I spent the day finishing up a commission piece for a very generous patron who wanted “a longer spoon with grain you can see.” I went with Butternut because the grain is prominent anyway, but I also rubbed it down with cinnamon before I burnished it. During this process, the cinnamon imbeds itself into the grain and really makes it pop, especially with a lighter wood like Butternut.

I always appreciate when commission work comes around. It’s a blessing when someone basically says, “Hey, you know that thing you really love to do? Well, how about you go and do it for me?” And I’m especially grateful when that also happens to involve working in the shop with the door wide open on a beautiful, warm, just-about-spring day.

Between the carving, the music, the weather, and the occasional wave or chat with one of my neighbors, I couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon.

There’s an obvious pattern of abundance in my life lately. Though perhaps it’s more appropriate to say that I’m finally becoming more keenly aware of the abundance that’s always been here, but often times has simply gone unnoticed…