Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival and other stuff

The Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival in Spruce Pine, NC.  
This is a gathering of very talented people and also a fantastic place to get up close to be able to see and learn about the art of blacksmithing.  


You can even sign up to make your own treasure. 



Great entertainment for the whole family.  



This beautiful car was in an estate auction that was taking place later in the afternoon.  




Penland school demonstration.  



This is a very interesting and informative festival to attend.  You can also purchase anything from hooks to gates at the festival and the exhibitors are more than happy to answer questions about blacksmithing.  




The arts council had a beautiful display of some very talented blacksmiths.  




This is just amazing.  




The shapes and curves are just incredible.  




About two years ago, I took a blacksmithing class at ASU.  Larry the Magnificent, my dad and my husband also took the class.  We had a great time.  I do however think that our teacher was happy when the class ended.  Some of my classmates were quite disruptive (Fred and Larry).   So anyway......I have started a new project.  I am making a grapevine trellis.  Actually it is a trellis/arbor combination that will have faux bois concrete posts that will incorporate an arbor made from metal to look like branches.  There will be a large birds nest in the branches.  Above, you can see the basic metal structure that will support the concrete.   You can picture that........right?   This is going to be a larger project than I had first  planned, because I added the metal work.  I figure that if I am going to look at it forever then it may as well be over the top.  



After all of that; I needed a walk.  
Zippy in his best deer searching pose.  



Spring wildflowers.



Red maple seeds



More red maple seeds.



I have no idea what these are called.  I have misplaced my wildflower book.



This I do know.  A cute little violet.



False Hellebore.



My cute little jonquils.  



What would a blog post be without a picture of my cutest little wildflower......Miss Bumble.



I really love this picture.  They are wild things too.  




Over the weekend, we were treated to a beautiful sky.  With a passing cold front; the sky was clear and so beautiful.  This type of scene makes you realize how lucky you are to be alive.  



It is so beautiful that you just can't take your eyes away for fear that you may miss something.  



The field in the foreground is where Bumble and Zippy have some of their walking adventures. 



Later in the evening.  The moon is peeking out from behind the clouds.











I bet the folks in that plane had a show.  



The end.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Bumbles bounce but they do not swim.

We have had an unusually frost free and warm spring.   Since it was a really warm day and the dogs were hot, we decided to go visit the stream.  



Let's go Bumble!



I just love the stream.  The only problem is that I do not swim.  I have a life jacket for deep water, but I really only like to get my feet wet.  



Zippy likes the water and will go all the way across.  It is really too shallow for swimming.  




After all of the snow that we had this winter the springs are flowing out of the woods and into the stream.  




Just beautiful





There are lots of unusual trees around here.  




Check out the large burls on this one.  




Wow, this one has a burl right at the base.  




Something is amiss.  Where is Zippy????
Bumble.....have you seen Zippy?



Yeah...while you were checking out all of those silly trees, he took off.  
He went this way.  



He is over here!!!!  He is chewing on something.  
(Just like him not to share)



Zippy!!!!  We were so worried!  What is that you are chewing on? 

Just a old dried up deer. 

Zippy.....you better stop and come right back over here!  



Well.....okay......only if I have to.......
I can't believe that Bumble ratted me out.  
Hmmmm.......how am I going to get back across?  I am scared.  



Don't worry Zippy.....I will save you.  

Oh.....wait.....I don't swim.  



Um.....sorry Zippy.  It's all you man.  You can do it!  Just jump in and go.  




Bulldogs......they are so unreliable.  
I think if I climb up this waterfall, I can make it.  



Great Zippy.....You did it.  You made it back!




Okay......Zippy.  You better stay with us this time.   Let's go back to the house I have had enough.  



Ramps!



Come on Bumble......I want to play.



 Okay!!!



Look I am flying.



That is nothing.......Check this out. 



Hey look the six legged dog.  



Where????  Where did he go?  



The end!