It has been awhile, longer than I thought actually!

I sure hope y'all are keeping warm today.  The wind chill this morning was -40F. My Air Force arctic parka was in its intended environment and it didn't take the dogs very long to empty themselves.  

Due to some shoulder issues I haven't been in the shop for quite awhile,  those have been mostly resolved and if things go well me and my buddy should be firing up the forges in the spring.   There is some maintenance that has to be done on the trip hammer and some new hoses bought for the new loaner forge.  The plan is to finish all the back orders and then complete all the blades I have heat treated before starting new ones.  Hopefully my new swage block will have shown up by then.  There are plans for making some wood working tools like gouges and such.

While not in the shop there was time to do other things.  Swimming is one of the few exercises that doesn't tear me up so the decision was made to learn scuba diving.  After a few classes I was hooked and now I'm "Advanced Open Water" certified.   Hopefully this summer I can be diving twice a week, there are plenty of lakes in this state(MN). There are a few wrecks in lake Superior I hope to hit and maybe take a trip to the gulf to hunt lion fish.

Me under Pike Lake summer 2020

That's all for now,  keep your powder dry, your pantry full and your pie hole shut,

Sven 

 

Update for the Summer

I haven't been in the shop at all since the trip to Kansas.   The weather has been particularly nasty with plenty of rain, humidity, and high temps. 
  The roof on one of my out buildings got blown mostly off while I was down south.   The repairs could not be put off any longer and it was done between rain storms.   There was a roof leak in the house that decided this was the year it had to be repaired also. 
  I'm

hoping when the weather cools down a bit that I can get back in the shop.  There are some knives that need finishing for some customers who have been as  patient as saints.  Those people know who they are and I can't thank them enough.  This has been a tough year but things are starting to fall in place.  The plan at this time is to get the knives caught up and start making product for show fall and Christmas shows once the weather cools down. 

A late start to my season in the northland

I've had to journey to the land of dust and wind and wind and dust to help out around my families homestead.  Dad had fractured some vertebrae and was waiting to get in for surgery.  While that was going on I needed to feed critters and do late winter/spring chores because of the restrictions put on him by the doctors.  Usually this in the time of year I get ready for my spring shows.   

There aren't many trees in KS
 and trees like this will make you happy about that

Dogs and horses and a mule oh my!

Getting ready to bush hog the pasture.

Working on some new products for the spring

There should be some horse head key fobs and bottle openers at the spring shows if all goes well.

Have a Cool Yule and a merry Christmas

Eat too much and enjoy friends and family this season.   See y'all in the spring!

Knives getting ready to go to their new homes

Been getting ready for winter.

There has been a plethora of projects that has been taking up my time.  Only a few have been involving the forge.   There has been a lot of clean up of accumulated debris.  Three pick up loads have made it to the dump. 

 There has been progress made on the small foundry project.  The burner parts have all arrived and are awaiting finishing touches.  Crucible tongs are on the agenda along with making some green sand forms for upcoming projects.  There is a pile of knives awaiting handles and sheaths.  

Shingles for the roof on the sauna have been located and are awaiting p/u.  I'm hoping to get that done before the snow falls. 

The girls enjoying soft grass and some shade on a hot day

 There is a four wheeler that I'm waiting for the  paperwork on and once it's in my possession then there is a couple of days of changing fluids and repair to get it ready for winter and snowplow duty. 

A throwing axe ready for delivery

An Arkansas toothpick in progress.  It may be going to live in Texas.