Spent about a month in Ecuador for a film project. Can’t divulge too many details about it for now, but I am thankful for the opportunity to travel and explore again. Even got to spend some time with the local Quechua tribes deep in the Amazon jungle to learn more about the plants and animals I encountered during my stay. I’m currently recovering from my adventure (I had very little food in the jungle and lost over 30 pounds - nearly a pound a day!) so have been rebuilding my relationship with food slowly but surely to combat refeeding syndrome. I was also bitten by so many insects that my skin looks diseased, and I will likely bear some of the resulting scars from my horrible picking habits for life (I’m awful about this, and always have been). Frankly, though, I am thrilled with the adventure and would do it again in a heartbeat given the first opportunity. The hardest part was being away from the dogsbeasts, but I had a great crew of people looking after them in my absence and they fared just fine without me, though I was clobbered with big ol paws and lots of licks of excessive exuberance upon my return to the homestead! #ecuador #travel #adventure https://www.instagram.com/p/BlgrARqhcG4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13vcp04h45d5c
As part of our latest work party, @skiddyfisk and @koor.creations.photography set to work on the creation of a “catio” for Blackjack. Blackjack is an indoor-only cat, and downsizing to a one-bedroom cabin was a big adjustment for him during the move. After building a deck off the back of the cabin, we had some leftover space and threw in an 8x8x8 structure for him to run around in, so he could be outside without being OUTSIDE. It’s carpeted with weather resistant material made from recycled plastic bottles. Has a solar night light, litter box, cat bed, toys, and shelves to loaf on. He is a very spoiled homestead cat. #blackjack #cat #blackcat #manxcat #manx #cat #homestead #catio #catenclosure #catdeck #spoiledcat #bigcat #witchescat #catsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BnWaQX7hhaC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tzhspsr9yk0v
Private land access in the desert. Found a hunter’s old dump site for this dragon’s-horde of bones. @eggshoneyandham and I had a blast running around, filling our arms with dead stuff, running back to the truck to deposit them, then heading back into the wilds for more. We hit the ground running and didn’t even close the truck doors behind us. Just a couple of Vultures embracing their inner child on an Easter egg hunt for death in the desert. I’m going to make some cool decor for the homestead with these... #death #vultureculture #oregon #washington #highdesert #skullhunter #skullcollector #bonecollector #deadhead #bones #taxidermy #wild #homestead #wildernessculture #wilderness #badlands #cityofbones #cityofbonesv2 #deadstuff
@travelonvagabond as the Artisan Row Festival Queen. They were covered in “sacrificial blood” for the fire ceremony. It’s still kind of difficult to explain how this all came to be, but the short version is that our director randomly popped his head into our booth one year at Fall Faire and asked if we wanted to start a cult. An hour later we had come up with an ominous chant and planned out our nightly “ritual”. It’s taken on a life of its own in the short time since, and now we lead a procession to a gigantic metal obelisk near the main courtesy fire to light the propane torch at the top of it while dressed in pelts and carrying lanterns and chanting “In the fire, we are cleansed!” So I guess if you wanna join a cult, hit us up at sundown on Artisan Row at Barter Faire. We have no real mission aside from drawing confusion from people who still ask “what’s this all about? Are you pagan or something??” every time we march. #barterfaire #okanoganfamilyfaire #blood #twblood #fakeblood #fire #barterfaire2018 #funny #cult #dark #darkhumor #queen #vultureculture
Booth aesthetic: Oregon sunstones I mined last September for my birthday rockhounding road trip, an abalone shell I got last Faire in a trade, a deer bone want with a Brazilian quartz crystal and buckskin leather handle wrap, several polished drinking horns, and some mountain lion paws I ended up trading for a beautiful Persian rug for the cabin. I adore Barter Faire.
Blackjack doesn’t have a tail of his own (he is a Manx and was born without one, aside from his 2” stump). He’s got an amusing history of stealing my tails, including this large coyote tail I was in the middle of working on in preparation for Okanogan Barter Faire this weekend. Notice how he slowly pushes my hand away when I try to take it back from him. Sometimes, I end up having to keep a certain item of inventory because it’s been “claimed” by one of my critters. Blackjack would probably have started a petition if I refused to let him keep this one. #blackjack #manxcat #taxidermy #vultureculture #manxcat #manx #blackcat #sassmasster #funnycatvideos #funnycats #funnyanimalvideos #lifewithcats #craftingwithcats #fur #realfur #coyote
My boys taking a nap after working hard all day (Blackjack works super hard at melting into the floor, supervising us when we poop, and guarding the cabin from dust bunnies!). #blackjack #manx #blackcat #blackcatsofinstagram #manxcat #cuddles #crittercuddles #myman #myboys #bestfriend #catcuddles #kittycat #blackcatappreciation
Thunder storms rolled in across the valley yesterday during our second “work party” - which was a successful effort to simply improve upon amenities that were already established. A close friend of Wildheart Homestead invited his parents (who work with Habitat for Humanity on a regular basis) to assist us in fixing some issues with our solar power system so we can actually run our freezer without a generator. We also started work on our outdoor shower. I’m so thankful for the help we received from these kind folks, and am even more blessed by the simple fact that I’m surrounded by great people who are just as excited about the future of this place as I am. Something about the land just draws folks in and keeps them longing to return. We’ve extended open invitations of free camping for life to all those who’ve been lending their hearts, heads, and hands to making this place a proper home. #wildhearthomestead #wildheart #sportsmansparadise #wilderness #homesteading #homestead #wild #primitiveliving
Living in a new town has its challenges. Not the least of which is all my connections for far feeding the dogbeasts are over three hours away (and that’s just getting TO them!). I finally made a closer connection and was stoked when the offered some fresh trout for Danny and I to eat. We cooked them up in a cast iron skillet with fresh lemon and cracked pepper. This is one of my favorite things about living rural. #trout #troutfishing #worthedrive #washington #homestead #homesteading #bushcraft #camping #wildernessculture
Went scouting in the woods near my new home. Took five minutes to find a flock of wild turkey, and about 20 minutes to find these young bear tracks. Saw a lot of deer sign, too, but no elk. I am starting to see why they call this part of the country “Sportsman’s Paradise”, though!! #blackbear #tracking #animals #huntung #fishing #huntwashington #primitiveskills #bushcraft #washington #sportsmansparadise
Getting settled in! Containment was recently build during our first ever Wildheart Homestead Work Party! The dogbeasts now have more than 3,000 square feet of secure space to run and play in. We have an additional 1,000 and 2,000 square feet of woofer-proof area that just needs a few finishing touches before it’s ready for action. But all three boys are getting along fine with their current set up. I’ll be adding a stock tank pond, a shade tunnel, some dog houses, and an elevated sunning platform for them in the coming weeks. Moving to the middle of nowhere has been the best decision I’ve made for my boys, and for myself. I only wish I had done it sooner. Also, shoutout to @skiddyfisk for the sweet drone footage of the homestead!! #offgrid #homestead #roughingit #naturepunk #wildernessculture #wild #washington #columbiarivergorge
View of our pond with Danny for size. Already met the neighbor (those buildings in the distance are his). He is one of just three neighbors who live in our “neighborhood”. Seems like a nice guy so we are looking forward to settling in. Less than a week now... #homestead #pond #outdoors #adventure #primitiveliving #wilderness #homesteading
Junkyard shenanigans! This was discovered in a bin labeled “SPLAT”. I kind of want to take a bunch of this home and make art with it but with the move coming up soon, it’s just not in the cards right now. We also found a custom-fabricated stainless steel gate that looks like it came from the lockout pen of a zoo tiger. Needless to say, I snagged it up quick for the new wolfdog enclosure. #junkyard #scrapyard #splat #rainbow #colorful #urbex
I found what is quite possibly the most beautiful turkey tail mushroom I’ve ever seen. #mushroom #turkeytail #mycology #medicinalmushrooms #oregon #pacificnorthwest #PNW #wildernessculture #wildernesssurvival #wildmedicine #plantmedicine #mushrooms #bushcraft #wildwoman #magic #pagan #heathen #wildernessquest #wildernessbabes