January's Old Moon was on the rise when I was coming home just after sunset last night. With the height of the moon just above eastern landscape it had a warm orange glow to it from the setting sun in the west. I just got done trail running before that and it was a nice way to finish the day. I wish I could have got a photo of it but I didn't have any camera equipment along.

This past weekend I was shooting video in the Chequamegon. The learning aspect of video can be quite a learning experience. A pleasant one if you keep it fun. It was a perfect day that felt more like March than January. Dead calm winds mixed with blue skies and sunshine warmed the earth.

When I first started to record I could hear a pair of Ravens in the distance. I always been fascinated by these large black birds. They are very intelligent and their cousins the crows are amazing. The sad part is they are not the most loved bird. All I hear from the naysayers that they are ugly and useless creatures.

I could hear the Ravens coming in closer. Well by the time I got to the third video recording I called them in with my flute. Apparently they like the key of F. It is turning into a most interesting video. I am trying to add a storyline that will help with the visualization and theme of the video. I hope to have it done sometime next week.

January's Old Moon was on the rise when I was coming home just after sunset last night. With the height of the moon just above eastern landscape it had a warm orange glow to it from the setting sun in the west. I just got done trail running before that and it was a nice way to finish the day. I wish I could have got a photo of it but I didn't have any camera equipment along.

This past weekend I was shooting video in the Chequamegon. The learning aspect of video can be quite a learning experience. A pleasant one if you keep it fun. It was a perfect day that felt more like March than January. Dead calm winds mixed with blue skies and sunshine warmed the earth.

When I first started to record I could hear a pair of Ravens in the distance. I always been fascinated by these large black birds. They are very intelligent and their cousins the crows are amazing. The sad part is they are not the most loved bird. All I hear from the naysayers that they are ugly and useless creatures.

I could hear the Ravens coming in closer. Well by the time I got to the third video recording I called them in with my flute. Apparently they like the key of F. It is turning into a most interesting video. I am trying to add a storyline that will help with the visualization and theme of the video. I hope to have it done sometime next week.

This past week I’ve been working in the studio. Designing a fetish for a wood flute made of Berlinia keyed in low E. Creative thoughts are running through my mind mixed with pearl and ziricote.  Or maybe abalone.

But also this past week I started another project of the continuing series “rebuild studio shop” . Last spring I rebuilt a workbench and added a white top to it. You've probably seen it. I take the photos of flutes that I made on top of it.

My lifelong dream of having a nice shop/studio of my very own is becoming more of a reality. Yes I did say lifelong. Currently I do have a shop that does provide the means of producing flutes but I want to improve it.

I took apart a somewhat cobbled together workbench and want to replace it with cedar cabinets and a nice spacey top. Lofty goals but it can be managed.

The desire to build a working studio started back in my high school days. That was my dream to have my own shop and build my own creations.

Then enter our Industrial Arts teacher Mr. Piston. One day in the classroom we were taking a test and out of nowhere he says;

“If any of you students are thinking of opening a small shop when you graduate from this institution of higher learning forget it. There is no money in it”

I don't like to make fun or talk ill of anyone but Mr. Piston couldn't see very well and had very thick glasses. We had to stop him several times from running into walls because his depth perception was not good. Every once in awhile he would be starting a lecture in the wrong direction and we had to guide him back to us. We did it in a tactful manner by asking a question to stir him in our direction. I always held respect for him. Until one day while we were eating Persian rolls from someone going on a donut run that he said:

“What is wrong with youth these days? When I  was your age we would go down to Florida and chase after girls. Then after we would find some action we would take a big watermelon and pop a plug out of the top. Then we would take a large bottle of vodka and plug it in the top and let it saturate that melon. You just don’t see that anymore”

I was thinking you probably couldn't see it anyhow. Also I sat there and wondered who would say that to bunch of high school boys sitting up here in northern Wisconsin. Lucky we had enough gas to get our cars to school much less Florida.

We only had him for that year. I believe he transferred somewhere else (perhaps Florida) or he couldn't find his way back.

The spirit of the woods sends out a strong vibe. You can sense it in the sunrise, sunset, and the wind. It attracts you like a beacon light to a ship going into safe harbor. I realize not everyone has this same feeling. You mention it to some and generally the reaction is

ickkkkkk.

Oh there are those who use the woods for their own reasons.  Some good and some bad. I can keep going on and on about this but I would only get into trouble and that is not the intent of this blog post.

The premise of this scribbled writing is to tell you my values of trail running.

One afternoon I started to think of what I get out of this passion of mine. Before I knew it I had quite a list.

Hi friends, I have been working on this video for a while and finished it. I really like how it turned out. I am blessed to be the one behind the lens taking the pictures and video. Please share if you like it. Peace and blessings especially on this holiday week Kevin:)

If you can't view the video in this window here is the You tube url to watch it.

Video description;  A collection of the beautiful Southwest in photos and video.  The musical instrument used was a Native American style wood flute that the producer of this video also made in his studio.  Reflections of the Soul is about a journey of the author traveling this sometimes mystical land called the Southwest. The song is from the album "Spirits of the High Plains" that will be released early 2012

The first day of winter is a mild one this year in northern Wisconsin. Not much snow as of yet and little cold weather. It was 5 degrees above 0 Fahrenheit this morning. I thought it would be cool (no pun intended) to hike into a favorite spot deep in the woods and do some video recording.

It is about a mile in from the forestry road to get there. The place I hiked to is Big Bend on the Yellow river. When I started from the truck it was sunny with little wind. But I was going along with the trek the clouds started to roll in and the winds picked up.

By the time I got to big Bend it was overcast and the winds were quite strong. I got the video recorder set up and by the time I started recording my hands were very cold. The place I chose to play from is a high embankment on the river and the southern wind was coming on strong.  The loud thundering sound you occasionally hear on the video is the ice settling on the Yellow river.

When I finished and packed up my gear the winds started to diminish. Half way out the sun was coming back out with departing clouds. Back out at the truck it was calm and serene.

I believe things happen for a reason and not always on a practical aspect. Because I felt more than a cold wind out of the south on that winter solstice day.Kevin