Galoots Assembled,

I believe an update is in order.

I have retired from the University of Memphis and have removed from my home of
30 years in the steamy delta that is Memphis, Tennessee to the beautiful
mountains that are Asheville, North Carolina.  My shop is now a slightly larger
one-car garage sized affair (13' x 26') with two windows overlooking the
beautiful French Broad River valley.  I have hooked up with the Western North
Carolina Woodworkers Association, have located a couple of potentially good
sources of lumber, and have discovered that among others, Andy Rae and Brian
Boggs also are Asheville residents.

My move from Memphis to Asheville was accomplished with a minimum of fuss and
bother, and while I'm still excavating items from boxes, most of my tools are
unpacked and hung back on the walls (my favorite tool storage scheme) or on the
new shelves I've knocked together.  Nothing was broken or bent in the move!

While I would like to be spending my shop time finishing the walnut Virginia
corner cabinet that I began in a class with Lonnie Bird this past summer, I've
been spending all of my time installing crown moulding, painting walls and
woodwork, making built-in bookcases (two walls worth), a wainscot panel and a
mantle over the fireplace.  While not exactly fine woodworking, I do get to use
my old tools to do most of the work (plus I earn points from Loving Spousal
Unit!).

We are beginning to craft order from the chaos of moving a household of 30
years.  At this point it's like a Chinese puzzle, once the book shelves are
built and painted, then the boxes (and boxes) of books and be unpacked, thus
creating room to move furniture, hang art work, and the like.  We have at least
one guest bedroom mostly  habitable, so if you're passing through Asheville, NC
drop me a line!  Ron Harper has already captured the First Galoot To Visit My
Shop award, and I'm looking forward to more visits.

Cheers,
John

John M. Johnston
jmjhnstn@m...<mailto:jmjhnstn@m...>
"P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried;
therefore I beg you to write and let me know." - Sir Boyle Roche, M.P.