In a curious confluence of events, I mentioned The Owl Service in a comment on a note by @Simon Haisell barely an hour or two ago! Perhaps the 9th of November should be A Day of Owls, in some format. Or Alan Garner related, in some way?
This is definitely one for your alternative calendar of Dates of Importance and Intrigue (or whatever title you think of!). Sure Simon will agree on the importance of an Alan Garner related day!
Alex couple of days/nights reading in early morning. Deer don’t usually look up. Standing in front of a tree still , not in back moving to get a look at deer spooks them. Who knew?
Owls, never seen more than a pair hooting working together locating prey. But being sick alone got to keep your wits. To curb diarrhea I drank black berry tea. Curbed my stomach. Cold feet used cayenne pepper on soles. Kept them warm even when wet. Wear a hat on head. You have birch. Source of wintergreen to apply to kee mosquitoes away.
Don’t know if you have Russian thistle growing. But will start a fire quick even if wood is wet.
Your lodge picture is so environmentally sound and functional. Great the rocks hold the heat even on cold nights.
You boiled water for v cooking and tea. Did you have to purify for any bacterial contamination?
Is there a story about Thailand visit? Look forward to next words of wisdom.
I love climbing trees too, sitting on a branch above a trail is such a strange thing, as you say, deer don't look up much, nor do many animals (or, for that matter, humans!).
I'm a big fan of blackberry tea, and herbal teas in general. I've been making one laden with anti-viral properties for some weeks now, as a way to curb the winter maladies which circulate here. So far, it seems to be warding them off, along with a daily dose of half a teaspoon of nettle seeds.
Birch is one of my favourite trees, I always think of her as a friendly tree (I scribbled something about trees in my AWE series, last year), full of uses and popping up just when she's needed. Which reminds me, I want to head out and look for chaga at some point soon.
I don't think we have Russian thistle, not that I know of, anyway. I had to look it up. I like birch bark for the same reason though, those oils just burn away fiercely, whether wet or dry. Many of my packs and coat or shirt pockets have pieces of birch bark in them, harvested when spotted on the trail, just in case. (And I like making things with it, too.)
I think the water in Scotland is mostly clean and clear of contamination, but I nearly always purify by boiling, just in case. I had a friend who didn't then, when we headed upstream a short distance and found a rotting deer in the water, he felt somewhat sick... He didn't actually get sick, but still!
As for Thailand, that will one day be another tale, yes, but not for a wee while yet!
And thank you, again, for all your comments, I really enjoy reading them.
Chaga is a fungus that grows on birch, with healing properties, often used in native medicines. It also makes a super tea. And yes! Nettles are the best indeed! I remember reading something, long long ago, in which the writer (maybe Ray Mears, not sure!) said the plant was just so useful that you can even find it in the dark, thanks to its stings! That stuck with me. Collecting the seeds is a lot of work (and stings!), but well worth it.
Nettle yea and soup in the spring curbs my allergies. I hang the plant upside down to dry and harvest the seeds, add some inn salt for seasoning. The stems make a great cordage-rope. The juice(sap) of the nettle is the antidote to its sting. Wonder if you have a photo of chaga mushrooms and how did you prepare mosquito repellent. Perhaps a spay could be created for your clothes/skin.
I always tell people that when they’ve made cordage from natural materials (nettle is a favourite of mine, too!), they never cut any if they can help it, and certainly never waste any!
This article is quite a good introduction to chaga (although the adverts are a bit annoying)—if you have birch near you, you probably also have chaga. An ancient thing to use.
As for mosquitoes, in Scotland there are too few to worry about, especially once the temperature dipped. The midges, however, are a menace! For that, I would rely on being covered head to toe and/or using a slightly more smoky fire than I would normally. Again, though, once the weather cooled, they disappeared. I have also been known to use clay on exposed skin, which stops them feeding, but it dries and flakes too quickly for my liking!
During a 2015 visit to Belgium, we spent an evening with friends of my wife and during an after dinner stroll in the late twilight were treated to the sight of an owl making recurring passes over a grassy area adjacent to the river. Amazing.
In a curious confluence of events, I mentioned The Owl Service in a comment on a note by @Simon Haisell barely an hour or two ago! Perhaps the 9th of November should be A Day of Owls, in some format. Or Alan Garner related, in some way?
This is definitely one for your alternative calendar of Dates of Importance and Intrigue (or whatever title you think of!). Sure Simon will agree on the importance of an Alan Garner related day!
love the phoenix rising from the fire.
Me too! That one was pure chance, but it is a particular favourite of mine too.
Alex couple of days/nights reading in early morning. Deer don’t usually look up. Standing in front of a tree still , not in back moving to get a look at deer spooks them. Who knew?
Owls, never seen more than a pair hooting working together locating prey. But being sick alone got to keep your wits. To curb diarrhea I drank black berry tea. Curbed my stomach. Cold feet used cayenne pepper on soles. Kept them warm even when wet. Wear a hat on head. You have birch. Source of wintergreen to apply to kee mosquitoes away.
Don’t know if you have Russian thistle growing. But will start a fire quick even if wood is wet.
Your lodge picture is so environmentally sound and functional. Great the rocks hold the heat even on cold nights.
You boiled water for v cooking and tea. Did you have to purify for any bacterial contamination?
Is there a story about Thailand visit? Look forward to next words of wisdom.
I love climbing trees too, sitting on a branch above a trail is such a strange thing, as you say, deer don't look up much, nor do many animals (or, for that matter, humans!).
I'm a big fan of blackberry tea, and herbal teas in general. I've been making one laden with anti-viral properties for some weeks now, as a way to curb the winter maladies which circulate here. So far, it seems to be warding them off, along with a daily dose of half a teaspoon of nettle seeds.
Birch is one of my favourite trees, I always think of her as a friendly tree (I scribbled something about trees in my AWE series, last year), full of uses and popping up just when she's needed. Which reminds me, I want to head out and look for chaga at some point soon.
I don't think we have Russian thistle, not that I know of, anyway. I had to look it up. I like birch bark for the same reason though, those oils just burn away fiercely, whether wet or dry. Many of my packs and coat or shirt pockets have pieces of birch bark in them, harvested when spotted on the trail, just in case. (And I like making things with it, too.)
I think the water in Scotland is mostly clean and clear of contamination, but I nearly always purify by boiling, just in case. I had a friend who didn't then, when we headed upstream a short distance and found a rotting deer in the water, he felt somewhat sick... He didn't actually get sick, but still!
As for Thailand, that will one day be another tale, yes, but not for a wee while yet!
And thank you, again, for all your comments, I really enjoy reading them.
Chaga : not familiar with word. Nettles are the best!
Chaga is a fungus that grows on birch, with healing properties, often used in native medicines. It also makes a super tea. And yes! Nettles are the best indeed! I remember reading something, long long ago, in which the writer (maybe Ray Mears, not sure!) said the plant was just so useful that you can even find it in the dark, thanks to its stings! That stuck with me. Collecting the seeds is a lot of work (and stings!), but well worth it.
Nettle yea and soup in the spring curbs my allergies. I hang the plant upside down to dry and harvest the seeds, add some inn salt for seasoning. The stems make a great cordage-rope. The juice(sap) of the nettle is the antidote to its sting. Wonder if you have a photo of chaga mushrooms and how did you prepare mosquito repellent. Perhaps a spay could be created for your clothes/skin.
I always tell people that when they’ve made cordage from natural materials (nettle is a favourite of mine, too!), they never cut any if they can help it, and certainly never waste any!
This article is quite a good introduction to chaga (although the adverts are a bit annoying)—if you have birch near you, you probably also have chaga. An ancient thing to use.
As for mosquitoes, in Scotland there are too few to worry about, especially once the temperature dipped. The midges, however, are a menace! For that, I would rely on being covered head to toe and/or using a slightly more smoky fire than I would normally. Again, though, once the weather cooled, they disappeared. I have also been known to use clay on exposed skin, which stops them feeding, but it dries and flakes too quickly for my liking!
During a 2015 visit to Belgium, we spent an evening with friends of my wife and during an after dinner stroll in the late twilight were treated to the sight of an owl making recurring passes over a grassy area adjacent to the river. Amazing.