I guess 8 years is a good time to update the bio. My how time flies.

I'll just add to the 2000 bio.

I'm older, I'm heavier, I love my wife and kids (up to 3 now) even more.

In 2000 we lived in a small bungalow in Kearney Nebraska. The day we had our
3rd child, our realtor friend called to let us know about a way cool
victorian house one block from our then current house. We fell in love.

It was a typical built in 1898 2 story victorian, and a great chunk of
history. Lots of stained glass in every room. 2 staircases. Lots to repair
and fix up. Labor of love.

It was about that time that we found out that my job location would be
changing to Springfield, MO.

So, we exchanged the neat-o, but $$ to heat/cool victorian and 2 car garage
shop for a small ranch affair with no shop.

We're loving the simple life. Easy to clean, easy to pay for. My wife has
been slowly heading towards adrenal failure for the last 8 years, so I have
an office in my house, and we don't waggle around town doing lots of
activities. The kids are learning to play with sticks and stones and old
tools of course.

I'm well beyond the initial acquisition phase, and now just long for time to
be in the shop. It's slow. Working wood leads to needing to sharpen which
leads to...you get the picture. I enjoy shaker furniture, windsor chairs,
blacksmithing, teaching and working without the hindrances of eye/ear/lung
protection. There's nothing like seeing the face of a person's first really
good handplane or scraper experience.

I keep some photos at www.matthewgroves.com/Hobbies

We've been in our new house for about a year, so I'm still "setting up shop"
(thanks Bill T).

This is just as good a place as 8 years ago, though many great members have
moved on or just lurk. I look forward to hosting some galoot get-togethers
as soon as I can get the space organized.

Matthew Groves
Springfield, MO

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