Monthly Archives: December 2013

Top of the Hill

Posted on December 29, 2013 by rivertoprambles

On Christmas Eve my son and I continued our holiday tradition of hiking to the top of a hill situated between my home and brother Pete’s farm. The wind was cold in our faces; the snow brightened the landscape as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bandstand, Bird of Time, eagles, Family (band), hilltop, Holiday traditions, Omar Khayyam, time/stop-time, winter hike, winter sun | 12 Comments

From a Favorite Stream, to You

Posted on December 26, 2013 by rivertoprambles

The stream flows through a rugged hollow in rivertop country. It joins a branch of the river near its headwaters. The river, itself, flows north and empties into Lake Ontario, and eventually the waters merge with the Atlantic. The stream, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged headwater springs, headwater streams, hiking to river sources, protecting river sources, roadless areas, wild brook trout streams | 19 Comments

The Angler, Cast in Wood

Posted on December 22, 2013 by rivertoprambles

“Walt Franklin on the Stream” is a wood carving that Leighanne gave me as a Christmas present several years ago. This example of “Pennsylvania folk art” was produced by David Castano, a full-time wood carver from Coudersport, PA. Castano’s approach … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged D. Castano, fishing/work, fly rods, Kettle Creek Tackle Shop, PA folk art, Polar Express, winter fly-fishing, Winter Solstice, wood carvings | 20 Comments

Even the Eagle Says

Posted on December 20, 2013 by rivertoprambles

Even the eagle says, “The fishing’s tough out there; the ice is on the water and the sun has gone away. It’s time to adapt, or fly. Venison isn’t bad. A frozen roadkill or a carcass with a bullet in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adaptation, bald eagle, bonfire, light and shadow, venison, walt franklin poetry, winter landscape, Winter Solstice | 3 Comments

Hidden Springs #2

Posted on December 15, 2013 by rivertoprambles

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged headwater photos, Hidden Springs, old-fashioned Bucktail, walt franklin poetry, water spirit, winter brook photos | 10 Comments

Winter Dreams, With Fish

Posted on December 11, 2013 by rivertoprambles

Of Nature Writing Nature writing, at its best, engages readers with the raw, unmodified earth, the wild planet found in such disparate locales as a city park or the ice plains of Antarctica. In a day when people are increasingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bridge supports and fishing, creation myth with fish, earthquakes in the East, Nature writing, smallmouth on a fly, steelhead on a fly, walt franklin on writing, Winter Solstice, writing purpose | 8 Comments

Beyond the Lines of Nature

Posted on December 9, 2013 by rivertoprambles

The Grouse & Yellow I place a small #14 wet fly hook in the vise, tie in thread and wrap a strand of yellow silk. A wrap of peacock herl for a thorax, a wrap or two of English grouse … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Latin "natura", lines and circles of nature, native trout, natural sanctuary, nature vs. religion, Nature writing, peace of wild things, ruffed grouse/fly-tying, soft-hackle flies, the Wild, walking/mapping | 6 Comments

He’s Out There Fishin’!

Posted on December 5, 2013 by rivertoprambles

Two hunters passed me on their ATV while following the forest trail, preparing for the opener of deer season. Their words echoed in my head. I was standing at the river in the darkened noon hour. A first snow flurry … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Eastern philosophy, meditation, rainbow trout, Transcendental Meditation, winter fly-fishing, word power, yoga | 14 Comments

Then Tie On

Posted on December 2, 2013 by rivertoprambles

I was in a non-productive funk, unsure of where my next blog post would be coming from, and feeling boxed-in from the icy weather. One aborted post concerned the use of my wood-splitting maul versus saying no-thanks to the shopping … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blogging, fly tying, maul vs. mall, Peter Green/Fleetwood Mac, soft-hackle flies, Then Play On, writing process | 8 Comments