The sounds become louder as soon as the door is opened. Under your foot the cool cement floor is blanketed with wood shavings. The air is warm with a combined smell of fresh baked bread and newly turned wood. Delicious. Mom had sent the bread out earlier to be baked in the wood cook stove that also provides heat for the shop. The building is packed to its limit with odd looking tools of every kind. I know they each serve their own purpose, but I have, on occasion, wondered why a huge tool that can do everything has yet to be invented. I will be the first to admit that the workshop is pretty foreign territory to me.

Andrew occupies the first section of the shop where the work benches are. There, stools and end tables as well as other sets of small furniture are daily being created. The next section of the garage is Michael's. As he is just learning some woodworking, he gets advice and help from Dad and Andrew who are overseeing his first creations (which have been pleasantly impressive, in my opinion). The next section of floor space in front of the stove is Stephen's, where the rails for another rocking chair are being pounded into place. After making several small things, plaques, signs, bird houses, etc., Stephen surprised us with a big, beautiful rustic rocking chair. It turned out encouragingly well for his first attempt. The few imperfections in it are being pounded out in the next one that he immediately started constructing. The last available space in the shop appears to belong to Dad, where the whirring of the lathe fills the room with a dull noise. The lathe has to be one of the most fascinating tools to watch in action. The wood spinning, chips flying, tool moving back and forth, and suddenly something is taking shape. After a few more moments, you can usually tell what it is. And a few moments after that, you realize you too have been mesmerized by the machine and have been standing there idly for longer than you anticipated. The finished products are also addictive to the hands. I find myself still palming the darning egg he made me long after the socks are repaired.
My unproductiveness becomes obvious in the productive surroundings and I find myself feeling bad for taking time out of the day to take an idle walk around the farm. However, coming back out, the beauty of the day more than chases away any regretful feelings I may have had. Forgetting the laundry, mending, sewing, and slightly (blush) dirty house, I invite my younger siblings to take a walk out to visit the animals with me. Like Mary in the Bible, there are some days when I feel like choosing the better part.

Anyway, this post wouldn't be complete without sharing tons of pictures!

(Andrew's:)
End table with drawer. Cedar slab front and spruce top... No cheap partical board or veneer in that drawer!



Simple end table with shelf.

Coffee table.. You can see a little shine on the top. Andrew's been using Shellac to finish his work, a natural, hypoallergenic coating that won't off-gas toxic fumes!

We've got a nice stool collection going..


(Stephen's:)
I just love the detail in this cute piece!

A humorous birdhouse.. Good thing birds can't identify a cat without movement!

Steve's especially proud of his rocking chair.. I can testify that it's as comfortable as it looks!

(Michael's:)
A rustic end table.. It's just dying to hold a pot of my flowers!


Pretty self-explanatory.. A handy addition to any hallway!

This is the kind of work that we hope to sell, both locally and online (through our country store) to support our homestead, and decision to break away from the world and live simply on the land as God intended. The boys' creations that you see here are made of all-natural materials mostly gleaned off our land (with, of course, the exception of some finishes or glues, etc.). I just love the way our living room looks and feels decorated with these pieces (now to get some cushions and curtains made up!!). They look great and hold up really well under our heavy abuse. If you or anyone you know would be interested in purchasing the boys' furniture, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us!
Yooper stools! And more sophisticated than the original model... :D
ReplyDeleteWow!!!
ReplyDeleteThose are sooo beautiful and amazing. Next time we need any furniture I will definitely tell my family to look at these!
I can just imagine how homey your house looks right now.... Ahh! beautiful mary thank you so much for sharing!
Those pieces are incredible! I love the bird house, and that chair looks like it just needs a person, a blanket and a good book to boot!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post,
God bless and God be with,
-Sarah
Awesome beyond words!!!
ReplyDeleteGod must be smiling on the Lunds!
I wrote your Mom and I plan on ordering.
Whatever I can do to help you guys out, I will!
Y'all are an INSPIRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!