Photos A Walk in Nature

I could actually see the top of this gaudy monstrosity peeking through the trees on my walk the other day. I tried hard not to let it spoil the sense of sylvan and fluvial tranquility:
 
Was out yesterday looking for deer sheds. I'm likely a month early. A few weeks ago, on the same early season mission, within 3 minutes of entering my chosen start spot I saw 2 bucks run by. They still had their antlers. :D Oh well, thought I, ever the optimist, I could find some drops from last season. No luck that day, though it was a lovely walkabout.


Yesterday - as expected - no sheds but I did spy this great CHAGA stash so there was a foraging success after all. Will return this week with my hawk to retrieve these chunks. Too high for arms reach and the top one will need a Hawk extender. :thumbsup: Can do.




Keep on woods walking'...
 
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Was out yesterday looking for deer sheds. I'm likely a month early. A few weeks ago, on the same early season mission, within 3 minutes of entering my chosen start spot I saw 2 bucks run by. They still had their antlers. :D Oh well, thought I, ever the optimist, I could find some drops from last season. No luck that day, though it was a lovely walkabout.


Yesterday - as expected - no sheds but I did spy this great CHAGA stash so there was a foraging success after all. Will return this week with my hawk to retrieve these chunks. Too high for arms reach and the top one will need a Hawk extender. :thumbsup: Can do.

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PUUKKO POSING ~

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Keep on woods walking'...
Nice find Ray :) :thumbsup:
 
Today's walk ...
A year has passed... countless studies, blood work, chemo, surgery, radiation, etc. Diana has been very strong throughout it all but God only knows what she must have gone through in her heart.
We are encouraged with the hope that the worst is all behind.
I know she needs me more than ever now ... I know that she is afraid too.
God, help me be there for her always on the road of life ahead !

She was 17 and I was 20 when we first met the day I arrived in Canada with my sisters to join our parents that were already here as immigrants.
My then "future father-in-law" picked us up at the airport that day and then drove by her school to pick her up :) .

My one and only, my 4ever ❤️ !

Just wanted to add our best wishes to both of you. We sincerely hope that the worst is indeed behind you.:thumbsup:
 
You two are a strong couple to weather that storm. I hope all will be well in the future.

Her strength and yours is truly inspiring, Dan. I hope and pray that you guys enjoy your winter walks together well into old age.

Hear hear !

You two are strong alone but even stronger together.

Well my friend, you and Diana certainly walked some rugged miles this year. You carried a big pack but she had twice the load and continued on unyielding.
We were cheering you on but still it was your inner strengths that brought you through. You (you both) climbed the mountain and sailed the seas - stumbled a bit and struggled mightily, endured much and suffered too but through out, your good cheer and generous spirit prevailed never failing to appreciate the majestic views as you came upon them and ever holding tight to your love and commitment to each other. It was my honor and pleasure to be with you both a bit during this epic year. I got to see in person the love and good cheer that holds your family together. You are blessed. Walk on - sail on my friends - enjoy these new days - you have earned your respite. Cheers!

Moving post Dan :) Wishing you many, many happy years together :) :thumbsup:
Just wanted to add our best wishes to both of you. We sincerely hope that the worst is indeed behind you.:thumbsup:


GRACIAS AMIGOS :)
We appreciate the kind and encouraging words !
I had shown Diana my Feb 5th post.
Today she asked me " So what did your knife friends say about your post " :)
I'll make sure to share your caring replies with her :thumbsup:


but it warmed up to near 50 by the time I was done, and the sun felt wonderful.
I am SO jealous 😩 ... I forgot how the sun feels☀️:D

Yesterday last years baby turkeys returned to say hi after quite a few months hanging out elsewhere. I counted 34. And I had my cadet with me so here are a couple of pictures.
Cool :cool::thumbsup:, great to see them come back :thumbsup:. Do you think one of them will volunteer to inspect the inside of the oven at Easter :eek:😁?
This mornings carry on the walk with Jack. Mora and Wenger.
Jack looks very content :thumbsup::)
The deer in the background of the first picture is probably offended you didn’t mention her, too…
Good catch my friend :thumbsup:
I did spy this great CHAGA stash so there was a foraging success after all.
And good catch for you too my friend
 
I shared a short video of our family kick sledding/skating on the ice trails with Esla, the kick sled manufacturer in Finland 🇫🇮

They posted it on their Facebook page and it sort of went viral over there ☺️.
It has been re shared 337 times and watched more than 270,000 times ... so far 😁

With the help of Google translate I read many of the comments.

Folks sound very excited about the ice trails and many seem to lament the fact that they are not common overthere, the birthplace of the kick sleds.
Folks blame milder winters, the excessive use of sand everywhere on roads and sidewalks and many also lament the lack of vision from municipal leaders to build and maintain similar trails like this.

I thought I could move to Finland and run for office :D, I'll hire Will Power Will Power to be my campaign manager and translator :cool:



While getting ready to go to the ice trails and thinking of what knife to bring it suddenly hit me 👊 ... hey I have a Puukko :thumbsup: ... what better knife to bring to the trails with my sled 🇫🇮:cool:

TproCpr.jpg

BnCJohi.jpg
 
I shared a short video of our family kick sledding/skating on the ice trails with Esla, the kick sled manufacturer in Finland 🇫🇮

They posted it on their Facebook page and it sort of went viral over there ☺️.
It has been re shared 337 times and watched more than 270,000 times ... so far 😁

With the help of Google translate I read many of the comments.

Folks sound very excited about the ice trails and many seem to lament the fact that they are not common overthere, the birthplace of the kick sleds.
Folks blame milder winters, the excessive use of sand everywhere on roads and sidewalks and many also lament the lack of vision from municipal leaders to build and maintain similar trails like this.

I thought I could move to Finland and run for office :D, I'll hire Will Power Will Power to be my campaign manager and translator :cool:



While getting ready to go to the ice trails and thinking of what knife to bring it suddenly hit me 👊 ... hey I have a Puukko :thumbsup: ... what better knife to bring to the trails with my sled 🇫🇮:cool:

TproCpr.jpg

BnCJohi.jpg
That is awesome. Love it!
 
YIKES Dan :eek: You beat us by quite a bit. We got down to 5°F (-15°C) yesterday and NOW -11°F (-24C) with 20 mph winds. More than plenty cold enough. Good call for you not to go walking.

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This was just a photo. Wanted to wear my extreme winter gear. I only get to do this one or twice every couple of years. I was very very comfortable. You can see the snow shoes were not needed. Very thin snow cover. There has been a paucity of snow this season - so far.

UPDATE : - 8° F at 9:30 so we are well on our way to balmy. :thumbsup:
You are the smartest dressed outdoors man ever :cool:
 
I shared a short video of our family kick sledding/skating on the ice trails with Esla, the kick sled manufacturer in Finland 🇫🇮

They posted it on their Facebook page and it sort of went viral over there ☺️.
It has been re shared 337 times and watched more than 270,000 times ... so far 😁

With the help of Google translate I read many of the comments.

Folks sound very excited about the ice trails and many seem to lament the fact that they are not common overthere, the birthplace of the kick sleds.
Folks blame milder winters, the excessive use of sand everywhere on roads and sidewalks and many also lament the lack of vision from municipal leaders to build and maintain similar trails like this.

I thought I could move to Finland and run for office :D, I'll hire Will Power Will Power to be my campaign manager and translator :cool:



While getting ready to go to the ice trails and thinking of what knife to bring it suddenly hit me 👊 ... hey I have a Puukko :thumbsup: ... what better knife to bring to the trails with my sled 🇫🇮:cool:

TproCpr.jpg

BnCJohi.jpg
Incredible! 😎 I doubt there's anything you couldn't do Dan 😊👍
 
I shared a short video of our family kick sledding/skating on the ice trails with Esla, the kick sled manufacturer in Finland 🇫🇮

They posted it on their Facebook page and it sort of went viral over there ☺️.
It has been re shared 337 times and watched more than 270,000 times ... so far 😁

With the help of Google translate I read many of the comments.

Folks sound very excited about the ice trails and many seem to lament the fact that they are not common overthere, the birthplace of the kick sleds.
Folks blame milder winters, the excessive use of sand everywhere on roads and sidewalks and many also lament the lack of vision from municipal leaders to build and maintain similar trails like this.

I thought I could move to Finland and run for office :D, I'll hire Will Power Will Power to be my campaign manager and translator :cool:



While getting ready to go to the ice trails and thinking of what knife to bring it suddenly hit me 👊 ... hey I have a Puukko :thumbsup: ... what better knife to bring to the trails with my sled 🇫🇮:cool:

TproCpr.jpg

BnCJohi.jpg
Pretty awesome Dan! 😎👍
 
Headed out today to harvest the CHAGA as seen in the post further up this page. There was also another trove in a tree further away so I had a great afternoon in the quiet woods.



I needed an arm extender as my 16" hawk handle is too short to reach the higher up chaga. Easy enough to make one of these in the field as the loose hawk head doesn't mind working without or with any handle.



Was a worthy effort after all ~
 
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This was my latest knife handling project. A 3-3/4" Lauri blade ( 95mm progressive tempered from 2014 stock) with a 4-3/4" GREEN HEART wood handle
👍😎
I just read that Green Heart is twice as dense as European oak.
Good thing you got the tools to work it Ray 👍
but I did manage to get about an hour and a half to walk through he woods near my house.
😊
That’s what’s it about my friend 😎👍
I always get excited when I see deer 🦌 lol
Perhaps because I had never seen one in the wild back home.
Squirrels 🐿️ also got our family very excited when we arrived in Canada 🇨🇦
I blame watching Walt Disney growing up 😅

Was a worthy effort after all ~
Indeed Ray 👍 nice haul 😊 !
I got some incoming chaga 😎
What’s your preferred way to do the infusion?
 
Indeed Ray 👍 nice haul 😊 !
I got some incoming chaga 😎
What’s your preferred way to do the infusion?

Cheery OH my Brother.

Chaga - did you order ground chaga or are you getting chunks? I have NEVER EVER had good result with single serving chaga tea from ground. I have tried it repeatedly. It is insipid compared to extracting from chunks and so no longer worth my while.

From chunks - be certain your supply is well dried - months from harvest or use a dehydrator. Break into 1/2" to 3/4" size chunks. Fill a small to medium pot half full of chaga chunks and the rest with water. Set on your stove medium low heat for hours and hours. The longer the better. 8 hours is NOT TOO MUCH. If you can control it - don't let the water get above 180°F (82°C) You don't want to boil this. If you have a wood stove you can just let it cook for days - take water as you need it add chaga, as needed, to the pot.

I filter the water from the chaga out of the pot and reduce it by about half with fresh water. It will taste better if you make no less than a pint at a time. A quart is usually my target. Doesn't keep forever. 10 days tops in the fridge and it will likely turn to sludge. Will be delicious until then - ESPECIALLY - if you smooth it out with a bit of maple syrup. The amount of syrup is up to your taste. Excellent as a hot drink or iced in the summer! Enjoy...

More later but to need to run. I use another method that is more full proof. Later then...
 
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