A Few of My Favorite Things
by Steven D. Johnson
Racine, Wisconsin
This month:
•
These Are A Few Of "My Favorite Things"
•
Measuring & Marking Out Desk Joinery
•
DTEW Quick Hits — Money Saving Quick Tip
•
2010 — A Look Back
These Are A Few Of "My Favorite Things"
When Mary Martin first sang the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic in 1959 it quickly, and quite
irrevocably, became one of "my favorite things." While not specifically a holiday song, I seem to
hear it a lot from Thanksgiving to Christmas and on through to the New Year. Its simple triadic
structure makes even this tone-deaf woodworker capable of mouthing the lyrics.
Just like "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen
mittens" some of my favorite things in the shop are not what you might imagine. Yes, of course, it
is hard to envision working without a band saw, jointer, or even a No. 4 smoother, but it would be
harder yet to imagine enjoying my shop time without my electric cup warmer. Yes, this lowly
appliance is one of "my favorite things" since it keeps my ever-present coffee hot.
My iPod speakers are another "favorite thing." While I love the portability of the iPod and the
ability to find and play music virtually instantly, ear buds and headphones are restrictive and make
me feel isolated – at least isolated from ambient sounds. The speakers are wonderful and the remote
control makes the system awesome.
There are more "non-tool" favorites in the Down to Earth Workshop. As I am writing this, I am
sitting on one. It is an old wooden stool, formerly relegated to the basement. No, I did not build
it. It came from a discount store, and for close to fifteen years has dutifully accommodated my
posterior.
In the winter, Burt’s Bees hand salve is a welcome addition to the shop, as is New Skin liquid
bandage. What inevitable and annoying little cracks that open up in hard-working hands that aren’t
prevented or cured by Burt’s salve are quickly sealed with New Skin.
I enjoy the background noise of a television in the shop and though not usually a "hat person," I
do love my wool cap on cold winter days. A wipe-off marker board and corkboard are excellent
accessories for "reminders to self." My beat-down and beat-up battery-powered pencil sharpener is
another non-tool tool that gets used a lot.
What are your favorite things? Take a trip over to the
Highland Woodworking Blog
and post your list. No
rules, but let’s see how many non-traditional woodworking things show up...things you would not
normally find in a woodworking store.
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