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While Mom was away at a retreat this weekend, the kids and I got busy in the shop and built a couple items for their outdoor kitchen. The sink hooks up to a garden hose, and we put in old grill grates for the oven racks. The knobs turn, and the clock works, but you have to reset it after every sixty seconds. Haha. As you can see, we had a blast making it. Right now, there is a dutch oven spider and sand pie cooking that should be done by this afternoon if anyone is hungry. Cedar should far outlast the nasty pressure treated material that some may use for a similar build. The cedar feet were cut from logs that were used as foundation support under a 150 year old cattle barn. You can't tell, but they lived a life below wet ground!
It was a great project, testing how few tools we could use in a well-equipped shop. I'm always trying to watch my material use and my labor to become a more efficient woodworker. I only planed the surface boards (tops and door) and didn't worry about the varying thickness that the old frick sawmill provided us. I originally built the 4×8 workbench as a tracksaw table and for outfeed support for the tablesaw on material that's over 12' in length…but it seems like great height and size for the kids to work on a project with me. The kids were great in helping me determine features, size, and placement. Favorite moment of the build was when I asked my two year old son to hand me my tape on the other side of the workbench and he knew exactly what I was talking about, went over, picked it up, and handed it to me!

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Very neat!! Looks like fun to make…and for future fun as well. The pie should be yummy!
 

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Thanks for the kind words! I'm told I have to eat half of the pie when its done…it has a great deal of sand and charwood in it! Being a has-been chef, it warms my heart to see them playing at it!
 

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WAAAAAY cool ! something the kids will forever remember. Great Job !
 

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Thanks Dick! Hope they will remember it and do something similar for the grandkids (when that time comes, many moons from now!)
 

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wow jarrett i think you made those kids very happy,and i dont think they will ever forget making and using that kitchen.its great to enjoy doing things with them at that age,soon they will be grown and off on there own,but you too will have that memory.great job dad.
 

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That's a terrific outdoor kitchen you designed and built. Those kids are going are to love it. They learn so much from you, taking the time to build just for them with a life time of memories. Enjoy every moment you can, they grow up so fast. One word of warning,,,don't eat their cooking!! Thanks for inspiring
 

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Appreciate the kind words, Pottz! They best not be grown too soon, we are having too much fun in the now! But when they do grow, hopefully they can and will always come back to the shop for a bit.
 

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Thanks Joe! I feel like they took the time to build with me! Haha! They were great sports keeping at it the entire time. I put my son down for a nap during the build and he woke up saying "shop. shop. Shop!" They are kind enough to eat my cooking, so I best reciprocate….unless spider pies turn into cow pies. I draw the line at cow pies.
 

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Awesome family project. How great to bring kids into your passion. Today, too many fathers don't interact very much with their kids. This falls into an outline I often use for family, work and faith.

Reject passivity.
Accept responsibily.
Act courageously.
Invest Eternally.

Looks like you hit them all! Well done!!!
 

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Very cool, and something that will be a cherished memory for a lifetime.

Nice work!!
 

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Rod, appreciate the fine outline! I'll have to remember those words! I owe a great deal to my wife…a great partner, wonderful educator, and an even better mother. If my kids can become better at a craft than I am (won't be too hard!) and take after her, they will grow to be pretty awesome people!
 

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Thanks wood butcher! Hope it lasts at leasts a few months before they toss it in the cattle field in the background! Haha
 

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That's really wonderful. It's pretty obvious that the cook crew totally approve of their new digs. Very well done!
 

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There is no doubt you will receive the award for BEST DAY after this build. And having the kids share with you in the shop….Priceless
 

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Nice work Jarrett! That is way cool for the kids to help with the build and have such a great play area outside. I love the clock and the dials on the oven :)
 

· In Loving Memory
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This is a creative project and you did a nice job on it. She will love it. Congratulations!
 

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It has all been said already, but how cool is this? You are very cool dude - I actually mean guy…
 

· In Loving Memory
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Jarrett, nice job and congratulations on your 'Daily Top 3' award.
 
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