Finding Nevada WildThe Terrain, Culture, and People of the Most Mysterious State in the WestOrder NowSong Dog SilverMined and Made by NevadansShop NowRead or ListenHistory and Mystery are Alive in Nevadaβs Sagebrush Ocean Legends of Lost Nevada
Legends of Lost Nevada
Nevada’s a mysterious place. With history and mystery as far and wide as the Great Basin, there’s plenty out there to let your imagination run wild in the Sagebrush Sea. I still can’t figure some of these stories (and locations) out. I’ll never stop trying.
A long, complicated, and sensitive true story that still divides many Nevadans, itβs the story of one of the longest, and most confusing court cases…
This massive acreage gets skipped over a lot, at least by the average person. But to anthropologists, chemists, theologists, spiritualists, billionaire hoteliers, astronauts, Hollywood actors,…
True mystery and real isolation. And with pronghorn antelope, insanely dark skies, flowing hot creeks, and massive black fire opals as your compass, it’s the…
Becoming manβs best friend alongside this countryβs first people, itβs the story of original friendship, and that of Danger Cave: one of the oldest canine…
I hereby swear on Nevada backroads to never overload your inboxes, ever.
The Kestrel Caller enewsletter will soar into your inboxes about once a month with info about new Song Dog Silver online store updates and upcoming in-person events, the latest story from my blog series Legends of Lost Nevada (where you can read or listen), and sometimes a rare combo of the two.
To me, thereβs a lot of satisfaction in not knowing something, or giving yourself a long runway to really think about it. Because the truth is, we live in a world where everything is on demand, or telling us how to think. Well, not in this story. Thinking, and imagination are prerequisites.
Nevadans seem to ask me about this subject a lot, wondering what in the hell us up with these Owl Clubs all across Nevada. The history of the Nevada Owl Clubs not only didnβt trickle down through the history books but also didnβt successfully make it into the memories of anyone living in these ultra rural Nevada towns today, which is what drew me to it. Why are there so many Nevada Owl Clubs, both historic and modern, all across this state? Are they connected? And with such a strong bridge between Nevada and San Francisco histories, do they tie into the most infamous secret society in the West and maybe the world?
Itβs the story of the Nevada Owl Clubs: where wisdom is curiosity, and curiosity is wisdom. π¦πΈππ»
Hope youβll give this episode of Legends of Lost Nevada a listen on my site, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts, streaming now. #InSagebrushWeTrust β’ Custom artwork by @gomezsigns π§‘
A little of what Iβve been working on lately π
I know Iβll be catatonic and happy by the time my one holiday show comes around, and speaking of which, this is your official β οΈSAVE THE DATEβ οΈ for it! Iβll be packinβ all my ordinary stuffβNevada necklaces, rings, cuffs, bolos, and pinsβbut this year Iβll also have a bunch of big pieces like some of what you see here, all made with Nevada-mined turquoise and sterling silver. Navajo pearls, handmade chains and stamped bales, big fat multi stone womenβs bolos, and far beyond. And books! Books are back (with Sterling and turquoise bookmarks), too. Hope to see ya out there this winter!πͺΆ
ποΈπSt. Maryβs Art Center in Virginia City, NV on Saturday, December 5 (10 AM – 4 PM) and Sunday, December 6 (10 AM – 3 PM). #InSagebrushWeTrust
September 28 is a day I know Iβll never forget. Because after dozens of pitches, a few year-long rounds with failed publishers (!), and *years* of rejection, itβs the day a dream that was starting to feel insane actually came true.
Can you believe itβs my book birthday?? And after a year of touring and general life chaos, I even unburied my writing desk today. Appropriate? π #InSagebrushWeTrust
Mostly about how damn cute my dog is, but there are some opals, deep gorges, lukewarm water, bar kittens, and excellent humans in there somewhere too π #findingnevadawild
I grew up experiencing Rocky Mountain National Park through the window from my car seat strapped to the rear wheel well bench of an old Landcruiser. And I think from those moments forward, being outside and on gravel roads, watching for wild animals, cool rocks, and figuring out the rewards of staying curious became part of me in a way that canβt ever be undone. π
Looking back on this past year of book tour stuff is absolutely wildβitβs of the stuff that would blow Tiny Sydneyβs mind. The book tour brought us 2,500 miles across the Great Basin to 14 cities and towns, to dozens of events and retailers, in the path of hundreds of Nevadans, and thousands of orders. If you were one of those, or better yet I got the chance to say it in person: thank you. I know it canβt stay current forever, especially with the looming threat of privatizing public lands and the many Great Basin scenes that already belong to yesterday. But I do know itβs a truthful medium of history that will live far beyond our physical time here. I hope it makes Nevadans proud. β€οΈβπ₯
Iβm not sure where weβll go from hereβif and when weβll write another book. But I do know that the desire to produce work that defends our beautiful, misunderstood state, and to experience the Big Emptyβs unending history and mystery will always be part of the present and future versions of me. For now, we head for the horizon. Chasing hot pools, long light, dark skies, aloneness and if weβre lucky, a maybe even a version of ourselves we havenβt met. πͺΆ #InSagebrushWeTrust
Yall: the book tour is officially coming to an end! And just when I *almost* forgot what it was like to be boredβ¦ π
This Saturday Iβm back at my favorite @eddystreetvintage from 10-5, and next week Iβll be over at REI Reno. I think I made close to 50 new pieces to offer up(!!), but hereβs the real update: Iβve got 3 cases of books left that Iβll bring with me and once Iβm out, I think Iβm just gonna be out for a while. At least until the holidays. SO! This doesnβt mean anything if you want to buy a book – anywhere that sells books will have them all the time. But if you have been hoping to have a *signed* copy for yourself or to gift, this weekend in Gardnerville is it! πͺΆ
Canβt wait to see ya out there. Thanks again for making this whole dream of mine come true β€οΈ #InSagebrushWeTrust
We said bye to the cabover camper today and Iβd be lying if I didnβt say Iβm pretty sad about sending it down the road. It played such a central role in the content development for the book project and in a lot of ways, our identity. That, and of course it unlocked a lot of new parts of Nevadaβs ultra-rurals for us that meant staying out there longer, in it.
Iβm excited about whatβs on the horizon for us with the next project rig, and know itβs in excellent hands with its dream-like new owner. But for today, I get to be a little sad. To a lot of happy times in special places π #FindingNevadaWild
These past couple of weeks have been some of the weirdest of the year but Iβm officially on the other side of it, and got Alkali pointed south packed full of books and silver for destination @the.rodear π If youβre in the area and even if youβre not (Bridgeport is only 13 miles over the Nevada border BTW), I hope youβll stop by. Some of my favorite leather makers, silversmiths, painters, musicians, and other artists will be there for a feel-good weekend of community and authenticity. Iβve been having fun with Navajo pearls and some beads I couldnβt refuse, and all the other classic Nevada turquoise pieces, fresh off the bench as of 10 PM last night. Iβve got a new run of tees and sweatshirts, those glorious In Sagebrush We Trust hand fused glass coasters, and that book I wrote, too.
See you tomorrow from 10-3! β€οΈβπ₯ #InSagebrushWeTrust
Basically a lot like Jarbidge Wilderness, High Rock, Titus Canyon, and a tiny bit of Half Dome in one. π
Lived up to the hype (even if we did discover ticks crawling on us, a wasp after Elkoβs nose, and water at the bottom we were warned to not let him near). Very on character, Oregon Trail, veeerryyyy on characterππ»π― #oregonexplored
Your girl is partnered up with the oldest historical institution in Nevada to share about the baddest state in the nation π€π»π
After a big old overdue break, Iβm excited to return to talking about my favorite place with its people on Saturday, July 18 with the Nevada Historical Society and Artown at 1 PM at the Nevada Sunset Winery. π·ποΈ
THEN! Then Iβll be at the Rodear in Bridgeport, CA on Saturday, July 25 from 10-3 alongside some of the most talented makers Iβve come to know. πͺΆ
Hope to see yβall out there? β€οΈ #InSagebrushWeTrust
Thanks for always making life feel so much bigger for us all, you maniac β€οΈβπ₯β€οΈβπ₯β€οΈβπ₯ How about a HBD to the one and only @jangymartangy?! To sick pits, elevens, and just being absolutely deranged in the desert with us whenever we say go. To forty twooooooo β‘οΈ #hbd #jangy #elkobear
I hereby swear on Nevada backroads to never overload your inboxes, ever. Instead, rely upon Song Dog Silver updates, fresh Legends of Lost Nevada, and sometimes a rare combo of the two.
Do you Know of a Legend of Lost Nevada?
With history and mystery as far and wide as the Sagebrush Sea, there are plenty of Lost Legends out there. Got a story idea you think I should write about?
