I sit here on this eve of the eve of Christmas wrapping up loose ends as much as possible before the final countdown to the festivities begins. I’m never far from email and I have been known to slide work into celebration hours, but I try to avoid having anything pressing. I want any such interaction to be strictly voluntary.

Projects that require little contact with others are lined up for the mid-holiday week. One never knows others’ availability. It took a few years to learn not to depend on it. I guess the voluntary rule applies through the whole stretch.

It will be 2016 by the time this desk and household see anything resembling regular routine, a concept with a sketchy definition here in the best of circumstances. Continue reading →

And once again a blog entry is long over due.

“I want to write a blog,” she said.

“I’ve done a weekly newspaper column. Regular blog entries will be a piece of cake,” she said.

“I’m never really at a loss for words,” she said. (In my defense, several people agreed with me on that one.)

I could claim I’ve been busy. That would be correct. Not a good excuse, perhaps, but correct.

I’ve done a bit of driving down unfamiliar roads, talked to some interesting folks, explored some innovative new ideas. Those are the things that make my job fun. I still have to occasionally pinch myself and make sure it’s real I get to do all that for a living. Continue reading →

It’s a rainy Friday morning.

The few sprinkles on the sunporch roof have turned to a downpour.

Still, I sit with the sliding doors open – enjoying the view.

I’m in the midst of a meaty story (no, that’s not a reference to it pertaining to beef). It’s one that requires many varied sources, much research, and deep thought. A good old investigative journalism exercise.

I love these projects. They can be time and mind consuming – but the weighty challenge is a nice balance to some of the simple things I do. Oh, I appreciate the one-source, one-topic paychecks. They are my bread and butter. And I learn something new every time. But once in awhile it’s nice to put on the figurative scuba gear and dive in. Continue reading →

If there’s a theme to this season, it appears to be peaches.

Recent travels produced heaven on earth in the form of peach pie. An amazing visit with old friends (Yes, it’s been much too long. And, yes, I’ve missed laughing with you, too.) introduced me to a tasty peach cocktail (or three). Now, a friend has offered fresh, Iowa peaches for the taking.

They’re the Iowa variety – small, white, sweet.

I filled a bucket.

The excess will go into the freezer. It will be nice to feast on Iowa’s bounty this winter. Continue reading →

I’ve been on the road for a few days. A work assignment.

The project found me headed to DeSoto, Missouri. If you’ve never heard of it, and kind of like Fontanelle, Iowa, you probably haven’t, it’s about an hour southwest of St. Louis.

With an eight-hour drive each way, I took the liberty of making it a three-day affair, something I rarely do. I can usually drive to my destination, conduct my interviews, and get back home in two. But coming on the end of a long, hectic summer – it made for a nice break, a chance to catch my breath.

I’m usually good for a road trip. I get my cooler, music, and maps in tow, then just hit the road. What I don’t have planned I make up as I go. That’s the fun of it.

I pulled into my motel in Festus, about half an hour from story territory, mid-afternoon Friday, in time to settle in before heading out to the farm. Continue reading →