the Christmas Rush

Christmas is always a tough time for me. I have to be one of the worst procrastinators I know. Last year I had big plans with some dovetailed boxes for some special ladies and some old style tool boxes for the little men that I know. The bad part was, I rushed the ones for the kiddos and then couldn't get my mom her dovetailed box until several months later.

Oops. Awesome planning on my part. I'm a big boy, I can admit it! I'm not quite sure how to change 37 years of behavior, but at least the special women in my life tell me they understand...not that they accept it... but they understand!

This year I'm changing it up a little bit and working on several projects at the same time, and keeping them very similar. This allows me to do a little bit more of an assembly line type of process. Hopefully with so many projects in work at the same time I can keep from getting distracted with something else...it's worth a shot..

And the Winner is....

So here I am, minding my own business, and what do I receive?

A picture of three saw benches, descending in size, made my younger brother and his two very fine sons! I think they are trying to show their Uncle up! Shoot, it took me two tries to get mine right, and here they are building 3 good benches at the same time! Frustating...just plain frustrating...

Good job boys!

My last visit with my family included building a trebuchet out of PVC and a spring pole lathe, which was an outstanding couple of days. I can't wait to see what the next trip brings!

Seeing my brother with his boys working with their hands brings me hope that not everyone in this world would just stare at me in confusion if I asked for some help and handed them a hammer...

Thank You

Probably one of the most difficult things I have to do every week is balance family, work, and shop time. It's a delicate balance, to say the very least. Now that I've added blogging to help chronicle my endeavors for my little one who is on the way (sure it's a little selfish/hopeful to think he/she will have the slightest inclination to see how I learned) and to give me something to look back and reflect on, it just makes things that much more difficult to juggle.

I have to say that none of it would be possible without my wife. Her patience with me and my hobby/addiction is completely amazing. I think she knows and accepts--though she may not understand--that I would love to be in the shop after I get home from work. Even if it's after 8 PM like many nights, I could easily walk into the shop for the next couple hours, shower, and hop in bed, my mind still whirling around the project in work or the next one on the list and what I could get done the next night.

Dinner? No biggie, I ate twice today already.

It's tough, and I know a lot of other people have to deal with the same thing, whether it be woodworking, writing, painting, or anything else that people find in their lives for which they have a passion. Fortunately for me, my more accepting half is somehow alright with me spending an entire day of a weekend and often much more--almost every weekend--in my shop.

So thank you to all of the people in our lives who deal with us at our most inattentive. We couldn't be this messed up--or happy--without your support.

And now that the shop is just about back in order, it's time to start looking at other legacies for my little one...something made with love and wood...


Josh