Wow, finally done. 30 platters were shipped out on Friday. I think the first three were o.k. after that I was hoping they would finish themselves.

That persimmon is quite the wood. It's very dense and difficult to finish sand, but when it's done wow. It always amazes me that from one piece of wood you can get such a different look by the way it's cut.

Picked up redbud,maple and walnut yesterday. The redbud came from good friends Bob and Bonnie Rike (2 dye 4 tie dye queen). You'll find Bonnie and her awesome dyed tees and trunks at the South of the James market in the Forest Hill Park every Sat. from 8-12. The tree is still standing, well actually leaning and I only have a large branch. It will be enough to make spoons and spreaders though. The walnut and maple came from another friend Todd Carey down on Charles city road (quite a hike). Todd raises alpaca. He had to cut down the walnut because it is toxic to alpaca.

It's been a productive week I think. A good variety of wood was carved as well as a variety of items. River Birch spoons, Magnolia spoons, Poplar ladle, Sweet Gum spoons, Walnut spreaders and Cypress platters. Sawdust is really starting to build up in the shop.

Well we are back from a work get away from a friends place down in N.C.. A little work on the house and a little work on carving. That's Ro and Lillie Mae taking in the sunset. It was very nice to work out of the back of the truck and check out the scenery.

Back to new wood.
Returning from the river with the dog earlier this spring. I came into Oakhill Estates from the back side on Melton Rd. which I never do, and took 2 lefts which turns you facing back. I passed right by a house with a pile of magnolia cut to 5'. Pulled in the driveway and went to the door. He told me it was cut down that day and the rest would be picked up the next morning. I came back after unloading the truck and dog then brought home 30'. The first bowl was a pleasure to carve(2nd.,3rd.,4th. ect. ect.). It's a very heavy wood, dense with a lot of water weight. The grain is creamy smooth with no transition from hard to soft texture within the growth rings. For such a wet wood it is very stable during it's cure time which is surprisingly short.