Its pretty sad that I am resorting to just talking about my week for a blog but it has been so busy I haven’t had time to do much of what I want to do or to take pictures of it. Please read and comment anyway. Thanks

Blacksmithing:
I was able to get my forge worked on and have the ash dump and tuyeer assembly finished thanks to Hayward’s help. He even made a Clinker breaker for me, because in the future I will use Coal rather than what I plan to start with which is Charcoal. Sorry I don’t have any pictures. I will redo this post with pictures when I can. Now I am going to my Dad’s place to take care of a few things and while I am there I plan to dig up some of the dark red clay he has so that I can line the inside of the forge with the clay. It was determined that the metal was too thin to support the heat of the forge.

Man I am chompin’ at the bit to get this forge up and producing items. I want to make a fro for my first project….I know its probably a harder project than I should try for my first but I want to and I think I can. I do plan on making knives also including the coveted Damascus Knives.

Fiddle Making:
My fiddle work has been put on hold for a while. I am trying to sell my house and in doing so I have to keep the place clean and it is hard to clean up everything and put everything away and then take it out again to work on. So I am putting it on hold for a little while. I may get the urge to take it all out but for now I am just going to take a break from it.

Wood working:
I have begun researching the art of Timber Frame Construction. If I do not sell my house I am going to build a barn (Timber Frame style) there and if I do sell I am going to build a barn where ever I go to have a workshop for my fiddle making and blacksmithing.

McClurg Jam:
I had a good time at the Jam session Monday night (2-26-07). I played pretty good. Not as bad as the Monday before. Man! I should have put the fiddle down after the first song the previous Monday and picked on the guitar the rest of the night. It was bad.

Last Monday, however, was great and I was given a nice little surprise. I was asked by one of the old timers there who has kinda takin’ a shine to me as a fiddle player, to take his fiddle home and bring it back the next week. That was an honor for me. His fiddle was made in 1812 and is the perfection of old time instruments. It has its dings and dents and cracks but the fiddle sings like an angel. It plays awesome! And I get the privilege to play it at home and work on my tunes. He said only one other person has ever taken home his fiddle and that was a kid he has known from birth.

So I really dont have much more to report. I hope to have some more pictures and videos soon. Spring is just around the corner and my garden is demanding some time so I may post a pic or two on that.

Thanks for reading.