Friday, May 13, 2011

Autumn, Crazy Horse, Uncle Jed, and Rust

If I wrote this blog more often, would anyone actually read it?

Maybe. Probably not though. I can’t say I promote it much.


So, in the news… Erica is due at the end of July with (odds are) baby girl number 2.

This is exciting, as it will:

1. Give Autumn a moving toy to play with for the foreseeable future.

2. Fulfill replacement value reproduction

3. Reward the parents with a tax break

4. Be another cute child

5. Give the grandparents something new to talk about

This is less exciting because it will require:

1. The purchase of Diapers for a few more years

2. Another baby seat, filling the car completely

3. Tolerance of house being a disaster for additional years

4. More of Mommies time, leaving less for Daddy

5. And will reduce the number of hours that Daddy can sleep


Generally, blacksmith shops are not considered very baby friendly environments. Carpentry shops are almost as bad. And Blade smith shops the worst of both worlds, plus some sharp edges.

I don’t know why, but people seem concerned about mixing a child (or children) with limited hand to eye coordination with a scattered and disorganized pile of blades you could shave with. Go figure.

I don’t think that I have ever seen Autumn hold a knife the wrong way, and she knew what they were and what they were called before she was 2.

I keep her out of the shop mostly because I don’t have protective gear small enough and she doesn’t like to wear it when it falls off like that. Also because she makes it more likely that I will hurt myself due to the distraction.

At least she can’t really open the door to the shop while I am working yet. But I can’t imagine that day is too far away. Sigh.

And here are some recent pictures of Autumn, since I was talking about her...

With her brand new big girl skates!

And again...

and just waking up from a nap...


News item 2: I spent last week at the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society’s national annual conference at Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota.

Somewhat relaxing, pretty, nice and cool. Reminded me of Northern Michigan.

Now I’m back, trying to catch up at work. Sigh.


News Item 3: I did finish another knife though: Uncle Jeds Country Skinner!

UJCS: AR 61: 5 3/4" Nesmuck Style Blade of hammer textured Cru-Forge V, 11 1/4" Overall. Handle of recycled Texas fence post - might be some sort of Locust? Pins are brass tube, with copper filling. Black vulcanized contrasting liners.


And Finally: Then one of my co-workers brought me a piece of rust that was masquerading as a knife... a little WD-40, grinding, polishing, and effort later - and minus one blade that snapped off. We have a functional knife again!

Open... (there is another functional blade also)

and closed...

That's all for now folks :)

A