Her Own Gifted Woodworker Has Crafted Many Memories

The essay “Of Wood and Men” (by Kathleen Clary Miller, April 3) really pulled at my heartstrings. My husband, Bob, is a man with a woodworking gift. He began his craft in 1979, after we were married. His first project was a pine headboard with bookshelves. Soon after, he made a unique trilevel plant stand, which we still use and admire.

Over the years, many tools and machines were acquired. Cars were moved out of the garage to make way for another stroke of genius. The scent of sanded or planed wood is still comforting, bringing back good memories of our children and their friends running through the garage to see what Dad was making.

As the “toys” and exotic woods were amassed, Bob’s woodworking skills grew. He once whipped up a bookshelf with crown moldings in a weekend. He has since moved on to more complex and beautiful heirlooms, such as our dining room set--an 8-foot solid mahogany table and eight mahogany Chippendale chairs.

And as Bob “played,” neighbors would come over to see what he was working on. It was a great way to meet people, and an even better way to expand and cement friendships in the neighborhood. Now when I hear the whirring of the saw, I can’t help but think, “Genius at work.”

Cindy Belvoir Hornung

Stevenson Ranch