Since Tuesday, we have been enjoying a visit from Kris Earle, Jeanine’s best friend from childhood. The three of us were in the mood for an outing and decided to head to Essex where we had lunch at Periwinkles Restaurant, famous for their New England clam chowder and seafood. Our next stop was the Peabody Essex Museum to see their newest exhibit, “Audacious: The Fine Art of Wood.” As both a woodworker and engineer, I was blown away by the collection. I found myself unable to comprehend how some of the pieces were fabricated. My appreciation for their aesthetic beauty was equally matched by an awareness of how difficult they were to create. We ended the day with a brief tour of historic Derby Wharf in Salem.