Monthly Archives: February 2019

“Do you believe in a higher power?”

Posted on February 28, 2019 by JohnMatel

My story worth for this week. A deeper subject. “Do you believe in a higher power?” I had been living away from home for many years, had a family and life of my own. I was an adult far from … Continue reading →

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We are the original “green deal”

Posted on February 28, 2019 by JohnMatel

We are the original “green deal.” The American Tree Farm System has been conserving forest land in the USA since 1941 & I think we have done a good job. The ATFS logo includes the four things our land produces: … Continue reading →

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You cannot make Bourbon w/o white oak

Posted on February 26, 2019 by JohnMatel

  Bourbon is a gift of the oak tree. More than half of whiskey’s flavor & all of its color comes from the oak in the barrels. The whiskey is taken in and out of the wood as it ages … Continue reading →

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Road to Louisville

Posted on February 24, 2019 by JohnMatel

In Louisville. CJ & I went to visit Jim Beam and then had supper at the local Gordon Biersch. Also visited Louisville Slugger. They are moving away from ash. More bats are made of harder maple these days. On the … Continue reading →

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Brunswick County Timber & Agriculture Conference

Posted on February 20, 2019 by JohnMatel

Forestry is the 3rd largest industry in Virginia (Agriculture is #1 followed by tourism). Brunswick County is Virginia’s leading timber producer and has been for the last decade. My forest lands are in Brunswick County, so I was delighted to go … Continue reading →

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The joy of being bullied

Posted on February 12, 2019 by JohnMatel

This week’s edition of “Story Worth” Did you have any serious accidents as a child? My regret about the many accidents I had as a kid was that the emergency hospital did not give out frequent flyer points, but I … Continue reading →

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Why burn?

Posted on February 10, 2019 by JohnMatel

Why Burn? People who know me know why we burn and what we are doing, but maybe some people who saw the post about our Brodnax burn don’t know me, so let me explain. Fire is an important factor in … Continue reading →

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Brodnax fire in February 2019

Posted on February 6, 2019 by JohnMatel

Great fire today. Seems the perfect fire. The rule is that black (char) is good. White (ash) is okay. Red (burned to the clay) is bad. My inspections found all black. And when I kicked under the duff, I found … Continue reading →

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February 3, Sunday

Posted on February 3, 2019 by JohnMatel

Not feeling well. I have the end of a cold that has migrated to the lungs. Think I will soon be okay, however.  Have to go to work tomorrow at State Dept. Working on the Columbia River Treaty.  Not sure … Continue reading →

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Have you lost any possessions that you really cared about? What were they?

Posted on February 2, 2019 by JohnMatel

Another “Story Worth essay Have you lost any possessions that you really cared about? What were they? The short answer is “no”, but that would make a very short and not very interesting essay. Maybe the reason I cannot think … Continue reading →

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