During lunch on first day of classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School, I sat across from a young gentleman whose nametag indicated he was in the blacksmithing class. I asked if he had any experience in the craft. “I’d never picked up a hammer before today,” he replied with a smile.
That afternoon, while [...]
As I walked through the doorway into the office to register for this week’s class at the John C. Campbell Folk School, I thought I heard someone call my name. I turned around to see my dear friend Lynne walking towards me, arms outstretched.
“Can you believe we’re here like this?” Lynne asked. “It is a [...]
Robins built their nest outside the Keith House stage (as they do each year) and I decided to document some of her accomplishments. I was careful to set up the remote camera on the porch while they were out foraging for food, then sat in the far corner and awaited their approach. I have not read [...]
After a week of watching birds with my Folk School class, I have this (“Old Sam, Peabody, Peabody”) and several other mnemonics to remember bird calls racing through my head. Well, more like stuffed in and tumbling out as I try not to forget it all. In just 4 and a half days, we saw [...]
I’ve caught the blacksmithing bug. I’m here writing but would rather have a hammer in my hand, an anvil to my right and a forge to my left. Today has been the most productive day in the shop. Early on Paul, the resident blacksmith (a job smiths would die for), came in and helped me [...]