Author Archives: JohnMatel

Oak, shortleaf & snow

Posted on February 20, 2020 by JohnMatel

Snow. The weather man said that the moisture came all the way from the Sea of Cortez, like a river in the atmosphere and then some sort of kink in the jet stream. I did not understand exactly what they … Continue reading →

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My Virginia

Posted on February 15, 2020 by JohnMatel

My Virginia I am a Wisconsin guy by birth and a Virginian by choice. I have been in Virginia, with gaps for diplomatic duty, since 1984. Some people say that you cannot be a Virginia unless your family has been … Continue reading →

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Canadian Provinces

Posted on February 7, 2020 by JohnMatel

I attended “The Premiers’ Perspective: A Canada-U.S. Relations Outlook for the New Decade” at Wilson Center on February 7, 2020.  It was advertised as “a conversation with the Honourable Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Premier … Continue reading →

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Planting more trees and my new ATV

Posted on February 5, 2020 by JohnMatel

Chrissy told me not to get any more trees, but someone cancelled a longleaf order and I got two more boxes, 668 trees, native Virginians from Garland Grey. There was no other choice. So back to work filling in places … Continue reading →

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Lexington Virginia

Posted on January 31, 2020 by JohnMatel

When I saw the statue I thought it might be Robert E Lee and I would have to feign outrage. This was Washington and Lee University after all. Closer inspection revealed it was Cyrus McCormick. All those old guys with … Continue reading →

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George C Marshall

Posted on January 31, 2020 by JohnMatel

George C Marshall did not write memoirs. He was dedicated to his country & his duty. He gave credit to others, even for things he mostly did. He did not promote himself, never acted for political motives did not even … Continue reading →

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2020 Brodnax fire

Posted on January 30, 2020 by JohnMatel

I “identify” as a good looking 24-year-old man. Unfortunately, intolerant and un-PC nature will not forgive those four decades and insists on treating me like I was 64. I am getting old and this is the end of a long … Continue reading →

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Forest health conference

Posted on January 27, 2020 by JohnMatel

I have to get a new battery. My car would not start this morning and I had to call USAA to get a jump start.  That made me late for the forest heath conference.  I don’t regret that too much.   … Continue reading →

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Busy couple of days

Posted on January 18, 2020 by JohnMatel

Lots of variety. Thursday I was planting trees. Yesterday, I did some WAE work for State and watched Espen Matel band play. Today, I am writing up. Most of it is just personal, but I need to write up notes … Continue reading →

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The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

Posted on January 5, 2020 by JohnMatel

What influences us? We often do not know because very profound influences come in small packages. The picture above is a good example. I took that picture more than ten years ago (October 2009) at a conference on creating bobwhite … Continue reading →

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