| | Where are we?  We are in Middle Tennessee near the KY - TN border in a small town called Erin, TN. Actually about 5 miles South of town on a hill covered with blackberry bushes, oak trees and bee hives. With Nashville a little over 70 miles away we have all the conveniences of the city an hour and a half away, and all the conveniences of the country outside the back door. Mitch says "I live less than 10 miles from my day job office and it is one of the most beautiful drives to work that I have ever had to make." Some people have it rough. What is happening with the shop?
The shop is completed. I intended to post photos as the construction progressed, but...... It is 42 feet by 45 feet in area with a 12 foot eave line, one 12 foot door, one 10 foot door, one man-door, a concrete floor all around and three flues through the roof for forge ventillation (smoke stacks). I have installed an automobile hoist (seven foot long hydraulic cylinder) in the floor on one side of the shop since I do all my own mechanic work (virtually), and have added several heavy duty storage racks for lots and lots of storage. Most everything I use is heavy, therfore the sturdy storage. The electricians I asked for quotes would not give one - I guess it isn't a big enough job. So a very good friend, Lonnie Farmer, and I completed it. The stacks are through the roof. The hoods are completed. I am in the planning stages for the three forges, stands for the post vices and a concrete slab for the power hammer. I plan on three forges (one gas and two coal/charcoal) and one power hammer for now. I made a steel rack and uploaded (ha! ha!) all the steel onto it. I have a huge layout table (I bought that from a fellow blacksmith). The landscaping is coming along slowly. Jane recently added a path, a swing for meditation and a blacksmith whirl-a-gig she got me for Christmas one year. It is supposed to inspire me to hammer that fast and hard! I will have to get her to help me organize all my tools. I am on my way!!! BEFORE  AFTER 
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