I'm spending the weekend at the Goose Creek Rendezvous in Harris MN. Tonight was the candlelight shoot, where each competitor took two shots at lit candles with muzzleloaders shooting round ball with black powder. The shot must not only put out the candle, but it also must hit the wick without hitting the candle itself. … Continue reading Candlelight Shoot
One nice side-effect of a rainy September is the abundance of mushrooms and other fungi that spring forth on the forest floor. I took a brief stroll through a favorite spot full of fond memories this afternoon and was treated to a dozen or more different species. I was especially thrilled to find the elfin … Continue reading September Showers Bring… Fungi!
Technology has made it to the rice beds! I have a mapping app on my phone to track my bike rides, and I recently put it to use to show how we move through the rice beds. This was about 2 hours the other day, covering about 2 miles. I forgot to start it when … Continue reading Ricing App?
My friend Kathy and I went out into the rice beds today to check out the rice. It is starting to drop and got better as the day went along. It's still early, but it looks like it will be another good harvest this year! This American Dagger moth caterpillar went along for the ride, … Continue reading The beginning of an epic harvest?
When I started learning and teaching others about the native prairie wildflowers and other plants found in my area, I discovered two plants that stand out because of their aroma. These are ones that are readily identified by sight but are especially remembered by my students because I would pick a few leaves from the … Continue reading Wild Edible Aromatics
I took a detour on the way to work this morning to conduct a cursory check of the wild rice beds I harvest on. The swarming deer flies chased me down the bumpy tote toad leading to the back side of the flowage, and fiercely greeted me as I got out of my car in … Continue reading Wild Ricing Season Fast Approaching
We camped at the Great Folle Avoine Fur Trade Rendezvous this weekend. I participated in several shooting competitions with my percussion cap muzzleloader; didn't do that well but I had a load of fun and my shooting improved over time. I took second place in the Women's Hawk Walk, which consisted of ten throws at … Continue reading Folle Avoine Fur Trade Rendezvous
Largemouth Bass have long been considered a prized catch for sport anglers, growing to a large size and putting up a good hearty fight when hooked. Millions of dollars are spent each year on specialized equipment to help seek the fish out and on fishing tournaments specifically geared to Largemouths. I have never been one … Continue reading Largemouth Bass: Keeping the Small Ones
The weather this summer has made for weird and confusing timing for the wild harvest in Northwest Wisconsin. Normally, we would have started picking blueberries on the barrens a week or so ago, but in my neck of the woods they are just beginning to ripen. I have not found any ripe ones yet, but … Continue reading Wild Harvest Season: Unusual Timing
Of the hundreds of wildflowers found in this area, there are only a handful of orange-flowered ones. I saw four of them today on a quick drive through Crex. The only one I did not find today was Michigan Lily. Butterfly Milkweed. One of the hosts of the Monarch caterpillar. Orange Hawkweed, an introduced and … Continue reading Orange You Glad I Didn’t Say Banana?
The Wildwood Glen 