James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Created by the Catskill Craftsmen Company of Stamford, New York, this laminated solid hardwood turntable features a strong lip helpful in keeping small items on board and retaining spills. This established American firm — in business in the same location in the Catskill Mountains since 1948 — builds with renewable local resources. Lumber for the Lazy Susan comes from local sawmills — Catskill Craftsmen buys their raw materials as green wood planks, drying and milling the wood in their own facilities and even converting waste products to fuel pellets.
The 4.3-pound turntable features a smoothly turning heavy duty ball bearing swivel and a wide turned base of matching hardwood. Loaded with food as a serving centerpiece, this Lazy Susan sits on the table with stability. The unobtrusive lip prevents unfortunate incidents involving children or careless diners. Fourteen inches across, the useful diameter of the Lazy Susan drops by an inch because of the raised edge. That edge does come in handy for many potential uses such as keeping small items in place when the Lazy Susan becomes countertop storage. On the bottom shelf of a cabinet, the Lazy Susan could be a handy spice rack, making your favorite herbs and spices conveniently accessible at the touch of a finger.
The lacquered finish of the turntable requires little care and cleans up with a damp cloth. A polish now and then with mineral oil helps keep the humidity of the kitchen out of the wood and gives the turntable an extra level of shine. Since the hardwood base sits close to the counter or tabletop, be careful to keep the turntable out of standing water. Don’t immerse it in water for cleaning — just a quick rubdown will do.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
The Diamond Edge Pro knife and scissors sharpener from Smith Abrasives combines electric and manual sharpening systems for quick and accurate refurbishing of knives...
Created by the Catskill Craftsmen Company of Stamford, New York, this laminated solid hardwood turntable features a strong lip helpful in keeping small items on board and retaining spills. This established American firm — in business in the same location in the Catskill Mountains since 1948 — builds with renewable local resources. Lumber for the Lazy Susan comes from local sawmills — Catskill Craftsmen buys their raw materials as green wood planks, drying and milling the wood in their own facilities and even converting waste products to fuel pellets.
