bellybones

Jim lived on an Arabian ranch, next door to our farm in the late 1970's. He had no electricity and since his shop was open, in winter time he would get very very cold. Once during a walk, I encouraged him to come over and hang around in our always warm living room, to warm up. After this we became friends and I did a 3 week 'workshop' with him in 1979. We got along so famously and I loved the work so much that it wound up I became his apprentice for a year and a day. He gave me his cabin at the forge, to live in and I swung a sledge for him when needed. My main duty though, was to drive him to shoe horses, as he did not own a rig. I remember that year as laughing all the time. He would not teach, but always made sure I knew when he was going to be 'making something' and so I either watched or swung in time. He always yelled don;t hold your breath. We could really move iron together. That year we forged out a giant pair of 3" wide elephant toe nail nippers, made a wagon, ironed wagon wheels & hosted a blacksmith conference with our buddy Al Bart. He really had the art of hand forging down pat when I knew him, and he enjoyed a life style that really suited him from clew to earring. He and I shared the same sense of humor and in reading (Patty O'Brian) , and music. I am still in the business working every day, and am still grateful for what I learned in that year.