First of all, it’s not Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually celebrated in September sometime. This cool day commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over Napoleon III’s French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. We were busy doing other things up here at the time, and Confederate forces were occupying the Farm. As you […]

(This image from the Times-Exponent shows what was planned for the Rapidan Front area of our county just south of Refuge Farm. It was proposed as 1,800 acres of black “green” glass, which means it is “renewable” in that it must be replaced every thirty years or so.) We are fighting again here in Culpeper […]

(Still image from CIA recruiting ad welcomed across the country, demonstrating we are all either what, or what not, is needed for duty in a complex and challenging world). It was a delightful country morning in the Piedmont. The tree that was falling toward the fence and the lower pasture gate has been handled adroitly […]

The Piedmont of Virginia is lethargically casting off the artificial swaddle of the Holy Day, and getting back to work with enthusiasm and vibrant energy. Or something. We hosted a splendid luncheon with the Russians on a lovely Sunday afternoon. A superb roast, dynamic mashed potatoes, broccoli with delightful piquant cheese sauce, and fresh vegetable […]

You may have been celebrating the old holiday the old way. Which is to say, there was a pagan tradition that roundly welcomed the return of the warm season. We will speak softly, just in case. The old festival of Bacchus was transmogrified into a Christian celebration in Germany under the tender ministrations of St. […]

It was the usual. Grace wore her painting clothes, not the white gloves or colorful Sunday Best, since that would be tomorrow. I wore the usual, a moderately appropriate summer aloha shirt, and since the nice couple from the Midway Museum Library were stopping by, I got out the old flight jacket to enhance the […]

The Head Shed got the note last night. It was forwarded by a source who has reported reliably in the past, and the alert was sent shortly before the President came on. Mr. Socotra wanted the word out, generally, but specifically wanted to know how to step up to the new….sorry. Almost used one of […]

We are at mid-week and the Editorial Board of Socotra House was flummoxed. You know, from long experience, we do not use terms like that lightly. But the Hundred Days of Mr. Biden’s term has been astonishing, and is worthy of celebration. They have arranged for him to address two hundred assorted people at the […]

Editor’s Note: Some alien being has claimed use of my name and may be sending mail appealing for some sort of impolite relief from everyone in my address book. Please do not reply, open or click on an attachment from any email address purporting to be using my full name but with some unfamiliar address. […]

So, morning. Delightful. The air over the Piedmont is calm and not intrusive. And there is an opportunity to leave the property! That said, exiting The Farm Bubble has its challenges. Not a crisis, per se, but the seventy miles between here and the Mercedes service shop is a fairly big deal. You and I […]