zakruti.com » Do it Yourself - Handmade » My Self Reliance

Tiny House Furniture, Gratitude, Perspective and Perseverance, Log Cabin Life, Braised Lamb Shanks

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Rating: 4.0; Vote: 1

Using materials from the forest that I've stockpiled for furniture, I build a log chair for the tiny house, the first of two. In my self reflections near the end of the video, I speak about gratitude, perspective and perseverance and how they have helped me to overcome challenges in my life. Tiny house furniture is usually smaller and often multi-functional, but this log chair is not. My wife wanted a chair she could curl up in in front of the fire, so it had to be about 24 inches wide to fit the cheap pillows that she bought for the two wood chairs. My chair will be smaller and dual purpose - to sit facing the fire, but also to turn sideways to work at my corner desk when editing videos on my computer. As usual, Cali, our golden retriever, is at my side while I'm building the furniture, either demanding my attention, entertaining herself or watching me intently, waiting for any indication that I'm done working at ready to play. She loves the outdoors and often chooses to lay on the front porch in the snow while she sleeps or watches for wildlife to chase. The dog follows me around as I collect the balsam fir logs I cut down last March. The weather turns cold and snow, so I spend half of the time debarking the logs inside beside the fire in the wood stove. When it turns sunny and warmer the next day, I am able to work on the sawhorses on the front porch, using my hand tools to carve tenons on the logs. I use a two and a half inch hand auger to drill mortices in the legs and back supports. The logs are 3 to 4 inches in diameter and I drill one and half inch holes to accommodate the tenons. This is a very traditional way of making chairs, but this is the first chair I have ever made. Now that I have a better understanding of how to do it, I'll make the second chair for in front of the fire and then I'll turn my attention to the dining chairs or stools in the kitchen. I want to use smaller diameter logs, probably maple from the forest around the cabin. I don't have a lather, but I can hand carve the wood legs and use an adze to carve a comfortable wood seat
Date: 2020-11-30

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Comments and reviews: 9

Pot
I'm a 38 yr old man, it takes alot to get me emotional, but the reflections part made me tearful, it's made me look at my own life, and I don't like what I see, I'm in dept, over weight and generally not a happy guy, and it needs to change, the sad part is, I can't see how, but Shawn your videos are great keep doing what your doing they're opening my eyes to my own life and making me want to be better, thank you
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Gary
Thank you for your perspective. I have just got through a tough time of being in debt through my own fault. Watching your videos brings me such calmness. Thank you for the calmness, and thank you for everything i have learnt because of you. I'm thankful that there are good souls such as yourself, your wife, and Cali the pup in this world. I hope life brings you only joy.
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Juanita
Glad you changed your perspective, looking at the quality of work you are doing on your cabin, the furniture, your tenacity, your structured habits, your story helps the rest of us whether you can see it or not! Stay reassured that someone is listening! Glad to know you, keep with the videos!
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My
Reading the comments every Friday is something I look forward to all week. The stories you share and positive community vibe here inspires me to keep going. So, THANK YOU! Have a great weekend everyone
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John
Perspective is everything! well said my friend.
We are in North America dont know how good we have it. Wake up and thank God or whomever, every day for your freedom.
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Lou
Your chair looks sweet! Like its much more comfortable because you made it yourself. And dinner with the wife looked delicious. That lamb was especially tender.
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Nikibee
Wise words & guidance towards the end & love this Doris Day quote 'Gratitude is riches, complaint is poverty' Thanks for sharing your experiences
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Barbara
Love the chair. Your cooking makes me hungry. Cali is adorable. Thank you for all you've taught me. God bless you and yours. :)
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Stuart
Love what your doing, we all could be so lucky, it takes a lot of hard work, but life is what you make, love to see callie.
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