I started this blog on August 21, 2012, with the release of my first book, Titan Encounter. Since that time, I’ve updated the website several times and I’m gradually updating the blog format and bringing it into this new journal. Back then, the sole purpose of the blog was to promote my books, but it gradually expanded to new topics. Sometimes I’ve mused about other things that are important to me, such as my family, my farm, rural life, and occasionally about politics and the country. However, I do try to limit politics.
If it weren’t for all the trees, I could probably see the peak from my house. On clear days, I do see it as I drive into town. Those of you who are old enough probably remember the eruption of Mount Saint Helens, forty-six years ago this week. I certainly do. I had just completed four years in the Navy and returned home with my British wife, Lorraine, and infant son. I rented a house in town and got a job.
Read MoreI’m retired but I have several jobs that keep me busy.
I spend most of my day writing manuscripts for books, opinion articles for my other website, The Conservative Alternative, blogposts like this one, or social media posts. Those are the usual tasks that consume my day but I still have another job.
Read MoreWhen you live on a farm, work changes with the seasons.
Winter is a time of rest, for the soil, animals, and people, but not for bees. They collect together and vibrate to keep the queen and brood warm, but all too often, they don’t survive the cold and damp of winter. Despite my efforts in the fall, my two colonies didn’t endure the harsh short days of winter.
Read MoreEvery year we lose a few hens to illness, hawks, or raccoons and need replacements. In years past we had a rooster named Colonel and he took care of that for me. I slept right through Colonel’s predawn crowing, but it drove my wife to distraction. One day she told me that the rooster had disappeared. Yeah, sure, Colonel just decided to move. I think she had him killed.
Read MorePart of country life is the county fair.
I go almost every year, even if it is cool and rainy. Despite the hazy sky, caused by forest fires in Canada, the days of the fair were some of the hottest of the year. It was so hot the organizers had fans blowing mist, for the animals, not the humans. Although, I admit to stopping in the fan breeze a couple of times.
Read MoreI live outside of the small town of Napavine. For the last forty-plus years, they have had a Funtime Festival. Usually, I just see a small part of it and go on with my day, but this year my friend and fellow author Stefanie Bridges-Mikota suggested that we have a booth together with some fun activities for the kids and displays of all our books.
Read MoreThat title could be the start of a joke, but in this case, it isn't. I live near Napavine, in Washington state. The town was incorporated over a century ago and is growing, but still has less than 2,000 people. I guess you could say that it isn’t growing quickly.
Read MoreThe deer spend less time in our backyard now.
Sometimes during the winter, when snow covered every bit of pasture, there would be five or six deer waiting near our backdoor in the morning. My wife would talk to them like friends as she tossed out apples for them to eat. That happens less often during the summer, but they still know that this is a safe and welcome place to come. They often spend the night in the forest just beyond our yard.
Read MoreMy bees have survived winter – at least so far.
A few days ago the temperature rose into the low fifties. Between rain showers, I hurried out to inspect both of my hives. I didn’t have to open them to know the most important news, as of that day in late January both colonies had survived the winter.
Read MoreThe days are getting longer now, but it seems to me that this is the coldest time of the year in the northwest. While it doesn’t always snow in western Washington State it has this year and that brings more wildlife to the house and barnyard area.
Read MoreI confirmed my position on the farm pecking order one morning a couple of years ago.
For my city readers, pecking order refers to birds, often chickens. They establish their rank in the flock by pecking on another bird, lower in the social order without fear of retaliation. The pecking order rank establishes who is boss and who gets what food and when.
Read MoreWhat is it about an eclipse that brings out the child in us?
I know it was a rare event, the last one like it occurred in 1918, but several of my friends traveled hundreds of miles and camped out in farm fields just to experience the eclipse totality.
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