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This spring has been very weird indeed. Every time

This spring has been very weird indeed. Every time I think it’s spring, and the sun is out and I’m working outside in my shirt sleeves, it snows. One day I’ll be milling timbers for my next timber frame (I’m just terribly excited about this one by the way. I think it’ll be my very best work so far) then the next day I’ll be back in my shop, watching eight inches of snow cover those freshly sawn timbers. Whether I’ll be playing frisbee with my son, or sledding on a given afternoon is beyond my ability to predict.

I say this is weird, but this is northern Minnesota. I did sign up for this by moving here. The main thing is to work with the weather. If it’s frigid, I stay in the shop and build furniture. If it’s warm, I mill timber and cut joinery. It’s less frustrating if you can adopt a relaxed attitude about the whole thing.

Two of this winter’s largest commissions, in she

Two of this winter’s largest commissions, in sheer square footage not complexity, are these massive oak and walnut book cases. They’re two feet deep, and will hold a row of books on either side of each shelf. I made one tall narrow compartment in the middle of each, for maps and art books, and maybe a decorative vase.

This brace of book cases are headed up the north shore to a gorgeous big Scandinavian timber frame I helped close in last fall. They’ll create a sort of artificial wall between a kitchen area, and sitting area, and house much of the client’s incredible library. I mean, he’s got a staggering amount of books. Most I haven’t read, but plan to. I’m honored to have built the shelves on which they’ll live.

About a year ago my friend Duane gave me a two foo

About a year ago my friend Duane gave me a two foot long 6x8 chunk of cherry wood he’d had laying around his shop for a decade. I let it hang around my shop another year while pondering what to do with it. Finally, as I knew it would, the right project came into my mind.

This decorative candle holder is modeled after the vaulted ceilings you often see in stone cathedrals. Candle light casts lovely arched shadows. It took way too long to hollow out the curved interior. I used my chain mortiser, a big timber framing plunge router and an age and a half with chisel and mallet. A fun afternoon. And before anyone asks, that’s an electric candle. I don’t want to burn my house down.

Finished with @odiesoil

Duluth is a very cool town. I ran over there with

Duluth is a very cool town. I ran over there with a pile of bur oak to replace my parents’ front steps, which were falling apart. There was a squirrel chewed hole in one of the planks. A bunch of rot in the stringers. I got the old ones torn off before running out of light the day I arrived. The next morning a little herd of deer were hanging out in the front yard. They had no fear of me at all. I’ve lived the vast majority of my life in rural areas, where deer are hunted, and thus run from humans. These deer were like pets. Pedestrians walking past waved and said hello to them. It put a smile on my face all day. If you’ve got to live in a city, Duluth is the place.

Also, the front steps look great. I don’t think I’ve ever walked up a set as solid.

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