madewell music

Pedestrian Ramblings

SWM

December 24, 2018

Christmas 

A Life Time Of Ornaments

I reflect on the past this time of year more so than at New Years. These reflections were enhanced last night as MJ and I were decorating the…

Pedestrian Ramblings

SWM

November 28, 2018

Deer Camp

An Ongoing Tradition

Sitting at the cabin evening reflecting on years past. My cousin Kieth and I started deer hunting with my pop and my uncle Marvin when we were 12 and…

Pedestrian Ramblings

SWM

September 20, 2018

The Evolution of a Song

From an idea, to a song, to a recording

I doubt that many people think about how a song they hear changes from an idea, to a song to…

Re-Entry

Often people ask where do I get ideas or inspirations for songs. To read a short essay about my recent trip to Labrador. Click on the link at the bottom of the photo!

Re-entry.pdf

Howard Marsh

Today the Toledo Metroparks opened Howard Marsh Metropark and early this afternoon I had the tremendous honor of cutting a ribbon, and symbolically opening the boardwalk for public use.

My involvement with the project began in 2012 when…

A Permit On The Fly...

Three years in the making.
My second Belizean experience and my first trip to the Blue Bonefish Lodge

Several years ago, MJ and I had the opportunity to stay at the Chan Chich lodge in…

Last week we had the first “sugar snow” of the winter. “Sugar snow” comes in February or March. Living in the snow-belt you get to see enough snow events to identify specific characteristics for snow. Sugar snow has large, fluffy…

Nearly anytime spent on the stream is special but there are many “extra” special times. Sunrise, Twilight, a moonlit night, the roar of a flood but two events on the creek are always magical to me when the stream is…

So You Want To Be the Boss? 

Observations and thoughts on the transition from front line interpretation to administration.

Moving into a supervisory role is generally regarded as essential part of career advancement. The the transition however, from front line…

All across Ohio and all across the nation people enjoy public lands and National Public Lands Day is celebrated the last weekend of September. 

I enjoyed a 36 year career working in parks and recreation and was privileged to have…

The Demise of a Oak Tree:

After four days of gentle rain a giant oak tree tipped over. For well over a hundred years it had grown of the side of the creek valley. Ironically it's health and growth led…

Great Expectations:
My bee boxes were empty this winter. Both colonies bolted, as in the bees left. I suspect this occurred in September. I was very consumed with wrapping things up in Toledo and didn't have time to get back…