Tag Archives: Wings Over Water

The Return of Old Woodenhead

Posted on December 21, 2021 by rivertoprambles

[In which we hear an echo from an earlier post or two at Rivertop Rambles, now an excerpt from my book Wings Over Water (available from Amazon, Wood Thrush Books, or myself). That said, Old Woodenhead, my Christmas confidante or … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beer & bourbon, Christmas, David Castano, fly-fishing, Kettle Creek Tackle Shop, Old Woodenhead, sculpting, Walt Franklin, Wings Over Water, Winter Solstice, writing | 13 Comments

Maybe There’s a River

Posted on July 2, 2021 by rivertoprambles

Whereas many areas of western New York are currently enjoying an adequate amount of summer rain, I know that so much of our country, particularly in the western regions, is in serious drought exacerbated by some unbelievably hot temperatures… For … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged blogging, Desert Rainbows, drought, essay, hope, monsoon, nature, New Mexico, night rain, poetry, river, White Sands, Wings Over Water, writing | 12 Comments

Looking for Survivors

Posted on November 21, 2020 by rivertoprambles

No, I wasn’t out investigating a local tragedy or searching the rubble in some post-apocalyptic nightmare, thankfully enough. I was simply on my autumn trout streams looking for survivors of a brutally hot and dry summer season that, reportedly, took … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged drought, environment, fishing, Genesee, literature, nature, poetry, rainbow, rivertops, search, survivors, trout, weather, Wings Over Water | 26 Comments

On the Duty of Staying Home

Posted on April 8, 2020 by rivertoprambles

April is National Poetry Month and, one week into it, I was pleasantly surprised to get a postcard from a friend in Richmond who wrote, “Trying times for us all, but there are moments of clarity. I was drawn back … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged April, clarity, environment, fly-fishing, friendship, health, National Poetry Month, poetry, staying home, stones, trout, Wings Over Water, writing | 12 Comments

The Far and Fine, from Home

Posted on March 25, 2020 by rivertoprambles

1. The sun on rusted rails extending through a chain of ponds. Sun that softens the edge of ice; walkin’ blues colored by a smile. Sun reflecting from an eagle; thermals of the western ridge. The sun on a leaning … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birds, deep woods, haiku, home, narrative, nature, pandemic, poetry, Spring, Walt Franklin, Wings Over Water, writing | 18 Comments

An Excuse To Be…

Posted on March 6, 2020 by rivertoprambles

The arrival of March is always an exciting time for me, no matter what the weather’s like. It can be cold and snowy, wet and windy, or warm enough by day to get the sap flowing skyward through the maple … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birdwatching, flyfishing, nature, Nature writing, non-fiction, personal essays, poetry, Spring, Walt Franklin, Wings Over Water | 10 Comments

Taking Flight

Posted on February 25, 2020 by rivertoprambles

Many of you who have followed this blog for a while understand that I seldom honk my horn, attempting to promote the books I write. Occasionally, though, a new work is issued and I’m justly proud to release it like … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Rivertop Rambles", birds, books, ecology, fly-fishing, natural history, nature, poetry, small press, Walt Franklin, Wings Over Water, Wood Thrush Books, writing | 12 Comments

Old Woodenhead’s Wish

Posted on December 14, 2018 by rivertoprambles

[In this rapidly changing world of ours, I’m glad that some things are relatively stable and unchanging. For example, it’s December and the winter snow and ice are here again, and Old Woodenhead (my alter-ego of December’s Holi-Daze) has made … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Allegheny River, blogging, Christmas, environment, fly-fishing, headwaters, Nine Mile Run, Old Woodenhead, photography, Pine Creek, small streams, Wings Over Water, winter holidays, writing | 17 Comments