I’m not going to eulogize Ms. Parton. She was amazing, and if you think differently, well… you’re wrong. So I bring to you, Dolly’s first performance of Coat of Many Colors, from Jan. 13, 1970:
I’ve been a Dolly fan for years, and more than her music, I have loved her attitude. She understood how to give someone a hand up rather than a handout. And that’s what I remember her for. Rest easy on your bed of comfortable cotton, Ms. Parton. We miss you already.
This summer has been a ridiculously busy one, and real life kind of slapped us all in the face. Between car issues, truck issues, injuries, illnesses… we just haven’t been on here. And that needs to change. I’m going to be making a huge effort, though please excuse any hiccups between now and the end of September.
I’m going to throw some quick stuff together and hopefully I’ll manage to get my writing back in gear.
To give you a quick rundown of my summer, I spent early summer dealing with some minor but negative health things, and then went right into New Hampshire Renaissance Faire. I want to say, that was the most difficult and yet most satisfying year ever. We managed to raise over $147,000 for the NH Food Bank and over $97,000 for Rockford NH Meals on Wheels. All that by doing a fair that everyone loves anyhow. đ It’s my most important charity event of the year, and I give it everything I’ve got.
Because I gave it everything, I then missed a couple of events I’d intended on attending. I was just … spent. But I did 9 library gigs this spring and summer, I believe, and that was a real record for me. I love doing 18th century library gigs, but wow, that was a lot. I moved from those into Maine Ren, which was a full 3 weekends this year. You might not think that sounds like much, but it’s four days (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon) of hard labor for each weekend of fair. I managed to do something to my foot and ankle, so I missed yet another event after that one, so that I could take care of myself.
From there, I moved into Fort events, which are a little easier for me. I’ve made the sad but necessary decision to step away from my French F&I group, the Pequawket Alliance. I just don’t have enough time to do stuff with them. I’ll still see everyone when they come to the Fort, though, so it’s not an entire goodbye. Still, it was sad.
And then I missed the event I love doing every year, Hillsboro History Alive, because the truck’s alternator died. I was packed and ready to go, and then we fizzled. So I spent last weekend at home, sleeping and reading. I’m ashamed by just how much I needed that.
I have a handful more events this year. New library gigs may arrive, and I also have Auburn Duck Race Day (Sat. Sept. 12, 10am to 3pm, Auburn Village on Hooksett Rd, Auburn NH), the Timeline event at the Fort (Sept 26/27), Mayflower Market Days (Oct 17/18, in Plympton, MA), and the Hammond Castle Ren Faire days (Nov 7/8).
With more time on my hands, I’m sitting down to get caught up on my writing, which was sadly neglected since May. I’m working apace on my latest vampire novel, with a hope of getting it out for the xmas rush. That would be nice. đ
I’ll leave you with a little bit of the Working Man’s Blues:
This post is from a FB group called Collective Evolution. I’m sharing it here because it says a LOT.
***
A (Right leaning) friend posted this image on FB yesterday. I decided to comment:
Tomorrow morning (Friday, May 22nd), I’m leaving for the Fort at No. 4. I’ll be doing cooking and baking demos, first for school children on Friday and then for patrons on Saturday and Sunday. It’s also the week of the big Original Rendezvous, which you can tour if you visit the fort over the weekend. The Rendezvous covers the time from about 1740 to 1840 (roughly). There are mountain men, F&I folks, RevWar folks, and a lot of others. It’s a lot of fun, and highly educational. I encourage anyone and everyone to come visit me and the Rendezvous people!
I’ll be doing my first attempt at large batch baking this year. That means putting between 12 and 20 loaves of bread into the big bake oven, at least a few times during the week I’ll be there. No more “make 2 loaves at a time” stuff; it’s time to learn how to make a lot of loaves, as they would have back then. I’ll also be doing cooking for myself and my helpers, and making more notes for my 18th century cookbook.
Unfortunately, all that means I won’t be posting here. I do have some small access to internet there, but it’s sketchy and I generally don’t use it. This is my time to DISconnect from the world, and so I’ll be going dark here for the time I’m at the fort. I promise I’ll come back with tales of food cooked, bread baked, and new skills learned!
This is “the hut.” It’s a one story with short attic, built entirely by Chris and the kids. Some of it is finished, and the rest of it is, as you can see, still waiting on siding. However, today it received a major upgrade. The window is in! As you can see, the front window is now in place, allowing light to come in. Of course, now I have to make curtains for it, so people can’t see in, but whatever. It works. LOL…
This is Chris’s wood workshop. All his woodworking tools will be in here eventually. Quite a few are there already. Now that it’s in place, he’ll be able to get his woodworking done in a better way, and have GOOD storage for all his tools. On top of everything else, this has a really good roof, and is incredibly sturdy (and new of course, relatively speaking). It’s a good place to store stuff.
This is the same hut where our xmas decorations are stored, and where my historical stuff will go in the off season. The loft is high enough on one side that I can almost stand (at 5’1″, it’s a low bar…. a really, really low bar LOL) upright. With the winch setup, it’s easy to get things up and down. I can lift the xmas tree and heavy boxes without having to scale a sketchy ladder on my own, hoping I don’t trip or drop something expensive.
I think it looks pretty spiffy. It seemed to go in quickly, too, as Chris and son went to work on it and it appeared to take less than an hour. I’m impressed. And did I mention there’s room for all the woodworking stuff now? Yay!
Well, I just ordered the proof/galley copy of my latest book. It’s been professionally edited, updated, fixed, futzed with. Provided there aren’t any major problems with the galley, it should be available on Amazon within two weeks. This will be my fourth cookbook. Once it hits the screens/shelves, I can start serious work on my 18th century cookbook, which is long overdue.
This one is a story about bread. About half the book is anecdotal, stories of how I got from “can’t even make pucks” to “loaves like you get at fancy stalls at the farmer’s market.” The other half is recipes. There is one chapter dedicated to BREAD. There is a second chapter dedicated to bready things like bagels and babka and challah. There’s a third chapter called “Bread Adjacent” which is all things you eat WITH bread.
It’s my hope that this book will be of use to people who want to learn how to bake. It’s taken two years to get it from “written” to “published” (which, for the record, is pretty darn fast), and I’m glad to be done with it. We’re all on diets because of this book (because I have to test cook stuff, don’t blame me).
The back blurb:
Bread, stories, and second chances in the kitchen.
I spent years failing at bread. Every attempt ended in frustration, with inedible bricks or doughy masses. I was told my hands were too warm, that I kneaded too much or not enough, and that one day the mystical âsilky smoothâ stage would simply make sense. It did not. It took me years of practice, failures, successes, and work to finally perfect my baking skills.
This book is written for every beginner whoâs ever stared hopelessly into a bowl of dough that didn’t rise, for those who desperately want to bake but haven’t managed to succeed, and those who are just starting on their journey. It’s also a great collection of recipes for veteran bakers.
The first half of the book includes the real, often funny story of my own messy journeyâfrom a childhood with no baking at all, through years of setbacks and irritation, to the gradual discovery that good bread is possible for everyone.
The second half is filled with the approachable recipes that finally worked for me: straightforward loaves, comforting sandwich breads, crusty rustic rounds, and sweet treats, all written with the nervous beginner in mind. No intimidating jargon. No vague instructions. Just clear, patient guidance, honest troubleshooting, and the gentle encouragement you need to keep going.
Join me on this journey. Whether youâre baking your very first loaf or trying again after past disappointments, I hope these stories and recipes help you find the same. Never give up, and you’ll be baking delicious loaves in no time!
This is part of why I haven’t been writing on here. My usual typesetter has been so busy that he hasn’t been able to help. I am not a typesetter. I struggled. I think, I hope, I pray that I got it right. Whew.
I’ve actually been doing things and not focused on the blog.
We had a tree come down on the driveway. My son and I cleared the driveway, then found that the power company had tied a guy wire to the tree, so a huge chunk of the tree is dangling. I’m still waiting for them to come get that on the ground.
I’m all set to cut my first slabs using an Alaska Saw Mill (chainsaw gizmo). If that works, I’m going to be doing a bit of milling to get wood ready in a few years. But that side project is waiting for the weekend.
The hut hoist system is done. I took the chain hoist down. Cut the hand chain and then managed to weld it all back together. The amazing thing? With the hand chain being the correct length, not dragging on the floor, it is much faster and easier to use.
In a week or so, I’ll finally get the window in the hut. My son is ready to help with that. The great thing about getting the window in is that I can then finish the siding on that side of the hut. Since I’m not going to be depending on my daughter to paint, it will just get done. Shiplap siding on the exposed sides. But I’m just going with T1-11 for the hidden sides. Not because it is cheaper, which it might be, but because it will be faster to get up.
I’ve been experimenting with Grok as a writing assistant. It has done a darn good job on grammar checking. On fiction work it does ok. I still don’t have a good flow with it.
The thing that has burned most of my time? Teaching Grok and me to work together as a programming team.
Every time I work with Grok, I realize that there really is a skill in writing prompts.
The biggest thing I am seeing is that it sounds like you are talking to a person, but it is a person that will willingly let you walk into an open manhole because it thinks you’ve told it to be quiet.
I haven’t forgotten about you. I’m focusing on my mental health. And part of that is shooting range time! YES!
(AR-15 is now performing beautifully; time to zero that baby.)
Gang Member Convicted of Murder in âRetaliation Shootingâ at Norcross Hotel
A gang member was convicted of murder after a targeted retaliation shooting at a Norcross, Georgia hotel. The case involved gang-related violence where the defendant sought revenge for a prior incident, resulting in the death of the victim.1
Warrants: Greenville Man Arrested for Soliciting Gang Retaliation Shootings
A Greenville man was arrested on warrants for allegedly soliciting gang retaliation shootings. Authorities say he directed others to carry out violent reprisals on his behalf as part of ongoing gang conflicts.2
Complaint: 3 Charged in Alleged Gang Retaliation Shooting That Killed 26-Year-Old
Three individuals were charged in connection with a gang retaliation shooting that killed a 26-year-old. The criminal complaint details how the shooting was carried out as payback in a gang dispute.3
Former DA Says Stockton Shooting Shows Signs of Gang Retaliation
A former district attorney stated that a mass shooting in Stockton exhibited clear indicators of gang retaliation. The incident is being analyzed as part of a cycle of gang violence rather than a random event.4
I think we can all agree on how the word retaliation is used. It means tit for tat. It means you hit me so I am going to hit you back.
Retaliation is always in response to something. When we start digging into gang-related violence, we often find that retaliations are long-standing, with the original event long lost to time, with each side justifying their behavior as just a response to something else.
September 1, 1939â German forces crossed the Polish border at first light in a lightning campaign of coordinated tanks, infantry, and aircraft. Polish units have been driven back on all fronts as the German Army advances deep into western Poland.5
May 10, 1940 â In a stunning blow, the German Army has struck through the Ardennes Forest, bypassing the Maginot Line. Panzer columns have split the Allied armies, driving toward the Channel coast and threatening to cut off British and French forces in Belgium.6
June 22, 1941â At dawn this morning, more than three million German troops supported by thousands of tanks and aircraft crossed into Soviet territory along a vast front. The long-expected invasion of Russia is now underway with full fury.7
December 16, 1944 â German panzer divisions have launched a powerful surprise attack through the Ardennes in bitter winter weather. The enemy is attempting a desperate breakout toward Antwerp in what appears to be a major counter-offensive aimed at splitting American and British lines.8
When we are at war, we are not retaliating over anything. We have objectives that we are striving to achieve. These can be attacks on infrastructure, combat units, lines of communication, or command and control.
I am sure there are other types of targets.
These targets are all picked to achieve the goal of victory.
But let us look at a counterexample, the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo.
In April of 1942, sixteen B-25 bombers launched an attack from the USS Hornet while 650 nautical miles from Japan. They were targeting military targets in Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Nagoya, and Kobe.
This could have been seen as a retaliation mission, but it was not just retaliation. It had both tactical and strategic value.
The short-term tactical value was that they did destroy some military targets. In the grand scheme of things, the effect of that destruction likely went unnoticed on the front.
On a strategic scale, it was a huge success. It told the Japanese, in no uncertain terms, that the United States was still standing, still fighting, and could reach out and touch them in their homeland.
The results were long-lasting. The Japanese recalled parts of their fleet to the home waters to protect the islands. This reduced the forces available for active combat.
Was it retaliation for Pearl Harbor? More âNoâ than âYes.â
Iran threatens tit-for-tat retaliation against power plants
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a statement warning that any attack on its electricity infrastructure would prompt reciprocal strikes on Israel’s power plants and facilities supplying U.S. bases in the region. The declaration emphasizes proportional deterrence, stating “If you hit electricity, we hit electricity,” amid escalating threats from U.S. President Trump regarding Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.9
Iran’s retaliation forces Gulf nations into difficult choices
Following Israeli strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field, Tehran launched retaliatory attacks on energy sites in Gulf Arab states allied with the U.S. This has placed countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE in a dilemma: whether to fully align with the U.S.-Israel effort or face ongoing Iranian strikes, highlighting Iran’s strategy to widen the conflict and pressure regional neighbors.10
Iran vows retaliation if energy infrastructure is targeted
Iran’s deputy foreign minister and parliamentary speaker warned that threats to its power plants violate international law and would trigger proportional responses, potentially targeting regional energy and water facilities. The statements come as Iran continues retaliatory missile and drone strikes while facing U.S. and Israeli pressure over the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear sites.11
Trump’s ultimatum prompts Iranian retaliation threats
In response to President Trump’s 48-hour deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face destruction of its energy sites, Iranian officials doubled down on warnings of retaliation against critical infrastructure in the Middle East. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that such attacks would make energy facilities “legitimate targets,” raising fears of broader disruption to global oil and water supplies.12
To say that something is done in retaliation is to claim that an entity has no autonomy. They can only react.
This is a persistent theme from the left. They claim that the person doing a bad thing lacks autonomy. We see this over and over again.
The black kid did not have a choice; that is why he murdered that 80-year-old woman. She used a bad word on him.
Hamas is just responding to Israeli actions. They never would have done that without Israel first doing that âbad thing.â
And now we have Iran. Iran is acting like a child, retaliating for what is happening to them. They refuse to own their own choices. They are in the FO part of FAFO but they did not do anything to deserve it.
It is sickening to listen to the media frame Iranâs shooting missiles at civilian targets as âretaliation.â These are not military targets; these are terror targets.
It is the age-old method of these terrorist states and leftists. They tell you that they are going to do really bad things unless you let them do little bad things.
That is stopping. That is coming to an end. We will not be blackmailed by terrorists.
I finally noticed that I hadn’t been writing here. I was finding myself too busy to write. I wasn’t making the time to write. I was looking at the things I was interested in writing and deciding that you wouldn’t want to hear about it.
Yesterday I was at the hardware store. As I walked in the cashier called out “How are you doing?”
“Great!”
A bit later, another of the store employees saw me and also called out, “How are you doing?”
“Great!”
As I was checking out at the lumber counter, Keith came out and we chatted about the rail and trolley system I got up.
I was excited to talk about it, and he was happy to talk about his experiences with a trolley/hoist system.
As I came out of the store with a bounce to my step, I realized I was happy.
Maybe it was the sun shining. Maybe it was the snow melting. Maybe it was getting the trolley rail installed and a project nearly crossed of the list.
I do not know, but being happy feels good. I recommended it to all of you.
Maybe try it on for size?