True Grit
THIS JUST IN: I finally watched True Grit last night. I've been talking about seeing this movie only since it came out like six months ago. But it's tuff to make it to the theater these days—sometimes it's just hard to commit to sitting still for two hours.
But this movie. The Coen Brothers, Jeff Bridges, a Charles Portis story ... I don't have to defend this stuff—popular sentiment dictates that it's obviously gonna be good. But here's the thing: it really was. I came away from it feeling all redemptive, grounded and wise. And that last frantic ride through the midnight winter prairie—all eerie from the chill of starlight, kinda like a giant planetarium over a pan of sagebrush—I'll think about that scene for a while I imagine.
Hidden Souls of the Mini Ramp
The cool thing about backyard mini ramps is that they're all different. Each one's got a soul and secrets that you'll only learn through trial painful error. Hidden kinds, trick coping ... it's all just part of the goodness. And Dave Wien's new mini mini is no different. It's in a lovely Portland backyard under an oak tree right next to a fire pit where friends are crowded around eatin vegetarian BBQ fare. We're down.
Matherly, mini ramp champ as always.
Proud Dave and his creation.
Summer Reading
Photo: Dee Dee
"Many a forenoon have I stolen away, preferring to spend [in idleness] the most valued part of the day; for I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and summer days, and spent them lavishly; nor do I regret that I did not waste more of them in the workshop or the teacher's desk." —Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Dude Barn-BQ
I took these pictures yesterday when a Dude Barn-BQ went from front yard hang out times in the glorious sun to raging hailstorm drives you inside times. I got to thinking that the thing about the world when the weather's all unsettled like this is that the light is really nice. I like when the sky's all heavy and dark and then the sun blasts in from below somewhere.
Chip, Conor, Justin, Brandon—that's a lot of hair in one photo.
Bedroom jammin until the rain stops.