simple.shire.life / Barbara

Coffin Handle Bowie.
This was made of 1095 steel for the blade, an ebony handle with mother of pearl inlay. It was hand forged and hand finished.
#blacksmith #Bladesmith #handcrafted #handforged #forged #forging #ironwork #madeinvirginia #madefromscratch #metalwork #bowieknife #homemade #handtools

I met you there! you looked fantastic! we had great -tight- seats. 😅

it was amazing! hope you had a wonderful time!

Wish we could gift more but here is to the little things we do to show teachers and other educators we appreciate them. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

#weloveourteachers #teachmemore #publicschool #fcps #teacherappreciaton

I moved a couple of things around last week and installed in garden oillas. I uses two terra cotta pots with plates to use as lids.

I also reused my leftover glass kombucha bottles, with stoppers with pin holes, as plant waterers on my seedling transplants.

#gardening #garden #hobbitcore #plants

The garden is coming along.
My seedlings that were started indoors have nearly all been transplanted.

#gardening #garden #zone7b #springgarden #veggiegarden

Wooden sign with rainbow text "BARBARA'S GARDEN"

My in-laws surprised me yesterday with a little gift for the garden. I feel so loved.

#gardening #garden

A truly lovely service. Your words will stick with me as we enter this stage of the year. It was so good to see you.

Check out my linktree on my bio for classes. I'm teaching a class on tongs in October. Sign up and tell others to sign up. This class will be fun.

#madeinvirginia #handcrafted #handforged #forged #forging #blacksmith #blacksmithing #handmade #tongs #teaching #classes

We took our son to our local garden center and visited the chickens!
Anyone else have a favorite local garden center?

Ours are The Garden Plot and Nalls Produce.

#supportsmallbusiness #gardening #gardencenter #chickens #coop #thegardenplot #nova

After playing a fictional member of the Resistance a long time ago, I never could have imagined it ever happening in real life, but here we are.

I got my first seed order from Botanical Interests! So excited!

What are your favorite companion planting combinations?

#zone7b #gardening #garden #seedstarting #botanicalinterests #veggiegarden #wintergarden #companionplant

DOGE recommended firing workers at:

-FDA, which oversees Neuralink

-FAA, which oversees SpaceX

-USAID, which probed Starlink

-CFPB, which oversees Tesla's financing arm and a potential payment platform on X.

"Conflict of interest" is a severe understatement.

This is a combination rushlight used to burn either a candle or a rush. A rush is a plant that would be soaked in fat.

#madeinvirginia #handcrafted #handforged #forged #forging #historic #historictrades #blacksmith #blacksmithing #handmade #ironsmith #ironwork #light #candlelight #lighting

This is a hanging candle holder or loom light as it's sometimes called. It's 18th c. inspired. Mine fits well off a door.

#madeinvirginia #handcrafted #handforged #forged #forging #historic #historictrades #blacksmith #blacksmithing #handmade #ironsmith #ironwork #light #candlelight #lighting

YouTube video by Redleaf Ranch Start a VICTORY GARDEN! 🌱✨#garden #staystrong #abundance

This!
[Originally posted by @redleafranch.bsky.social via YT]

youtube.com/shorts/3lBW4...

I made some simple candlesticks. It's a basic cup with nail combination. I used Applewood for the base I got from my dad.

#madeinvirginia #handcrafted #handforged #forged #forging #historic #historictrades #blacksmith #blacksmithing #handmade #ironsmith #ironwork #light #candlelight #lighting

One of our supporters shared this with us—people are getting creative tonight!

View of a snow covered fenced in garden. Evergreen tall trees in the background are powdered in snow.

Snow day in the Garden.
This is a view from my home office window.

#wintergarden #gardenprep #gardening

I made this striking knife a while back for my dad.

#madeinvirginia #handcrafted #handforged #forged #forging #historic #historictrades #blacksmith #blacksmithing #handmade #ironsmith #ironwork #hardware

exactly! This is what I have missed in other social meda sites. So glad we have it here.

YouTube video by Redleaf Ranch They CAN’T HAVE IT.

This!
[Originally posted by @redleafranch.bsky.social ]

youtube.com/shorts/_2PVz...

Tried to get a short video of the eagle in our yard with the telescope

Much better

My father-in-law brought out one of his toys! Let's see if we get a better picture.

We finally got home and we were greeted by a possibly injured eagle. Animal Control has been called but for now they are safe in our yard.