GRAB YOUR FLOATIE, YOUR COLD SIPPITY-SIP, YOUR SUNSCREEN.... THE SUMMER ISSUE OF THE PICKETWIRE IS READY FOR PERUSING. And it's even fairly water-resistant. We don't recommend reading it underwater, but if you did, the silky, sturdy pages of The Picketwire aren't your typical high-volume lightweight magazine sheets and would hold up to a cover-to-cover investigation at standard reading speed. These twenty-four pages of handsome print are filled with the following imagination-fodder... ...are you ready for the tour? Step inside Issue #6 and you'll find yourself in Park Avenue - as in, the trail in Arches National Park. The words sprawled across the desert sky give you an idea of what's in store and also information on how to find your way back to familiar places. Look closely and you'll see the Courthouse Towers. Turn the page to find your true guide map. The table of contents is situated between a fun-hauling, daily-driven 1983 Jeep Cherokee and a shotgun dog staring down a trailing sunset. Now, there's no lead up to the big feature... brace yourself for all 7 pages of Jeep-planting mayhem. Whew, that was quite the project. It was quite the project ten years ago, too, when the clock began ticking as a plane flew off to England and a rotted CJ tub was dropped in a front lawn not long after. Original photos accompany this "how-to" with before and after results to prove that seemingly ridiculous, unconventional ideas can work if you put your mind to it and gather some friends. How does one follow up a tale like that? With a surprise preview of another tale. Wait, what? That's not in the table of contents! Sure isn't - s u r p r i s e! You've stumbled upon a little one page snippet of future Possum Nook content. Hold the phone and grab your laptop....
NEXT UP is a familiar rhyme that we shared in the last post, from Corrs himself. Eloquently describing his experience from a Fourth of July dirt bike ride, Corrs captures the overall summary of the day. I'll vouch for his words; it was a hot day, a H U M I D day, the kind of Pennsylvania summer swelter that makes people move... like, out of the state. I can tell you what wasn't moving that day - the air. The woods felt like the inside of a walled tent and brisk, motorized movement was the only reprieve; unfortunately for Corrs he was strapped to the rider doing the least of that. All in all it was still a good day, as any day out in the woods will inevitably be, and there will be a return ride in the future to find his goggles (hopefully with significantly less handlebars-in-the-dirt action and cooler temperatures). Until then, he has secured a new identical pair of goggles thanks to his adopted grandpawrents who are in no way related to Corrs but are advocates of proper safety gear. AFTER A HOT DAY IN THE WOODS AND THE DIRT, a good bath might be in order for all parties involved. You're just in luck - right around the corner from Corrs' poetry reading is The Silver Crab Car Wash (or, Le Lave Auto du Crabe d'Argent). Meet the helper crabs: Le Crab and Major Crab. They are reinCARnated gas cap crabs who keep themselves busy with various chores both inside and outside of the house, from simple to complex. Skilled in a multitude of tasks, they can be seen here giving Beep a thorough wash and polish. Have you met Beep before? Little Beep was featured in the first issue of The Picketwire in the very first Possum Nook story, then made another appearance in Issue #4 as the getaway vehicle for Frederick's drive-by toy sack snatching (Beep was completely innocent and was not informed that he would be involved in any such activity that would potentially put him on the naughty list). If all that cleaning has gotten your appetite worked up, there's a fix for that. Our resident farmer and chef have collaborated over the influx of fresh zucchini to create a sweet, smoky & savory omelet that will quell your hunger and your overstock of zucchini. Turn the page and visit the Snack Stand for a sample of garden fresh, home cooked goodness. LET'S GET A CLOSE UP OF THAT MOUTH-WATERING CREATION. Believe me when I say you might wind up eating this every day for a week. The three spices used aren't exactly the most staple items in everyone's pantry, but the turmeric/cumin/berbere combination meddles wonderfully with the sweet zucchini and savory carrots, onions and peppers. You're welcome. Are your legs tired yet? Can you keep going? GOOD THING WE STOPPED FOR FOOD. We are getting closer to the end of the trail, so if you have enough pep left in your step, there are a few more folks to meet and things to see. Old friends of Hedgie will be familiar with his British cousin Fuzzy, but not everyone has been acquainted with this tiny tea-maker. If you had the pleasure of meeting Fuzzy in person during the Hedgie/Penelope/Fuzzy England adventure this past Spring, you might find it obvious that he's a fan of mushy peas, but here is a little more backstory that you may not have been made aware of. Sit a spell with your cup of perfectly steeped tea and try to figure out exactly what the background of this two page spread is. We'll tell you in a future blog about turning trash into treasure. Speaking of.... What would an issue of The Picketwire be without a trash craft from the spookiest possum we know, Douglas Furr? Grab a sock and follow along with this s i m p l e c r a f t whose skill level matches the lazy days of summer - EASY. (You may even find yourself purposely losing socks) READY FOR ONE LAST BURST OF ENERGY? TURN UP THE COLORS AND FOLLOW CORRS. The cover doesn't lie - this issue has extra Corrs. Here's the trusty adventure dog in all his colorful dirt-gear glory, shaking off the mud and telling exactly how he cleans up so well. THAT'S IT; you've made it. Find a cushy seat... a flat rock... a camp chair. Kick off your boots. R e l a x. Enjoy the view. Enjoy your moment. Reflect on your summer Picketwire tour and be inspired. Want your own copy to read and double as an insect barrier over your favorite outdoor beverage?
Use these GPS coordinates to add an additional stop to your route: www.blurb.com/b/11652446-the-picketwire-summer-2023
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Tales of Douglas Furr (and his friends)narrated by Crissy Clossin Archives
February 2024
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