Few pics from the cold

A couple of photos from the past week.



Logging in the snow recently its been -10 some nights with freezing fog its been excellent I dont really mind the cold.



The freezing fog has produced some stunning results!

called in at Middlewood

I called in at Middlewood today to see some friends who were camping out, the meet was organised through Bushcraft UK. There was quite a good turn out, I couldn't stay as I am on call all week so it was a flying visit.
I went for a walk through the woods and managed to take a few photos.

This old Sweet Chestnut was very big at the base and very impressive.



A couple from one of the camps.





And a Birch Polypore growing on a fallen branch.


It was good to catch up with friends but a shame I couldn't stop longer.

A frosty morning walk

I went for a lovely walk this morning, the air was fresh, the ground was frosty, and the wood was very still, the light cascaded through the trees to create a very atmospheric feel. The birds and rabbits were about and I could hear a Buzzard calling from above the trees.

A bimble in the woods.

I managed to get out for a bimble in a very nice Beech wood near my house on Sunday, I took my camera with me as I'm enjoying finding nice fungi to photograph at the moment, the wood is a great place with some very big old Beech, Birch,Hazel and limes. I try to get out there as often as I can.
I set off early and the weather was fantastic!, bright early winter style morning sun, there is a lot of fallen wood. a perfect place to look for fungi in and amongst the leaf litter, I thought that I would post a few photos that I'm pleased with.

Fungi finds

Its been a good couple of months recently for fungi finds, and seeing as I seem to find most of them when I'm at work I thought that I would start photographing them, so I thought that I would post them up here.

My new knife

I ordered a friction folder from Joel Delorme after seeing another that he had made on his Blog. It arrived today and I am really pleased with it, I took it to work with me as it will be my everyday carry and at work I always use and need a knife for various tasks.

I asked Joel to use some Yew as I dont have any knives with Yew handles and he used a very nice piece indeed, the scales are matched on both sides and the line of the
heart wood follows the contours of the handle.
The spacers are made from blued mild steel with an insert of Brass, Joel did his etching using garlic pieces and vinegar on the blade made from 01 steel which gives it the effect of Damascus steel, Joel also did some very nice file work on the spine which sets the knife off perfectly.

All in all I am over the moon with the knife and Joels work is of a very high standard indeed, I would highly recommend his knives to anyone.




Close up of the blade





File work on the spine


http://www.joeldelormeknives.webs.com/

Birch Spatula

I made this Birch Spatula from a very nice piece of wood from a reduction job at work, it was crying out to be turned into a Spatula as the curve of the branch was perfect. It ended up as a Spatula come spoon as it has a slight bowl which works well for serving or flipping food.
I like using the wood from the trees that I work on, as I know the tree and location of the tree, which gives me a good conection with the wood and the finished piece, also it makes a change from them ending up as wood chip.