He swallowed a gulp of coffee, a look of deep reflection on his face.”
–Jory Sherman

Come on in pard; it’s amazing the difference in a week.  Last week we were gettin’ soaked to the gills, but the past couple of days have been sunny and bright.  Good thing too, I noticed the coffee stash start to dwindle.  
It was implied to me that I may talk too much politics.  Now, I don’t want to do that.  Politics can rile the gizzard and I really don’t care for those rascals much anyway.  It’s not the politics that get to me; it’s the stupidity of those we have elected to office to be our leaders.  Lookin’ at some of them it is downright scary.  They’re the kind of folk that think they can put a mirror on the table and eat on their good looks.
They’ve been railing on poor ol’ Christopher Columbus for several years but guess California finally took the step.  Columbus Day this year will be Indigenous Peoples Day.  Crazy!  Where would the folk in California be if ol’ Chris hadn’t sailed the seas by in 1492?  Say what you want, but the Europeans brought many good changes to the land.  People who go nuts on things like this ought to read Peter Marshall’s, “The Light and the Glory.”  
Have a few chores on my list today.  Need to mow the lower forty and then get the mount ready to travel.  It’s been a while so don’t know if I recollect how to tie things down with the diamond hitch.  Reckon I can figure it out.  Next week the wife and I will be travelin’ to that eastern land.  In fact, we’ll be campin’ down just shy of that Emerald City.  Might not hear much from Ira after Tuesday, but plan to be puttin’ things together and we’ll share coffee on Saturday.  Hope the eldest makes her coffee strong enough.  That’s one thing ’bout bein’ on the road; have to drink other’s coffee.  I used to always carry a pot in the back of my truck and could stop when I wanted.
So, pard, have a great week.  Don’t you fret none, I’ve traveled this parts enough to know that I need to check my cinch.

He drank coffee and stared into the fire lost in thought.  He watched the sparks snap and fly then get drawn up the chimney.”
–Dave P. Fisher

Yah better not stand out there in the rain too long, yu’ll start to look like a prune.  Glad yuh waited a spell before comin’ on over.  With this storm I sorta stay hunkered under the covers a bit longer than normal.  Yep, coffee’s been brewed, hot and strong.  Sure hope things are okay with you and yourn.
Right now we’re just gettin’ some thunder and lightnin’ with some rain.  They say it will rain up through Wednesday.  Guess it just depends on how hard.  Some are thinkin’ it might go back to the Gulf and become a hurricane again.  Best thing to do when nature is stirred is be prepared and ride it out.  
Ahhhh, that’s good coffee.  Sometimes the storms of life are like that as well.  We need to be as prepared as possible but when it finally hits about all we can do sometime is hunker down.  Had a good friend who was goin’ through quite a storm.  I happened to have a little magnet that say, “Sometimes all we can do is hunker down,” and it showed him in the midst of a thunderstorm sitting underneath his horse.  One of my favorite pieces of art shows an ol’ cowpoke in the middle of a heavy rain just sittin’ and holdin’ the reins of his horse, bearin’ with the storm best he could.
One thing for sure, the Lord is with us.  Trust yuh don’t have any emergencies that yuh have to get out, for as most of the time the best action is to just wait it out.  Long as there’s plenty of coffee, and beans on the table we’ll make it.
Try to stay dry now, pard.  Hey, an ifn yuh have to go out, be sure and check yur cinch.  Would hate for yuh to fall off into one of them mud puddles.

He switched his coffee cup to his left hand while resting his right on the butt of the .44.”
–C. Wayne Winkle

Red and yella, kill a fella! Right in front of where I was walking went an 18-inch coral snake. And me, nothing with me to protect myself; let me tell ya pard, it gave me the willies. I watched it cross and then off into the leaves of the park, and no, I didn’t bother to follow, or come back later and look.
Excitement, but sit down and let’s enjoy our coffee this mornin’. I have a couple of things that seem to be swirlin’ through my head. Help me, will ya if’n you can. Why is it that now, today, people like the “Mouth” Pelosi and others are callin’ for the removal of Southern/Confederate leaders from the capitol when five years ago there was nothin’ wrong with the statue bein’ there? Tell me, why? Another thing, why are extreme folk on the right racist, but extreme folk on the left not? Tell me, why?
I read somethin’ yesterday that I thought very profound, and it will probably have to be some kind of doctor to explain it to this ol’ fence post, but how can some people fit so much stupid into their heads? At least we can sit here in our peaceful, simple state and drink coffee. Sure hope they don’t come up with somethin’ to protest about that.
Let me fill the cup again, and tell you one more stupid thing. Some are applaudin’ Iceland for doin’ away with children with Down Syndrome. Not only stupid but it is a downright atrocity! Abortion! If a child has Down Syndrome they are aborted. What will happen with these folk at the Judgment? Whoooeee!
Now, all that’s said and done, let’s just sit back, enjoy the wonderful mornin’ the Lord has given us and drink our coffee. Over the years, this ol’ fence post has learned a thing or two: no matter what happens, the Lord is in charge! Say, pard, and He’s here sittin’ with us this mornin’, now how ’bout that?
You be watchful on the trail this week. Take a glimpse at that backtrail once in a while, and be shore your gun is ready to fire if need be. Say, and don’t go mountin’ and ridin’ off without checkin’ that cinch first.

Instead of answering right away, he kept on sipping his coffee.  He studied the man over the rim of his cup.”
–C. Wayne Winkle

Ahhh, that sure tastes good this morning.  Sorry, I started without you, but I made plenty.  Kinda hankerin’ for good ol’ boil’d coffee.  Need to get out the coffee pot and boil some on the stove.  Problem, not sure where the coffee pot is packed.  I normally keep one in the truck for roadside emergencies.  Sure don’t want to be stranded out somewhere without the coffeepot handy and ready to go.
Let me tell you, I’m just plain sick ‘n’ tired of the hatred out there.  With the threat of a nuclear attack you’d think that some of those idiots on the left would give some support.  Instead, it is the same of blame game.  I almost think that the President’s son is correct when he said they would rather see America fail and for President Trump to succeed.  
Told yuh the coffee was good this mornin’.  Hang on, I’ll fill up yur cup again.  Now, I don’t think that we really have much to fear with that little mouthy punk.  Oh sure, he might attack, but he really won’t do much damage to the U.S.  With that being said, he sure can stir up a bunch of trouble.  If we strike back we need to make sure we hit him instead of the people.  He has that country so devastated and deprived already.  Need to get him, but he’ll be cuddled up with one of his teddy bears in some bunker.  
Let me tell yuh one thing straight!  And if yuh don’t have this etched in your mind and heart then yur in trouble.  No matter, God is in charge.  I’ve been studying some on the sovereignty of God.  Listen, it will all work out His way.  Cup empty again?  My, my, have yuh been denyin’ yurself good coffee?  You ain’t be out drinkin’ some of that cino stuff have yuh?  
Remember the days when we could get up and just be drinkin’ coffee and eatin’ maybe some biscuits ‘n’ gravy and not have all the crazies out there?  One of my wife’s favorite sayin’s runs sorta like this, “I like Texas where men were men and women were glad of it.”  Boy howdy, that statement is sure haywire in this society.  I saw where one athlete was cryin’ sayin’ that he doesn’t get enough respect and recognition.  My mercy, snowflake, it that why you compete and run?
That’s ’bout it for today pard.  Yuh be sure and have yurself a good week.  Watch out for the crazies.  Oh, I do need to tell yuh this.  I was shakin’ my head.  I went into a store yesterday.  There were ’bout 7-8 people workin’ and only the cashier had normal hair.  I say green, blue, some sorta red.  What has happened to normal?  And there was this one woman, who wasn’t a woman, workin’.  Yep, my friend, the times are crazy.  Be sure yur gun is oiled, and yur in the Good Book.  Don’t dare lose the love of the Lord and become complacent.
Glad yuh liked the coffee, now before yuh mount up an’ leave, yuh best be checkin’ that cinch.