Garden Help? Please ID this Squash!

This is a volunteer plant that started in our compost bin.  I don't know what type of squash this is....it's not something I've ever grown in past years.   Any ideas?

Photography Honors

I recently learned that the above photos were chosen as "best" of their respective sections (Miscellaneous and Vegetables) in The Gardeners of America' 2015 Photography Competition.  In addition, I placed 4th overall for the entire body of work that I contributed.  

Making Pickle Relish

More Scenes From Claude Moore's July Market Fair

  

 

 

Claude Moore Market Fair...Style and Silliness...and Turkey Hugging!

Despite the heat (106 degree heat index), there was some serious style at Claude Moore's Market Fair this past weekend....plus, some turkey hugging! Thanks, Sarah!

No 1st Day of Market Fair Photos....

For the 1st first time in about 5 years, I have no photos of Claude Moore Market Fair's 1st Day to show you...because I was cheering on our son at a swim meet and then driving 5 hours round trip to take him to camp.  But, I am back and will be at Market Fair tomorrow!  Jeff, of course, was there today!  :-)

A Funny Thing at the Orthodontist's Office

A few minutes ago, I was sitting in the orthodontist's waiting room at an appointment for my son, flipping through the July 2015 issue of the Northern Virginia magazine, when I suddenly saw a picture of Jeff and our friend, Vince, blacksmithing at Claude Moore Colonial Farm's Market Fair (page 92). It's not one of my photos and the credit said that it was the Maryland Renaissance Festival, but it was definitely Jeff. You know you've been doing a lot of events for more than a few years when you start seeing yourselves in magazines and brochures! How funny!

Jeff's Demo at the Baltimore Monumental Bicentennial

Jeff really enjoyed himself yesterday at Baltimore's Monumental Bicentennial.  Despite a bit of rain, the festival enjoyed very good attendance and Jeff thoroughly loved getting to teach and demo to the crowd.   We want to thank Jeff's mother for helping at the event and taking these photos, while I attended a swim meet with our boys.  Thanks, Mimi!

Father's Day Blacksmithing Demo at Mount Vernon Park

Jeff had a great Father's Day, demo'ing at Mount Vernon Park.  This is our local swim/tennis park, and it was such fun to be able to show neighbors and friends what we do all over the area!   Jeff got into the spirit of the day and made grilling tools, as well as a few nails.  The park had done a superb job of organizing the day, with woodworking demos, Jeff's demo, and a fishing derby, on top of all the other amenities of the park.

Repairing a Spinning Wheel at Benjamin Banneker's Historical Park

Jeff loves to demo because he loves to teach and he loves projects that challenge his engineering skills.  He is definitely NOT someone who makes 100 of something.  He doesn't make 100 of anything without a good reason!  Instead, he really enjoys the challenge to make something new, and especially when that project helps someone else.  At the Benjamin Banneker Colonial Festival  this past Sunday, a guest needed help fixing a piece on her spinning wheel and she'd even brought the wheel along for Jeff to look at!  The minute she said she had the wheel with her, I knew we'd be solving her problem.  Of course, Jeff  became totally engrossed in the project, and had a very good time helping forge a piece that solved the problem.  Better spinners than I can probably name the piece....

Blacksmithing Demo at Darnall's Chance

We spent a very, very hot, but enjoyable, Saturday afternoon at the Colonial Picnic at Darnall's Chance.  It was great fun to be set up next to friends like Tom and Dean and see other friends, as well.   The event organizers did a fabulous job in having lots of children's activities, and we really enjoyed the chance to see the house and discover its relationship to the Lees of Westmoreland County.  But, the best thing of all was the chance to connect a young man and his father with their blacksmithing heritage -- they had a great grandfather and other family members who were smiths in Kenya but had never been able to see blacksmithing in person.  That is exactly why we do what we do!