APLACECALLEDMERRYMOUNT

I’m happily retired. I begin most mornings by reading “The Morning,” a digital version of “news” highlights from The New York Times,...

Tapestry that hangs in the Great Room at Merry Mount There once was a man named McMicken, Who suffered abuse and a lickin’. He feared for...

A bowl that sits on a shelf at Merry Mount I am a man More sinned against than sinning. (Lear, Act 3 Scene 2) They told me I was...

One early morning before Christmas 2021, as I was gazing at the sunrise from my comfortable corner of the sofa in our “sun porch” (my...

My resolutions for 2022 are modeled after ”When I come to be old” a writing in A Tale of a Tub from 1699 by Jonathan Swift. I, C. Patrick...

Tis the Morning of Christmas Tis the morning of Christmas, and all through my house, not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. The...

from Luke, KJV: 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in...

Winter arrives in the Northern Hemisphere on December 21, 2021 at 10:59 am EST. The Earth's axis is angled away from the sun that causes...

Every year in early December Rett and I decorate our Christmas tree(s), and the largest tree that is placed in the Great Room is...

“One of the greatest American composers, clearly the greatest lyricist — and, by virtue of those two rarely linked greatnesses, the...

"Manifest Dismantling" Attention Economy defined: the collective human capacity to engage with the many elements in our environments that...

11/26/21 is the 10th anniversary of a fatal airplane crash that killed my brother Kim, his wife Trish, and his oldest son Alex. As long...

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and as the patriarch of Merry Mount I am blessed to cohost a joyous family gathering today. As I...

I offer you this short story as a prelude to Thanksgiving week. Enjoy. The Old Man was no stranger to adversity. The townsfolk, who...

photo from NYT Weekender photo of works by Dale Chihuly photo of the inside of the human eye hanging on the wall of the Havener Eye...

Thanks to all who read the tale of Ned Peene, and especially to those who offered an opinion as to the murderer. Allow me to recap....

On the occasion of Halloween 2021, I offer you a short tale of historical fiction. I hope you will take time to read it, and I ask that...

On a blustery, Saturday morning in late April 2021, the twins and I trekked out to the back of the property where we normally have the...

On Sunday morning, August 22, 2021, I was at the barn filling up a bucket of water for the goats when suddenly I thought I heard a...

Lee David Thompson On October 11, 2021, Lee David Thompson will celebrate 70 years on this earth (at least this time around). I can’t...