Hey folks we made it back, short trip to St. Louis and a great Thanksgiving meal at my daughters and back in a day and a half. My Judy had to be back so she could supervise the sale of televisions on Black Friday. I cannot wait to hear about her morning. I talked with several folks about shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving, they all say that the deals have to be great and the savings off the charts for them to get out of bed at o-dark thirty and fight the crowds to save ten dollars. However, there are millions that feel differently. Local law enforcement in southwest Missouri have made maps, synchronised traffic cameras and electric signals. They have even assigned officers to physically direct traffic. Wow, shoppers have no idea just how prepared retailers and local tax based governments are rolling out the red carpet. I am especially impressed with the efforts of Walmart. Since the incident in New York last year where in a man was trampled. They have consulted with crowd control experts and designed a means to accommodate the shoppers while maintaining some semblance of order. I really hope it works. I witnessed a mad dash for some sheets last year. One lady shopper was softly bumped while she was reaching into a bin full of sheets. By the time she surfaced the sheets were all gone and she didn't get any. My demented sense of humor caused several people to give me strange looks as I rapidly walked away. After all its not funny to get bumped into a bin full of sheets and not even get one set to keep.
Yes, last year I was asked to help my Judy and I did. Black Friday is one of those events everyone should partake of at least once. Even if you don't buy anything.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thanksgiving.....
I went to the Doc yesterday. He peeked, examined made me look all around and decided that I was healing a whole lot faster than most. He released me to go to back to work this coming Sunday. I cannot wait. I think that I'm going to do "something" a lot over the next couple of days just so I can get used to it.
Congratulations to my Brother Kevin and a good friend Stan. They both harvested trophy size bucks in the recent Missouri deer seasons. My brother Alan and nephew Matt are included. they also put venison in the freezer this year. I was invited to go, its just when your sentenced to do nothing, even deer hunting is something.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Its a time we all get together to eat to much and visit with friends, family or just do something outside of the norm. We all celebrate thanks in our own way. If watching the parades, eating turkey and all the trimmings and visiting with family is your thing then or skiing off some mountain out west, just remember to give thanks.
Today my Judy and I are travelling to my daughters home outside St. Louis. We will part take of all the traditional festivities, eat lots of food and have to return home late tomorrow evening. My Judy has to work on Friday. She will have to roil out of bed around 2 am and drive to the store. Big doings at the store because its "Black Friday" and there are a ton of deals. My Judy has been placed in charge of television sales. she will supervise the chaos as shoppers push, shove, butt in line and generally be shoppers on black Friday. My Judy will handle customer concerns, and make sure no one gets out of hand. In my business I have to do that everyday, I told her, welcome to my world. She made a rude noise and gave me a dirty look.
I hope you are enjoying Deputy McNamara's adventure, I will add more to it this weekend. Wonder what will happen next.
Congratulations to my Brother Kevin and a good friend Stan. They both harvested trophy size bucks in the recent Missouri deer seasons. My brother Alan and nephew Matt are included. they also put venison in the freezer this year. I was invited to go, its just when your sentenced to do nothing, even deer hunting is something.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Its a time we all get together to eat to much and visit with friends, family or just do something outside of the norm. We all celebrate thanks in our own way. If watching the parades, eating turkey and all the trimmings and visiting with family is your thing then or skiing off some mountain out west, just remember to give thanks.
Today my Judy and I are travelling to my daughters home outside St. Louis. We will part take of all the traditional festivities, eat lots of food and have to return home late tomorrow evening. My Judy has to work on Friday. She will have to roil out of bed around 2 am and drive to the store. Big doings at the store because its "Black Friday" and there are a ton of deals. My Judy has been placed in charge of television sales. she will supervise the chaos as shoppers push, shove, butt in line and generally be shoppers on black Friday. My Judy will handle customer concerns, and make sure no one gets out of hand. In my business I have to do that everyday, I told her, welcome to my world. She made a rude noise and gave me a dirty look.
I hope you are enjoying Deputy McNamara's adventure, I will add more to it this weekend. Wonder what will happen next.
Monday, November 23, 2009
From the Journal of Issac McNamara #6
Zeke rode slowly down the hanging valley. He reached the end just after mid day and found the small game path that served as access to the outside. Mule had followed right along all afternoon occasionally looking to his right up the hillside and twisting his ears to get a better listen to something moving up there. Zeke had caught movement several times just never enough to clearly see what it was moving up there. The critter had stayed right with them as they moved and was really good at keeping to cover. That was the main reason Zeke was sure that whatever the critter wasn't, it was sure to be the two legged kind. Zeke eased his mount down the trail leaning back in the saddle to make the downward progress as easy as possible. He reached the bottom, crossed a small creek running with clear water, then followed the game trail . The trail was slowly falling towards the river and Zeke kept his eyes pealed for signs of humans being around. Still he found no evidence of folks gathering wood or cutting dead branches from the standing trees. He came out of the woods just above where the James River joined the White. He turned and rode upstream a dozen yards to a place he could cross with out getting his feet wet. He was midway across the river when the rolling sound of thunder came to him. He looked up into the sky he could see and there were no clouds. That was the problem with these Ozark Mountains they wee just deep enough in the valleys and high enough in the peaks that a summer storm could blow down on a fella with out much warning. Zeke kicked the horse a little and stepped up the pace. He crossed the river and immediately seen where folks had camped and seen evidence of trees being used for temporary shelter. He rode up the gravel bar a short way and found the old log hut that used to be Yocum's trading post. It was long ago abandoned, the corral was still standing in places and the cabin had one end of the roof collapsed into itself. There was a stone chimney standing at the other end. The door hung from one hinge. There were small holes everywhere a body looked. Someone had spent a lot of time digging small holes looking for something, most likely old Yocum's sack of diamonds. Zeke heard the roll of thunder again. The storm was getting a lot closer, it was moving very fast. He dismounted, lead his horse to the front of the old cabin. He took his rifle from the scabbard and gently using the barrel pushed the door wide open. He heard stirrings from inside. He reach down at his foot, picked up a hand full of gravel and tossed it inside the door. A faint buzzing noise answered him. He banged on their door and the buzzing became louder. Rattlesnake, Zeke flinched as the crack of lightning and the accompanying roll of thunder swept over him. The air was filled with the smell of brimstone. Zeke had no desire to fight a rattler over the dryness of that old cabin. He walked to one end and looked behind it and there was the entrance to old Yocums cave. Horse had no liking for that cave until the flash of lightning made the hair on his rump stand up. He lunged past Zeke int the safety of the cave. Mule followed right along. Zeke stood just inside the cave looking at the river. He caught a movement across the river and the flash of red cloth just before the rain made it impossible to see any further than the end of his arm.
It was still raining when it got full dark. Zeke has loosen his saddle and had removed the pack saddle from mule. he had a hard time finding enough wood for a small fire for coffee. Whoever had used the cxamp last had burned everyting with in a short dash f the cave. Zeke had to roam out severl yards to find enough to make a fire. he pulled several branched from a black oak. The lower branches of a black oak will be dead, and they will stay relativel dry in the rain. Branches on the ground will get wet and will have to dry to burn. Zeke had made him a rest using his back pack and saddle. He was sitting behind the fire to the inside of the cave. he bever looed right into the fire. That was something his Pa had taught him and three years fighting in the war had let it become habit. He was sipping his coffe and watching the drips from the falling rain off the roof of the cave when he heard a branch snap outside the reach of the fire light. Horse and mule both had ears pointing out into the night. Zeke took cover behind the saddle. He pulled his revolver and held it easy in his hand. Horse flared his nostrils and mule took in a deep breath.
"Your making my stock nervous, step in to the fire light or go away, makes me no nevermind" said Zeke.
Into the fire light stepped a figure, and by the looks of it it was a girl.
It was still raining when it got full dark. Zeke has loosen his saddle and had removed the pack saddle from mule. he had a hard time finding enough wood for a small fire for coffee. Whoever had used the cxamp last had burned everyting with in a short dash f the cave. Zeke had to roam out severl yards to find enough to make a fire. he pulled several branched from a black oak. The lower branches of a black oak will be dead, and they will stay relativel dry in the rain. Branches on the ground will get wet and will have to dry to burn. Zeke had made him a rest using his back pack and saddle. He was sitting behind the fire to the inside of the cave. he bever looed right into the fire. That was something his Pa had taught him and three years fighting in the war had let it become habit. He was sipping his coffe and watching the drips from the falling rain off the roof of the cave when he heard a branch snap outside the reach of the fire light. Horse and mule both had ears pointing out into the night. Zeke took cover behind the saddle. He pulled his revolver and held it easy in his hand. Horse flared his nostrils and mule took in a deep breath.
"Your making my stock nervous, step in to the fire light or go away, makes me no nevermind" said Zeke.
Into the fire light stepped a figure, and by the looks of it it was a girl.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Soap box time, pull up a chair
We have all read accounts of Global Warming and its effects on the climate. Not only is weather affected, some of wildlife are in jeopardy, animals like polar bears, whales and penguins have articles written about them everyday. Former Vice President Al has made millions flying all over the country encouraging people to wise up, get rid of their cars, quit buying plastic and write their Congressmen to accept the doomsday prophecies of scientists. This weekend a movie was released showing what will happen in 2012, the world will end because the Mayans ended their calender........ OK???
Having lots of time on my hands while I sit around a do "nothing" my mind has pondered the above and came up with an answer, "Horse Pucky" to all of it!
First anyone that has ever subscribed to National Geographic will know that over the centuries since mother earth was formed...there have been times of unusual weather. Remember the Dinosaurs? They lived in warm wet climates, most likely never thought about cold weather and then disappeared for reasons still not agreed upon. Then there was the Ice Age, a period when large sheets of ice called glaciers, slowly moved from the poles toward the equator, destroying everything it their paths. They had a lot to do with the formation of the Great Plain in America. I think that times change. The little bit of recorded time compared to the great amount of unrecorded time, has not has not left us with enough information to determine changes.
Look at what the ocean experts have said about New Orleans. It is sinking into the Gulf. It may not last out this century, yet our ever present and all knowing government has dumped millions of tax dollars into building a levy system to protect it. Its still sinking and will continue to do so.... Then there is the ice caps, they are melting. The level of the ocean has risen a little over the last couple of hundred years. yet at one time most of the southwest part of the US was under water, and out in Utah, the Great Salt Lake is still there. Let's not forget about the Dead Sea, its so salty you cannot sink in it.
I really think that we, especially us Americans, need to take a few minutes and remember what we do today will have a big impact on the future. I really think that we as Americans need to develop other sources of energy to the point that we can tell the mid-east to put their oil on their morning cereal. Years ago our ability to jump from horse drawn wagons to gasoline powered trucks is just the thing we need today. Most of us have seen articles or commericals promoting the use of Natural Gas, and Hydrogen as fuel sources. We see evidence of wind and water generated electricity with windmills and power dams. One man I talked to related that in some parts of the world, manure and corn stalks are coverted to fuel to power plants and power cities.. Heck, last week the local news had a fella on that could fix a diesel engine to burn used restaurant cooking oil. Its time America, be a leader and change! Let us unite and let our leaders know that if they want to keep their jobs they had better get with the program. Now is the time for action. Send the link of this post to everyone you know, tell them to send it on to everyone they know according to the computer gurus, it will quickly reach everyone with access to email. America we have to start now!
To address the Mayan calender issue ....I think that the girls and boys that sat down to write the Mayan calender got called to dinner about the time they reached 2012. The next day the Chiefs decided that they could finish it later and then sent them on to build the ruins.
Having lots of time on my hands while I sit around a do "nothing" my mind has pondered the above and came up with an answer, "Horse Pucky" to all of it!
First anyone that has ever subscribed to National Geographic will know that over the centuries since mother earth was formed...there have been times of unusual weather. Remember the Dinosaurs? They lived in warm wet climates, most likely never thought about cold weather and then disappeared for reasons still not agreed upon. Then there was the Ice Age, a period when large sheets of ice called glaciers, slowly moved from the poles toward the equator, destroying everything it their paths. They had a lot to do with the formation of the Great Plain in America. I think that times change. The little bit of recorded time compared to the great amount of unrecorded time, has not has not left us with enough information to determine changes.
Look at what the ocean experts have said about New Orleans. It is sinking into the Gulf. It may not last out this century, yet our ever present and all knowing government has dumped millions of tax dollars into building a levy system to protect it. Its still sinking and will continue to do so.... Then there is the ice caps, they are melting. The level of the ocean has risen a little over the last couple of hundred years. yet at one time most of the southwest part of the US was under water, and out in Utah, the Great Salt Lake is still there. Let's not forget about the Dead Sea, its so salty you cannot sink in it.
I really think that we, especially us Americans, need to take a few minutes and remember what we do today will have a big impact on the future. I really think that we as Americans need to develop other sources of energy to the point that we can tell the mid-east to put their oil on their morning cereal. Years ago our ability to jump from horse drawn wagons to gasoline powered trucks is just the thing we need today. Most of us have seen articles or commericals promoting the use of Natural Gas, and Hydrogen as fuel sources. We see evidence of wind and water generated electricity with windmills and power dams. One man I talked to related that in some parts of the world, manure and corn stalks are coverted to fuel to power plants and power cities.. Heck, last week the local news had a fella on that could fix a diesel engine to burn used restaurant cooking oil. Its time America, be a leader and change! Let us unite and let our leaders know that if they want to keep their jobs they had better get with the program. Now is the time for action. Send the link of this post to everyone you know, tell them to send it on to everyone they know according to the computer gurus, it will quickly reach everyone with access to email. America we have to start now!
To address the Mayan calender issue ....I think that the girls and boys that sat down to write the Mayan calender got called to dinner about the time they reached 2012. The next day the Chiefs decided that they could finish it later and then sent them on to build the ruins.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Eye Update...
This morning at the appointed time of 8:45 I was in the Eye Doctors office patiently waiting for him to enter say all is well and go back to work. I figured he would have some magic solution that would take my vision and make it all well. Lets face it that's why they go to school and one of the reasons they get to charge so much for 15 minutes of their time. Yeah right,
I waited for my turn and heard him tell someone that they had a hard time coming in the next few weeks as they waited for their vision to clear up. I had no idea who he was talking to and listening to him I began to feel sorry for the patient. When my time came he took his time n the examination, talked gibberish to his assistant with the promise to talk English to me as soon as he finished.
After he examined me he announced that all was healing well, that there was no obvious issues other than the gas bubble he had injected into my eye had not began to dissolve. He when on to say that it would start to go any time now and when it did it would go rather quickly. He wanted to see me in two weeks. I asked him how long it would take for my eye to heal and he advised that I would get everything I was going to get back with in three months. In other words hurry up and wait.
I returned home with my tail tucked between my legs wondering just what I was going to do for the next two weeks. My Judy smiled and said that she was sure I would find something to do. i called my boss and all he had to say was get better and I'll take you off the schedule.
So today I'm doing exactly what I was told to do, Nothing!
So anyone out there that wants to know what nothing is just drop me a line and tell what your doing. I will examine it, make you wait just long enough to justify the fee and make you feel sorry for me because I'm so busy, and let you know if its something or nothing.
I waited for my turn and heard him tell someone that they had a hard time coming in the next few weeks as they waited for their vision to clear up. I had no idea who he was talking to and listening to him I began to feel sorry for the patient. When my time came he took his time n the examination, talked gibberish to his assistant with the promise to talk English to me as soon as he finished.
After he examined me he announced that all was healing well, that there was no obvious issues other than the gas bubble he had injected into my eye had not began to dissolve. He when on to say that it would start to go any time now and when it did it would go rather quickly. He wanted to see me in two weeks. I asked him how long it would take for my eye to heal and he advised that I would get everything I was going to get back with in three months. In other words hurry up and wait.
I returned home with my tail tucked between my legs wondering just what I was going to do for the next two weeks. My Judy smiled and said that she was sure I would find something to do. i called my boss and all he had to say was get better and I'll take you off the schedule.
So today I'm doing exactly what I was told to do, Nothing!
So anyone out there that wants to know what nothing is just drop me a line and tell what your doing. I will examine it, make you wait just long enough to justify the fee and make you feel sorry for me because I'm so busy, and let you know if its something or nothing.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Bad ideas and success stories....
Well I know you are thinking "Just what has old Mike been up to this past week?" The answer is nothing...well almost nothing. Do you remember in by gone times when you had an idea that while in your mind it seemed like a fool proof great idea, that if perfected it might turn into one of those hobby things that makes a million dollars and gets you out of debt and you become famous and even get a guest appearance on Oprah....
I have one. Yes even with one eye closed (literally) I came up with and idea that if successful will save me a lot of money. If I have failed to mention it my favorite past time is fishing. The problem with fishing is that by the time you buy gas, line, fishing poles, insurance and everything else you have little left over for baits. Its hard to fish some of the places I fish and not loose a lure once in a while. When you start taking notes on what you've lost it is a serious piece of change. There are lures out there that cost over $100.00 dollars, many in the 20-30 dollar range and a few in the 10 to 20 dollar range. Those are not the kind I fish with. If I was ever incapacitated enough to buy a $100.00 lure, and my Judy found out I'd have to hide it as some kind of man jewelry, and wear it every day. I fish with the 3-8 dollar ones. When I loose an 8 dollar one I hurt. So, back to my idea. I figured that I could buy used lures, unpainted lures, lures I find on the lake or ones that I've used until the paint is gone and repaint them. I'm going to paint my own fishing lures.
Crazy! Why the man has lost his mind! He does not have any artistic talent! He hates to paint! His hand does not fit any paintbrush made! YOU say, Rubbish I say! Anyone can learn anything IF they put their mind to it. As nutty as it sounds your pizza delivery boy could be a brain surgeon Besides I think its a really good idea. I might become famous, even land a guest shot on ESPN.........
Today I got things set up, I read the handy how to airbrush something guide and put paint in the jar and noticed that some how I got it all over my hands. Then I turned on the little compressor and it made a very rude noise that sounded a lot like two pans being banged together. I opened the air gun valve and it began to shoot air out onto my practice project. It took quite a time for any paint to come out, then it came out in big splats. When I released the trigger, the compressor started that clanging noise again and paint began to leak out of the end of the nozzle. I knew this was a bad thing so I turned off everything to regroup. After several adjustments I again hit the on switch, this time it sounded like a barrel full of tin cups rolling down the hill. Several adjustments later determined that I had the wrong kind of compressor ( I hope). I cleaned the equipment, only getting a little more paint on my hands and face, and felt that it was a good day!
Now keep in mind that I'm doing all of this one eyed....which explains some of the paint being where it should not have been. I decided that I would wait until after my Eye Doctors appointment in the morning, before I tackle any more practice. After all one really needs as least one eye to paint fishing lures.
I have one. Yes even with one eye closed (literally) I came up with and idea that if successful will save me a lot of money. If I have failed to mention it my favorite past time is fishing. The problem with fishing is that by the time you buy gas, line, fishing poles, insurance and everything else you have little left over for baits. Its hard to fish some of the places I fish and not loose a lure once in a while. When you start taking notes on what you've lost it is a serious piece of change. There are lures out there that cost over $100.00 dollars, many in the 20-30 dollar range and a few in the 10 to 20 dollar range. Those are not the kind I fish with. If I was ever incapacitated enough to buy a $100.00 lure, and my Judy found out I'd have to hide it as some kind of man jewelry, and wear it every day. I fish with the 3-8 dollar ones. When I loose an 8 dollar one I hurt. So, back to my idea. I figured that I could buy used lures, unpainted lures, lures I find on the lake or ones that I've used until the paint is gone and repaint them. I'm going to paint my own fishing lures.
Crazy! Why the man has lost his mind! He does not have any artistic talent! He hates to paint! His hand does not fit any paintbrush made! YOU say, Rubbish I say! Anyone can learn anything IF they put their mind to it. As nutty as it sounds your pizza delivery boy could be a brain surgeon Besides I think its a really good idea. I might become famous, even land a guest shot on ESPN.........
Today I got things set up, I read the handy how to airbrush something guide and put paint in the jar and noticed that some how I got it all over my hands. Then I turned on the little compressor and it made a very rude noise that sounded a lot like two pans being banged together. I opened the air gun valve and it began to shoot air out onto my practice project. It took quite a time for any paint to come out, then it came out in big splats. When I released the trigger, the compressor started that clanging noise again and paint began to leak out of the end of the nozzle. I knew this was a bad thing so I turned off everything to regroup. After several adjustments I again hit the on switch, this time it sounded like a barrel full of tin cups rolling down the hill. Several adjustments later determined that I had the wrong kind of compressor ( I hope). I cleaned the equipment, only getting a little more paint on my hands and face, and felt that it was a good day!
Now keep in mind that I'm doing all of this one eyed....which explains some of the paint being where it should not have been. I decided that I would wait until after my Eye Doctors appointment in the morning, before I tackle any more practice. After all one really needs as least one eye to paint fishing lures.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
What are you doing?
Monday a week ago, I underwent eye surgery to reattach my retina. The surgeon explained that it was not a simple surgery, rather it was very invasive and I would be under for an hour to an hour and a half. All went well, I woke up, spent the night in the hotel at the hospital and then went home with the following orders.
1. take it easy, no lifting or bending below the waist.
2. keep you head tilted in a reading position and cocked to the left.
3. sleep on your left side
4. do nothing.
Remember when you were young and a parent would as "What are you doing?" Your response of, "Nothing," usually got a response of "If its nothing quit making that noise or If its nothing how come your brother is crying?" Let me tell you as a parent of five kids and eight grandchildren, nothing is never nothing.
I have sat for over a week, doing nothing and to tell the truth there is just so much nothing a man can take. I sit watching television with my chin on my chest or reading using my good eye. Once in a while I get up and walk laps around the house. I get to walk to the mailbox once a day and usually find there is nothing of interest in it. I get visits from my fishing buddy Doug and hear stories of the fish he is catching, The phone rings its my Mom from Florida, and I hear stories about the fish they are catching. I turn on the fishing shows and guess what they are catching fish and talking about the great fall fishing. Yet I have to do nothing.
My Judy comes home from work and asks how my day went and I grumble, "It was what you see, I did nothing all day." I went on to explain that I had done nothing for so long that I had become an expert at doing nothing. She made a rude noise and fixed supper.
One of the things that doing nothing allows one to accomplish is thinking. I've decided that I should warn everyone to practice doing nothing. As one gets older and parts begin to wear out, sooner or later some Doctor will say, "Go home and do nothing." You had better be prepared. So take my advise and practice doing nothing, Nothing does not involve sleeping, because when your sleeping your doing something, you have to do nothing. along with practicing doing nothing you should practice using your weak hand to accomplish everyday tasks. Brush your teeth, wash yourself and finish all the paperwork. You never will know when you might have to use the skill. You should practice putting on your clothes, using only your weak hand. Drive using your left foot. Close one eye and try to type.
So if you need any counseling on doing nothing, drop me a line. I am qualified to tell you just how nothing is accomplished.
1. take it easy, no lifting or bending below the waist.
2. keep you head tilted in a reading position and cocked to the left.
3. sleep on your left side
4. do nothing.
Remember when you were young and a parent would as "What are you doing?" Your response of, "Nothing," usually got a response of "If its nothing quit making that noise or If its nothing how come your brother is crying?" Let me tell you as a parent of five kids and eight grandchildren, nothing is never nothing.
I have sat for over a week, doing nothing and to tell the truth there is just so much nothing a man can take. I sit watching television with my chin on my chest or reading using my good eye. Once in a while I get up and walk laps around the house. I get to walk to the mailbox once a day and usually find there is nothing of interest in it. I get visits from my fishing buddy Doug and hear stories of the fish he is catching, The phone rings its my Mom from Florida, and I hear stories about the fish they are catching. I turn on the fishing shows and guess what they are catching fish and talking about the great fall fishing. Yet I have to do nothing.
My Judy comes home from work and asks how my day went and I grumble, "It was what you see, I did nothing all day." I went on to explain that I had done nothing for so long that I had become an expert at doing nothing. She made a rude noise and fixed supper.
One of the things that doing nothing allows one to accomplish is thinking. I've decided that I should warn everyone to practice doing nothing. As one gets older and parts begin to wear out, sooner or later some Doctor will say, "Go home and do nothing." You had better be prepared. So take my advise and practice doing nothing, Nothing does not involve sleeping, because when your sleeping your doing something, you have to do nothing. along with practicing doing nothing you should practice using your weak hand to accomplish everyday tasks. Brush your teeth, wash yourself and finish all the paperwork. You never will know when you might have to use the skill. You should practice putting on your clothes, using only your weak hand. Drive using your left foot. Close one eye and try to type.
So if you need any counseling on doing nothing, drop me a line. I am qualified to tell you just how nothing is accomplished.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
From the Journal of Issac McNamara #5
Zeke tried not to look straight towards the face. It was watching him from beneath the wild fern. He gazed straight ahead over the back of his horse while watching for the face to make a move. He could see the eyes and maybe part of the jaw line. His mind began questioning what he was seeing. He blinked, the face was gone. He mounted and rode toward where the face had been. He looked the ground over and there was no evidence of any being there. There was a game trail winding down the side of the hill and he started down it. Zeke rode with his rifle across the saddle.
He had written along almost a mile when the the faint trace of woodsmoke reached his nose. He slowly worked his way down the trail. Game trails were good ways to travel in the Ozarks, unless your on a horse. Most of them are easy going as long as your no taller than a deer. The lower down he worked the stronger the smell of smoke. The trail opened into a meadow. Across the meadow stood an old cabin there was smoke slowly rising from the stone chimney. Zeke thought he knew most of the settlers along the James, however he did not know this one, he didn't even know this cabin existed. The meadow was one of those rare ones that opened up just a little more than half way down the mountain. It was about five acres in size and would have been almost invisible from lower down along the river. He had come on it from up above yet it was still unseen until the trail opened out at the upper end. Zeke held up and looked the place over. There were several chickens running loose around the cabin. There was a small corral built in front of a cave and in the corral stood a small painted horse. There was a cow grazing in the meadow just below the cabin and Zeke heard the squealing of pigs. There was a small garden planted next to the cabin. Zeke recognized corn growing along with some vegetables.
Zeke slowly rode toward the cabin. He stopped in front of the door.
"Hello the house" he yelled. Nothing
He tried again, " Hello, anyone home?"
Other than the chickens moving away from him there was no other sound from the cabin.
Zeke tried again. " I'm Stone County Deputy Sheriff Issac McNamara, anyone there?"
Zeke sat his horse trying to decide what to do, he reached up to scratch his head when he caught movement from the hill above the cave, Zeke had no doubts about watch had been poked out of the ground above the cave mouth, it was the business end of a rifle.
Zeke looked on past the rifle and then slowly raised his hand to his hat, He took it off and wiped his forehead with the back of his arm.
He looked over the hill side again, using his knee he turned his mount towards the cave and rode up to the opening.
" I see your gun, you have nothing to fear from me, all I'm interested in is some information. I could also use a drink from your spring. Its hot out here and I've ridden a long ways this morning."
It was quiet, Zeke heard the chickens clucking and the snorts of the pigs. Finally after several minutes a voice answered " Help yourself to the spring, there's a gourd hanging there on a limb."
A few minutes later a a small figure came from the cave and walked up to him. It was a woman, older than the voice sounded, gray hair wrapped into a tight bun on the back of her head, a pale blue sun faded bonnet hung by its ribbons from her neck, a gray faded dress hung from her shoulders and touched the ground. She wore a pistol in a holster on her waist and there was a large knife in a scabbard.
"Not used to folks being around." she explained "rather be by myself, I get along with myself better. Here alone most of the time, you coming down from the mountain was not the usual way I'm visited."
Zeke held his hat in his hand, "Like I said, I'm a Deputy Sheriff. Sheriff Overstreet sent me down here to investigate a gathering of men that could be Rebels."
She spat " Overstreet still the Sheriff....He was a real rounder when he was younger, suprised me when he got his self elected, always figured he should be on the inside of a jail rather than running it"
Zeke hid a smile, and continued" Mam, I wonder have you see anything, men moving or anything that don't belong?"
"There down there, camped right were the James runs into the White. They's making a mess of the gravel bar. Nothing worse than a white man in the wilderness. He mess up more any ten Indian's." They's a bunch of them that wanders around digging holes in the ground. My guess they's looking for Yocum's diamonds. Dern fools, if'n you had yourself a sack of diamonds would you take them with you or bury them under a tree?"
"I see your point, well I need to ride down there a see what them Reb's have in mind."
" You go do that Deputy, and you just forget about finding me up here, I don't need you telling anyone about me, them idiots down there don't know about me! "
Zeke thanked her for the drink and turned his mount down the valley. Mule followed along.
He had written along almost a mile when the the faint trace of woodsmoke reached his nose. He slowly worked his way down the trail. Game trails were good ways to travel in the Ozarks, unless your on a horse. Most of them are easy going as long as your no taller than a deer. The lower down he worked the stronger the smell of smoke. The trail opened into a meadow. Across the meadow stood an old cabin there was smoke slowly rising from the stone chimney. Zeke thought he knew most of the settlers along the James, however he did not know this one, he didn't even know this cabin existed. The meadow was one of those rare ones that opened up just a little more than half way down the mountain. It was about five acres in size and would have been almost invisible from lower down along the river. He had come on it from up above yet it was still unseen until the trail opened out at the upper end. Zeke held up and looked the place over. There were several chickens running loose around the cabin. There was a small corral built in front of a cave and in the corral stood a small painted horse. There was a cow grazing in the meadow just below the cabin and Zeke heard the squealing of pigs. There was a small garden planted next to the cabin. Zeke recognized corn growing along with some vegetables.
Zeke slowly rode toward the cabin. He stopped in front of the door.
"Hello the house" he yelled. Nothing
He tried again, " Hello, anyone home?"
Other than the chickens moving away from him there was no other sound from the cabin.
Zeke tried again. " I'm Stone County Deputy Sheriff Issac McNamara, anyone there?"
Zeke sat his horse trying to decide what to do, he reached up to scratch his head when he caught movement from the hill above the cave, Zeke had no doubts about watch had been poked out of the ground above the cave mouth, it was the business end of a rifle.
Zeke looked on past the rifle and then slowly raised his hand to his hat, He took it off and wiped his forehead with the back of his arm.
He looked over the hill side again, using his knee he turned his mount towards the cave and rode up to the opening.
" I see your gun, you have nothing to fear from me, all I'm interested in is some information. I could also use a drink from your spring. Its hot out here and I've ridden a long ways this morning."
It was quiet, Zeke heard the chickens clucking and the snorts of the pigs. Finally after several minutes a voice answered " Help yourself to the spring, there's a gourd hanging there on a limb."
A few minutes later a a small figure came from the cave and walked up to him. It was a woman, older than the voice sounded, gray hair wrapped into a tight bun on the back of her head, a pale blue sun faded bonnet hung by its ribbons from her neck, a gray faded dress hung from her shoulders and touched the ground. She wore a pistol in a holster on her waist and there was a large knife in a scabbard.
"Not used to folks being around." she explained "rather be by myself, I get along with myself better. Here alone most of the time, you coming down from the mountain was not the usual way I'm visited."
Zeke held his hat in his hand, "Like I said, I'm a Deputy Sheriff. Sheriff Overstreet sent me down here to investigate a gathering of men that could be Rebels."
She spat " Overstreet still the Sheriff....He was a real rounder when he was younger, suprised me when he got his self elected, always figured he should be on the inside of a jail rather than running it"
Zeke hid a smile, and continued" Mam, I wonder have you see anything, men moving or anything that don't belong?"
"There down there, camped right were the James runs into the White. They's making a mess of the gravel bar. Nothing worse than a white man in the wilderness. He mess up more any ten Indian's." They's a bunch of them that wanders around digging holes in the ground. My guess they's looking for Yocum's diamonds. Dern fools, if'n you had yourself a sack of diamonds would you take them with you or bury them under a tree?"
"I see your point, well I need to ride down there a see what them Reb's have in mind."
" You go do that Deputy, and you just forget about finding me up here, I don't need you telling anyone about me, them idiots down there don't know about me! "
Zeke thanked her for the drink and turned his mount down the valley. Mule followed along.
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