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...
Good Morning
10/22/26 39F (3.8C) AQI 54 It is a cool, damp morning. No rain, but gray with clouds and clammy. I gathered some pine needles and small branches to place on the coals in the Weber inside the lodge. It took half an hour to smolder into flames. Now it is...
Good Morning
10/21/26 5:45 35F (1.6C) AQI 36 Cold, dark and starry. The moon,three quarters full, was waxing bright last night, but now it's gone to bed, leaving only starlight to fill the dark and windless void in the wee hours of morn. As beautiful as it is, I find myself...
Good Morning
10/20/26 5:45 41F (5C) AQI 21 Stars blink through shifting clouds. No wind, no creatures moving in the dark. Aside from the whiring tires of the occasional passing car, it is very quiet. Walter, satisfied with the results of his earlier patrol, rests on...
Good Morning
10/19/26 7:00 43F (6.1C) AQI 18 Hints of pink decorate the grey overcast. A light, intermittent breeze ripples through the trees, fluttering leaves as it passes. Good morning. ...
Good Morning
10/18/26 6:45 37F (2.7C) AQI 19 A few stars still shine overhead when dawn lifts the blanket edge of night. A weak breeze flutters through the dried ruins of corn stalks and gently sways the birch. Walter argues with someone down the road, still grumbling well...
Mushroom Stuffed Burger
I had some fresh chanterelles, a half a pound of ground beef and some grated cheese left over from last night's dinner. It was lunch time, I was hungry. A stuffed burger seemed like the obvious solution. Ingredients ½# ground beef 1-2 medium...
K.P.
Nothing beats a meal cooked over an open fire and eaten outdoors, but how do you deal with clean-up? Dirty dishes and scraps of food are sure to attract pests if not attended to. Rinsing your cook ware in the creek will leave an unsightly mess on the stream bed and...
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....
