He enjoyed the quiet of mornings; always had since he was a boy.  Sitting in his best, and most comfortable chair, with a cup of steaming coffee in hand while reading.  It was the only part of the day when he felt at peace, away from the pressures of the day and expectations of others.”
              –L. C. Matthews (The Promise)

Chilly mornin’, ain’t it Pard?  Why yesterday, believe it or not, over here in East Texas there was some ice on the vehicles.  It’s only November!  Trust yuh had a good week and survived all the crazies out there; sure hope none of them came at you.
    Sure thankful for all the mornin’s the Lord has given me, especially all those extra ones since the ol’ heart decided it would clog up.  Times like this mornin’ I do just like to sit, have a hot cup of black coffee and do some readin’ in God’s Word.  The day will catch up with me, so I’ll just mosey along into it.
    Tryin’ to leave the news, media, and politics alone, but one has to wonder where in the world common sense has gone to.  My mercy, Pard!  Why the hatred?  Is it because the agenda of some has been thwarted or at least slowed down?  No matter what, God sees all.  When I sit and ponder, I wonder about those whose hate is so strong; those that are totally against the teachin’s of the Bible.  Yuh hate to say it, but the fate will be terrible if they don’t repent and find the Lord.
    How ’bout that coffee this mornin’?  I added an extra scoop just to make the taste buds light up in delight.  Put on the percolator this mornin’.  It seems to sorta smooth out the flavor some.  Hmmm, maybe the Lord does that once in a while with our life.  Shoots the “water” up a stem an’ lets it filter on down through the grounds to give more flavor and body to us.  
    Well, Pard, don’t let the day and others be gettin’ to yuh.  Stay steady and sit tall in the saddle.  Yuh did check yur cinch before mountin’?

I had finished two cups of coffee when out she came with a ham steak that filled up the plate; resting on top were four eggs fried to perfection.  I took another sip, then starting digging into the eggs and started to cut the ham.”
              –D.C. Adkisson  (Return From Tincup)

Get in this kitchen, Pard, an’ throw yur ankles under the table.  What’s that?  Am I through galvantin’ ’round the countryside?  Why, that’s a good and fair question.  The missus and I just came back from a month in Maryland, and had to jump right back on the steel mounts and head for San Antonio.  Didn’t have time to catch our breath when we were off again.  A former colleague of mine was gettin’ married and we just decided to up and see the hoo-raw.
    It was nice to see old acquaintances, and Pard, I’m not emphasizin’ the “old.”  If the boot fits, wear it.  But, now I’m back, and tryin’ to get some thoughts settled in my mind for the Echoes.  Oh, yur glad I’m back–missed my coffee did yuh?  I made sure it was good an’ strong this mornin’.
    Hope yuh noticed that the past two Saturdays I took the Perc quotation from my new book.  If’n yuh haven’t picked it up yet, yuh need to.  The nights are gettin’ chilly, and it’s a good one to cozy up to with a cup of coffee.  The story is about our ol’ pard, Miles Forrest when he was foreman of a ranch over Gunnison way.
    We traveled many a mile in the past few weeks.  Sure a good feelin’ that the Lord is travelin’ along beside yuh, takin’ care of yuh.  The travel went smooth as buttermilk down yur guzzle.  I’ve thanked Him several times, but reckon while I’m thinkin’ of it I’ll do it again–Thank you, Lord.  I don’t believe we can ever be thankin’ the Lord too much.
    Listen, Pard, just leave yur cup, an’ I’ll get it, but I want to be tellin’ yuh, that there was ne’er a time that we forgot to check our cinch durin’ our travels.  It’s just the way things ought to be:  readin’ yur Bible, cleanin’ yur gun, and checkin’ yur cinch should just be part of the routine of life.

He walked over to the forge where he had a coffeepot.  ‘Grab yourself a cup,’ he implored as he picked up the pot bringing it to a little table he had in the corner.  I didn’t hesitate; I took a cup off the shelf, looked inside to make sure there weren’t any spiders or other bugs and saw that it was clean.  He filled our cups then sat down, and I followed his example.”
              –D.C. Adkisson  (Return From Tincup)

“I’m going back to my good old Texas home, home home…” uh, ‘cuse me Pard, but welcome and good mornin’ to yuh.  I was just enjoyin’ my singin’ an’ didn’t hear yuh approach.  It’s a mite chilly here this mornin’, down in the thirties.  The missus and I are gettin’ things ready to head on back to Texas come the morrow.  We’ve had a grand time up with the family, now time to be headin’ on back.  Don’t yuh be frettin’ none, I’ll have the coffee jug filled up an’ ready to go.  
    My eldest gal, Shauna, has her cupboard filled with some fine coffee:  Folgers 1850, Trailblazer.  I read where it’s a commemorative coffee and it don’t taste bad either.  James Folgers started out with the Gold Rush back in California and opened his company–Folgers back in 1850.  Been staying inside and drinkin’ my fill as bein’ up here in this DC area I don’t want to be walkin’ out ’cause of all the “snakes” slitherin’ ’round.  The place up here is full of them; some folk call it “the Swamp”–it’s full of bureaucrats.
    Say, did yuh check yur cup before fillin’ it this mornin’?  I’ve seen some strange varmints in cups before; once I even saw a mouse fried to a frizzle in a toaster.  That’ll make yuh lick yur lips.  Listen, Pard, I keep my cups clean, but once in a while, over night a guest might decide to visit.  Sure don’t want nothin’ to be taintin’ the coffee.  Same thing is true with what yuh read or see.  Don’t let anythin’ get in the cup that the Holy Spirit is goin’ to want to fill ‘ceptin’ the pure Word of God.  It’s sorta like checkin’ yur cinch; ya’ll want to be careful and observant.
  _____________________
Oh, Pard, one more thing before we hit the trail–the new novel, Return From Tincup is now available.  Look for it on Amazon.

Hunkered down beside the fire, I stirred the coals and got out my cup.  Each of them dug a blackened cup from among his gear and we shared the coffee in my beat-up old pot.  Long ago Pa taught me to share what I had with guests if it was the last I had, although few had done the same for me.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (The First Fast Draw)

Sure been enjoying ourselves up here in northern land.  Of course, Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon line, but compared to Texas it’s up north.  Nice cool mornin’s, especially of late.
    Don’t dare look at the news; the gizzard will get riled up again with all the craziness that is continuin’.  Folks have lost all the sense the good Lord gave them.  When we lose sight of Him and His ways, all sorts of confusion and stupidity follows.
    They, the bureaucrats, brats, and media, are onto the poor cows and cattlemen.  That passin’ gas from those cows is destroyin’ the world–get rid of the cows.  My mercy, there’s more gas comin’ out of some of their mouths than from any ol’ cow would every make.  A person walking in certain areas of the country better be wearin’ their boots and watchin’ their step.  Yep, Pard, things just aren’t the same anymore.
    Finish yur cup an’ I’ll tell yuh another one.  They’re tryin’ to get rid of our steaks, next will be our coffee unless it’s a cino of some sort.  Up there in Oregon, I’ve heard that high school students, maybe college, are now given stress-free days.  Yep, if one of those poor twinkies has a rough day they can just take off school.  No wonder they whine and cry when they enter the school of hard knocks.
    Coffee’s sure tastin’ good this mornin’.  Maybe ’cause there’s so much out there that leaves a bitter taste in our mouths.  Hate to say it Pard, but the end is not yet.  I look at all the hatred and wonder just how much longer the Lord will wait, but only the minute and hour is known to Him.  I reckon it won’t be long ‘fore we are drinkin’ some of that heavenly coffee.
    Check that cinch, Pard.  There’s folks out there that’ll steal the hat right off your head.  Ha, most of them don’t have a clue as to what a cinch is.