I've wanted to come up with a creative way to display the kid's artwork they bring home from school. Anything would be better than it sitting in a pile on the kitchen counter. This project didn't start out as a solution to this problem, but in the end I think it works well. So what... Continue Reading →
Maybe you'll remember the junk pile at the edge of our property? (Click here to see what I'm talking about) Well I pulled a bunch of wood from it a while ago and set it aside for later use. Old door jambs, window headers and such. It had such a cool chippy look to it I... Continue Reading →
All I want for Christmas is a...bathroom? It was one of the first things on the list when we bought the old farmhouse. A hundred years ago, families were big right? Lots of children running around the house. And only one tiny bathroom? Well, they certainly knew how to make do with less back then.... Continue Reading →
This post is really about a distressing technique I tried over the weekend and wanted to share with you. But it's also a story about a tired old bookcase that's almost 40 years old. When I was growing up, my parents were extremely poor. My dad worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad until he hurt... Continue Reading →
I have an affection for benches. Especially old and worn benches from days gone by. And since we have some space to fill in our turn of the century farmhouse, I thought a turn of the century bench would be a good addition. But I didn't want to go out and buy one. I thought... Continue Reading →
A few years ago, a friend of mine was battling cancer. During the tragic last year of his struggle he chronicled the events of each day for his friends and family and for the online world to see. His goal was to simply not let his sickness erode away the joy in his every day... Continue Reading →
We're having new electricity run in the corn crib and the wood shop, and it won't be finished until Wednesday. No power, no tools. So it's forced me to do other things. And that's good, because I've realized there is still a lot to do on the property before winter really sets in. We've been thinking... Continue Reading →
Crisp mornings. Falling leaves. Thanksgiving. Autumn is in the air and that means the outdoor activities will soon move indoors. Family and friends sitting around the table, sharing a meal and good conversation. Why not make an eye-catching centerpiece that will serve as a focus point and bring it all together? It Started With A... Continue Reading →
If you've followed my blog for a while, you know I love spending time in the wood shop. You could say its kind of my refuge. My happy place. As my kids have gotten older, the wood shop has become a place where they like to hang out too. Evenings after work, I'll slip away... Continue Reading →
It was one of those days where you just want to jump in the truck and go someplace new. Someplace never seen before. Sunny October days in Iowa are made for exploring, driving down a country road, through cornfields now stripped and barren. And if you're lucky that country road might just take you to... Continue Reading →