Blog 474

  I often write about the importance of having a quality camera and to diligently take pictures of every topic imaginable. A good example of that would be new column I have on blueridgecountry.com. The column covers a different wild edible every month.

When I was thinking about the idea for a column to propose to the editor, I first thought about what would appeal to readers and, second, what kine of photos did I have on file. Elaine and I gather wild edibles all year and have been doing so for years. It's one of the reasons why we co-wrote Living the Locavore Lifestyle. So I take photos year-round of the wild foods we gather. And that's how the idea came to fruition in the form of a column.

 Blog 473

I have written before about the tonic of nature being an assist to writing better. It is very stressful teaching during a pandemic, but I found time to revitalize by bowhunting this weekend. Three of the high points were birds that I saw during my time in the woods. One afternoon a Cooper's hawk perched just three feet from me and never knew I was there. Another time a tufted titmouse was just a foot away on a limb. One morning a family of bluebirds, unlike the other birds, actually saw me and "attacked" what they likely thought was a large owl for about 20 minutes. I never flinched the entire time they were bombing me and after numerous forays, they must have collectively decided I was no threat.

I felt refreshed from my time in nature.

The Seven Basic Plots

The Seven Basic Plots (Blog 472)

Next week, I'll be heading back to high school where this semester, I will teach Creative Writing and two English 9 classes. For Creative Writing, my first seven writing assignments will be for students to construct a story using one of the seven basic plots.

Many people may not realize this, but only seven basic plots exist in books, short stories, movies, plays, and other forms of literature - or at least that this particular maxim goes. The plots are as follows:overcoming evil, rags to riches, the impossible dream,the quest and return, hero and heroine destined to be together, evil doer gets what is coming to him or her, and hero escapes inevitable defeat.

All these basic plots go well with any English class but are particularly exciting for Creative Writing students.

Wonders of Nature (Blog 471)

In my 37 years as a professional writer, I have written about all kinds of topics. But after all this time, I still enjoy writing about nature the most, which is what I first started writing about all those years ago.

For example, several weeks ago, I was doing my usual three-mile morning walk. I heard a turkey gobbler sound off three times just after 8:00. This is highly unusual as mating season ended several months ago, and it was already hot and muggy that day. The next morning, I heard a bobwhite quail singing its song - a sound I had not heard in my home county of Botetourt in a decade or so.

Why was that turkey gobbling at such an unusual time? Why was the male bobwhite singing at such an unusual time? These are questions I never become tired of pondering and are a part of the wonder of the outdoors.

Do Something Creative for Your Spouse or Companion (Blog 470)

Looking to do something nice for your significant other during the pandemic? Over the past six weeks or so, I have been sending a series of fictional emails to my wife Elaine. The first series consisted of upcoming circus performances in our backyard by various traveling groups. Each email included a link to a popular circus-related song with folks performing various things like riding on the backs of elephants. The head of the circus, I gave him the name of Reynaldo, also gives lots of compliments to Elaine in "his" emails.

All performances took place at our woodpile where I placed small saplings against the wooden frame that supports the cut wood. That is where, of course, the tight wire performers did their thing.

Alas, the "circus" had to travel to Maryland, but I promised Elaine that another set of traveling artists would be coming. They "arrived" this morning. I even put out chunks of wood, that had not been split, to serve as seats. Today's performance is Singing in the Rain, tomorrow's is West Side Story. I will be sending Elaine a link in a little while (of course after the Broadway stars of Singing in the Rain are finished) to the featured song from West Side Story.

Think of something creative, that involves writing, to do for your wife, spouse, or companion.

The Joys of Being in the Woods (Blog 469)

It is a truism, obviously, that writers should write about the things they know the best and love the best. And the thing I love the most is the outdoors. Last night before going to bed, I read the chapter "Solitude" in Thoreau's Walden, a good chapter to read during a pandemic.

Then this morning, I went turkey hunting by myself in West Virginia. The toms were uncooperative but I enjoyed myself immensely experiencing the solitude of being deep in the mountains. When it became apparent later in the morning that the gobblers were not active, I turned to looking for yellow morel mushrooms. I was fortunate to find two, which will be part of my dinner tonight. Who knows the day may be worth mentioning in a story somewhere down the line.

Toms Start Gobbling (Blog 468)

One of the great joys of the new year is to hear the first gobbling of the spring. Although, obviously, it is not spring yet, the gobblers here in Botetourt County decided that the season has arrived.

This morning while I was out walking right before dawn, I heard a gobbler sound off on our rural road to my right. Immediately about 75 yards down the road to my left, another tom let loose with a challenging gobble. About 10 seconds later, the second tom gobbled again.

The season won't start for another six weeks ago, but it is never too early for my local gobblers to start settling some old scores and perhaps even starting a new argument.

Pullets Start Laying Eggs (Blog 467)

This past week, our four young pullets began laying eggs. Elaine and I were not expecting this to happen until another month or so. Nevertheless, the sudden appearance of eggs was much welcomed.

Of course, the pullets have not quite grasped the concept of laying an egg in a nesting box. Of the three eggs laid, one was on the ground next to the waterer, a second was in a random patch of straw in the henhouse, and the third happened to be in a box.

Still, we were thrilled that our young heritage Rhode Island Reds had begun laying.Our other seven hens will hopefully start laying again in February

Ingram at Richmond Fishing Show This Weekend (Blog 466)

As usual, I will be at the Richmond Fishing Expo this weekend, January 17-19. Please feel free to drop by our booth and talk hunting or river smallmouth fishing with Elaine and me. I will also be giving two smallie seminars each day.

I always try to come up with a different theme at every show. This year, I am going to talk about 10 Bucket Trips for river smallmouths in Virginia and West Virginia. These are floats that I think everyone should take at least once in their angling lives.