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 Nevadaโs 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, itโs 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 manโs best friend alongside this countryโs first people, itโs 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.
A little of what Iโve been working on lately ๐
I know Iโll be catatonic and happy by the time my one holiday show comes around, and speaking of which, this is your official โ ๏ธSAVE THE DATEโ ๏ธ for it! Iโll be packinโ all my ordinary stuffโNevada necklaces, rings, cuffs, bolos, and pinsโbut this year Iโll 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 womenโs bolos, and far beyond. And books! Books are back (with Sterling and turquoise bookmarks), too. Hope to see ya out there this winter!๐ชถ
๐๏ธ๐St. Maryโs 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 Iโll never forget. Because after dozens of pitches, a few year-long rounds with failed publishers (!), and *years* of rejection, itโs the day a dream that was starting to feel insane actually came true.
Can you believe itโs my book birthday?? And after a year of touring and general life chaos, I even unburied my writing desk today. Appropriate? ๐ #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 ๐ #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 canโt ever be undone. ๐
Looking back on this past year of book tour stuff is absolutely wildโitโs of the stuff that would blow Tiny Sydneyโs 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 canโt 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 itโs a truthful medium of history that will live far beyond our physical time here. I hope it makes Nevadans proud. โค๏ธโ๐ฅ
Iโm not sure where weโll go from hereโif and when weโll write another book. But I do know that the desire to produce work that defends our beautiful, misunderstood state, and to experience the Big Emptyโs 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 weโre lucky, a maybe even a version of ourselves we havenโt met. ๐ชถ #InSagebrushWeTrust
Yall: the book tour is officially coming to an end! And just when I *almost* forgot what it was like to be boredโฆ ๐
This Saturday Iโm back at my favorite @eddystreetvintage from 10-5, and next week Iโll be over at REI Reno. I think I made close to 50 new pieces to offer up(!!), but hereโs the real update: Iโve got 3 cases of books left that Iโll bring with me and once Iโm out, I think Iโm just gonna be out for a while. At least until the holidays. SO! This doesnโt 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! ๐ชถ
Canโt wait to see ya out there. Thanks again for making this whole dream of mine come true โค๏ธ #InSagebrushWeTrust
We said bye to the cabover camper today and Iโd be lying if I didnโt say Iโm 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 Nevadaโs ultra-rurals for us that meant staying out there longer, in it.
Iโm excited about whatโs on the horizon for us with the next project rig, and know itโs 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 ๐ #FindingNevadaWild
These past couple of weeks have been some of the weirdest of the year but Iโm officially on the other side of it, and got Alkali pointed south packed full of books and silver for destination @the.rodear ๐ If youโre in the area and even if youโre not (Bridgeport is only 13 miles over the Nevada border BTW), I hope youโll 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. Iโve been having fun with Navajo pearls and some beads I couldnโt refuse, and all the other classic Nevada turquoise pieces, fresh off the bench as of 10 PM last night. Iโve 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! โค๏ธโ๐ฅ #InSagebrushWeTrust
Basically a lot like Jarbidge Wilderness, High Rock, Titus Canyon, and a tiny bit of Half Dome in one. ๐
Lived up to the hype (even if we did discover ticks crawling on us, a wasp after Elkoโs nose, and water at the bottom we were warned to not let him near). Very on character, Oregon Trail, veeerryyyy on character๐๐ป๐ฏ #oregonexplored
Your girl is partnered up with the oldest historical institution in Nevada to share about the baddest state in the nation ๐ค๐ป๐
After a big old overdue break, Iโm 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. ๐ท๐๏ธ
THEN! Then Iโll be at the Rodear in Bridgeport, CA on Saturday, July 25 from 10-3 alongside some of the most talented makers Iโve come to know. ๐ชถ
Hope to see yโall out there? โค๏ธ #InSagebrushWeTrust
Thanks for always making life feel so much bigger for us all, you maniac โค๏ธโ๐ฅโค๏ธโ๐ฅโค๏ธโ๐ฅ 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 โก๏ธ #hbd #jangy #elkobear
Elko got to yell at a bunch of cattle and even tumbled into an unoccupied coyote den, too. Thanks for reminding us who we are, Nevada. ๐ #InSagebrushWeTrust
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?
