The only coffee in the place I could find was from a Folgers can that had been open for six months, the taste a bit off as it slid down.  All things considered, though, it was hot and caffeinated, far from the worst I’d had.”
              –Dustin Stevens (Cover Fire)

Don’t get me riled, pard, jist sit yurself down and drink yur coffee.  Yuh know I’ve tried, an’ done a pretty good job of it this year, to not read of the parade that takes place in the nation’s capital.  Why is it that something simple has to be made into a circus?  They’re, mainly the media, tryin’ to do it here in Texas.  My mercy, the man runnin’ against Senator Cruz is a complete mental flake.
    ‘Nough of that, let’s drink coffee and think of better things.  Yeah, I know, can’t ignore what’s happenin’, but I sure don’t have to get involved, can’t anyhow, they wouldn’t listen to an ol’ fence post like me.  One thing I do know for certain, is that the Lord’s in charge.  Pretty sure I heard the heavenly wranglers gettin’ the horses ready up in that golden corral.
    Ahhhh, that coffee’s good this mornin’.  We’re gettin’ the steel mounts ready to head on up to Pennsylvania, Carlisle to be exact, to see the wife’s older brother.  Have to be drinkin’ my coffee now an’ on the way.  No coffee in their house, even though he’s one of the crew.  Everyone has their quirks.
    Whooeee, yesterday was a feast.  We all made another trip to the Amish Market.  They make some good biscuits there, and I like their chipped beef gravy topped with a couple of eggs.  My mercy did it taste good.  Then since we’re back here in Maryland I’ve been a hankerin’ for some of those crabcakes.  Well, the daughter made some last night and let me tell yuh pard, they were plumb delicious.  On top of that we had some cake and pumpkin pie.  No, I’m not as fat as an ol’ toad-frog.
    I might be changin’ my looks.  The daughter thinks I should grow a beard.  I really don’t want to be hidin’ my pretty face, but I might do it for a change.  Maybe one like ol’ Bill used to have.  
    I know it’s gettin’ to be a long note, but yuh haven’t finished yur coffee yet and I want to tell this story.  A bunch of us had a huntin’ camp, Heaven-Sent Camp, and of course we shared bringin’ in the coffee.  There was an old Folgers can kept in the kitchen and whatever kind we brought we just dumped it in the can.  One of the boys was sayin’ that the only coffee he would drink was Folgers.  He never would believe us when we told him that he had been drinkin’ a conglomeration of coffee over the years.  Guess the can changed the flavor.
    I see the cup’s now empty, as is the pot.  We all need to be headin’ down the trail.  Who knows, I might be back in Texas for the next sharin’ of a cup with yuh.  Yuh be sure to stay aware, and on the right side of things.  Don’t let yur gizzard start to grumble and for goodness sakes–check yur cinch.

He went into the cabin, found the provisions, started a small fire in the little potbellied stove, put together what was left of the coffee, and fried half of the bacon.  When everything was ready he found two cups, poured coffee and took them and the small skillet of bacon outside and shared them.”
              –Orin Vaughn  (In Pursuit of a Madman)

How’re yuh doin’ pard?  First day of fall, man oh man, where did this year go?  Must be flyin’ away like the birds.  Here’s yur cup, sip it easy, it’s hot.  Made some of that Black Gold that Folger is sellin’ in their 1850 series.  Tastes pretty good.  Ahhhh, simply delightful.
    Hope yuh had yurself a good week.  We’ve been doin’ some traipsin’ about the countryside, at least the latter part of the week.  Yuh know, these folk out here in the East are sorta different from where I’m from in Texas.  I went out to the store the other day, quite a shoppin’ area:  WalMart, Target, Home Depot, and several other stores and two groceries.  I started countin’, and no I didn’t have to take my boots off.  In this huge complex of parkin’ lots and then drivin’ back to the camp, I only counted five trucks.  My mercy, only five.  Back in Coldspring, Texas it’s pretty well even between cars and trucks.
    Another thing I noticed.  I think that the folk out here, deep inside, are longin’ to be spoken to.  I always speak to the folk that wait on me and these looked at me as if there might be somethin’ wrong, but then they returned my gesture.  There was one young gal who had to help us with the register.  I told her thanks for the help, and then as I was leavin’ I went by and told her to have a good day.  She looked at me, then her faced beamed into a smile, and then she thanked me.  I know that when Shauna was visitin’ she remarked how strange it was that complete strangers will talk to each other in the grocery.  And know somethin’ else, pard, I didn’t see no one a-packin.
    Most folk would be okay, if’n folk would take a likin’ to each other rather than try to dig up dirt on them.  People are so hateful, but unless they come to know the Lord that evil in their heart will win most every time.  Why there’s many a Christian who speaks hateful words.  How ’bout that coffee?  Sure satisfies the ol’ gizzard.
    Time for yuh to be hittin’ the road.  Well, as Roy would have said, “may the good Lord take a likin’ to yuh.”  Yuh be careful ridin’ out there, greet someone with that smile of yourn, and don’t dare mount up unless yuh check yur cinch.

He went back to the house and decided to have some of the apple pie she had left him.  Before he cut it, he decided to make himself some coffee to go with it.  The coffee was strong but good, and the pie was even better.”
              –Robert J. Thomas (The Reckoning)

Ahhhh, tastes really good this mornin’, don’t yuh think pard?  Pure delight, makes a person glad he’s still alive.  Well, here’s another day the Lord has given us.  Don’t want to be taken any of those for granted.
    Saw that the state board of education voted and those smart folk in Austin saw fit to say that those who fought and died in the Alamo are still “heroic.”  There was a fuss led by a professor, who is definitely more enlightened than the rest of us in Texas, to remove “heroic” from textbooks and not have it discussed in the classroom.  He said it is a simplistic term and there are more important things to be discussing; that these men were rebels and disobeyed orders.  Stupidity is running rampant these days.  And hang on tight, pard, if the liberals get back in control.  Just like this here revisionist they have an agenda.
    That’s one reason I’m goin’ to enjoy my coffee.  I may not be as enlightened as that professor, but I know what a hero is, those that sacrificed their life for others to enjoy a free life.  You best beware of what’s comin’ at yuh, pard.
    Did I mention apple pie?  Nah, just in my dreams, but since we did go to the orchard yesterday, there sure might be one in my future.  If’n it was baked and yur around I’d share a piece with yuh.  Better than manna.  My sweet wife has many wonderful talents, and toward the top is her pie-makin’ ability.  Yep, for sure, there’ll be plenty of coffee to go with it.
    Did yuh see some of the things they accused the person nominated for the Supreme Court.  Hatred sure spewed forth.  Lies, well, for sure that ought to tell yuh who their “father” is.  Plus the fact that they’re afraid he’ll help make abortion illegal.  Imagine that, the killing of babies, illegal.  Talk about stupidity.  Pard, there’s a day of reckonin’ ahead.
    Sorry, did’t mean to end on a sour note.  Let’s finish the coffee an’ I’ll let yuh be on yur way with all the doin’s that yuh need to be doin’ today.  Ahhhh, that last sip, still good, though not quite as hot.
    Yuh have a good day and week pard.  Go with the Lord and be sure and check yur cinch.

He brought coffee and two warm rolls slathered with sweet butter and honey to her before the sun had chased away the darkness.  Together they sipped coffee and ate their rolls in a companionable silence, listening to the barn awakening.”
              –Paul Bagdon (Stallions of Burnt Rock)

Morning pard.  Long trip but the steel mounts are unpacked and out to pasture for the duration of the trip.  My mercy, we faced some rain, in fact one night we had to hunker down in one of them there motels.  Sure hope yur doin’ well.
    I’m tired of all the rantin’ already.  I heard a portion of the hearin’s for the judge.  Tell me, how can a bunch of stuffy, ol’ men berate a person over wantin’ to keep babies alive?  I heard that codger from Connecticut berate, and say a bunch of nothin’–just tell me how these folk get elected.
    Enough of that, at least we’re havin’ coffee together despite the miles.  That’s one thing nice about these new-fangled pieces of technology.  Ahhh, good and we had rain so I’m sittin’ on the daughter’s back deck enjoyin’ the freshness along with my coffee.
    Yuh know how I hate to talk of politics, but I’ll tell yuh this much–yuh better know how yur votin’!  Yuh better have a grasp of knowledge about what the Bible says and then vote in that direction.  There are some very nonbiblical views bein’ spouted off out there.  
    But that’s another problem pard.  Let me take a sip before I go to ravin’ again.  There are a lot of folks callin’ themselves Christian that don’t have a clue as what a walk with the Lord is like.  We are to love folk, but we are certainly also to hate the things that He hates.
    Just had to stop an’ smile.  Just above me a V-shaped formation of geese just flew over; they were sure a-honkin’.  I’d drather think of the beauty and wonder of those birds than to think of the stupidity of men.  Good thing the coffee tastes good this mornin’.  Don’t want the gall and bile to be upsettin’ my weekend.  The Lord sure does send small things our way at times to just get us back to where we belong.
    You take care out there.  Be sure an’ check yur cinch, as you might hit some storms like we did on the trip.