Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about birthday “kaka” and a bowl of extra long Chinese noodles. The word “cake” is from the ancient Viking word “kaka,” a sweetened patty made with flour and honey. Our fancy birthday cakes have come a long way since a piece of kaka in Norseland. Bakery shelves now offer a carnival parade of birthday cakes   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about how Methodists consistently serve the best quality and variety of foods compared to other Christian denominations. Since I was raised a Baptist and have also been a card-carrying member of Presbyterian and Lutheran churches I consider myself a bit of a church food gourmet. I have also consumed beverages and dined at Catholic gambling   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about how I take my septic tank for granted. For most of my life I enjoyed “city” water and “city” sewer systems. I paid some vague quasi-governmental board a monthly honorarium and in return a magical occurrence happened each time I turned on a faucet or flushed. I don’t know where any of the water   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about a chance meeting I had with a man carrying a couple of over-sized metal briefcases. I was only with him for about an hour and can’t even remember his name, but I have placed him at the near top of my list of all-time American heroes. I should clarify that he wasn’t a seven-foot   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about our national park restrooms and how park volunteers provide clear and crisp directions to them…sometimes under quite stressful circumstances. Millions of visitors ask millions of wide-ranging questions from “When do the waterfalls get turned on?”… to “Where do I go to see a bear?” but the numero uno question by far (insert drum roll)   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about how thankful we should be that we don’t live in Massachusetts. Massachusetts always seem to be in a hurry and most of them honk their horns more times in one day than I have in my entire lifetime. They also talk funny and don’t know how to make sweet tea, but my conclusion is   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about how food tastes so much better when it is peeled or cut by an old well-seasoned pocket knife. Pocket knives undergo the same ancient aging process as Chinese woks or cast iron skillets. It is common knowledge that a wok pot or an old iron skillet improves flavor as the burnt lard and fried   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about a special tree that has exploding seed pods and blooms flowers after all of its leaves fall off. It is my favorite autumn tree of the 135 different species that blanket the Great Smoky Mountains. Yellowstone National Park does have a faithful geyser, but only a measly 30 different species of trees. Folks in   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about how most of America’s early explorers and pioneers owned just one pair of shoes. When John Wayne rode off into the sunset you never saw a half-dozen pairs of shoes flopping across his saddle. He won the entire West owning one pair of cowboy boots and (judging by his stride) that pair didn’t even   Read More ...

Well, this past week I was looking down into the holler toward Webb’s Creek thinking about Phase II of my personal economic recovery and stimulus plan; entering sweepstakes. A while back a suited panel on FOX TV said the world was coming to an economic end so I decided I better start using grocery store coupons. I implemented Phase I, coupon management, with excitement and anticipation of huge savings in   Read More ...