The view out our window

My associate, Rick, snapped this photo of a woodpecker searching for food in the apple tree outside our office window. There's quite an abundance of wildlife down here in the North Valley.

Click on the photo to see the full-sized image or any of the other photos Rick has posted at Flickr.

I'll be hosting Folk Routes on November 29th

Just a quick note to let you know I'll be hosting KUNM-FM's Folk Routes on Saturday, November 29th. The show is on from 10 to Noon.

As you know, I'm a "bit" of a Pete Seeger aficionado. I’ll be playing Pete’s new CD, “At 89,” so if you haven’t heard it yet, now’s your chance.

If you live outside of KUNM's listening area, you can apparently listen to us in the web by clicking right here.

Remembering Aldous Leonard Huxley (26 July 1894 – 22 November 1963)

Today, Saturday November 22nd, is the 45th anniversary of the death of author, poet, screenwriter, and visionary, Aldous Huxley.

Huxley is someone I’m interested in, having written two books; Aldous Huxley Recollected, and Huxley in Hollywood. Both are available at my website, davidkdunaway.com. If you want to know more about this fascinating man who had such an influence on the American culture of the mid-20th century, be sure to read these books.

As a side note, this date is also the 45th anniversary of the deaths of President John F. Kennedy and novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, and essayist, C.S. Lewis. Coincidence? Probably.

How Can I Keep From Singing: Now available in Mp3!

"Pete Seeger: How Can I Keep From Singing?," my 3-part radio series heard on PRI stations from coast-to-coast this summer is now available in Mp3 format at CDBaby. Click the image below and it will take you to the ordering site.

You can also go here to listen to sample tracks of the program.

If you're a "traditionalist" who still clings to the old-fashioned (I kid!) Compact Disc, the three CD set (and/or any of my other books and audio documentaries) are available from davidkdunaway.com

Reel-to-Reel Jerky

Today we baked a reel-to-reel tape in a food dehydrator.

Yes. You read that right.

We're preparing some 45+ year-old reel-to-reel tapes for digitization. These are programs I've produced or recorded over the years and are in rough shape. Baking the old tape in a food dehydrator (like you would use to make jerky or dry fruits and vegetables in)for 2 to 3 hours revitalizes the tape and makes it usable.

It's not recommended that you do it more than once, and you need to transfer the tape within 24 hours.

Ah, technology. It's so... weird.

Back in New Mexico

I'm back from the Mother Road! Route 66 through Missouri was great, but the view out my window of the Bosque in autumn is one that can't be beat. The winds are sweeping gold from the Cottonwoods and the Rio Grande is finally going down in height, so we know fall is here. Nights in the river valley are downright frosty, with temperatures dropping below freezing, and the wonderful aroma of pinon smoke is in the air.

The Sandhill Cranes are migrating through our area and just the other day one was roosting in the bare branches of a dead cottonwood. They are such beautiful birds, offering their odd though distinctive silhouette when flying.

Still out on the Mother Road

Greetings from the Ozarks. Yes, I'm still in Missouri today, traveling along that great old Route 66 and talking to people. I'll be making a stop in St. Clair at the historical museum there.

Later in the day, I'll be up at the Route 66 State Park located at the former site of the town of Times Beach. The fascinating story of Times Beach dates back to the post-Vietnam era, when the local dirt roads were sprayed with oil to keep the dust down. It was later found that the oil was actually contaminated with Dioxin, the main ingredient of the defoliant known as Agent Orange. According to the website Legends of America,

"in 1985, [Times Beach's] entire population of more than 2,000 residents had been evacuated, with the exception of one elderly couple who refused to leave, and the town was disincorporated by executive order of the Missouri Governor. The entire site was quarantined as residents moved on to other areas. But for the residents who moved, the scare was not over, as they continue to worry about the contamination effects on their long term health. Furthermore, with the wide press coverage at the time, the former Times Beach residents were shunned by their new neighbors, who feared the contamination."

Today, the cleaned-up site of this former resort community is home to Route 66 State Park. There are excellent opportunities to picnic, exercise, birdwatch or study nature. The park area abounds with more than 40 types of birds and a diverse set of trees, plants and animals. Picnic sites are scattered beneath the shade trees. Level walking, bicycling and equestrian trails throughout the park are perfect for beginning bicycle riders and health-conscious visitors.

I should be back home this evening providing the weather holds out. It's supposed to get a bit stormy later in the day so hopefully that won't affect flights.