His hesitation was due to his natural tendency to hold on to his money to ensure the ability to purchase things he needed to survive, like coffee beans and cartridges for his rifle.”
              –Charles G. West  (A Man Called Sunday)

Mornin’ to yuh, Pard.  Yep, I can see graylight just beginnin’ to appear.  I was as snug as a bug in a rug this mornin’ to tell yuh the truth.  But, jist for you, I’m up, coffee is sittin’ here ready for yuh to join me.
    Pard, things shore ain’t like they used to be.  Hatred abounds all around us.  I was ponderin’ the other day, I do that from time to time, about all the hatred; why it’s everywhere.  It made me really grateful that I have the heavenly Father, a good God, walkin’ with me through this wearisome, troubled world.  With the media seeming to gloat over any kind of hatred (and if there’s not enough, they’ll make some up to suit their agenda) it’s often hard to see the good.  It’s one thing not to like a person or what they do, but mercy, don’t let hate seep from your heart.
    My goodness Pard, yuh slurped that cup down like nobody’s business.  Refill’s a-comin’.  Now, what I was a-sayin’…one of the reasons there is so much hatred, besides being the work of the devil, is that there is so little humility.  The Speaker, what’s her name, said it was a sad day for America all the time gloatin’ an’ smirkin’, and handin’ out her victory pens with her name on them.  There should have been tears, not joy.  Yeah, Pard, I know her name, but we don’t let it come from our lips in our house.
    Times jist ain’t so simple.  One thing for sure is to be sure yuh have enough bullets and coffee around you.  Make sure the Bible is handy and that yur readin’ it regularly.  When yuh see some of that hatred comin’ close to yuh, breathe a prayer an’ say a praise to the good Lord, for the simple things–like not forgettin’ to check yur cinch.

He could hear the coffee perking on the top of the wood burning stove.  He could hear the water boiling from its spout, then turning to steam as it flowed down onto the hot, cast iron lids.”
              –J.S. Stroud  (The Old Rider)

“Wait for the wagon, ohhhh, wait for the wagon, wait for the wagon and we’ll all take a ride!” Yeehaw!  Whooee, Pard, it must have been that first cup of coffee this mornin’.  Sorry, I didn’t see yuh at the kitchen door or I’d tuned it down some.  I’ll pour yuh a cup in just a moment, just have to catch muh breath.  Whooeee, that was sure a storm that came through last night; sure thanked the good Lord for a roof over my head.
    Reckon that ol’ song goes way back to Stephen Foster.  Those 49ers sang it on their way to California.  Since then lots of folk have jumped on lots of wagons goin’ nowhere fast.  Why just you look at the media, there’s a host clamorin’ to jump on the wagon of socialism–the nitwits.  It’s bad enough now what the government takes from yuh.  Always wantin’ more, more, and more if’n yuh got anything left.  
    Pard!  My cup’s plumb empty.  Refill’s a-comin’.  Now, where was I?  Back to this hoppin’ on the wagon.  From what I’m seein’ across the countryside, most folks are just jumpin’ on not knowin’ much about where that wagon is a-takin’ them.  Too many, way too many have leaped upon that wagon headin’ down the road to perdition.  Stay away from that wagon Pard, well, I bet ol’ Slewfoot hisself is the teamster.
    Me, I’m just a-travelin’ along waitin’ for that great meetin’ in the sky.  When that great trumpet sound, I’ll be hoisted up an’ given my place in that celestial wagon headin’ for glory.  Yeehaw!  But easy, the coffee’s gone, and I don’t want to be throwin’ my hip out of joint rejoicin’.  An’ Pard, until that great day we have to be livin’ down here and part of that is makin’ sure we check our cinch before mountin’.

He pulled on his gloves, wrapped them around the mug of piping-hot java and tipped a mouthful down.  The black liquid felt good on his innards and went a long way in warming him.  He finished the drink with a further two long gulps.”
              –Mike Strotter (McKinney’s Revenge)

How long, Pard?  Just how long do we put up with nonsense and stupidity comin’ from some quarters in Washington?  Sorry, Pard, sometimes things just jerk my jaws.  Why, I haven’t even poured yur coffee yet, and here I am a-rantin’.  Those ignoramuses, Tlaib and Omar, they don’t have the sense God gave a goat and they are jowlin’ about a terrorist bein’ killed.  Said the President don’t have the power to declare war.  Well, they’re right about that, but he didn’t declare war, just took out a very evil man who wants to harm our country.
    Slow me down, Pard.  Ahhh, breath deeply and take a long sip.  My ol’ gizzard has been riled for a few days, an’ it wasn’t even over this.  I read from time to time on that tabloid–Facebook–of people sayin’ how hard it is to be an adult.  My mercy, if there’s one thing I can’t stand it’s a whiner.  I read of someone postin’ that it was hard to be an adult, they’re in the young twenties.  But to make it worse, a middle-age, Christian teacher replied that, Yes adulthood is so hard.” Where is the Lord in their lives?
    But it was comin’ and we let it.  Givin’ everyone trophies.  Sayin’ “good job”, or “good play” on everything.  We’ve done away with manhood.  In fact, a man’s man is to be scorned or mocked today.  Yur right, Pard, I need to simmer myself down.  Another cup, then I’ll get the pot a perkin’ again.
    One other thing, you stay ready!  I’m not just talkin’ ’bout checkin’ yur cinch ‘fore yuh mount up, I’m talkin’ about the fact that the Lord is soon comin’.

To have companionship, supper cooked to perfection, and coffee on the stove.  Now that was something a man could look forward to.”
              –Lynette Sowell

Sure was a grand Christmas ’round this homestead.  Hopin’ yurs was fine as well.  To have friends and family around was delightful, and this ol’ fencepost was surely blessed with some nice gifts.  We even celebrated high on the hog with some Kona coffee and Jamaica Blue Mountain.  Whooeee, they’re supposed to be top of the line (and we had some of that hog-meat as well).
    In a few days we can put the nonsense of 2019 behind us.  Well, for the most part–the bureaucrats will still be around.  Sometimes yuh wish someone would just come by and slap them silly, but that wouldn’t do for they are already nonsensical.  Hmmm, maybe to slap some of the silliness out of them would be better.
    One thing yuh can be sure of, without question–the Lord is in control.  He sees the big picture and the culmination of the whole thing.  Trust in Him as you enter this New Year.
    So here’ hopin’ yuh have plenty of coffee, that yur hips don’t squeak and give way, and that you’ll always remember to check yur cinch as yuh begin the journey into 2020.