måndag 30 oktober 2017

After rain comes the sun

We all know how it feels to witness the never ending autum weather, constantly raining and the wind sweeps all the fallen leafs from beneath our feet. Heavy footsteps and heavy clothes are becoming to be the new norm, people around you starts to resemble the naked crowns of the mighty oak trees -naked and trembling by the cold weather. 

A cold breeze of winter hits your face and your cheeks are becoming to be red and sore, making you wish that you would´ve grown that beard or that you should´ve recalled to grab that scarf on the shelf before heading out. 

Even though autum makes some people feel depressed, you can not deny the beauty of a sunny autum day, the warmth from the sun and cold air from the wind, the smell of fallen leafs, mushrooms and the wet ground beneath. Some birds are singing the last song for the season - preparing for the long travel in search of warmer weather.

The high sun from a lookout spot, offering a beautiful view
of a valley with a river running through it. 

Finally the sun breaks free from the cover of rainy clouds, making it a perfect day to head out into the woods for some trail hiking and some autum photo-session, the cold fresh air with the warmth from the sun makes it perfect to make your way up to the look out spot, opening up for a view of the valley beneath - such a breath taking view. 

I think this is some Tremella mesenterica, but I´m
not sure, we have 121 species in Sweden, 9 is red-listed. 

Found this wierd looking mushroom/fungi on a dead log, didn´t know what it was but I did recall seeing something similar in a book once and remembered that some of this jell-o looking mushrooms were edible. Had to look it up when I got back home and found out that we have 121 known species of Tremella in Sweden and 9 out of 121 is red-listed and there for in danger of extinction.

It´s amazing how much there is to be learnt just by leaving the sofa and go outdoors. 

Sunrays peeking through a pine forest,
making for a beautiful scenary

As we walked through the forest heading down to the river we went through a small area with pine trees in an otherwise forest consisting of beech and oak trees.
The sun sat low in the sky, making for some most beautiful shadow play on the mossy ground.

Rutten stump by the riverside

We continued to venture down into the valley and we stumbled across a friendly lady, whom warned us of the trail being under water in some areas, didn´t do me to much but sence I´d rather walk of trail anyways, but we thanked her for the concern and wished her goodluck! 

The river looks fierce, yet so impressive!

As we walked by the river side, I couldn´t stop thinking about how nice it would be to try some light fly-fishing for some smaller fish, like perch or even smaller pike.
 Might return this weekend or next week and try my luck!
It´s pretty rare to catch some trout in the southern parts of Sweden, but it has reported catches of wild rainbow trouts in a river just a half hours drive from where I live

Love to share the things I love with the one I love!

So focused to not slip on the wet boards that she didn´t noticed me taking this photo but I love to see her taking part of my biggest passion, it makes me so happy to be able to share my love of nature with the one that I love.

Boiled some tea using my Ikea bush stove, gonna make some
adjustments to it, making it easier to feed the fire.

As the sun started to set we made our way back to the campsite and I boiled us a cup of tea using my Ikea Bush Stove, this is a cheap and easy way to make your own stick-fire stove.

(I will modify it on side to make it easier to feed the fire with sticks without having to remove the pot above and there for reducing the time it takes to boil some water or cook food.)

It´s starting to get cold and day light is more precious than toilett paper in a out-house. 
Don´t fear the darkness and the cold breeze of winter, embrace it and make use of it as much as you can, create memories, boil a cup of coffee or a cup of hot chocolate in the warm bosom of a campfire, alone or with those you love. 

/Andy

torsdag 19 oktober 2017

Sweet essence of riverside air.


 Lately I´ve been feeling stuck, unable to focus and think straight,
life does constantly hit me hard with the harsch truth about how quick things can change,
whether it´s about health, love, work or money. It always seems to make itself noticeable when you are in a comfortable state in mind and in life.

Unable to contribute in your relationship and unable to proceed your career, hobbies etc.
It makes for an uncomfortable situation where ever you´re in life. 
This is where I´m right now, in the past three and a half month - I´ve gone from being an entrepreneur - unemployed and currently a student. I´ve also got diagnosed with depression.
Still I´m able to work hard stay concentrated on school, getting healthy and trying to remain a healthy realtion with my partner. 

The problem isn´t where I fell short on effort it´s where I lack the finacially aid to continue with my medication, education and contribution within the household. 
This tears you apart from the inside out and you don´t know what to do, how to handle the situation, should you keep at it or should you quit school and become unemployed once again - trying to find a job and potentically getting more depressed.

Tough choice and to much to figure out by myself. 
I´ve been having this urge to get out into the bush and be alone for a few weeks now and yesterday I finally manage to find some time and motivation to get out there. 

So I decided to pack my backpack and made sure to bring my fishingrod, went for a little hike by a river where I´ve been fishing a few times.
Found this little spot between mainland and a small island so made myself comfortable haha. 

Bushcraft pot-hanger with teapot over campfire.

The essence of calmness by the river and the distance sound of birds singing, firewood sparkling is the true medication for the soul, not thinking about school, money and relationships. 
Just enjoying the moment, doing camp chores like collecting firewood, gather tinder. deciding whether you should go for birch bark, pine resin or why not make it harder for yourself and strike some feathersticks to start your fire.

Should you craft something for boiling tea or just put it by the fire? 
Simple stuff but still so rewarding and so forfilling for your soul.

Pourly executeed featherstick on birch bark, practice makes
it perfect, haha. 

Made a quick two piece pot-hanger.
Grab two sticks, a long one and short stick preferable one with a twig on it used as the hook where you hang your pot on. (Alt. one straight one then carve your own "hook" to hang your pot on.) 

Then carve a groove in the short stick as demostrated in the drawing below.
Sharpen your longer stick in one end so it´s easier to drive into the ground and in the other end make a straight cut across the stick then flatten the tip of the stick, it shouldn´t be a sharp point but thin enough to hang your pot hook steadily on the tip.
Then drive the stick down into the ground in a angle which allows you to balance your pot-hanger with pot above the fire, some tweeking might require but once you´ve got it right its steady and easy to use. (You might would like to anchor the burried point of the stick with a rock above it to prevent tilting if angle to steep or to heavy pot.)

Excuse my poor drawing but forgot to take photos of the carvings, haha.

Excuse my poor drawing!
Leave a comment if you need explaining! 

Here is the finnish pot hanger, quick, easy and something fun to make by yourself.
I believe strongly in making use of what you can get your hands on, making stuff yourself builds character, giving you a new skillset but mostly, preventing overconsumptions.
(Never cut down a living tree, if you don´t own the land or if you find yourself in a survival situation!) 

Simple and quick two piece pot hanger. 

Here is picture of how it fits together, nothing fancy - just one way to do it.
If you would like to cook some stew or soup then go for a tripod instead, much sturdier and also easy and quick to do.

My trusty Gränsfors Wilderness Hatchet.
Great piece to have for those small hikes and easy to carry in your
backpack, highly recommend! 

As the day progresses and the chors were done,
I found myself sitting on the ground leaning against a tree and listening to the distant wind through the surrounding woods which are shaping the landscape around me - It was the first real autum day without rain, the smell, the colors and the fresh breeze of cold air, a truely remarkeble day.

Enjoying some tomato and carrot soup with grilled sausage.

As the sun started to set I sat my hook and bait while prepareing some food which I brought with me, I´d hope to catch som fresh perch to cook up but only caught two and they were way to small to eat, one day though! 

As I was finishing of my food I saw my how my float were going left and right in a wildly effort to being pulled down in to the depth of the river, so went to check the line and sure there it was the biggest monster I´ve ever seen, if you thought moby dick were big then you haven´t seen what I was glazing opon, a tremendous monster with fins sharp as surgeons scaple. 

The bastard almost drown me but after 30 minutes I finally managed to tame the beast!

The monster from the depth of the river.

Okay it might not been that big but none the less it´s always fun to hook a fish whether it´s a small one or not! Let it go and hopefully I´ll catch it again when it grows up! 

As dawn started to sit, I started to pack down my stuff, put out the reminder of the coals and covered my trace of ever being there, one rule I make sure to follow, leave no trace of ever being there. I started to hike back through the forest feeling for filled and a life felt a little bit less heavy. 
/Andy 

Sunset by the river, really need to get a real camera.


lördag 14 oktober 2017

The smell of acorns in the morning?


I've been reading and seen videos on youtube for a couple of years ,were people are talking about acorn coffee and how tasty it is, but I've always been a little doubtful towards it sence all the tannin in them.

But last week I decided to try to make some to see what all the fuzz was all about.

So a quick search through the internet led me to a couple of recipes so I made the best I could with what I found and here is how I did it. 


(I have to say that I did a batch before this one and I just boiled the acorns one time and it was horrible haha.)

Step 1. 
Gather the acorns.


A handful of acorns, luckily acorns are easy to come by here in Sweden!


It's best to pick them up from the ground when they are brown,
 Beware of hungry squirels and damaged or maggot eaten acorns this will make next step much easier.
(If it's damaged by a maggot there is a black hole on the shell. )

Step 2.

Sorting out the nuts.


Grab your partners pink bowl and go a head.


Take a bowl or two and start going through the acorns to make sure you don't any maggot eaten acorns in your coffee. 

(I washed them before to make it a little bit easier for myself to spot the holes in the shell)

Step 3.

Deshelling


I swear, you will hate acorns for a while after this.

This step is the most time consuming of them all. 
Lets enter a journey of never ending nut cracking and peeling.
I found it easier to slice them in half with a knife and then peel out the nut with another knife or my finger nails, do whatever that makes it easier for you. 
(Make sure to look for maggots or rutten acorns. Have fun, haha)

Step 4.
Chop/slice them up. 



It´s just like chopping onions, just a little bit harder.

Just go on and slice them or chop them into smaller pieces this will make next step a little bit
easier on you. 

Step 5.
Boiling.

I was so excited to se how much tannin it would
come from these.

Put all your acorns in a pot and drench them in water then bring the water to a boil and keep them boiling for a couple of minutes depending on the amount you collected.

I didn´t save the water but you can see how much
tannin the acorns released after just one boil!

Drain the nuts from the water and make sure to wash the nuts before you put them back in the pot and repeat the processes of boiling them and draining them 4-6 times before you´re done.

If you are out in the woods doing this, then you could put the acorns in a bag in a river/creek with flowing water for 24h.

This process gets rid of all maggots and pulls out the tannin from the acorns which will make them safe to consume. 

(It does smell alot so make sure your fan is on or open a window or two! If you want to dye some natural materials like cord, rope or leather then pure the boiled water into another pot and save it for later. 

Step 6.
Roasting.



 I painted our bedroom as I roasted my acorns,
multitasking is my thing! haha

(If your in no rush, let the acorns air dry for a couple of days in a dry room. I left mine over night.)

Take a frying iron and start to roast them on medium heat, make sure to stir so you don´t burn them.


If you want to roast them in the oven then.

Preheat your oven to 180°c (350°f).
Spread your acorns on a oven trey and begin to roast them in the oven.
Make sure to stur the acorns as you roast them so they don't burn.

(They should look like dry nuts and a little darker in the color without getting burnt when they are done.)


Step 7.

Grinding.


How it came out after a few seconds in the
coffee grinder.


Grab your coffee grinder if you have one or just use a blender/mixer of some kind to grind up
your acorns. 

If you´re doing this in the woods, then sanitize two rocks with boiling water, a flat one and one that is rounded then just go a head and mash your acorns with the rounded rock on the flat one.

(It should be a little bit thicker than pregrind coffee when you´re done.)

Step 8. 

Boil yourself a cup of acorn coffe/tea andjust enjoy!

Enjoying myself a glas of fresh acorn coffee.


If you have a coffe press then use it as you would with regular coffee, grab 2-3 tables spoon for a cup and wait 5-10 minutes before drinking.

Alternative, use a cloth tea bag and put it in boiling water for 5 minutes before pouring yourself a freshly made, cup of acorn coffee.


(You can get an allergic reaction from acorns even if you aren't allergic to nuts. Try to put some on your lip or tounge before you start drinking it.!)


Hope you enjoy this recipe and try it out it´s free! 


/Andy 

tisdag 3 oktober 2017

In the search of water

Do you ever get that feeling in your body when you need to get out and
embrace the moment and enjoy yourself however you´d like?

I brought my girlfriend out do some quick location scout for fishing and a potencial camping spot
it ended with an hour and a half wandering around on game trails, old hunting grounds.
None the less I had fun and I hope she had as well even if the cold weather is a constant reminder as winter is approaching. 

After a short hike we arrived at a pond where they use to hunt ducks, as we approached the pond we could hear a loud quackeling sound and after a second or two we saw this massive cloud of ducks fly away to another part of the pond, it was a breathtaking and beautiful sight - unfortunally I don´t have a real camera so couldn´t get close enough to get a decent photo of them. 

Found this old shutgun shell on the ground by the pond.

Amanita muscaria - Fly agaric
We decided to enter a small game trail away from the pond in search of the river and after a few minutes we finally arrived by the river side, it was so quiet and peaceful we followed the river for a few hundred meters but couldn´t find a suiteble location to camp.
Part from a little glade but there was fresh marks from wild boars so didn´t want to camp on their feeding ground.
This river is known for it´s carp-fishing even though I didn´t tend to fish for it, but they get pretty big, you can also get some trout and even salmon if you fish a little bit away from where the river meet the ocean. 

By the river side, squeezed myself through some thorny bushes to get a decent
photograph.
Armillaria mellea - Honey agaric
 As we journeyed back to the car I stumbled across a up dug field where the boars had fed and under a small pine tree I could see this red little thing on the ground so I went to see what it was, and I saw this little Amanita muscaria growing beneath a small pine tree.

Couldn´t resist to take a photo of it sence it reminds me of a power up mushroom from the game Super Mario haha.

Amanita muscaria - Fly agaric
As dusk approached we wandered, hand in hand back to the car, still in the search of water.
/Andy

söndag 1 oktober 2017

Not a single nibble but oh so much more funnel.

Runrise in the horizon, the trees
are creating a most stunning silhuette.
The pleasure of waking up at 05:00 in the morning, brew some coffee, eat breakfast, get dressed, brush your teeth and head out to the car and get going in totally serenity.
Knowing today is gonna be a good day!
Had some good old fashion quality time with my older brothers in the search of some rainbow trout and the rush you get when you managed to hook one on you flyfishing rod.
Sat out around 7:30 started fishing with the sunrise just beneath the treelines creating a beautiful color play and contrast with the shadows from the trees sourounding the small lake.

My brother managed to hook a lively one, jumping and did a lot of short spurts but unfortunally it got away from him, but it was fun watching him trying to drill his second trout ever. Even though I´m 9 years younger than him - I couldn´t resist to feel proud of him!

After a couple of hours of fishing without out any luck we decided it was time to get some much deserved food so we went looking for a good spot to enjoy some hotdogs in the autum sun. 

Enjoying some hotdogs at a small camp by
 a beautiful lake - the wind
 accompanied by the sound of the birds singing through the forest.

As noon approached, the wind did picked up and with it came the cold breezes of autum reminding us of the cold weather that is to come, but we stuck to it for an hour before my brothers decided to throw in the towel and head back home.
Left alone by the lake I started to reflect over how thankful I´m able to enjoy time doing what I love to do and enjoy the pleasure of being accompanied by what nature has to offer, after an hour without any luck I decided to head back home empty handed but with my mind purified and filled with energy and exitement for the up coming fall and winter adventures.


Got myself a new Vision Kalu reel.
Quite, easy to use and good break system,
wished I could have felt how it performs with a fish haha! 

Drove by my local hiking grounds and had to stop by and see if I could bring home some mushrooms, ended up with quite a few Funnel chantarelles will be lovely to fry them up in butter with a freshly baked bread! 


Craterellus tubaeformis - Funnel Chantarelles
Thanks for reading!
/Andy