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...
Playing With Sharp Objects
Cliff and Donovan came over yesterday and helped me set up a throwing axe target in the back yard. Andy had loaded a huge Ponderosa round in the bed of my truck. We took down a set of poles that was in the way and backed the truck in as close as we could before...
Good Morning
8/28/26 5:30 52F (11.1C) AQI 17 Dark, quiet, with a clear sky and no wind. The full moon is setting behind the oaks. The rooster still slumbers. Walter Dawg, ever vigilant, sleeps with his eyes open, on the deck to my left. A jet rumbles overhead. I am plagued...
Good Morning
8/27/26 6:45 56F (13.3C) AQI 15 Cloudy with patches of blue. No wind on the ground. The birds chatter in subdued trills and chirps. The Grasshopper fire remains at 76% containment and just under 94,000 acres. There is a fire in Wishram, two near Estacada and...
Good Morning
8/26/26 7:00 56F (13.3C) AQI 21 Blue sky. The sun waits its cue, stage left. The leaves shudder in anticipation, birds chatter and mill about, visiting as they look for a place to perch themselves. The curtain is about to open on a new day. Good morning....
Good Morning
8/25/26 7:15 56F (13.3C) AQI 76 Calm, clearish, smelling of smoke. The sun rises into a clear blue sky, shining yellow light through a thin, almost invisible haze. Good morning. ...
Good Morning
8/24/26 6:30 52F (11C) AQI 51 Clear, blue sky. No breeze. It was nice to sleep in my own bed, well off the ground and out of the sand. The truck still needs to be unloaded, the kayaks need to be scrubbed and there is a ton of laundry to do. But first, I will...
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. cook...
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...
