Will this be our last dip below freezing? We’ll see.A happy Heeler voices approval of her dad’s firemaking skills.Morning light sweeping toward me across the valley, one of the best parts of my day.Leaving for town early yesterday morning, sprays of redbud decorated the roadside.More redbud among the cedars, this scene outside my bedroom window.Mere steps upslope from the cabin, The Citadel.A closer look at this rock formation. To give you a sense of scale, the feature on the left stands over seven feet tall.I was in the mood Tuesday to rotate my everyday-carry knives. Out with the Chinese-made Kubey Tityus, in with this made-in-USA Benchmade 556 Mini Griptilian.The Case two-blade Canoe I’ve been carrying lately is a keeper, maybe my favorite slipjoint pocketknife. Still, in the interest of variety, I swapped it for this well-loved Great Eastern Tidioute #25 Barlow.I also decided to change the grab’n’go belt knife I keep by the front door. While working at a gun shop ten or so years ago, I bought this blade from a colleague for five bucks.It’s a Western W36 hunting knife made sometime between 1960 and 1977. Worn, rusted and in rough shape when I got it, I spent a lot of time and elbow grease resurrecting it. I think it deserves to see action on The Mountain.This extended forecast tells you everything you need to know about springtime in Ozarkansas.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
