Last week's Toolbox Tuesday post covered everything we looked for and our ultimate choice in the Porter Cable router that we purchased . While shopping for a router, I knew I wanted to use it for was to tackle the staircase wainscoting task. I also knew that the work couldn't easily be accomplished without a decent router table and fence setup to cut the rails, stiles, and panels.
If you're not already aware of my woodworking tool philosophy when it comes to tool or accessory selection, it's really a simple reliance on the question "WWND" (What Would Norm (Abram) Do)? If you've read previous posts, you know I lean on the answer to this question pretty heavily as it relates to many of my tool purchases, including the router. The choice in a router table was actually very similar and I relied on the internet advice of my woodworking idol to steer me in the right direction. While looking around the New Yankee Workshop website for the router that Norm Abram uses, I noticed the plans he had available to construct a fully functional router table and bench. The New Yankee router table is great! It has drawers for your bits and parts, a dust collection area with plexi-glass door, and a high quality custom fence. I decided to order a copy of the plans intent on building a really nice router table... Sure this was several years ago and it isn't really started...I'm getting to it, don't rush me :-)
Anyhow, one of the really nice things about the plans is that they rely on a Rockler package for the table top. This package includes the router table, fence, and high quality guides. It was really perfect for our needs and allowed me to quickly build a basic router table to begin construction on the wainscoting.
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We had another wonderful 4th of July holiday yesterday. I honestly can't think of a better place to spend the 4th than in Washington D.C. Wendy and I have lived here since August 2000, and we've gone to the National Mall to watch the fireworks each and every year. Quite honestly, every year I think it is the best fireworks display that I've ever seen. Although, this year we really cut it close on time.
It seems we have the trip downtown down to a science. We left the house just after 8:00pm, walked to the metro, hopped the blue line to the Arlington Cemetery stop, and began the trek across the Memorial Bridge towards the Lincoln Memorial. We noticed the time was getting tight, so we put a little speed in our walking to get there on time, and I'm quite glad we did. We sat down in a small patch of grass right in front of the Lincoln Memorial with a beautiful view.
No sooner than I took those two pictures the announcer on the speaker system said the fireworks would be starting in about 90 seconds. Not too bad, but I'd like to give us a little wiggle room next year.
Right on cue, the first fireworks shot into the air.
In 2010 the National Park Service added a loudspeaker system to play music during the fireworks. Honestly, I liked it better without the music. You are so close to the fireworks that you can feel them, and in my opinion, there's no need to additional sound. Maybe next year they can just turn it down a little. (Did I really just type that? I must be getting old.)
Here is a little video I shot of the fireworks and the grand finale. Obviously, an iPhone camera (or really any camera at all) doesn't do it justice. The colors, the sounds, and the feeling are just something you have to experience in person.
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Home to George Washington, originally proposed location of the Federal City, and a significant location for many of the forefathers and historically important personalities in the fabric of the United States, Old Town Alexandria is often blanketed in a patriotic show of red, white, and blue. As one might expect, this typically exuberant display is dialed up a notch for the 4th of July.
A few days ago, we covered what we at Old Town Home do to celebrate the 4th of July . Our display of patriotism, though modest, we feel it is appropriate for a Victorian aged home such as ours.
But we wanted to take you around Old Town to give you a taste of other city blocks and what its residents do to show their American spirit.
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I can't think of a day much better than any Saturday of a three day weekend, it's really hard to beat. So much potential, so much to accomplish, and a whole three days, not the measly two we are used to.
But, as Ferris Bueller has wisely informed us, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
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We seized the opportunity to enjoy a little relaxation time before we broke into our to do list. This may be why our renovation is taking a lot longer than it should, but it's also what lets us be normal people while renovating, rather than DIY Psychos.
What did we do to enjoy the day? Two words, urban hammock.
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With the 4th of July holiday looming and only a few short days to prepare for our barbecue with friends , my thoughts have turned to the logistics of a fun and festive menu. If you've read any of my previous entertaining posts, you'll know that cupcakes are my specialty, and this holiday is no exception. My clear choice for a dessert offering in this instance will be cupcakes with a patriotic flair.
Relying on my tried and true method of using boxed cake mix with a twist, I plan on baking vanilla or white cake with vanilla frosting. The festive nature in this case will come more from the paper wrappers and accoutrements than the actual cake itself, but my cake selection stems from the fact that I want a light colored cake as to not bleed through the decorative paper.
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