There's really nothing more to say here...

except... thanks the fellow blogger Brad Haller for bringing this to our attention. Now I'm curious about it. I wonder if WalMart sells this stuff? Silly question.
This just can't be real. But then... this IS America! (as I stand up with my hand over my heart... actually I'm clutching at my heart and gasping for breath) Can you say 'double bacon cheese burger with fries? MMmmmmmmmmmmm

What Easter Bunny?...

not so fast...

First day of spring.... highs in the low 30s and a pretty good chance for snow in the next 24 hours. Right now though, it's rain, rain, rain. And cold. Yuck.

spring?...

I got tired of looking at that King Cake sitting on my floor tom every time I open my blog, so here's something new to look at for now. Several things going on so it's not like I don't have anything to write about... just taking the time to sit down and do it. I will. Today I think we are going to see the sun for the first time in about a week. It was very foggy this morning, but there is a nice hint of light blue behind it as I sit here at my desk at work this morning.

Fat Tuesday!...

I played a Fat Tuesday party last night at Saint James Episcopal Church with some of the guys from M-Dock band... Dwight Gann, Dave Farabee, Greg Hale and a guitarist from the church named Clay Stuckey. Those guys are good musicians and good folks. It was a lot of fun, and we took home red beans & rice and king cake for our time! Not too bad a haul for two hours of playing... of course we won't go into the two hours of rehearsal time and two more hours of set-up and tear-down. But you know, that's just part of the deal. The weather was cold, but thankfully no ice or snow to contend with, so getting around wasn't an issue. Happy for that. And this Ash Wednesday it's supposed to get well above freezing! Yeah!

Playing in the mud

Here are a few of the pieces of pottery I have made so far. I've got a couple of others that didn't make it into the shot. As for the "pitcher", the guy that oversees our class, Nathan, said it wasn't ready for a handle yet, so I sat it back under plastic for another week. One of the girls that I am in class with, named Lee (that's her and Nathan in the upper picture) calls those smaller pieces, like the ones in the picture "cat bowls". I thought that was pretty funny... and she's right, some of them do look like catfood bowls. I am slowly getting the feel for making larger pieces, but it is more difficult than it looks, but that's OK. I didn't expect to be making large anything in the first month. I am enjoying it, and eveyone is very welcoming and encouraging. I learn something every night I go there. I'll be ready to open my own studio any time now (ha!)... OK maybe next year. Nathan said they would probably be bisque firing the pots (in the picture above) this week. FUN. Then I will glaze them and fire them one more time to make them waterproof. Now we have to get a cat.

what the...?

Well... look at the time. We're already into the second month of 2010! Been distracted with this, that and the other thing. And I can't promise it will get any better anytime soon. Such is life. I will say this, I am ready for this cold, snowy weather to head back to the Northern Country where it belongs.

So Close...!

This Saturday night... 10:00! Come on out to Springfield Brewing Company. It's not that cold out! No ice... no snow... no excuses. It's time for some FUN!

Next weekend!

Our band will be rockin' at Springfield BrewCo next Saturday night, from 10:00 till 1:00!

Remember When The Whole World Looked Up...

I was at the Brentwood Branch library the other day, and came across a movie that I had intended to see when it was released back in 2007, but I never got around to it... until now. The movie is called In The Shadow Of The Moon... and what a wonderful film it is.

For those of us who remember the early days of the first manned space flights, and later sat in awe around the family television set watching the first moon landing, this movie is a must-see. But even if all you have ever known is the space shuttle, this movie is something not to be missed. Just fantastic.

That was a very special time in our history, and this movie helps remind us of just how special it was. We could use a little of that wonder in our lives today.

Prelude to Dusk

A beautiful late Thanksgiving afternoon in rural Howell County, Missouri. This was one of those peaceful, silent moments that wraps around your soul and warms you. A moment when you can take a deep breath and then exhale the stress of everyday life.

BrewCo tonight!

Our band Electra 225 will be playing at the one and only Springfield Brewing Company tonight, starting at 10:00. Come out and have a beer and enjoy some tunes. You will have a good time... I promise.

Buffalo River... 1974

In this picture, left to right: Brett Owens, Roger Williams, David Evans and me. This picture was taken 4 or 5 days into our week-long float trip with Boy Scout Troop 61 on the Buffalo River, in north-central Arkansas, summer of 1974.
Long story short... the two boys in back lost control of their canoe and drifted broadside into a tree trunk in the middle of the river. It tipped upstream and was soon bent into a nice, jagged V against the stump. After several hours of work, we managed to pry the canoe free (the force of the current was amazing) drag it to the bank of the river and push the bottom down, back into a more-or-less floatable shape. There is much more to the story, but that's enough to at least explain what you see in the picture. It was quite an adventure. I still have the broken upper half of the paddle that I am holding in the picture, 35 years later.

Halloween 2009!

What a great Halloween night! The weather was pretty much perfect, the moon was almost full, and the little monsters were everywhere, scurrying all about the neighborhood. Fun night. We had almost 100 trick or treaters!

Fell

The night sky

This beautiful... amazing image of the Crab Nebula, located in the Taurus constellation, was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. For more information about this nebula, and a storehouse of other images highlighting the wonders of the cosmos, click on the Daily Astronomy Pics link to the right, on this page. there's always something there worth taking a look at.

Paranormal Activity

After hearing so much about this movie, I decided I needed to go see what all the fuss was about for myself. It was good, and I am glad that I saw it in a theatre on the big screen. Actually I think this one would translate very well to the small screen, since it is filmed like a home video, but there is something special about seeing certain movies in a theatre. I went to the 2:00 matinee, and there was (maybe) 25 people there.
The pace of the movie was a little slow, especially in the beginning, but ultimately it wasn't enough to be distracting. In fact, the pace actually helped as the movie went on... it helped create and build a creeping sense of dread and hopelessness. There are some scenes that are startling... even a bit shocking, and I did enjoy the movie. Was it the scariest movie of all time, as some of the hype would have you believe? Hardly... but that shouldn't take away from the fact that Paranormal Activity is a first-rate scarefest.
For me, the American version of The Grudge, or The Ring cannot be beat for sheer spine-tingling, raise your feet off the floor, "holy crap!" scary fun at the movies. Still, I certainly wouldn't try to talk anyone out of going to see this movie... especially if they want a little something to rev up their pre-Halloween fun.

Just in time for Halloween!

We have a guest that has taken up residency in our garage overnight... a bat. I guess it just got too cold for the little guy last night and it had to find a safe place. Not quite sure what to do about it right now, so I will leave it alone for the time being. Hmmmmmm. Interesting. It looks healthy, and probably just wants to be left alone, but what I'm afraid of is that it is thinking it has found a great hibernation spot, and will be there all winter. Not so sure I like that.
We had a bat that spent three straight summers roosting under the overhang of our front porch here at the house. We called her Betty... Betty Bat. She didn't show up this past summer, so in a strange sort of way we missed her. Betty was a little bigger than this bat we have in the garage, so I doubt it's the same one. I'll just keep an eye on it and see how things go. If necessary, I will shoo it out, but killing it will be an absolute last measure. And that's only because I don't like it being so close to the dogs in a confined area.

The Gatherers

Halloween 2009

Rain, rain, rain...

In the past 24 hours we've racked up rain totals as high as 11+ inches in some areas here in southwest Missouri. Lots of flooded roads... lots of rivers and streams well over their banks. These pictures were taken in Ozark, at the bridge over the Finley River on Highway 14, by the river walk park.

Oh... how I do love this time of year.

I'm hearing great things about this one. It came out on DVD yesterday, and it is already being called one of those "must-have" movies for Halloween lovers everywhere . I'm ready to see it, but I imagine it will be hard to find at the rental place. I may just have to buy it. This is one of those movies that Pam will probably NOT want to watch... but you never know. I have really got to get busy with my Halloween decorations. It's on a Saturday this year!

I Sure Do Hope That Choo-Choo Train Runs On Time...

Rail yard, Springfield, Missouri - from the Commercial Street foot bridge

A feast of color

The Kansas City Renaissance Festival - September 5, 2009

On the Buffalo River in north-central Arkansas

October 21, 2006

Watermelon Slim and the Workers

January 2008 - Mountain Home, Arkansas

An Awesome Spectacle

June 2008 - Springfield, MO

Harvester of Eyes

When clouds like these are swirling and churning above your neighborhood, you tend to keep an eye on them. I could feel the energy in them on my skin. Thrilling to watch, and thankfully, harmless.
Early summer storm - 2008

Summer Giants

Early July, 2007 - Springfield, Missouri

adornment

Davey's Uptown, Kansas City, MO / early August 2009 at the We Are Country Mice show.

wood

Straight out of my stick bag. I've had several of these for a couple of years now, since I don't go through them like I used to.

Veil

Pike's Peak

Colorado / March 2008

Riverfront

New Orleans, LA / March 2009

Ghosts

Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA / March 2009

The Red Planet

Tab Benoit

C-Street Jam / Springfield, Missouri / May 12, 2007

The Ben Miller Band

May 19, 2007 - Bolivar, Missouri

Guitar Hero...

Les Paul, a pioneer in the development of advanced recording techniques, and the man who invented the electric guitar, died today at the age of 94. He certainly lived a long, full life, but still it is kinda sad to see the legends go.

The Les Paul guitar in this picture is owned by Vern Morgan, with Blue Plate Special. In the Spring of 2007 both of our bands played at the C-Street Jam, here in Springfield. While waiting to play, I noticed his guitar laying there with the sun shining across it, and thought it would make a cool picture.

A slightly different take

Yamaha bass drum

with my latest artwork up front. Five old birds...