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!

 

 

 

Oklahoma OK

On Friday morning we headed west. It was about 480 miles to Sulphur, Oklahoma where we would be attending the Saltfork Blacksmith Conference. 

We arrived at Country Days RV park right at dark. That's never good when you have to  set up camp. Debby our host had given us the gate code and we proceeded to our lot. After set ting up I went to open the fantastic fan vent on top.  It felt different cranking it up, so I cranked it down. Or so I thought. We discovered it parted ways with the Casita some where along the road.

We had needed to cover it regardless. The forecast was no rain that night.  We found a plastic Walmart bag and the RV duct tape Lizzie our 10 year old granddaughter had given us. It worked in a pinch. No ladder to the top, no problem, we're a team. The blacksmith stepped from the bumper to the spare tire, and then I gave him a shove, I mean a boost!

Wouldn't you know it after we got in bed later that night, it did rain. The plastic and tape worked.

The conference started bright and early the next morning at 8 AM, we just didn't make it there quite that early.

Peter Ross a blacksmith, who does beautiful historical work, was one of the demonstrators. It was not the first time we have seen Peter work. However it was the first time I had spare time to watch the demonstrators. I always love watching a craftsman who is left handed! 

Then there was Ken and Marylou from Ken's Custom Iron.  This husband and wife team are so much fun to watch. You can feel the love and see the love between them. They work together perfectly! And man, or should I say woman, can she swing a hammer!

My friend Mark, talks with Oklahoman Ed McCormick. The works this man has done are amazing! His niece put together a book of his works. 

This pocket knife was BIG. probably 24 inches long and worked just like a small pocketknife!

Ken and Bernie are caught sitting down for a chat.

Mark, Bernie and Ken are discussing the shape of anvils. As the saying goes, you're never too old to learn. Right Ken??

Marylou served dual purpose for the conference, sales woman and demonstrator.

The Saltfork group prepared the best meals ever!  3 meals Saturday and 2 on Sunday. All could be had for a donation. One of my favorite things Saturday night was the smoked bologna!

Besides smoked bologna, they had smoked ribs, brisket, ham, and pulled pork. The dessert was always Mrs. Fields pecan pies. If you went away hungry it was your own fault.

There were not many vendors, in fact only three the first day and two the second day.

There were a few more tailgaters, including me. I sold Osage Bluff tongs along with jewelry and tee shirts for the BAM boutique.

My luck wasn't so good as when I attended this conference 6 years ago. I bought a few more tickets this time but  did not win their tool box.

Look at this piece of coal. Does anyone have a stocking that big???

On Sunday evening after break down, a room was reserved in town at a Mexican restaurant for those who wanted dinner. 

I'm hoping we convinced several of their guys to come to our conference.