To create....

So i wanted to learn to build something from scratch- you know create furniture my house but something that would also be useful. I've never used "power tools" more than a basic drill or power screwdriver I have that runs on AA batteries =) This Christmas my brother-in-law and his brother were discussing this goal with me. It was decided that a picnic table would be fairly simple, yet I would learn about using the chop saw and power drills etc. After AutoCAD-ing it, we went and got all the wood, but we didn't start building it till a few weeks later. (Side note- you know what surprises me? we got redwood because the guys said it doesn't have to be treated wood and is better to eat off etc. Well when I tell people I'm building a table people have said, "So did you make it out of redwood so it's easier for being outside or something else?" So it's apparently this universally known thing that you make outdoor furniture out of redwood. Glad I'm now 'in' with this kinda thing and am also aware to what should've been obvious to me but wasn't hahah- hence the learning these things!) We did the top of the table and benches one Saturday and then the legs (aka the tricky part) a few Saturdays later. 

I have to give a huge shout out to my brother-in-law for being so awesome. THANK YOU JOE! He gave up a good chunk of two Saturdays to help teach me to do this and was super patient with my being a novice. He's a very good teacher. He made me do all the sawing, and I put in most of the screws, but I was certainly not "quick" at any of it, and we started with the basics. I will say that he had to do all the screws that needed to be on angles as well as the ones that held the legs into each other (there's a spacer in there and with three pieces of wood- even pre-drilling was just way hard and more time consuming when I attempted it).  We hit a few snags (some screws being too long, me not being as exact in my sawing, difficulties trying to stabilize the legs etc), but nothing that my brother-in-law didn't have an alternative way of correcting to make it work. He's just smart that way! He would tell me options for different ways to make it look and tricks that would make things easier for me, and I'd say, "Well which way's best?!" And he'd say, "It's your project so you pick." Honestly I almost always defaulted to him since he's obviously more skilled, I only nixed a couple things based off aesthetics. I appreciated him giving me options to chose though.  

I'm way excited to have the table and to start using it ASAP. I am part of a dinner group and once the nights starting warming up and it's still light out, I'm gonna have my dinner group eat outside with me. It will also be perfect for summer BBQs etc. Very functional and fun!

It was awesome to learn to use the tools and since my brain isn't very mechanically inclined I'm glad I at least know the basics for the next time I want to build something, though I have no doubt I will need Joe's help =). Let's just say there's a lot of little things you have to pay attention to that I am now aware of and I'm grateful! Now I know, and knowing is half the battle....

my roommate helped us
stabilize and 'eye' things 

my nephews came over to watch
the ending...they had to stay inside while
the saw was going

I'm including this picture only because
my BIL says I'm obsessed with butts

table completed!