approaching yet another new year

I wonder how many I have left

I'd like to think that it is my mortality that has spawned my thinking of late

and there's no reason for thoughts of that nature

since I remain relatively young despite constantly declaring I'm old

that's just my muse typing

I apologize for the repeats for my long time reader(s)

hoping there actually are people that read this dribble

or better yet appreciate it or learn a thing or two about a thing or two

but I'm gonna photo dump here 

w/ a few of my favorites from over the years

chosen randomly

not this year but all those years that I've typed

at my invisible friends or into the ether as I prefer to think of it

not for you but me

I've never been disappointed gifting myself

though I've done it far too often

but that is a story in itself

                   brace yerselves...cuz this will be incredibly stoo-pit

and you'll love it

my very favorite fishing rod ever

an avatard I use and will have to forever
 because this awesome sign is gone

viking points for knowing where it was

not awarded if we've been there together

favorite bentrod shot of the year and a very good friend

I've always loved this pic

I was six shits to the wind and nimping

you won't see that often - fishing w/ nimps

and my favorite fishing partner snapped it

happy new year

fish more 

and...

stop fishing nimps

do it right

I had to say that since I'm a bamboo snob

and you of course should do what I tell you to

calm down I'm teasing silly

full circle - a work in parts if you will

daily I carry on my side my grandfather's pocketknife

and find comfort and solace in that

it's really not much of a knife

so far as knives go

but he carried it

prolly in his pocket everyday

I dunno

and used it to clean his nails

or pick his teeth

or the whittle away at a stick 

with no purpose or reason

just because it felt/feels good to do so

I get that

it's far too small to do the big work

a knife sometimes requires

a damn handy tool nonetheless

and I find that I use it daily

it is a cherished possession

so small it seems insignificant

and can be lost as it has been 

without realizing it is gone

I will not lose it again

I've taken precautions against that

as there is little that I own that means more to me

I hope to be buried with it

so that I can return it to him in heaven

back to work - new on the bench

craftsmanshit in leather

a few recent products from ye olde rod shoppe

angling tools by design 

perfect stocking stuffers for the angler in yer life...

this is a lanyard pouch that'll hold a small flybox and carry yer clamps



pliers holster



steripen sleeve



plane garage

beyond the ditch

my good fishing buddy jeepster suggested I join him

an invite I declined

I reckon that to be a mistake now

photo credit steve rath

thanks amigo