Holiday Travels -- A Visit with Kelly Smyth

The highlight of our whirlwind travel from DC to Florida was a visit with our friend, Kelly Smyth. If you haven't checked out her ironwork, you definitely should! Kelly is a wonderful artist with an expertise in traditional ironwork. She has forged ships’ hardware for many recently constructed historic vessels -- just last year we admired her work on the Susan Constant and Discovery, at Jamestown Settlement and the Kalmar Nyckel. We got to know Kelly years ago when we demo'd with her at Claude Moore Colonial Farm, and she's been a special part of our lives ever since. She even gave our kids their first blackmsithing lessons!  

Friday in Focus: Meadow Grasses in Winter

Friday in Focus: Handmade Holiday Ornaments

Handprint Snowmen!

Friday in Focus: A Rainy, Wintry Day in the Garden

A Thanksgiving Holiday in Williamsburg

While the highlight of the holiday had to be Jeff's chance to work in the Colonial Williamsburg blacksmith's shop, we also enjoyed the holiday decorations, a lovely rental house that was not in Williamsburg but could have been because it was so period-correct, Rev Quest (the spy game), and York River State Park.

Xander discovered that every fence hides something amazing, like sheep!

Jeff in Colonial Williamsburg's Blacksmith Shop

Jeff had a fabulous time blacksmithing in the James Anderson Blacksmith's Shop at Colonial Williamsburg this past Friday.  It was the highlight of his Thanksgiving holiday, to be sure!  Many thanks to Fred for this photo!