–Lou Bradshaw  (Teton)

 

“Christmas time’s a-comin’, Christmas time’s a-comin’…”  Coffee’s hot and strong, come join me.  Say Pard, just ’cause yuh ate the last piece of punkin pie don’t mean there’s not more on the horizon, an’ along with that there’ll be those Christmas cookies with all the sprinkly things on top.

       This is a wonderful time of year.  The lights, the bells, songs of yuletide dreams and carols of the wondrous love of God.  Food, goodies galore, and presents, and yuh best be watchin’ what’s over yur head it might just be mistletoe.  Pard, with all the fun and happiness and joy that Christmas brings it is also a solemn occasion.  It is a time of memories for those who cannot be with us or those who have gone on to their eternal reward.  It is a time that we should contemplate the greatest gift of all–the Lord Jesus Christ.  It’s hard to fathom the great love of the Father who sent His only Son for one main purpose–to redeem mankind.

       Woe is us, for we were lost but God in His love sent that great present.  Jesus wasn’t wrapped in those gorgeous papers that lie underneath the tree, but in swaddlin’ cloths.  And it don’t make no difference to me whether it was a wooden manger or a stone one, I’ve seen both kinds, that became His bed.  None of those fancy cribs, no warnin’ signs on the blankets or mattress.  My oh my, what would Mary think if she was livin’ today?

       How ’bout that coffee?  Made some of that special coffee roasted by my friends at the Spring Ridge Roasters.  Yep, Papua New Guinea.  One of my two favorites and I’m sharin’ it with my Pard.  Not much love greater than that unless you add an apple pie to the table.

       Pard, I want yuh to take extry careful care this season.  We want to enjoy all that the Lord has for us, and also the fellowship of family and friends, but yuh can’t do it if’n yuh fall off yur horse on yur noggin’ ’cause yuh didn’t check yur cinch.  Yuh probably will be out an’ about quite a bit, so be extry cautious.  Why today, already I had two different road hogs pull out in front of me, not obeyin’ signs, just ’cause they think they can.  So be alert, be wary, for some reason folks can get very unfriendly durin’ this most joyous time of year.

      Vaya con Dios.

                    –Charles G. West  (Hell Hath No Fury)

 

Waddle in here, Pard.  Shore looks like yuh had yur fill on Thanksgivin’.  It was really a blessed day.  ‘Course everyday is but this one was extry blessed.  We went to the lake as is our custom and had food and fun with family and friends.

       Say, I saw somethin’ yuh might want to check into for a Christmas present.  I saw that they have special ergonomic bowls for cats to eat from.  Supposed to make the food go down better and gives them better posture when they eat.  Now how ’bout that?  I was thinkin’ if’n they can make ergo bowls for cats then they might come up with an ergonomic saddle that makes yuh still look fresh as a daisy after a hard’s day work.  No more slouching in the saddle.  Then agin, I’ve seen plenty of so-called punchers look pretty fresh after a day’s work mainly ’cause they ain’t done a lick of it all day.  Hard to work with those guys, boot-lickin’ lackeys.  Most of them would rather whine and grumble and then go off on welfare where you and I have to pay their wages for doin’ nothin’.  At least they’re good at that.

       Pard, let me tell yuh the truth.  My daughter made the coffee the first day of camp, bless her heart.  My mercy, it wasn’t just strong, it sorta meandered down the throat it was so thick.  It took a cup of it for me to get used to it.  Yuh didn’t swaller it, yuh had to let to flow, sorta like lava.

       Shore hope yuh’ve been takin’ to heart what I said ’bout bein’ thankful.  The Lord is good to us beyond our deservin’.  Why I didn’t see one individual with bumps on their noggin’ ’cause they forgot to check their cinch.  Yuh be ’bout yur exercisin’, yuh need to lose a couple of pounds ‘fore that Christmas dinner rolls ’round.

         Vaya con Dios.

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Rubio:  The Man)

 

“Oooover the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go…” come on Pard, you can join in this week.  I know it’s not Cool Water, but it’s the season of thanksgivin’.  All the time, but especially this time of year when it is called to our remembrance we should be thankful.  We should be pracktizin’ our thankfulness more than ever.  Pard, just look at the world around you–be thankful for what yuh got and where yuh got it from and where yur at.  Oh, an’ I’ll take a thankie for the coffee this mornin’ as well.

       Yuh best be drinkin’ that elixir, ahhh, I’m thankful for good coffee.  I was just talkin’ with the lady at the farmer’s market.  They have a ranch an’ she was a-sayin’ that hay is $110 a round.  Prices go up and up and up.  Then on top of all that “they” are throwin’ at AI around everywhere.  I get a couple of texts a week wantin’ me to do somethin’ with AI.  I was tellin’ someone just the other day that artificial intelligence has been ’round for quite a spell–just look at all those looney-toons in Washington.  Pard, an’ that ain’t the half of it, there’s plenty behind the pulpit this days tryin’ to get our attention off the Word.  AI is when they want compromise without exception, except theirs.  Tolerance on all levels, exceptin’ when they have to be tolerant.  

       Listen Pard, I’ll wait till yuh pour another cup.  Pard, there ain’t but one way–the way of Jesus Christ, an’ don’t let anyone be tryin’ to tell yuh different.  Why if’n yuh fall for that silliness then yuh might think Postum is really coffee.  But what I’m really tryin’ to tell yuh is that we know the way an’ we should be good and thankful that the Lord has brought us to it, and that we are now walkin’ the upward way.  Pard, if’n yuh fall for that AI stuff the next thing they’ll be doin’ is clonin’ folks and usin’ it that way.  Hmmm, by way I’m a-seein’ in front of me, I don’t think I have to worry ’bout anyone clonin’ you.  For sure, yur one of a kind.

       Well, “oooover the river and through the woods…hurrah for the pumpkin pie!”  Be havin’ a wonderful and grateful Thanksgivin’.  Make sure yur heart is full of gratitude.  An’ I’m already thankin’ the good Lord that yu’ll won’t be forgettin’ to check yur cinch.

       Vaya con Dios.

                    –John D. Billings

 

Mornin’ to yuh, Pard.  Extry, extry, strong coffee this mornin’ in honor of those departed before us.  A solemn, yet thankful day is upon us.  So lift up yur cup, an’ here’s to the dear departed souls who served to keep this country strong and safe.

       Say, Pard, roll up yur sleeve.  Yep, I remember when yuh got that wound; it was up on the Divide not far from where ol’ Taylor had his tradin’ post.  I remember it, for I got a matchin’ one the next day.  Right here along my fifth rib.  I remember that ol’ boy, MacDonald I think was his name, who said he saw an ol’ boy with a hole right next to his navel after the Battle of Glorieta Pass.  I see yuh grinnin’ yuh do remember what he said, “If’n a person has to have an extra hole that’s as good a place as any to have one.”  From what I reckon he went through life with a bullet somewheres in his guts and a twin navel.

       How’s the coffee?  See, told yuh–strong!  Since we’re rememberizin’, do yuh recall what ol’ Bill said?  Nah, not Buffalo, but that thar English fellow, Bill Shakespeare or something like that.  Let’s see if I can remember some of it for it sure is fittin’ for us ol’ vets of the wars.  “From this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remembere’d; we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile…”  

       Pard, an’ let’s not forget that there are all kinds of wounds, not jist the physical ones.  There are those within the inner soul, those scars upon the mind.  There’ some scars where the darts of ol’ slewfoot hit us.  It reminds me kinda of you, when yuh don’t check yur cinch.  Sometimes we don’t get the shield of faith up in time an’ one of them nasty arrows from the devil hits us.  That’s when we can sure be thankful for that balm of Gilead.

       Have yurself a good weekend, an’ if’n yuh see any brothers-in-arms, give them a howdy-do.

       Vaya con Dios.