Halloween 2020 -Part 1: Pitching Camp
Ever notice how traditions spring from repetition, almost without our noticing? Apparently, my brother and I have a traditional Halloween camp-out. Every year, we go up in the woods, camp, carve Jack O'Lanterns, hunt mushrooms, drink too much, and eat too much....
A Misty Fall Afternoon
Installing Wrayal’s Sidecar
This article first appeared in Sidecar Traveller Nr.46 October 2019 I recently spent a couple days helping a friend swap his sidecar from a BMW G650 GS to a F800 GS. The 650 was his first sidecar rig; he’d gotten a smoking deal on it and it had served its purpose...
Walter’s Game Cart
I bought an inexpensive game cart from Sportsman's Guide and modified it so my dog can haul it. https://vimeo.com/user371939/download/463445444/a50d0446dd https://vimeo.com/user371939/download/463445444/a50d0446dd...
First Fall Foray
Summer 2020 in Oregon featured plague, drought, and catastrophic forest fires, but it had been raining hard the first few days of fall. Mike and I went up in the woods Friday to see if we could find any mushrooms. Walter Dawg and I arrived before Mike. Once parked, I...
The Vastness
Wide awake Staring into the vastness The firmament filled with flickering lights Clouds roll in from the west Extinguishing the stars Each in turn Like the candles on the alter At the close of service I am left Alone in the dark Waiting for the...
Denial
I like my job. It is work that needs doing and I enjoy doing it. I have worked through several public health crises; I was a lab tech and phlebotomist through more than one hepatitis outbreak. I was working when AIDS first began to blossom, before we really knew...
Still Living My Best Life
Amy has been gone for three weeks, gone south to California to take care of her mother who is recovering from hip surgery. Our niece, Tessa, remarked to her: "Uncle Vernon must be living his best life, up there unsupervised." "Vernon lives his best life every day, "...
Bob Verpa
A morelity play starring Amy Wheeler. Featuring morels by Andy Wade. https://vimeo.com/416343095
Impermanence
My morning walk takes me past landmarks no longer there: Coe Primary, where I attended first and second grade, now offices. Down the street, third and fourth grade gone. Only a park remains Last year, May Street School razed, replaced by a brick...
Beer Bandoleer
Carhartt 276100 - 6 Pack Beverage Sling - essential summer equipment. Brown polyester exterior, with an adjustable web carry strap and silver insulated inside, the bandoleer fits six cans of beer. We were out for 4 hours in 95 degree(35c) heat. The beer was cool, but...
Cornbread and Blackberries
I enjoyed a relaxing morning, another day off, due to The Contagion, with Dutch oven cornbread and fresh blackberries for breakfast. The cornbread was left over from a recent camping trip; the blackberries were picked this morning. I tarted it up with butter,...
Stuffed Zucchini
It is that time of year. The zucchini is coming on and gardeners are hiding the stuff in everything trying to foist it off on their friends and neighbors. I don’t go in for the subterfuge – none of that zucchini bread, zucchini cookies, zucchini fudge, or zucchini...
Living My Best Life
Pork chop grilled with herbs from the garden (sage, rosemary, oregano) and a flaming splash of bourbon, applesauce, mashed potatoes, green peas picked and hour before and, of course, a nice salad, Washed it all down with beer from Full Sail in a Lady Washington...
Pie Iron Breakfast Scramble
A quick and easy breakfast for one or two people, this pie iron scramble is a real winner Ingredients 2 servings 2 handfuls Tater Tots 2 slices bacon 1 egg butter pepper, garlic three fingered pinch diced onion (optional) three fingered pinch diced sweet pepper...
