… to anyone I missed on this morning’s frenzy of phone calls…

Abundant blessings in the new year

Mark

Today’s pictures came to me of wrapping the wire bundles in nickel:

And into the fire she goes…

Until she becomes a solidly welded piece of steel!

Antsy antsy :=)

So,

For the last 20 or so years, if I ever wanted to really work out, or have a formal garb occasion, or in any size, way, shape or form hold in my hands a real sword… I’ve had to borrow one.

This, soon, will no longer be the case. I have, based on lots of first-hand experience with them, decided that the time has finally come for me to commission a blade made by the Master Bladesmith, Jim Hrisoulas… Atar, the blacksmith of legend at Faire…

I have commissioned a cable sword, first of it’s kind to come out of his shop, after many, many daggers.

Today I recieved the first in a series of pictures as my blade is forged. Today’s task was to remove the protective coating on the cable strands prepatory to the welding of the cable:

which must first be done by disassembling and then heating and scrubbing the bundled cables. It is from these humbling beginnings:

That will issue forth one of the finest swords a man could hope for.

Part two, coming soon!

Best,

Mark

And the Wolf gets his obscure heraldic title!

It’s kind of funny the combinations of reactions and lack thereof amongst the various groups of people I know and have known over the years to the news of my engagement.

Lots of congrats from unlikely places, less than what I thought from some liekly ones, and a bit of shock and amazement from those who know me best.

I love being unpredictable.

Can I go play with my Horses now?

Thanks,

Mark

Need to make sure things like this:

http://www.pheonix.org/category/horses/feed

Are itnegrated in using steps like this:?

http://perishablepress.com/press/2006/11/20/add-rss-feed-link-icons/

Nothing to report. Absolutely Nothing!

Not at all!

[email_link]

Well, here’s a couple posts I never thought I’d be making….

I’m engaged! Like, the going-to-get-married engaged engaged.

For real.

Oh, and I actually have a horse to ride.

For real.

First, a picture of my sweety, Kirsten, and her engagement ring, an 18 month old Friesian filly known as Tessie (Testimony) on the right (Tessie’s momma is on the left):

Then a picture of me and my new DM…. a 17-hand Belgian draft horse (for non-horsey folks, 17 hands means FOOKIN HUGE) by the name of Dolly Madison. And boy is she huge… if you fall off, you can bounce 3 times and still be on her back:

Amazing, wot?

For a bit more thorough rundown on How It All Transpired, check A Laughing Gypsy

Be well, all…