Coffee Percs

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It wasn’t a minute he was back with two cups of coffee. I was relishing a cup. He let me take a few sips; it was hot, strong, and black. ‘Ahhh,’ came a sigh from my being.”

                         –D.C. Adkisson  (Redemption)
 
Whooee, Pard, it’s already two weeks into 2023.  Yuh must be doin’ good, checked yur cinch every time yuh mounted.  Proud of yuh, Son, yur doin’ good.  Another year in front of yuh, an’ if’n yuh keep practicin’ what yuh’ve been taught yuh just might make it ’til December, the good Lord willin’ and if He tarries.
       Some good, hot, strong coffee this mornin’.  Black, and strong enough to settle the gizzard.  What’s that?  Yuh was tempted last week to have a cino?  Or just some honey in yur coffee?  The thing is, did yuh succumb?  Temptation ain’t wrong long as we don’t play around with it, or give in.  Yuh picked up the bottle of honey an’ had to lick it from yur fingers didn’t yuh?  One thing, no matter how careful one is, if yuh pick up a honey bottle yur bound to get some on yur fingers.  That’s just the way it is.  Tastes good don’t it?  But it’s not for coffee drinkin’.
       Speakin’ of honey, I’m reminded of that ol’ song by Brother Graves, “Oh, there’s Honey in the Rock my brother, There’s Honey in the Rock for you…”  Yuh remember that?  Almost would get me cloggin’ in the kitchen, but ‘fraid I might throw out my hip.  
       The Lord sure is good.  Why, He’s allowed us to have some communion together, go ‘head taste that brew.  I guarantee it will delight you.  Ahhh, nice to sit and jaw a spell with yuh this Saturday mornin’.  It’s good to rest with an ol’ pard, drink some coffee, and ponder the goodness of the Lord.  Back to the Lord tarryin’ His comin’. . . I know He is patient and waitin’ for the last one to be saved, but my mercy, the things that are happenin’, well, He can’t be waitin’ much longer.  Did yuh hear ’bout the Drag Queen preachin’ in the church?  Shame, upon shame.   Makes me tremble to think of that.  
       But you an’ me, Pard, we’re goin’ to be holdin’ steady ’til He comes for us.  Went to the Doc as was told that my heart is still tickin’, but that don’t relieve the aches and pains.  In fact, the Doc said that I looked good on the outside, not to brag, but wasn’t so sure of my innards.  Right now everythin’ is still workin’ so I’m not goin’ to fret over it.  I’ll just put my trust in the hand of the Lord, sip some good coffee and enjoy my day.
       See yuh on down the road Pard, make sure yuh don’t take the wrong fork in the road.  Keep one eye on the eastern sky an’ the other on the horizon.  Don’t be goin’ cockeyed, but what I’m tellin’ yuh Pard is be ready.  The Lord surely is comin’.
      Vaya con Dios.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

So I moved up into the cover, where I could build a fire, have some coffee, and take stock of the situation.”

                         –Lou Bradshaw  (Cain)
 
Hang on, Pardner, whoopi — Powder River let ‘er buck.  Here we come 2023.  Lookee ahead, the trail looks clear, but we don’t go gettin’ lazy on the trail.  Ol’ slewfoot might be settin’ a deadfall, or have some of his varmints layin’ in wait for us.
       The ol’ mule is packed tightly and we’re on our way, the Lord as our guide.  Don’t be frettin’, Pard, I’ve plenty of coffee packed.  Enough to get us to our first stop.  Yuh know, at the beginnin’ of each year’s trail, we need to stop an’ look over the land we’re gettin’ ready to cross.  Check our supplies, we don’t want to get caught without enough coffee or ammunition for we don’t know the twists and turns of the trail ahead.  
       Ahhh, be nice to just sit here and gather in the aroma of that brew–the taste ain’t bad either.  But the way is calling, time won’t sit still so we won’t neither.  Before we go to saddlin’ up, we should take a minute to think of those pards who’ll not be headin’ into 2023.  Some passed by the way.  The devil got them at last, ha ha, but death is only momentary ’cause the Lord throws us up right into glory.  He’s already traveled that trail and knows the way.
       Speakin’ of coffee.  Yuh remember that time up on the North Canadian when that rascal done shot up my coffeepot?  Not the Canadian?  Well, where was it then smarty-britches.  The Purgatoire?  Come to think of it, yur right.  We were a day or so from Las Animas.  We had to use my pan to make coffee.  Ahh, the memories of past years.
       So, Pard, as we travel remember this ain’t no tip-toe-through-the-tulips sorta ride.  It’s for eternity.  We need to be ready for anything that Old Scratch may have hidden for us.  He’s lurkin’ around; saw some tracks yesterday.  Yep, 2023, it’s ahead.  I reckon there will be the troubles and trials like any other year.  But we have to take the bad with the good if’n we’re goin’ to make it to Glory.  So hang on, Pard, the trail is looming in front us.  It’s time to tighten our cinches and be on our way.  Yeehaw!
       Vaya con Dios.

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Isabella hurried back inside returning less than a minute with a mug of coffee. I couldn’t help but smile as I took a whiff of the rich aroma. She knew I liked it black and strong. Taking a sip I savored the flavor of the brew, I didn’t care if it was this morning‘s coffee.”

                    –D.C. Adkisson  (Winter of the Wolves)
 
“‘Tis the season to be jolly,” come on Pard, join in, “fa la la la fa da la la.”  Well, it goes something like that.  Welcome, coffee’s on, it’s hot and strong this morning.  Right chilly, but feels sorta good.  At least it’s not twenty below like our Pard, Miles Forrest faced back in that winter north of Meeker.  Whoopee, my toes are barkin’ just at the thought of it bein’ that cold.
       Say, I read somethin’ the other day that made me smile.  Now you can chuckle, but I don’t want yuh guffawin’ and spurtin’ out yur coffee all over the table.  Here’s the story:  It seems that an old codger was forever gripin’ an’ complain’ about his wife.  He told her one mornin’, “I want two eggs!”  She tryin’ to be nice replied, “Well, dear, how would yuh like them cooked?”  To which he replied, “I want one scrambled and one sunny side up.”  She dutifully went to the kitchen, scrambled one and cooked the other one sunny side up.  But when she put it in front of him, he snapped back, “You scrambled the wrong egg!”  I picked this up from a preacher-man in North Texas by the name of Graham.
       In one way it’s funny, but in another sorta sad.  Some folk are never satisfied.  We should be doin’ our best, especially in this season when people’s nerves are somewhat on edge to be friendly and compassionate.  Yuh never know how that compassion can reach out an’ heal a soul.  No matter how bad a look they give you that might cause you consternation or bile risin’ in the gizzard smile at them.  I wrote earlier that “Yuh can’t always have a good day.  But you can always face a bad day with a good attitude.”  Now, that’s good preachin’!”
       Take that last swaller an’ join me, “Follow me in merry measure, While I tell of Yuletide treasure, Fa la la la ti da fa la.”  Yuh be havin’ a very Merry Christmas, Pard,  Be a-smilin’ at folk, for they may be havin’ a bad time.  Let yur light shine, even if’n yuh fall off yur hoss ’cause yuh didn’t check yur cinch.
        Vaya con Dios.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The sun shone bright and cold and only the round-and-round growl of the coffee grinder, the rush of a steady wind, and the crackling of the hay sounded in the lean-to.”

                         –Laura Ingalls Wilder  (The Long Winter)
 
      Have yurself a seat, Pard.  Coffee’s on the way.  Say, did yuh ever read that book by Wilder?  Brrr, I read it years ago, and it made me cold jist readin’ it.  They went through some times, not jist Wilder, but all those who helped settle this great country.  Blood, sweat, tears, and death was the norm.  Hands were blistered and calloused, but they toughed it out.  Now we have those twinkies and snowflakes tearin’ it apart.  
      Here yuh go–ahhh, take a whiff of that aroma before yuh start yur slurpin’.  Breathe deep, close yur eyes–now take a sip.  Watch it–it’s hot!  This coffee sure ain’t for that woke crowd, yet it’ll sure get yuh woke up fast.  I saw where the alphabet folk got their way with their blusterin’, threatenin’ and degradin’.  I say degradin’ because they tear down the dignity of mankind, of God’s creation.  A small event with that transfer of criminals?  Nah, it could be the sound of another nail in the coffin.  They’re provokin’ a patient God with their shameful ways.
      But ‘nough of that nonsense.  Yuh like that coffee?  Folks from Coldspring sell it (Spring Ridge Roasters) and let me tell yuh, Pard, they’re good folk.  They’re genuine, not like some I’ve known.  Which reminds me, Christmas on the Square is today in Coldspring.  Weather the cold (ha, ha) that’s a joke, Pard.  We’ve had to turn on the air conditioner and it’s December.  Now me and my toes don’t relish cold weather anymore, but winter is supposed to be at least chilly.  I might have to meander down an’ see if there’s something I need to buy.
      I remember back in the time of my childhood lookin’ at the courthouse bein’ decorated and there was the annual Christmas parade.  Sometimes it would be cold and snowy, but the doin’s went on regardless.  It was all done to bring a smile to a child’s face.  Now they want to mutilate and confuse them.  Christmas should be a time of innocence, but there is evil lurkin’, sinister folk doin’ the biddin’ of their father the devil.  Yuh be doin’ yur part to keep Christmas in recognizing the birth of our Lord an’ Savior.  
      Best be on yur way, I’ve got to clean up and go downtown.  Think I might buy some more of that New Guinea coffee.  Don’t have to worry none ’bout sliddin’ off into the ditch because of snow, but I’ll be lookin’ for yuh anyway jist in case yuh forgot to check yur cinch and fell by the wayside.
       Vaya con Dios.