He drank his coffee black. The heat of it jolted him a little, it pulled him out of a deep hole.”
–Ernest Haycox (Trouble Shooter)

Mornin’ to yuh, my friends. Rain again, can’t do anything about it, so might as well just sit a spell an’ enjoy some coffee. Hope the ol’ bug hasn’t hit your house. Sure has done a number with everyone here. Kim has escaped it, good thing, but even Shauna and Garrett were laid low with it. Hopefully, we’re all on the mend.
Did yuh happen to watch any of the openin’ ceremonies to the Olympics? Catch the expression of the North Korean delegate who just happened to be sittin’ behind our Vice President? I wonder, if she were honest with herself, what was going through her mind?
Ahhh, let it rain, the coffee sure is good. Refill? Have you picked up on the theme of many of the commercials? Go for your dream. It’s out there go for it. Give me a break! I don’t have a problem with someone with a legitimate dream, but some folk are just unrealistic. Pard, I reckon what bothers me is that Christian folk will say they have a dream. Okay, I can handle that to an extent. But is it theirs or did it come from the Lord? If it is a legitimate dream, what are they doin’ about it? There’s one thing that must go with a dream–hard work. Now that’s almost an archaic thought.
I’m gettin’ ‘nother cup, want one? Maybe the weather is gettin’ to these ol’ bones. But dreamers have a responsibility to work for their dream to come true. It is not hocus-pocus, or a gift from the government or a boss. There is time, effort, and probably some sweat, blood, and tears that go in the fulfillment of a dream. There’s a lot of talk about “dreamers” today; most of it is wanting a free gift and handout.
My mercy! Cup’s empty ‘long with the pot. That means you’ll be a-headin’ on down the road. Be sure to stay warm an’ dry. Don’t be out there lookin’ for that there “bug.” In this weather, I don’t care if it’s rainin’ or snowin’, you have to check that cinch.

The coffee was boiling and the bacon was sizzling when I heard him rustling around and trying to clear his throat.”
–Lou Bradshaw

Come on in pard, my voice is kinda raspy, and I’m a little under-the-weather, but I’ve the feelin’ of merriment. Join with me, and let ‘er rip. “Every promise in the book is mine!” Yeehaw, you better believe it, now unwind some, “Every chapter, every verse, every line,” sure as that’s coffee in yur cup. Really cut loose now, don’t be a-worryin’, there’s no horses in this kitchen to stampede, “I’m trusting in His love divine,” oooooweeeee, makes me almost want to clog in the kitchen! “Every promise in the book is mine.”
Well, pard, yuh didn’t sound too bad. I’m afraid if I start cuttin’ loose like you can the nails will start shimmying out and the house might fall down. Isn’t the words of that ol’ Sunday School song amazin’? Just ponder it while I fill yur cup again. Nothin’ happens to us that is not under the care of His love. Think of that! Even when we mess things up, His love is still constant and we might have to drop our heads as we come before Him for forgiveness, but we know that He is faithful.
That’s one reason I don’t fret the politicians. The ol’ sourpusses! I don’t fret Wall Street; that greedy bunch. I trust in the promises of His Word. No, no, pard, not in a mumble-jumble magical way. It’s not abra-cadabra and poof I’m in the money. No, it’s where you learn to trust Him in meager times and in times of plenty. “Every promise in the book is mine,” yeehaw!
You have His Word, which contains His promises, and a full cup of hot, strong coffee; the only thing missin’ might be a piece of pie, but I’m feelin’ good. You have yourself a good week! Don’t go mountin’ up without checkin’ that cinch.

A little later the coffee was getting even darker. ‘Good,’ he muttered. ‘Has t’ be black as a landlord’s heart.’ He dropped in some eggshells to settle the grains to the bottom.”
–Clair Huffaker (The Cowboy and the Cossack)

Welcome pard, sure seems like it’s been awhile since we’ve shared coffee together on Saturday mornin’. I was a little lazy and slept in this mornin’ as it’s already graylight. Last week, seems like a long time ago, we were forced out because of the cold-spell. No gas, therefore, no heat. Pipes froze, and a couple of them actually busted. Let me tell you, for this area of Texas it was downright cold.
Ahhh, taste that coffee. Makes yur gizzard jump right up and say “howdy.” Now it’s black, not sure if it is as dark as a “landlord’s heart” but I don’t want any snowflake coffee. Have you heard the latest stunt some of those snowflakes and that group they’re callin’ Generation Z are doin’ now? Eatin’ washer soap. Yep, poppin’ those little plastic bags of soap right in their greedy little mouths. Now, if that ain’t dumber than dumb I don’t know what is! I can remember when we used soap to wash the filth out of a mouth when the young’uns said a bad word, but now they do it on purpose. Makes me wonder if somewhere in the generation their genes didn’t get all messed up. I had to do it with each of my kids–once. It wasn’t really profanity, but something that I didn’t approve of. Kim, she was game. She kept her mouth tight shut, but I know a trick or two, I used shampoo. Got enough of that liquid soap in there to get her attention. Yuh know, neither of my kids cuss or use any type of foul language, and they certainly don’t go around eatin’ soap pods.
Hard to believe that January is almost over already. Just think pard, this is the last Saturday of the month. When we get together next week, it’ll be February and we’ll know if winter will be continuin’ or not. Nothin’ profound to say, so let’s just enjoy the coffee together. Sometimes we get to talkin’ an’ forget the sittin’ and enjoyin’.
You be sure that the good Lord is walkin’ by your side as you finish the month. And don’t be like those dumb fools who eat that soap. Be sure and check yur cinch!

I melted snow water in a lard pail.  I don’t think hot coffee ever hit the spot more than it did on that night of the Arctic blizzard.”
–Richard P. Hobson, Jr.

Mornin’ to yuh, get in this house, for I’ve the coffee on.  It’s hot and strong this mornin’ jist what yuh need to get yur gizzard juices flowin’ an’ on with the day.  No, it’s not snow, but I’ve made coffee from the snow before.  An’ for sure I ain’t usin’ that raw water; mine came from the tap this mornin’.
You’ve heard about that, ain’t yuh?  The millennials, the more enlightened folk among us have proclaimed that we should stop drinkin’ bottled water, an’ stop drinkin’ tap water and drink what they’re callin’ “raw water.”  In other words, water from the streams and lakes.  They’re bottlin’ it up and sellin’ the stuff.  Let’s see, hmmm, typhoid, malaria, diphtheria, dysentery, cholera, and a host of parasites that’ll eat yur insides and brain.  I don’t care how strong I make my coffee, it can’t ward off those invisible bugs.  Real bright folk…go figure, most of them are from California.
A little history lesson that the highest percentage of folk that died on the Oregon Trail, and that number is way up in the thousands, died from the cause of “raw water.”  They died from cholera.  When was the last time we had a cholera epidemic?
‘Nother cup, my pard, yuh sure drowned that one fast.  Comin’ right up.  Yuh ready for the stupidity and absurdity of the new year?  Already startin’, but let me tell you, by November it’ll get worse.  You jist be sure that yur gun is handy an’ yur Bible is bein’ read.  Lot’s of crazy things are already happenin’ and will continue.
But, besides all that, another year is here.  One thing that keeps goin’ through my mind are the words of Paul, “Redeem the time, for the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)  Pard, as we travel through this ol’ world keep in mind we’re jist pilgrims headin’ for that heavenly city.  An’ as we move we should be leavin’ tracks for our kinfolk and friends to follow.  We surely need to be showin’ them the way.
Say, that pot went quick.  I only had four cups, you must have been guzzlin’.  Guess where yuh get yur coffee it’s diluted, but watch out, don’t be fooled by any of that “raw water.”  The name is absurd as well.
Tighten that cinch, yeehaw, we’re ready for 2018!