Category Archives: nature

Hal Borland on Snow

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Dave Fisher

I’ve taken a few photos during our snowy December here. I’ve paired them with words from an essay Hal Borland wrote in 1961, from his essay collection Sundial of the Seasons (1964): One of the penalties of modern life is … Continue reading →

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Walnut Tray and Autumn Leaves

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Dave Fisher

This black walnut tray started out as an experiment in rehydrating kiln dried wood. One of the carvers in my October class asked me if I had ever tried soaking a block of kiln dried wood to bring it back … Continue reading →

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More than Wood: Black Walnut Season

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Dave Fisher

You’ve got to watch your head walking around here in October as the black walnut trees drop their heavy fruits. A walk is accompanied by a chorus of soft plinks and solid thunks. The plinks are acorns, the thunks are … Continue reading →

Posted in historical reference, nature, quotes and excerpts, sketch, trees, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Streamside Treasure in the Allegheny National Forest

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Dave Fisher

Over the weekend, a friend and I headed to the Allegheny National Forest, less than a two-hour drive from my home in western Pennsylvania. We hiked up along a small stream, fishing a little along the way. A steady light … Continue reading →

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Savoring Snow and Announcing a Spring Opening

Posted on January 15, 2025 by Dave Fisher

We’re actually having a winter this year. No grass in sight for weeks, and that’s fine with me. I like how it transforms everything. We walk familiar trails with fresh eyes. Snow seems to defy gravity. Even around the camp … Continue reading →

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Fresh December Snow

Posted on December 22, 2024 by Dave Fisher

The perfect surface goneCriss-crossed and written onWhere the wild creatures rangedWhile the moon rose and shone. May Sarton, “December Moon” from Coming Into Eighty Looks like it will be a white Christmas here this year. The bird tracks in the … Continue reading →

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Fall Fluttering

Posted on November 13, 2024 by Dave Fisher

My workshop is our attached garage at one end of the house. While it’s not an idyllic cabin-shop among the trees, I did get pretty lucky that there is a grove of quaking aspens just outside one window. For much … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, sketch, trees, Uncategorized, video, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Apple Wood Bowl and Leaf Patterns

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Dave Fisher

I roughed this bowl out of a green apple log almost a year ago. It’s just under 5″ end-to-end; you can cradle it in one hand. Next time, I’ll make a bigger one. It will be a lot easier! This … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, layout, nature, patterns, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

May Leaves

Posted on May 19, 2024 by Dave Fisher

The Trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said; — Philip Larkin, The Trees (1967) Over the last few weeks, the view from my workshop window has been transformed by the annual miracle occurring on every twig. Leaf … Continue reading →

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Revelations in Snow

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Out of the bosom of the Air,        Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken Over the woodlands brown and bare,        Over the harvest-fields forsaken,              Silent, and soft, and slow              Descends the snow.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Snow-flakes” (1863) Yesterday … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, quotes and excerpts, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 5 Comments