An Artist's Look at The Landing's Cabinet Shop

Every year The Landing, a living history museum in Shakopee, MN, celebrates the holidays by holding the Folkways of the Holidays. This event is held on weekends in December and shows visitors how Christmas and Hanukkah were celebrated on the Minnesota frontier during the 19th century.  My friends Kevin Alto, Dave Winter and I are always on hand to man the cabinet shop and demonstrate how woodcraft used to be done during the good ol' days. Dave, the shop's Scandinavian flat carver/instrument repairman/fiddler/bowl turner and general entertainer, has developed yet another trade: watercolors.  This weekend he captured the essence of yours truly as I busily worked away on a small hanging cupboard.  

Here I am at the bench cutting some dovetails on the cupboard's carcass.

Here I am "repairing" a 19th century glide rocking chair with
what appears to be a medieval battle axe.

I think it looks just like me, though I usually only use my battle axe on larger projects.


Thanks Dave!  I've never looked better!

New Bern Home Inventory down

The inventory of homes for sale in the New Bern area MLS is down substantially. Currently there are 1291 homes for sale. Throughout most of the year that number has been over 1500 homes. Percentage wise this is a decrease of 13%.

Although inventory typically decreases in December, this is more than we normally see. My take is folks are staying put with hopes of selling when the market improves. Whatever the reason, I hope that with less inventory, home prices will start to level off. If this happens we will all be better of in the long run.