This is the picnic table—the project that started it all. If you’ve read about my journey, you’ll know my woodworking really took off when I built this table as a Christmas gift for my wife. Here it is, the one that sparked my passion.

I still vividly remember the stress of that December—constantly worrying that I wasn’t doing it right, that it wouldn’t look good, or that she wouldn’t like it. To make things even more challenging, my shop wasn’t heated or cooled (and still isn’t), so I spent freezing nights and weekends bringing this project to life.

In the end, she loved it.

Made from cedar, this table has a unique feature: two removable panels that reveal hidden buckets, perfect for holding drinks or flowers during gatherings!