Monthly Archives: February 2015

Remarkable

Posted on February 23, 2015 by michaellangford2012

Wendell Berry, in his book of essays What Are People For? (North Point Press, 1990) has a short piece titled A Remarkable Man, which is a review of All God’s Dangers.  With no reason to believe that I can write a … Continue reading →

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Lost Art, Found Artifact

Posted on February 22, 2015 by michaellangford2012

The 28th Annual Groundhog Day Tool Meet was yesterday, sponsored by the Southwest Tool Collectors Association.  A couple of dozen dealers present.  Looking over the hundred or so attendees, Evan was one of a very few not likely to qualify … Continue reading →

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J L Hammond, a working history

Posted on February 18, 2015 by michaellangford2012

J L Hammond and Barbara Hammond are two of the greatest historians you’ve probably never heard of.  In the early years of the twentieth century, they were commissioned by the British Labor Research Department to investigate the social and economic … Continue reading →

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$20k house redux

Posted on February 16, 2015 by michaellangford2012

I don’t believe it’s fair to criticize unless you can offer a better idea.  If these four guys can actually build a complete house in three weeks, they are carpenters, not mere laborers. This crew is going to spend the next … Continue reading →

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Reinbarnation

Posted on February 15, 2015 by michaellangford2012

“Any jackass can kick down a barn.  It takes a good carpenter to build one.”  Sam Rayburn Last week, I had a disappointment.   The previous Friday, Alice and I had driven to Mountainburg (about 50 miles) and bought some … Continue reading →

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The Nature of Gothic

Posted on February 15, 2015 by michaellangford2012

When Sir Isaac Newton observed that we …stand on the shoulders of giants… did he mean that we should be aware that we are privileged, or that we have somehow conquered the giant?  I’m inclined to believe that it was the … Continue reading →

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$20k House Myth

Posted on February 15, 2015 by michaellangford2012

I have been following (and believing in) Auburn University’s Rural Studio program since I saw Sam Mockbee speak here at the University of Arkansas School of Architecture in ’99 or 2000, shortly before he died.  Later, the filmmakers who produced Citizen … Continue reading →

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Dublin Green

Posted on February 5, 2015 by michaellangford2012

Some years ago…a friend of mine took up long-distance running.  After training for a summer, he and a group of fellow runners entered the Dublin Marathon.  During most of that time we had been building a timber frame, sharing my tools.  I had … Continue reading →

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The Decline of Craft

Posted on February 1, 2015 by michaellangford2012

Every one is different… As winter wears on, I spend more time scheming and planning than building.  My building ideas are just on the margin of convention, and we have implemented them freely in our own house.  Mostly, to be honest, … Continue reading →

Posted in boatbuilding, carpentry, education reform, food for thought, furniture, traditional building, woodworking | Tagged , , | 2 Comments