Can I just say how much I love spring. The last week, after the deluge of rain, was one of the prettiest weeks we’ve had in months and I was able to take full advantage of it. With the onset of spring weather means the shop gets used more…and the shop likes that. The garden planting has begun with onions and potatoes in the ground and it’ll be time to mow in less than a week! I’m so excited (I know it’s weird to be excited about mowing). So, here’s a little run down of the projects that are done, in progress, or to be done.

I kicked things off by making some baby furniture, a dresser/changing table and chest of drawers, for our good friends the Feezels. (they are my 1st paying furniture customers) The furniture turned out very nice and Tiffani is loading it up with baby gear and will forward me pictures soon.

Next, I decided to finally do something about my dust collection, or lack of, in my shop. I spend enough time woodworking that not having dust collection means a real danger to my health in the long run. My friend Scott Sutton and I tackled the task on Friday after he got through working on his kitchen doors. I then spent most of the day fitting all the runs in and making the “drops” and hooking things up. Saturday night was the inaugural run for the “octopus” as Steph calls it (you’ll see why in the pictures). It turned out great and I’ve been amazed at how well it picks the dust up so far from my big tools.

Finally, today, I began work on the adirondack benches that were promised to our mothers last mothers day. I am excited to finally complete these so our moms can begin enjoying them. (no pictures of these yet…they will follow by the end of the week hopefully).

The next projects are: working on trim in the house, building 2 more benches that my friends want to buy, planting more stuff in the garden (mom and dad are coming down for easter and dad “the garden king” is going to help me with irrigation and planting more stuff).

We are trying to find things to do to raise money for the impending adoption…and although time consuming, I thought building some furniture for “auction” might be a cool idea. This is where we need some INPUT from the BLOG READERS! Let us know what you think about me making a few pieces of furniture for auction and what pieces you think would be best and appeal to the largest crowd.

Below is a picture of the “octopus” and a shop tour! Enjoy!