The Trail Since 2006
It began with a spark of inspiration from a few kindred spirits scattered along the Appalachian ridges, mostly in North Carolina and Virginia. Back then, we were virtual friends who—for the most part—never shared a physical porch, but we built a digital one together. Some were writers, some were poets, and some were photographers, each of us finding our way through those early “virtual woods” on the internets.
What follows is a collection of my latest musings (and perhaps a bit of blathering), a trail of thoughts that winds all the way back to those first steps in 2006.
Or just meander through my past muses… Just hope the coffee isn’t stale!
Misty Foggy Morning
The view from the window beside me looks out on a winter’s day. Winter green and tan are the colors of the view. But the color I have been seeing all morning long has been…
Only George Will Could Start A Column Like This
Unlike most of the 111 that preceded it, the 112th Congress must begin the process of restoring the national regime and civic culture the Founders bequeathed. This will require reviving the rule of law, reasserting…
Not Quite Jurassic Park. But Very Close…
Let’s call it Pliocene Park. No dinosaurs just big, bad-ass mammals. Physorg.com reported today that Professor Akira Iritani of Japan and a team of Russian researchers are preparing to clone a healthy mammoth within five years. They intend…
It’s All About How It Looks
This week the news coming in from most of the country…At least the areas I follow…Have been about cold temperatures and snow. Around here the temps have been cold (a least for this area) and the skies…
International Year of Forests, 2011
Celebrating Forests for People This year the UN has another yearlong celebration/education event. This year it’s the world’s forests that are being highlighted. The livelihoods of over 1.6 billion people depend on forests. Welcome to the…
America Should Worry
“People used to say that the future happens first in California, but these days what happens in Texas is probably a better omen. And what we’re seeing right now is a future that doesn’t work.” Paul…
It Was The Best Of Times, It was The Worst Of Times…
OK, so I’m only half right correct…Let’s just call it the politics of the past. Having decided to spend their first moments in power proclaiming their devotion to the Constitution, Republican leaders might at least…
More Coffee In The News
A pilot’s spilled coffee accidentally triggered a hijacking alert and caused a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany, to make an unscheduled stop in Canada. A Transport Canada report said United Flight 940…
In The Coffee News
The world’s largest coffee company unveiled a new logo Wednesday that drops the words encircling its iconic sea nymph and gives her a few subtle updates. Starbucks says the changes amount to more than nips…
The New Year Is Here
And I’ve been pretty quite about it. I spent the day Monday fulfilling my civic duty down at the County Courthouse. Jury Duty…Not my favorite way to spend the day, but I never shirk it….
Win A Tassimo T20 Single Serve Brewer To Stay Caffeinated This Winter
You only have a few hours to get your comment in over at Daily Shot Of Coffee to have a chance to win a new Tassimo T20…Go for it! This winter Tassmio wants one lucky…
Sarah Palin Gets An Award
And it’s one she really deserves… From Media Matters description of the awards… This year, Palin stood out for her sheer ability to dominate our national conversation and draw the attention of the entire news…
Merry Christmas All
I put the little video together this morning after taking a few shots of the large plaster piece we put out at Christmas each year. I painted the piece about thirty years ago before we…
Flip-flops and Tank Tops
The first day of winter felt like anything but. Houston set records both for high temperature, with the mercury topping out at 82 degrees, and a high minimum, with Tuesday’s low falling to a mere…
I new there was something I liked about the Professor
I Don’t Want To Be Your Friend Nor will I even bother to open an email without a subject line. OK, in fairness, I don’t use communications in general the way the 20-somethings (or less!)…
Be Afraid…Very Afraid
AUSTIN — A heavy influx of new residents, many of whom are Hispanics, has Texas poised to gain more congressional seats than any other state, and Tuesday’s announcement of the exact number begins what figures…
Boxed Wines for the Holidays – Slashfood
High End: Dinner Party or Special Wines 2009 Bota Box Malbec, Lodi, California ($20) This wine shattered the myth that a good Malbec has to come from Mendoza, Argentina. If you’re serving braised or grilled…
Not As Late As The Night Before
Last night I spent watching an old movie (1980’s) I had never seen before. While the movie was playing I started musing about how home entertainment has changed in just one generation. In my youth,…
Twas a Late Night
I sat up last night in the field out behind my house. The cold clear sky was unusual for a peak night of a meteor shower. It is more normal to walk out on those…
42 Must Read Coffee Blogs « Daily Shot Of Coffee
Here’s 42 must read coffee blogs, including some of my long time favorites and some new faces. I think I love reading about coffee, almost as much as I enjoy drinking about coffee. It allows…
Another Frosty Morning
I can’t remember a year where the mornings have been so frosty…so early in the winter. What’s up with this? Is it a sample of the winter to be. If it is, then I think…
Riding The Weather Roller Coaster
Yesterday’s frost is today’s dew. Where the back field was sheeted in white, it now twinkles in the sun like a field of diamonds. The morning temperatures are 15° warmer today already. By afternoon yesterday,…
December Makes It’s Presence Felt
Frost On The Field This morning dawned with a coating of white in the field out back. The second frosty morning of this years trek into the cooler months. If this keeps up we may…
Happy Turkey Day
Blue Ridge Mountain Wild Turkey Chick Summer 2004 Here’s wishing all of you a great day of Thanks Giving.
Stuck In Neutral
Goodness is the only investment which never fails. – Henry David Thoreau The above quote caught my eye in my morning email. I think it pretty well says it all as a way of living your…
The Strangeness That Is The Season
Almost two weeks ago I traveled into winter. On our first day in our rental cabin I had to shovel snow off the steps and porch just to let Sherry into the house. We spent…
The End Of A Mountain Vacation
I didn’t post anything after Friday morning because most of the time since was spent driving from place to place and then home…All with the beginnings of a nasty touch of a bug. A Floyd…
Is The Truth Too Much To Hope For Anymore?
When widely followed public figures feel free to say anything, without any fact-checking, we have a problem. It becomes impossible for a democracy to think intelligently about big issues — deficit reduction, health care, taxes,…
Rushed This Morning
Yesterday we moseyed around till noon and then went to Linville for lunch before heading up Grandfather Mountain for the afternoon. This morning we are heading out early for a day trip into Virginia and…
From Valle Crucis To Jefferson And Back
Road Trip Photos
Driving These Mountain Roads
We started our day taking the long way into Boone. We drove over Rich Mountain Road. This shot is from the highest point on the road as it passes between Rich Mountain Bald and Snake…
Playing Photographer In The Mountains
When I stopped to take this shot on the way back up to the cabin yesterday afternoon Sherry wanted to know why I took so many shots of the same scene…I think the result gives…
Snow On The Mountain
All week long as we made our arrangements to drive to Valle Crucis the forecast coming from Ray was for a chance of snow showers at higher elevations on Saturday night. I had no hopes that the snow would…
Call Me A Fool…For Lisbeth Salander
Once I picked up the first book, I couldn’t put it down…Luckily, I bought book two at the same time and when it was read they were releasing the hardback of book three at Amazon….
It’s That Time Again…
If you haven’t already…Please, go to the polls and vote. Vote your conscious, vote your beliefs, but, above all vote for the truth…I remember what that is…Do you?
Thanks For The Reminder Colleen…I Remember, Too.
Autumn? Not So Much…
After a long hot summer, you would expect the last week of October to be bringing on the cool…Not so much this year. Record heat is possible the next few days, but a cool down…
Sunday Muse
For a couple of weeks now, this scene has caught my eye as I traveled between Alvin and Angleton. The grass heads were a bright pink in the sun. Each time I would want to…
For The Sake Of The Song
How I managed to avoid Anderson Fair all these years is beside me. It makes no sense. All of the people I enjoy listening to seemed to grow up into national stars on that stage in that…
The Subtleness Of A Southeast Texas Autumn
This shot was taken yesterday in the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. It shows the subtlety of fall colors on the SE Texas coast. We are finally seeing the goldenrod blooming along with the other yellow fall blooms….
Fall Covers NE United States This Week
As I sit checking email with the house open to the nice morning cool I stumbled across this image this morning…via Fall Colors in the Allegheny Mountains : Image of the Day. I was hopeful that the color…
Blog Action Day 2010 – Water
When I first saw the subject of this years Blog Action Day I was a little dismayed. What could I, a blogger, say that hadn’t been said already by better authors than I. I signed up…
Zee Avi
I love it when I stumble upon a new artist…This one via Suzanne of at home with the farmer’s wife who led me to Na-Da Farm Life with Anne Marie. Blown away I was…Take a listen….
Verizon Finally Admits It Owes Me Money
Under pressure from the F.C.C., Verizon Wireless has now admitted that it incorrectly billed 15 million customers between $2 and $6, on average, for data services they didn’t use. Apparently, Verizon’s phones are built in…
What A Nice Few Days
I have really been enjoying the cool mornings this week. The weather prognosticators are promising more of the same for the next week…We even hit a low of 59° yesterday morning just as the sun came up…Nice. It has…
A Preview of Autumn
The weather prognosticators made the promise last week…The weather station above the microwave this morning gave truth to their predictions with a reading of 66°. The air on the front porch gave promise of better days coming soon….
Lyle Lovett on Q TV
I just stumbled across this from Lyle’s Facebook page…I have to say, the quality of the recordings are mind blowing…If you like Lyle’s music, you’ll love these…Have a listen. Pantry Natural Forces The Interview
Coffee Muses For Fall
Today it Feels Like Spring
Sitting out on the porch with my morning coffee was a change of pace today. All of the rain we have been having makes it look and feel like spring not fall. It must have…
The Weather Catches Up With The Look
Fall Is In The Air This morning lightened on a world where the temperature had fallen below 70° for the first time in months and months. It wont last, this preview of fall…But, oh how…
