I wrote this a month ago, amid the tortuous delirium that is the holiday season.
Compiling images from the prior month or so before that
so here it is, entirely unfinished, no snazzy intro, we're just gonna jump in 'cause it ain't gonna get posted otherwise

(nothing here, just a breath before the onslaught)

-the big curves had to be at least close, as the groove would conceal all but the most egregious of disparity

using a combination of rip saw, hatchet, slick and spokeshave I got as close as possible, then removed an eighth from the bottom edge so the whole panel will float between the two rails

Simply a matter of trial and error

The biggest challenge by far is the lack of space in my shop, most of the parts are nearly eight feet

definitely bashed my headlights with a plane a time or two

double check the groove before cutting

cutting the tongue and tenon is simple and straightforward

and chopping the mortice and groove is equally quick

What a pleasure when the whole assembly slides home freely-

I had every intention to complete this post long before the new year
I was distracted by other endeavors

which would turn out to be dead ends
then come home to a whole new project

and am still seeking moments to find that one through to completion

wedge

In all my time working in wood I have never actually tried a wedged through mortice and tenon joint before this point

my third wedge broke going in and I realized I should have done all the wedges in oak
lost another three along the way

there's a raw brutality to the freshly glued joint
and a really humble finish

stands on its own, good sign

time to cut down the legs

forgot to take a single photo making the wedges, really nothing you haven't already seen

What do you do with that really gnarly off-cut of poplar that can't be used on anything else?

Trimmed up the overhang

solid

and the whole reason I made this, a trip to woodworker mecca
Keim Lumber in the heart of Amish country
seriously the best selection of high quality wood, clearly labeled, priced, and sorted alphabetically. Each piece squarely cut on the ends and (no shit) sanded both sides

This is just one of the multiple aisles of lumber
I found the three slabs myself and an incredibly humble and helpful fellow lead me to the cut off pallet in one of the numerous other buildings for the 12/4

All at less that half what I would have paid here in the 216
I indulged in a modest and fulfilling lunch in the upstairs cafe overlooking the most glorious sight of every single item I've ever seen in a woodworking catalogue
except for the hand tools, never found those

contrast

This is wood

but not like any wood you've ever known
this wood is from a tree that sprouted from a seed long before any white European ever set foot on this continent
it was cut down by a white European and nailed to the side of his building
it will now adorn the top of a piece for Matt

this is also wood

wood from a tree that was more than likely grown on a tree farm specifically to be harvested and put on a rack in your favorite big box store

it is also for Matt

I will give both my undivided attention

and try to do my best to make the most efficient use of all of it

though just through the simple act of what I do, it will still be an incredible waste

see

that was only the first round

the final outcome sans two movable shelves

climax

 a fortuitous temporal alignment

huge jobs
strenuous after eight hours of labor
weeks of tiny steps

tiny projects of a few minutes

stepping into the abyss
face first

the two pieces are finally joined

an exploration in detail

unspeakable thoughts seeing it the first time

it's a treasure hunt
each detail hints to the next
a roadmap of the struggle

each step reveals yet another wonder

for once I'm speechless