(President Obama- center- does a photo op with ASEAN leaders. The dispute in the contested islands left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths. Photo Reuters). It is getting just cold enough at the end of November that I am starting to get happy-feet thoughts about going someplace warm. Talking to ENS Socotra about duty in […]

(Elisabeth-with-an-S, a known lawyer, and Mac at the Willow Bar, 04 November 2010. Photo Socotra) Christmas music leaked out of the clock radio on my desk as I looked out the office window. “Not ready. Not yet.” The clouds were low and gray and chill and way down at the bottom of the concrete canyon […]

(Jim at the Willow bar. Photo Socotra.) I was talking to Old Jim at Willow last night. It was a back to work Monday, and the Christmas decorations were up and I am still not ready for it. I had done some Internet Monday stuff when the network at the office cooperated, and had a […]

It is said that there is always a simple solution for the toughest problems. The only problem with that is that it is almost always wrong. I got a lot of advise on what to do when the Turkey Vultures are chased out of the Southgate neighborhood by loud music and flashing lights, or are […]

(The Vultures of Culpeper. Photo Rob Graham, WINY news). It must be Sunday. No gunfire. I know there is a ton of stuff to be concerned about, but honestly, life is pretty good. More than a couple days at the farm and I can feel the rhythm change, some of the Beltway angst drain away. […]

(Don-the-Builder’s guys have finished the path where the famous Socotra Garden Gnome will soon take up quarters. Photo Socotra.) Projects. Having more than one day in place at the farm was liberating. I was all over closets and crap that had piled up over the last few seasons. The jumble was an affront to the […]

(Tisquantum, or Squanto, teaching the Pilgrims to grow corn. Public domain image via Wikipedia). I turned on the television after returning from a drink with Old Jim and his bride Mary at Willow last night. It was slow in the bar- the night before a holiday causes Arlington to flush out with the young people […]

(Hydraulic Fracturing is about to change everything we know. Or is it? Image courtesy Popular Mechanics.) It is a complex matter, and a controversial one in this about-to-be awash in oil nation. We might very well be cooking with gas for a while- and have a magical chance to get it right for a change. […]

(Eddie Layton’s Captain picture. He appears this morning because of something special that happened last night. Bear with me- and photo thanks to Bill) All right- this is one of those mornings. It is better than yesterday-  that one started with Don-the-Builder’s guys Tom and Jose showing up with the new back door at nine […]

(Free range turkeys in the field. I can’t tell from this angle which one is #5.) Number Five is the name Meg Campbell of Croftburn Farms attached to the bird that was purchased several weeks ago by the enormous person in overalls in line ahead of me. I was getting eggs and cheese, as is […]