Author Archives: JohnMatel

Forest visit on a perfect June day

Posted on June 15, 2020 by JohnMatel

2018 at this time at this link I feel much better now. I was feeling anxious, what with the covid-19, all the protests and the general political malaise. Then I recalled that I needed to separate the urgent (news, about … Continue reading →

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Fathers’ Day

Posted on June 11, 2020 by JohnMatel

When you read what you wrote a few years ago, it seems written by someone else. I recycle it here. I suggest you also click on the original post, since it has added insight from relatives who knew my father … Continue reading →

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Freeman in June

Posted on June 11, 2020 by JohnMatel

For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. This is the time for the first big flush of wildflowers in Virginia. Many will bloom throughout the summer and some will come into season periodically … Continue reading →

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Linden

Posted on June 7, 2020 by JohnMatel

I have been doing a lot of walking lately. Weather is nice and I have a lot of audio books. My book now is “The Open Society and its Enemies”, a classic of the philosopher of science Karl Popper. It … Continue reading →

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Beer in the time of plague

Posted on June 7, 2020 by JohnMatel

Still not back to normal, but getting there. You have to wear a mask to get in, but once you are at the table, you can drink your beer in peace. Hard to drink with the mask. We are at … Continue reading →

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D-DAY

Posted on June 6, 2020 by JohnMatel

Anniversary of D-Day. Both my father and Chrissy’s father landed at Normandy. Although neither took part in the first assaults, both got purple hearts later in the war. My father rarely talked about his war experience and I am sad … Continue reading →

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Cutting among the longleaf

Posted on June 1, 2020 by JohnMatel

I had the option of staying home an watch TV of rioters robbing liquor stores, or do something useful on the farms. I spent the day on the farms, mostly cutting around longleaf on Brodnax, but also just enjoying the … Continue reading →

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Good and perfect

Posted on May 31, 2020 by JohnMatel

This technique is employed big time by the self styled “moral leaders” of our society. We can always imagine better than anybody can achieve, so you are guaranteed to be right when you say that anybody, anywhere at anytime is … Continue reading →

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Spring walk

Posted on May 31, 2020 by JohnMatel

Wonderful spring day. I went for a long walk and listened to audio books, a good combination. I also got to observe changing nature and took some pictures. I have been thinking about lawns. We have too many “perfect” lawns … Continue reading →

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Milwaukee ethnics

Posted on May 28, 2020 by JohnMatel

When you drive through the older parts of Milwaukee, you might notice the large number of churches or former churches. The reason is partly explained by this map, if you understand the underlying culture(s). Milwaukee, like many Midwestern cities, had … Continue reading →

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