People often ask me what it’s like to live/work in Kenya. It’s not so much “like” anything else that I know. And mostly it resists adequate verbal explanation. So in the interest of showing rather than telling, I thought I’d let you in on what we did when we needed eight tables for the property. We wanted them to be folding and as much as possible, everlasting, and though we looked high and low, couldn’t find a Costco. The small story that follows will serve as well as anything I can think of as an answer to the question. Any questions?
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and later a final coat of black paint.
For the benches, sixteen of them, Peter made a template for the legs, fourty eight of them.
The empty template, a calligraphic house, maybe.
The full template.
The hatched stack.
The benchtop frames.
The stacked enchilada.
I went to TIM Sales in the Industrial Area in Nairobi for the material for the tops.
The 3/4" block board, 4' x 8', was exactly the right size for one table top and two bench tops.
Peter and I cut it up.
The only beading/molding we could get was 1". So our hired carpenter glued and nailed that onto all four edges of everything.
Then set about planing the excess 1/4" off.
The lovely, curled results.
He used melted bits of candle wax to keep the friction to a minimum in his planing work.
Ben and Sam took over after we let the carpenter take his leisurely pace down the road.
They were at it for a week or so. Then we counter sunk the screw holes for the tops and the benches and wrenched 'em together. A bunch of coats of varnish later and we had tables.
One for each house. A place to eat,
and do a little homework,
or do a lot of homework.
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Stop by some time, pull up a bench, and do your homework.
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David
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Bob says
February 5, 2011 at 12:18 amNice job, David. About which Winston Churchill might have said “It is no use saying, ‘We are doing our best.’ You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.” A fine example of you & you team’s resourcefulness & single minded determination from the beginning….Love…Bob
Chris L says
February 5, 2011 at 1:17 amAh, I recognize this Daedalian love for all these shapes and shavings and artifices. Very lovely, even by themselves — let alone when they become something put to such important use.
Blessings upon all the craftsmen.
Chris
jim micheletti says
February 5, 2011 at 10:41 amIf there ever were tables of plenty, you’ve got ’em. Thanks always for our place with the kids at these altars.
Big Love,
Jim, Lisa, Kristin, Sophia Micheletti
Jeanette Marquez says
February 5, 2011 at 11:16 pmHow fortunate those trees which grew somewhere distant and had a destiny to be transformed into tables and benches of such grand purpose.
Caring hands made strong the frame and smooth the surfaces, I expect these new furnishings were greeted by eager children, teachers and caregivers.
So happy to realize that on those surfaces will rest books capable of expanding the minds of the children, a gathering place for family meals and sharing stories and I hope a fair amount of giggles.
Very nicely done..
Mike Edson says
February 6, 2011 at 9:17 amI remember watching the progress on the buildings being amazed at the construction of the roof trusses. Way back when I spent a summer making trusses off Fremont St. in Stockton. They couldn’t hold a candle in comparison to your design. You could park a truck on the tops of those buildins. These tables and benches are going to get a lot of loving use. I know you were tenatious and resourceful before Nairobi David, but have graduated with your PhD now. All of this and all that follows is deeply meaninful work for some lovely children. Count me in for the balance of my life for my albiet modest support for this meaningful work.
Pam Burns says
February 6, 2011 at 11:13 pmSo precious is all I can say! Think of you all often and pray God’s blessing of protection and guidance on you all. Much love.
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Your ticket for the: 5 February 2011 – Table Talk
5 February 2011 – Table Talk