Category: winter

The Trapper Part 3

Color Photography, Fiction Story, winter
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Still Waters 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

This is Part 3 of “The Trapper” series. Please read The Trapper Part 1 and continue to part 2 first for best enjoyment. I have placed a link to part 2 at the end of part 1.

The Trapper rose one more time to the chilling bite of winter and stoked his fire. The truth was that he spent more time keeping his fire hot throughout the the night than he did sleeping. The thick mat of evergreen boughs was just barely enough to keep him off the ground and he had to continually roll over to warm both sides of his body throughout the night. He was thankful that the Good Lord had seen fit to preserve his life in this ordeal but he also felt like a pig being roasted on a spit from rotating all night. As soon as he got the fire going he warmed himself over the fire once again and checked his clothes. Finally they were dry enough to put on. He held them over the fire a bit to get inside good and warm. It was good to be able to go more than a few feet from the campfire. He would now be able to search the edges of the creek for his lost equipment and set up more of a proper camp. The first thing he found was his boat that had come to rest on bank not far from where he’d spent the night shivering. The bore of his swivle gun was full of mud but otherwise undamaged. It was solid brass and once he was back at his cabin he could clean it out and it would be good as new. The powder on the other hand was nowhere to be found. He cut down a small maple tree with his axe and fashioned a lever to help him right the small watercraft and to steady himself on the uneven ground. A little farther downstream he found his tin pot for cooking and the stash of jerky which was also in a small tin with a scewtop lid. The lid kept most of the water out but the jerky had already begun to swell a little. Most of the smaller items were missing but he did manage to find his Kentucky long rifle that had been custom made for him. He swung open the brass plate on the side of stock and found that his patches and .36 caliber balls were still there. The plate on the other side held rendered fat that he used to maintain and lubricate the mechanisms that made the gun work. Most fortunately he found the the but plate was also intact and that’s where his spare flints were carried. If not for the loss of his powder he would have been able to fire his gun within a few minutes of cleaning it. He placed all these items in his boat and drug them up near the fire. He gathered a few cattail rootstocks from the edge of the creek as well as some wild mushrooms and with his recovered jerky he made a thin soup for breakfast. He then began to make a more proper camp. With his axe he dug a pit and placed the evergreen boughs in the bottom. The pit was long enough to lay down in and he covered it with his boat propped up like a leanto. The pit was 3 feet deep and 3 feet wide. It wouldn’t be really comfortable but it would get him below the frost and with a few stones warmed by the fire it would keep him from freezing to death while he slept. In case of any rain he would simply lower his boat over the hole and stay dry. The next thing he needed was a way to catch some food. He found a shallow place in the creek and with some stones he set up a weir to trap some fish. He made a gig by using the axe to split the maple staff into 4 prongs at one end held them in place with pegs and lashings of willow bark. Then he returned to his fire and waited. He was so busy that he didn’t notice the little feet that swiftly moved through the bushes away from his camp. Feet that would carry the story of a red haired giant to his family.

Continue to part 4

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The Trapper Part 2

Color Photography, Fiction Story, Landscapes, winter
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Winter In The Mirror 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Please read The Trapper Part 1 first.

The trapper looked at the horizon. It was difficult to tell the sun’s exact position but he estimated that he only had a few hours of sunlight lleft. He was already feeling the effects of being naked in the wet snow of the Southern Appalachian winter. Unable to find a stone hard enough to strike a spark from the hatchet he’d need to try an older technique to build his fire. He looked around but the only thing suitable for spinning fire was the small stems of the Goldenrod he’d collected for tinder.

Image Titled “Goldenrod Seedhead 11221a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

One of the larger stems would have to serve as a fireboarb and scrapping it flat with the blade of the hatchet would be simple enough in normal circumstances but right now his blood was beginning to leave his extremities and his muscles were starting to seize up. His hands ached and he shivered uncontrollably as he worked. Carving the all important notch took a lot of effort to get right but he found that sitting on a pile of evergreen boughs and holding his hatchet between feet allowed him to use both hands on the stem and gave him just enough control to make the notch on his third attempt. Struggling against the stiffness in his body he held the second stem between the heels of his hands and held his newly created fireboarb in place with one foot. He began to spin the second stem back and forth while gently pressing downward to create friction. He had to pace himself because if he exerted too much it would only make the hypothermia worse. After a few minutes of work he began to smell smell smoke which brought back memories of his grandmother’s kitchen. She’d preferred to use a pump drill for starting her cooking fires once he’d asked her why she never used the strike-a-light hanging on the wall of the tiny one room cabin and her only reply was that this was the way she’d always done it. The memories continued to flood in which helped him to not think about the torment of his body as it ached from the cold. Before he knew it he had generated a tiny coal in the notch. A precious glowing ember that was the seed of his life giving fire. The fluffy seedhead of the Goldenrod didn’t need much preparation to receive the ember but his teeth chattered as he carefully breathed life into the flame. As the fire grew the trapper huddled close to get warm and nearly singed his long red beard. Eventually he moved his buckskins closer to dry out. But the thick fur and leather had absorbed a lot of water. It would take time. He manged to find enough green boughs to create a mat for sleeping on as well as enough dry branches to stoke his campfire. Between the windbreak of the evergreen thicket and the warmth of his fire he felt almost normal as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. Exhausted from his ordeal he stretched out as long as his campfire and fell asleep.

proceed to part 3

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The Trapper Part One

Color Photography, winter
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “White Bend 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

Standing on the little bridge over Peter’s Creek I close my eyes and listen to the trickles of Peter’s Creek as it gently makes it’s way to the Gauley River. The water speaks to those who listen. The Creek remembers the entire history of planet earth. Remembers the Hopewell people who hunted Bison with the spear and the Shawnee. And the creek remembers a particular trapper in those days. He wore buckskin clothes and a medicine hat adorned with trade items. His bright red beard flowed and covered most of his chest. He navigated the creeks and rivers in a small boat with a swivle gun on the bow which he used to take multiple waterfowl in one shot. It was on a snowy day like this that while loading the cannon his boat became unbalanced and capsized. He emerged from the water well enough but in the deep cold of winter his wet clothes quickly became a liability. The trapper managed to keep his hatchet which was worn in a leather sheath on a beaded strap across his shoulder. He removed his wet clothes and hung them up on the windward side of a thicket of yojng cedar trees. In their condition he couldn’t have them next to his skin but he could block the wind with them. The lower branches of the surrounding forest had some dead branches that he easily collected with his hatchet and would make a good fire. He also collected the the Goldenrod that grew on the edge of the a nearby clearing.

Image Titled “Gold Becomes Silver 22320” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The trapper had hoped to find a piece of flint or chert to strike a spark with his hatchet but the bones of this mountain are sandstone and granite and were not hard enough to do the task. He would have to spin a fire before the chill of the air robbed his muscles of the ability to do work.

… to be continued.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Proceed to The Trapper Part 2

Announcement:

I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The Last Hunt?

Color Photography, winter
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Visions Of The Redbird In Winter 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The old man eased way down the snow covered trail using his lance for support. His fur covered boots were warm but they didn’t really aid him in finding traction on the ice. He’s served his family well in his years as a good hunter and now his sons were the ones who bought back the bounty of the landscape. But he still liked to walk out to his spot in the forest and wait for the game to present itself. He could still cast his spear and find the mark with it’s stone blade but he knew that the day when he would have to set his spear aside would be here all too soon. He would place it in a place of honor in his lodge along with some extra points to pass down to grandson. He sat still occasionally closing his eyes as he listened closely to the birds. He could shift his focus with ears and find the holes in the chatter and that would tell him where his sons were in the thick and tangled underbrush. He would know if they moved and he would know if they were still. The cold snow fell all around him but his fur lined clothes kept him from feeling the chill. He noticed the red leaves of the raspberry and how an insect had carved a slice from one of the. It reminded him of the Redbird that sings. His aged eyes were not as sharp as they were when his hair was thick and as black as tar causing the leaves to look as though it was one piece. The occasional guest of wind made the leaves shake and it gave the appearance that the Redbird was flapping it’s wings. It was at that moment he realized something moved behind the brambles and the deer simply got up and looked straight into his eyes. For a moment the old man and his prey were connected as one. They began to breathe in time with each other. The old man cast his spear and it fell short of its target. The stone point shattered and the deer disappeared. The old hunter was disappointed but he accepted that this was the way of things. It was only natural that he would take his seat by the fire and wait for the sons he’d taught well to take his place as leaders of the hunt. With his spear shaft gone he would need a new stick to balance himself with as he made his way back to camp. He looked around and spotted some river cane nearby. One piece that was almost the right size lay broken on the edge of the canebrake. He took out his knife and began to trim off the shattered end and then he cut the top to the right length. But then he noticed that the cane was hollow. On a whim he picked up the sharp pieces that he’d trimmed off and stuck one in the end of cane to see how far down it would fall. It went all the way through. He carried the cane back to his perch and carved a point on the end of one of the slivers and bound some grass on the end to make a plug. But it was a little loose and he would have to try again. The plug was tight enough that it didn’t want to fall out when he shook it so following his natural instincts he placed one end in his mouth and gave a quick puff. The splinter flew out of the other end stuck in the leaves that resembled the Redbird. The old hunter immediately realized the potential of what he’d discovered. He might not ever cast his spear again but he could shoot little spears with his newly discovered pipe. The little spears would be enough to let him continue to hunt for his remaining days.

The story was inspired by the legend of the Cherokee blowgun. I’ve added my own little spin on it so it’s not the exact thing they tell. However, even today they gather for annual competition and “blowgun” is one of their most popular events.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

The Sparrow’s Song

Color Photography, winter
Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “A Day For Blankets 120220” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The deep cold of the polar vortex pulls North America back to the Pleistocene. Each tiny snowflake glistens like a gemstone in the odd sunbeam that breaks through the low clouds. I watch from the window and listen to the tiny song sparrow that huddles somewhere in the deep cover of a hemlock thicket. He doesn’t complain. In spite of his tiny size he doesn’t seem to be bothered by cold. If the weather is nice he thanks God in song for the sunshine. When the rain comes he thanks God for worms that come up from the ground. And when it’s cold he thanks God for the shelter of the thick branches. His heart seems to made of fire and he warms himself from within. He is unseen by man but God doesn’t blink. God knows his every need and has provided it ahead of time. A few strips of bark and twigs along with down that the breeze brings in and the little sparrows are warm and cozy the cold north wind breaks through the mountains. And here am I in my own home nested beneath the quilts and pillows hiding from the frosty gale. And still my own heart is warmed by the sparrow’s song of gratitude. It is clear to me that my needs are met as well.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement:

I am adding additional social media to my network. Eventually, I’ll be leaving Facebook behind for a multitude of reasons. Even though the Lloyd’s Lens Photography page is strictly non-political I have been restricted from interacting with followers with no explanation for why. But it’s not just that. For years now Facebook has throttled content providers in general. They encourage us to grow our audience and then want to sell us back the access to them. In addition, they collect and sell the data from our interaction. So Facebook has become an entanglement of thorns. In response I have created the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe. We can still interact directly on the blog but starting today I’ll be looking for more platforms that respect the privacy of my followers and don’t limit who gets to see the post.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤