The Old Retired Guys And Anyone That Wants To Take A Vacation Day Hammer In #2

Once again we hosted an open house on a week day. The blacksmith and I were so happy that so many showed up. There wasn't an accurate count but we guesstimated there were 40+ smiths and 8 wives.  

 Bernie showing how the treadle hammer that he made works.

 The shop quickly filled up.

Some of the overflow hung out at the back door.

The women enjoyed a morning visiting before lunch was put on the table. 

Mike made his famous Cowboy Beans. He cooked them using his rim-a-que cooker. Here's his directions: It's a 16" (or bigger) rim, turned upside down and with 3 legs welded on. Angle iron or light pipe both work for the legs. Then cut a piece 1/8 inch thick stock to cover the hole in the middle. A solid rim works best, there will be enough air coming in the the lug nuts. When using charcoal, put 8 briquettes on the bottom of the dutch oven and about 16 on the top.

His beans, well, lets just say the pot was licked clean! It was 2 pounds of hamburger browned and one big chopped onion. Two three pounds cans of Bush's original beans, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cups of ketchup, and 1/2 cup of Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce. Bake for 2 hours. Just before serving add a pound of cooked bacon bits. 

We again had quite a feast, ham, turkey, (about 5 pounds of sliced cheese that stayed hidden in the refrigerator), 2 pasta salads, many varieties of  chips, slaw, platters of devil eggs, sliced tomatoes, carrot cake, fresh peach crunch, angel food cake, zucchini chocolate cake, brownies, and probably something else that I have forgotten. Thank you to all who help contribute to the meal!

 What great fellowship!

We had all ages involved.  Kaiden is just 12 years old. He's been forging for a while now.

Scott has been a BAM member for years and always enjoys forging when he come, since he doesn't have the equipment at home.

Of course it wore him out . . . so he took a little nap and I was luckily enough to capture it.

The guys always tend to gather about someone else's scrap pile!

 They was lots of visiting going on all day.

More forging.

Luke happens to live about 2 miles from our house. His parents dropped him off for the day so he could join in the activities.

When Luke's Dad picked him up he wouldn't show him what he had rolled up in a bag. This was his presentation when he got home. Not bad at all for his first time forging.

Bentley was worn out and hot. He enjoyed all the petting he was given.
 

The day was filled with lots of exchanging of ideas.

Now that we've done this for the second year, it will pretty much be an annual thing, or so we hope.

Old retired guys and anyone who wants to take a vacation day hammer in

On July 30, at the Osage Bluff Blacksmith Shop we hosted a hammer in  called "The old retired guys and anyone who wants to take a vacation day". You see, it was a Thursday meeting!

There was a little tailgating going on.  Of course the grand daughter Lizzie was in on the dealing too.

 She seemed to always be in among the guys. Note safety glasses were a requirement.

This is the force behind most of the blacksmiths. Thank you Bob Stormer for organizing us for a great group picture. BAM wouldn't be what it is without these woman and many more.

It was good to see some old friends. Don Asbee, Bernard Tappel, (two of the twelve founding members of BAM), Sam Little (a brand new member) and Rich Kamp.

It was also good to make new friends. Stephanie was the only female blacksmith participating. 

Blacksmiths came from long distances too. Larry Lutz was from Iowa. We had 2 from Iowa, and 2 from Illinois.

Through out the day there was a gas forge and 3 coal forges going. Almost everyone worked on a project they brought along or demonstrated something for the group. 

 Seems there were some great conversations shared. . . Pat McCarty and Bob Alexander.

 Chris Owen, Mike Gentzsch, Ken Markley, and Preston Williams.

 Craig and Cory.

This would be the early bird prize!   It seems Tom Patterson arrived two weeks early . . . he had the date wrong.

 Lots of conversation . . . Don Asbee, Don Nichols, and Tom Patterson.

 Phil Cox, Terry Smith, John Viessman, "let's discuss this".

 The gas forges.

 Dan Wedemeyer.

  

Here is the group of BAM members that attended. We hosted almost 50 members and spouses!

Getting ready for lunch, ham, smoked turkey, deer sausage sandwiches with all the trimmings. 

My creative sister carved the BAM logo into a watermelon, added an anvil and hammer on top!

There was still parking for a few more cars. It was a beautiful day in the country. The first cool day after several scorching days.

Lunch is served.

If you are included in the pictures, thank you for coming.  If not, try to make it next time!