Project Athena - Day 341 (Bark)

Walking Sticks

Over the years, Lara and I have collected many walking sticks on our wilderness adventures. We love to bring this precious cargo home with us with the intention of stripping down the bark, sanding the wood to a smooth surface, then coating them with a clear polyurethane to keep the distinct look of the aspen wood. (No trees are harmed in this process, I promise) We've made some really gorgeous walking sticks over the years and given them away as gifts. These days, we find that life moves at a very fast pace and sitting on the porch whittlin' somehow does not happen. I miss it.

These sticks will be nice and aged by the time they are turned into one of those  gorgeous walking sticks.

Walking Sticks

Fujifilm X-E2 • Fuji XF18-135mm lens • 29.3mm • F/5.6 • 1/70s • ISO 400

Project Athena - Day 340 (Bark)

Bark Pants

I love this old cottonwood tree and thick, rugged bark that wraps itself around the trunk like a pair of comfy Levi jeans.

Bark Pants

Nikon D3200 • Nikon 55-200mm lens • 62mm • F/20 • .4s • ISO 100

Project Athena - Day 339 (Bark)

Bark Included

Today has been awesome. I got to spend it with Nathan, my son, who is here visiting from Portland. We went to the Wild Animal Sanctuary and had a wonderful, relaxing stroll as we watched all the animals come out to enjoy the sunshine. This gorgeous tiger laying in the bark is a kind of a long stretch for the theme this week but time with Nate trumps the blog any day.

Tiger at Wild Animal Sanctuary

Fujifilm X-E2 • Fuji XF18-135mm lens • 135mm • F/7.1 • 1/90s • ISO 500

Project Athena - Day 338 (Bark)

Not Bark

I shot bark today but ultimately decided I didn't like any of the bark shots I took. I do however, like this shot from today, which technically is not bark, but really cool looking.

Budding Pine Cones

Fujifilm X-E2 • Fuji XF18-135mm lens • 135mm • F/10 • 1/200s • ISO 400