Leah

Rich, I am glad the surgery is over. Take care and be sure to mind the doctor.

elkdoc, Ouch! You are in my prayers.

Brian, Your family is in my prayers.

Like Quenchcrack, I met Paw Paw at Bill Epps' hammer-in. He and Jock flew in for the weekend. We grilled steaks for supper that night and had a good visit. My husband, Steve, is a police officer so he he and Paw Paw had a lot to talk about. When I got my copy of Paw Paw's book, the inscription was to a LEO wife. I had to ask Steve to find out that LEO stood for law enforcement officer. When I told Paw Paw that I had to ask, he got a kick out of it. He understood what it was like to sit at home and wait... My heart goes out to Sheri. I found three pictures of Paw Paw taken that weekend and put them in the iforgeiron gallery

Jim and Sheri, you are both on my prayer list.

Bwilloughby, What was in the tank? Have you cut into it yet? I am not trying to mind your business, but please be SURE you know what was in the tank before you start to cut into it. You sound like a neat person and I would hate for you to go boom . What kind of critter is Spooky? She sure is cute.

Ralph, I am so glad Nathan is finally home. I will keep you all on my prayer list.

Paw Paw, I hope you get to feeling better soon. Take care of yourself.

GREAT NEWS I just heard from Amanda's dad. They got the test results back on the tumor in her chest and the mass that had invaded her ribs and FOUND NO CANCER. They were so sure, when they did the surgery. You can't tell me prayers are not answered. Thank you all so much.

I call my place "Pink Hammer Forge." What can I say - I'm a girl and my hammer is pink. Besides, you guys already had all the good names.

A blacksmith friend's 27 year old daughter, Amanda, has bone cancer. They found it last week and took six inches from one of her ribs. She is to be married in November. Please remember her in your prayers.

I was the oldest of five kids and when my daddy needed someone to help him with his hobby (welding), he got me. Daddy would tell me about turning the handle on the blower for my grandaddy as he would sharpen plow points and fix things around the farm. I guess that is what got me started on this road. As a young girl, I would rather play in his shop than play with dolls. I was lucky that my parents did not try to force me into "proper" hobbies for girls. Back in 1971, as a senior in high school, I signed up to take shop class. When I was told that only boys were allowed to take that class, my mother went to the school board and tried to get that changed. I was not given the chance, but she started the ball rolling and the next year, the class was open to girls. I got married and worked as a bank teller for 20 years without doing any metalwork. When I turned 40, I lost my mind and got a job at the mill. I worked shiftwork for two years while driving 90 miles a day to trade school. It took me 20 years, but I finally got into that shop class . As soon as I got into the maintenance department, I started saving my money to build a shop. My first forge was a borrowed rivet forge. It ticked my daddy when I called him to ask how to start my first fire. He taught me just like his daddy taught him. I have a really nice shop....now if I could just learn to use all this stuff.

Great news Brian!! My mother just passed her five year milestone. It sure does make you want to smile.

Alan, Your family is on my list.

I really like them all, but the flip flops are way cool.

My shop is a metal building/roof with plastic covered insulation. Due to the insulation, I wanted to use triple walled flue pipe and I also wanted to use stainless steel. The only size I could find locally was 8". I ran it straight up from the sidedraft hood. I have to be careful and start my fire slowly but once the air in the flue warms up, it draws very well. I can forge all day and the outside never gets warm. I did not even have to build any kind of box for a stand off where it goes through the roof.