Album: New side and back yard landscaping
After only 10 years in this house, we finally did something with the back and side yards. For those of you who have never been here, our back yard slopes from right to left at about 30 degrees so the top right is about 20 feet higher than the bottom left. We had three terraces built and used decorative concrete blocks for the walls. Ten yards of fill dirt and 25 of hardwood mulch later, we were ready to plant. There are now about 50-60 new plants (hostas, hydrangeas, coral bells and others) as well as untold numbers of small mondo grass sprigs in the back with more to come. The side yard now has a walk from the family room door to the sidewalk to accomodate Narni's Mom's walks to her car. We also had an irregular shaped patio poured at the same time so she has a place to sit in the shade in the morning and evening if it isn't too hot. More work to be done including a couple benches (yet to be built) and more plants after some rest.

Album: Assorted Black and White Photographs from Europe
A mixed group of photographs taken between 1970-1974 and 1978-1981 while we lived in Europe

Album: Vienna 1973
Under construction - description and more photos to be added soon

Album: Melk on the Danube
Melk is a small village on the banks of the Danube River. It is about half way between Vienna and Salzbug, Austria. We stopped and spent the night there on a trip from Stuttgart to Vienna in 1972 after crossinig the Danube on a river-powered ferry. The Abbey is a very baroque building with rooms full of glided furniture and tapestries on every wall. Nice place to stop on a driving tour through Austria.

Album: Rantoul, Illinois area - 1966
Some very high contrast photographs taken in Rantoul, Illinois in 1966. Most were taken in the railroad yards at the edge of the town. The trees were along a farm road outside of Rantoul.

Album: Shaker Wall Clock
This clock is from a plan in Norm Abram's book of "Mostly Shaker" items. I made one from walnut several years ago. This one is made from Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba). Jatoba is a very hard wood with an unusual range of color and very tight grain. It is tough to work but gives a very smooth finish. This clock is finished with natural Minwax Oil Finish and sealed with two coats of Minwax rub-on poly sealer. Three coats of Briwax and it went up on the wall.

Album: Oak Mission Style Headboard
Queen sized headboard in Mission/Craftsman style made from red oak. Stained with Minwax Oak oil stain and finished with Minwax Wipe-on Poly. No plan - designed while being built.

Album: Dresser Top Jewelry Box
This is an 8 drawer jewelry box made from plans in Woodsmith magazine. The wood is Sapele, a South American hardwood that resembles mahogany and machines very easily. The drawers are Poplar with Sapele fronts. Project finished with Minwax natural oil and waxed. Drawers lined with felt.

Album: Small Walnut Round Top Trunk
Copied from one previously made 6 years ago in larger size. Bottom of trunk and tray from cherry. Trunk from black walnut. Finished with Minwax natural and Minwax RubOn Poly and Briwax.

Album: Replica of Thomas Jefferson's Lap Desk
From plans from Fine Woodworking Magazine. My version of Thomas Jefferson's lap desk. Original made from mahogany is in the Smithsonian Museum. This is made from Sapele with Bocote inlay around the edges of the drawer, back and writing surfaces. FInished with Minwax Natural, Minwax RubOn Poly and Briwax.

Album: Assorted Woodworking Projects
Collection of photos of several different projects built over the past several years. Trying to catch up and post more of the woodworking projects.

Album: Shaker Oval Boxes
Have taken up making Shaker oval boxes as they are both beautiful and can, for the most part, be done in the house rather then the garage which is cold in the winter. These are two sets made over two weekends. The lighter ones are from hickory and the darker from cherry. The Shakers traditionally made them from cherry and maple and, occasionally, pine. The hickory ones were an attempt to use some extra wood I had in the garage. I now know why the Shakers stuck to cherry, maple and pine - hickory splits and is very brittle when it dries.