Recent Yard Work at the Homeplace: The Blazing Surprise and Thankfulness for Good Neighbors, Family, and a Friend (published 3-16-2026; article #545)

Introduction

Greetings and welcome, dear reader, to the 114th entry in the Life (such as it is) topic section! Also categorized as the 108th entry in the Heritage topic section, this article focuses on the recent yard work at the homeplace in Hawkins County, Tennessee.

The homeplace is steeped in family heritage and filled with memories, some bad but mostly good. On Friday, March 6, this Appalachian Irishman assisted the two-man crew he hired to do a significant amount of yard work. With further future plans in mind, Lord willing, the first plan to improve the yard is completed.

Thankfully, my youngest brother and his wife were able to put out the blazing surprise the following evening. Do you have a burning interest to know what the surprise was? Well, please read further as I explain!

Friday, 3/6: Cutting, Trimming, Piling, and Burning

After my father passed away in January 2008, T&C Lawn Service in Whitesburg, Tennessee—which comes with the highest recommendation—has been mowing the yard at the homeplace. Before he died, my father insisted on mowing the yard with a riding mower. I am proud that the Lord graced him with the strength to do so. Dad enjoyed mowing.

According to previous arrangements, a two-man crew, both young men, arrived on Friday, March 6, around 8 AM and started working. Delayed by my ill-timed attempt to trim my beard, which I had mistakenly let grow out, I left our house at 8:40 AM and arrived at the homeplace by 9:50 AM.

After explaining the complete work that I intended, I started using Papaw Wood's old wheelbarrow and began loading fallen tree branches from the yard into it and moving them to the brush pile in the field behind the house. Papaw's wheelbarrow got a good workout during the day. Well, I did also.

Meanwhile, the two young men cut down three scrub trees in the yard. Also, they cut off low-hanging branches from good trees. Additionally, they trimmed and shaped two bushes. Further, they cut back the dead growth from Granny Wood's grapevine, which I hope grows back from the roots. Finally, one young man, Logan, climbed onto the roof, removed branches that had blown from nearby trees, and blew out the gutters.

The two young men from T&C Lawn Service certainly had the right tools. They used a tractor with a grapple to pick up, move, and pile the debris onto the brush pile. If I had done all the work that they did, I would have had to buy a good chain saw and spend several days doing the work that they did in one day. Thank you, T&C Lawn Service, especially Logan and Will!

Joining the Friday Fun

A good neighbor from across the road drove over on his golf cart to visit for a while. For years, his wife and he have been keeping an eye on the homeplace for us. He and I have burned several brush piles over the years from the debris that I had cut back.

Bill, a friend since grade school who lives not far away, drove over in the afternoon. Later on, seeing the need for additional water hose, he left and came back with two of his hoses. Those will be important as this burning story unfolds, dear reader!

The Friday Fire

Hungry at around noon and before Bill arrived, I drove the short distance to a nearby fast food restaurant to have dinner (or lunch, as Yankees call it). I wasn't gone thirty minutes.

While I was gone, the two young men from T&C Lawn Service set the brush pile on fire in a controlled burn. Early that morning, Cody, from T&C Lawn Service, had obtained a burn permit. I returned just before Bill arrived and was surprised to see the brush pile burning. Since the weather was mostly sunny, warm, and breezy, I thought that another day, cloudy and damp with no wind, would be better for burning the brush.

The brush fire was burning but under control. Unfortunately, a gust of wind blew an ember from it onto a dead tree, which was fairly close to the burning brush pile. The dead tree, with two trunks, caught on fire! To worsen the situation, 22 old tires—18 of which were on metal wheels—from my father's well machine and water truck (both salvaged years ago) were propped up against the dead tree. We certainly did not want those rubber tires to catch on fire.

Water pumped from the well that my father drilled in 1974 ran through three sections of hose to an old nozzle, which was stored in the kitchen. The two T&C Lawn Service employees, Bill, and I took turns dousing the burning tree. Thankfully, the rubber tires never did catch on fire.

Around 3:30 PM, the brush pile and the dead tree were smoldering but not burning. The T&C Lawn Care employees, realizing that their work was finished, and the burn was under control, loaded up their tools and left after a job well done. I wrote a check to T&C Lawn Service for payment and gave it to them before they left.

Bill and I stayed until just after 5 PM, when I left for home. Thankfully, Bill, showing what friendship means, stayed around for quite a while to watch the brush pile and dead tree. If he had not volunteered to do so, I would have had to spend the night at the homeplace.

At 4:58 PM, just before I left, I photographed the following image of the dead tree and the brush pile. I was standing beside my 2006 Frontier, and Bill was standing behind me.

The dead tree and the brush pile were smoking, but no fires were burning. The wind had died down. A neighbor's house is seen in the background. The view looks southwest. Notice that one of the two tree trunks had already fallen.

Staying around, Bill took the following photograph of the dead tree, which had started burning again, at 7:15 PM.

A strong wind gust had fanned the embers. Thankfully, Bill was able to use the water hose to douse the fire. He remained until about 8:30 PM to ensure that both fires were out. Thank you so much, my good friend, Bill!

Saturday Morning and Afternoon: All Was Well

The next day, Saturday, 3/7, I had to take our 2012 Nissan Sentra for service at two nearby locations. The car needed an oil and filter change, tires rotated, and an alignment. With those obligations and with the understanding that all was well at the homeplace, I decided not to drive back up there to survey the brush pile and dead tree.

Just after 11:30 AM, as I was about to drive our car into the service bay for an oil and filter change and tire rotation, Bill's text indicated that he had gone back to the homeplace at 1:45 AM, early that morning, to check the dead tree and brush pile. Apparently, Logan and Will had returned after Bill left last evening. They had moved the 22 old tires, 18 on metal wheels, away from the dead tree, which caught on fire last evening. Further, they had moved the two branches, which fell from the dead tree, onto the brush pile. Thank you, Logan and Will, for your above-and-beyond service!

Bill's text included the following two images:

The above, looking southwest, shows the dead tree, tires and wheels, and part of the burnt brush pile. Nothing was smoldering. Both fires had been out for several hours.

The above close-up image looks to the east. What was left of the dead tree showed no signs of residual fire or smoke. The fire was out.

Saturday Evening: The Blazing Surprise!

Saturday evening settled into the usual routine. My wife and I ate supper around 6 PM. Shortly thereafter, Molly, our 11-year-young “puppy,” joined us in the living room. Of course, Molly took her usual brief excursions outside. She and I also played a couple of “got 'ems” games with her treats. The television was tuned to something of mild interest.

Around 8:30 PM, my youngest brother called but didn't leave a message. My wife couldn't pick up the phone quickly enough to answer. At the time, I was taking Molly outside for our evening “romp and stomp.” Roughly 30 minutes afterward, Molly bedded down for the night in her basement “condominium.” I called my youngest brother to find out why he had called.

The blazing surprise was that his wife and he were at the homeplace and quenching the fire that had blazed up in the dead tree! An across-the-road neighbor had called him. Thankfully, the hoses and nozzle from yesterday were still in place, and the water well pump was still on. I reached the nearby volunteer fire department by phone. A firefighter drove up to see if any help was needed. Fortunately, my youngest brother and his wife had doused the blaze, and no additional help was needed.

Afterward, I turned on my cell phone to discover missed calls and voicemails from two nearby neighbors. A west-side neighbor had called at 8:05 PM. An across-the-road neighbor had called at 8:15 PM.

My youngest brother and his wife stayed for a while to ensure that the fire was completely out, after which they returned home. Around 10:30 PM, I called to confirm that they were back home safely.

The next afternoon, Sunday, I called our two neighbors to thank them for calling last evening to report the fire. One neighbor said that an intensely strong wind had blown through the area around 8 PM last evening. The wind must have ignited ashes at the base of the dead tree.

Conclusion

Lord willing, other future improvements are in mind for the homeplace. The first plan to improve the yard has been accomplished, despite the blazing surprise.

This Appalachian Irishman is thankful for good neighbors, family, and friends. Further, I am grateful to T&C Lawn Service for a job well done.

I am especially thankful to Bill, my dear friend, who demonstrated true friendship. Last Wednesday, 3/11, I had planned to drive up to the homeplace. Bill was going to meet me and help move the 22 old tires, 18 on metal wheels, from the hay field to a better location in the backyard. Unfortunately, I forgot about the need to stay home that day. I had arranged service for our 2012 Sentra to replace the defective driver's-side power window components. Early that morning, I had to call Bill to explain and let him know that I would reschedule for another day.

What did Bill do to my pleasant surprise? Alone, he moved the tires! He sent me the following two photographs after he had moved them:

The above shows the tree stump and what's left of the burn pile. The tires were gone!

The above image shows where Bill placed the tires and wheels, neatly resting against a tree in the backyard. Thank you so much, Bill. When you need my help, please call, and I will come running! By the way, my wife is planning to make you some no-bake cookies.

Lord willing, future improvements to the homeplace will not include any more blazing surprises! Stay tuned for further improvement updates, dear reader.

Late January Snow: “Perfect” Timing (published 2-26-2026; article #544)

Introduction

There is a reason why “perfect” is in quotation marks in the title. The timing of the late January snow last month was anything but perfect.

Welcome, dear reader, to the 113th entry in the Life (such as it is), or was, topic section. I wanted to publish this article earlier this month. Other more practical or necessary obligations, however, took priority.

This brief record serves as a corollary to the article from 2/13/2026 about my father-in-law's transition from temporal to everlasting life. The snow, which started falling during the visitation and funeral service on Friday, 1/30/2026, postponed the interment service from the next day to Monday, 2/2/2026.

Snow Photographs and Comments from Saturday, 1/31/2026

Early on Saturday morning, 1/31/2026, wisdom dictated that we delay the graveside service. Thus, while my wife performed indoor chores, this Appalachian Irishman enjoyed a snow “hike” and shoveling snow from the driveway.

The morning low was still a balmy 18 degrees Fahrenheit when I photographed the three images below at 9:02 AM. I had “hiked” the roughly three-tenths of a mile from the house to the subdivision entrance. The crisp wind, which was blowing in snow from the north, was invigorating. At the house, I measured four inches of snow, with more snow still falling.

The first view looks northwest, going up our side road.

Just before taking the photograph, a box truck followed by a jeep came down the hill. Ruts indicated that a vehicle or more had driven up the hill. Another vehicle had entered and exited our subdivision.

The next view looks southeast, going down our side road.

The final view from the road shows the uphill drive into or out of our subdivision. The image includes my footprints.

Walking back northward to the house, the blowing snow and wind stung my face and gloveless hands. Previously, walking toward the subdivision entrance, the wind and snow were more comfortably to my back.

Afterward, for an hour and 12 minutes (2:42 to 3:54 PM), I shoveled snow as well as I could from our driveway. By that time, I measured six inches of snow, with light snow still falling. The temperature had risen to the daytime high of 22 degrees. I took the following photograph at 3:45 PM, just before finishing the job.

Of course, I could have worked longer to clear out the snow grooves, but I had already had enough of shoveling six inches or more of snow.

Conclusion

Snow fell lightly while I was shoveling snow. Just as I was putting up the snow shovel, however, the bottom fell out, and heavy snow started falling! I looked up to heaven and said, “Thanks, Lord. Your timing was perfect. I understand your sense of humor.” Of course, the Lord knew that I was joking. After all, he gave me my sense of humor!

More recently, we had a spell of winter from last Sunday to Monday. My wife had a “snow day” off from work on Monday. On that day, we had a dusting of snow. The morning low and daytime high were in the 20s Fahrenheit.

The late January snow was beautiful, and walking the subdivision and shoveling snow were invigorating. The timing, however, was not beneficial to a grieving family wanting to lay my father-in-law's temporal remains to rest.

Of course, meteorological spring begins this coming Sunday! I have missed out on several opportunities to hike this winter. Perhaps I will catch up in the spring. The mountains are calling me, and I must go, Lord willing, and if the creeks don't rise.

Paw Gordon Passed from Temporal to Everlasting Life (published 2-13-2026; article #543)

Rose Mortuary: Obituary: Jimmie E. Gordon (3/24/1938–1/23/2026): family photograph

Introduction

This 137th entry in the Family topic section is a tribute to my late father-in-law, Jimmie Gordon (3/24/1938-1/23/2026, age 87). His middle name was Eugene, but he did not prefer it. I called him Paw Gordon.

Saddened by his passing, we rejoice that Paw Gordon has transitioned from temporal to everlasting life. We will miss him, but we will see him again. As Christians, that is our certain hope in Christ.

My Father-In-Law's Transition

The article from 1/9/2026 (about my 205th House Mountain hike on the previous Sunday afternoon) included the news about Paw Gordon's hospitalization from Monday, 12/22/2025, to Sunday, 12/28/2025. Once home, he was weak but getting along fairly well for twelve days. Looking back as a family, however, we realized that my father-in-law's slow transition from temporal to everlasting life had started before Thanksgiving. Back then, Paw Gordon started sleeping more during the day and not wanting much to eat or drink. The new cold virus—which he contracted during his time at home between the two hospitalizations—was not a contributing cause of his passing.

Due to his increasingly languished condition, on Saturday, 1/10/2026, an ambulance returned my father-in-law to the University of Tennessee Medical Center. Over the course of thirteen days, my wife, her two sisters, our niece, and I took turns sitting with Paw Gordon. The medical doctors and staff provided compassionate and excellent care. They did all that they could to help my father-in-law recover and regain his strength.

Temporal life, however, must end, so the soul can transition to everlasting life. With eight family members surrounding his bedside, my father-in-law made the transition on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 6:12 PM. Waves of emotion, from intense sorrow to joyful happiness, flowed among us. Paw Gordon, a mild-mannered and godly man, had gone heavenward to be with the Lord.

The Visitation and Funeral Service

Paw Gordon's complete obituary is at Rose Mortuary: Obituary: Jimmie E. Gordon (March 24, 1938–January 23, 2026). The next Monday, family members made the arrangements at the funeral home. Three days later, on Thursday, my father-in-law's body was ready for the family to view. Sorrow mixed with joy as we contemplated that he was no longer suffering but was experiencing everlasting bliss.

The visitation was from 5 to 7 PM, and the funeral service took place at 7 PM, both at Rose Mortuary on Friday, January 30, 2026. Light snow started falling in the late afternoon and became heavy throughout the evening. During the visitation, snow began to collect on grassy areas and vehicles. Family members and friends of the family found comfort in each other. The photographic display of my father-in-law from childhood to old age, including beloved family members, brought back memories and prompted conversations.

I was honored to conduct the eulogy for my father-in-law. My remarks focused on Paw Gordon's faith, devotion to family, and service in the military and church. Paw Gordon's Christian faith brought saving faith to those around him who listened. The faith of his Christian wife (Phyllis Ann House Gordon, 4/10/1941-4/30/2017), daughters, and granddaughter evidences the influence of his faith.

Further, my father-in-law was a devoted family man, providing both financial and spiritual support and guidance. Paw Gordon was a source of calm stability for his family during difficult and pleasant times.

Finally, my father-in-law served his country, his family, and God. His service in the United States Air Force was honored by the flag that draped his casket. As a husband and father, Paw Gordon led his family in Christ spiritually and was a good provider for their physical needs. Most importantly, Paw Gordon served God. As one of two shepherds, he shepherded the flock in Etowah for many years. When my wife and I served as Christian missionaries in Russia, the Etowah Church of Christ was one of our financial supporters. In that sense, brother Gordon carried the gospel to Russia. God, through our evangelism, brought several, including atheists, to Christ.

During the eulogy, I also read the two-page tribute that my wife wrote to honor her father. After the service, she placed her neatly folded tribute in the breast pocket of her father's burial suit.

As a point of levity just before I ended the eulogy in prayer, the cell phone of my wife's youngest sister started ringing! Embarrassed, she quickly silenced it. I said, “Now, that was funny! Paw Gordon would be laughing now if he were here. Thank you for providing a touch of humor.” It was a fitting moment of humor, bringing laughter to the solemn occasion.

The Graveside Service

The interment service at Greenwood Cemetery had been scheduled for the next day, Saturday, at 11 AM. The snow, however, that began to fall heavily on Friday evening continued overnight and throughout the day on Saturday. Back roads were unsafe for travel. In the afternoon, I measured six inches of snow with it still falling. The morning low of 18 degrees Fahrenheit climbed only to 22 degrees for the afternoon high.

The practical decision was to postpone the graveside until Monday, 2/2/2026, at 1 PM, when the back roads would be safer to drive. As an aside, the groundhog did not see his shadow on that cloudy day.

On Monday, the early morning low of six degrees Fahrenheit warmed under a cloudy sky to a balmy 34 degrees by the late afternoon. At the graveside, the temperature was around 28 degrees with a brisk northern wind blowing.

Immediate family members arrived early, so the interment service started at about ten minutes to 1 PM. I was honored to deliver the graveside eulogy. To begin as a humorous point, I asked my youngest sister-in-law if her cell phone was off. With family laughing, she said, “It is in the car.”

Being brief due to the temperature and cold breeze, I read comforting thoughts from scripture with concise comments. Passages that I selected were John 14:1-6, I Corinthians chapter 15 (the great resurrection chapter) verses 50-58 with a reference to 2 Corinthians 5:8, and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Due to the weather, the Tri-County Veterans Honor Guard was unable to attend to present military honors at the graveside. Without disappointment, the family understood, and we expressed thankfulness to the aged veterans who serve in the honor guard.

Conclusion

Several years ago, my father-in-law wanted to build a wooden bridge with rails to span the narrow creek behind the house. He wanted to be able to drive his riding mower across the bridge to mow on the other side of the creek. Over the course of days, Paw Gordon and I built the bridge. For me, the bridge, still standing and in good condition, serves as a memory of Paw crossing the spiritual bridge from temporal to eternal life.

During the funeral service, closing thoughts came from 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NIV). Quoting Isaiah 64:4, the apostle Paul wrote:

However, as it is written:
  “What no eye has seen,
  what no ear has heard,
  and what no human mind has conceived”—
  the things God has prepared for those who love him—
     these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

Everlasting life in heaven is what we in the temporal realm have not yet seen or heard. Mentally, we cannot quite fathom it. Everlasting joy, however, is what God has prepared for those who love him. Brother Gordon loved God. In spirit, he now sees and hears what we will one day if we join him.

The ultimate purpose of life is to love and serve God as a Christian and to be with Jesus, along with all our saved loved ones who have already crossed the bridge and reached the everlasting other side. My father-in-law has crossed over. Are you ready to cross over?

If you are not ready, please reach out to me using the Contact Form on the right side of this website's main page. I am a former poor beggar who found the Bread of Life. I would like to share that Bread with you.

House Mountain Hike #205, 1-4-2026: Clearing the Dark Clouds (published 1-9-2026; article #542)

Introduction

Can hiking clear dark clouds from your mind? Yes, it can, and it did for this Appalachian Irishman last Sunday afternoon, 1/4/2026!

Welcome, dear reader, to the 83rd entry in the Hiking topic section. Also, as the 136th entry in the Family topic section, I will first explain the dark clouds. Why haven't I been out in the woods hiking since Saturday, 11/29/2025 (as described in my 12/1/2025 article)? Weather conditions, more pressing needs, dark clouds, and other activities delayed my call to the mountains. The mountains, by the way, are always calling.

The Dark Clouds

The first dark cloud arose before last Thanksgiving. My 87-year-old father-in-law had not been feeling well. His health was of special concern last month. (The 2/13/2025 article was about his hospitalizations early last year.)

An appointment with his specialist on Monday, 12/22/2025, led to Paw Gordon's subsequent emergency room (ER) visit that evening. After over 12 hours in the ER, which was ridiculous, he was admitted to the hospital the next morning. Thankfully, my wife's two-week Christmas break started on that Monday. In shifts, family members stayed with my father-in-law around the clock. Hospitalized through Christmas, he was discharged to home on Sunday, 12/28/2025. The family postponed the Christmas celebration until last Saturday.

Thankfully, my father-in-law's hospitalization was due to prolonged dehydration, nothing worse. Dehydration, however, is serious. Paw Gordon's symptoms, including an extremely fast pulse, were due to being dehydrated for so long. For further information, please read “Dehydration: Signs, Symptoms, and Effects,” WebMD, reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD, 8/5/2025. In short, you can lead a person to water, but you can't make him drink. My father-in-law has set before him the goal to drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day.

The second dark cloud appeared on the day that the hospital discharged my father-in-law to return home. My wife came home, back from sitting with her father at the hospital, and felt under the weather. I took her to a nearby medical clinic on Tuesday, the eve of New Year's Eve. Thankfully, it was only a nasty virus, which she must have picked up at the hospital. Recovering at home, she was well enough to return to teaching this last Monday. My “long-suffering” wife, however, did not enjoy her two-week Christmas break!

Clearing the Dark Clouds by Hiking House Mountain

Last Sunday afternoon, 1/4/2026, I finally scratched the itch to hike! Even though it was too warm for this time of year, the clear blue sky called me to take my 205th hike on House Mountain State Natural Area.

With an additional desire to visit with my wife and her family at her father's house, I only hiked up and back down the west trail. The hike up took from 2:12 to 2:47 PM, 35 minutes. (This must be my slower normal, since the at-fault driver failed to yield to my right-of-way on Tuesday, 3/29/2016. My surgically repaired right foot and knee still slow me down.) As a bit of “crowing,” near the first of the six upper switchbacks, I passed a group of three young hikers, a male and two females. They looked to be in their 20s. Also, hiking up the west bluff, I thought, “Surely, they will catch up to and pass me.” Instead, they arrived a few minutes after I had reached the west bluff. I nodded to the young man. He grinned and nodded back. Unspoken and to his understanding, I was saying, “This 65-year-young man just out-hiked you!”

I photographed the following northeastern view from the west bluff at 2:51 PM. The rock outcropping was behind me. The ridge trail, which I didn't explore, begins along the right side of the image. The large rock, which I touch to check my time, is in the foreground.

After only seven minutes at the west bluff, I started hiking down and out along the west trail, up which I had hiked. Now below the ridge with the west bluff just behind and above me, I photographed the following at 3:01 PM. The view looks toward the southeast.

I was standing on a narrow rock outcropping. The trail continues to the left and down in the image. Not very much farther down are two rock formations that require me to scoot down on all fours. Before my left shoulder, right kneecap, and right heel were surgically reconstructed, I could walk down those steep areas on two feet.

Having hiked down the six upper switchbacks and the four lower switchbacks, I trekked through the final section, crossed the wooden bridge, and finished the trail at 3:50 PM. An hour and 38 minutes in the woods was better than not having been there!

Conclusion

After the hike, I joined my wife at her father's house. Her sister, who also lives there, and her youngest sister, who was in from Nashville, were also there. I told them that I had cleared from my mind the dark clouds of my father-in-law's hospitalization and my wife's subsequent illness by hiking House Mountain for the 205th time. I hope that I encouraged them to likewise clear away those clouds from their minds.

Of course, wouldn't you know it? The next day, when my wife returned from Christmas break to her teaching job, her sister, who lives with their father, came down with that new cold virus (COVID-19)! Two days later, my father-in-law tested positive for it. Well, we are clearing these new dark clouds. Our niece, the daughter of my wife's next-to-youngest sister, has been working remotely from my father's house and helping care for her sick Papaw and mother. Nearby, I have helped as needed. Thankfully, both are recovering from that pesky new cold virus.

Until next time, dear reader, please ensure that you are hydrating yourself properly and keeping your immune system strong. I look forward to another trek into the woods soon! Of course, today, we are getting much-needed rain.

Appalachian Irishman by the Numbers in 2025 (published 1-1-2026; article #541)

“Pencil on system of equations” (10/28/2017) by Antoine Dautry on Unsplash. Free to use under the Unsplash License.

Introduction

Happy New Year, dear reader, and welcome to the 112th entry in the topic section, Life (such as it is)! We certainly hope that 2026 will be a happy and good year. The undiscovered future is before us. Come what may, let us continue to “turn right and go straight,” for that path through Christ leads us to everlasting life and unimaginable joy in heaven.

Today, while keeping tabs on the early College Football Playoff Quarterfinal games, I thought that I would write another year-in-review article for this website for last year.

Previous Annual Reviews

I started writing these year-end reviews for 2021. The previous four annual summaries are as follows:

Appalachian Irishman by the Numbers: New Year's Eve Snapshot on Two Platforms (published 12-31-2021; article #287)

APPALACHIAN IRISHMAN: 2022 RECORDS (published 1-1-2023; article #384)

Appalachian Irishman, by the Numbers, in 2023 (published 1-8-2024; article #448)

Appalachian Irishman, by the Numbers, in 2024: New Year's Day Terrorist Attack in New Orleans (published 1-1-2025; article #510)

Before writing this article, I reread those reviews for the last four years. My, how time does go on!

2025 in Review

I hope that last year was a good one for you, dear reader. Life, like a mountain ridgeline, does have its ups and downs. For our extended families, my wife, and I, last year gifted us with high points and challenged us with valleys. By God's grace, we endured those valleys.

The Numbers

The following is from this website's analytics page, which only I can see. All-time views, since the initial article on 3/6/2006, were 592,126 (as of today at 7:30 AM). Yesterday's views totaled 259, which was a little low. Total views in December were 21,683. Divided by 31 days, last month's average views per day were 699.45.

In total, before this article, 540 articles were published on this website. Those articles have garnered a total of 295 comments. Last year, 30 new comments were made on a number of articles. Of course, those include my replies to comments. I do wish that more readers would comment on my articles. The good or even critical comments that I receive are always welcome!

For the last 30 days, December, several articles were viewed from the following top 19 nations with view totals included: United States, 5,650. China, 2,460. Singapore, 1,600. Brazil, 1,270. Germany, 920. Russia, 790. Hong Kong, 780. France, 578. United Kingdom, 482. Vietnam, 350. Mexico, 314. India, 248. Argentina, 198. Iraq, 171. Bangladesh, 169. Spain, 157. Canada, 145. Italy, 126. Pakistan, 113. Other nations outside the top 19, 2,940.

In 2025, this website had 258,837 total views by my manual tallies for each month. Website analytics for the same period show 259,000 views, probably due to rounding up.

In 2025, I published 31 articles, roughly half the number from the last two years. I haven't lost interest in writing. Other obligations and interests, however, have needed my attention. Writing two or three articles a month seems to be my preference.

Top 20 Articles by Views

Early this morning, I searched this website's analytics for the all-time (since the initial article on 3/6/2006) top 20 articles by view totals. Those were as follows in the order of highest views:

HOW TO PRONOUNCE “APPALACHIAN” (published 3/6/2006; inaugural article): 2,590 views.

Saturday, 5/15/2021: Fearghail Clan Contact, “Mask Off” Continues, Uncle Bobby, & Armed Forces Day (published 5-15-2021): 2,420 views.

Introducing “Donnie Laws: East Tennessee Outdoors” (published 4-4-2023; article #401): 1,500 views.

Devil's Nose, 11-29-2013 Hike (published 1-1-2014): 1,100 views.

“IF I WERE THE DEVIL” – Inspired by Paul Harvey (published 7-22-2022; article #340): 979 views.

Biblical Worldview: 1st Century, 21st Century, and 6-24-2022 Pro-Life Victory (published 6-26-2022; article #336): 891 views.

My Mountain! (published 3-19-2006): 815 views.

WHY I LEFT (published 3-7-2009): 781 views.

I’M STILL ALIVE—WHY? (published 8/26/2016): 701 views.

House Mountain Hike #200, 3-23-2025: Milestone Hike with and for Family! (published 3-26-2025; article #521): 682 views.

Biblical Worldview: Book Recommendation by Barna: “American Worldview Inventory 2021-22: The Annual Report on the State of Worldview in the United States” (published 6-7-2022; article #332): 679 views.

Worldviews in Conflict: The Pro-Life Argument Easily Won (published 6-30-2022; article #337): 669 views.

Cars & Trucks: “The Significance of the Passage of Time” (published 8-14-2022; article #346): 666 views. (That was a “lucky” 666 views at that moment! Thankfully, the views for this article increased after that “lucky” tally.)

Charleston, MO, Family Reunion & Mission Moscow Reunion (published 8-5-2023; article #423): 628 views.

What Is AppalachianIrishman.com? Copilot Is Mainly Correct. (published 7-5-2025, article #532): 607 views.

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How to Pronounce “Appalachian”? This Podcast Helps! (published 9-13-2023; article #430): 560 views.

Devil's Nose Mountain, Hawkins County (published 3-7-2006; article #2): 536 views.

Warning! Pro Source Home Buyers Preys on the Gullible! (published 6-10-2025; article #527): 509 views.

Conclusion

Well, that is, as they say, a wrap! The College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl between 1st-seed Indiana and 9th-seed Alabama is in the second quarter. Later, I am looking forward to watching the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl between 3rd-seed Georgia and 6th-seed Ole Miss (without Lane “Skippin'” Kiffin). Go Dawgs!

In this new year, come what may, let us continue to “turn right and go straight,” for that path through Christ leads us to everlasting life and unimaginable joy in heaven. That is my wish and prayer for you, dear reader!

2025-26 College Football Bowl Games and Playoff: List and Commentary (published 12-15-2025; article #540)

“A Bucket of Footballs for a Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition,” by Mick Haupt on Unsplash, 2/8/2024. Free to use under the Unsplash License.

Introduction

I suppose that a huge bucket, instead of a bowl, would be needed to hold all the footballs for the plethora of 2025-26 college football bowl games. Perhaps, an even larger bucket than the one in the above image would be required. How about a couple of semitrailer loads of footballs?

Greetings, sports enthusiasts, to the 20th entry in the Sports Topic Section! For the fourth year in a row, this article is another public service to college football aficionados. The previous three public service presentations were on 12/10/2022, 12/10/2023, and 12/17/2024.

First up are the 47, count 'em, 47, games, the same total as last year. They include 36 regular bowl games, plus the 11 College Football Playoff games. Next up, the Championship Playoff games are bracketed out from the menagerie of bowl games. The conclusion contrasts this season's performance by the Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Bowl Games

Are you ready, dear reader, for your eyes to glaze over and your mind to turn to mush? That's what happened to me when I composed the following more reader-friendly list. The sources are ESPN: 2025-26 College Football Playoff, bowl schedule and NCAA: 2025-26 college football bowl game schedule, scores, TV channels, times. By the way, I inserted a few pithy comments here and there.

I emboldened the ten bowl games that should be played. Those are, in scheduled order, the Gator Bowl, Sun Bowl, Citrus Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Liberty Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Peach Bowl. The other mediocre bowls should simply be flushed. Further, I underlined 11 of the 16 Sun-Earth Conference (as it should be named), SEC, teams that are in bowl games. Not included are Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina.

Saturday, Dec. 13: 2 games
-- Celebration Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta), 12 PM, ABC: If anyone cared, South Carolina State defeated Prairie View A&M, 40-38, in four overtimes.
-- LA Bowl (SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA), 8 PM, ABC: As if it mattered, Boise State lost to Washington, 10-38.

Tuesday, Dec. 16: 1 game
-- Salute to Veterans Bowl (Montgomery, AL), 9 PM, ESPN: Troy vs. Jacksonville State. Veterans deserve our salute.

Wednesday, Dec. 17: 2 games
-- Cure Bowl (Orlando, FL), 5 PM, ESPN: Old Dominion vs. South Florida
-- 68 Ventures Bowl (Mobile, AL), 8:30 PM, ESPN: Louisiana vs. Delaware

Thursday, Dec. 18: 1 game
-- Xbox Bowl (Frisco, TX), 9 PM, ESPN2: Arkansas State vs. Missouri State. An Xbox Bowl? Really? Why?

Friday, Dec. 19: 3 games
-- Myrtle Beach Bowl (Conway, SC), 11 AM, ESPN: Kennesaw State vs. Western Michigan
-- Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, FL), 2:30 PM, ESPN: Memphis vs. NC State
-- College Football Playoff First Round Game (Norman, OK), 8 PM, ESPN, ABC: #8 Oklahoma vs. #9 Alabama. Go Oklahoma! I detest Alabama!

Saturday, Dec. 20: 3 CFP games
-- College Football Playoff First Round Game (College Station, TX), 12 PM, ESPN, ABC: #7 Texas A&M vs. #10 Miami (FL). Texas A&M is my pick.
-- College Football Playoff First Round Game (Oxford, MS), 3:30 PM, TNT, HBO Max: #6 Ole Miss vs. #20 (#11 seed) Tulane. I hope that Tulane, which doesn't have a chance, wins. I despise Lane “Skippin'” Kiffin, who skipped from Ole Miss to LSU after the regular season ended.
-- College Football Playoff First Round Game (Eugene, OR), 7:30 PM, TNT, HBO Max: #5 Oregon vs. #24 (#12 seed) James Madison. Oregon should have a lopsided victory.

Monday, Dec. 22: 1 game
-- Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, ID), 2 PM, ESPN: Washington State vs. Utah State. This Appalachian Irishman loves potatoes, especially mashed. My “long-suffering” wife ensures that I have them for supper every evening. Of course, I help out with peeling them.

Tuesday, Dec. 23: 3 games
-- Boca Raton Bowl (Boca Raton, FL), 2 PM, ESPN: Toledo vs. Louisville. Yes, the “Mouse Mouth” Bowl is back again.
-- New Orleans Bowl (New Orleans, LA), 5:30 PM, ESPN: Western Kentucky vs. Southern Miss
-- Frisco Bowl (Frisco, TX), 9 PM, ESPN: UNLV vs. Ohio

Wednesday, Dec. 24: 1 game
-- Hawai'i Bowl (Honolulu), 8 PM, ESPN: Cal vs. Hawai'i. “Hawai'i” is a variant of the standard “Hawaii.”

Friday, Dec. 26: 3 games
-- GameAbove Sports Bowl (Detroit, MI), 1 PM, ESPN: Central Michigan vs. Northwestern
-- Rate Bowl (Phoenix, AZ), 4:30 PM, ESPN: New Mexico vs. Minnesota
-- First Responder Bowl (Dallas, TX), 8 PM, ESPN: Florida International vs. UTSA. I support first responders, just not this bowl.

Saturday, Dec. 27: 8 games
-- Military Bowl (Annapolis, MD), 11 AM, ESPN: Pittsburgh vs. East Carolina. I uphold the military, but this bowl never interests me.
-- Pinstripe Bowl (Bronx, NY), 12 PM, ABC: Penn State vs. Clemson
-- Fenway Bowl (Boston, MA), 2:15 PM, ESPN: UConn vs. Army
-- Pop-Tarts Bowl (Orlando, FL), 3:30 PM, ABC: Georgia Tech vs. BYU. Let's narrow it down. Why not call this one the “Crunchy Poppers Bowl”?
-- Arizona Bowl (Tucson, AZ), 4:30 PM, The CW Network: Miami (OH) vs. Fresno State
-- New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque, NM), 5:45 PM, ESPN: North Texas vs. San Diego State
-- Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, FL), 7:30 PM, ABC: Virginia vs. Missouri
-- Texas Bowl (Houston, TX), 9:15 PM, ESPN: LSU vs. Houston

Monday, Dec. 29: 1 game
-- Birmingham Bowl (Birmingham, AL), 2 PM, ESPN: Georgia Southern vs. App State

Tuesday, Dec. 30: 3 games
-- Independence Bowl (Shreveport, LA), 2 PM, ESPN: Coastal Carolina vs. Louisiana Tech
-- Music City Bowl (Nashville, TN), 5:30 PM, ESPN: Tennessee vs. Illinois. Both teams are unranked and 8-4. Go Vols!
-- Alamo Bowl (San Antonio, TX), 9 PM, ESPN: #16 Southern Cal vs. TCU

Wednesday, Dec. 31: 5 games
-- ReliaQuest Bowl (Tampa, FL), 12 PM, ESPN: Iowa vs. Vanderbilt
-- Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX), 2 PM, CBS: Arizona State vs. Duke
-- Citrus Bowl (Orlando, FL), 3 PM, ABC: #13 Texas vs. #18 Michigan
-- Las Vegas Bowl (Las Vegas, NV), 3:30 PM, ESPN: Nebraska vs. #15 Utah
-- Cotton Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal (Arlington, TX), 7:30 PM, ESPN: #2 Ohio State vs. winner of #7 Texas A&M vs. #10 Miami (FL)

Thursday, Jan. 1: 3 games
-- Orange Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal (Miami Gardens, FL), 12 PM, ESPN: #4 Texas Tech vs. winner of #5 Oregon vs. #24 (#12 seed) James Madison
-- Rose Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal (Pasadena, CA), 4 PM, ESPN: #1 Indiana vs. winner of #8 Oklahoma vs. #9 Alabama
-- Sugar Bowl: College Football Playoff Quarterfinal (New Orleans, LA), 8 PM, ESPN: #3 Georgia vs. winner of #6 Ole Miss vs. #20 (#11 seed) Tulane

Friday, Jan. 2: 4 games
-- Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, TX), 1 PM, ESPN: Rice vs. Texas State
-- Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN), 4:30 PM, ESPN: Navy vs. Cincinnati
-- Duke's Mayo Bowl (Charlotte, NC), 8 PM, ESPN: Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State
-- Holiday Bowl (San Diego, CA), 8 PM, FOX: Arizona vs. SMU

Thursday, Jan. 8: 1 CFP Semifinal game
-- Fiesta Bowl: College Football Playoff Semifinal (Glendale, AZ), 7:30 PM, ESPN: winners of the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal and the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal

Friday, Jan. 9: 1 CFP Semifinal game
-- Peach Bowl: College Football Playoff Semifinal (Atlanta, GA), 7:30 PM, ESPN: winners of the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal and the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff Quarterfinal

Monday, Jan. 19: College Football Playoff National Championship Game
Miami, FL, 7:30 PM, ESPN: winners of the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal and the Peach Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal

Whew! What a list! Would Universal-Rundle like to sponsor the Toilet Bowl? It could happen. Our house has two Universal-Rundle brand toilets.

Championship Playoff

Now, let's parse out the eleven College Football Playoff (CFP) games from the menagerie of bowl games. According to the rules, #20 CFP Tulane (American Conference, 11-2) is seeded #11 because of their conference win. Further, #24 CFP James Madison (Sun Belt Conference, 12-1) is seeded #12, since they won their conference. As a result, #11 CFP Notre Dame (FBS Independent, 10-2) and #12 CFP BYU (Big 12, 11-2), teams that I dislike, were excluded from the CFP. The CFP should be based on the top 12 teams, despite conference champions. That's my opinion. Feel free to make it yours!

The following bracket is downloaded from CollegeFootballPlayoff.com: 2025-26 College Football Playoff. Clicking the image below opens and enlarges it for easier reading.

Lord willing, come Thursday, 1/1/2026, at 8 PM, my eyes will be glued to the Sugar Bowl, College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, in New Orleans on ESPN! The 3rd-seeded Georgia Bulldogs will face the winner of the Saturday, 12/20/2025, College Football Playoff first-round game between 6th-seeded Ole Miss and 11th-seeded Tulane. Go Dawgs!

Conclusion

In closing, let's recap and contrast this season's gridiron performance by the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers. As the season unfolded, I kept a record for both teams.

First up is my favorite team, the Georgia Bulldogs. My preseason prediction was that Georgia would end up 11-1, with a loss at home to preseason-ranked #1 Texas. Georgia won that week-12 (Saturday, 11/15) game. Instead, and to my intense frustration, Georgia could not defend its home turf against the “Evil Empire” (Alabama) in week five (Saturday, 9/27). Of course, on Saturday (12/6, 4 PM), #3 Georgia dominated #9 Alabama, 28-7, in the SEC Championship game! It was retribution for the regular season loss. Go Dawgs! Let's hope for another national championship in the College Football Playoff!

For Tennessee, my second favorite team, I predicted an 8-4 season, with losses at home to Georgia, on the road at Mississippi State, on the road against Alabama, and away at Florida. Of course, the Vols on the road beat Mississippi State (week five, Saturday, 9/27), lost at home to Oklahoma (week ten, Saturday, 11/1), won on the road against Florida for the first time since 2003 (week 13, Saturday, 11/22), and in the final regular season game were stomped at home by Vanderbilt (week 14, 11/29). They still went 8-4 for the season. In the postseason, the unranked Vols are in the lackluster Music City Bowl in Nashville (Tuesday, 12/30/2025, 5:30 PM) to face unranked Illinois (Big Ten, 8-4). Yawn. Go Vols! In the future, Tennessee may be able to go 11-1, with the only loss to Alabama, when Georgia isn't on the schedule. For future seasons, when Alabama and Georgia are on the schedule, Tennessee may go 10-2.

The 2026-2029 Sun-Earth Conference (SEC), as it should be called, football schedules are available at “SEC schedule release for 2026-2029 college football seasons,” ESPN, 9/23/2025. Once again, this article implores the renaming of the Southeastern Conference to the Sun-Earth Conference!

What do you think? Can we start a petition to rename the conference?

House Mountain Hike #204, 11-29-2025: Why Were Two Young Men Carrying a Fallen Tree? What Did I Do After the Hike? (published 12-1-2025; article #539)

Introduction

This Appalachian Irishman prevailed over yet another hike, his 204th, on his beloved and nearby House Mountain State Natural Area. Last Saturday afternoon, from 1:10 to 3:33 PM, I reveled in two hours and 23 minutes in the woods. The temperature was in the 40s Fahrenheit, and the sky turned from mostly sunny to cloudy, an indication of the rain that started around 9 PM.

On the previous day, Friday, 11/28/2025, the crisp, clear, and sunny weather was better for hiking, despite the gusting wind. Instead of hiking, my wife and I attended the Cherokee Lady Chiefs' basketball game, 12:20 PM start time, at Grainger County High School. The youngest daughter of my youngest brother and his wife is on the team. The Lady Chiefs defeated South Greene, 64-32! We enjoyed the game and time with family.

Continuing now with this 82nd entry in the Hiking Topic Section, I will highlight memorable moments along the hike, answering the burning question, “Why were two young men carrying a fallen tree?” Afterward, for inquiring minds, I will answer the query, “What did I do after the hike?” All in all, it was a good “man day” for this 65-year-young feller!

Hiking Up and Down the East Trail

This section divides into the hike up the east trail, time at the upper-middle bluff, and the hike back down and out on the same east trail. Usually, I hike up the west trail, which is more challenging. For this hike, however, I wanted to “go east, young man, go east!”

Hiking Up: Two Young Men Carrying a Fallen Tree!

After making a parking spot for my 2006 Frontier, I started up the connector trail at 1:10 PM. Choosing east this time, I started trekking up, down, and around in the low-lying section of the trail. The east trail is one mile from the base to the ridge. The relatively easy lower section takes up about seven-tenths of that mile. The final three-tenths with the switchbacks are challenging.

Not too far along into my hike in, I paused to allow a group of about ten young folks in their 20s to pass on their way out. Amazed, I saw two young men carrying across their shoulders a six-to-eight-foot-long section of a fallen tree! Now, I have seen some bizarre things on House Mountain, such as young women hiking in the mud wearing flip-flops. I have seen snow form and fall within clouds on the ridge. Most interestingly, on a Resurrection Sunday (Easter) afternoon hike, I saw a young man hiking in a suit and tie. The encounter is memorialized in my 4/13/2009 entry. Before this hike, however, I had never seen anyone carrying out a fallen tree!

Of course, I had to ask, ”Why are you guys carrying out a section of fallen tree?” One of the young men, shifting his section of the tree slightly on his shoulder, replied, “It's a souvenir!” Yes, he was grinning!

Everyone needs a hobby. This website is a hobby of mine. I have a small collection of House Mountain rocks, souvenirs from my 100th hike (Tuesday, 12/31/2013, in a plaque), my 125th hike (Sunday afternoon, 10/18/2015), my 150th hike (Sunday afternoon, 4/29/2018), my 175th hike (Wednesday, 12/30/2020, article), and my 200th hike (Sunday afternoon, 3/23/2025, in the 3/26/2025 article). I have never thought about hauling out a section of a fallen tree as a keepsake! What's up with young people these days?

At the Upper-Middle Bluff

At the highest and very eroded upper switchback, never try getting around the rocky erosion by crawling up the steep and leaf-covered wooded area west of the switchback! I tried, failed, slid back down, and then climbed over the eroded switchback. That mistake took several minutes. Finally, I reached the ridgeline at 1:54 PM. A trail marker and bench are at the location.

Turning right or northeast, I relished the fairly level ridge trail that leads to the upper-middle bluff. The hike takes 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your speed. Before reaching the bluff, the mostly sunny sky became cloudy.

Once again, despite the clouds, I delighted in the view from that bluff. A minute before I started hiking back down and out on the same east trail, I photographed the following view looking northwest from the bluff:

A husband, wife, and their dog were just leaving when I arrived. I had the thoughtful solitude of the bluff to myself. Of course, the Lord was with me.

Hiking Down and Out

Well, the time was 2:25 PM, and I had plans for after the hike. So, I reversed course and hiked back down the same east trail.

Being overly cautious due to my surgically reconstructed right kneecap and right heel, I took my time descending the upper switchbacks. Once unencumbered from them, hiking along the remaining seven-tenths of a mile in the lower area was easy.

Interestingly, while still hiking carefully down the upper switchbacks, the same husband, wife, and dog, who were leaving the bluff when I arrived, were catching up to me from behind. I let them pass, explaining my carefulness and my “bionic” joints. Once in the lower area, however, they paused, and I caught up to them. Conversing briefly as I passed, I continued on at a normally quick pace. The couple and their dog never did catch back up to me.

I touched the trail marker near the picnic shelter at 3:33 PM, marking the end of my hike. Two hours and 23 minutes in the woods was better than not having been there!

What Did I Do After the Hike?

Once back at my truck, I called the “long-suffering” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman to let her know that I was on my way to her father's house. She had my brush and branch cutting tools in our 2012 Sentra. I was ready to do some cutting up, no kidding!

My wife's two sisters did not want to cut up with me, but my wife did. A wooden bridge crosses the creek at the back of the property. Years ago, my father-in-law and I built that bridge. Several scrub trees, vines, and branches from larger trees needed to be cleared.

My wife and I started trimming and cutting just after the collegiate football game in Knoxville between the Tennessee Vols and Vanderbilt Commodores had started. Well, my wife picked up and piled the trimmings and cuttings. I was the only one who was cutting up, again, no kidding!

After finishing up and saying goodbye, we returned home in separate vehicles. The aforementioned football game was at halftime by then. The score was tied, 14 to 14.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, the Vols went down in an embarrassing defeat on their home field. The final score was Commodores 45, Vols 24. As I said to my wife after the game, “Sometimes, birds do fly backwards north for the winter.” Years ago, when birds always flew south for the winter, the Vols could easily beat Vanderbilt. It seems that the tables have turned.

All in all, the hike plus clearing brush for my father-in-law was a good “man day.” Hey, I am still a 65-year-young feller!