One night last week, after Alan (6) and Marian (7) had performed their nightly chore of separating the cows and feeding them, Phoebe, who is a very large and healthy 5 months old, decided she’d try her weight against the already-taxed 36” high welded hog-wire panel I was using to close the front of the shed, and practically obliterated it, making good her escape.

Something I’ve run into is that I will fairly often get compliments on social media from folks on my “talent” or “gifting” at working metal, and as I am unsure I have EVER had a natural aptitude towards any of the crafts that I like doing, this has led me to wonder about how we look at those things.

Blacksmiths must also work to tell the story of the trade to as wide an audience as possible. Few skilled crafts/trades/arts are safe from obsolescence in the modern age- but some, like traditional blacksmithing, while far from dead and a long way from extinction, are basically irrelevant to popular culture and will remain so as long as long as their story is not being told.

“Congratulations on your successful business, man! Love your work!” I receive Instagram messages like this or even similar comments from friends who have seen my frequent posts on Instagram or Facebook pretty frequently.  For a while, instead of being properly encouraged and humbled, I wanted to have a pity party.

I believe that, while this so-called “alternative lifestyle” is FILLED with simple pleasures, it is anything but simple, and sometimes, the “simple life” is one where someone else keeps the checks coming- and where all you have to do is get up and show up.