Marsh Creek State Park - Aug 2026
Promise Delivered
The little bit of color earlier that morning actually developed into a really nice display over the lake. Shot with the Sony A99II and CZ 16-35 lens using a Lee100 GND filter. Camera was mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
Taking advantage of a little sunshine this morning to break out the leather soles on the DS Grey. The Yellowstone Bison is really thick, and really supple! Can only imagine what a pair of boots feel like with bison leather.
Have a great Tuesday!
Specs: MTO, 11.5D, 67 last, 6", W&C DS Grey, standard top, pull loop, gunmetal hardware, soft toe, classic dogger heel, leather sole. No kilties, and the laces are Generation Laces in Black with gunmetal aglets.
Belt: Mystery Belt, Yellowstone Bison in Black
September Farms, Honey Brook, PA - Aug 2026
Getting to Work
A bee starts its day collecting pollen as the sunlight warms up the field. Shot with a Sony A99II and CZ 135 f/1.8 lens, camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
Muggy and overcast here for today, at least the first part of the day. The DS Violet just keep doing their thing, getting more molded and comfortable with every wear. The Patriot belt is starting to pick up a little tan, had it now for about a month and enjoy seeing it gain some color along the way.
Hope everyone's Monday is no worse, than your best day last week!
Specs: MTO, 11.5E, 55 last, 8", W&C DS Violet, standard top, pull loop, brass hardware, soft toe, moc toe, classic dogger heel, beeswax edge, Dr Sole half sole. Laces are Generation laces in Light Tan.
Belt: Nicks Patriot Belt, natural veg tan with red & blue thread & keepers.
Marsh Creek State Park - Aug 2026
Showing Promise...
Started off very grey and overcast, then some color slowly started to show at the horizon. Shot with the Sony A99II and CZ 16-35 lens using a Lee100 GND filter. Camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
Sunrise was mostly overcast and misty this morning. At my usual spot a couple of real a$$holes were disrespecting the park and other early fishermen & paddle boarders. Instead of choosing violence, I instead decided to leave in search of somewhere a little less peoplely. What better place than a Amish farm market on a Sunday morning. Had the whole field to myself, and the cool mist helped cool me off...
My feet are well protected and perfectly comfortable in these boots.
Have a relaxing and peaceful Sunday!
Specs: MTO, 11.5E, 67 last, 7", W&C DS Sienna, standard top, pull loop, brass hardware, soft toe, classic dogger heel, beeswax edge, Dr Sole half sole. Laces are Generation Laces in Espresso
September Farms, Honey Brook, PA - Aug 2026
Sunday Sunflowers
Overcast and misty, waiting for the Sun... Shot with the Sony A99II and Lensbaby Velvet 28 lens. Camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
September Farms, Honey Brook, PA - Aug 2026
Sunday Sunflowers
Overcast and misty, waiting for the Sun... Shot with the Sony A99II and Lensbaby Velvet 28 lens. Camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
Friday morning errands done, coffee finished. Time to wrap some work stuff up for the week and and start the weekend.
Have a great Friday everyone!
Specs: Roberts, 11.5E, 55 last, 8", Roanoke Denim, standard top, pull loop, brass hardware, soft toe, 4 row toe cap, classic dogger heel, beeswax edge, Dr Sole half sole. Kilties are reversed Roanoke Denim, laces are Generation Laces in Rust.
September Farms, Honey Brook, PA - Aug 2026
Among the Crowd
This bloom seemed to know it was picture day that morning. Shot with the Sony A99II and CZ 135 f/1.8 lens, camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
Marsh Creek State Park - Aug 2026
Colors & Mist
Sunrise colors and mist filling the spaces between the trees below on the far side of the lake. Shot with a Sony A99II and CZ 135 f/1.8 lens using a Lee100 GND filter. Camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head using a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
Got a call from one of my fellow Leads last evening, the water heater at one of our shops had a "slow leak" Okay, reach out to the landlord and let him know... knowing that our landlord is pretty good, but his plumber of choice may not be, I decided to take a ride to see how bad the leak was. While certainly not a gusher of leak, someone's idea of containment was a bit lacking. With this new "water feature" in the shop, by the time the landlord's plumber got there today, there would be a lot of water on the floor and wicking it's way into cardboard boxes all over the place. While most of what we use can handle a little water, air filters can not. Fortunately, a tech local to that shop happened to stop by and we were able to get a hose attached to the relief valve and run it out the door until the plumber can make the repairs.
Knowing that water was involved, made picking the Shack #8 pair an easy choice for last night. And of course I proved just how waterproof they are when I tried to get the 5 gallon bucket to the door to dump the water. Filled to the brim, probably dumped half of it on my boots on my way to the door LOL! Shackleton is a great choice for wet conditions. Decided to run them back this morning, so after a quick brushing, back on they went.
Got these back in the beginning of May and they required almost no break in due to how supple the Shackleton leather is. They have been a part of my rotation since and the foot beds are breaking in nicely, combined with the 67 last, they are really comfortable to wear. The leather is starting to show the start of some character in some fine lines & creases.
Hope your Wednesday is great and leak free!
Specs: MTO, 11.5E, 67 last, 6", Shackleton #8, standard top, pull loop, brass hardware, soft toe, classic dogger heel, beeswax edge, 430 mini lug sole. Laces are Generation Laces in Night Blue.
September Farms, Honey Brook, PA - Aug 2026
Almost Ready
A trio of very young blooms, almost ready to join the show. Shot with the Sony A99II and CZ 135 f/1.8 lens, camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
Marsh Creek State Park - Aug 2026
Moon, Mist, Sun
The Moon was visible before sunrise on this morning, as mist hung above the surface of the lake. Shot with the Sony A99II and CZ 16-35 f/2.8 lens using a Lee100 GND filter. Camera was mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
My on call week finished this morning at 7AM so I was relieved to pour a cup of coffee and get ready to head out to check out an issue at one of my stores. Then the emails and calls started LOL... needless to say, my plans were delayed for about 3 or so hours.
Well, if you're gonna have that kind of start to the week, might as well be wearing a favorite pair of boots while dealing with it.
What can I say? Love this leather and these boots. Supper comfortable and fully broken in, starting to be able to feel my footprint on the insoles.
Hope everyone's Monday is going better than you expected it would and the week just gets better going forward.
Specs: MTO, 11.5E, 67 last, 7", W&C DS Sienna, standard top, pull loop, brass hardware, soft toe, classic dogger heel, beeswax edge, Dr Sole half sole. Laces are Generation Laces in Espresso
September Farms, Honey Brook, PA - Aug 2026
First Light
The first light of the morning finally reaches the blooms that have been waiting in the darkness. Shot with the Sony A99II and CZ 24-70 f/2.8 lens, camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
It's been one year since I first laced these boots up. The first pics is the first time I put them for some NBD pics a year ago, the rest of the pics are from this morning. What a year it has been!
When this leather was offered as part of a Sample Sale sale last July, there were 5 pairs available. I don't think I have ever seen another pair of them posted anywhere. I got these to be my "beat the shit out of boots", primarily to keep my feet dry in terrible conditions that I sometimes find myself in, especially when I am out doing my photography. Bought with the direct intent to not baby them in any way, other than normal maintenance. I have worn these in mud, snow, sand, rocks & railroad ballast, slush & salt, in the woods, and occasionally standing in water as the the pics from this morning show. The Shackleton leather, and the excellent build by the Nicks team has handled it all.
There was little to no break in, except for the foot beds, and now they are literally bombproof slippers. The have kept my feet dry and secure through all of it so far. Compared to my NBD pic, they look basically unchanged except for the brown edge dye wearing away. I conditioned them once last November while I was waiting on a W&C Sample sale to start (DS Grey pair) and the edges and stacks have been treated with Smith's Leather Balm a few times to help keep water out. I don't plan on redoing the heels or edges and will just let them age as is with the Smiths from time to time when needed. They do get regularly brushed like all my boots, but nothing out of the ordinary.
I cannot recommend Shackleton leather highly enough, I did eventually get a pair of Shack #8 a few months ago, but they aren't really an off road type of boot build (though they could totally handle it). Being black leather, it's tough to see any patina really, it's more like they have crow's feet & laugh lines from all of my adventures in them.
I know that Shackleton is going away and being replaced by the Rainier. Hopefully the Rainier performs as well if not better than the great leather it's replacing.
Have a great Sunday!
Specs: MTO. 11.5D, 55 last, 7", Shackleton Black, standard top, pull loop, brass hardware, soft toe, classic logger heel, brown edge, V100 sole. The kilties are Timber CXL from Dale's Leather Works, and the laces are Generation Laces in black.
Marsh Creek State Park - Aug 2026
Ripples of Color
Two fishermen head out this morning under a hazy & warm sunrise. Shot with the Sony A99II and the CZ 135 f/1.8 lens using a Lee100 GND filter. Camera mounted on a RRS tripod & head using a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.
First pair of suspenders, never wore them before and looking for some feedback in how they fit and styling them. I did adjust the suspenders.
This morning was very warm and muggy so I went with one of the lightest weight shirts I have, and it's length can be tucked or untucked, I usually always go untucked with them because they are just a touch short for tucking in on my frame. The Brown Bear Selvedge are fairly loose and without the suspenders or a belt they would definitely be falling down.
I really like the idea of suspenders, the way they hold the pants up without feeling restrictive around the waist like a belt almost feels a little cooler in this hot humid weather. The leather work and quality is outstanding. The leather itself should patina quickly with wear. I am probably going to get the button loops at some point. I currently don't have any pants with suspender buttons but I do have a few pairs of Brave Star Chinos on order that I may get buttons added inside the waistband for wearing the suspenders with them.
Maybe they work better with a more cooler weather fit?
Appreciate any feedback or advice.
Have a great Saturday!
Specs:
Boots: Nicks Roberts, 11.5E, 55 last, 8", Roanoke Denim, standard top, pull loop, brass hardware, soft toe, 4 row toe cap, classic dogger heel, Dr Sole half sole. Kilties are reversed Roanoke Denim, and the laces are Generation Laces in Rust.
Suspenders: Nicks Heritage Suspenders in Cypress Moc, size Large
Shirt: Atlantic Rancher, Bimini Short Sleeve Cotton Shirt, in Red Snapper in 3XL
Jeans: Brave Star, Die Hard Double Knee Straight Leg - 14oz Brown Bear Selvage Denim, 42x36
Marsh Creek State Park - Aug 2026
Little Color and Low Water
A very brief flash of color in the sky and reflected in the low water of the lake. Shot with the Sony A99II and CZ 16-35 f/2.8 lens using a Lee100 GND filter. Camera was mounted on a RRS tripod & head with a 3 Legged Thing universal mounting plate.