Happy new year from the mountains in NW Shenandoah Valley, VA. We ring in the new year with a torchlight parade (skiers with road flares on sticks - 1970s style) down the main ski slope at midnight followed by epic fireworks. The grand bonfire is the Friday after Thanksgiving, summoning the Norse god of snow. Friends, libations, laughter, and gratitude is good for the soul out in the sticks where our world is small.
As an Iowan, I have to say what you shared is very true. Country folk have some different bits of culture for sure. Retired to Texas now, but my heart and hundreds of ancestors are still there. Thanks for that piece. It made me smile and warmed my heart.
Just this morning, I had to release an 8-point buck from the hog trap. It's rather exciting when the bucks trap themselves. We have a huge feral hog problem here that is a constant source of habitat destruction. I need to make some repairs on the trap now. Life in the country may be idyllic much of the time until it's not.
When we lived in Colorado Springs, we watched the fireworks at midnight off the top of Pikes Peak. We often played games with our adopted grandparents until they decided they wanted to be around their real grandkids and moved away.
We always have pork with sauerkraut, black eyed peas and collard greens. (Will add cornbread this year) Then on New Years Day we have Snow's Clam Chowder.
And Martinelli's Sparkling Apple cider but this year we are gonna spring for some Dom Perignon. And maybe a bonfire or at least one in the chiminea.
My parents weren’t big into New Years celebrations. As a kid the only ones I remember were when my much older brother was home on leave. Even then, pretty tame: Guy Lombardo on the B&W TV, maybe a sip of wine, that’s it. My late wife and I did it up big for 2000: hotel, tuxedo and ball gown, live band, etc. once was enough. Married again, will probably get up about 2330, watch the ball drop, and go back to bed.
Thank you! I would join if I could! I love the idea of a bonfire and hot drinks to close out the year under the night sky. Primal and necessary. God bless dear Casey, and The Country Gentleman. I do admire your direct-from-the-heart writing style!
Happy new year from the mountains in NW Shenandoah Valley, VA. We ring in the new year with a torchlight parade (skiers with road flares on sticks - 1970s style) down the main ski slope at midnight followed by epic fireworks. The grand bonfire is the Friday after Thanksgiving, summoning the Norse god of snow. Friends, libations, laughter, and gratitude is good for the soul out in the sticks where our world is small.
That...sounds...amazing.
As an Iowan, I have to say what you shared is very true. Country folk have some different bits of culture for sure. Retired to Texas now, but my heart and hundreds of ancestors are still there. Thanks for that piece. It made me smile and warmed my heart.
Iowa and Texas are both the plains. Different sides of the same coin. One grows the corn and the other feeds it to cows.
And deer, lots of corn ends up in deer tummies…
I was trying to explain to New Englanders how small the deer here are compared to those cornfed brutes.
Just this morning, I had to release an 8-point buck from the hog trap. It's rather exciting when the bucks trap themselves. We have a huge feral hog problem here that is a constant source of habitat destruction. I need to make some repairs on the trap now. Life in the country may be idyllic much of the time until it's not.
When we lived in Colorado Springs, we watched the fireworks at midnight off the top of Pikes Peak. We often played games with our adopted grandparents until they decided they wanted to be around their real grandkids and moved away.
We always have pork with sauerkraut, black eyed peas and collard greens. (Will add cornbread this year) Then on New Years Day we have Snow's Clam Chowder.
And Martinelli's Sparkling Apple cider but this year we are gonna spring for some Dom Perignon. And maybe a bonfire or at least one in the chiminea.
Happy New Year!!,🎉🔥
Snow's is the OG chowder.
My parents weren’t big into New Years celebrations. As a kid the only ones I remember were when my much older brother was home on leave. Even then, pretty tame: Guy Lombardo on the B&W TV, maybe a sip of wine, that’s it. My late wife and I did it up big for 2000: hotel, tuxedo and ball gown, live band, etc. once was enough. Married again, will probably get up about 2330, watch the ball drop, and go back to bed.
How you spend New Year's is how you spend the new year, but yours sounds pretty good.
Thank you! I would join if I could! I love the idea of a bonfire and hot drinks to close out the year under the night sky. Primal and necessary. God bless dear Casey, and The Country Gentleman. I do admire your direct-from-the-heart writing style!
Thank you, Will. It is the only way I know how to write. I am not good enough to fake sincerity.
It would be a disservice if you were!
Incredible growth!
Somehow I have got the tiger by the tail, now I need to learn how to ride it.