I woke up this morning thinking about old-school historical potboilers. Yeah, I know. But you all know by now that my mind functions this way... Actually, there’s a straightforward explanation for why I roused from my slumbers with visions of F. van Wyck Mason dancing through my head. I hit the pillow after scrolling through a Kindle series of … [Read more...] about Lusty, Tumultuous Sagas
‘All I Can Do Is Write About It’ — The Country Soul Of Ronnie Van Zant
Do you like to see a mountain stream a-flowin’ Do you like to see a young ’un with his dog Did you ever stop to think about, well, the air your breathin’ Well you better listen to my song And lord I can’t make any changes All I can do is write ’em in a song I can see the concrete slowly creepin’ Lord take me and mine before that comes — … [Read more...] about ‘All I Can Do Is Write About It’ — The Country Soul Of Ronnie Van Zant
The Hunt For The White Whirlwind
Last weekend, Marilyn and Ceili and I trekked over the Misty Mountains cold in the teeth of a potent winter storm. We made it through the Redhorn Gate without having to result to a detour through the Mines of Moria, and all missions on this 500-mile loop from Sisters to Portland to Eugene and back to Sisters in 48 hours were accomplished — though … [Read more...] about The Hunt For The White Whirlwind
Day Of The Tomahawk
Cut the sign of some interesting doin’s around the all-purpose frontier tool/weapon, the tomahawk. Today, the Cornplanter tomahawk is being formally repatriated to the Seneca Nation. The tomahawk was a gift from George Washington to the Seneca war leader. The son of a Dutch trader and a Seneca woman, Cornplanter was a highly effective partisan in … [Read more...] about Day Of The Tomahawk
The Joy Of Shooting With A 21st Century Annie Oakley
The world needs more of this. This lovely young woman is doing something that is vital for the shooting sports: promoting the very real “Joy of Shooting.” Asserting the Second Amendement-ensured right of armed self-defense is important, but it is equally vital to communicate the value of the sporting aspect of the … [Read more...] about The Joy Of Shooting With A 21st Century Annie Oakley
Going Rogue
Amazon Prime has proved to be a rich treasure trove of historical documentaries. Over New Years, I watched the three-part doco based on Ben Macintyre ’s outstanding book SAS: Rogue Heroes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ffkrQuDH60 Presented by Macintyre himself, it serves up dramatizations, period film and interview footage from 1987 … [Read more...] about Going Rogue
Working The Trapline — January 2020
* I always enjoy checking the traps at this time of year, because they’re always full of prime peltries of promise for the new year. Like this here: * Born For The Saber is available in North America through iTunes and Amazon Prime, with English subtitles. This “education of a warrior” tale is a labor of love and a fine documentary tribute … [Read more...] about Working The Trapline — January 2020
Happy New Year! Party Like A Mountain Man!
May all your traps be ever full in 2020! … [Read more...] about Happy New Year! Party Like A Mountain Man!
Jameson Raid
I had planned to craft a post for December 29 on the anniversary of the daring, reckless and disastrous Jameson Raid into the Transvaal in 1895. I have decided to defer for a very good reason... * Strange to say, the Raid — which had enormous domestic and international political and strategic consequences — has not been all that deeply explored. … [Read more...] about Jameson Raid
Stuff That Works — Yuletide Plunder
’Twas a fine Yule celebration here at the Clan Cornelius homestead. We have a set of Christmas traditions that we cleave to: tamales and tortilla soup on Christmas Eve; a roast beast for Christmas dinner. An easy ramble on Christmas Day afternoon. Ice skating on Christmas night. We are not extravagant in the gifting, and tend toward the … [Read more...] about Stuff That Works — Yuletide Plunder
