Mcintosh Lodge

Good news, we are getting rid of January and it only seems like it has been 3 months long! Covid has brought a new meaning to an old song (playing solitare till dawn with a deck of 51, smoking cigarettes and watching Kaptain Kangaroo now don't tell me, I have nothing to do). I am still attacking down trees, dead trees, brush, and have lowered my standards to picking up errant stick around the pasture. Darn sticks? Still no word from Ontario on the Border, I don't expect any ...until we get more vaccinations in people down here and up there so it may take a couple of months, I remain hopeful. Not enough ice to stand on but to much to cast through here in Nebraska. We had a lovely storm yesterday and got 10 to 16 inches of white glory in our area but at least it gave me some purpose. I have reduced my meaning of life to making wooden boxes of different shapes for the women in my life and beleive me there are plenty. (??) 100 year old wood is not easy to work with but neither are most people. I was raised with three sisters, then married and had two daughters and a female dog, Libby. For all you young guys who thinking about marriage you should really have a visit with me first. Old men have experience, but no one wants to listen to an old man, but give me a call. Keep your stick on the ice jonnie one paw See more

I thought I would wait a few days after the new year to make sure it was a new year. I am a product of the 60's so I often think of a song (I just dropped in to see what condition my condition is in) The verdict is still out. Christmas went by without a hitch, we did not travel or see anyone because in my daughters great wisdom, they told us we could not travel. It is great when Becky and I don't have to make any major decisions as some people deemed we are TOO OLD. It is a... troubled time in our country, we have had them before and we will have them in the future, democacy is a process. It is a great comfort to me to believe that God is Sovereign and he has a plan. I am glad and you should be too, that I am not in chage of the universe. I thought of my father on Wednesday past, as the protest crowd turned violent in Washington. My father was a staff sergeant in world war two, my uncle was a captain of a bomber flying out of England to Germany. My neighbor Tom, my old deer hunting partner, was a survivor of the Death march of Baton. I thought what would have they thought if they could have seen what happened at the Capitol Building. The patriotic thought is this: Walk forward, love your God and your country, don't complain about the past, live and serve for the future generations, leave them a gift. Keep your stick on the ice, Jonnie one paw See more

And there were in that same county fathers keeping watch over their homes at night, but going to work in the morning to make lots of money. And a smooth voiced television announcer came upon them and the glories of many fine prized possessions came upon them and they were so afraid that they could never be able to buy all the things their families wanted. And the television announcer said unto them, "Do not be afraid, I bring you tidings of great joy that will be for all the... fathers this day. For unto you in this city this day, there is a store where you will find your savior, our credit manager, and this will be a sign unto you: You will find this wondrous one, wrapped in red clothes and fake whiskers with a large Ho Ho Ho!" The wondrous one will be in our credit department where you may charge everything with no interest until Febr. And suddenly there was with the television announcer a multitude of television actors praising and saying, "glory on earth to Santa and on earth presents to all". And we are open until 9:00 every evening until Christmas Day. And it came to pass as the television announcer faded out of sight, the parents said to one another, let us go to his store and see this wonderous one. As they came they saw beautiful gold wrist watches, computer games and many other priceless gifts and also the wonderous one, and he said as he stood by the cash register, Ho Ho Ho. And they made their purchases and also made know to their neighbors and all they met that they were indeed having the best Christmas ever. But he credit manager kept all the time contracts in his safe and pondered all the interest he would gather.

One week closer to the end of this virus. I will walk to town naked to get a shot in both cheeks if necessary. I would not witness this because it creates a mental image that is difficult to erase and in this case impossible. The highights of the week is that my smear bric cheese is getting very ripe and expanding the plastic rap that encloses this nectar of the gods. Becky calls it the great contraceptive, but I call it delicious. My tabasco chessits were on sale so I boug...ht up the entire stock at our local grocier store. I have two new pairs of fleece lined jeans for outside work and mentioned that they were warm and fuzzy to my neighbor and he responded by saying, it sounds like my wife but she is more hairy than fuzzy. Saturday night we watch the Svengoule show, it is bad, but it is a date. The lows of this week was I caught another skunk, and yes it made a mess and even a metal hook can be penetrated by the odor. The lowest ebb was was last Wednesday. I knew it would happen some day, Becky put me in the car, with my two fishing poles, drove me to Pawnee City trout pond, helped me get my equipment and I sat on the picnic bench and fished for my little rainbows. She shopped and then picked up grandpa and took him home. The shame ws when my neighbor saw me slumped down and defeated without my pickup and freedom. Arg! Jonnie one paw See more

Christmas Season is upon us. Becky has decorated the outside of the house and yard, outdoor illumination done with great taste, not Griswaldish. The star on the windmill is no longer the rising star but more of a setting star. I only have one hand so climbing a windmill is not fun. Yup, the house is done too, it looks normal however Christmas is not normal this year as far as family celebrations and reunions. No travel plans are being made but we are thankful for Zoom so we... can see our familes and grandchildren. Good weather is back in Nebraska so the old mans trout hole is on for a couple of outings this week. The tourism groups of Ontario are working with the Ontario Government to get the border figured out and our vaccines should be on the way soon. I NEED A JOB! I have cut every tree that is bad, I have killed every weed on 160 acres, I have cleaned the shop several times since getting back from camp. Good grief, I have even trapped skunks and groud hogs for a fake job. One day I decided to trim my beard, I don't go anywhere and see anyone, but it seemed important and demanding, after that I cleaned our wood burning stove, why? Don't ask me, I just messed it up again. I NEED A JOB! Becky thinks I NEED A JOB! If you can think of any great purpose for me on this farm let me know, it would be appreciated. Save an old man, save a marriage, save what is left of my brain, help! johnnie one paw See more

We have survived Thanksgiving! Basically we hid on the farm. After lunch we drove to Pawnee City, Becky took a hour walk about town ( she found 6 beer cans in the ditch to recycle) and I sat in the old mans park and caught my five trout. For our menu we had a traditional pilgrams meal of lasagna and pie with ice cream. When you are older you can walk around with your pants unzipped, make bodily sounds, pick your teeth and eat what every you want and get by with it. I am no...t saying you can't do this when you are younger, but people will correct you. When you are older they have given up all hope. Well, in my case they gavd up hope a little earlier than that. Now we prepare for Christmas: I am in charge of cutting stinky cedar bows and delivering them to the yard. Becky is charge of everything including the delivery man. We will not be seeing family as Covid keeps on growing in our area as well as in Wisconsin where our family is living. I do have some advice to all mcintosh lodge men: Red Green said it well, "if the women don't find you handsome, at least they should find you handy." This translates that they are getting darn tired of looking at you because you never go anywhere. So either have a man room in the shop like I do or try to be helpful and quiet this Holiday Season. The man's prayer goes like this "I'm a man and I can change if I have to, I guess. Amen. See more