Question:

Don’t forget a conical fermentor – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m not alone?  Oh no, it is as feared.  I’ve only brewed several batches of extract, but I can’t stop reading.  And now I think I grasp the fundamentals of all grain.  More equipment is inevitable.  Bigger brew pot.  Propane Burner, Wort Chiller Mash Tun, Lauter Tun, Wait, maybe a "false bottom" Mash Tun… Hmm single stage highly modified, or multi-stage undermodified? Probably single stage first?  I know I can’t stop myself!  The kegerator is coming.  Growing hops, not a problem.  Culturing yeast, maybe it’s worth it? Ah hell, who can resist that sweet yeasty smell bubbling from the carboy? And the unlimited supply of fresh homebrew…  I see taps in my future. Thanks to all those here who support this addiction! Rod. I’ve been a wine/cider maker for a few years now, nothing serious, just something I played with on the side.  Well, I’m not sure why it took me so long (I’ve always been a beer drinker), but a couple months back I brewed my first beer (a porter that turned out MUCH better than I expected).  I now have three different batches in various stages of fermentation, and all I think about in my free time is BEER!  …the bigger kettle, a kegging system, a fridge, a new  wort cooler, all the things I want (read: need!).  Football season is a month away! Normally by this time I would have trouble sleeping at night with anticipation (go eagles).  Now I can’t keep thinking to myself how great it would be to have a nice keg of homebrew in my truck for the tailgates, not about the games!  Will this madness ever end?!?!?!? SWMBO thinks I’ve lost my mind!  I don’t watch TV anymore, I read books! (Brewing books, but books nonetheless!)  Help me!  What’s the cure?? thanks for letting me vent a little, feeling better now.

Response:

I’m not alone?  Oh no, it is as feared.  I’ve only brewed several batches of extract, but I can’t stop reading.  And now I think I grasp the fundamentals of all grain.  More equipment is inevitable.  Bigger brew pot.  Propane Burner, Wort Chiller Mash Tun, Lauter Tun, Wait, maybe a "false bottom" Mash Tun… Hmm single stage highly modified, or multi-stage undermodified? Probably single stage first?  I know I can’t stop myself!  The kegerator is coming.  Growing hops, not a problem.  Culturing yeast, maybe it’s worth it? Ah hell, who can resist that sweet yeasty smell bubbling from the carboy? And the unlimited supply of fresh homebrew…  I see taps in my future. Thanks to all those here who support this addiction! Rod.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been a wine/cider maker for a few years now, nothing serious, just something I played with on the side.  Well, I’m not sure why it took me so long (I’ve always been a beer drinker), but a couple months back I brewed my first beer (a porter that turned out MUCH better than I expected).  I now have three different batches in various stages of fermentation, and all I think about in my free time is BEER!  …the bigger kettle, a kegging system, a fridge, a new  wort cooler, all the things I want (read: need!).  Football season is a month away! Normally by this time I would have trouble sleeping at night with anticipation (go eagles).  Now I can’t keep thinking to myself how great it would be to have a nice keg of homebrew in my truck for the tailgates, not about the games!  Will this madness ever end?!?!?!? SWMBO thinks I’ve lost my mind!  I don’t watch TV anymore, I read books! (Brewing books, but books nonetheless!)  Help me!  What’s the cure?? thanks for letting me vent a little, feeling better now.

Response:

Close…Dave Barry..         ——-Denny – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Who said that there is a fine line between "hobby" and "obsession?"  Dave Berry? — Dan Listermann Check out our E-tail site at www.listermann.com

Response:

Thanks for the reply.  After almost 25 years of putting up with me, SWMBO is pretty reasonable.  I was just getting a bit worried that there would be an obnoxious odor floating throughout the house for the entire fermenting period.  The wort boil won’t be so bad; fan in the kitchen window and a promise that it’s just one day of the process will be okay.  If the fermenting is no big problem I’ll keep it where I had in mind.  Heck, I’ve spilled beer before, so wouldn’t be much different upon occasion 8).   Ricky – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I run my fermenters in the bathroom, in the unused bathtub (I use the wet t-shirt trick to keep the fermenters cool enough during the summer).  Aside from the one fermentation that got so vigorous that it blew out the airlock and started oozing out onto the lid of the fermenter, there has been no noticeable smell.  Even that one that did smell a bit (it basically smelled like spilled beer) cleared up as soon as the fermentation subsided and I cleaned off the ooze. The smell that stinks up the house and makes SWMBO upset is when I’m boiling the wort and add the hops.   I think it smells wonderful, but she…. well let’s just say she is of a different opinion. Its gotten so bad, that SWMBO has told me she hates my new hobby. Speaking of SWMBO, I’m getting ready place an order to try my hand at this.  SWMBO is worried about the house smelling of beer during fermentation.  I explained that it won’t be smelling like beer; it’s yeast and grains, it’ll smell more like bread baking. Just how big a lie was that?   Ricky

Response:

I run my fermenters in the bathroom, in the unused bathtub (I use the wet t-shirt trick to keep the fermenters cool enough during the summer).  Aside from the one fermentation that got so vigorous that it blew out the airlock and started oozing out onto the lid of the fermenter, there has been no noticeable smell.  Even that one that did smell a bit (it basically smelled like spilled beer) cleared up as soon as the fermentation subsided and I cleaned off the ooze. The smell that stinks up the house and makes SWMBO upset is when I’m boiling the wort and add the hops.   I think it smells wonderful, but she…. well let’s just say she is of a different opinion.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Its gotten so bad, that SWMBO has told me she hates my new hobby. Speaking of SWMBO, I’m getting ready place an order to try my hand at this.  SWMBO is worried about the house smelling of beer during fermentation.  I explained that it won’t be smelling like beer; it’s yeast and grains, it’ll smell more like bread baking. Just how big a lie was that?   Ricky

Response:

My wife is 8 months pregnant… I think this contributes to her wild swings of sometimes taking an interest in my brewing, other times cursing the very notion of it.  Of course she can’t have any beer, but I defended my return to brewing by claiming that the beer will all be ready for her to drink after the baby comes.  Plus I tell her that once the baby comes I won’t have time to brew, so that’s why I’ve just got to have 2 or 3 batches going at once now.  Naturally I’m hoping to sneak in the occaisional brew session later this year, but for awhile I fear it’ll be all baby, all the time.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Its gotten so bad, that SWMBO has told me she hates my new hobby. What is it with SWMBOs anyway?  Mine once said through clenched teeth "I *REALLY WISH* you would get a DIFFERENT hobby" But then I clean up the kitchen so perfectly she has no ammunition…. Then of course there’s the one where she asks whether reading all these brewing books, websites and magazines are more important than her… do I have to answer that? Mine tolerates it pretty well (so far). She just uses it as an excuse to feed her hobby–you would not believe the amount of yarn the woman has. And she bought some kind of yarn winding doohickey that I just love (she doesn’t ask me to help her wind it any more). So get her hooked on her own hobby…

Response:

So your a little compulsive.  Be honest this has happened before maybe not tropical fish, making arrow heads, chess, banjo, fly fishing, bicycling and sailing but surely you recognize the pattern.  I myself went down with my German friend Brunhilda (I am not making this up.) to the local brewery to get a party pig of stout.  They had a homebrew section!  After that there was some sort of frenzy and when the fog cleared I had all this gear including Kegs, a refer, pots, a chiller, hoses stuff … big pile of stuff! Now when they see me coming I can see them lick their lips from the middle of the street.   My wife knew there was trouble (brewing) when the books started showing up. (The next horse she buys I’m getting a brew sculpture. ) In fact I am thinking that tomorrow, when the brewery opens up; I will buy another book; yes, a big fat one on making the perfect cream ale!     When you are feeling frustrated with this compulsiveness it is important to smoke lots and lots of cigars.  Also it helps to rotate addictions so as not to be overwhelmed.  Right now I am rotating through American Ales as fast as I can brew and heading for the English ones, then Stouts, then Lagers generally by 2005 (Spring) I should be up to lambics.  No sense in overdoing it. art

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve been a wine/cider maker for a few years now, nothing serious, just something I played with on the side.  Well, I’m not sure why it took me so long (I’ve always been a beer drinker), but a couple months back I brewed my first beer (a porter that turned out MUCH better than I expected).  I now have three different batches in various stages of fermentation, and all I think about in my free time is BEER!  …the bigger kettle, a kegging system, a fridge, a new  wort cooler, all the things I want (read: need!).  Football season is a month away! Normally by this time I would have trouble sleeping at night with anticipation (go eagles).  Now I can’t keep thinking to myself how great it would be to have a nice keg of homebrew in my truck for the tailgates, not about the games!  Will this madness ever end?!?!?!? SWMBO thinks I’ve lost my mind!  I don’t watch TV anymore, I read books! (Brewing books, but books nonetheless!)  Help me!  What’s the cure?? thanks for letting me vent a little, feeling better now.

Response:

After looking through some threads via google searches I finally found one I think answers my question plus one question I didn’t ask. As to fermenting, someone mentioned they ferment in the basement because of smell and others that their spouse hated it, so I guess it must not be a "baking bread" smell.  8)    I didn’t even think about the brewing process but folks posted it "smells great"/"makes you want to vomit" so sort of YMMV it seems. Maybe I need to rethink where I’m going to be doing this.  I have a cooker and I have a workshop with part sectioned off and air conditioned, but I have no running water there (or I should say, no sink — there is a water hose outlet outside the shop door).  It might work, just figured it wouldn’t be as sanitary as the kitchen.  Ricky – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Its gotten so bad, that SWMBO has told me she hates my new hobby. Speaking of SWMBO, I’m getting ready place an order to try my hand at this.  SWMBO is worried about the house smelling of beer during fermentation.  I explained that it won’t be smelling like beer; it’s yeast and grains, it’ll smell more like bread baking. Just how big a lie was that?  Ricky

Response:

Question:

Added note, from an email:       Hall of the Mountain King:      Howard Snyder       White Winds:                    Joe Wilcox If you have problems, I first read Snyder in

the 70s from a library loan and now I own both just because of this group, try Chessler in CO. Panel 7 issue. Every one should go out this weekend.  NO posting. You guys are all too tired to be here.  You

guys are snapping at each other too much. I love it, Eugene!  You are absolutely right!

I’m reading this on Friday the 11th and did go out last weekend and had a

lovely time hiking on a beautiful trail with absolutely no other hikers

on it.  Eat your hearts out, guys! I’m outta here. Marcy should be the only one posting here over the weekend. hey there fellow hikers.. I just moved to LA

from oregon and it was a total shock.. My Nature life completely disappeared or so i thought.. for the first couple of months here i couldn’t find any trails to hike and was about to leave due to mountain separation anxiety…i went into a 7- Eleven to get a coke and saw the coolest free Magazine ever.. its called StreetZebra.. All about sports and they even have a section dedicated solely to my love.. HIKING.. they also said there was a web site so i checked it out and sure enough they gave trail suggestions and locations…. it changed my whole outlook on living in this over populated city..if you are in the same situation i strongly suggest checking it out.. www.streetzebra.com Before you buy.

Response:

Every one should go out this weekend.  NO posting. You guys are all too tired to be here.  You guys are snapping at each other too much. I love it, Eugene!  You are absolutely right!  I’m reading this on Friday the 11th and did go out last weekend and had a lovely time hiking on a beautiful trail with absolutely no other hikers on it.  Eat your hearts out, guys!

It needs to be repeated. I think I posted that on Aug. 4.  It’s now Aug. 18. Some people take this group, too seriously. Like it’s rec.scouting.usa or something. I’m outta here.

I’m outta here.

Response:

hey there fellow hikers.. I just moved to LA from oregon and it was a total shock.. My Nature life completely disappeared or so i thought.. for the first couple of months here i couldn’t find

Months?! any trails to hike and was about to leave due to mountain separation anxiety…i went into a 7- Eleven to get a coke and saw the coolest free Magazine ever…

There’s tons of outdoor activities around Portland. The only thing lacking is easy to moderate granite and maybe a slight excess of mold.  And a lack of powder. Study maps people! 8^)

Response:

My Nature life completely disappeared or so i thought.. for the first couple of months here i couldn’t find Months?!

‘Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form. And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured I’ll always do my best for her, on that I give my word In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm. Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved Everything up to that point had been left unresolved. Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm. I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail, Poisoned in the bushes an’ blown out on the trail, Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn. Suddenly I turned around and she was standin’ there With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair. She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns. Now there’s a wall between us, somethin’ there’s been lost I took too much for granted, got my signals crossed. Just to think that it all began on a long-forgotten morn. Well, the deputy walks on hard nails and the preacher rides a mount But nothing really matters much, it’s doom alone that counts And the one-eyed undertaker, he blows a futile horn. I’ve heard newborn babies wailin’ like a mournin’ dove And old men with broken teeth stranded without love. Do I understand your question, man, is it hopeless and forlorn? In a little hilltop village, they gambled for my clothes I bargained for salvation an’ they gave me a lethal dose. I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn. Well, I’m livin’ in a foreign country but I’m bound to cross the line Beauty walks a razor’s edge, someday I’ll make it mine. If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born. "Come in," she said, "I’ll give you shelter from the storm."

Response:

If I could only turn back the clock to when God and her were born. "Come in," she said, "I’ll give you shelter from the storm."

Yeah, but I like standing in storms.

Response:

Study maps people! 8^)

   The best trips I have ever had were ones planned using maps, books and a desire to explore on my own. They haven’t come from someone telling me about a certain area.    If I would’ve had someone hold my hand, it would have taken all the fun out of it.    The summit of the highest peak in WY took us two tries with each being a week long vacation. I didn’t feel that the first failure to summit was a waste of a vacation and when we finally did make it, it was that much more rewarding.    Sometimes I wish there were no maps, books or trails.    Ed Huesers    http://www.grandshelters.com

Response:

  The best trips I have ever had were ones planned using maps, books and a desire to explore on my own. They haven’t come from someone telling me about a certain area.

I am hoping that my trip to the Alps in December will be my next "best" trip.  Unless I get called to the Ross ice sheet again as an alternate. I had a great trip once, coming back from Lake Tahoe I looked across the Center Valley and saw snowy Coastal Range Peaks.  Not bold great peaks, but interesting unrated mountains.  The trip was some months after that first sight, but it was the sight that set the trip in motion.   If I would’ve had someone hold my hand, it would have taken all the fun out of it.

Find the book         Mountains w/o Hand Rails         by Joe Sax (UCB’s law school) There’s a lot of novices who unfortunately for themselves fool themselves into thinking they have fun.  They would argue that fun is a diversity of experience: this is a gross generalization and only somewhat true.  I had a couple of guys who were roommates like this. My friend and editor Martha who used to post in this group thinks she is like this, but I really think Martha is at heart an outdoor person (only I’m not in Portland to take her out every weekend on trips). I thought of a 3rd friend (F) who is a poser.  These guys kind of think its some sort of status thing, and it’s not unless you rake in bucks for doing a trip (which as a guide is a nice thing).  The only business is repeat business.   The summit of the highest peak in WY took us two tries with each being a week long vacation. I didn’t feel that the first failure to summit was a waste of a vacation and when we finally did make it, it was that much more rewarding.

Yeah, I took two different trips to get up the v-notch, 3 trips to get up Charlotte dome, etc.  Gross, for instance, is very insistent upon summit success.  I’ve bailed on hard technical climbs, so I have less an investment threshold for bailing (failing).  I can come back or skip. I don’t tally lists.  I’m more interested in coming back alive.   Sometimes I wish there were no maps, books or trails.

Well, I’ve had training as a cartographer and a photogrammetrist. The issue isn’t maps or books.  And I think about wandering around alone on the Ross Ice sheet (I got to the state where I was allowed to travel alone (had to carry a radio), a reasonable state of trust). Ilana when she was with the group is now preparing to sail around the world in a small boat.  You can gain some of that in a small boat. Just head out into open ocean and jump into the water.  If that doesn’t scare you, you don’t know enough yet.  Another good one is looking at swells which tower over your boat.  Combine that with climbing and that’s how Chouinard’s days are spent. It’s your own attitude.  It’s what’s inside your head, and your collection of good buddies whom you trust on ski trips or flying the bush, or whatever.  When I think about some of my favorite trips and my best buddies and partners, I know I’m part of having a good time.

Response:

Added note, from an email:    Hall of the Mountain King:      Howard Snyder    White Winds:                    Joe Wilcox If you have problems, I first read Snyder in the 70s from a library loan and now I own both just because of this group, try Chessler in CO. Panel 7 issue. Every one should go out this weekend.  NO posting. You guys are all too tired to be here.  You guys are snapping at each other too much.

I love it, Eugene!  You are absolutely right!  I’m reading this on Friday the 11th and did go out last weekend and had a lovely time hiking on a beautiful trail with absolutely no other hikers on it.  Eat your hearts out, guys! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I’m outta here. Marcy should be the only one posting here over the weekend.

Response:

Has anyone written an account of hiking the Pacific Crest trail?  

The High Adventure of Eric Ryback (quite controversial). water under the bridge. Consider The Thousand Mile Summer (1958, too) by Colin Fletcher and it’s NOT the Muir trail.  I’m not as nearly enthralled with Man Who Walked through Time.  Others like it.

Response:

Added note, from an email:         Hall of the Mountain King:      Howard Snyder         White Winds:                    Joe Wilcox If you have problems, I first read Snyder in the 70s from a library loan and now I own both just because of this group, try Chessler in CO. Panel 7 issue. Every one should go out this weekend.  NO posting. You guys are all too tired to be here.  You guys are snapping at each other too much. I’m outta here. Marcy should be the only one posting here over the weekend.

Response:

The High Adventure of Eric Ryback (quite controversial). water under the bridge.

What’s the controversy? It’s certainly ignored, I’ve noticed in subsequent books/articles. Like the trip never happened.

Response:

I’m curious to hear what others thought about Bill Bryson’s book, "A Walk in the Woods."

It was entertaining.  I wouldn’t look too deeply into it to try to use it as an ethical, moral, or how-to hiking guide.  When you read "The Bronx Zoo" or "Ball Four" you really don’t expect to read about baseball fundamentals or how baseball teams should comport themselves. started off on the trail without much experience and then didn’t even complete (or come close to) what he set out to do.  

So completion is the criteria for compelling prose?  Don’t read anything from Shackleton. Sometimes the best way to illustrate the right way to do things is to embellish the wrong way to do them. Steve Silberberg Visit the Air Sickness Bag Museum http://www.airsicknessbags.com/ FACT:  Buff Babes Dig Cut Dudes!

Response:

The most offensive part of the book was Bryson’s friend Katz

The book pretty much WAS Katz, or rather the interaction between Katz and the author. I laughed out loud a number of times (though I frequently had suspicions of gross fictionalization). Book wasn’t much about the AT, or backpacking, or the outdoors at all. But I thought Katz was a hoot.

Response:

I could never finish "The Living," even though I really like Dillard’s books. It just seemed so depressing when the characters kept dying off — but I guess that was, to a point, the reality of life in the pioneer days… Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

I’m curious to hear what others thought about Bill Bryson’s book, "A Walk in the Woods."

Has anyone written an account of hiking the Pacific Crest trail?   Not a guidebook, but something akin to "walk in the woods". Phil

Response:

There are so many good books… Edward Abbey comes to mind, especially "Desert Solitaire". Nelson’s "The Island" is good, too. There are always classics, too, like "Wild Animals I Have Known" and "A Sand County Almanac". Annie Dillard’s "A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" is an incredible book, but not exactly light reading. There is a series of books out with collections of essays/extracts from books with common themes. I have read one called "Wild" that is good, and would like to read the others, too. Got questions?  Get answers over the phone at Keen.com. Up to 100 minutes free! http://www.keen.com

Response:

I am a newbie, but the best books I have read about outdoors,wildlife were by Helen Hoover–I got them thru the local library–Gift of the Deer was one–she had several-they took place in the northwoods of MN–awesome books      theo God is good–for sure!!!!!!

Response:

"Endurance" the story of Shackleton’s "adventure" in the antarctic; just about any book by Farley Mowat. "A Walk in the Woods", Bryson’s story of "thru-hiking" the AT. Several mountaineering books, including "The White Spider", "Annapurna", "Touching the Void".

I’m curious to hear what others thought about Bill Bryson’s book, "A Walk in the Woods."  Personally, I found it very disappointing that he was given a publisher’s advance to write the book, went out and bought a lot of expensive equipment, started off on the trail without much experience and then didn’t even complete (or come close to) what he set out to do.  (And his book was still a best-seller).  The most offensive part of the book was Bryson’s friend Katz, who decided he didn’t want to carry so much weight and dumped out half the contents of his backpack along the AT.  Perhaps this was just part of Bryson’s style of humor, but since most of the people buying his book probably have not ever been in the backcountry, it certainly doesn’t set a good example! As for books set in the Pacific NW, "The Living", by Annie Dillard is a fictional account of the early settlers in NW Washington state (around Bellingham and the Nooksak River).  For me, it was a little tough to get through at times, but she really captures the feel of the landscape and the hardships the pioneers endured. Anita Vasavada

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Do you have any recommendations for good books about the outdoors?  Western settings preferred.  Pacific northwest settings best.

Oh, there. Well, you might want to look at Dee Molnaar’s (sp) books. Find The Mountaineers web site.  They publish a whole bunch. Contact Elliot Bay Books.  Fred Beckey has a few books, mostly guidebooks, but not all, which are useful.  I have not seen Fred in years. Books like Challenge of the North Cascades (DM), Prater has a snowshoeing book. Depends what you want to read: climbing, history, The Dharma Bums ends in the North Cascades.  Scan the REI book rack. I’m not really into fiction anymore.  Usually. Considering Alaska, I really liked -148F, that’s the title  Minus 148. By Art Davidson.  I read it one day in a sign huge push and it was as good as Endurance in many ways.  The crux is about dinner time (when they guys were pinned down in a snow cave for a week). Art’s 3rd book, In the Wake of the Exxon Valdez is also good. ‘And the oil companies rotated in their executives, and they had names like "Bubba" and "Skitter."’ Panel 28 topic. Oh, another two Denali books are In the Hall of the Mountain King and White Winds.  Give serious thought as to which to read first: chronological publication date, coin flip, or author alphabetic order. Same trip.

Response:

"Endurance" the story of Shackleton’s "adventure" in the antarctic; just about any book by Farley Mowat.

Farley Mowat … hmmmn … just remember to treat it as fiction or altered non-fiction.

Response:

"Endurance" the story of Shackleton’s "adventure" in the antarctic;

There’s also, "To the Pole in the Footsteps of Shackleton" or something like that.  It’s definitely not western US though. Steve Silberberg Visit the Air Sickness Bag Museum http://www.airsicknessbags.com/ FACT:  Buff Babes Dig Cut Dudes!

Response:

"Endurance" the story of Shackleton’s "adventure" in the antarctic;

I can’t resist gushing over this book.  Everyone should read it.  Events stranger than any fiction are in this story.  Exceptional writing. Phil

Response:

I’m a northwest native stranded out here in the prairie and chained to a desk working on my PhD.  Hence, I have no wilderness to go to and I relish good books about the outdoors.  Recently, I’ve enjoyed books by Richard Nelson, and Byron Ricks’ account of a trip down the inside passage. Do you have any recommendations for good books about the outdoors?  Western settings preferred.  Pacific northwest settings best.  Fiction and non-fiction recommendations welcome.

        Offhand can’t think about any/many with Western/PacNW settings, except perhaps for anything by John Gierach who writes about fly-fishing mostly in Colorado/Montana, etc. But as for other stuff "The Arctic Grail" by Pierre Berton is a wonderful book about the exploration of the Arctic. Kind of reminded me of "The White Nile" and "The Blue Nile" by Alan Moorhead from the 50’s or early 60’s which are drop-dead wonderful.         Also, ever hear of a guy named Redmond O’Hanlon? Writes (or at least used to write) the London Times’ column on nature. First book

Question:

    Does anyone have any info/experience in SWFF in Greece?  I am a reasonably experienced So Florida FF, but am going to Greece in May on my honeymoon, (and will miss some of the Tarpon season).  I’ll be traveling throughout the Aegean Islands (Patmos, Simi, etc), and am looking for info on types of fish, flies, rod weights, line types, etc. Any direction will be greatly appreciated. Thanking the community in advance CHRIS

Response:

    Does anyone have any info/experience in SWFF in Greece?  I am a reasonably experienced So Florida FF, but am going to Greece in May on my honeymoon…

        On your honeymoon?         Chris, you’re either a brave man or a very lucky one!

Response:

   Does anyone have any info/experience in SWFF in Greece?  I am a reasonably experienced So Florida FF, but am going to Greece in May on my honeymoon, (and will miss some of the Tarpon season).  I’ll be traveling throughout the Aegean Islands (Patmos, Simi, etc), and am looking for info on types of fish, flies, rod weights, line types, etc. Any direction will be greatly appreciated. Thanking the community in advance CHRIS

Chris – Sorry, buddy, but Greece is a little beyond my FF experience.  But I sure would appreciate it if you would fill us in when you get back.       Gene

Response:

Does anyone have any information on flyfishing in Greece?  I’m interested in area North of Athens.  Haven’t been able to find much so far.

Response:

Does anyone have any information on flyfishing in Greece?  I’m interested in area North of Athens.  Haven’t been able to find much so far.

Back in october, about 150 miles north of athens, dave lacourse was doing some serious fishing in grease. it’s dangerous, dang near kilt jeff miller. so if you’re gonna fish in grease, be careful….. waldo — Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com http://auctions.yahoo.com/booth/ezflyfish_com Used, Rare, & Out-of-Print Books: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

Response:

Does anyone have any information on fly fishing in Greece?  I’m interested in the area from Athens to the North.  Thanks for any help anyone can give.   I tried to post this a couple hours ago but it apparently didn’t work.

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Let me guess, that would be Athens, Georgia.                         Frank Reid

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone have any information on flyfishing in Greece?  I’m interested in area North of Athens.  Haven’t been able to find much so far. Back in october, about 150 miles north of athens, dave lacourse was doing some serious fishing in grease. it’s dangerous, dang near kilt jeff miller. so if you’re gonna fish in grease, be careful….. waldo — Ezflyfish.com:  http://www.ezflyfish.com http://auctions.yahoo.com/booth/ezflyfish_com Used, Rare, & Out-of-Print Books: http://users.boone.net/wgw/brbg.html

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Let me guess, that would be Athens, Georgia.

Correct, and the grease was the by-product of Louie’s alleged ‘cooking’.<g — Charlie…

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Thanks guys, didn’t realize I would be opening the door for you to poke such fun!  Don’t slip too far.

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Two weeks holiday in Crete what’s the fishing like.

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Two weeks holiday in Crete what’s the fishing like.

Well, damn…I thought this was another Gink/Xink thread… TC, R

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Question:

writes: I purchased an antique bamboo fly rod recently.  It has a curve in on of the tip sections and I was wondering if anyone knows how I can straighten it without damaging the rod. Any help is greatly appreciated.

You have good advice in the previous responses, but another idea is to go out and hook a good fish and turn it so the fighting fish bends it back. A table leg  or other solid object to pull against can work too. The cheaper old rods will take a set just from playing one good fish if you don’t turn the rod around as you play it, and some can be bent back straight in the same manner. I have never tried this one but one aged geezer told me that you could straighten cane rods by hanging them from the tip eyelet for a week or so. Mark Vinsel www.vinsel.com

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Hi,  In a book about rod building and restoration I read the technique of steaming the set over the teakettle and then gently bending and holding it in the opposite direction to the curve.  I tried it, and it "sort of" works, but I still hesitate to recommend it.  It’s kind of spooky for the fear that Patrick points out of weakening the glue in the rod sections.  If you rewrap and put on new guides, maybe you can put the guides on the opposite or "outside" side of the curve and maybe time and usage–or a good fish will help straighten it out.  Good luck. Jess Thompson – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Kirkfield’s book also gives a good account of how to straighten. He suggests practicing some on rods you don’t care for.

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In a book about rod building and restoration I read the technique of steaming the set over the teakettle and then gently bending and holding it in the opposite direction to the curve.  I tried it, and it "sort of" works, but I still hesitate to recommend it.

*snip* *WARNING*  Do **NOT** use steam to heat bamboo rods, particularly old bamboo rods.  Rodbuilders go to great pains to dry the cane (age it in dry conditions, heat treat it, flame it, etc.) and eliminate the moisture in the power fibers. The power fibers transport water throughout the cane while it is growing and will absorb moisture again very easily.  At best the rod may become "loggy", at worst it will seperate the old hide glues used on some of these rods. DO NOT USE STEAM!!!!!!!                                        Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools

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writes: I purchased an antique bamboo fly rod recently.  It has a curve in on of the tip sections and I was wondering if anyone knows how I can straighten it without damaging the rod. Any help is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Steve Yoder

Hi Steve, Before trying to straighten these sets (curves) yourself, find out if the rod is collectable.  If so, have a professional do it.  Don’t try to straighten out a set on a Garrison, Gillum, Payne, Leonard, Orvis, F.E. Thomas, etc. by yourself. However, if it isn’t a real valuable rod, using an alcohol lamp like Dave suggested works.  Be sure you only burn de-natured alcohol in the lamp or it will burn too hot.  Put the cane in the top of the flame (not the bluest part) move it side to side and pull it out,  rotate it a bit and repeat.  When you get it heated to the right temperature the cane will move like clay in your fingers. If you don’t heat it enough, you will crack the fibers (you’ll hear that), if you heat it too much too quickly you will bubble the varnish and the cane will become brittle.  Go real slow and straighten the set bit by slow bit and it will work fine. A better way to straighten it would be to use a heat gun with a spreader nozzle as suggested by Wayne Catanach in his book "Handcrafting Bamboo Fly Rods". Better control over the heat and covers a larger area more quickly.   I have’nt tried that myself, but it makes sense.  Some have said you can use an electric hair dryer effectively too.                      Hope this helps,                               Dan Dan Gracia Orvis West Coast Fly Fishing Schools

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I purchased an antique bamboo fly rod recently.  It has a curve in on of the tip sections and I was wondering if anyone knows how I can straighten it without damaging the rod. Any help is greatly appreciated. Sincerely,             Steve Yoder

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I purchased an antique bamboo fly rod recently.  It has a curve in on of the tip sections and I was wondering if anyone knows how I can straighten it without damaging the rod. Any help is greatly appreciated. Sincerely,             Steve Yoder

I’ve used an alcohol lamp to slightly heat the fibers while working the bend in my hands. This will remove most minor curves. Good luck – be careful. — Best regards, Dave Visit Dave Teffeteller’s Fly Fishing Guides Home Page http://www.olfart.com

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I purchased an antique bamboo fly rod recently.  It has a curve in on of the tip sections and I was wondering if anyone knows how I can straighten it without damaging the rod. Any help is greatly appreciated. Sincerely,             Steve Yoder

I would try to identify the rod builder.  Depending on the builder, your bamboo rod could be worth big bucks.  If that’s the case I would seek a professional’s advice.  Otherwise, a small "set" in the bamboo shouldn’t alter casting ability too much and I wouldn’t worry about it.  If the set does effect the casting, I would again seek out a reputable builder’s advice.  The problem with trying to heat it up is that you could hurt the varnish or weaken the glue that holds the individual cane strips in place.  Good luck. Patrick

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Question:

I am in Lake in the Hills, IL, and although the air near my house is thick with the scent of blooming clover, I have seen no bees, honey, bumble or otherwise.

Interesting. I’m quite close to you (Lake Zurich, IL) and our bee population seems fine… Network Administrator                         Phone: (847) 491-3691 MEAS, Northwestern University Evanston, IL                            http://www.tech.nwu.edu/support

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Here in Syracuse, NY, no honey bees for the last 2 or 3 years.  There seem to be a LOT of bumblebees now, though.

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Seems the same around here as the past two years. No, I take that back. Slightly better. I saw a honey bee last week. That’s only one, count it, one, bee. (*sob!*) But then that’s a few weeks earlier than last two years…. But I have two resident bumblebee nests this year (Yay!), and they did a nice job pollinating my raspberries! Through deer netting even! DT zone 5/6

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I am in Lake in the Hills, IL, and although the air near my house is thick with the scent of blooming clover, I have seen no bees, honey, bumble or otherwise.

Interesting. I’m quite close to you (Lake Zurich, IL) and our bee population seems fine… Odds are that you have a beekeeper near you. Dave Green   Heminway, SC   29554 http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html

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Lots of honeybees here in the Finger Lakes area of NY. I had to laugh watching them on the chive flowers-their weight slowly bending the chive to the ground. All of our fruit trees are loaded with fruit too, unlike last year. — These opinions are mine and you have to get your own.. Judy Scott Cornell University Ithaca, NY

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I didn’t see any honey bees at all.  However, we’ve been having summer squashed producing very well, sunburst, crookneck, yellow, and pale green zukes plus cucumbers.  We’ve also been picking pole beans for 4 week now.  We live in Southern California.  I wondered how these goodies pollinated.  I saw only one bumblebee in the garden, she looked real busy, though, it’s hard to believe that she could do all the works. Until this morning, I went to dump kitchen scrap to the compost pile and notice 2 fat and fuzzy honey bees got real busy inside a male squash blossom.  The mystery was solved and I’m so happy to spot them.  We both work full time with two little children so we can only work in the garden after coming home from work and on the weekends.  I guess the bees like to feed in private! Happy gardening, Ning Ridenoure (sorry, no e-mail)

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I didn’t see any honey bees at all.  

I’ve got a question. I know that Sevin is toxic to bees, and I don’t use it because of that fact.  I’ve been trying out less toxic pesticides, but I wonder whether they may also harm bees?  Specifically, I’m using pyrethrin spray, sulfur spray as a fungicide on my roses, and Neem oil to repel Japanese beetles.  Do any of these harm bees?  I have just planted fruit trees this year, so I know we’ll need some bees to pollinate.

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just saw 2 in my garden!!! I think they are honeybees, the kind we used to call "yellowjackets" as a kid…Is this the right kind????  My tomatoes are flowering, so are the taters, not much else yet, but I am about the only place in the neighborhood that doesnt spray as far as I can tell, so maybe they rest in my yard : ) LauraA Hi Laura.  Yellowjackets aren’t honeybees.  Honeybees are fat little rascals, and brownish, generally.  Yellowjackets are skinny and have yellowish parts to them.  I <think the honeybee population is threatened by an infestation of lice which get into their hives and kill them.  All the more reason to avois spraying other bees and wasps unless they are in a place where there is a lot of traffic, or unless there are little kids around.  We need the pollinators.  John Reiner. Southwestern Illinois, 8 Miles East of the Confluence of the Miss & Mo Rivers USDA Zone 6, Border of Zone 5

John, It’s mites, not lice, that are killing the bees, although this subtle difference is only important to beekeepers, I’m sure.  (And to those of us who are, because of the mites, former beekeepers — a temporary condition I hope!!) Steve  (Maritime Climate — USDA Zone irrelevant)

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This is a multi-part message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I just saw 2 in my garden!!! I think they are honeybees, the kind we used to call "yellowjackets" as a kid…Is this the right kind????  My tomatoes are flowering, so are the taters, not much else yet, but I am about the only place in the neighborhood that doesnt spray as far as I can tell, so maybe they rest in my yard : ) LauraA

Hi Laura.  Yellowjackets aren’t honeybees.  Honeybees are fat little rascals, and brownish, generally.  Yellowjackets are skinny and have yellowish parts to them.  I <think the honeybee population is threatened by an infestation of lice which get into their hives and kill them.  All the more reason to avois spraying other bees and wasps unless they are in a place where there is a lot of traffic, or unless there are little kids around.  We need the pollinators.  John Reiner. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; name="jrsig.txt" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline; filename="jrsig.txt" Southwestern Illinois, 8 Miles East of the Confluence of the Miss & Mo Rivers USDA Zone 6, Border of Zone 5

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I just saw 2 in my garden!!! I think they are honeybees, the kind we used to call "yellowjackets" as a kid…Is this the right kind????  My tomatoes are flowering, so are the taters, not much else yet, but I am about the only place in the neighborhood that doesnt spray as far as I can tell, so maybe they rest in my yard : ) LauraA

Yellowjackets are a kind of wasp.  They are bright yellow and not fuzzy. Honeybees are various shades of yellow-brown and golden brown and are fuzzy.  (Bumblebees are fat and usually black or brown, often with a lighter-colored patch on the last segment(s).) And for all you asparagus growers, I saw a queen yellowjacket busily removing asparagus beetle larvae from my plants the other day.   Yellojackets are indiscriminate predators of other insects but adults will often stop by a flower for a quick drink of high-energy nectar.   Honeybees eat only nectar and pollen as a general rule. Steve  (Maritime Climate — USDA Zone irrelevant)

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? — The opinions expressed in this message are my own and are not the opinions of anyone who does not hold those opinions.

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? —

   In my piedmont NC garden I havn’t seen a single honey bee this year or last.  Lots of bumble bees have taken their place so the number of bees about is about the same. — Lloyd Fortney http://www.phy.duke.edu/~fortney/ has links to my garden, flower, flyfishing, and travel JPEG images as well as teaching, research, and stuff like that

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I am in Rochester, N.Y. and S. Dansville, N.Y. and also have not seen any honey bees, but the bumble bees are numerous and huge.   Linda Woodward – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? —

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Much better!!  Last year we saw NO honeybees at all here in MA, but this year they’re everywhere…..lots of honeybees, and all other kinds, too! Speaking of bee-popluations, did anyone hear of the recent study that says that mint may kill the mites that have been destroying the bee larvae?  I don’t know the URL offhand, sorry, but it was interesting. (maybe websearch under bees and mint?) -Kay

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up?

A plague of bees in Houston. Bees everywhere – including my attic! You want ‘em? <g — The Marfa Mystery Lights: http://www.concentric.net/~Slaroche/MARFA.HTM (By sending me unsolicited commercial email, you agree to the Terms and Conditions as listed here: http://www.concentric.net/~Slaroche/SPAM.HTM)

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I am in Rochester, N.Y. and S. Dansville, N.Y. and also have not seen any honey bees, but the bumble bees are numerous and huge.   Linda Woodward

I am in Lake in the Hills, IL, and although the air near my house is thick with the scent of blooming clover, I have seen no bees, honey, bumble or otherwise. It’s depressing.         Paul

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? -We are supposed to have a shortage in Mich.,but my Hawthorne tree is loaded with them,

also salvia plants, nepeta, even in the Iris blooms. They seem to be all over the grounds. Barb- – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The opinions expressed in this message are my own and are not the opinions of anyone who does not hold those opinions.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Goodrich) writes: Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? -We are supposed to have a shortage in Mich.,but my Hawthorne tree is loaded with them, also salvia plants, nepeta, even in the Iris blooms. They seem to be all over the grounds.

   A lot depends on whether you have a local beekeeper, and what his/her patterns of bee movement are.  Beekeepers have striven mightily to replenish the bees lost the year before.  Beekeepers who overwintered bees in the midwest and northeast were relieved to see fairly good survival, nothing like the terrible winter of ‘95-96.      Many more northern bees (than usual) were taken south by the commercial beekeepers, because they didn’t want to risk another winter of terrible losses.    Many of the replacement bees are raised in the southeast and gulf coast area for northern beekeepers.  This spring was a rather mild one, and quite good for raising bees.  We shipped many, many truckloads of bees north out of South Carolina.  It’s not always possible with multiple loads but most beekeepers aim to have the bees back by dandelion bloom, which is closely followed by apple and pear bloom.    Many of the commercial beekeepers take the bees into fruit orchards for contract pollination, then put them out for honey production.    The bees you see may have ridden from Louisiana, Florida, or South Carolina to a Michigan orchard for two or three weeks, then were placed in a bee yard near you to catch the black locust, and later clover bloom.    Gardeners would be wise to be aware of beekeeper activity around them, which may not be easy, since some beekeepers are quite secretive. Beekeepers are wary, because so many folks are terrified of bees (especially since the Hollywood "killer bee" movies), and they fear vandalism, or community efforts to chase them out.  Gardeners ought to be smarter than this.  You might even share some of your bounty with him or her.  Commercial beekeeping becomes so intense in the spring, that few have any time to garden themselves, yet they make it possible for others.    I can certainly see the difference in this area in gardens.  I know where the bees are.  You can draw half-mile circles around the bee locations and state that within this area it is possible to grow quality melons, cantaloupe, butter beans, cukes and squash.  Outside the circle, it’s pretty iffy, unless you happen to have a bumblebee nest.  But bumblebees may only have 50 bees in the nest, and they don’t travel far.    But I am also saddened to see so many blooming butter beans, cukes, squash and other plants plastered white with Sevin dust, a violation of the label directions. We report violations on larger acreages, but mostly ignore them on gardens. Why do folks bite the hand that feeds them?  -A little knowledge, a little care, and the bees will be protected……    All in all, honeybee populations are certainly not restored to the levels of 1950 for sure, but they are quite improved from last year, wherever there are beekeepers. There is still a shortage, but not as bad, and we are becoming ever more efficient at commercial crop pollination.    If there are no kept bees, it may still be quite barren.  I have to supress a laugh every time I see a post about "attracting" honeybees.  You can’t attract what isn’t there; the energy would be better spent in attracting a beekeeper.    In a few areas wild solitary bees have increased, and may fill in gaps here and there.  But overall, the wild bees have also dwindled.  They have no protection from pesticide misuse, where honeybees may be defended by a human.    Another encouraging trend is the number of brand new beekeepers.  Many of these are in suburban environments and have started one or a few hives for the first time ever.  Bee equipment supply houses are having a banner year, with all the new startups.  I hope that some of these hobby beekeepers will go on to resupply the dwindling supply of commercial beekeepers.  I am 52, and I am usually one of the youngest at beekeeper meetings. Dave Green     Hemingway, SC   29554 Practical Pollination Page   http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation and we were all going to starve because the bees wouldn’t be around to polinate our crops. This year, not a peep. So, what’s up? — The opinions expressed in this message are my own and are not the opinions of anyone who does not hold those opinions.

Last year I did not see a single honeybee, though we have lots of bumblebees and carpenter bees, and zillions of various little bee/wasp types in the flowers. This year, three separate times, I have seen a single (one) honeybee.         –SB in northern MD

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Nothing yet in central Va.  Breaks my heart

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Last year I didn’t see many … this year (I have many, many more flowers) I see a few every time I’m out working in the gardens.  (I’m in Orlando, FL) http://members.aol.com/wilona1/index.html Pages updated June 6, 1997 – NEW:  Handmade Baby Afghans!!! Gardening – Genealogy – Newsletter – Links

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I just saw 2 in my garden!!! I think they are honeybees, the kind we used to call "yellowjackets" as a kid…Is this the right kind????  My tomatoes are flowering, so are the taters, not much else yet, but I am about the only place in the neighborhood that doesnt spray as far as I can tell, so maybe they rest in my yard : ) LauraA

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(snip)    I can certainly see the difference in this area in gardens.  I know where the bees are.  You can draw half-mile circles around the bee locations and state that within this area it is possible to grow quality melons, cantaloupe, butter beans, cukes and squash.  Outside the circle, it’s pretty iffy, unless you happen to have a bumblebee nest.  But bumblebees may only have 50 bees in the nest, and they don’t travel far.    But I am also saddened to see so many blooming butter beans, cukes, squash and other plants plastered white with Sevin dust, a violation of the label directions. We report violations on larger acreages, but mostly ignore them on gardens. Why do folks bite the hand that feeds them?  -A little knowledge, a little care, and the bees will be protected……

(snip) An excellent observation.  I don’t think most people who apply broad-spectrum pesticides really appreciate how necessary "good" bugs are to their gardens. (and maybe even some "bad" bugs, too) Even a huge jungle forest is dependent on birds, animals, and insects for pollination and seed dispersal.  It’s a system, and so are gardens. Killing every insect in a yard – beneficials included – is just plain ignorant. Maybe some good will actually come out of the mite infestation of the insecticide-weakened U. S. honeybee population, if many more people now understand that we NEED those little guys going from flower to flower. Don Chapman Bio/Organics, Inc. Camarillo CA <http://www.bio-organics.com

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I am in Lake in the Hills, IL, and although the air near my house is thick with the scent of blooming clover, I have seen no bees, honey, bumble or otherwise. It’s depressing.

I finally saw some bees today (honey and bumble) in the back yard. Much happier!         Paul

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Last year the news was full of stories of how the bees in the US were all suffering from a mite infestation … <stuff deleted This year, not a peep. So, what’s up?

Adding in comments from a Colorado Front Range garden, rural Boulder County, I too have been very keen on seeing what’s happened to the bees.   There have been a few bumblebees and fewer still of any other kind. My knowledge of entomology is very limited, but the ‘others’ were what my parents in southern Wisconsin call ‘honeybees’.   for what it’s worth … elisa

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Question:

I find myself going on a cruise this January with stops at Jamaica, Santo Domingo, Tortola, Ponce, and St. Croix. If anyone knows of any flats fishing that can be done on any of these islands, I’d love to hear about it. The more details the better, to decide if I should take my fly rod. thanks, Bob Vorel

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If the cruise ship stops on the north coast of jamaica, I am happy to report there are tarpon in Montego bay and very nice looking flats intermittenly between there and Negril to the West and Ocho Rios to the west. You can "hire" a glass bottom boat which might serve as a casting platform, but the local captain will have no idea what you’re doing or what you want. The flats are reachable right from the coast road which runs mostly next to the sea. Saw BIG fins of either tarpon or cuda  nearer to Ocho Rios, where I just happended to stop and wade out a bit. I posted for information a couple of times to the news group before I went and got practically no responses. This is VIRGIN territory. By the way DO try the Pork Pit in Montego bay for jerk!!!. Its genuine and fantastic (and very clean). let me know how you do, Clair

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Question:

Hello all I just got into fly fishing and fly tying this year and boy I am having fun!. Now I live in Colorado and want to try catching salmon on a fly rod instead of using the old snaging rod. What flys would you suggest tying? Thanks and good fishing. Brad.

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Hello all I just got into fly fishing and fly tying this year and boy I am having fun!. Now I live in Colorado and want to try catching salmon on a fly rod instead of using the old snaging rod. What flys would you suggest tying? Thanks and good fishing. Brad.

If you’re talking about kokanee, just try using regular sockeye flies tied on #14 or #16 hooks.  Comets w/a beadhead, flash flies, etc.   You can also use your regular trout nymphs.  Either way, you need bears and rain to complete the illusion. If you don’t mean kokes, I have NO idea what you’re talking about.  Knock yourself out, whatever you’re up to. Dave DeLacey Corvallis, or.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello all I just got into fly fishing and fly tying this year and boy I am having fun!. Now I live in Colorado and want to try catching salmon on a fly rod instead of using the old snaging rod. What flys would you suggest tying? Thanks and good fishing. Brad. If you’re talking about kokanee, just try using regular sockeye flies tied on #14 or #16 hooks.  Comets w/a beadhead, flash flies, etc.   You can also use your regular trout nymphs.  Either way, you need bears and rain to complete the illusion. If you don’t mean kokes, I have NO idea what you’re talking about.  Knock yourself out, whatever you’re up to. Dave DeLacey Corvallis, or.

Ah gee see how you are :^) yes I mean kokanee and thanks for the suggestion. I have no need for the bears so thay can stay home.

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Question:

Can anyone give me any tips on what kind of containers to use while applying beads to a piece of work.  After I have them out of the baggie (where I store them in thier little plastic containers) I find that if I leave them in the little plastic containers they spill all over the place.  If I pour them out of their containers into the baggies and then try to get one at a time…well lets just say my carpet is well beaded.:-)  Any suggestions greatly appreciated. TIA Doris

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I keep my beads in camera film containers.  When I’m beading, I put them on the top lid of a plastic shoebox.  The higher sides keep the beads from rolling off and I don’t have to put the beads away at night because I can just sit the shoebox on the floor with the lid until morning. Pamela CALVIN: "You know, Hobbes, some days even my lucky rocketship underpants don’t          help." HOBBES: "Well, you’ve done all you can do." Pamela A. Jones

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Can anyone give me any tips on what kind of containers to use while applying beads to a piece of work.

I think everyone has a different preferred storage method.  However, when I am working with them, I use a tray from LoRan that has six large compartments with built in pouring spouts and each compartment has it’s own clear lid.  Along the two long sides of this "tray" are troughs for use in laying out beads when you are doing a row of different coloured beads.  (Anyone who has done earthdancer knows what I mean by this and this tray was wonderfully handy while I was doing her.  *grin*)  I paid $4 for it at my local cross stitch shop.   Susan H. Simko

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I use the lid of my Craft-Stor tote.  It has several raised lines to hold the beads in and the area is large enough to let them spread out.   Meg in Los Angeles

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This is a good place to use those pretty small crystal or porcelein ash trays that most people are not using now for their intended purpose (of course, I am not one of those!).  Otherwise, any small lid – a 35mm film canister, a small plastic (Rubbermaid?) container, etc. – should work as long as it has a rim that is high enough to keep the beads from rolling out onto the floor.  HTH…Ellen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Can anyone give me any tips on what kind of containers to use while applying beads to a piece of work.

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| I keep my beads in camera film containers.  When I’m beading, I put them | on the top lid of a plastic shoebox.  The higher sides keep the beads from | rolling off and I don’t have to put the beads away at night because I can | just sit the shoebox on the floor with the lid until morning. Great idea, Pamela, but you must either have a locked craft room or no small kids or pets!  Most of us couldn’t possible leave such things out overnight.   How do you mark the film containers, or are they the transparent type? — My opinions are my own; if IBM shares them, they haven’t told me.

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Can anyone give me any tips on what kind of containers to use while applying beads to a piece of work.

I use little metal tart tins.  They are fluted for making *little* cakes actually.  My finger fits the flute and I am able to pull one bead at a time.  Also, the sides are high.  Similary and almost as good (except for the flutes) are little dishes for "on the side" foods, like soy sauce or salt cellars.  I find most of my gadgets either in the fishing or cooking sections. Keltia — "And the trouble is, if you don’t risk anything, you risk even more"                                 -Erica Jong

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Great idea, Pamela, but you must either have a locked craft room or no small kids or pets!  Most of us couldn’t possible leave such things out overnight. How do you mark the film containers, or are they the transparent type?

I (for the next 4 weeks) do live alone!  I mark the film containers with small white labels (1/2" x 3/4") which I also use the mark my homemake magnetic needleholder cards. Pamela

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I lost the attribution of who wrote this comment.  Very sorry! applying beads to a piece of work.

Since my beading projects so far have been small (Mill Hill bead kits), I put the whole project in a small tin with handles (I got the tin at Michaels and it shows an old advertisement for Singer.  They had another tin with handles of Hershey’s kisses, but I wasn’t too fond of the picture).  Thus, I can tote around my project when I am not working on it and when I *am* working on it, I just put the beads I want to use in the lid.  If I were working on a larger project (i.e. MLI or TW), then I could always use the tin to carry stuff like floss, scissor, needles, etc. and just pop the whole thing in my project tote and I would still be able to use the lid.  Then again, I may come up with a different method for those…I don’t know yet! — Bekki Lyn Conqueror of 2,7,10,13,12,15,16,18 "Tangled threads seem a stronghold/But illusions can deceive."   +++Fates Warning: The Ivory Gate of Dreams+++ "All acts of love and pleasure are Her rituals."

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This is a good place to use those pretty small crystal or porcelein ash trays that most people are not using now for their intended purpose (of course, I am not one of those!).  Otherwise, any small lid – a 35mm film canister, a small plastic (Rubbermaid?) container, etc. – should work as long as it has a rim that is high enough to keep the beads from rolling out onto the floor.  HTH…Ellen Can anyone give me any tips on what kind of containers to use while applying beads to a piece of work.

hi! coming out of lurkdom :0   i use a chrysanthenum <sp? tray that’s made for watercolours.  the porclain ones are nice, and i can put it into a padded carrying case, and carry my beading with me! happy beading, tree

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To store them (the ones that come loose or in hanks), I use those stackable plastic containers (buyable in craft stores) OR mini ziplock bags OR my new "discovery": mini glass jam containers, you know, those that they serve in hotel breakfasts… While working, I tried the plastic multiple compartments container, but my preferred method is cream cheese plastic lids. Simone BeadNet http://www.mcs.net/~simone/beadnet.html

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I have just discovered the multiple drawer small tool containers in the computer store. Each drawer is clear see through. With optional clear dividers, you can put 3 separate hanks in related colors into the same drawer.. You can pull the drawer out completely (there is a safety catch so you won’t dump the beads unintentionally) and pour out loose beads. They come in 15 to 36 drawer sizes. This is the first time I have found something to be excited about for organizing beads. Until now, I was doing the jars/spice jars/ film containers/ screw top stacking containers without a good organizing solution. I found these drawers at Frye’s which is a computer discount store in California. Similar computer stores or electronic stores should carry these drawer sets where Frye’s do not exist.

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Something else good to keep beads in—I once bought a whole box of rubber-stoppered vacuum tubes from a scientific apparatus remainder company.   (The kind a clinic might use for biiiig blood samples—-about 6 or 7" long) They are clear and hold gobs and gobs of seed beads each.  (They also make a fun little "pop" when you first open them. 8 ^ ) I can’t remember exactly where I bought ‘em, but they were cheap or I wouldn’t have bothered, I’m sure…   I know there are several such odd-lot companies around. Monique in Bryan

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 Until now, I was doing the jars/spice jars/ film containers/ screw top stacking containers without a good organizing solution. I found these drawers at Frye’s which is a computer discount store in California. Similar computer stores or electronic stores should carry these drawer sets where Frye’s do not exist.

Don’t laugh I have been using my Dads empty Skoal cans.I put tape on the bottom and lid with the #.(wintergreen smells nice.I do wash them be for using.:-  Sheila

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Until now, I was doing the jars/spice jars/ film containers/ screw top stacking containers without a good organizing solution. I found these drawers at Frye’s which is a computer discount store in California. Similar computer stores or electronic stores should carry these drawer sets where Frye’s do not exist. Don’t laugh I have been using my Dads empty Skoal cans.I put tape on the bottom and lid with the #.(wintergreen smells nice.I do wash them be for using.:-  Sheila

My husband (also a stitcher) came home with some very cool clear plastic containers from the fishing department, perfect for beads. The are about 1-1/2 inch diameter and one screws onto the bottom of the other.  You can stack as many together as you want (each is about 1 inch tall).  When I want to use a certain bead,  I simply unscrew the container I want, and the rest remain closed!  I have taken small adhesive labels to put the bead numbers on each container.  They didn’t have any kind of brand name on them, so I can’t share that with you… but look in the tackle dept.  I think they are made for storing fishing flys!          ** Anne in Oregon                       ~ So many projects, so little time ~

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There’s a nice little system called the Bead Hive made out of little interlocking plastic drawers.  They get sold in sets of 12 for ~$10.  What is nice about them is that you can detach the drawers and just have the drawers filled with the beads you need for your project.  I’ve seen them in the CS&CC catalog and my favorite local needlework shop here in the Silicon Valley sells them too. Happy stitching, Cynthia

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I use the stacking screw top containers that screw on top of each other. The small ones are for the beads(I clip out the brand name and catalog number from the package as a label and slip it into the container with the beads), and there are slightly larger ones..I use these for my growing confetti collection.  These work fine for me…but will be kind of confusing as I start to stitch pieces calling for more similar beads. Mari

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My husband (also a stitcher) came home with some very cool clear plastic containers from the fishing department, perfect for beads. The are about 1-1/2 inch diameter and one screws onto the bottom of the other.  You can stack as many together as you want (each is about 1 inch tall).  When I want to use a certain bead,  I simply unscrew the container I want, and the rest remain closed!  I have taken small adhesive labels to put the bead numbers on each container.  They didn’t have any kind of brand name on them, so I can’t share that with you… but look in the tackle dept.  I think they are made for storing fishing flys!         ** Anne in Oregon                      ~ So many projects, so little time ~

I have found that our fly fishing shop has the best prices, by far, and better quality stackable containers (some bead shops have ones that don’t screw together very well after you get them apart).  Also, when I go to buy them, I get great service — usually I’m the only woman in the shop and all them men let me go first when ringing up the sale!  Chivalry lives! Karen

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Something else good to keep beads in—I once bought a whole box of rubber-stoppered vacuum tubes from a scientific apparatus remainder company. I can’t remember exactly where I bought ‘em, but they were cheap or I wouldn’t have bothered, I’m sure…  

    Monique, wasn’t that American Scientific?  With their really goof catalogues?  Martha Beth

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I am afraid my original comment might have gotten lost in the lengthy follow up to the Newt Gingrich and the Flyfisherman post. So again, this is for those involved in the original post, or at least those that didn’t know when to quit. Go away. When you are ready to discuss flyfishing, come back. — gp

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I am afraid my original comment might have gotten lost in the lengthy follow up to the Newt Gingrich and the Flyfisherman post. So again, this is for those involved in the original post, or at least those that didn’t know when to quit. Go away. When you are ready to discuss flyfishing, come back.

I find this a strange complaint from one who only 20 minutes earlier contributed to the thread about Newt and the Flyfisherman. Perhaps you folks north of the border have enough rivers or good enough government or businessmen who are sufficiently environmentally sensitive that you needn’t worry about the destruction of habitat including good trout water.  But here in the good old U.S. of A. we have to fight the sonsabitches that would destroy everything for an extra buck or an extra vote (and the Newter expects to get both). I’d rather talk and think about fishing, but if I want to be able to do some good fishing I’ve got to do what I can do to prevent the sonsabitches from having their way. And one of those things is to talk about the problem to get others to think and act effectively about it. Besides, from what I hear about the clearcutting going on in British Columbia, you haven’t got enough of those good things I mentioned at the beginning of the last paragraph. Phil Holt

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I’m taking a trip in June.  I have no clue about the possibilities and need help.  Bone, cuda, what?  Please help!

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Bermuda used to be famous for Yellowfin tuna and Wahoo (30-80Lbs). The charter boats would go 2 hours out to two reefs, anchor and then chum. Not that many people fly fished for those brutes. There was also Bermuda Jack that run about 20 Lbs. I don’t know how good the fishing is these days. You’ll have to ask the Government Tourist office in Bermuda. Alan Card and his brother used to be the best charter captains on the island, by far, (among the best in the world as far as I’m concerned). There is really no shore fishing because the shore drops off quickly, not like in the Bahamas. Also the Bermuda Chub that are inshore are not worth it (too difficult to catch). Just one last reminder, I think it is too late to make a charter boat reservation with a good captain for this year. You have to book one year in advance. The best time, if I can remember,  for tuna and wahoo is June and October. Remember, this is very expensive fishing, very classy island. But I have had some of my best fishing experiences there. Sort of like going Marlin fishing in Hawaii.  

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503/639-6400.  He knows tons of details and can set you up or you could just pick his brain.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m taking a trip in June.  I have no clue about the possibilities and need help.  Bone, cuda, what?  Please help!

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Call Jerry Swanson at Kaufmann’s Streamborn: 800/442-4359; 503/639-6400.  He knows lots of details and he can help set you up (he books lots ‘o trips) or you could just pick his brain.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m taking a trip in June.  I have no clue about the possibilities and need help.  Bone, cuda, what?  Please help!

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