On the morning of August 30, 1996 I started my first fire by friction using a bow drill I carved myself.  As a participant at one of my later workshops put it, “I felt like a cave man!”  The feeling that comes from the experience is very deep, joyful and primal.  The experience was compounded as I had been working for 5 days for this fire.  My wife, twin daughters and I spent that last

We thought we'd check in since we have a temporary period of access to the rest of the world. We just completed a 3 night adventure in Yellowstone backcountry. Lots of fun!! Lots of hiking. If you feel like looking on a map, we hiked to Bighorn Pass one day and Fawn Pass another day (roughly 9100 feet elevation). Base camp was 5 miles in from West Yellowstone, along the Gallatin River (roughly 7500 feet elevation). Many elk seen but mostly when hiking with 10 people and llamas, few close encounters (all but Anna got up from our picnic area to explore, and an elk walked within 10 feet of her, thinking we were all gone).

We had a great visit with Mom, Dad and family in Florida! We had lots of fun and have great memories. Revisited activities: welcome meal at Siesta Bay (thanks to Mom, Dad, and MH), water aerobics led by (Mom) Grandma, shopping (led by Karen, Anna and Emily), swimming together in the very warm pool and whirlpool, morning beach walks, watching Olympics, kayaking at Lover's Key, great meals at sunset on Fort Myers beach, eating at the Bubble Room on Captiva, shelling at dawn at Bowman's beach on Sanibel (Emily and Marg), farewell dinner at Sweet Tomato. New activities: Boatride to Boca Grande and zooming around the island in golf carts, Poker (led by Bob H. and Karen). Sadly missed activities: trading shells with Tom, MM, James and Pam, running between hot tub and ocean water with the Woods scream (best delivered by Patty and Therese).