[ironrosefarms]

It was because of a patient smith at a reenactment pioneer village that took this young kid's comment of my great grandpa was a blacksmith with grace. He asked me what exactly he did, to which I answered I only know that he was the smith for a coal mine and a few stories related to me by my great grandma. He then said he was planning to work in the shop the next weekend and if I had an interest I was welcome to come by. I did and we then worked side by side for about 3 1/2 years.

I handle the questions in much the same way, though I don't often have the availability of a next weekend or anything of that nature. I have had some very good conversations with folks who remember a smith in their family and the work they did. I find that allowing people to reminisce about a fond memory is a great way to give me a chance to allow them to leave away from me with another fond memory of a smith in their life. For me, maybe they will someday be a customer, but that is not the important part... for them, to know someone took the time to recognize their story as important is worth more than anything I could forge in my coal fire.

James