photography – Coffeehouse Junkie

To be useful and to be beautiful

*With respect to a William Morris edict – Milwaukee’s Grand Avenue circa 2016.*

“If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

— Beauty of Life, William Morris, 1880

When music & poetry warmed the night with the Traveling Bonfires

*The Grey Eagle, Asheville, North Carolina circa 2005*

All beauty exhausted, duck in winter

*With apologies and respect to Yosa Buson. Milwaukee circa 2016.*

A galaxy of snowflakes descend

More Thanksgiving leftovers – playlist

For the holiday season, listen to the In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond show: Autumn and Thanksgiving.

You may also enjoy going through the archives of the In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond podcast:

Take Me Out to the Ballgame 2026 – In the Groove, Jazz and Beyond

Celebrating Baseballs Opening Day 2026 with this week's episode. Really the only track that relates to baseball is the first one by B3 organist Joey D. The balance of the show is music I have been listening to this week. We wrap up the show with the archival release of a 1964 Duke Ellington concert. Playlist Artist ~ Name ~ Album Joey DeFrancesco ~ Take Me out to the Ballgame ~ Joey D! Weather Report ~ A Remark You Made ~ Heavy Weather ARTEMIS ~ Sights Unseen ~ ARBORESQUE Noah Preminger & Max Light ~ Everything Means Nothing To Me ~ Single Shai Maestro ~ GG's Metamorphosis ~ The Guesthouse Matt Dwonszyk ~ Mode For Rene ~ Matt Dwonszyk Live at the Side Door Duke Ellington ~ Isfahan ~ Copenhagen 1964 Duke Ellington ~ Medley: Black and Tan Fantasy, The Mooche & Creole Love Call ~ Copenhagen 1964

Thanksgiving feast leftovers – playlist

Gratitude for a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Feast

The pressure to perform and succeed at holidays stresses everyone. The lists of things to do, people to see, and places to go is overwhelming. That is the simple and delightful plot of the 1970s film A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. A favorite scene is when the Peanuts characters prepare the Thanksgiving feast: buttered toast, popcorn, pretzels, jelly beans, and an ice cream parfait.

One year, our family put together a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving feast of toast, popcorn, pretzel sticks and gummy bears (could not find jelly beans at the convenience store) to share. The snacks were placed in brown paper lunch bags and shared at gatherings. The disappointment was that most of those who received the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving snack bags had never scene the film. Or did not remember the feast items. But I am grateful for the lesson.

Are you thankful for a challenge or disappointment that turned out to be better than expected? What teaching or teacher are you grateful for this year? Name a person in your life currently who is a blessing. Who is a person in your past for whom you are grateful? What is something you learned to do that is a blessing?

There so many things and people to be thankful for that an individual might be able to fill a bare November maple tree with bright red paper thanksgiving leaves.