New 40L 'kraut crock

 

Got my new German style 40L (~10.5 gallon) crock for mass production of sauerkraut for 2015.  I currently have a 20L and an old style crock, but needed this bigger model for the amount we eat and amount I give away.  The fermentation crocks are the perfect crock for making sauerkraut.

 

Thanksgiving Oyster Mushrooms

We had the family in Lynchburg, VA for Thanksgiving and in the morning I took Cooper on a scouting walk for some deer in the city limits.  We ended up finding these good looking oyster mushrooms on this old dead log. 

 

These were the first oysters I found and just to be sure, I took a spore print.  A spore print is simply placing the mushrooms (cap side up) on any surface to allow you to see the expected color of the spore and covering them (with a pot, bowl, etc) to create a controlled environment.  In this case, oysters have a pearly to white spore print and this was confirmed on the purple construction paper in the morning.

Pennsylvania Grouse Hunting

Couple great pics of the dogs working some dense Pennsylvania grouse woods. 3 German Shorthairs and my good ol Lab Cooper.

2014 Sauerkraut

The annual family tradition - cabbage from Somerset County and spending time with the kids stomping kraut for New Year's and 2015.  We expanded this year and did a couple hundred pounds of cabbage in a few different crocks.  Going to be a healthy 2015!

Chestnut Trees

Jack and I were walking around the yard while digging potatoes and Jack found a chestnut that fell from the trees my Grandfather planted about 20 years ago in our yard.  It got me thinking that I should take these chestnuts and try to regrow a tree from one of the seeds.  So we picked up the handful of nuts that the deer hadn't found yet and I took them home.  I put them in some damp potting soil that I will keep in the fridge for the next 4 months.  More to come on this experiment....

Digging Potatoes

It was that time of year to go up to my Mom's in Donegal and dig potatoes.  Fresh giant potatoes are the highlight of the harvest season and nothing can top fresh cut french fries!  I needed a helper and decided to take Jack for the afternoon.  I dug em and Jack put em in the wheelbarrow.  Quite the tandem!  Here are a few pics from the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomatoes!

 Picked our second batch and took a couple pics.  We had a bumper crop of tomatoes this year on a limited number of plants.  We ate, steamed, juiced, froze, pureed, roasted, etc. 

Chili and pizza and pasta sauce!

Working hard or hardly working?

 

 

Turkey Tail

Found some great new turkey tail mushrooms.  Tea time!

 

California Mt. Biking; Camp Tamarancho - Marin County

 

One of my best friends and old teammate from JMU recently moved out to San Francisco and I happened to be out there on business.  We were able to get a quick mt bike ride in one evening before I took at red eye flight home.  We rented some awesome demo bikes and hit up famous Camp Tamarancho which is a boy scout camp on 480 acres.  Simply put, this was the sickest ride I have ever done.  It had just about everything you could imagine.  We did about a 10 mile loop being chased by day light.  Getting lost would mean a missed flight and a night in the hills.  Fortunately the trails were marked pretty well and we only made one wrong turn that didn't cost us too much time. 

 

Trail head  with a bike scene feel to it

The highlight of the ride was definitely the Flow Trail, which can be seen on this YouTube video I found online

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnlfhhh1PFU 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXqu_yAkSvo

 

If these links are broken, just google Tamarancho flow trail on you tube.

The ride was just a perfect end to the week and a coupled with a few Anchorsteams (was hoping for some Pliney's...), I actually slept the whole way home on my red eye for the first time ever. 

 



 

 

Afternoon fly fishing

Fishing to some rising fish on the Yough with a good friend.

Ohiopyle Reunion

 

We had a family reunion in Ohiopyle, which was a wonderful get together and long weekend retreat in the Laurel Highlands mountains.  The last day we made our way down to the river and let the kids get into the Yough.  Great memories with a wonderful family.

 

 

Jack the wise

Good dog

Cooper turned 7 today.  I cant believe how fast the years have flown.  He's an amazing hunting dog and a best friend, but his value has spiked even more now with the kids.  We're so lucky to have him. 

 

Happy 4th - bike n' fish

I only had a few hours to run to the Yough at early morning hours and I was chomping at the bit to give her a run.  No drift boat, no day long commitment.  Just a quick few hours via the bike with my best (canine) friend.  I fished hard and threw some big streamers hoping to go big or go home.  I had a few medium trout grab the fly which made the day.  I missed a nice one (obviously), which will keep me coming back.

Mornings with Hunter