Andalusia

Andalusia farm sits nestled into the rolling hills of middle Georgia. A living testament to a diminutive young lady who, in the middle of the last century, waged a battle against a terminal illness, while creating some of the most memorable characters in southern literature.

Andalusia, named for an autonomous region of southern Spain. Why? No idea at this point, but a very beautiful name, none the less. This was the lair and writing desk of Flannery O'Conner. Her dark stories captured so very well the people and characters of the rural south in the 1940s and 1950s. Because of crumbling hips due to lupus, she was confined to the first floor of this farm house, and in a converted parlor room, to the left of the front door, she composed the majority of her writings. If you have never read Ms O'Conner, I highly encourage you to do so.

The farm is a genuine pearl, that truly deserves to be maintained and saved against the on rushing herds of strip mall building yuppies, moving away from Atlanta. Did I mention that there is good waterfowl hunting and fishing close by if you can gain access. So, if you ever find yourself around Milledgeville Georgia, Andalusia is just off Highway 441. Check it out.

Old Rambling Captain sends.

Chia Si, Just Stopping By

A Christmas gift of a Chia Si, now resides on the work bench in the man room. Now some say, Si and the intrepid Captain are a lot a like. Now I can't say for sure if that is the truth or not, but I guess one could be do worse than to be compared to Uncle Si.

We both made careers of the military, but differing branch's and differing wars. We both posses gray whiskers, we both have to wear glasses these days. We both pull our long hair back into pony tails, and almost always wear a hunting cap.

I was a Duck Commander fan long before the hoopla and fanfare of the current television show, we used to have to see the duck men on DVD or, catch them on the Outdoor channel to see them whacking and stacking ducks. I have a signed Phil Robertson duck call from many years ago, and I was a member of an organization called Duckaholics Anonymous founded by the Duck Commander himself.

It has been gray and cold here in the frozen north lands of Florida, at the shack between the swamp and the sea. Lots of gray days, not the best days for the old captain. The hunting is winding down a bit and the northeast winds have made fishing a challenge. But today as I re-positioned Chia Si to the man room, I had to smile. Just maybe I do have the strength and faith of my fellow duck man, and Chia Si and I but have a liberal amount of good red southern dirt in us, and maybe that is what enables us to endure the gray days. Say your prayers and think of our brave shipmates lost at sea yesterday, and also the ones still facing challenges ahead.

God Bless, Old Captain Sends