This was the piece that started it all, my interest in refinishing furniture. And, let's be honest, the rabbit hole of tools, supplies, hardware, paint, top coats, sanding discs... and everything else you find out you need for this hobby. This Ethan Allen hutch is solid pine wood (and soft wood came with its own issues when refinishing). It is a 1980's piece based on the information stamped and written on the backboard. I inherited this hutch from my late grandmother, Edith.

There’s something quietly emotional about seeing a project you’ve been building in private finally become real in public. That’s how it felt seeing Dissectologists go live on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Watching it come up in search. Seeing the show page with an actual episode underneath it. Realizing it had crossed over from idea to object. Here was something I was shaping behind the scenes that is now something other people can find and hear. It’s a moment I'm celebrating.

About a year ago, I had an idea: What if there was a podcast dedicated entirely to jigsaw puzzles? Not just the hobby itself, but the people, creativity, craftsmanship, and community behind it. The idea sat for months. Not because it lacked potential, but because I questioned whether I could build it from nothing. No episodes. No website. No proof of concept. Just curiosity. So I decided to test it. I started booking guests. Designing a brand identity. Building a Substack hom

The scene was a buzz at Huntley Meadows Park in Fairfax, Virginia where the pollinators were busy doing one of the most important jobs on the planet. Bee Feeding on the Nectar of Milkweed Flowers | Sony a7R IV | ISO 160 | f/8 | 1/100 This wetland was full of life when we visited in mid-July. Where do I begin? Had to give some love to the bumblebee (tripod; 100-600mm). These troopers are vital in the production of some of our food sources, but the population has been in decli

Shots from my macro photography field trip to the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, DC. All photos were taken on a Sony a7R IV with a Sigma 105mm Macro Lens. Bulbophyllum Pecten-Veneris Flowers | Sony a7R IV | 105mm | ISO 2000 | f/2.8 | 1/80 Bulbophyllum pecten-veneris flowers taken handheld in the orchid room. Quick tip - the orchid room is pretty dark. I was able to capture this and minimize the noise by using fill-flash. This is one of my favorite shots of the day. I lik

I am brand new to focus stacking. In fact, I didn't even know it was a thing up until a few weeks ago. For those also new to this, focus...

I have a confession. I've never seen a lotus blossom and seeing one up close is a breathtaking experience. Lotus blooms are huge - as big...

I was out in my garden one morning checking over the plants and noticed something moving at the top of one of my Liatris stalks. After a little web research , I believe it is a Camouflaged Looper, one of my favorite finds. It was so well disguised that I almost missed it. Not only that, but I thought it was some kind of caterpillar. It is actually an inch worm. Camouflaged Looper on Liatris | Sony a7 III | 85mm | ISO 400 | f/5 | 1/30 Why love the looper? It's constantly chang

I have always loved photography. There is something exhilarating about capturing the world around you through a lens. It's like holding a...