Dateline: 28 February 2013
Dear Friends and Other Readers,
For the first time ever, I have come to the last day of the month without a blogazine to post. Nothing. This letter will have to suffice.
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The picture above is not of the best quality but it blessed me to see it. That is my now-10-month-old grandson, Jaxson. He is "reading" my book, Writings of a Deliberate Agrarian.
As I was putting that book together I thought to myself that maybe someday my grandchildren (and maybe even great grandchildren) would read it. And there is grandchild #1.
Jaxson & his parents are in Oklahoma. When I see that little guy on Skype I am simply amazed because he looks exactly like me when I was little. He looks more like me than any of my three sons did. It is uncanny. I wish my mother were alive to see him.
Later this year my son, the US Army soldier, will be discharged and return home with his wife and Jaxson. I am looking forward to getting young Jaxson started on his Christian-agrarian studies. :-)
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There is no carefully-prepared blogazine this month because I've been focused on getting my next book finished. It's slow going. I have 78 pages done. There are a lot of illustrations to do. That, and the page layout is taking a lot of time. I'm shooting for around 120 pages. It will be the biggest book I've ever self-published. I have to get it done and handed off to the printer before the end March. If I can do that I'll be making it available for pre-publication ordering at a reduced price next month when I post here.
The Planet Whizbang Idea Book For Gardeners will be a unique gardening book. There is nothing else like it on the market, and there probably never will be again (unless I publish a 2nd Volume). You won't get a book like this from the big publishing companies. It will be loaded with ideas. If you like to garden, I guarantee you will like this book. You will learn things that no other gardening book on the market will learn you.
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I managed to post a single excerpt to my Agrarian Nation web site this month. It's from the 1873 Cultivator & Country Gentleman newspaper. Here's a link: The Kerry Cattle
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I have been listening to computer radio programs while working on my new book. And today I heard an interview with Allan Carlson that was excellent. I've mentioned Mr. Carlson and some of his books here in the past (more than once). For those who don't know, Allan Carlson is a historian. I think it's safe to say he is a Christian-agrarian historian. I encourage you to listen to the interview at this link: Who Killed Family Economies in the 20th Century?—Capitalism or Communism.
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Last month I told you about the tyrannical new gun restrictions that were passed in my state. When I went to my February town board meeting I took a resolution for the board to consider passing. The resolution calls for the governor and Legislature to suspend and repeal the new laws. The town board passed it unanimously. The best politics is local. Here is what it says:
Resolution by the Town Board of Sempronius, New York
Dated February, 18, 2013
There is a growing grassroots uprising in New York state against the NY SAFE Act. As I write this, 30 out of 63 County legislatures in New York have passed resolutions calling for repeal of the new gun restrictions. 21 other county legislatures have resolutions pending.
My town is the first in our county to pass such a resolution, and we passed it before our county government passed theirs. Others will surely follow. If you live in New York and are concerned about this issue, This Link will keep you informed on the status of repeal resolutions. If your town has not passed a resolution, ask them to consider doing so.
As far as I know, this kind of groundswell reaction against a new law is unprecedented for New York. Something very significant is happening.
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Marlene and I have been reading about the health benefits of coconut oil. I am now taking a tablespoon of virgin organic coconut oil every day. I take it in my coffee.
It is my custom to drink a single cup of coffee every morning and for the past couple of months I've made my cup of coffee as per the following "recipe".....
To one cup of caffeinated coffee, add: 1 tablespoon of coconut oil, heavy cream to your liking, maple syrup to your liking, a good dose of ground cinnamon. Blend to a froth. Enjoy.
Marlene says it has too many calories for her.... so she sips some of mine.
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(click to see an enlarged view) |
You will see a patchwork of carefully-managed small fields and farms. They are family farms, worked with horses and mules. It is quite a sight.
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That's all for this month. This post is a gift to those readers who complain that my regular blogazines are too long. :-)
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Never complained here!!! So glad to see so many of your dreams come true for you and Marlene ,and I am looking forward to your new book . Congratulations on everything ! And thank you for always giving me something to think about in a ew way.Karen
ReplyDeleteNew way,,LOL
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you that your kids and Jaxson will be returning home soon. What a joy! Our Jackson is now 9 and Caleb will arrive in 3 weeks. Nothing like grand-kids nearby.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your book; I have already learned so much from you.
God Bless!
Can't wait for your book!
ReplyDeleteAdd a pinch of salt to that coffee and it would be a perfect metabolic pick-me up in the morning. I put half and half, molasses, and salt in mine in the morning. Wonder, why salt? I recently read the book Eat for Heat by Matt Stone (and many of his blog posts at www.180degreehealth.com ). I've been majorly helped by adding salt to my intake at the right times during the day for me (morning in particular).
Also, coconut oil is amazing stuff. It's so beneficial and stable. If you find the coconut taste or price tag of the virgin oil objectionable, the refined stuff (even the good old "76 degree" coconut oil) has the same fatty acid profile which makes the oil so beneficial. You can get the same benefits without the taste or the cost.
I have never complained that your posts are too long. I wait ALL month to hear from you. Guess I'll have to wait and pray that next month it's back to business as usual with your blog.
ReplyDeleteKevin Swanson is a much needed voice for our country, churches and families. Glad to see that we both listen to his program. Take care and God bless you in Christ.
ReplyDeleteoh they are never too long! I'm looking forward to your book :)
ReplyDeleteWho would ever say your posts are too long???? That is just crazy talk. I read every wonderful bit, again and again. So much really good stuff..... thank you. I will definitely be buying your new book.... hurry, hurry, hurry..... Cheers always,
ReplyDeleteHerrick,
ReplyDeleteYour son and his family must be at Ft. Sill. Tell him that if he gets lonesome for the farm before he can get home they are always welcome here. We'd love to meet them. judithlbowman at gmail dot come.
The aerial photo of the homesteads is fascination. So much nicer than concrete cities where one can barely grow food to eat. I am going to listen to the radio program with Mr. Carlson. It sounds interesting. Thanks for the link. Congrats on the passing of the suspend and repeal resolution. It would be rather wonderful if your grandson grows up to be a Christian agrarian like you. And, being a morning coffee drinker, I've just got to try your recipe.
ReplyDeleteIt encourages me to see that the good people of rural New York aren't going to just roll over for gun restrictions.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit New York more often (my children live there)but won't go because of draconian gun laws and my concealed permit is not recognized.
Your grandson is adorable.You & Marlene have a lot to be proud of.
Best wishes,
K.Grossman
Herrick - Looking forward to the book release.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I traveled with a local bus group to Albany for the big anti-SAFE Act protest. We've never formally protested anything before but the new gun law has crossed my threshold of tolerance.
Many of us are hoping we won't need to leave our homes in New York but we will do just that before we are disarmed.
John L.
Herrick,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the letter, even in an extra-busy season for you. Blessings on your book-work.
Btw, every wife knows that there are fewer calories in your husband's coffee (etc), we just don't choose to admit that historically-secret weight management tip all that often...
Best regards from a longtime reader,
Deelight
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThanks every one for your comments here!
ReplyDeleteJohn— I'm glad you and your family made it to the protest. Several friends of mine went.
Granny—A lot of New Yorkers are heading to PA to get a PA pistol permit in addition to their NY permit because the PA permit is accepted by so many states and the NY permit is accepted by so few (because NY will not accept theirs). I have the paperwork. A drivers license and two references is all that's needed. They'll mail the license in a couple weeks. I know people who have done it.
Anonymous— I have removed your comment with link. I assume you are associated with the web site. I'm not going to comment on your web site or promote it here. It would be foolish of me to get in the middle of that.
Great news regarding your leadership in passing the Town Board resolution. Thank you. America is sorely lacking men with conviction and the courage to stand against tyranny. You inspire me.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards,
Muns
Hello Fredrick,
ReplyDeleteI'm not able to find a copy of Divided We Stand: The Crisis of a Frontierless Democracy, by Walter Prescott Webb. (Well there is one hardcopy on Amazon for Can you share your copy? I'm well acquainted with Frederick Jackson Turner's writings. I'd like to read Webb.
Regards,
Muns
I guess some men don't care about the truth, as long as they can remain comfortable why bother with it right? I have met you Herrick and expected more from you but I hope that that works for you. You have promoted Michael Bunker on your website, and you were ok with that, but if someone has a differing view than yours I guess they are not to be heard, that is why we made the website. This is your website and you can do as you will, I will respect that, I just thought that you would want to know the truth. Forgive me for thinking so. Sincerly, Chris Woods
ReplyDeleteHerrick, I should not have written the stuff above and i ask for your forgiveness. This is your site and i respect that. Sincerly, Chris Woods
ReplyDeleteMuns—
ReplyDeleteI intend to republish Webb's book on the internet. He self-published it and it was something of a sensation at the time. I don't have a clue who I would ask permission of so I'll just do it. There is a lot of historical value in the book.
Perhaps I can start posting chapters to the internet after I get my current gardening book published, with the goal of getting it all online by the end of the year. It's not a large book.
Chris—
No problem. I forgive you, and wish you nothing but the best.
Great, really looking forward to reading.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you help,
Muns
Herrick, I am looking forward to a real, old-fashioned Deliberate Agrarian blog post this month. I can't wait to read what you have in store for us in March.
ReplyDeleteEagerly awaiting your March post!
ReplyDeleteDiane in TX