Once again, I really appreciate all of the nice comments, I am humbled. Mike, good eye, the plan did come from Shop Notes. Scott, regarding the finish, I was considering some sort of oil based stain followed by several coats of wide-on poly. Given the open grain in oak, I am concerned about blotching; I had good results wide oil stains on a cherry bookcase. That said, at your suggestion, I will research the use of dyes.
Thanks,
Donn