Good Monday Morning Patriot Woodworker's!

Well here we go again, the madness of the week starts over and we all roll up our sleeves and get back at it. This weekend I made a trip with my oldest daughter into the lumber store to pick up some walnut, birch and maple for some plaques that I am on the hook for. Her high school club Patriot Tigers is hosting a dinner for the veterans who work in their school district in a few weeks, and part of that dinner includes the presentation of some "Thank you for your service" plaques to the 30 plus veterans in attendance.

To see what both our daughters and their club have been up to lately please visit their website at http://patriottigers.weebly.com/

 

This last week mama loaded the kids into our family wagon and shuttled them to the Homes for our Troops event for Army Specialist Jose Martinez. In the image below you'll see all three of our kids actually, one of our daughters are third from left rear row, and the other second from right, and our son is standing at attention with hands braced appropriately and thumbs tucked in per standards to the left of the guest of honor. We are very proud of our kids and their friends, and we are very proud of our daughters for starting this fantastic club in our valley to benefit those who have served. And we are completely honored to have them standing in the presence of "freedom protecting royalty".

The new home in the background is obviously the new home of Spec. Jose Martinez.

 

If any of our Patriot Woodworker's have never been to an event like this, I'd like to encourage you to do so, it's a life changing event to rub shoulders with the men and women who have served, and sacrificed, for us. And the more you become involved with something like this as our family has, the big bothersome things in life, well, they just seem so trivial anymore. Context is gained further, and a perspective is shared and gained.

 

To join these events across our nation please go to:

Homes for our Troops Project Map

 

So, what is on your Patriot Woodworker agenda this glorious week ahead!! Curious minds want to know!

 

John, a great picture representing a great cause and some wonderful kids. Your buttons must be popping. You and your sweet wife must be proud and deservedly so. 

It's chair assembly time here. With time out Thursday for a day's worth of prep for upcoming radiation treatments. It's no big deal, Just gotta travel from here on the mesa, down to Phoenix for the procedure. Then again the following week for an MRI and CAT scan to see if what they did on Thursday held. Then they can schedule the 5 days of radiation. Gotta stay in Phoenix for that.

Hopefully, the chairs will be in a state where Phyllis can sand and finish during the week of radiation. 

Got called to substitute today, in Electronics Technology. Brother still visiting. Got the mortices all done in the kitchen table/island legs now it's on to milling the poplar for the stretchers/shelf supports and cutting tenons.

Really cool, John.

4 hours ago, lew said:

Got called to substitute today, in Electronics Technology. Brother still visiting. Got the mortices all done in the kitchen table/island legs now it's on to milling the poplar for the stretchers/shelf supports and cutting tenons.

Lew, that's why I let my Speech pathologist's license expire and didn't renew my teaching cert. shortly after I retired. I got called 5-6 times during the month or so before the license expired. Did two days and told them not to call me anymore. 

We are nearly at the same stage of our projects. I'm in the midst of tuning the tenons. I like to cut them fat and plane them down for a tight fit.

That's what I'll do with the stretcher/support tenons, too.

 

Normally, my subbing days are pre-scheduled several weeks in advance. I'll only sub in two areas- electronics and computer technologies as those are the areas I taught. It isn't as much fun as it used to be. Hard to believe that philosophies, attitudes and conditions have changed so much in the 13 years since I left the classroom.

Yeah, I really thought being unemployed would be traumatic. It took me about 10 minutes to get over it.

22 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

John, a great picture representing a great cause and some wonderful kids. Your buttons must be popping. You and your sweet wife must be proud and deservedly so. 

It's chair assembly time here. With time out Thursday for a day's worth of prep for upcoming radiation treatments. It's no big deal, Just gotta travel from here on the mesa, down to Phoenix for the procedure. Then again the following week for an MRI and CAT scan to see if what they did on Thursday held. Then they can schedule the 5 days of radiation. Gotta stay in Phoenix for that.

Hopefully, the chairs will be in a state where Phyllis can sand and finish during the week of radiation. 

Gene, thanks for the comments, we are very happy with our kids!

Hey, good luck in your treatment! It sounds like so far the biggest pain in the rear (if it is) is coming off your paradise on the mesa to get to the docs! Do you feel any different? Any visible symptoms? I wish you the best and well Gene, hand in there sir, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

22 hours ago, lew said:

Got called to substitute today, in Electronics Technology. Brother still visiting. Got the mortices all done in the kitchen table/island legs now it's on to milling the poplar for the stretchers/shelf supports and cutting tenons.

Your a busy man Lew! So, how'd the class go?

19 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis, Jr said:

Really cool, John.

It is Fred! Thanks for that. I have missed the last few events for Homes for our Troops, I have had some grand slam weekends so far this year, full of "STUFF!" that I cannot get away from and need my attention. But my wife has picked up the slack and taken over the HFOT event calendar and she has made sure our kids and their friends are getting their "payback" time in and showing our appreciation for service. Actually it's not that hard, our kids are out of bed before us on those weekends ready to meet the troop and volunteer. They love the experience too.

32 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Gene, thanks for the comments, we are very happy with our kids!

Hey, good luck in your treatment! It sounds like so far the biggest pain in the rear (if it is) is coming off your paradise on the mesa to get to the docs! Do you feel any different? Any visible symptoms? I wish you the best and well Gene, hand in there sir, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Thanks for the good wishes, John.

No symptoms and don't feel a thing. Doc says that's good because when you do feel it, it's likely too late. If it weren't for my colonoscopy, I would never have known. 

And, you are correct. I only go to Phoenix for lumber or to catch a plane. It's a four hour drive and (for me) a traffic nightmare when I get there. 

Thanks again, but no need to worry about me. Everything is going to be just fine. 

 

2 hours ago, John Morris said:

Your a busy man Lew! So, how'd the class go?

Good day, as always.

I've been a bit busy in the shop and trying to get ready to retire. 18 more working days and I will join the ranks of the retired. March 25th is the magic day. Got all signed up for SS last Friday so I am just waiting on the day now.

 

In the shop I am working on two Lego tables, a Cedar chest, a Mitten Chest, three chess boards, cutting boards, a Gun Display case and a night stand. Just a few things on the list. I am afraid the hobby is getting a bit large but I'm thankful for the business.

 

Sorry I have missed the past couple of Fridays, but hope to be back at it this week.

 

Have a great week

Hey John, you may have to come out of retirement so you don't have to work so much!

2 hours ago, John Morris said:

Hey John, you may have to come out of retirement so you don't have to work so much!

You may be right JOHN. I had spare time before.