Woods Walker

Look at all the Balsamorhiza.

I believe you can eat it.

Sometimes its nice to just go for a hike...

Raku II

I think this is a better photo of the color variation on my Raku pot...

At first I felt it was way too coppery so I dropped it back in the kiln for just a couple of seconds and got a more satisfying variation from the reduction and then the re oxidation.

Raku

So, Mike and I set out to have a Raku firing. It was fun. Boys playing with fire and all that. First we fired up the kiln. Then prepped our combustibles. News paper, Pine needles and sawdust. you know good flamable stuff.

Here is a shot from my phone (Actually they are all from my phone) of the smoldering cans with hot pots in them... I used one of Coleens old popcorn tins. Mike used a garbage can.

Here is a shot of some of the finished product.

Sadly, Mike lost three pots. All told I think it was a success even with the loss. I can still hear what sounded like popcorn coming from inside the kiln. "Learning experience" and all that stuff.

5 brothers fishing with their Father

Well it appears that fishing in April is not so bad. Chris swore up and down that you can't catch fish in April. So the first night trolling I caught a 9 lb. 10 oz. 31" Mackinaw. I just happened to be using a silver and blue M2 Flatfish. The same lure that Chris said must be broken because you can't catch fish with it...
The next day we decided to try Drop Shot. I missed the first 20 bites by not setting the hook hard enough. When the fish are down 150-200 ft. deep, you have to really set the hook. Once we figured it out, it was like shooting fish in a barrel. When we caught 7 in quick succession we stopped and called it a day. The next day Josh caught one as well as Mike. Two days later Dad, Jim, Mike, Josh and I caught another 13 and called it good. With this drop shot method, it really is just too easy.

Beach fires with your brothers are alright too, even when they last until 4AM. This can make it unlikely you will get up at 6 to go fish with your Father. 8 or 9 is much better after coffee.
We tried to get to Muskegon to get try a little Trout fishing but there is still too much snow. The road was soft and covered with a combination of slush and hard packed snow. Runoff is pretty good as well

During a lesson showing Mike the finer details of the Palomar knot, Chris buried a Gamakatsu Drop shot hook in his finger and had to go to the emergency room in Newport to get it taken out.
Ouch!

Lake

Heading to the lake for some shooting, fishing, hiking and shrooming etc. I'll let you know how it goes.

The unsuccessful hunter gatherer

So I decided to go out looking to see if I could stumble on any Morels. I didn't have any luck. I did however find lots of mushrooms including some false morels, not really what I was looking for. I did however have a wonderful hike and spent four or so hours wandering around. I find the change in perception quite fascinating. One minute you are standing on a carpet of Pine needles and the next you realize there are mushrooms everywhere. It reminds me of those Magic Eye posters you used to see. I haven't quite figured out if I am too early or too late but I have my eyes set on getting some Morels...

The Pack a.d.

So I decided I would get myself downtown and see a show... I just happened to see that "The Pack a.d." was going to be at Sunset Junction for there last stop on their tour before returning to B.C. So I figured that since I missed them the last time they were here I shouldn't miss them this time. All told it was an amazing show Becky and Maya tore it up and I ended up getting in at 4 in the morning due to some unforseen waiting. By the way, their new album "We Kill Computer" hits April 27th. Check it out.

Grandpa II

Well, I figure I should just throw this out there since a good bunch of you know already...
I am going to be a grandpa again. First in July and then in September. Crazy huh. Well it is amazing and cool and confusing and all that stuff but hey, sounds just like life right?

Easter

Well, Sunday seemed like a wonderful day for a hike so I spend 4 hours walking around Tower Mountain. It was muddy on the way up with paches of snow that hadn't melted yet. Some hooligan made a mini snowman halfway up the trail. The wild flowers are starting to bloom in the places that the sun hits. I even made it back with no Ticks so all in all a good day. I counted 17 cars back at the bottom when I was leaving so I guess I was not the only one who thought it was a good Idea. I ended up upstairs with Tim and Patty for a nice dinner of Prime Rib, Potatoes, Corn, Rolls and Lemon Meringue Pie. Quite a peaceful Easter.

Perhaps I can help you find it

So this weekend was a little crazy... Friday Chris and I went over to Mike and Colleens house for a Bar B Que (Burgers & Beer) on Lori's birthday. Oops. Ray and Rae came up to visit on Saturday which was nice. I spent 10 hours Smoking a 10 lb brisket (& Beer) and made 4 lbs of greens (& Beer) in between a full days worth of spring yardwork. Tasty Tasty. Then, Chris and I went to R.E.I. and ended up at Jims house for a Bar B Que (Teriyaki Steak & Beer) on sunday night.

This is Babo.

Babo is a "Uglydoll". I think they are wonderful and lighthearted. Because of this Babo is the first gift from impending Grandpa to Impending Grandbaby. But Shhh. I havn't mailed it yet...

Treblehook

While I find most Barley Wine to be unpalatable until the second one is down, This Treblehook a limited release from Redhook was absolutely delicious. Sweet, spicy and at 10.1% perhaps just a little bit dangerous.

Christmas Past
Just like Christmas
Christmas song
Cold White Christmas

In an attempt to improve my hunter / gatherer status I decided I should at least attempt to collect some of my own food...

This is one of three Red Rock Crab I collected.
We ate them for dinner. They were Delicious. Some people doubted my success rate and bought there own. Theirs cost too much.

This is some Squid Chris and I gathered as well. Two ladies, one Korean and one Japanese, helped us, giving good advice and talking us thru the process. Ladies, Thank you.

Squid are strange and beautiful. They are translucent when they come out of the water and flash all sorts of crazy colors.

Sometimes the wacko has to have a little fun...

Squiddin'

So, while I was in Bremerton I thought I should go jigging for squid.

Look at me! I'm jigging.


While I was Jigging, It started to snow...
Holy crap it is cold.

I was quite suprised when I caught not one but two Crabs. This is a nice shot of one of them scampering back over the edge of the pier. I guess they see the jig and think "hey, thats looks tasty... " and then thay won't let go. Sadly, both had to go back in the water.
Oh yeah, I didn't catch any Squid. I guess I will try again tomorrow.