Photos A Walk in Nature

[sunknife]

Beautiful setting to spend time alone close to nature.
“Killing nothing but time “ in that setting is its own reward in a way.
I wish you a successful hunt on your next outing !
Cool selfie mi amigo

Thanks for the kind words, my friend. You're right, just being out there is reward enough. I'm as much explorer as hunter and honestly better at the former than the latter.
I enjoy your pics as always, that canary looks like he has lots of personality.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Dan.

 

[DirtDawg]

A few more from my recent trip, most of these taken in Quinault.

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A couple waterfalls:
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Some wildlife:
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And some stars.
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Simply beautiful images.

 

[holo07]

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[CelloDan]

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Dan.

Thanks Greg !
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

Feliz Navidad Porch

From Christmas past

 

[RayseM]

I've spent 3 afternoons of the past week + 1 today - cutting in a trail on a new Land Trust piece of property. This will connect with a 200 year old section of an "INDIAN TRAIL" that was part of a native Americans east coast trading route - and a newer loop section that runs along a local pond. The trail I am starting on will be a complete loop incorporating just a short section of the LT and then with a spur connecting with the pond trail. The new trail will also tie into an existing Land Trust trail across a salt water marsh. All this will allow for multiple hours of diverse condition hiking through very lovely deciduous, conifer and grassy marsh land also including some of Maine's rock strewn terrain. Lots of deer, fox, turkeys, squirrels and other fauna - has even been a moose visit up in there occasionally in the past.

NO PHOTOS of the new trail as the result of talking trail photos on cloudy days in dense woods is less than satisfying but I will take some as the work proceeds.

HOWEVER - yesterday morning as I was at my truck getting my tools together to start my work I had some bold visitors who were most curious as to what I was up to and determined to let me know that I was on their turf. It was SUCH A SURPRISE. So I share.

I SAW A FLOCK across the road as I drove up. Once I parked and stepped out of the truck, most of the dozen birds crossed the road and walked up into the woods that I would soon be entering BUT these 2 came to inspect ~



I hesitated to pull out my camera but as it looked like they weren't in a hurry to leave I had time and my activity did not deter them.
Then began the strutting and posturing. The dominant TOM was intent on showing me that he was boss.



They both circled each other repeatedly and the big TOM was spinning and marching and gobbling the entire time.



He showed me ALL his glory ~



They truly are impressive birds.



Finally I said to the boys that I had worked to do and couldn't stand around all morning chatting and showing off. I shouldered my pack and picked up my tools and headed up the trail. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE they followed me. Shortly up the trail I had to stop to improve a short section. Once I actually started sawing and raking they both got bored and I think big TOM realized that I was not at all interested in his girls or otherwise a threat. He had made his point.
And so we went our separate ways...

SORRY GANG - no knife content in this one. First it never occurred to me. Secondly - I had a sense that these weren't in the same frame of mind as CelloDan 's chickadees. TOM and I might have tangled if I had placed a puukko in his face.

Maybe more later...

 

[DirtDawg]

I've spent 3 afternoons of the past week + 1 today - cutting in a trail on a new Land Trust piece of property. This will connect with a 200 year old section of an "INDIAN TRAIL" that was part of a native Americans east coast trading route - and a newer loop section that runs along a local pond. The trail I am starting on will be a complete loop incorporating just a short section of the LT and then with a spur connecting with the pond trail. The new trail will also tie into an existing Land Trust trail across a salt water marsh. All this will allow for multiple hours of diverse condition hiking through very lovely deciduous, conifer and grassy marsh land also including some of Maine's rock strewn terrain. Lots of deer, fox, turkeys, squirrels and other fauna - has even been a moose visit up in there occasionally in the past.

NO PHOTOS of the new trail as the result of talking trail photos on cloudy days in dense woods is less than satisfying but I will take some as the work proceeds.

HOWEVER - yesterday morning as I was at my truck getting my tools together to start my work I had some bold visitors who were most curious as to what I was up to and determined to let me know that I was on their turf. It was SUCH A SURPRISE. So I share.

I SAW A FLOCK across the road as I drove up. Once I parked and stepped out of the truck, most of the dozen birds crossed the road and walked up into the woods that I would soon be entering BUT these 2 came to inspect ~

View attachment 2435823

I hesitated to pull out my camera but as it looked like they weren't in a hurry to leave I had time and my activity did not deter them.
Then began the strutting and posturing. The dominant TOM was intent on showing me that he was boss.

View attachment 2435831

They both circled each other repeatedly and the big TOM was spinning and marching and gobbling the entire time.

View attachment 2435836

He showed me ALL his glory ~

View attachment 2435838

They truly are impressive birds.

View attachment 2435841

Finally I said to the boys that I had worked to do and couldn't stand around all morning chatting and showing off. I shouldered my pack and picked up my tools and headed up the trail. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE they followed me. Shortly up the trail I had to stop to improve a short section. Once I actually started sawing and raking they both got bored and I think big TOM realized that I was not at all interested in his girls or otherwise a threat. He had made his point.
And so we went our separate ways...

SORRY GANG - no knife content in this one. First it never occurred to me. Secondly - I had a sense that these weren't in the same frame of mind as CelloDan 's chickadees. TOM and I might have tangled if I had placed a puukko in his face.

Maybe more later...

Wow! That sounds like quite the encounter. He surely is a handsome devil.
I always enjoy a good nature (or knife) story, and yours was no exception.

 

[Just Tom.]

The dominant TOM was intent on showing me that he was boss.

Sounds like he was ready to talk turkey…

Can’t wait to see the eventual trail pics

 

[RayseM]

He was talking the entire time

 

[redsparrow]

Official Disclaimer this post will not be nearly as exciting as trained chickadees or talking turkeys.

First a quick explanation of why these indoor pics are being posted here in this outdoorsy thread.

Good lookin' SAK. And... is that a freshly harvested walking stick I see there?

Thank you. Yes, saw dust and all.
Here it is later that same day... a work in progress.

Yep. That pile of sawdust was a dead giveaway. It's lookin' good. Keep us updated on progress.

About a week ago I went for a walk but forgot to bring my usual walking stick. I found a suitable limb on the forest floor and quickly fashioned what I thought was going to be a temporary replacement. After removing some bark I discovered I may have gotten lucky. The limb I picked up is likely maple, or could be ash, I'd like it to be hickory but whatever type of wood it is, it's definitely spalted. The black lines form abstract shapes that cover quite a bit of it's circumference on the top half of the stick. It looked to be a good candidate to become a semi-fancy walking stick. So I took it home and here's where it stands today.

A one foot section, sanded, without any finish...

and here is the requisite photo of the edge tools that helped in the process thus far.

At this time all I intend to do is to slather on some boiled linseed oil (which I don't have yet) and hope for the best. If you are interested in seeing the completed project, "like and subscribe and don't forget to share with your friends".
I'll see what I can do about showcasing the finished product on a future walk.
Have a fantastic Friday nature lovers.

 

[DirtDawg]

Official Disclaimer this post will not be nearly as exciting as trained chickadees or talking turkeys.

First a quick explanation of why these indoor pics are being posted here in this outdoorsy thread.







About a week ago I went for a walk but forgot to bring my usual walking stick. I found a suitable limb on the forest floor and quickly fashioned what I thought was going to be a temporary replacement. After removing some bark I discovered I may have gotten lucky. The limb I picked up is likely maple, or could be ash, I'd like it to be hickory but whatever type of wood it is, it's definitely spalted. The black lines form abstract shapes that cover quite a bit of it's circumference on the top half of the stick. It looked to be a good candidate to become a semi-fancy walking stick. So I took it home and here's where it stands today.

A one foot section, sanded, without any finish...

and here is the requisite photo of the edge tools that helped in the process thus far.

At this time all I intend to do is to slather on some boiled linseed oil (which I don't have yet) and hope for the best. If you are interested in seeing the completed project, "like and subscribe and don't forget to share with your friends".
I'll see what I can do about showcasing the finished product on a future walk.
Have a fantastic Friday nature lovers.

Lookin' good so far, love the coloration. Keep the progress photos coming.
Added note to self: "Thou shalt not covet another man's axe".

 

[gentleman_edc]

Sometimes a good photo is worth having to oil your knife when you get home.
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And as I was taking this photo, my wife stopped rolling her eyes for a bit and noticed that the tree that my knife is resting on was downed by a beaver .
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[RayseM]

My wife has started to announce good knife photo ops coming up.

Yes, a bit of water is hardly a detriment to the cause. Steady on - thanks for sharing. Hug your wife.

 

[CelloDan]

I had a sense that these weren't in the same frame of mind as CelloDan 's chickadees. TOM and I might have tangled if I had placed a puukko in his face.

Enjoyed the pics Ray and looking forward to trail pics.

Official Disclaimer this post will not be nearly as exciting as trained chickadees or talking turkeys.

I am enjoying catching up with this thread today

If you are interested in seeing the completed project, "like and subscribe and don't forget to share with your friends".

Done mi amigo ... the "like" part at least
I can't find the subscribe button
Really looking forward to the oil bringing out the spalted colors and patterns in that stick !

Sometimes a good photo is worth having to oil your knife when you get home.

Yeap, I know the feeling my friend. I've been there more times than I care to admit
All for the sake of my Porch amigos

--------

No pics today however it was fun catching up on this thread

I thought I could go and visit the chickadees today however it has been raining for the most part of this week, pretty much every day
A couple weeks ago was the last time I dropped by to see them ( with my Case trapper to take pics for Jon's GAW) in similar conditions.

The road leading up to the bird sanctuary is a dirt road full of potholes and my poor white Hyundai Tucson got covered in mud.
After visiting my little friends it was a trip straight to the carwash.

I never thought I would say this but I do hope we get some snow (there I said it ) and colder temps cause right now we are stuck in limbo ( that metaphor does not quite works but anyways )

Cheers friends

 

[Just Tom.]

The company I work for has been closed all week. I was hoping to have all sorts of outdoor adventures, and post about them here, but it didn’t work out.

WARNING!!! Rambling off-topic content begins here.

My wife and I have been working hard the past couple of years to keep my parents (both 84 and failing) in their own home, but we have known for a while that we were just one incident away from all that falling apart. That incident happened this week.

Sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning early, my dad fell over in the bedroom upstairs, and the lady who helps them during the day found him just lying there. He wasn’t hurt, but the reason for his weakness was pneumonia. The paramedics had to come and get him down the narrow staircase and into an ambulance.

My mother has dementia, and frets horribly if my father isn’t in her sight at all times. We tried to care for her in our home for a couple of days, but we didn’t really sleep at all - it was clear we needed professional help.

Thankfully we had already been dealing with an agency that helps find nursing and assisted living care, so I called them, and they found a really nice residential care facility and my mother is safely there now.

Dad gets discharged to a rehab center tomorrow, and then I have a couple of weeks to find a permanent arrangement for both of them together. So far everything has played out much better than I always imagined this sad but inevitable event would - I’m hoping that trend continues.

Anyway, now I’m sick with something my exhausted self must have picked up at the hospital or somewhere. If I survive tomorrow, I may have Sunday or Monday morning to get out to the canal for a walk and some outdoor therapy, before it’s back to work Tuesday.

Thanks for listening.

 

[mbkr]

The company I work for has been closed all week. I was hoping to have all sorts of outdoor adventures, and post about them here, but it didn’t work out.

WARNING!!! Rambling off-topic content begins here.

My wife and I have been working hard the past couple of years to keep my parents (both 84 and failing) in their own home, but we have known for a while that we were just one incident away from all that falling apart. That incident happened this week.

Sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning early, my dad fell over in the bedroom upstairs, and the lady who helps them during the day found him just lying there. He wasn’t hurt, but the reason for his weakness was pneumonia. The paramedics had to come and get him down the narrow staircase and into an ambulance.

My mother has dementia, and frets horribly if my father isn’t in her sight at all times. We tried to care for her in our home for a couple of days, but we didn’t really sleep at all - it was clear we needed professional help.

Thankfully we had already been dealing with an agency that helps find nursing and assisted living care, so I called them, and they found a really nice residential care facility and my mother is safely there now.

Dad gets discharged to a rehab center tomorrow, and then I have a couple of weeks to find a permanent arrangement for both of them together. So far everything has played out much better than I always imagined this sad but inevitable event would - I’m hoping that trend continues.

Anyway, now I’m sick with something my exhausted self must have picked up at the hospital or somewhere. If I survive tomorrow, I may have Sunday or Monday morning to get out to the canal for a walk and some outdoor therapy, before it’s back to work Tuesday.

Thanks for listening.

Been there. Its hard. All you can do is the best you can. Prayers

 

[CelloDan]

Thanks for listening.

^ Of course my friend ! ^

I pray that a suitable facility can be found soon so your parents can be together and for strength for you as you help them in this difficult transition in life

 

[RLB0414]

The company I work for has been closed all week. I was hoping to have all sorts of outdoor adventures, and post about them here, but it didn’t work out.

WARNING!!! Rambling off-topic content begins here.

My wife and I have been working hard the past couple of years to keep my parents (both 84 and failing) in their own home, but we have known for a while that we were just one incident away from all that falling apart. That incident happened this week.

Sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning early, my dad fell over in the bedroom upstairs, and the lady who helps them during the day found him just lying there. He wasn’t hurt, but the reason for his weakness was pneumonia. The paramedics had to come and get him down the narrow staircase and into an ambulance.

My mother has dementia, and frets horribly if my father isn’t in her sight at all times. We tried to care for her in our home for a couple of days, but we didn’t really sleep at all - it was clear we needed professional help.

Thankfully we had already been dealing with an agency that helps find nursing and assisted living care, so I called them, and they found a really nice residential care facility and my mother is safely there now.

Dad gets discharged to a rehab center tomorrow, and then I have a couple of weeks to find a permanent arrangement for both of them together. So far everything has played out much better than I always imagined this sad but inevitable event would - I’m hoping that trend continues.

Anyway, now I’m sick with something my exhausted self must have picked up at the hospital or somewhere. If I survive tomorrow, I may have Sunday or Monday morning to get out to the canal for a walk and some outdoor therapy, before it’s back to work Tuesday.

Thanks for listening.

Prayers for all of you.
Hope you heal quickly.

 

[redsparrow]

I pray that things go well for you and your folks as you seek to honor them with a suitable living situation.
Peace and healing for all involved IJN.

 

[Just Tom.]

I'm a flintlock hunter and appreciate all things 18th century, particularly anything leaning towards the French side

Hatchet_Jack - do I recall reading that you are a fan of the French and Indian War? You may enjoy my posts from this fall about visiting a restored fort which dates to that era:

I was originally planning on leaving today and camping 2 nights, but predicted high winds caused me to change my plans. Just a single night trip, then, but it’s better than nothing. I plan to visit Fort Frederick along the way, which dates originally from the French and Indian war, so I’m thinking a period-appropriate carry will be the way to go:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Frederick_State_Park

https://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/upload/Park_Planner_FY_2017_Recent-titled-2018.pdf

https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/fortfrederick.aspx

Sorry, Dan - it was Sunday night I skipped due to winds. I left Monday morning and got home this afternoon.

Fall colors beginning to show:

I visited Fort Frederick, as I mentioned earlier I had planned:

I ate Camembert and Stilton to represent each of the warring parties:

I was worried that the racket from a pack of coyotes, which made itself known at nightfall, would disturb my sleep, but I slept like a log.

Early morning coffee:

Misty morning on the river:

Pallares assisted in breakfast preparation by sharpening the stick:

This thing can get more work done than you would think!:

(A beaver felled this tree and I had to pull it off the towpath to pass this morning)

Five or six wild turkeys crossed my path this morning, but they ran off too fast for me to get a shot.

Here are pictures of the inside:

My Spanish knife can trace its origins to France, I believe:

I think this image came from this website somewhere, possibly:
https://www.lecouteau.info

Time to go feed my parent’s cat, then wait for a call from the hospital…

 

[RayseM]

J Just Tom. - I feel for you my Brother. We went through very very similar circumstances with my Mother some 8 years ago. The push for us was Mom falling on her way to the cookie table at a Christmas party at her community center. We went through the same process of trying to make it work at home but then realizing that we could not care for her properly. Ultimately we found a safe home with truly tender and caring staff. Was difficult all the way through but in the end she had the care she needed and we could rest knowing we had done our best to honor her love. 5 years at the home. We don't wish that on anyone but we were glad to have the very good option. I wish you AND your parents all the best during this difficult time. Sadly this is the process of life. I hope you are all blessed with peace and grace and dignity in the time ahead.