After the Atlanta knife show

We just spent 4 days with friends in Cedar Hill.  It's always several days of fantastic fellowship and fine food with friends from far and wide, including the Netherlands, State of Washington, Illinois, and more. 

There isn't a more beautiful setting than Bonita's place. 

 

 

 

Hank's shop is equipped with some very neat antique tools, including this fly press. 

This is a Nazel 2B that was going to be repaired.

  

Son Kurt now has Hank's shop. Kurt picked up this beautiful Buffalo forge in St Louis, Mo.

Hank passed away 2 years ago from cancer. #CANCERSUCKS

Time to put the new part in the big hammer.  Howard Clark from Iowa is guiding from the top. Bob is directing the chain.

Test run. It worked!

Bernie and Kurt working on a hog splitter.

The Nazel is back in working order. Thanks to several blacksmiths.

The start of hog splitter.

Paul E. Krautmann brought his hand made cherry bowls. They are beautiful. 

 

 

Nathan, Bernie and Pat are just part of the Bradley Hammer crew!

Otto, who is 8 years old, and Jonathan, who is 5 years old, enjoy the creek so much. Here's Otto holding a crawdad. 

Did you know salamanders and toads are both born from tadpoles? Otto filled me in on them, in detail. 

Near the house is this bridge where the kids spend a lot of time. This day they first did sidewalk chalk, then went fishing. I had so much fun all week with Jonathon trying to remember my name. Success was made by day 3! 

The party is not short of craftspeople. Here Colleen gets a spinning lesson from Sharon. 

Beverley started with crocheting and finished with pot holder weaving.

This can only be titled it's a dog's life!

Eileen, John, and Bernie visit, as if we didn't have visiting time last week at the blacksmith gathering. You never get enough of visiting with blacksmith friends. They are like family!

Colleen and Ed catch up, after all its a once a year event!

We all passed many hours just socializing. 

Beverly visits with Sharon and Cindy who live nearby. 

It's pizza night. The fire is started early morning to make the oven work properly.

There's always plenty of food. Everyone brings so much. On Monday night it was roast beef, Tuesday was making your own pizza, 

Ed smoked ribs all day Wednesday. They were mouthwatering.

Our last night there, Thursday, Nathan fried catfish and tuna. His grilled vegetables and French bread were mouthwatering!

The Dutch guys went on a guided fishing trip Thursday, thanks to Bonita's grandson, Augie who owns Missouri Fly Life Guide Company Toni never caught a fish. So, when he returned, 8-year-old Otto was instructed to show him how to do it. 

Success!!!!

Once again, our hearts of full of good time and great memories and oh so much good food! We Thank you Bonita, Kurt, Sharon, Augy, Laura, Dutch, Cindy and Otto, and Jonathon for some of the best times ever . . . . until next year.

Hank will always be close to us.

The making of a bear trap

The mission was to replicate a #15 Newhouse bear trap. This was to be unique, in that it would be made of wrought iron.

Here Steve, the host and John work together 

Steve’s 125 pound Bradley upright helve hammer. 

Forged teeth.

To be assembled.

John and Mike team up.

John, Ken, and Mike working together.

 

This is a trial run one a sample trap.

It was dinner time. Steve uses Howard Clark’s Damascus knife to slice the smoked brisket.

I’m pretty sure it was the best brisket ever. The chef, a friend of Steve’s who was paying him back, started the smoking at 2 AM.

After supper, they weren’t sure they’d go back in the shop.

But then they got a second wind.

Some tweaking is needed.

Mission accomplished! High 5’s.

Here’s the blacksmiths involved, Bernie Tappel, Osage Bluff Blacksmith Shop, Ken Jansen, Butcher Creek Forge, host Steve McCarthy, Iron Cock Forge, Mike McLaughlin, and John Sherwood, all members of the Blacksmith Association of Missouri.

Finished!

Everyone put their initials on the trap pan.

The new compared to the vintage. 

What’s a better way to celebrate then with a shot from a hand forged shot cup!

Great weekend. Good friends and good food, topped off with a completed unique Bear trap.