Politics in Rural America
Walter and I came across a committee of vultures on our morning walk. They were taking turns sunning themselves in the road and eviscerating an unfortunate possum, a victim, no doubt, of voting against his own self interest. The birds, with heads wrinkled and as red...
Good Afternoon
It was shirtsleeve weather and sunny in town, pretty mild for the second day of spring. Mike and I decided to go look for snow. We found it at 3000' in the Gifford Pinchot. There was no snow below that level and ice flows covering the road above that. Satisfied, we...
Good Afternoon
Walter, Mike and I went looking for the snow level today. We found some snow here and there around 1400'. By 1700' there was a solid 6" under the trees and covering the road. ...
Lusk Creek Militia
Walter Dawg joined Cap'n Ron, Michael and me on a winter excursion into the Gifford Pinchot. ...
Authentic African Black Soap
I was given a jug of Authentic African Black Soap for Christmas. Gentle and fairly sourced, it is supposed to be the best for washing everything. I have been excitedly waiting for the McFarlanes to bring it to me from California. I haven't washed anything, saving...
Lodgepoles
Lodgepoles leaning on an oak one, more recently peeled, stands waiting bright and yellow against weathered, silver wood.
Good Morning
3/26/26 6:00 32F (0C) Cold, clear and calm. It was dark when I got up but dawn's light is rapidly leaking into the sky. An icy frost coats the morning. Orchard fans are thundering all around me. Now the birds have all decided to wake at once, competing...
Good Morning
3/25/26 6:00 44F (6.66C) Calm, quiet, mostly cloudy with a ring of clear sky around the bottom. Yesterday's rain has stopped, for now. Walter waited patiently for me on the back deck while I dawdled making tea and feeding the cat. Amy gets home from...
Good Morning
3/23/26 7:30 32F (0C) It is a calm, quiet morning. Ice coats the deck, bumpy and slick. There is just the slightest of breezes and a thin, high overcast furs the sky. Birds converse in low voices. I just plucked a box elder beetle from my hair. The...
Good Morning
3/22/26 6:00 30F (-1C) Calm, clear and frosty. Birds sing against the fluttering background rumble of distant orchard fans. A turkey calls in the woods across the street. A duck rises from the pond and flies off quacking. Walter growls, barking...
Lusk Creek Militia
Walter Dawg joined Cap'n Ron, Michael and me on a winter excursion into the Gifford Pinchot. ...
Because I Can
When I was a child I couldn't wait to be a grown-up, when I could do whatever I wanted to. I could have cake and ice-cream for breakfast!
Summer Pancakes Over Easy
This is more of a suggestion than a recipe since I used a mix and didn't measure anything. I made pancakes over easy for breakfast this morning. I started with Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake mix. Yeah, I know it's not that hard to make pancakes from scratch, but I have...
Peas Porridge
Peas Porridge is a simple, hearty meal with ingredients that keep well on the trail. Ingredients 3 cups dried peas any sort of pork from a ham bone to chopped bacon 2 cups broth, substitute bouillon if needed for trail life 2 potatoes 1 onion 2...
Bushcrafty
If you're not bringing a cocktail shaker you are doing it wrong. Bushcrafty: Two ounces Irish Whiskey, two ounces Shanky's Whip, one ounce filtered stream water, one-quarter lemon, one quarter lime-both squeezed and dropped into the cocktail shaker with a handful of...
