Comb Back

This week starts the completion of 3 Curtis Buchanan inspired comb backs for a customer here locally. He fell in love with this design at the chair show I did in Nashville last fall and wanted them finished naturally (not painted). I used cherry turnings with a butternut seat. The back is still white oak which shaving down to 5/16ths entering the comb cannot be compromised.

I love making these chairs but can't wait to embark on my own designs. Building this new shop has taken all my free time to play with new ideas. Soon I should have the floor finished so I can move in. It won't be long til the craft show at Centennial Park this spring and I have got to produce some nice chairs to show. This is where I can try some new designs and finishes. I'll be posting on these later this winter.

I picked up enough white oak to complete milling the hardwood flooring for the new shop. This is time consuming grunt work but I should have this complete by the end of the week. If all goes well I should be moving into the new shop later next week. Thanks to Anthony Watts for all the great 1/4 sawn white oak.

A Good Book

Wintertime in middle Tennessee can be brutal. This week we have dropped to single digits with snow chances in the forecast. I have ran out of white oak for the flooring and plan to get more later this week so not much work is getting done on the new shop. I did pour the footings for the front and rear porches.

I have been burning wood in the new stove and the shop is very comfortable. During the day when I can catch a break I love to read a good book rather than watch T.V. This reminds me of a poster in Kelly Mehler's school that is titled "How to Build Community" which the first line says to turn off the T.V. Check it out, it makes a lot of good sense. I will sit by the wood stove and read. Some of my favorite books have always dealt with people who get off the couch and do something amazing. I have always enjoyed the story of Richard Proenneke's "One Man's Wilderness". This is an amazing true story of a guy who gave up society and built a cabin in Alaska. Another favorite is the true story of Peter Jenkins' "A Walk Across America" who travels on foot to get to know the country. If you like fiction check out "Jayber Crow" by Wendell Berry. He brings to life a fictitious town of Port William. I like the way he writes and phrases things. It brings back to life a time I wish I knew. I also love to read Stephen Ambrose books on American history including "Nothing Like it in the World" about the building of the transcontinental railroad, and my favorite "Undaunted Courage" about the Lewis and Clarke expedition.

I am always looking for good books to read and I love when people refer a good book they have read to me. This is one reason I am telling you about some of my favorites. So go pick up a good book and turn off that T.V.