In rural Österhaninge near the Hårsfjärden bay there is a picturesque little village called Stadsberga. I have visited the Västergården farm before, so you know at least one horse that lives there! And I have shown you the beautiful rural road that leads up the Middle Farm. A few days ago Jim and I decided have a closer look at the Mellangården (Middle Farm). Luckily for us we met the owners, Ulla and Stig-Arne Skärbäck. They bought the place back in 2001. As Ulla disappeared into the stable with one of her horses, Stig-Arne gave us a guided tour around the old farm. So you can expect a few more photos in the next week or so. But today I will show you the old smitty. It's around 300 years old and in need of restoration. Stig-Arne and his wife have been busy fixing up all the buildings at the farm, but have yet to start with the smitty. We climbed (!) in and sat on the floor (mind your head), as Stig-Arne and Jim discussed all the stuff in the smitty. What you see here is a Fältässja, (a forge). A tool that the smith used to heat up the metal. This is a portable version and I believe it was foot-powered. It's hard to understand, but the smitty was in use up until 25 years ago.
Exploring again and thank you for bringing back such beauties (btw, the smile *is* very sexy!!!)
ReplyDeleteIt almost looks like the tree is growing through the house!
ReplyDeletedans une maison à l'abandon, on découvre souvent des objets insolites.
ReplyDeleteThe way things are going, there time may come again.
ReplyDeleteOn first glance I thought that second shot was a spinning wheel. What amazing tools we humans have made based on the wheel.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating!
ReplyDeleteDo all old red barns look like that in Sweden?
ReplyDeleteWell, Allison, I don't think all Swedish barns look like that?! Maybe just the barns in Haninge?!
ReplyDeleteLeif, you seem a little bit like an American "know-it-all."
ReplyDeleteNow you be nice, Allison. I think Steffe should help the old Smitter fix up the building!
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't Steffe take his tool box and make the necessary updates?
ReplyDeleteHe's probably too busy chasing cute girls with his camera and asking for an interview and photo!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, who's the babe in front of the barn?
ReplyDeleteI think it might be a tourist from Versailles, France?
ReplyDeleteThis sure is a popular posting! Lots of "interested" people commenting today!
ReplyDeleteWell, Allison, Steffe is one of the most popular CDP bloggers besides Jacob at "The Villages!"
ReplyDeleteWell, I know that Safe Leif! Jacob's blog is my second favorite blog after a certain MN blog!
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess we should get back to work! Our "CDP blog break" is over...
ReplyDeleteDarn. See you soon!
ReplyDeleteTack sa mycket, Steffe Meister! Vi hadde det sa trevligt hos din underbar blog! Halsningar fran Hagen och kontorsekretare
ReplyDeleteYou're not being very "inclusive" writing in Swedish, you know.
ReplyDeleteWell, maybe Steffe could be your Swedish teacher?
ReplyDeleteLet's see...I have Wednesdays at 6:30 open...
ReplyDeleteOk, now we really have to get back to work! Have a great day, Steffe!
ReplyDeleteWOW - you have a tons of comments on today's posting!!
I admire the craftsmanship that went into this building that is keeping it from caving in or falling down.
ReplyDeleteThis is a most interesting post especially since my grandparents grew up on old farms in Sweden...Ostergotland, I think...well other places, too, but I can't remember.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have to excuse Safe Leif and Allison...I had nothing to do with their witticisms. Although it's nice to be in their top ten.
You know how it is in Minnesota...if it's not snowing they get confused and spend a lot of time on the computer...
I have seen on of that forges at work, they were still quite common in our farm in the late 60's. Everything come up to pumping air with a pedal or a handle in the small cavity full of coal. Keep hunting, I really like these discoveries!
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have a nice discussion going here. Well first of all this is not a barn, it's a smitty. But most barns in Sweden are red. Painted with the famous Falu Red .
ReplyDeleteAnd if you would like to inspect a few other barns in my neighbourhood press here.
And you are correct about the tree Leif. Here is a better look of the tree.
Oh and about the babe, that depends. It's either Stig-Arne in the red t-shirt, or my friend Jim.
ReplyDeleteI hope there's room for one more person to comment. I can't wait to see more photos from here.
ReplyDelete