American Dream?

~Chisel set: gift from my co-grandpa-in-law, Mike Ransom (of NJ firefighting fame)

I suppose many people go through their entire life looking for something.  Fame, fortune, notoriety, love, home ownership or a combination of these type of things; considered, by many, to be the so-called American dream.
The other day I was working in my barn/shop on a little wood project that likely will not make it into the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art collection.  It won't show up for sale on the Bentonville Square at next Summer's farmer's market.  It may not even make it out of the barn.  But as I was working on that piece of wood I realized, again, how content I was to be right there, right then, doing what I was doing.  I smiled when I realized I wasn't looking for anything.  I like my life.  I have more than I need.  I enjoy what I do for a living and I'm surrounded by people I care about and enjoy being with.  I don't know if that qualifies for, "Living the American Dream", but from where I sit, it seems more than OK.
It's a wonderful thing to be scaring 60 years old and know you're not trying to meet someone else's expectation or live someone else's dream.  It feels good to know you're happy with the overall circumstances under which you're living:)

Regarding other personal insights and random experiences, I'll try to keep you posted....

That One Place in Ireland

If you haven't been to Ireland and don't have a problem with the Irish (How could any self-respecting individual have a problem with the Irish), you should consider planning a trip there.  My bride and I went over a few years ago with my little brother and his bride and found everything about Ireland, delightful!  The people, buildings, rock fences/walls, old houses, small towns, livestock, pubs and food, were all excellent and welcoming.  Of course, the castles were also pretty darn cool to see from the perspective of a 57 year OLD kid who still thinks "The Flintstone's" were one of the 2 greatest Saturday morning cartoons of ALL-TIME!

I took this picture inside a pub that, if I remember correctly, opened it's doors approximately 350 years ago; give or take 30 or 40 years.   (I think this is a picture of the place I'm taking about:  If not, my apologies to the Irish folks who own the wonderful old place in the picture.)  The building has been added on to a few times and has been in continual operation since it first opened it's doors in the mid-to-late 17th century.  I should also note that the original proprietors sold the place quite a while back.  It's now owned by some much younger people.

Visting Ireland from the U.S. may sound exotic to the non-traveler, but it's actually only about a 6 hour flight from New York City.  Considering it takes us only slightly less than that to drive from our home in Arkansas to visit our family in St. Louis, that's not that big of a deal.  Also, if you plan far enough ahead of time and look for great travel deals, you won't have to tap your great-uncle Sean O'Brian for a loan.  You might, however, consider asking Uncle Sean if he'd mind putting you up at his place for a night or two.  That would save you enough Euro that you should be able to afford a few more pints of Guiness or Smithwicks along with an additional early-bird special at that one place in Adair we liked so doggone well!  (Can't remember the name.)  I guess I should give up on my dream of becoming a world-class travel agent?  I'll try to keep you posted as things develop with my travel career.....

P.S.  I think I may have the wrong picture with the right story.  I noticed that the place in the above picture was called "The Creamery".  Don't make a trip to Ireland if your primary reason for going is to see a 300 year old restaurant called "The Creamery"; although I don't think you'd be disappointed with either place.  Now that I've better thought this through, you'd save a lot of money if you just stayed home and watched re-runs of "The Flintstones".  (Did I mention that it's one of the 2 greatest Saturday morning cartoons of ALL-TIME!"?)    

Douglas the Bulldog!

A few years ago our son, Tyler, acquired this little guy.  He named him Douglas--after the main character from the sitcom, "King of Queens".  If you've never seen a Bulldog puppy in person, you've missed out on one of life's simple joys!  A Bulldog puppy is likely as close as you can get to experiencing a living, breathing cartoon character; with the possible exception of Howard Stern or some Goomer like that.

Nearly everything these little guys do is humorous.  All they have to do is look at you to make you smile.

As a puppy, when Doug would take off running full speed down hill, his underweight tail-end would eventually come flying up over his head and he'd go tumbling rear-end over teakettle, completely unaware of what had just happened.  After squirming around in the grass for a while he'd eventually get his puppy-self under control and back up on his feet.  Then, he'd look all around as if to say,  "HEY...WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT!"

Anyway, I felt you might enjoy a few pictures of Douglas...who is now all grown up and living in the big city.  Aside from having gained about 60 pounds since I took these pictures, he's pretty much the same.  A very happy guy to have hanging around the house!

One Step Ahead

I don't think many folks are tuning into this sight.  Just in case you are, I thought I'd post something for your potential enjoyment.  With all the endless places we can look for stuff to read and pictures to look at, I realize it's not likely that this place is at the top of too many reading lists.  I'm fine with that, however, because it relieves the author of most of the pressure that comes with trying to come up with something original and memorable.  Like Granddad used to say..."That's something to think about."

P.S.  Headed to the 211 Cafe to visit with a young lad named Justin about his potential future within the World's largest corporation.  Then it's out to work on the barn.  I simply must stay one step ahead of my "Almost Uncle" Tom"; at least in the barn category.  I'll keep you posted....

Who Doesn't Have Freeze-Dried Coffee!

I recently  received this cup of coffee at 211 Cafe, just off the square in Bentonville, Arkansas.  Mauricio is a master barista.  At minimum he's a nice guy, knows a lot about coffee and serves up a very fine fresh-roasted cup of it made from Guatemalan  beans.  A cup of coffee like this won't come cheap, but in my view, it's well worth the extra buck or so.

The next time you're in the neighborhood, stop in the 211 for a good cup of coffee.  Unless of course you don't drink coffee e.g.:  "You don't have any coffee? How about instant coffee? You don't have any instant coffee? Who doesn't have instant coffee?  You buy a jar of it, take it home, put it in the cupboard and it's there when you need it.  It last forever.  It's Folgers, freeze-dried crystals!"

Anyway, you know what I'm getting at.  I'll keep you posted....

Deer Stabbing?

There's something to be said for a good ax, a good coat and a good friend.  I'm fortunate to have a few of each, although of the 3 categories, I have fewer coats than axes or friends.  That's not a bad situation to be in!

Next weekend, 2 of my good friends, Tony and George, will be at the cabin for some bow-hunting and campfire telling of tall tales.  George hates the whitetail deer more than just about anyone I know, as evidenced by the fact that he wants to kill nearly every one he ever sees.

Tony doesn't hate the deer as much as his son George, but then again, from what I hear, he rarely passes on the opportunity to whack one himself.  Rumor has it that he once tried to "harvest" a deer with his hunting knife.  (Yes, a hunting knife, and apparently a not-very-sharp one at that.)

My sense is that most people who are capable of getting close enough to a deer to kill it with a knife, would choose instead to shoot the darn thing with a gun.  Not Tony.  On at least one occasion (that he told anyone about) he chose to try to take one out with a semi-sharp hunting knife.  Forget the fact that he had a deer rifle in the other hand and enough bullets to take out an entire herd of deer.  For some reason (maybe because he was so stinking close) he thought it would make more sense to stab it with a knife than to shoot it with a gun; like most of the regular people who hunt deer.

Anyway, not to worry as the deer in question eventually died of old age before Tony was able to stick the knife in far enough to do much damage.  Out of the ordinary?  Some would say so.

Anyway, it will be my intent to keep you posted on these type events and any other stories involving outdoor apparel, sharp cutting instruments and friends who sometimes do weird things while in the woods...