one trip we went to a lot of cemeteries. this is our first one this trip. it was small and there were recent headstones, so it’s still being used. cemeteries can evoke a lot of emotion. is that there purpose? I don’t want to be buried, and i’m not sure why people do. is religion a big part of wanting to be buried in the ground? no one has to answer that. just thinking out loud. we all have different beliefs. right or wrong, good or bad.
I want to put in a few more pictures from town. on our way out we stopped and watched the blacksmith working. he was a younger man and we started talking to him. he had a sense of humor and we were enjoying the conversation and got interested in what he was making. he was telling us all about his grandfather and father being blacksmiths and learning from them.
he has been at barkerville 10 years. you could tell he knew what he was doing. he would put the metal in, keep checking the color, put it back in, bring it out, pound on it, put it back in. then he took it over to the vice and twisted it. he put it back in, took it out, put water on it, twisted it, put it back in, pounded on it some more. so on and so on.
I guess it doesn’t take much for me to have fun, because this was so much fun. watching and talking all about blacksmithing. who knew. he told us all about the pine beetle that is killing the lodge pole pines up here. we’ve seen the dead tress the whole trip, but the road out here, the hills were covered with dead trees. nothing has been found to stop them.
we stood and watched him for a long time, and I decided I had to have the item he was making. it was so amazing to see it made. from start to finish. he cleaned it up and it was mine. I will cherish it forever.
we’re going to stop in whistler before we reach Vancouver. it’s 240 miles from Williams lake where we are now. so I don’t know if we’ll get there today or not. we might see another blacksmith along the way. ha ha.
so stay tuned.
and don’t forget to leave a comment
Once in awhile-now and again-this is us 
Now that is the story of a trip worth taking. What did he make for you? Fascinating pictures of the lovely cemetery- how much sweeter for the rampant wildflowers… makes me want to know how Peter died so young. The blacksmith shots are incredible for their perspective and history moving on.
You’re so sentimental, Jill. You’ll have to show us your purchase when you get back. P.S. I hate that a little bug can do so much damage. Love ya – Sharon
hi guys, thanks for having so much fun with me.
it’s incredible the loss of trees. we were told it doesn’t get cold enough not to kill the larvae.
i’ll take a picture of my now treasured possession. I was hoping someone would ask.
Hi Jill,
i would love to see and be in that blacksmiths shop.
My great-grandpa was a blacksmith and he use to tell me all the stores.
Love the trip wish i was there.
*Hi Grammie!!*
I wish I could come with you to some of your trips! What did the blacksmith make for you? Did you love it? Once we watched ‘Back To The Future 3’ and Doc (one of the main characters) was a blacksmith. I wonder why all the beetles are eating the trees so fast. 😮
I love you and miss you!!
Love Amy
hi ray, you’ll have a great grandson to tell stories to now.
hi amy, thanks for your comment. I heard you’ve been busy with cousins. hope you had a lot of fun. like we hare having a lot of fun. i’ll put in a picture of what the blacksmith made for us. there is a blacksmith at knott’s berry farm.
the cold weather used to kill the larvae and keep the bugs from reproducing so fast. but it doesn’t get cold enough any more. love you too, grandma
I’m curious about the blacksmith too. I still have the horseshoe from the blacksmith at Knotts Berry Farm. I also really like that purple flower. So delicate and joyful all at once.
hey, there you are, haha. (I heard about you being gone.) I wanted to see if people noticed I didn’t tell what it was.
I just got home from Seattle. I hope to see what the blacksmith made in your next set of pix. You guys are the best travelers.
hi paula , what were you doing in seattle? having fun I hope.
I think we will do pikes market again. we haven’t seen the gum wall yet.!!!haha.
we have to be in a camp that we can have a campfire before I can show off my prize possession. and Washington is not to keen on campfires right now.