

June 3rd, 2022
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Easter Longhouse.
We had family up for an Easter Bunny BBQ Saturday. It was the first gathering we'd hosted since The Contagion cast its shadow across the land. We had all been vaccinated but it still felt weird, invitng people, even family, into our home after two years of isolation....

Atomic Lighter – Rechargeable Plasma lighter
I bought this for a fly and camp outing last year. I wanted a reliable ignition source which was safe to carry on an airplane. This is also wind proof and really nice for cold weather, when butane lighters become unreliable. It recharges with a USB charger. I wrapped...

Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica)
Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica), have serrate leaves resembling mint, arranged opposite on a square stem. Nettles can grow well over 6 feet tall. They are common along streams and rivers and damp, fertile ground throughout the United States. Probably the most...

The Nettles Are Pushing Up.
I collected some stinging nettles down along Indian Creek today. Might try making some soup later. Still no sign of Verpa or morels yet. After I was done foraging, Mike and I went up the Oklahoma Road to see if there had been flooding where my snow camp...

April Freeze
Thick frost crusts the ground Overhead, countless stars are blinking All around me the orchard fans thunder

Quiet Morning
It is a quiet morning so far, but soon it will wake. The birds will start to chatter, a rooster will crow and several more will answer. Somewhere up the canyon a dog will start a conversation which will last for hours and involve most of his neighbors. The frog chorus...

Windless Morning
5/16/22 530 40f A windless morning the sky laced with clouds and dotted with stars. The moon waxing gibbous casts a blue glow through the oaks. A frog is croaking "good morning"

Restless Morning
There is a break in the rain. The moon is full behind the clouds. The owls are raising a ruckus. Roosters are crowing, frogs are croaking. There seems to be a lot going on for 430 in the morning.

A Prevernal Frogument
Two frogs argue in the dark. They intended to sleep until spring but woke before their alarm clock. Eagerly, the first frog croaks: “Get up! Get up! Get up!” “Too soon, Too soon,” grumps the other, through the lightly falling...

Rusty Brogue
I recently discovered Shanky’s Whip. A dark, sweet liqueur, somewhat analogous to Drambuie, Shanky’s Whip is a mixture of Irish whiskey, vanilla, caramel, and other ingredients. I have been mixing equal parts of Tullamore Dew and Shanky’s...

Mountain Man Breakfast
Dutch Oven Mountain Man Breakfast The Mountain Man Breakfast is a popular Dutch oven recipe which has been around in one form or another for years. If you need to feed a hearty breakfast to a crowd, this is good one. I used a variation from Gary House I found on...

Dutch Oven Rhubarb Cobbler
Dutch Oven Rhubarb Cobbler Spring hasn’t officially arrived until the rhubarb is up. One morning a few leaves poke through the frost covered mulch; by the end of the week, giant rosettes of primordial leaves on bright red stalks cover that corner of the garden....

Tequila Eggs
Tequila Eggs Like Scotch Eggs but I used chorizo mixed with cilantro, dried tomatoes, diced green chilis, and diced jalapenos for the sausage and crushed tortilla chips and roasted chilis for the crust. 7 eggs (Reserve 1 egg for wash.Hard boil 6 eggs; pat dry...

Lemon Chicken Soup
Lemon Chicken Soup Lemon Chicken Soup This variation of chicken soup relies upon lemon and a stick of cinammon to give Grandma's old standby a Middle Eastern twist. 3 pounds boneless, skinned chicken tits 4 cups chicken broth 1 cup +/- water1 onion - I...