APLACECALLEDMERRYMOUNT

Sparkling; Come take a sip! From my aplacecalledmerrymount.com, I connect to Annie Dillard, who passed away on September 15, 2026: … Writing is too hard to waste on the weirdness of your daily life, or at least on mine. I love to sock the reader into some odd time and place and let him breathe there and love it, and love the world for having such a place — and then to call for fireworks there with only a ballpoint pen. Possible books abound; I’d rather write an impossible pa

Humpty Trumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Trumpty had a GREAT fall. All the King's horses, and All the King's men, Couldn't put Trumpty together again! CPW

Does my vote matter? Good question, but until state laws change, the answer is YES, it is our primary way to have a voice in how we govern ourselves. Do we support giving every citizen an equal voice, or do we allow the wealthiest among us to decide our fate? On November 3, 2026, we have an opportunity to answer these questions. Citizens United In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court in the Citizens United vs FEC case effectively blocked the ability to enact limits on campaig

Trick or Treat! As we prepare for Halloween this week, I decided to treat you with a few tricks from the Woliver cauldron. Enjoy! Hallowed be you this week! Dancing with the Stars CPW

Reward Tired and hungry, late in the day, impelled to leave the house and search for what might lift me back to what I had fallen away from, I stood by the shore waiting. I had walked in the silent woods: the trees withdrew into their secrets. Dusk was smoothing breadths of silk over the lake, watery amethyst fading to gray. Ducks were clustered in sleeping companies afloat on their element as I was not on mine. I turned homeward, unsatisfied. But after a few steps

Reflection Who is this guy Whose image From a Selfie Is captured For you to see? In his mind's eye, Who does he see? Is he Narcissus? No, he's just me. -CPW As I gazed at this Selfie, I was reminded of a wonderful poem by William Butler Yeats entitled “Girl’s Song”. Girl’s Song I went out alone To sing a song or two, My fancy on a man, And you know who. Another came in sight That on a stick relied To hold himself upright; I sat and cried. And that was all my song – When ever

On October 6, I will celebrate my 74th birthday. Please allow me to share with you this birthday song by Willie Nelson: Dusty Bottles There's something to be said for gettin' older Dusty bottles pour a finer glass of wine An old beat-up guitar just sounds better And wisdom only comes with time I can spot mistakes before they happen Separate the BS from the truth I'm learnin' when I need to keep my mouth shut Like I couldn't in my wild and wasted youth Don't get me wrong It's

Leona Baker Woliver (1906-1986) Leona was known to me as "Granny", my paternal Grandmother. I have many fond memories of our thirty-four years together, and during those years, she would often say to me, "I love you so good," and "Bless your sweet Heart." I recently came across a hand-written letter from her that I am sharing with you. It is, for me, a treasure. In an article for the NYT entitled "The Case for Handwritten Letters", Elizabeth Passarella wrote, "Research

Yesterday, while unpacking a box, I came across my doctoral thesis entitled “ROBERT WARD’S THE CRUCIBLE: A CRITICAL COMMENTARY”. I, inadvertently, opened it to discover a letter from Robert Ward dated September 21, 1986 (40 years ago?). GOLLY! Documentation: from an earlier post: In the 1980’s, I became closely associated with a Pulitzer prize winning opera (The Crucible) by Robert Ward based upon a play by the same name by Arthur Miller. I sang roles in two productions; in

September 20, 1891 On September 20, 2020, I published a blogpost entitled, “Another Place at Another Time: Ivanovka on September 20, 1891”. In it, I asked you to indulge my romantic fantasy that involved a bit of time travel. Now, six years later, I ask you once again to return to Ivanovka through this piece of historical fact and fiction. FACT: the great Russian composer/pianist, Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) completed Two Pieces (Valse, Romance) 135 years ago today at t

According to AI, noosphere is the “sphere of human thought,” a philosophical concept describing the “planet of reason” or global consciousness formed by human minds, culture, and technology. As in the past, it is my intent to share with my readers information that happens to be on my mind and perhaps connects to current and past events on our “planet of reason.” Rarely do I have an original thought, but often I encounter information from the noosphere that serendipitously al

Wendell Berry (August 5, 1934-August 31, 2026) After his years at the work he most wanted to do, where he most liked to do it, with the ones whose company he most enjoyed, his rest came long and deep. After love, sleep. -Wendell Berry, from Another Day, Sabbath Poems, 2013-2023 CPW

Dolly Parton (1946-2026) Empire State Building bathed in Pink Light for Dolly Physics teaches us that White light is a combination of all the colors in the visible light spectrum including Pink and Orange. Dolly Parton was a beacon of light to the world. Accolades have monopolized social media with words and photos of our American Icon. One writer posited, "the human and the divine: Dolly Parton is a [LOT] of both..." Most of us want to somehow be bathed in her radiant ligh

On July 25, 2013, we began an experience we called Merry Mount, and on July 20, 2026 a new chapter of the experience began. It was perhaps pretentious to give a name to a rural property, but why not? We chose "Merry Mount" after discovering the following passage from a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne: “But May, or her mirthful spirit, dwelt all the year round at Merry Mount, sporting with the Summer months, and reveling with Autumn, and basking in the glow of Winter's fi

Joyce Farwell (September 27, 1934-January 21, 2026) 7/19/26 Today in Santa Fe, New Mexico several vocal artists will gather to pay homage to their mentor, Joyce Farwell. Loretta and I honor her remotely with these words. Those of us who had the good fortune to fall under her tutelage remember her as a calming force while displaying a voice of authority. I first encountered her maternal presence and calming energy at the Culllowhee Music Festival in the beautiful mountains of

"Parting is such sweet sorrow." Our friendship with Lee Thompson and Robert Bode began when we were all in graduate school at University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music in the early 1980s. During our forty plus years together, making music was central to our friendship, and while the roots of our friendship grew deeper every year, much of it took place at a distance from one another. But in December of 2019, Lee and Robert purchased a home 200 yards from us, an

Today we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence, and fifty years ago, Rett and I stood in front of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia and celebrated with pride what, as a symbol, it stood for. Now in 2026, I observe the crack in the bell and see it as a metaphor for how ruptured the “United” States government has become under the current leadership. But before we celebrate our "independence", let's acknowledge our sins. In her best selling

Being a resident of the Hubbard Lake community, I have the opportunity of observe an abundance of life forms which include black bears, bobcats, black squirrels, birds, fish, and in mid-June into early July-mayflies. Mayflies are aquatic insects known for their short adult lifespan, which is dedicated to mating, and their role as indicators of clean water. They have a unique life cycle, spending most of their lives as aquatic nymphs before emerging as winged adults that molt

Today as we celebrate Father’s Day, most of us will stop and reflect on personal experiences that we have had with our “Fathers”. The Online Etymology Dictionary on “father” states: Old English fæder: "he who begets a child, nearest male ancestor;" also "any lineal male ancestor; the Supreme Being," and by late Old English, "one who exercises parental care over another," from Proto-Germanic fader (source also of Old Saxon fadar, Old Frisian feder, Dutch vader, Old Norse faðir

Idyll In the grey summer garden I shall find you With day-break and the morning hills behind you. There will be rain-wet roses; stir of wings; And down the wood a thrush that wakes and sings. Not from the past you'll come, but from that deep Where beauty murmurs to the soul asleep: And I shall know the sense of life re-born From dreams into the mystery of morn Where gloom and brightness meet. And standing there Till that calm song is done, at last we'l