Aunt Beth

Happy birthday, Aunt Beth!!!

It's the birthday of my dear Aunt Beth! Jim and I were so fortunate to be able to spend time in her company earlier this fall. We're forever grateful to Aunt Beth for opening her doors to us, our dog, and our four week old child for four weeks. She is truly one of the most hospitable and generous people I have ever known and we felt so fortunate to be able to spend this time with her.

I timidly wrote her an email last spring asking if our stay would be possible and she responded with a "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Of course you can come!"

Growing up I spent every summer of my life at our cabin in Cook Forest, Pennsylvania. Aunt Beth and her family lived forty-five minutes away. Throughout the years she's been a second mother to me. Sharing in the joys and in the woes. This past year and forever more we will continue to mourn, remember, and celebrate the life of my Uncle John, her husband. He was very much a part of our conversations during our time in Tippery Pines. His handiwork surrounded us at every turn in their house and I could picture him sitting in his favorite chairs, stoking the fire, making himself a whiskey, or laughing in his chair at the head of the table. We'd think of some quip he would have said or laugh about what he did say, or shed tears about the hole we knew was missing.

Aunt Beth generously allowed Jim to work in Uncle John's workshop during his time there. She not only allowed him but she strongly encouraged him to use the tools and some of the wood. She said that she enjoyed having a woodworker working in his amazing shop. Jim was honored and decided to build something that we can always cherish. He built Ian a cradle that can serve as a sleeping/lying place now, but in the future can be used as a boat, or whatever he makes it up to be! Thank you SO much for this opportunity, Aunt Beth. We'll always talk about Uncle John whenever he's, or future children are, in the cradle.

Between the conversations, laughter, cuddling and soothing Ian, and family meals every night, we had a great time with our family in Pennsylvania. We hope that you are having a good day today, Aunt Beth! I'm sure that a couple of cute little girls up there are singing you a sweet birthday song today.

We love you!
Käthe, Jim, Ian & Leif

My Mate

This marks the last weekend Jim's home for a month. Well, he'll be home each weekend, if he's not on call, but it's the last weekend for a while where we can both relax, be together, and not have to worry about studying. He has another board exam coming up at the end of June and he's studying furiously for it, but this weekend he's taking some time to just be.

So, what does he do? Devotes his time to woodworking! 

I absolutely love being married to someone who's savvy as a woodworker. He has many talents and I'm grateful that woodworking is one of them! As a high schooler he spent three or four summers working in a cabinet shop. It was there he learned the ins and outs of making custom cabinetry, drawers, or anything wooden that needed to go into a kitchen or bathroom.

His perfectionistic eye combined with artistic and mathematical abilities make each product a quality piece. In my eyes, anyway. He often can point out some sort of flaw, but it's never noticeable. When he finishes a piece he's proud of, it really does look professional. He could easily sell what he makes.

Over the years his workshop has been in our living room or on the porch. One day we hope to have a workshop for him, where he won't have to assemble the wood and tools from closets and under porches. He's resourceful in acquiring wood, since we don't have much money to pour into this passion. Another hope for one day. He makes do and produces great stuff in our limited space and budget.

Anyway! Remember that first adirondack chair he built?

Well, it was time to have a mate for the poor thing.

The tools came out, the sawdust fell, and a new one materialized. All with a gorgeous view to enjoy and the cool breeze blowing all of the sawdust away!

Tonight we plan to relax in our matching chairs and take in the beauty around us. Perhaps there will be a fire, too :)

Now that's a nice way to celebrate our last night together for a while!

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Here's a 20 week picture for those wanting a peek ;)