A Year in Retrospect

As another year comes to a close, we look back and reflect on the things that have happened. This past year has been full of wonderful blessings as well as a few disappointments. If you are an optimist as I am, you tend to remember the good instead of the bad. I am very blessed to have a job that allows me to travel and visit places all over the Southeast.
 Between my regular appointments I have visited with my friend Marshall Thompson at Edges Knives in Moultrie, Georgia. Marshall is an expert in all types of edged weapons and he is a great friend . Then as you travel north through Geogia, and cross the North Carolina line , you come into Otto N.C. and there you will find Culpepper and Co.with the most complete line of Knife making products you will ever need. They have converted an old schoolhouse into their showroom and warehouse. Cross over into Tennessee and right next to the Smokey Mountain Knife Works you will see an old house standing in the front parking area. In that 19th century house you will meet Ken Largin, a master bladesmith and the founder of Kelgin Knifemakers CoOp.
This year was also the founding of the Alabama Leather Guild, a longtime dream of mine. Then I was able to have a table at the Alabama Gun Collectors Gun show at the BJCC, it was so good that I had to join the Association because this is a really great bunch of guys. Teen Challenge of Alabama, choose a knife and sheath to be given as the grand prize to the annual skeet shoot fund raiser , that was a great day, and they raised a lot of money for a wonderful cause.
I even got my 15 seconds of fame, when our segment was chosen by Fred Hunter to be shown on the Christmas Special " Absolutely Alabama " on Fox 6.
I would like to thank the Custom Knife makers that I have had the pleasure to work with. Mike Naylor, Ray Fincher and Ken Largin. These men are great craftsmen as well as artists. I am proud to know them as well as call them FRIEND !
Probably, the best thing that has happened this year , was that my talented artist wife  Debra is now working with me , and making the most beautiful "hand bound" leather journals in the world !
I give thanks to the Lord for my many blessings, and look forward to another year with his help.