Patrick Jones's Blog, page 38
January 21, 2015
The Place I Call Home: The Missouri Ozark Mountains
I now live in the Ozarks. It’s a great house in a great area of Missouri.
In past blogs I wrote on the people here that I am proud and honored to be allowed to call my friends and neighbors.
This blog, though, is about my cabin even further into the mountains.
It is a log cabin set on a hill looking down into a glade which is part of Pine Hollow. On most any morning, as the sun rises, one can watch wildlife wake from their slumber.
Ground squirrels scamper about under foliage and leaf cover looking for a morning meal. Birds start singing, then flying the skies by picking up the winds to glide among the wistful clouds.
Embers in the wood burning stove caused fresh logs to blaze and cooked coffee in an old, blue metal pot. The aroma forces a person to pour some of the black liquid into a matching blue metal cup.
Sitting on the steps, blowing on the coffee as if that would cool the hot beverage, your attention is again drawn down the hill.
One by one, the deer enter the valley to graze. They see me sitting and drinking my coffee but know from my disposition they can continue their eating in safety.
By the time the cup is empty, the bacon in the cast iron skillet is crisp and the grease is ready for the eggs.
The log structure is small and even smaller inside. There is enough room for one, cozy for two. Light comes from two windows during the day and kerosene lamps in the evening. Water is in five gallon containers stacked in the corner.
After breakfast, there is wood to be cut from down wood. Some to be stacked inside the cabin, some outside under a cover, the rest just stacked by the fire pit.
When my son and daughter were small, they carried all the rock to line the bottom and sides of that fire pit. That was thirty years ago and the rocks are still in place.
By the time I finish all the chores, the sun is below the treetops and it’s time for supper, consisting of a steak and veggies.
While eating supper, I listen to “The Radio Reader” on the local PBS station. Every evening during the week a chapter of a book is read over the radio.
The coffee is hot again and there is the sound of a truck pulling up the hill to the door of the cabin. It’s a friend and neighbor. His name is Dan and the coal black hair is grey now. He still walks with a small limp. He lost his leg to a landmine but unless you knew that fact, you’d think he just had a rough day. Dan has never been bitter about the loss of his leg. He always has a smile and a good word.
Over a couple cups of coffee and a few cigarettes we talk about his family and then mine.
The night gets late and under a clear sky the full moon lights the road for Dan to drive home.
After I’m sure Dan is safely down the hill and onto the gravel road headed home, I sit with the last cup of coffee in the pot and make notes on paper and on the neat little voice recorder my wife, Sandy, gave me.
I know that it’s time for bed when the coyotes start yapping, calling to their young.
With the stove full of wood and coffee set up for the next day, I pull my wool military blankets over me. I know peace.
Tomorrow, I’ll write.
Copyright © 2013 Patrick Jones All Rights Reserved
January 20, 2015
Blast From the Past: The Beatles – Paperback Writer
I just though everyone needed a little Blast from the Past! What more fitting than “I Wanna Be A Paperback Writer”!!
January 19, 2015
MEGA AWWWWW ALERT – Animal BFF photos!
Awesome animal friends from Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog!
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog..... An Author Promotions Enterprise!:
After spending a lot of time alone in the same room of the owner’s house, a dog and a crow grew fond of each other.
The crow is almost always on the dog’s back, and the dog even barks
when people try to touch his pal. The owner built a custom harness for more comfortable rides.
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A black swan feeding fish at a public park.
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After a devastating forest fire, fire rescue ran out of crates for the animals saved from the blazes. This fawn and baby bobcat were placed together in the office. Hours later, firemen noticed they’d taken a liking to one another and cuddled for the duration they were kept together.
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A duck and house cat raised together by a family. Supposedly the duck hates water and hasn’t
figured out yet that it can fly.
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A wild life park in China adopted two tiger cubs, which were soon adopted by a worker’s…
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January 18, 2015
The Legend Returns Launch
Congratulations to Lockie Young in the release of his new book, “The Legend Returns.” This promises to be a great read!
Originally posted on Lockie's Lectern:
I am so grateful to everyone who came to my Launch Party on January 15th, and celebrated with me in my great fortune to present my new book to you all.
The Legend Returns is a story about a boy and his love of and respect for nature. When Ryan discovers an ancient secret, he realizes that the fate of an entire new species is in his small hands.
It would give me great pleasure if you would read my book, and let me know what you think in the form of a review. Reviews are like food for our Author’s souls. Good or bad a review helps us get a feel for our reader’s reactions to our works. I certainly don’t want to be putting out stories that are just so-so. I want to put out a book that will make my readers want more. Don’t worry, thick skin…
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January 17, 2015
Pollination: A Love Story That Feeds the Earth
Moving Art by Louis Schwartzberg: Excellent photography about Bees and Pollination, so important to nature!
Originally posted on Moving Art by Louie Schwartzberg:
Awareness continues to grow around the issue of our declining bee population, but it’s important that we continue to talk about the current fragile state of pollinators on our planet. Pollinators such as bees, hummingbirds, bats, butterflies, and others are vital to the health of our ecosystem. Did you know at least 80% of our world’s crop species require pollination to set seed? It’s estimated that one out of every three bites of food comes to us through the work of pollinators.
I capture the beauty and magnificence of pollinators in my films because I believe we must continue to speak up about this vital population that feeds the earth. Pollinators have suffered from loss of habitat, introduction of toxic chemicals, invasive plant and animal species, as well as diseases and parasites. The growing awareness of threats to pollinator populations is a sign of progress, but it is imperative that we continue to increase our…
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The Beautiful Heart
Most beautiful from Tribalmystic Blog!
Originally posted on Tribalmystic:
I would love to share this video from my friend L.T.Garvin’s blog. It is a short film, called Beautiful People. It is actually a feel-good commercial that lifts and fills us with endless possibilities of what we can do as humans.
I had to re-post this video link. Earlier, when I had re-blogged this story from L.T.Garvin the original link posted may have been faulty. The link did not re-direct to the video as it should have. I apologise for any convenience caused.
January 16, 2015
January 15, 2015
Why Do Wolves Howl at the MOON: BBC Zoo la la Earth Unplugged TV
Have you ever wondered why wolves howl at the moon? There is so much folklore surrounding the mystery of the wolf. Even a phase of the moon was named the Wolf Moon by the Native Americans. Listen to the answer from Chris on BBC: Zoo la la Earth Unplugged TV!
January 13, 2015
#JeSuisDonbass (Poem)
A Touching Poem from Sergey Armeyskov: Russian Universe Blog – Why can’t there just be PEACE?
Originally posted on Russian Universe:
Es-tu Charlie? Je suis Donbass!
I am the dead men in burnt bus,
I am the house turned to dust.
Je m’appelle Donbass. Je m’appelle Donbass.
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Top 10 Commands for Author-Publishers | Savvy Book Writers
Excellent advice from Doris-Maria Heilmann with 111Publishing (Savvy Book Writers) about having a clear goal for your writing career.
. . Do you have a clear goal for your writing career – and a plan how to reach your “dream job” – becoming a successful full-time writer? Or do you
via Top 10 Commands for Author-Publishers | Savvy Book Writers.
