Indy Quillen

If you enjoy fast-reading #fiction #suspense stories set in the #wilderness with a touch of #mystery, then check out the award winning Fox Walker Novels series. Available via amazon.com/stores/Indy-Quill… and indyquillen.com/ and other fine stores.

Many of you know that I practice the many bushcraft skills that are often mentioned in my Fox Walker novels... here you see me using the "batoning" method of splitting wood. I usually use a wood "baton" but sometimes I use the back of my hatchet. I am striking the back (spine) edge of my fixed-blade carbon steel bush knife with the hatchet to force it down into the wood and easily splitting it in half. It takes little force, as you can see from my sitting position (as I get older it's more difficult for me to kneel.) ha And yes, loyal Fox Walker readers, I started the fire using only my carbon steel knife and a ferrol (ferrocerium) rod to throw sparks into the tinder and start a blaze - as Nataya is known to do in the novels. I'm still working to master Fox Walker's skill with the flint and steel method.

Happy Haiku Monday! The time change, the morning frost and chilly temps make it clear that Fall is here and Winter is on the way. Although the photo below was taken earlier in the season the sentiment is the same. I encourage you to take time to enjoy the crisp Autumn colors and fragrance. 🍂

Well, it's time for more Fungi Fun here in the PNW. The weather is perfect and I'm having so much fun finding new ones every day. But one in particular has been a joy to watch as Q and I have been amazed at how big it has grown and changed - each day! Have fun looking at the changes - and make sure you check out the pic that compares size with Q's hand to get the full effect.

Happy Haiku Monday! Yes, it's a gray, drizzly day and yes, I did oversleep! Ha Good thing we finished up all our "get ready for winter" chores over the weekend. How is Autumn treating you where you live?

Woke to one of those mystical foggy mornings ... love it!

Happy Haiku Monday! Upon returning to the PNW from Southern California, I could definitely see and smell that Autumn has indeed fully arrived here at our house. Time to winterize the camper and move my plants to the greenhouse. How's it looking in your neck of the woods?

Coming back home from Southern California (after a visit with me mum) and this is always such a welcome sight...Mt. Rainier greeting us as we approach the airport...

So, you all know how much I love the trees of the PNW - but right behind those are The Mountains. And we have some beauties. Every time we drive to Mt. Baker I take photos because every time the weather is different, and so is the mountain. I hope you enjoy these!

I'm still sorting through and sharing photos from our summertime camping trips. Here are a few more - hope you enjoy them! When we took our road trip to our favorite little western themed town, Winthrop, we drove past Diablo Lake in the North Cascades National Park system. This is a favorite spot and you can clearly see why. The waters are such a remarkable color due to the "glacial flour - or glacial silt" present in the water.

Speaking of mushrooms and toadstools and other various types of fungi - which we have in abundance this time of year..I discovered this fungi — still here from last year 2025! I had no idea they could last that long. Most of the ground fungi get eaten pretty quickly around here by the wildlife...but I guess this one is either well protected or not tasty! Ha Photo 1 is from 2025 and photo 2 is this week in 2026...

During my walk yesterday I spotted some fungi already popping up here and there. It's raining today ... so the next sunny day should bring us some awesome crops of mushrooms and toadstools!

Here's a Thought for Thursday ...

I'm still sharing photos from our busy summer. At least once a year we make the trip to Winthrop here in Washington. It's our favorite little western-themed town and we camp at nearby Pearrygin Lake State Park. Lovely place to stay. Here are a few pics from our campspot. The first one is taken from the inside of our little T@B camper...

Happy Haiku Monday! Yes, the colors are changing amid the maples and oaks and the air has that Autumn chill. Enjoying the sunshine every moment we can! How is Fall showing up in your neck of the woods?

Here's a moment of zen to enjoy from Grandy Creek here in Washington state ...turn up the sound and relax....

Sharing a Thought for Thursday ...

I'm still playing catch-up on sharing photos from our busy summer, so here's some more... At least once a year we take a drive up to the old-west themed town of Winthrop - which means we drive through the gorgeous Cascade National Park. I have tons of photos - but I find myself taking new ones every trip because it's just so gorgeous. And of course it looks "different" depending on the weather. I hope you enjoy these!

Well well ... just as I think the trees in our neighborhood are taking their time with a color change, overnight the Japanese Maples have outdone everyone - as usual! Ha Ha Enjoy!

Happy Haiku Monday! The sun shines brightly down through the tree boughs as I type this, but the air definitely has that Autumn chill! The leaves are just beginning to show their colors. Time to get my herbs and flowers prepared for the greenhouse! What's Autumn looking like in your neck of the woods?

Since I've been sharing some of the color in our neighborhood, I'd be remiss to not include this one. One of our neighbors has this lovely Strawberry Hydrangea that never disappoints. If you are not familiar with this plant it's quite fascinating. It starts out with white blooms but as the weather cools the new blooms opening are light pink and then as it cools even more, they new blooms are red. By this time of the year three colors show at the same time - thus - the strawberry! Enjoy!