The Life and Times of the Plume — Page 103

One Fine Evening

September 4, 2014 by The Noisy Plume

[drink up, little boy, drink up]

We hunted tonight. Just the two of us. It was exactly how these photo look — relaxed, quiet, faint gold light, bristling douglas fir, grouse lifting off like heavy helicopters, uphill, downhill, crumpled and rumpled landscape, stumbling, sweat, sunset, dusk, platinum grasses, burned out indian paintbrush, a breeze, a meadowlark, the song of my soul worn on the surface of my skin…and more.

I love this dog. He loves me too.

I love Idaho. Idaho loves me too.

Tomorrow night, it’s Farley’s turn. I came home to a torn up house, he was so upset (even at the age of 10) to be left behind…

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I really love to hunt birds. I love the land I get to know by walking while I hunt. I love the sunsets, sunrises and spectacular moments in nature I get to witness while I’m out there. I love to watch my dogs work, to watch them do what they were bred and born and raised to do. I love to encourage them, congratulate them for work well done and when it’s needed, spank them on the buns for a job done poorly. They live for this, I live for partnership with them — we work terribly hard, together. I love to earn my food, to be responsible for the end of its good life — it makes me appreciate every bite and the transfer of energy therein. I’ve always liked bird hunting. But now I know I love it, now that I will go out on my own, even when Robert is away, to hunt alone with my dogs on the land I love…now I know I love it.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: hunting, idaho, upland game

The Quiet

September 4, 2014 by The Noisy Plume

Just a handful of quiet beauty to get us through the fullness of Thursday.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: holding sacred things, photography

Here, there’s no such thing as luck.

September 1, 2014 by The Noisy Plume

I always say there’s no such thing as a lucky catch on the South fork of the Snake River. Every fish is earned — even if they are small, especially if they are big. It’s a holy water out there that renders every trout powerful with a divine and beautiful strength making it a fair wrestling match between man, river current, wind and trout every single time a fella hooks up.

Robert caught this lovely cutthroat at near dark, just off the gravel bar we parked our raft on for the night. I had built a fire and was pulling out the stove to cook dinner when I heard him call out the words, “Loo, I have one on!“

I left what I was doing to watch him carefully play this fish and eventually bring it to hand. The sun had set. All was dusky. I looked out over the water and saw trout after massive trout rising like porpoises alongside an ocean going ship; backs humped, slick and shining, rising up against the river current to take bugs off the surface in a full fledged feeding frenzy. It was the witching hour for fish — something I have been privileged to see so often in this blessed life of mine.

This cutthroat was a dapper old dandy, such a honor to catch, inspect and release back into the night to once more do his bug slurping from the surface of holy waters. I watched him leave Rob’s hand, kick his spotted tail in reckless contempt of the August breeze, disappear into the river, and I whispered to myself, “Amen.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: fish, fly fishing, jottings, prose

Metal and Assorted Sundries

September 1, 2014 by The Noisy Plume

I’ve been chipping away at a series out in the studio that is, quite naturally, fly fishing inspired. I seem to come up with a fishy kind of series in August most years so this is not out of the ordinary for me. You may remember this series from last summer, which continued into part of the winter and then transmogrified into the Adaptation Series. It’s so fun to throw my hands up in the air and see where the work leads me!

The results of this new series have been delicate, robust, colorful and whimsical. There is more to come but I’d like to get the first batch of work in the shop for you tomorrow morning so stay tuned for that!

Robert has been home! Only for a week long visit. It’s been a mighty good time. I’ve been quite focused on him, as you might imagine, but also on us and working hard to heal up the tiny cracks that make their way across the surface of the heart during fire season when we are apart for long stretches. It has been difficult for us this summer, as it is every summer, the distance has felt enormous, life has been over-full.

Rob will leave for work again tomorrow and then it will be one short month before we begin our off-season together. We’re making plans and this winter is going to be a good one.

We were up at nearly 9000ft last night and the air was FRIGID. Can you feel the nip of autumn in the air where you are? September and October are magnificent months to be Idahoan. Warm days. Fresh nights. The scrub maple begins to burn red in the draws on the mountain, the aspen and cottonwood grow yellow with the frosts. It’s beautiful here and on the brink of being beautiful-er yet. I know you can say the same.

Hang tight! There’s more on the way.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: new jewelry, work

Bearteethies

August 25, 2014 by The Noisy Plume

Beautiful, big backcountry.

Berries.

Great, noble dogs.

The company of an excellent friend (who is also an unofficial botanist so I came away SMARTER…and un-poisoned by berries…).

Starry starry nights.

Berries.

Great alpine fishing.

BERRIES.

Clean water.

Summer sausage cooked on open fires.

Sleeping in the dirt with my boys under a tarp and washing my face in the dawn.

First light — the holy of holies.

Wait, did I mention the berries yet? The huckleberries, raspberries and thimbleberries were at their HEIGHT and we lallygagged as we walked, eating one berry for every single step we took. It was decadent. We had stained fingers and delighted tastebuds.

I’ve never had a summer like this before, one so stuffed with gallivanting and crammed with work. I’m exhausted, but I am loving every moment of it.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: backcountry, friends, leaning in, montana, summer