Recent Events

Our days have been pretty quiet since our return from Scottsdale last month. Kathie and I have both been chipping away at yard work since the days have turned nicer–raking up sticks and leaves, improving flower beds, and mowing for the first time. There will be more of that, of course, as it is pleasant being outdoors.

Before we head north for the summer, we have also been trying to catch up with friends and relatives. For example, last Monday morning we invited Rex and Chris to join us for breakfast and to celebrate Rex's birthday. They have been retired for almost one year already, and so it was fun to hear about their activities, travels, projects, and plans.

We have also turned some attention to our hobbies. Kathie finished a crocheting project recently–a carseat blanket for a recently-born great nephew who we expect to meet in May. I finally finished making two nightstands to accompany a bed I made several years ago. This furniture is made of maple with padauk accents. Padauk comes from central and western Africa and is an orange/red wood that I first worked with back in my high school shop class. When finished, it turns an almost burgundy color and is quite beautiful I think. The bed and the nightstands both have padauk slats and inlay on the legs. I chose to make the tops of the nightstands from padauk and to turn the drawer pulls from that wood as well. Here is one of the nightstands.

And here is the bed with the two nightstands in place.