Raw Earth Ink

Autumn Days Photography

Posted on November 16, 2021 by tara caribou

Hi friends, as promised, a few photos to share from my little part of the world. One thing I love is my view is always the same, but it still changes from day to day. The way the light strikes a tree or a wave crashes. How different the clouds can look from one minute to the next. I spend a lot of time just looking and looking and looking. I hope you enjoy.

From a rest area in the mountains on the way to the city. The mountains all had “termination dust”… that’s the little bit of snow that begins to creep down the mountainside. When we see it, we know summer is terminated and winter is just about here.

Moose stew all canned. This batch is amazingly delicious.

Take for instance this! I just never need filters.

Panning over to the other volcano, which is shrouded tightly in white clouds like a blanket.

Of course, I’m out taking moon shots at night too. The clouds were moving fast this night and every photo is so different.

The next trip to the city a couple weeks later and the snow has indeed dropped quite a bit. In winter, you’ll see snow machine (aka snowmobile) tracks going straight up this mountain!

I had to stop on the highway for this… just too beautiful to pass up.

Panning to my right, to look further towards the Cook Inlet. This body of water is a bay. Beluga whales regularly come rub themselves on the sandy bottom.

First snow in early October. Just a tease.

I’ll be sharing more of this day in a different post. But the sunset was like lighting the clouds on fire. The direct beam of the sun through the clouds was intense. I was freezing in the snow but wow… I just kept shooting.

“The War for Solace” poetry by V.R. McKoy

Posted on November 11, 2021 by tara caribou

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Raw Earth Ink is proud to present V.R. McKoy’s debut book of poetry, The War for Solace.

Brutality …
Sordidness …
Adaptation …
Transformation …

Freedom …

Poet V.R. McKoy speaks out in bravery against abuse, and the resulting rage, vengefulness, and cold rebirth that can assault the victim even long after the abuse has ceased with her emotional, no holds barred poetry and lyrics. Unashamedly, she shares her experiences and journey, giving a voice to those who don’t have one.

In paperback at: lulu, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.

As eBook at: Kindle.

Leave a review on Goodreads.

“The Hawthorne Project” a dark fiction anthology

Posted on October 24, 2021 by tara caribou

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Just in time for Halloween, Raw Earth Ink is proud to present The Hawthorne Project. A dark fiction anthology.

Nine houses. Eleven authors. One week.

The neighborhood of west Hawthorne Drive in quiet Greenfield Wisconsin is filled with dark stories and darker rumors. There’s the haunting by a faceless creature. They’ve all seen it. They’ve all experienced its presence. On the one hand, it seems to desire the life of mortals, on the other, it befriends a small boy. It both mocks and assists. Runs away and stands face-to-faceless face.

And not to mention the mysterious death of the street’s namesake, Jim Hawthorne. His strange and reclusive widow peers from behind her drawn curtains, rarely leaving her home, but to walk her little dog or tend her manicured gardens.. yet she’s not one for giving up any of the cul-de-sac’s secrets.

But in the days leading up to Halloween, events take a more sinister turn, including strange visitations, an eerie violet haze in the sky, attempted murder, breaking-and-entering, and multiple police check-ins until not one of the residents can deny: something or someone is here to stay.

Inside you’ll find work from:

River Dixon
Chisto Healy
Tristan Drue Rogers & Sarah Anne Rogers
Lou Rasmus
Mark Ryan
Mark Towse
Joshua Marsella
Darren Diarmuid
Robert Birkhofer
Jeremiah Fox

In paperback at: lulu, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

As an eBook at: Kindle.

Leave a review on Goodreads.

Individual text copyright by contributing authors

Summer Into Autumn Photography

Posted on September 10, 2021 by tara caribou

20 Comments

Due to unforeseen circumstances this spring in my household, my workload increased and my summer has been busy, busy. Autumn is always busy, with harvesting moose and foraging for berries. I thought I’d give you all a break from the macro shots and share a little hodgepodge. Enjoy!

One of the wild bunnies on the property collecting fresh hay for his burrow.

On a hot day, nothing feels as nice as the cool air beneath a canopy of alders.

Looking into the alders, it’s like a whole new world, very grounding and magical.

Sometimes the sky looks like a painting and I stare in awe.

Another gorgeous sunset from my front porch.

And watched this sword-swallower guy. Wow. So cool to see it in person.

This wild baby bunny, who I called Cinnamon, invited herself into my house several times.

Chemtrails all day makes for some interesting skies.

They don’t call it fireweed for nothing.

Berry Picking Photography

Posted on September 3, 2021 by tara caribou

42 Comments

Well, it’s definitely that time of year here in my part of Alaska: berry picking. And boy has it been a great year for berries. I had to put the brakes on my nearly daily forays into the woods/muskeg due to the fact that there’s a shortage of canning jars locally. Happens nearly every year… and I thought I was prepared but it’s been such a great year that I ran out and finally was able to find a business that had some tucked away, still in stock. So, it’s back out for more berries again.

This year (so far) I’ve been able to harvest wild strawberries (much much much better than those flavorless ones you find at the grocery store), lingonberries (just getting started on these – also known as low-bush cranberries), low-bush blueberries, watermelon berries, and some currants, though they aren’t quite ready yet. Oh, and some rhubarb because I do love my rhubarb jam.

Anyway, hope you enjoy a couple quick pics from recent days.

Watermelon berries.. which I’m not a huge fan of, but a request for jelly was made.

Best place to find lingonberries (low-bush cranberries), is on old rotten logs.

Gooseberries, also known as stink currants. This is the first time I’ve seen these on my property.

The more common red currant, *almost* ready in the setting sun.

Low-bush blueberries. Hard not to eat these suckers, they’re so tasty. Much better than from the store.

Not quite ripe in this section. I’ll come back for you guys later…

Dwarf dogwood, which I don’t like at all, but they sure are cheerful.

My number one favorite berry is the moss (or crow) berry… and this is the first I’ve seen them this year. This was on someone else’s land, so I didn’t get any…

Sunshine and Raindrops Photography

Posted on August 6, 2021 by tara caribou

45 Comments

Hello friends. The last month has been a whirl. I took a week off as I do every year for subsistence fishing (salmon) only to fall very sick for a full two weeks, hence the lack of activity on your blogs. I confess I probably will not be able to “catch up” on all your fine posts but I’m back to read now.

I thought I’d share with you some nature photos from July before I fell ill. I hope you all enjoy.

One thing I love about lupine is how the raindrops collect on the leaves.

No filters, just a thick haze from the chemtrails

Pushki (cow parsnip) flowers, these stalks were about eight feet tall.

Again, no filters, just a hazy pink sun due to all the chemtrails lately.

The rain is my favorite. Everything is so fresh and clean and beautiful.

“Eyes See Soul” poetry by Jhanjhri Shah

Posted on August 3, 2021 by tara caribou

15 Comments

Raw Earth Ink is proud to present Jhanjhri’s debut book of poetry, Eyes See Soul.

From the back: Eyes See Soul is an inspirational poetry collection that explores the complex themes of self-discovery and overcoming challenges. It depicts the beauty and healing that nature and twin flame love offer and provide. This instigative book is divided in three chapters titled “Life’s Base Camp”, “The Climb”, and “The View” as a metaphor for the deep feelings that seed from happenings around, the process of reflection, healing and finding the sacred soul blossom like spring flowers. With so much to offer, blank the canvas of your heart and let yourself surrender to the joy of sanctity.

In paperback at: lulu, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.

As eBook at: Kindle.

Leave a review on Goodreads.

“A Fistful of Ponies” poetry by Dan Provost

Posted on July 17, 2021 by tara caribou

6 Comments

Raw Earth Ink is proud to present Dan Provost’s newest chapbook of poetry, A Fistful of Ponies.

A veteran of the small press, Dan Provost’s poetry has been published both in print and online for many years. He is the author of twelve books, including his latest Darting In and Out from Kung Fu Treachery Press. Dan has twice been nominated for the Best of the Net and has read his work throughout the United States. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife Laura and Bichon Frise Bella.