A Black Smith Lesson

I'm trying out a new hobby.  I decided that the guys didn't need to have all the fun, so I'm taking a few black smith lessons to see if I enjoy it.

However...I picked the wrong month to start up.  The heat and humidity of July just is not compatible with the heat from a forge.

What was I thinking?

The iron wasn't the only thing getting red hot.

My lesson was to make a tapered point.

Not so easy as it sounds.

OK...I'm done!  Next lesson will be in October!!

Out and Around Cole's Forge

There is so much eye candy around Cole's forge that it really does take more than one post to show it off.   So here are more shots to enjoy...

I'm not sure why, but I really like this shot.

So much character in this doorway.

Beautiful!

Different angle.

His wife has decorated an old storage shed.

How fun!  I want a cute little shed to decorate!

Oh yeah... I do have a shed.  But it's so BIG...

Just look at all the cute things.

Chippy shutters and a kerosene lamp.  Perfect.

I think that is an oil can.

Chippy rocker and an old tobacco basket.  I'd love to get my hands on a tobacco basket!

Fabulous texture!

A peaceful vignette.

And a beautiful magnolia tree.

It's such a lovely yard to walk around in.  Every where you look is another little patch of pretty.

Cole's Forge

Himself's blacksmith meeting in May was out at the forge of his friend Cole.

I love his shop!  He's been blacksmithing for about 30 years and makes very high end stuff.  His shop is loaded with eye candy so I zipped in before the meeting started to take some photos.

Fun stuff, eh?

Then it was time to get the iron hot.

Straight out of the fire.

Look at how the heat makes an image above the glowing iron.

He keeps working the metal until it comes out just as he wants it.

In this case, a beautiful cross.

Isn't that fantastic?

Next part of the meeting is show and tell.  I'm not sure what was so interesting about that anvil but it had the guys looking hard.

Then it was time to show off the challenge pieces.  See that fork on the right?  That angle makes it PERFECT for getting steaks off the grill without frying your knuckles.  I was so over the top about it that the man who made it slipped it to Himself to give me as a present.

THANK YOU!!

The last order of business is the 'iron in the hat' raffle. 

Folks bring in this or that, tickets are bought then dropped into the cup next to the item.

I won THREE things this meeting, including that jar of homemade salsa you can see on the table.

Then it is time to stand around and visit.

The guys talk about guy things...

...and the girls talk about interesting stuff!

Til next time!

Blacksmith Shop Vignettes

Last Sunday a week ago, Himself and I were at the blacksmith shop of our friend John.  

This is the type of shop that you walk into and just start smiling.  He has fixed it up in such a way that everywhere you look is another cool vignette of tools and old things.

This visit I walked around and took shot after shot.  Here are a few for you to enjoy.

Pretty awesome, isn't it?