Green Culture

I am finding that I am becoming more and more green minded. Not that I am looking to get off the grid but just change the lifestyle of my house.

Mission Trip to San Miguel de Allende

Well I have been away from updateing this blog for a while but lets try this again. This has been an event filled year. In January I went with the church to San Miguel on a mission trip to help with a the construction of a radio staion and assist in a medical clinic. Both were very interesting but I enjoyed the medical clinic much more. The people in this city were so wonderful and come to find out there is a major school for artist there also. Market day was a treasure trove and an adventure. The metalwork was out of this world all locally made. There is also a large number of glass shops in the city. A definite must stop if you are in centeral Mexico. The trip lasted a week and I had plenty of opportunities to work on my Spanish. The weather was pleasant, around 39 degrees F in the morning and warmed to the 60's during the day. Sunday morning was different when we went to church and had to listen to a interpreter in a head set. Even though it was cold in the building it was one of the best church services I have every attended. Hopefully some day soon I can go back and visit the friends I made on this trip.

18th Annual Heritage Syrup Festival

November 12, 2006 was a good day for a festival. The weather was good, the people were great and it seems as though there were more folks there that ever. The day started on a sour note though. Ten minutes into my day of blacksmithing the handle broke out of my favorite hammer. It just snapped off even with the head. Luckily I carry another one in my tool box. I made a few items and a couple of new items and meet a few visiting blacksmith and people interested in smithing. The sawmill on the property ran most of the day and stacked lumber up that I learned was going to be used to construct the new blacksmith shop. This is a project we have been trying to start for some time. The next step will be to start a local blacksmith association.

Sparky

Heritage Syrup Festival

Well it's time once again for the Heritage Syrup Festival in Henderson, Texas. It all occurs on November 11, 2006 and is one of the best festivals in east Texas. There are all types of folk arts there including syrup making, wood carving, broom making, antique tractors and blacksmithing. I missed operating the blacksmith shop last year but I will be back this year. The day starts at 9:00 AM and goes until 5:00 PM and it's a full day.

We have a working syrup mill pulled by Joe the mule. He will definite brighten your day. Joe and the mill is located next to the broom shop. I started out working the festival by running the broom shop and made brooms for three years before I learned some basic blacksmithing skills and moved up the path.

Come, visit and spend the day with us. Be sure and stop by the blacksmith shop and say hello to Sparky.

It's a start

This is the start of my Blog, and since I am new to this it should be quite interesting to see the comments.