Working

There is something satisfying about clearing the driveway after a good snow. This year I have a new snowblower that makes it a bit easier, but even when it was more work it felt pretty good.

Life is like that. The more you put into it, even the hard stuff, the better it is. I probably am a bit too lazy at times, but I don't think I will ever lose that good feeling that comes with doing things, even the ones that just need to be done.

Music to Warm Your Soul

Jan Krist is a folk singer and songwriter who lives in the Midwest. Her voice is pure and beautiful, filled with a strength that comes from her heart. The words of her songs convey truths that you knew were there but didn't know how to say, sometimes with humor, sometimes with great sadness, always with clarity and intelligence.

I can't put a price on how much pleasure I get from sitting in the venues with folk artists like Jan, it has become an essential part of my life, a genuinely good part. I can hardly remember a time before Kris and I started to seek out events that range from coffee shop appearances of school teachers who just love to sing to professional folk festivals that involve entire towns. If you are looking for America, trust me, this is one place you are sure to find it.

Marshmallows

I like Marshmallows. They are a simple treat, but good. I like the way they taste and the way that they feel when you chew them. I really like them mixed in with my ice cream.

Guess I don't have anything pithy to say about marshmallows, but they serve a purpose in my life, they give me pleasure. That's a good thing.

Beware of Ice

Sometimes it pays to follow the instructions you see on highway signs. It was pretty slippery today, tempuratures in the teens, a little sun disappearing so anything that had been warmed and melted had just refrozen. This guy managed to have a spectacular wreck in spite of 30 mile per hour traffic.

Pay attention to the warning signs in your life. The ones that come from family and friends are probably the most important. "Are you sure you want to do that?" "Have you thought that through?" Think about it.

Banjo on a Bench

There is something so right about American folk music. We are lucky enough to be able to listen to some great folk artists here, but I suspect that you can in just about any city, town or place where Americans gather. It is a part of the soul of this great country, sung and performed by our friends and neighbors.

If you get all your music from the radio, you are missing part of the fabric that binds us together. Check the paper or do an Internet search for local acts and give them a listen. If you have never listened to music in a coffee shop or in a county park, you are in for a real treat.

Papers

What is it about newspapers that keep us subscribing? I find myself asking that question every time the bill comes in. We cut down from every day to just the weekends, but they still stack up. We often don't read them, but dutifully stack them in the garage until I haul them to the boy scout paper drive at the Church.

Papers are the most physical embodiment of the 1st Amendment to our constitution. You can hold one of the most powerful forces on earth in your hands. Our nation was born largely due to a popular movement that was informed primarily through articles in papers published by the great patriots of the time.

Newspapers now are largely owned by liberal leaning thinkers in this country, slanted to the left in many ways, but nonetheless, a voice for our people. They are an institution that, if gone, would leave a huge void in our liberties.

Candlelight

There is something special about candlelight, even if it is not made by real candles. There is an elegance to it, more than just light.

Some people are like that. They give off a warm glow, not the normal reflection of what is around most people. That is a special gift that comes from giving rather than taking. Treasure those people in your life, learn from them.