When the rest of them get here, I figure to have coffee on.  He sets store by fresh black coffee.”
              –Louis L’Amour  (Lando)

    That’s sure enough the truth, Pard.  Here we are again, Saturday mornin’, sittin’ at the table, drinkin’ some of that hot, black elixir.  Ahhh, if that doesn’t make the gizzard shout for joy, I don’t know what will.
    I’ve been doin’ some ponderin’; yeah, I know that’s dangerous for this ol’ fence post, but after what Ira wrote yesterday ’bout them pesky chiggers I was wonderin’ if some folk out there aren’t chiggers in human form.  They’re the kind that really drive you crazy; makes yuh itch all over, and sometimes yuh get to wonderin’ if yur insides ain’t itchin’ as well.  Here’s what I’m talkin’ about.  There’s a sanctuary city where the mayor is suing the President because too many illegals are comin’ to find sanctuary in their city.  Now if that don’t cause yuh to be scratchin’ at yur head, I don’t know what will.  Why to look, must less hear some of those folk (that mouth from California especially) make me itch all over–yep, shore ‘nough, they must be human chiggers.  The difference is that you can see these folk.
    The ol’ steel mount is packed an’ ready to go.  We’ve got to hit the trail for a couple of days.  Granddaughter has a job over in the Hill Country an’ we’re takin’ her.  Don’t yuh be frettin’ none, gun’s oiled and ready, coffee and fixin’s are packed, Bible is in the pocket, and I have the missus ridin’ shotgun to help me along the way so the hostiles don’t gang up on us.  What’s that?  Did I check my cinch?  Pard, what kind of question is that?

It dawned on me that there were so many things we did out here with a cup of coffee in our hands.  We start our days with it and generally it was the last thing we did before climbing into our blankets of a night.”
              –Lou Bradshaw (Blue)

I know it, Pard.  I’m burnin’ daylight, but just you wait.  As soon as you take a swallow of this coffee you’ll forget I runnin’ a little late.  The past few days have been sorta rough–gout attack.  Only had it a couple times before, but this one made me feel worse than a calf with the slobbers.  I have a cousin that has severe gout, and I’ll tell yuh for sure, that I’ll be prayin’ for him more.  Hurts like the dickens!
    What’s been happenin’ in the world out yonder?  I’ve not been keepin’ up with the nonsense of the news since it’s so one-sided.  I did hear that Sarah has resigned as press secretary.  She was a good-un.  It just seems like the bureaucrats try to outdo each other with who can tell the biggest lie.  I know that we ought to keep up with the issues of the day, but yuh just can’t trust what the media is tellin’ you.  Of course, I have heard tell that everythin’ on the internet is the truth.  Ha!  It all gives me gas.
    What?  The wait you was berattin’ me for bein’ late this mornin’ and yuh want a refill.  Well, you know me, Pard, soft and kind-hearted.  Here yuh go.  It’ll keep yuh when yur ridin’ down the road.
    One thing for sure, pain or no, this is the day the Lord has made, and He allowed me to be livin’ in it.  I’m tryin’ to stay concerned with the real business of life and that is servin’ the Lord without complainin’.  My mercy, pot’s dry.  Want me to be makin’ another one?  
    Have to head out do yuh?  Thanks for stoppin’ by the kitchen.  I’m a-watchin’ yuh mount up Pard.  Yuh best be gettin’ down, yuh forgot to check yur cinch.  You’d be off ridin’ and yur ol’ hoss might get startled, and rear up and then where would yuh be?  Prevention is worth an ounce of cure.

He adopted a thick blue porcelain mug and approached the coffeepot. The steaming coal-black liquid reflected the lantern light as it bubbled into the mug.  He took a sip and felt it singe the tip of his tongue.”
              –Stephen Bly (Shadow of Legends)

Heard yuh comin’ up the steps.  Take a seat, Pard, I’ll rustle up the coffee.  Here, take a sip of this and things will start to settle down.  I was just wonderin’ how many times I’ve had the tip of my tongue singed by a cup of coffee; also burnt the hair off my tongue a couple of times as well.
    Pard, I was gettin’ ready to see the doc about my eyes.  I was seein’ little specks movin’ about.  It just so happened that I met an ol’ boy and he said he had the same problem–went to the doc and just found out it was coffee grounds floatin’ about.  Well, if’n that’s all it is, reckon I won’t bother those busy folks.
    Ever wonder about people?  For instance, watch what cup a person chooses if there are several different kinds available.  I remember, my Uncle Ted sayin’ one time when he visited that he didn’t want his coffee poured in one of those fancy cups that yuh cayn’t even get yur finger through.  Now, my regular Saturday cup is one from the old Jones’ Café in Boulder.  Yuh know, sittin’ ’round findin’ answers to the world’s problems, or talkin’ ’bout the Lord, well, yuh have to have a good, strong cup to hold yur coffee.  After all, life ain’t no tea-party.
    Sure had a good time out in God’s creation pickin’ blueberries yesterday.  Too bad yuh weren’t along.  They key is, yuh pick two eat one, and so on.  Maybe I can coax the wife into makin’ a blueberry pie.  There was a time in my life when that was my favorite pie.  
    I was readin’ some about Ike and D-Day.  Yuh know he drank 20 cups of coffee a day.  He was just ahead of his time as I just read an article sayin’ that a person could drink up to 25 cups a day without it botherin’ any of their vitals.  That was my Grandpa as well, keep that cup full.  Kinda like life ain’t it–keep yur cup full as yuh travel this old world.  It’ll help yuh stay alert, recognize the crazies, and mindful of the obstacles that come yur way.
    Pard, you have yurself a good week, hyar!  Stay alert and ready, and if’n yuh haven’t checked yur cinch, do so now.  

He broke a biscuit, swiped it through the remains of gravy that was still on his plate and popped it into his mouth.  He repeated the maneuver with the other half of the biscuit, then drank the rest of the coffee and rose.”  
                 –Wayne D. Overholsher  (Day of Judgment)

    Mornin’ to yuh, my good friends.  Have to be good friends, someone said to drink my coffee, but yur a faithful one.  Well, my eldest daughter and her family showed up last night.  That’s why I’m late gettin’ the coffee started, but late or not it sure tastes pretty good.
    I was readin’ where Folgers may have started the first company, but quickly ol’ John Arbuckle caught up and surpassed him.  By the turn of the century (1900) he was the king of the coffee makers.  He died in 1924, worth $20 million.  Not bad for a man who roasted beans for a livin’.  It was said that he respected hard work above all else.  Here’s a good one to stick in yur pocket, I know it’s tough for things to be stickin’ in yur mind.  “Only workers with hand and brain are worthy of respect, all else is chaff and rubbish.”  He must have learnt that from the good Lord, “six days shalt thou labor.”
    Speakin’ of stickin’, I sure tryin’ not to let what some of those liberal nitwits say stick in my craw.  My mercy, pard, they are about as idiotic as a person can be.  It’s a wonder they can make it to the breakfast table.  Hmmm, wonder what they would think of my coffee?  But the times are a-comin’, the Lord is gettin’ the trumpet tuned up.  I think ol’ Arbuckle must have had some of those folk in his family.  He was quite the philathropist, but as soon as he died his sisters stopped all of that, and just by coincidence his will was lost.  Hmmm, wonder if Hilary learned from them?  Instead of the vast majority of his estate goin’ to charity, guess who got it?
    Not sure what the day holds, but sure glad I know Who holds it.  Walk in His light, and you sure won’t forget to check that cinch.