BAM and Arrow Rock the same weekend

On Saturday October 9, 2021 we hosted the BAM meeting in Boonville, at the Missouri River Valley Steam Engine Association grounds. Attendance was great, as was the weather. 

 It's a fantastic building.

Bernie demonstrated an 18th century candle holder. 

John was his striker!  He is always great help on anything we need at the shop.

To say we took a a few of our candleholders from the house is an under statement. We both like and appreciate the early American lighting.

The wives sat outside for good conversation and fresh air.

That evening we stayed in our Casita across the road in the show grounds camp ground. 

On Sunday morning we went to Arrow Rock, Missouri for their festival. 

Beautiful homes line the streets. 

 

One of our first stops was to see our friend Jim Duncan, the gunsmith.

Here's an interesting story. I was talking to this lady about her weaving. I told her I had taken a class at John C. Campbell Folk School on weaving and soon learned it wasn't something I wanted to do much off. She told me the Folks school was on her bucket list.

I went on to admire her loom. She tells me it's cherry wood and is some what portable as it folds nicely and fits in her car. I told her about my blogger friend who has had many looms in her time. She asked me her name and I said Karen, immediately she said her last name.  She knew her from the blog too. Read my blog post before this one and you can read more about Karen. 

Lunch time found us in the Tavern. After our main course we divided this big fried cherry pie, or as my friend Deanna calls them, a hand pie. It was delicious.

Next door we found our friends Brian and Brad in their Santa Fe traders camp. This is their new wagon they recently purchased. 

Brad lost a button on his trousers for his suspenders the night before. How, we aren't sure how as we never got the complete story. I was impressed he was sewing it on himself, even if I thought the needle was rather large!  Good job Brad!

This quilt was on display in one of the old homes we went into. It was better than any that were displayed in the quilt show in my opinion.  

This quilt was made from a Crabapple Hills Studio pattern. Bernie thought it was pretty neat, especially the old oil cans. 

It was a wonderful weekend to be out and about!

Mid-America Arts Alliance event!!!

M-AAA presented the Missouri Folk arts Program Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program and the Blacksmiths Association of Missouri on First Friday in Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District. Thanks to Lisa Higgins, director of  of the Missouri Folks Art Program  for getting Bernard, Alex and Mike McLaughlin in this gig!!!

Thanks to Kelly Clark, Curatorial Assistant at M-AAA he took my blacksmith anvil quilt and created the background for these awesome posters.

Bernard, grandson Alex and Mike McLaughlin all members of BAM were so impressed by the displays!

Kelly shows the guys around.

Alex's smile tells it all!

Grandpa's smile is good too!

All three men demonstrated across the street from the gallery from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, showing their techniques and some of their wares.

Lisa and I walked the area to see the other vendors, food trucks, music and sights and ran into BAM member Bill George. He didn't know we were there. This is him surprising Bernie!

This art work, which included a big table full of items, were mainly made from silverware. It was the most beautiful things!

These guys were creating graffiti which the smell almost overwhelmed you!

It was an exciting event in the art district for us for sure!! 

Thank you Kelly and Lisa for making it work.

How do you say goodbye to a best friend . . . . Philip Michael Cox 1949-2018

There is no way to say goodbye . . .  Death comes quickly. 

We have so many good memories of him. I'll let pictures show you.

His famous baked beans.

Phil and Bernie doing together what they did best together.

Homemade ice cream using an antique engine.

Margie and I at the Hamilton Steam engine show.

My first vintage sewing machine before Phil . . . 

... after Phil's expertise work.

A beautiful 301 Singer I picked up for Phil. 

Hamilton Steam Engine show, Karen and Phil.

She loved her blacksmith!

Phil sent us home with the juiciest cantaloupes. We sent him this picture of our grand kids using them on each other.

Phil and Nathan Robertson, who loved Phil like a dad.

Phil's friend and neighbor, Joni  made a cake for the BAM meeting at his house.

Phil forging in his shop, demonstrating at a meeting.

Just a couple of his mules, looking for a hand out.

My blacksmith was a saint and drove the bus in the background, with 19 women, to Hamilton Missouri. We visited Missouri Star Quilt. Phil came to town to keep Bernie sane! Margie was still working and met us on her lunch hour, the four of us dined at Subway.

His other girl Coco.

One cold day the four of us went road tripping. When he saw this horse drawn chariot, nothing doing we girls had to pose for a picture. 

Phil along with his buddies Nathan and Ken, discuss the big hammer that he rebuilt and  hauled to our conference in Sedalia.

We met in Arrow Rock Missouri one Sunday afternoon. 4 best friends!

This was their 46th wedding anniversary!

Margie took up broom making after Phil made all the broom making tools. 

The Bradley Boys! Phil had hats for all these friends that just happen to own Bradleys. For those that don't know, a Bradley is a BIG power hammer. 

The Bradley women, Nathan's Mom Beverly, Steve McCarthy wife, Lori, Me, and Margie.

A blacksmith gathering at our house, Phil and Pat McCarty visit.

 Another machine I bought for Phil. I believe he said his mother had the same machine.

Last year Phil driving us and blacksmith Willy in the parade. The truck won 1st place!

 Phil and his bride -  as he referred to Margie. Phil trudged through this weekend, not feeling well. The following week he was diagnosed with diabetes.

 The BIG ice cream maker, a 5 gallon one was brought to the Hamilton 

steam engine show.

 This was a  November  meeting in Doniphan. We took off early Friday morning. Bernie showed us a lot of Missouri state parks on the way.

 this sums it all up . . . 

I used this picture against Phil so many times. Margie had bought a big roll 

of quilt batting. The lady from the shop and Phil stuffed it into Margie's car!

The blacksmiths all discussing something.

Such a memorable day, Phil loaded the big Bradley on the trailer for us. Little did we know, 30 miles later we'd have a flat! I called a blacksmith who happens to be a highway patrolman and he helped us out. 

 The day before the Lord took Phil away from us, we were eating breakfast together. Phil found tiny bottles of Tabasco sauce in the hotel kitchen. I'm not sure who liked them the most, Phil, our 13 year old grandson Alex, or my blacksmith Bernie!?!?

 Saturday  March 10th. If we only knew it was our last day together. 

 Phil is being loaded into his beloved "Shelby", an 1948 International truck.

Lick Fork Cemetery, Gallatin, Missouri

So you can't say goodbye . . . you say until we met again my friend.

"It will work itself out", Phil Cox