Saltfork Blacksmith Conference Sulphur, Oklahoma 2021

We pulled out of the driveway early Thursday morning and headed to Sulphur Oklahoma.

We arrived at Country Days RV park shortly before dinner time. This was our second time to stay at this park. Debby is always a pleasure to work with. The park is way out in the country and very peaceful. 

Friday morning after a good night sleep, we found a local breakfast spot, The Poor Girl Café.  Coffee was hot, eggs were perfect and I enjoyed listening to the local men's coffee club discussing their ailments.

We had the day off and decided to play tourist.    

 

We checked out Chickasaw Lake,  the  mud hens were thick on the lake. We saw many flocks of them riding the white caps 

In town we went to Sulphur Springs, can't say we like the smell or taste of the water. I don't care if it did have healing powers!

This was the bridge at Chickasaw Cultural Center. You could do a self guided tour and play the talking boxes, even talking in 3 languages. 

This is just a very tiny section of Bromide Hill. It sure looked like someone had poured rough concrete. Of course it was God who did!

At the visitors center we saw possibly the biggest picnic table ever!

Just one of the many buildings built by the CCC in the 30's.

So many springs, waterfalls, and streams to check out.

This was in the downtown area.

Later in the afternoon we headed out to the Steam Engine show grounds where the Oklahoma Saltfork Craftmen were having their yearly conference. 

Set up for the weekend was just about complete. We would return bright and early in the morning.

 

There were 3 of us vendors set up across from the demonstrations. 

Bernie visits with Greg Reeder of Reeder Products, Inc. With a little luck, Greg might be at the Missouri Blacksmith Association conference in May of 2022.

My job for the weekend was selling tongs. So I took hand work. Luckily I finished it Sunday evening just as things were drawing to a close. 

I also made a new friend, Karen from Tulsa. Her husband is a blacksmith and she thought she'd tag along with him. After all they had rented a tiny cabin near by for their anniversary. We soon discovered we had a lot in common, first of all breast cancer survivors, then February birthdays and the list went on and on. 

You never go hungry at this conference. JJ and LaQuitta and several other workers feed you well! This was smoked briskets, smoked ribs, ham, and pulled pork!!  The best ever!

Added to the above meal was potato salad, slaw and PECAN PIES.

This is JW, the son of Brent the demonstrator. He was a little trooper all weekend. He made this in the craft class. When I asked to take his picture, he said they already took it, and then he struck this pose!

Brent Bailey was a fantastic demonstrator. I watched him forge an axe head and then he turned the wooden handle.

Our final night in Sulphur, as we went to a Mexican restaurant God gave us this beautiful sunset!  There were 2 people parachuting in the sky too. We had dinner with our new friends Karen and Todd and about 24 other friends from the conference. A yearly tradition!

 

Monday morning after a good nights sleep, it was time to head home. We were looking for a breakfast/lunch place and came into Prague. We asked a local where to go and she suggested The Kitchen, and up front on their sign they advertised Kolaches!!!

Lunch was good, too much food, but then they told us they were completely out of Kolaches.  Such a disappointment!

In Sarcoxie, while filling up the gas tank, I spied an antique store down the street. We went to check it out. Of course the blacksmith found rusty iron to buy!

What a trip!  Good times, good friends, new friends, good food, good weather, God is good!