Knives, Machetes and Axes, Oh My!

Our Field Trip to Ontario Knife Co.

In April, our family visited Sharon Ameis at Ontario Knife Co. in Franklinville, NY.

We enjoyed walking around the factory and learning how knives are made.

From shaping and heat treating to powdercoating and sharpening, we had a great time!

We saw the knife-making process from beginning to end.

We saw all kinds of blades, from small RATs to long machetes and the odd-shaped Spax... 

...and all kinds of neat blade-making machines.

We saw all the different kinds of blades made by OKC, current and discontinued.

After the grand tour, I asked Mrs. Ameis a few questions involving her job.

She said that it is important to be good at working with people and working things out, because people can be difficult. Also, she said that many people want to get a big position right away, but her advice is to start in a lower position and work your way up. That way, you get used to the job and the company.

I also asked her how faith in God affects her job. She said that it keeps her on track with responses and such. Also, she said that she constantly reminds herself that has God put her where she is for a reason. That helps her cope with the challenges of her job.

All in all, we had a great time talking and learning about knives at Ontario Knife.  

Little Britches

     Recently, our family read Little Britches, a great Sonlight recommended autobiography by Ralph Moody. In this book, Mr. Moody writes about his boyhood adventures as an exciting story, with twists in every chapter.

    In the book, eight-year-old Ralph's family moves across the country from their home in East Rochester, New Hampshire, to a small ranch in Colorado. When they arrive, Ralph's father begins renovating the little old house. Then, they purchase a secondhand pair of horses, one white and one dark, which Ralph named Bill and Nig, and an old wagon and harness. They continue building their ranch, adding a bunkhouse on the back of the old house, adding a storm cellar and building a fence around the property.

    Soon, Ralph makes some new friends, including Mr. Johnson and Two Dog (a funny old man and an old Indian who live together in an simple little house up in the mountains), Mr. Fred Aultland (a rancher from down the road), a cowboy named Hi, and others. For a while, young Ralph has troubles at school. He gets picked on and teased by the other boys for wearing the Buster Brown suit his mom made for him and makes him wear (instead of overalls like the other boys). Eventually, he gets in a fight, wins, and doesn't get picked on anymore!

    Through these and all the other trials and tribulations of boyhood and ranching, Ralph is prepared for his greatest trial/tribulation ever. What is it? Well, you'll just have to read the book for yourself to find out!
    

    This great book can be purchased on Amazon, found at your local library, or borrowed through inter-library loan.

My Favorite Ansel Adams Photo

ANSEL ADAMS

     Ansel Adams was a great photographer who took many interesting pictures.  This post is about one of my favorites, a photo entitled "North Dome, Royal Arches, Washington Column, and Mount Watkins, sunrise".  It was taken in Yosemite Valley around 1936.  

     This photo is probably my favorite because it is a scenic photo and is basically just cool.  I like the way the trees and plants in the foreground are in pretty sharp focus, whereas the rocks in the background are in a somewhat softer focus.  

     If I had been there, I may not have snapped a photo, but I understand why Mr. Adams did.  I would enjoy seeing it and the surrounding area in person.  Perhaps I will someday!

- Ian Laird      

RADICAL THINKER