woodworking: japanese tool box in progress

I came home from my women in woodworking class with an incomplete toolbox. There's a recess on the lid in the Fine Woodworking plan that I kind of didn't like. Planks in the lid weren't square, but I'd already glued them in. My countersink holes with all their screws were still exposed. 

And so I glued in a dowel rod into each of the holes and then trimmed off the excess with my new Japanese saw. I glued more wood planks into the lid, which I'll screw from the bottom now that I'd gotten shorter screws. I also sanded the lid and sides already with coarse grit sandpaper.                               

The lid's caps are starting to look more flush, and I'll sand some more and start to fill in the gaps with light wood fill. I would have worked on it yesterday, but life (laundry!) got in the way though I did find water-based white pickling stain (Home Depot) and satin polyurethane (Ace Hardware)after the day job. I was gonna swim after work today, but I think instead I'll attach the handles and feet. Maybe I can fill or even sand a bit more before heading to the ceramics studio to build a couple more vases.