Category: Uncategorized

My Father’s House

Bruce Springsteen, 1982

Last night I dreamed that
I was a child
Out where the pines grow
Wild and tall
I was trying to
Make it home through the forest
Before the darkness falls

I heard the wind rustling
Through the trees
And ghostly voices
Rose from the fields
I ran with my heart pounding
Down that broken path
With the devil snappin’ at my heels

I broke through the trees and
There in the night
My father’s house stood
Shining hard and bright
The branches and brambles
Tore my clothes and scratched my arms
But I ran ’til I fell shaking in his arms

I awoke and I imagined
The hard things that pulled us apart
Will never again Sir
Tear us from each other’s hearts
I got dressed and to that house
I did ride
From out on the road
I could see its windows shining in light

I walked up the steps and
Stood on the porch
A woman I didn’t recognize
Came and spoke to me through a chained door
I told her my story
And who I’d come for
She said: “I’m sorry son but no one by that name
Lives here anymore”

My father’s house shines
Hard and bright
It stands like a beacon
Calling me in the night
Calling and calling
So cold and alone
Shining ‘cross this dark highway
Where our sins lie unatoned

Written by: Bruce Springsteen

Album: Nebraska

Released: 1982

Lyrics provided by Musixmatch

Weeds, Cats and Harvest

Looking west from our dinning room

The summer here in north central Iowa has seen an abundance of moths and dragonflies…and weeds. The country grass and weeds around these parts is tough, and can grow back quickly after spraying or pulling it. Shelly and I are guessing the abundance of rain this season might be the cause of the large groups of the above mentioned insects. The eclipse of moths and and flight of dragonflies have been larger and more plentiful than any previous years we have lived out here on the acreage. (for more names of groups of animals check this out.) All the rain across Iowa has also eradicated the years long state wide drought.

The feral cat situation has changed, with Sammie replacing Tom a couple of months ago. How that happened we don’t know, but are guessing it was a territorial issue between the two. Sammie started as Samantha until “her” testicles dropped and Shelly renamed it Sam Winchester.

Harvest began around us early September and many fields are infected with rust. Currently we are experiencing a warmer than normal fall in our state, which is very nice as we slowly pack things up around the acreage in preparation for the coming “W” word.

The Roundup

Encounters: A few weeks ago during a mini road trip we stopped for drinks at a small town gas station. While I was standing and stretching a middle age man walked out of the station toward me and we both realized I was blocking his driver side car door with my passenger door. We chatted for a bit as I moved out of his way and he got in his car. Turns out he is the bass player for a local band called Burnin’ Sensations. To wind up our conversation he stated they were “STD free since 2003.”

Read: Words I Wish I Wrote By Robert Fulghum

Observed: My first experience with an online auction. This was for my Aunt Judy’s estate, and I was able to purchase several family heirlooms and some just plain interesting items (and at least 100 books for pennies on the dollar or less) My observation is to follow the auction through to the very end if there are items you really want. I followed the items I really wanted for over a week, and got most of it.

Website: Burnin’ Sensations or Facebook site

Recipe: Creamy White Bean Soup Tip from the recipe: If you’re not following a strict vegetarian diet, you can opt for chicken broth instead of vegetable, add shredded rotisserie chicken or set out a bowl of crumbled bacon as an additional garnish.