Coffee Percs

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If I get my druthers, we’ll sit here and drink coffee all day instead of being out in that bitter wind.”

                    –Duane Boehm  (Shooting Star)
 
     “Oooooo — oooooo,”  What do yuh mean, what’s that?  That’s the sound of the wind howlin’ through the tops of the tall pines.  Don’t yuh recall the words from that ol’ sage, Bob Nolan?  “Ooooo–oooo, listen to the wind, wonder what he’s sayin’, oooooooooo”
     Yuh thought I smashed my toe.  Pard!  That’s the wind.  This is March, the month of the wind; it comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.  The wind comes and goes, and my oh my, I’ve been in some winds in my lifetime.  Yuh know, my hometown of Boulder was known for its wind that rushes down through the canyons.  
     When I hear the wind or feel it against my skin, when I have to hold on to my hat so it don’t blow over God’s creation, well, Pard, I’m reminded of that verse in Acts.  There was the sound of a rushin’, mighty wind.  It was a violent wind, an’ I’m sure those in the upper room were a mite concerned when they heard it.  The wind can come in and destroy, but this wind was the Holy Spirit, and yes, Pard, in one way it blows through our soul to destroy the evil within us and then to sanctify us.  
     Lookee up there at the tree tops a-swayin’.  Yuh can see movement, but yuh can’t see the wind.  The same is true of yur soul.  There is movement within as the “Wind”–the Holy Spirit blows and sweeps through cleanin’ it up, but yuh can’t actually see the Spirit.  Why Pard, think of it.  Way back in the beginning, the Spirit moved upon the waters.  He wasn’t seen, but there was action takin’ place.  Tell me, Pard, have yuh ever seen grace?  But it’s real all the same, the Spirit brings the washin’ of the blood and activity is takin’ place though not seen.
     Maybe yuh might take a good notion, the next time the wind comes a-blowin’ to be thinkin’ what the Spirit is doin’ in yur life.  Listen, oooooo-oooooo, the wind blows out all that chaff that has accumulated in the old life.   Listen, ooooooo-oooooo, there is a refreshin’ takin’ place; the smell of the old man is gone, now we have the wonderful breeze of the Holy Spirit guidin’ us through this wearisome land.
     Still don’t like my singin’?  Well, Pard, it’s better than listenin’ to the wind that yur a-bellowin’.  Call yuh Windy Bob, or Windy Jim, or Windy whomever, it’s a wonder yuh can keep yur feet on the ground with all that hot air yur holdin’ in.  No wonder yuh have to be a-spewin’ it out once in a while.  But let me tell yuh straight, it ain’t the sound of a rushing, mighty wind.  An’ Pard, don’t be usin’ it as an excuse for the knots on yur noggin’.  Don’t blame it on the wind that yuh forgot to check yur cinch.
        Vaya con Dios.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He took a sip. The aroma filled his nostrils and the taste was great. ‘Ooo that is good coffee. Reminds me of home.’” 

                    –David W. Bailey  (Jericho James)
 
Ahh, mighty fine, mighty fine.  No, not yur looks, Pard, that’d scare a person into next week.  I was speakin’ ’bout the coffee.  Sure nice gift the missus gave me for Valentines.  Ol’ Folgers was the first coffee company and this coffee, Folgers 1850 Black Gold, is to commemorate the founding of their company back in the days of that California Gold Rush.  They were followed soon after by Arbuckles.  Those boys put a new twist on their beans.
     So what do yuh think?  Good enough to wet yur tonsils and tell yur gizzard to giddyap?  Speakin’ of Valentines, the wife and I went out to eat last Saturday over to Huntsville.  Fine place, City Hall Cafe and Pie Bar.  I had a really good chicken fried steak, and Annie had smothered chicken.  Might have to be visitin’ those folk again sometime.
     Say, Pard, as yuh guzzle that coffee, I was wonderin’ if’n yuh kept yur long-handles.  I haven’t owned a pair in years, but sure was a wishin’ for some this past week.  Maybe ol’ man winter is finished foolin’ ’round down here in South Texas.  We sure are crazy humans.  We complain when the temperature gets below freezin’ and we grumble when it gets up in the nineties.  Just no satisfaction for the human race.
     Ha, let me take a sip an’ I’ll tell yuh what came to my mind.  The ol’ song,  “I’m satisfied with Jesus.  Said He would be my comfort, said He would be my guide…”  Boy-howdy, ain’t that the truth.  My soul is surely satisfied, despite my complaints ’bout achin’ body parts.  Better than some folk.  I heard somewhere along the trail that one ol’ boy’s mechanic went into business with his doctor as he had some many new parts.  Hmm, next thing yuh know there’ll be AI gizzards and livers just waitin’ to be put in yuh.   Ol’ Solomon had it right, there are three things that ain’t never satisfied:  the grave, the barren womb, and land that never gets enough water.  Oh yeah, and fire is the fourth thing.  Yep, if’n we’re not careful we can be greedy and covet things that the Lord don’t necessarily want us to have.
     Pard, the pot’s dry–hope yur satisfied.  We done drank it all.  Be careful as yur travelin’ through the week, and I shouldn’t be havin’ to tell yuh, but I get concerned that yuh don’t take good care of yurself rightly.  Yuh really need to check yur cinch, just like I check over the steel mount when I go out.
       Vaya con Dios.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

She handed a mug of steaming black coffee to the man as he came back into the kitchen. He thanked her and took a sip of the strong brew. It was a wel-come drink, and he savored it.”
                    –James Leonard  (Return to Brigand’s Gate)

Come on in this kitchen, Pard.  The coffee’s hot, strong, and wonderful as it was my Valentine’s gift from my sweetie.  Better than chocolates or a fuzzy bear.  Did yuh treat yur gal to something nice?  Bring her flowers?  Well, Pard, let me tell yuh the truth of the matter.  I figure that a day like Valentines is nothing more than the media tryin’ to conjure money outta yur pocket with their consumer mentality.  No, Pard, that don’t mean I’m against love and romance, far from it.  What I’m a-sayin’ is that it shouldn’t be jes’ one day.  We should be treatin’ our wives like that on a constant basis.
     Flowers once or twice a year?  Why?  I made myself a promise many a year back that I’d try to keep flowers on the table for my wife.  Why only once or twice?  She’s worth it more than that.  Now, that don’t mean there’s always flowers there.  If’n there’s not it’s ’cause I haven’t been able to get out to get them.  But yuh can bet yur britches that there are many days or weeks that I do.  I mean the gal is prettier than a flower and smells better than a rose, so I put them on the table for her and to compare.  Yep, mush all right, but it’s fun.
     See I figure it this a-way.  Why make it only one special day, when everyday I spend with my gal is a special day.  Chocolates only on special occasions?  Ha, or like you Pard when yur tryin’ to get yurself out of trouble.  A fuzzy bear?  Why, when she’s got me to cuddle?  See, Pard, we travel down this ol’ road of life together, so I ought to be gettin’ her these little things on a regular basis.  Don’t the Lord show His love to us everyday?  I mean sometimes it grandiose, but most of the time He gives us little things as we go through life with Him.  Sometimes He jes’ smiles down on us from heaven.  Ain’t that enough?
     Lots of folks don’t celebrate that day ‘causin’ they don’t have anyone to be with.  But the Lord is with them, hmmm, I wonder if’n they ever thought of a Valentine’s Day with the Lord?  I was readin’ yesterday an’ this verse came up, “Fill us full every morning with your faithful love so we can rejoice and celebrate our whole life long.”  That’s from Psalm 90:14 in this new translation called the CEB.  His love, His mercy are fresh and ready for us each and ev’ry mornin’ so we should be travelin’ through this world light.

     Now, Pard, I sure hope yuh did somethin’ for yur sweetie or else the lumps on yur noggin’ won’t be from fallin’ out of yur saddle ’cause yuh didn’t check yur cinch.  Me and the missus are goin’ to fandango tonight.  Yep, goin’ to dinner with some of the church folk…should be a fine time.  So let’s finish our coffee and get ready for the day.  Not much I can do with this ol’ fence post, but I’ll give it a try.
     Vaya con Dios.

 

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The kitchen was lighted by one coal-oil lamp, and the table was set for breakfast with a blue and white checkered cloth. I got the coffeepot and a cup and went to the table.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Man From the Broken Hills)
 
Mornin’ to yuh, Pard, come on in this kitchen, the coffee’s hot and strong.  Trust yuh had yurself a good week.  I’ve kept some busy with the family and all that goes on.  Whooeee, today is a big day, one that’ll never pass this way again.  The middle granddaughter becomes officially a legal adult.  My doesn’t time fly!   
     Ahh, that is pretty good coffee this mornin’ if’n I do have to say so myself.  Yur too busy guzzlin’ yuh don’t have time for compliments.  Pard, let me tell yuh something.  I read, and there’s so much with the politikin’ that I’m not sure if’n it’s true or not, but I read where there is a Congressman, one of them bureaucrats without much sense, who has filed articles of impeachment against President Trump.
     First of all, his constituents should take him out behind the woodshed and smack some of that silliness out of him, and anyone else who would go along with such nonsense.  Hold on, I need a swaller.  Ahhh, let me tell yuh Pard, to have another impeachment is a travesty.  Sometimes the spirit of slap comes on me and things just jerk my jaws.  To impeach would for one thing be a waste of time.  ‘Course that’s what many of these big-mouthed bureaucrats want–waste time.  They don’t know how to do any real work and that includes their politikin’.  Waste time of a fool’s errand when they should be workin’ to solve the problems of the country.
    Another thing, it’s a waste of the taxpayers’ money.  Wastin’ time is wastin’ money.  Big salaries for wastin’…  An’ Pard, let me give yuh another reason.  That’s just poor stewardship of the peoples’ trust.  Yep, wastin’ this and wastin’ that on a somethin’ that isn’t goin’ to happen.   Folks who are elected are supposed to be smart, but this fool is only a smart-alek.  Doesn’t he know how many votes it takes for a conviction?  
     Pard, there’s folks that are upset over bein’ let go from their jobs.  They were livin’ on easy-street, but now they have to produce more than just spiel their words.  Yuh know if yuh throw a rock in a pack of dogs the one who yelps is the one who was hit.  Just like these bureaucrats who haven’t produced in the last four years–they’re doin’ some yelpin’.  Those out for selfish-gain are hurtin’, and more than that the Lord is lookin’ down watchin’ the proceedin’s as well.  Read the prophets and some of the indictments the Lord has against those in charge is just that–selfish-gain, along with cruelty, false scales, risin’ prices that affect the common folk and poor, economics that take a toil on the needy.  Yep, there’s a lot of yelpin’ goin’ on.
     Well, ‘nough of that speechifyin’.  The pot’s empty, my jaws are relaxed from the coffee and from the yappin’.  Oh, Pard, one more thing.  If’n yuh listen too much to that woke stuff, pretty soon they’re be a-tellin’ yuh that yuh don’t have to be a-checkin’ yur cinch.  Don’t believe such stuff.
      Vaya con Dios.