Randy | July 21, 2016
Mrs. LFM, Bairns, Dogs and I live in an antique farm house the original construction of which predates electricity and indoor plumbing. The wise and hard working crew who threw their blood, sweat, and tears into its building and sustenance dug a well 20 feet deep on the hill overlooking the house, and by their […]
Randy | July 17, 2016
The title of this piece carries forward from one I wrote back in April of 2014, and is motivated by fallout from my joyous efforts in restoring a very nice old scythe to service. It joined the LFM stable of steel about a month ago courtesy of the Esteemed Peter Thompson. Wooden snathed (the […]
Randy | June 5, 2016
Grohmann Knives (GK) designs and produces its excellent line of outdoor and kitchen cutlery from its factory outlet in Pictou, Nova Scotia. If there’s anyone who owns and uses a Grohmann knife anywhere in the world who can utter a substantive criticism of its quality and craftsmanship, he or she is a rare beast indeed, […]
Randy | May 29, 2016
I grew up in the small but (then) prosperous town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in a house across the street from what was generally referred to as “the Minister’s lawn”. A part of the grounds of the Anglican Reverend’s residence, it was a beautifully manicured expanse of table top flatness, and came to be used […]
Randy | May 21, 2016
Everyone now living is the product of tough, and as necessary rough, people, whether your 21st century sensibilities like it or not. Those of my own memory and upbringing were the kind of stoic, hard working, hard swearing, hard drinking, won’t take shit from anybody kind of folks who abounded in those days. It may […]
Randy | April 20, 2016
“A man cannot understand the perfection and imperfections of his chosen art if he cannot see the value in other arts. Following rules only permits development up to a point in technique; to advance further the student and artist must learn and seek other knowledge. It makes sense to study other arts as well as […]
Randy | April 13, 2016
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the adjective use of the word “deliberate” as: 1 Done consciously and intentionally: ‘a deliberate attempt to provoke conflict’ 2 Careful and unhurried: ‘a conscientious and deliberate worker’ 2.1 Fully considered; not impulsive: ‘a deliberate decision’ In common usage today, the word is most often associated with actions that are […]
Randy | April 6, 2016
I write about cannibalism now and then, most commonly revisiting the quaint and rustic social custom in my October annual Dark Sentiments series. As you read what follows, I would remind you that thanks to good old fashioned fairy tales, the subject has already entered the curriculum as taught in our house. SFM #1 went […]
Randy | March 25, 2016
“Sport Fencing”, will frequently be the inroad for many in pursuit of a broader exploration of the Blade Arts. While in its development it has veered decidedly toward being an athletic pursuit more than a combative one, Sport Fencing undeniably imbues the serious practitioner with a sound grasp of footwork, timing, distance, quickness of wit, […]
Randy | March 20, 2016
My Esteemed Friend Peter Thompson turns sixty years old today and shows no signs of improving the mood of his enemies by requiring that they attend his wake in the spirit of, “If you give the people what they want, they’ll come.” The poem that follows speaks from some inside knowledge on my part that […]