David A. Hughes, Ph.D.
@davidhughesphd
Political scientist studying American law and courts, state politics, and southern politics | Coonhound dad | Southern highlander
Not much to look at, but this is my first effort at turning--in this case a drawer pull. I immediately understand how folks fall im love with this.
What I need to do is knock out the 100 of the 235 miles of the AT I still haven't done from the trail's southern terminus up to the northern end of the Smokies. But I've fallen in love with the highlands in northern NC and southern VA. I was there last fall, and it was stunning.
I think the idea is to start at Iron Mountain Gap and hike north to US 19E. The tricky part of this, however, is that a loop isn't possible, meaning I'll have to arrange a shuttle--which I hate. But I also hate re-hiking the same trail twice, so we'll have to live with it.
Planning my annual fall backpacking trip, and I believe I'll be headed up to the Roan Highlands along the NC/TN border near southwestern Virginia. Right now I'm looking at about 30 miles across what are some of the most beautiful portions of the Appalachian Trail.
Restocked on shop lumber. Once it's dried, I'll begin building my new office suite. First, I'm going to reproduce this G. Stickley desk (making it a bit bigger). Then this Morris reading chair, though I'll fiddle around with its design too. Finally, a bookcase, design TBD.
This shaker step stool turned out alright. My dovetails have improved a lot but far from perfect. I pegged the stretcher with ebony. Good look with the cherry.
Need a side table for my living room and thinking of reproducing this cellarette. I haven't yet tried doing inlays, but, theoretically at least, it should be pretty doable with a router and guide. I like the reeded moulding and the brass casters too.
Every once in a while I revisit this. The questions are oversimplified, but it does a pretty good job getting me right. This makes me look like a swing voter, but until Republicans have worked Trumpism out of their system, I won't vote for them and haven't in over a decade.
Finished out this mahogany box today. All scrap except brass hardware. Cost me less than $10 or so. Pretty happy with it. A fun project!
Put the last coat of poly on this table, and im calling it done. The tiger stripes pop nicely on the drawer. Fun project!
The hounds have been napping especially hard on this rainy day.
This table is really coming along. Just neeed to build the drawer and lower shelf, then hang the leaves. Getting a clear shellac finish.
Beginning to resemble a table. Hardware for the drop-leaves should arrive today.
My first original design for a piece of furniture. Dry fit is reasonably good, so I'm ready to sand, assemble, and stain. Far from perfect, but I'm improving.
All the lolz. Givan took a major swing at Woodfin, circled round on the whiff, and socked herself right out of office.
And here Claude expanded it further. Kind of fun to look at.
Because I tend to be drawn to the sound of Laurel Canyon music, I had Claude make a network analysis of collaborators. A lot favorites in here! Mostly unsurprising, but I was a little surprised to see Linda Ronstadt as such a major node. Guess I'll have to buy more of her stuff.
Having always lived in the South, I was kind of taken aback when the poll worker in her 70s yesterday mispronounced my name. Hughes is a pretty common surname, especially in the South. I had Claude plot how common it is, and maybe Acadiana gets a break, but come on. It's common.
The traditional wood is quarter-sawn white oak, but that crap's insanely expensive. White ash would look good too, but the classic rays of quarter-sawn white oak are uniquely beautiful when given a vibrant stain (see below for example of this style wood and stain).
I (sort of) figured out how to use SketchUp. First effort: an arts and crafts (mission) occasional/side table. Not big, but I'm going to build a pair of these to sit next to some leather chairs in the living room (21" tall and 16" in diameter).
Consumer sentiment in the garbage can. Worse even than during COVID, the 2008 financial crisis, and even the period of stagflation in the 1970s. Just marvel at it.
Installed my new mortising machine today. This puppy is going to be transformative. Grizzly has made a superb, cost-effective product here that produces dead-on mortises with minimal effort.
They won't be winning any beauty prizes, but my shop cabinets are coming along. Next up: Adding drawers, shelves, and doors.
After untold references to it throughout the semester, my students requested an airing of My Cousin Vinny for the end of the semester. The yutes have spoken!