Down the Rabbit Hole
When we camped at Peter’s place up above Lyle, I found some pretty, red rocks that fractured with a sharp edge and threw good sparks when struck against steel. They were granular, not glassy where they were broken, so the edge didn’t stay sharp very...
The Barge
Walter has been out in the canoe with me several times. He does well - doesn't seem to be very enthusiastic about it, but it beats being left home. The canoe isn't as much fun as my kayak but the kayak isn't big enough for the both of us, so I had...
Good Afternoon
7/1/25 2:00 91f (32.7c) Sunny, hot, and windless. Walter, Mike and I went up into the Gifford Pinchot to seek relief from the hot weather in the tall trees. We did a couple of short walks (no mushrooms, no surprise), then sat down had a whiskey and...
Thanks, Joe!
Thanks for taking me sailing, Joe. It's a beautiful, sweet handling boat and it was a lovely day on the water. ...
Good Evening
6/22/25 8:30 68f (19.4c) Clear blue sky, light wind, the sun has ducked behind the west ridge. Got home from four days of grubbing in...
Good Morning
1/27/26 6:30 24F (-5.5C) Dim, thin overcast, no wind. It is a quiet morning. Frozen and icy. If there were more light, it would sparkle. I can smell the cold ash of last night's fire. Walter Dawg is on watch. A silent sentry, his shadowed form backlit by the...
Good Morning
1/26/26 7:00 22F (-5.5C) Cold and cloudy. The birds are waking up, their chattering and whistles subdued and muted. Dawn is sneaking in through the dim, gray shadows with barely a whisper. ...
Good Morning
1/25/26 7:45 17F (-8.3C) Calm, partially cloudy but mostly clear, hard frost, no wind. The sun is still behind Fir Mountain. I am surrounded by a ring of low lying clouds with blue sky overhead. There is no wind. Birds are twittering. A jay squawks as it...
Good Morning
1/24/26 7:00 24F (-4.4C) Clear, calm, frozen. Frost bites at my fingers. The edge of my ear stings with cold. Ice forms in my damp hair. It is just getting light out. A beautiful day is dawning. My schedule has filled up and it looks like a busy...
Good Morning
1/23/26 6:00 29F (1.6 C) Dark, foggy, calm. There was ice on the surface of the cat's water dish this morning. No cars moving yet. There is a light on at the farmhouse across the street. It was quiet out here until Walter heard something I didn't. Now it's not....
Barley Camp Stew
Barley makes a hearty, thick base for a stew. It scorches easily, so stir frequently and cook over moderate heat. At camp, we hung the stew pot from a tripod and raised it high above the flames. If you use a Dutch oven, put more coals on top, fewer underneath. Rotate...
Potato Chowder
This recipe was a staple for me during my college years. It was cheap, easy and filling. A big pot of it could feed me for a week. I would gather and dry quantities of fairy ring mushrooms (Marasmius oreades) from the little park down the street from my apartment, and...
Lentil Soup
I made this soup in the Crockpot. You could simmer this stovetop or over the fire or cook it in a Dutch oven. No matter how you choose to do it, you will end up with a thick, hearty soup.Ingredients bones and fat trimmed from a cut of lamb shoulder or chop 2 cups...
Humus
My wife showed me how to make humus. She is extremely camera shy, so there aren't any photos of her, but take my word for it, she's just as cute as a bug's ass. It was nice of her to let me take any pictures at all; she doesn't get the whole taking photographs of what...
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Stew is one of the easiest, most comforting foods to make. With slightly more attention this slow cooker recipe would work just as well in a Dutch oven or even in a kettle on the stove-top or over a fire. You hardly need a recipe, but the dredging the meat in flour...
