CrazyGoatLady

I have scars and injuries from a variety of things as well as smithing  But probably the weirdest one is a little knotty feeling scar on my left hand pointer finger I got when I was about 7 or 8 years old from a parakeet bite...

That's a great looking hammer. I'd be proud to own it except closer to a 2lb.er for me! Very nice

We can't hardly keep up with the demand for eggs. I only had 7 when a lady stopped by today, but she still wanted them. Our current layers aren't spring chickens anymore . They aren't quite as productive, but those girls definitely earn their keep. And nearly as soon as we post up rabbits for sale, they go. People are coming from Oklahoma a lot for them because they are saying they can't find meat rabbits near them anywhere. Got a guy coming from Norman today. Another guy who lives in Florda will be coming through this week from Colorado to pick up some. I hate the circumstances that are causing it, but business is booming. I love my chickens too, Chris. The young ones won't be laying till June or July. But hopefully, this will be at an end by then. 

arkie, thank you for your kind words. I appreciate it very much 

Im glad you have a place to go and another smith to talk shop with. I don't know anybody personally that Smith's. If I talk shop, most folks have no clue what I'm talking about and  I feel like it's probably boring to them. But they are usually fascinated by it so I keep jabbering away 

Thank you Jennifer. I've been thinking about introducing some more elaborate chisel work. I used my little HF needle files for this. The fork will get the same treatment. Admittedly, I had to do a lot more cleanup on the knife shape than I aimed for. I haven't forged anything in about 2 weeks, so I was a little off. You get a lot of credit for me learning how to do all three of the items shown as well as most work I do.  I can't thank you enough.

pnut, it's raining here too. I hope you get to put your forge together quickly. Im sure you're having withdrawals!

I'm still tagging along Justin. You're are getting so good at what you do. I'm continually very impressed with your work and dedication

I do Chris.  It's been in my care for several years. And thank you JHCC. I'm glad you got some shop time in also 

Thank you and yes sir. S&W snub nose .357. It belonged to my Dad. I didn't realize I caught a peek of it in the pic.

This is my work today. I haven't done anything in a little while. Just wanted to check in and say  "Hey Y'all" and I'm still at it 

Truthfully, nobody really knows what to do. It's a new thing to all of us and quite an evolving learning process. Amazing how much life has changed in such a short time. Tommie went to work with a guy who lives right around the corner from us this morning. May be only temporary, but it's something for now. Eggs and rabbits have become very in demand. This time of year it's usually Easter bunnies people want and even that's finicky. Now, more people are looking to feed their families in the long term. The calls have been at rapid speed. Never been like this in over 5 years of raising them. 

That's good news Steve. We started major cleanup around the farm and since we have more people to do it and more time, it should go fast. Finished tearing down old chicken tractors yesterday and harvesting good parts from them. This is some of the hardware I had made for them. Pretty sure I could do them much better now, but the new tractors are of different construction so we don't need latches or handles like these. 

Used to, I didn't listen to music in the shop at all. And sometimes I still don't. But I have more lately and it's usually country music. Sometimes '80s rock and pop. I grew up on country, but was a heavy metal kid in the '80s, so occasionally I go there. And talk radio on occasion. 

21 hours ago, Fowllife said:

I think it's interesting how different states are reacting. I thought I heard the governor of Texas said he would put the states economy in front of citizens welfare. 

I think it is an interesting thing as well. I haven't heard of Gov. Abbott saying anything like that for Texas. However, having said, I do think we are behind the  curve on shutting down. It seems to be going county by county. Larger areas first. We haven't been shut down, but places are giving out cards to people to prove they are going to work. Business are rapidly shutting down regardless and I look for us to shut down as a state soon. But who knows? 

On the brighter side, Tommie has a line on 3 jobs. He's waiting on a call back from one today that's he's hoping for. Completely different than he normally does, but it pays good

Wasn't thinking of that, Chris. I believe in you and look forward to seeing your tongs!

It's actually giving me more work to do. Everyone is home all the time now. We've had nothing but rain for over a week. With 4 people and 3 dogs in and out, it's all I can do to keep the floors clean. I've organized my kitchen and cleaned out my freezers to make room for the extra stuff we've gotten. I'm a creature of habit, so it's taking a bit to get used to the new normal. I'm sure that's the case for nearly all of us. I am reading a bit more though. 

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Glenn. I do that too after you gave me that advice 

I'm not a welder so I can't help you there. I try to forge longer stock as much as I can as I dislike using tongs when I don't have to. One less thing between me and the steel and hammer. When it's a piece I'm going to hold with my hand, I place it at angle in the mouth of the forge so it's not so directly in the line of fire. If it starts getting too hot, I'll grab it with a pair of tongs at the hot end and quench the end I want to hold. If the hot end cools off too much, I just heat it back it up, but the far end will take a few times before it gets too hot again. Wash, rinse, repeat 

Have a good evening and safe travels Thomas. I hope we get to hear from you often

Congratulations on your forge Chris. I'm glad you got it going. 

CC, good to see your work again. Good stuff. Everyone's work is looking good. I'm happy to see it all

I don't really have a clue to tell you the truth, SLAG my friend. 

Absolutely CtG, strange times indeed

Interesting. It's weird how things are going. One town 15 miles from us and they close up everything at 8 30pm. Another town 4 miles from us are still pretty much closing at normal times. We are right in between counties.

CtG, my sentiments exactly. And thanks for the information for our state. I didn't think we were shutting down yet. 

Right on, Thomas 

I haven't heard anything for the whole state of Texas, just parts. But I may have missed it somehow.