Traditions—a photo essay
Come, boys. Let's dig out Grandpa's forge and see how it works to bend steel.
It's hot, be careful. Grandpa would heat horseshoes and fit them to each horse's foot.
Anything becomes liquid if you heat it enough. Imagine rock so hot it liquifies, like the stuff that buried Pompeii. Hey, look. Now that it's orange, we can bend it, no problem. What shall we make with this?
Is this play? Is this work? Maybe it's just dads indulging themselves, and the boys come along.
Maybe none, maybe all. Grandpa did this, we do it. Look, maybe grandpa put his horseshoes onto this anvil, think of that. Maybe I will too, just to keep it alive and allow the generations to link a little.
Photos by Joel Engbretson. Words by Pete Kauffman.
Joel Engbretson lives in Grangeville, Idaho, with his wife Bethany and two children, Dustyn and Kate.
Pete Kauffman lives in Alaska with his wife and two daughters. It is not always cold or dark there. He would be honored to hear your comments and criticism via email at pete@kauffman.cc. He writes for fun at petekauffman.org.