State park trail entry point.

Journey Home

Tales from the pilgrimage.

Music

  • Tomatoes in Big Grove

    On a cool Saturday morning I planted 20 varieties of tomatoes on my bench in the garage. There has been a home-garden tomato crop at almost every place we lived since we married in 1982. I am a couple days late getting seeds into channel trays compared to last year. If all goes well, there… Read more

  • Why Not a Les Paul?

    When I played in a band, there were about a half dozen six-string, electric guitars to use. Either a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster, a Gibson Les Paul or an SG, and maybe, just maybe, a Gretsch, Epiphone or Rickenbacker. There were others, but those are the ball game. In 1974, I bought a Fender Telecaster… Read more

  • Heat Wave

    If you do not like the song Heat Wave by Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland something may be wrong with you. Few things characterized my youth like listening to the Martha and the Vandellas recording on my hand-held, red transistor radio. It would not seem like summer in 1963 and ’64 without… Read more

  • Favorite Concerts

    Beginning with a Herman’s Hermits concert at Davenport’s Municipal Stadium on Aug. 27, 1966, I’ve attended a lot of live musical performances. In this post, I write about some that stand out. They are listed in chronological order. Van Morrison – On April 3, 1970, I saw Van Morrison play at the Fillmore East in… Read more

  • We’re Going Home – Gordon Lightfoot

    Gordon Lightfoot passed on Monday. Early Morning Rain was on my playlist when I performed on the guitar. It is one of my favorite songs of any artist. May he rest in peace. Read more

  • Juke Box – She Had Me at Heads Carolina

    Maybe I’m making too much of the song “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” by Cole Swindell. It says a lot about contemporary culture in the context of the decline in public schools. “Heads Carolina, tails California”Maybe she’d fall for a boy from South GeorgiaShe’s got the bar in the palm of her handAnd she’s… Read more

  • Juke Box – Don’t Dream It’s Over

    There is something about the Hammond B-3 organ. We’ll look back on these coronavirus pandemic videos with fondness one day, I predict. (hat tip to David Shorr). Make it a great weekend! Read more

  • After the Democratic Primary

    Iowa and the country are heading into a weird place. The combination of isolated lives made more so by the pandemic, social media, and unceasing stimulus from people and corporations wanting to convince us of something brought us here. The sense of loss is palpable. I miss the political environment we had when I was… Read more

  • Juke Box – Garden Song

    Inch by inch, row by row. That’s how a gardener builds a life. I need a couple of days away from the blog after 97 daily posts in a row. While I’m gone, here’s Arlo Guthrie teaching us how to sing a song. Hope you have a happy time zone! Read more

  • Juke Box – Canned Goods

    Greg Brown’s story about Iowa is one I’d like to believe. Read more