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 One of the state parks close to us does hands-on pioneer demonstrations on Saturday afternoons throughout the summer.  When I saw the next one was on blacksmithing, gunsmithing and woodworking, K was really excited to take the kids.

We really had fun and learned a lot!  The kids used a crosscut saw and a lathe turned with a pedal and string (I think there’s a name for this, but I don’t know it); and they made a shake for a roof. Then we watched the blacksmiths work and learned about kids years ago making nails to sell for spending money as E1 and E2 each pounded the head onto one they got to keep.  As we were leaving the gunsmiths set off a cannon- that was loud!