The Mountain benefited from a good six-hour drenching early Tuesday morning. I’m smart enough to know when to go out in the rain, too, and I did — no hat and no jacket, letting the tonic wash over me.
I noticed for the first time that Spanish needles, aka shepherd’s needles, came back this year. (Taxonomically speaking, that’d be Bidens alba, which are the only Bidens permitted on The Mountain.)
There’s a nice little stand of it on the driveway level at the crest of the bank. Several healthy-looking plants.
I talk a lot about “volunteers” because I’m intrigued by what pops up in my accidental garden. Now in its second full growing season, it’s doing just what I hoped it would.
Back indoors, Smudge enjoyed an all-day break from the heat. I did laundry, a bit of housekeeping and some light reading having nothing to do with divorce, politics or home improvement.
Somehow I was drawn into vintage (’60s, ’70s) music videos, folkies like “Early Mornin’ Rain” (Gordon Lightfoot) and “Four Strong Winds” (Ian Tyson), and a James’n’Joni duet of “You Can Close Your Eyes.” I have no clue what possessed me to go there.
I don’t know no love songs
James Taylor (1970)
And I can’t sing the blues anymore
Recently I’ve been digging into videos preserving the genius of two guitarists whose like we’ll never see again. I’m talkin’ ’bout Glen Campbell and Roy Clark — and honestly, the label “guitarist” insults them both.
Glen also could command banjo, mandolin and bass, and believe it or not, he played bagpipes. His voice, at the height of his powers, was incomparable. Roy was a wizard on banjo, fiddle and mandolin, and he also played harmonica.
These guys were true masters, and underrated ones at that. Each had stage presence that shames today’s packaged and auto-tuned “artists.”
See for yourself:
It’s interesting (to me) that both signature pieces are performed on Ovation guitars, a brand which I myself once owned. Glen Campbell plays “William Tell Overture” on an Ovation Bluebird (electric), while Roy Clark plays “Malagueña” on an Ovation Adamas (acoustic).
But the best part — and maybe you’d have to play to grasp what this means — is that Roy and Glen are shredding, flawlessly, 12-string guitars.
They were The Best.
Amazon originally estimated that the 30A 240VAC receptacle I ordered for the through-the-wall air conditioner would be here today, Wednesday. It was out for delivery on Monday, however, two days ahead of schedule — and then, for reasons not explained, it was postponed until yesterday.
Okay, fine.
When 3pm rolled around and there was no indication that it was out for re-delivery, I decided to drive to Miller Hardware and see if their shipment had come in. It had, and I bought the receptacle there.
I’ll return the one coming by way of Amazon.
The afternoon errand put me in town when Crooked Creek Pub was open, for a change, and it was comfortable enough back in the cabin that I wouldn’t have to worry about leaving Smudge a little longer. I looked forward to seeing proprietors LouAnn and Paul, of course, but there was someone else I wanted to meet.
That (pictured) is “Bandit,” a 12-week-old Heeler and now the official Pub Dog. Yes, he’s adorable, and he’s a real sweetheart. I got lots of kisses.
It’ll be fun watching him grow up.
On my way home, once again I was taken by the clouds.
We’ve had some stunning skies here lately.
Today, now that I have all of the electrical parts in-hand, work will begin on the air conditioner. We’ll test it first — keep your fingers crossed for us.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable