite amazed that this guest blogger applicant, through his worldly sailing journeys, has followed a similar path as I.  In search for the ever elusive "green flash".

Welcome aboard Jo Luke Giles.  Originally an urban planner in UK, presently making Calgary his home, Jo Luke seems to share many common interests, primarily perhaps, suatainability issues.  Thank you for this wonderful story.  We hope to hear more from you! Oh, and be sure to; be excellent and keep your eyes peeled.

The Green Flash

by Jo Luke Giles

photo by Jo Luke GilesI'm of a mind to think of friendship like a tree. You meet, stick a seed in the ground together, you stand around and chat waiting to see if the seed sprouts. A long time from now this friendship could be a towering Sequoia, mighty against the wind. But only time will tell.
I feel I have entered into one such arrangement with a lovely man named Robin Wade. Electronically we met. Telephonically we spoke. But very soon into our conversation our words made nice.
 
We share a common mania, a thing that itches us in a likewise place. The Green Flash...

Robin advertised on the Internet for intern bloggers to spread his words of sustainability far and wide. I applied, he read my blogs as examples of my style. He called me from up a tree in Alabama.
 
Our trusty wiki friends describe Green Flash as "optical phenomena that occur shortly after sunset or before sunrise, when a green spot is visible, usually for no more than a second or two, above the sun."
I am dubious.
 
I had read about the green flash in a book years before, and so, every night out there in the middle of the ocean, I watched, I observed, I drank in many a beautiful sunset waiting for the green flash. I even persuaded my fellow sailors into hoisting me atop the mast for a better look. I did not see it.

I’m not an untrusting person, but I began to think that the green flash was a seafaring tale that people liked to spout after a few too many rums… and that got me thinking. Why was it that I had never heard people talk about it before I sailed the ocean in 2008, but then any time thereafter that I described my adventure, The Green Flash was sure to be mentioned?
 
I investigated. I scoured through song lyrics and pop culture trying to find a book, an article, something that was putting the green flash out there for people to tease me with.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is an excerpt from the script for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Gore Verbinski, 2007)

“Ever gazed upon the green flash,
Master Gibbs?

I reckon I seen my fair share.
Happens on rare occasion.

The last glimpse of sunset,
a green flash shoots up into the sky.

Some go their whole lives
without ever seeing it.

Some claim to have seen it who ain't.
And some say...

It signals when a soul
comes back to this world from the dead.”

So ask me about the green flash, I will tell you the truth. I haven’t seen it and I tried my hardest. I will also assume you have seen Pirates of the Caribbean.

Be excellent & keep your eyes peeled.

The Green Flash

This dyslexic blogger will be getting some help

dyslexic blogger

For several years now I've (RW) been the only blogger here.  It's kinda like backing my truck with my 20' trailer, no one else around here wants to do it.  This year seems to be bringing on many new/interesting events here and in my life.  And obtaining some help here with the blog is another really good one.

Don't get me wrong here.  I love dyslexics.  Usually when I run into one, it's quite interesting.  It's either a party because we totally get and understand each other so well or, it can be quite - well difficult. But I'm pretty sure that adding a few non-dyslexic bloggers here will improve the bouquet. 

I totally plan to continue posting updates to this blog.   I have found several mostly students that share common interests and would like to share.  These interests might be quite a bit more diverse than you've been seeing.  Not just what's cooking in the back of our slow studio. 

The content might include subjects that I'm currently intrigued by, and wanting to learn more, or wanting to share what we have learned.  Some of these subjects, in addition to beautiful modern furniture include:  many aspects of sustainability, new age educational programs, health and nutrition including the slow food movement, juicing, raw food diet, the best of the south, the mix of business and philanthropy, and internet marketing. 

Our first guest post might be falling a bit further than I had planned, but there really aren't many rules here, and it's about a subject that has intrigued me for decades.  The Green Flash, fact or fiction.  Hope you enjoy our first guest post as much as I did.

Dyslexic blogger

Alabama boy's first visit to an acupuncturist

Yesterday was my first visit to an Acupuncture clinic, and I'm quite surprised at my impressions.  Being a long time open minded skeptic, I've always tried to listen to most viewpoints, but usually have to have first hand proof before I become a believer.

Well, can't say I'm a believer yet, but I FEEL like I'm headed that way.  Let met note first, that there might be a tinge of bias.  You see, Linda and I first met Dr. Ly and his wife Catherine back in the late 70's when I returned to Florence Alabama after college.  They opened what I believe was the first Chinese restaurant in our area.  And it was really good.  Catherine ran it, and I believe Dr. Ly and possibly his Dad and others in the family, ran the clinic. But eventually they sold the restaurant, I believe Catherine also became an Acupuncturist, and I don't remember them in the past couple of decades.

Certainly an interesting place.  Way back in the country in Muscle Shoals.  Their office is a home overlooking a beautiful slough of the Tennessee River (not sure which slough right off?).  As I walked in, there was one wall full of little jars of Chinese herbs.  Quite intriguing.  Then there were several office assistants, nurses?, and patients checking in, checking out, all quite doctor office like.  (no opium wafting through, but there was some calming Chinese music coming from somewhere).

Three pages of application to fill out, just like your first visit to a traditional doc.  I was lead to a room, and asked to remove all clothing except my underwear and to lay down on my back awaiting Dr. LY.  As the young gal was leaving the room, I repeated the directions back to her, not wanting to startle them or myself just in case I missed something!  And she said I could cover my private parts (my word) with a paper towel kinda thing, if I was shy.

I followed orders, layed down, placed the paper towel over my brief covered privates and awaited their return.  Dr. Ly and his assistant soon returned, and he immediately removed the paper towel saying this wouldn't be necessary.

So he started placing needles around my body.  Asking which of two areas were more sensitive.  Eventually adding electrical stimulation to four needles - I believe - lower leg and lover liver area??

I was given a B-12 shot.  Diet was discussed.  Two bottles of Chinese herbs, and one bottle of b-12 (i've gotta confirm this one) were prescribed for before and after meals.  And that was pretty much it.

Dr. Ly suggested that I return Monday morning for another visit, which I plan to do.

Here's the surprise;  I felt great driving back across the river heading home.  Was that the b-12?  Or the acupuncture, or placebo?  Honestly I don't know.  I still feel great.  I've never received immediate results from a doctor's visit like this. 

But, I really wasn't visiting the acupuncturist just to feel great (but what an amazing side effect!).  I was there in an attempt to resolve two problems that traditional medicine hasn't been able to cure.  The first is a fatty liver.  I quite drinking six years ago, and it's much better now.  But the liver enzymes continue to erratic even with regular drugs for it.  The second issue I'm visiting for is a long story of it's own.  Well, in the 4th grade next door neighbor Nancy Hamlin tackled me in a neighborhood football game.  No one that has known her since puberty would believe it, but she was the best lineman and tackle in the neighborhood (and all that girth was helpful).  Well she grinded me into the Mussleman's front lawn, actually plunging my knee into the ground, and into a piece of flint, cutting almost completely through the top of the tendon near the top of my tibia.  Well, 40 years later, we've just figured out why my knee has given me fits all these years.  MRSA in the tibia.

Ok, I got side tracked there.  So, #2 problem I'm hoping to resolve is an attempt to build the immune system up to where it might be able to overcome this MRSA, which traditional medicine and Vancomiacin hasn't been able to.

I would say that this is a pretty darn good test for acupuncture.   I really don't think a placebo is going to fix these two alone.  If Dr. Ly and his needles and his herbal remedies cure these two, this skeptic will be a believer.  For now, I'm feeling great.

Alabama boy's first visit to an acupuncturist

Just Published - monoLOG Spring update

This afternoon our monthly branch of communication, the monoLOG was released.  If you didn't receive yours, check your junk folder, or take one minute to sign up here. 

Just Published - monoLOG Spring update

City cited for contamination - what the heck took so long?

The city of Florence has been polluting it's residents for decades.  And just now has been cited for contamination.  Unbelievable that it's taken so long to confirm what every nature lover and creek lover has known from the start.  Put a feaking city landfill up on a hill above cypress creek, and it gets polluted.  Place a city landfill within three miles of UNA and Historic downtown Florence, and UNA and Historic Downtown Florence and it's residents are at risk.

Paddle down the creek and you can't help but find odd foam, orange colored leakage around the dump, and quite often totally unnatural terrible smells.  We all know to stay out of the creek a few days after a rain, but now our assumptions that the creek is being polluted by the city has been confirmed. 

How can any of the commission continue to allow this risk to our residents is beyong me.

http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/City-cited-for-contamination,188671

City cited for contamination - what the heck took so long?

Mark Bradford's exhibition explained at SFMOMA

Contemporary art can be more than difficult to get.  But I usually find a few pieces that I particularly like, and a few I don't.  A couple of weeks ago Linda and I spent the afternoon in San Francisco at SFMOMA.  We were delighted to receive an insightful description of Mark Bradford's unique work - by one of the security guards in the gallery.  This gal seems to really get it.  If I knew her name, I'd send her a note of thanks and appreciation. 

Mark Bradford's exhibition explained at SFMOMA

Cramer Children's Center tree to table

Cramer Children's Center tree to table

I can't believe it's taken me six months to get to slabbing this big oak beauty that  was downed during a storm last Spring.  I have all kinds of excuses, one of them being that it's 2 feet wider than my Lucas sawmill is designed to mill.

Friday we finally returned from my friend Joe McPhail's Sassafras on site job with the sawmill, so it was perfect timing (it seemed) to get to this haus.  I'll be feeling much better when we can get it slabbed down to a managable level. 

Although we usually flitch saw our slabs much thicker, we are cutting most of these slabs 1.75" thick.  Being oak, the toughest wood that I've run into yet to dry on this planet, this thickness is more than pushing the boundaries.  And it will be well over a year of air drying before these slabs will be ready for 3 weeks in the kiln then ready for the final step of the process toward it's next life.

And, as part of it's next life, is probably my favorite part of this business.  The part that might make a little difference for the Cramer Children's Center.  Honored to be making and donating a table to the center to be auctioned of with 100% of the proceeds going to however the center would like to use them.   

Cramer Children's Center tree to table

Launching our Internship Program

Launching our Internship Program

Do you know a journalsim student that needs some real world experience?  Are you a tree-hugger that would like to spread the word?  Do you feel like you will need some business references on your resume when you graduate?

If so, our new internship program might just be right for you.  Check it out here, and apply today!

Launching our Internship Program

Three things the Snapfish folks didn't tell us!

Three things Snapfish didn't tell us

When we received the invitation email from the Snapfish team, sharing that out of 90 million members we were one of their MVMs (most valuable members) and they wanted us (along with three others) to come to San Francisco for a visit, we were quite shocked. As a population, Californians seem to be the biggest fans of
my "slow furniture" line so far, and I jumped at this quite unexpected invite to connect.
Soon after responding that we'd be honored to attend, we received an itinerary with the bulk of our three-day stay mapped out—hour by hour. 
Although the Snapfish email went through a very detailed account of what to expect, there were three things they didn't mention.

1. Snapfish didn't tell us we'd be speaking to all 200 Snapfish employees on day one.  Clearly, when Gita Vaysburg, Snapfish' Customer Experience Marketing Manager, emailed the invite only a few weeks ago, she didn't want to scare us. And she probably would have had they spilled the beans of this meeting. So on the morning of day one, Barry (Herstein, Snapfish CMO) began easing us into what we'd be doing in just a few hours. It was Snapfish' annual townhall meeting, and their first annual MVM (most valuable members) thank you and the event was simulcast to their overseas offices.  

2.   Snapfish didn't tell us that the first half of day two would be nothing but hair and makeup—for all of us!  And the second half of day two was photo shoot.  

When traveling, I've  enjoyed fitting in with the locals. You know, kind of a "when in Rome" philosophy. But I never imagined taking it as far as "hair and makeup" while in San Francisco.   The Snapfish team did a great job dancing around getting my little camera-shy mind off the camera, and sort of making us all feel a little like rock stars or something - at least for a couple of hours.  When the shoot was done, Joey Soriano (Snapfish Loyalty Marketing Officer) and Gita (Vaysburg - Snapfish Customer Experience Marketing Manager) took us on a personal walking tour of SF.  We kinda split up.  Gita took the gals shopping, all except for Linda who joined Joey and mua for a insider's look at Chinatown.  Really fun.  We didn't have tIme to go to the hotel and wash up, so we ended up running around all over San Fran made up!!  Hoping it was a bit more like George Clooney than Rue Paul (at least for my part.  
Dinner was at Morton's.  We filled a downstairs private room and the pampering and catering to all/well most needs continued.  Kind of interesting how each wonderful meal we seemed to be hanging out with the same number of young, super smart internet startup types.  But each meal it seemed like there was a new batch.  Quite amazing just how intelligent and diverse this team is.  Each one with amazing expertise in various aspects of their niche.  At Morton's Linda and I were seated next and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Susan (Jit - Snapfish affiliate Marketing Mgr?).

3.   Snapfish didn't tell us that we'd be best friends with the entire Snapfish gang by the time they were done with us. Obviously we were off to a good start, since since we were all already bonker's over their incredible products and service. But it is quite amazing that after getting to know the team behind the Internet interface, that we MVMs were pretty much falling head-over-heals for them. Clearly they must have been on their best behavior, and maybe we didn't get to test all the programmers & engineers social graces, but I think I can speak for the entire group of MVMs in saying that we appreciate and respect the entire Snapfish team.  And it was really cool that we got to meet the guys that seem to direct this inspirational bunch;  Helen (Vaid - VP and General Manager) and work with Barry (Herstein - Chief Marketing Officer)

Three things the Snapfish folks didn't tell us!

Do you believe Obama is a Muslim - Alabama survey

Do you believe Obama is a Muslim -  Alabama survey

When Linda arrived to work this morning, she was laughing, telling me "You've gotta hear about this morning's NBC Alabama voter poll.  She went on to say that their (NBC's) poll revealed that 45% of Alabaman's believe that our President is a Muslim.  Linda said that even Chuck Todd, NBC's chief Whitehouse correspondent didn't believe the poll, and thought that Alabama residents were just pressing that button to get off the phone or??

So, I immediately moved into a judgement stance about the way Alabama is portrayed in the media.  Seems like only the rare, really idiotic stuff makes the national news and headlines. To disprove NBC's "idiotic" opinion poll, that clearly was wrong, at my favorite lunch spot, "The Rice Box" just a mile north of the University of North Alabama campus, I ran my own poll. 

I went around to every table and asked the question;  "Do you believe that President Obama is a Muslim?"

Several folks didn't want to answer, including a couple of police officers.  One said they thought he was not a Muslim, but added that he "is not a U.S. citizen".

So here's the results I obtained at lunch:

1)  Believe that President Obama is a Muslim    7

2)  Do not believe that President Obama is a Muslim   15

Let me also add that almost everyone seemed uncomfortable discussing it.  On both sides of the issue.  But the ones that did think President Obama to be a Muslim seemed really pissed about it.  Not only did they think he was a Muslim, they were really mad about it.

My conclusion:

Gosh, I live in my own little world.  I had no clue that I'd find these results.  And the truth of the matter is that I believe I may have biased the results toward the NO side.  I'm guessing that the young college crowd, and sushi and stir fry crowd might generally lean toward not believing this information.

Conclusion II:  I think it's subconscious, but I believe many of us in the South have learned not to discuss these types of issues because,

1)  No one is ever able to sway their friend's minds on the issue

2)  It only seems to piss everyone off.  These conversations can/will escalate to a point that isn't very comfortable.

This wasn't the first time I've been VERY wrong.  I doubt it'll be the last.  Just seems like a lot of issues need to be discussed around here.  Just not sure I've got the time, energy, patience, etc.  Actually I'm pretty sure I don't.  Any other suggestions?

Do you believe Obama is a Muslim -  Alabama survey

SF Farmer's Market Saturday

SF Farmer's Market Saturday

Saturday morning, Linda was enjoying the morning in bed, so I snuck out and walked down to the Ferry building for this amazing farmer's

market.  I love our local farmer's market here in Florence Alabama.  But I'm glad our's isn't in

competition with this one.  These guys take farmer's markets to the next level.  And, I'm afraid it's not just in San Francisco.  The entire state seems to excel at fresh produce, fresh baked goods, really healthy stuff, and some over the top tasty not so healthy stuff as well - including baked goods and pig parts, just to name a few.

Living in a town that you can get around so well by walking, bike or even skateboard is so cool, and healthy.  I met my new friend and urban planning student, Jaren Abedania there and got to visit for a bit.  A local SF native, living in Chinatown, graduate in architecture from Georgia Tech.  His interest in architecture, sustainability and urban planning is contageous.  We had lot's to talk about.  I had ton's of questions.  Lot's of fun before he had to rush off on his skateboard to take a train (maybe BART) somewhere.

Just as he was leaving, Linda arrived and we had a wonderful farmer's market lunch overlooking the Bay.

SF Farmer's Market Saturday

Palace Hotel - more pics

 

 I'm back home going through all these pics from the Snapfish visit last week.  And there's no way I can trash the digits of this beautiful old Hotel before I post them.  This has to be one of the great old, beautifully remodeled hotels.  At over $300 per night, I won't be moving in soon.  But Linda and I certainly enjoyed our stay.

Snapfishing at the Slanted Door last week

Snapfishing at the Slanted Door

I've got so many pics and stories from last weeks visit to the Snapfish headquarters in San Francisco.  So I'm going to try to upload a bunch here, before I get lost back in my world again.  These pics were taken at the Slanted Door, one of several over the top fab San Francisco restaurants their amazing marketing shared with us.

Ok, to explain a few of these pics;  I think the best explanation I can give is that just about everything about this restaurant is over the top super cool.  Great views.  Great vibe.  Awesome attentive wait staff.  Even the wood tables were super cool slabs of some type of west coast, hopefully sustainable (I'm guessing it is) light hardwood.

Even the little toilet room had beautiful slab shelves.

Ok, chalk this one up to Alabama boy hasn't been out much lately, but that was my first experience in a unisex bathroom.  You know I had to get some snaps whlie I was in there!!

These guys turned one of my favoriate food types - Vietnamese - on it's head and jazzed it up a bit.  Whatever they are doing it's working.  LOOOOVED this place!  Great fun with the Snapfish team at the Slanted Door last week.

Snapfishing at the Slanted Door

The Snapfish San Francisco Schmooze

The Snapfish San Francisco Schmooze

I thought I knew maybe more than a little something about the art of the schmooze.  But after a few days here in San Francisco with most of the Snapfish team, I can tell you - I knew nothing.  Four of us, from all parts of the country, have been under the spell of Snapfish this week. 

It was an all out, no holds (thanks O!)barred shmooze assault - and we all enjoyed every moment of it. 

It began each morning at 8, and lasted as long as we could take it - certainly through scrumptious, expenisive, fun filled meals.

Now what made it of particular interest to me was learning about this super cool, super successful, American internet marketing company.  And, because it was clear that internet marketing is my number one hobby, they pretty much opened the gates to all resources.  They even made their SEO experts join us for dinner and drinks at dinner one night, just to answer any questions I had.

As always, I was quite "snappy" and will follow-up with a ton of pics and details of the trip. 

The Snapfish San Francisco Schmooze

The Palace Hotel San Francisco

The Palace Hotel San Francisco

To say that our accommodations are unusually luxurious for this Alabama couple is an understatement.  Linda and I arrived at the Palace Hotel around 8:00 last night, and really haven't had a chance to take it all in. Wonderful to visit the grand dame clearly from another time. 

I think it's been 15 years or so since I've visited SF, and don't remember dates and details of her history.  Wondering if this hotel might have survived the late 1800's fire?  -- Will have to check it out. 

Will try to get some better pics before we check out Sunday.

The Palace Hotel San Francisco

A new beginning for this massive sassafras tree

A new beginning for this massive sassafras tree

Typically we don't take the time to move our Lucas sawmill to slab a log onsite.  But we were happy to make an exception for our arborist friend Joe McPhail, who recently lost his massive sassafrass tree in his back yard. Monday we broke down our Lucas sawmill, loaded it up on our trailer, and move the sawmill operation across the Tennessee River and into Joe's back yard.

Some of the limbs are huge, but the base of this beautiful sassafras measured a massive 70".  We just took a couple of quick cuts to make sure all is in order before calling it  day.  Since I was in the air most of the day Tuesday, I don't know what kind of progress they've made so far. But can't wait to see this beauty in slabs. 

Really hate that Joe lost this beauty.  Also really love that we are able to begin the process of a beautiful second life for her. 

Oh, don't let me forget to share the amazing aroma that permeated the neighborhood as we made the two cuts.  (I've gotta find some sassafras perfume for Linda!!).

A new beginning for this massive sassafras tree