Welcome Back to A Country Journal with John Helms

By John Helms | Florence, Mississippi

Morning sun breaking through the darkness
with her early brilliance

Well, friend, it’s been a while, and it is a new day.

If you’ve wandered back to this little corner of the internet, I’m mighty glad you did. And if you’re new here—pull up a chair, pour yourself something warm, and let me tell you what this place is all about.

This is A Country Journal with John Helms, a space where I share stories from the land, reflections from the porch, and the kind of practical wisdom that only comes from chasing chickens in your retirement years.

After a long career in marketing and business research, I traded boardrooms for barn doors. My wife and I have lived on this patch of Mississippi soil for over twenty years, but it’s only in the last three that we’ve truly leaned into the rhythm of a retirement farm. The kind where the tomatoes are stubborn, the hens are opinionated, and the weather has more personality than half the folks I used to work with.

We started with twenty-four hens. Thanks to a few clever raccoons, we’re down to ten. The survivors are tough, vocal, and still generous with their eggs—when they feel like it. The vegetable garden is growing, slowly but surely, and I’m building a small greenhouse to stretch the seasons a bit. We recently invested in a bigger tractor and the kind of equipment that turns good intentions into real progress.

This blog will be a Periodic dispatch from the farm—part journal, part photo album, part philosophical ramble. You’ll find:

• 🐓 Henhouse Happenings – Tales from the coop, predator patrols, and chicken drama

• 🌱 Garden Notes – Seasonal tips and soil reflections from a veteran grower

• 📸 Behind the Lens – Stories behind the photos I take, and the ones I miss

• 🪑 Porch Swing Philosophy – Musings on life, weather, and the quiet beauty of country living

• 🌍 World Meets Farm – How national and global events ripple through our little corner of Mississippi
  

I am also planning to launch a podcast under the same name—A Country Journal with John Helms—where I’ll share these stories in my own voice, southern U.S. accent and all. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live by the rhythm of the land while still holding on to many of the luxuries of modern life, or just want to hear a good story with a little dust on it, I hope you’ll tune in.

So here we go. A fresh start, a new season, and plenty of stories to tell.

Thanks for stopping by, friend. Let’s see what the land has been telling me recently. 

Let's look into the future by seeing what our local weatherman is saying

Central Mississippi Weather Forecast: August 15–21, 2025

This delicate Ceastrina Neglecta
(or at least that is what Google says she is)
decided to visit me in the shade as I
spent a little time outdoors reading.

Expect a classic late-summer stretch: hot, humid, and peppered with passing showers. For those of us who live here in the heat of summer, you don't really need a weatherman for daily weather because almost every day this time of year is hot, humid, with a chance of afternoon showers or thunderstorms. It is when the weather decides to bring us extraordinary or severe weather, such as the threat of an approaching hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, a band of tornadic weather heads our way out of the western skies, that we truly need their assistance. As I write this, the sun has just risen, and the temperature is 71 degrees, and rising with the sun.

After that little statement about our weather dependability, here is the forecast for the week ahead:

• Friday (Aug 15): High of 92°F with light rain showers likely in the afternoon. Humidity near 96%.
  

• Saturday (Aug 16): Mostly sunny and steamy—high of 96°F. Slight chance of evening rain.

• Sunday (Aug 17): A brief shower is possible, with highs near 98°F.

• Monday–Wednesday (Aug 18–20): Continued heat with highs in the mid-90s. Scattered light rain showers each day.

• Thursday (Aug 21): Slight cooldown to 91°F, but rain chances increase to 52% by evening.

Evenings will stay warm, with lows hovering around 73–75°F. The air will be thick, so keep an eye on your garden’s water needs and make sure the hens have shade and fresh water. And with tropical moisture stirring in the Gulf, it’s a good week to double-check storm prep.

That is about it for today. Next time, I will tell you about the raccoons that have been wreaking havoc on our flock of hens.  

Watch for upcoming editions of A Country Journal with John Helms

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No Monopoly On This Concept

With all the strife and discord we are seeing worldwide and with much of it now being focused on the United States, I thought it would be a good time to do a little study on the concept of “love your neighbor.” 

One doesn’t have to look far to find Judeo-Christian beliefs on this front. In the Old Testament and the Torah (Leviticus 19:18) says one should “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This teaching is central to Jewish ethics and calls for treating others with respect, kindness, and fairness. The New Testament says, “love thy neighbor as thyself.” This can be found in Matthew (22;39), Mark (12:31) and Luke (10:27). These teachings emphasize the importance of loving others with the same care and consideration that we have for ourselves. 

No one holds a monopoly on this concept.

In the New Testament Jesus’ teachings about the term “neighbor” go beyond the literal meaning of someone living next door, or nearby. Jesus used the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) to exemplify that your neighbor includes anyone in need of help regardless of their nationality, race or social status.

This concept goes far beyond 2.9 billion Christians and 15 Million Jews throughout the world. In fact, the major religions in the world all have similar concepts in their beliefs. 

In Islam, its 2.8 billion devotees embrace the concept that loving and helping others is highly emphasized. Muhammad said, “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself,” encouraging Muslims to treat others with generosity, kindness, and compassion. 

In Hinduism, the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) includes refraining from causing harm but also promoting love and compassion towards all living beings. The Bhagavad Gita emphasizes the importance of selflessness and caring for all others. This is reflected in the following examples of some of the many choices the religion supports: 

• Many Hindus adopt vegetarianism, avoiding harm to animals.

• Emphasizing dialogue and non-violent solutions in personal and social conflicts.

• Respecting nature and living sustainably, recognizing the interconnectedness of all life.

• Practicing kindness, patience, and understanding in daily interactions.

Other religions have similar beliefs in their base beliefs:

• Confucianism emphasizes the importance of ren (benevolence or humaneness) which involves showing kindness, respect, and empathy towards others which leads to harmonious and just societies.

• Sikhism teaches seva (selfless service) and sarbat da bhala encourages its followers to help and support others, regardless of their background, and to always work for the common good. 

• Buddhism embraces and teaches the concept of metta (loving-kindness) by encompassing unconditional love and compassion for all. They try to develop feelings of goodwill and kindness toward others through meditation. The Dalai Lama said "Our world and our lives have become increasingly interdependent, so when our neighbor is harmed, it affects us too. Therefore we have to abandon outdated notions of 'them' and 'us' and think of our world much more in terms of a great 'US', a greater human family."

• Native Americans often emphasize the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of living in harmony with others in a natural world. This concept is expressed differently by many of the nations, tribes and cultures but the key points are the same. These beliefs go the extra mile and can be summarized in the phrase “all things are relative” encouraging respect, compassion, and care for all people, animals, plants, and the earth itself. In many ways, the beliefs of Native Americans encompass the beliefs of many religions. 

We all base our beliefs on similar concepts but in a time when the world needs understanding, compassion, love, and tolerance, we are woefully short of those commodities. We are watching as nations pull farther and farther apart in strong nationalistic drives worldwide. We have forgotten who our neighbor is. Our neighbor is everyone. “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me” is a quote from the Bible, Matthew 25:40. All of these beliefs share common ideals and could act as a catalyst for a better understanding of those who are different in so many ways but alike in many more. We need to stop using religion as a divider of people and embrace our common beliefs. Shouldn’t governments strive for the same ideals? Of course, our own countries should be our major concern but is it right to think that because people are different, or that they have different customs and cultural mores, those could and should be encompassed in the melting pot that once the United States but now because of the availability of global travel is not global itself. Love your neighbor does not tell us to love your neighbor when they are like you. No, it stops there. Love your neighbor.

Absolutely. "Love your neighbor" is such a powerful and universal message. It reminds us to act with kindness, empathy, and compassion towards those around us, regardless of their background or beliefs. It’s a principle that can truly make the world a better place, one small act of love at a time. Look for the similarities between you and others and you will find, on that common ground, the impetus for what is being written here.

We could adopt a global culture; one that is not exclusive, one that is inclusive. This would be a culture that recognizes the differences as assets as they have been for hundreds of years. This new global culture would not push others’ beliefs on anyone. It would however expose others to the very reason so many people love to and long to travel. We travel to expose ourselves to the differences far away places hold for us. You know, a country doesn’t have to change or adopt these cultures, but it should enjoy the heterogeneity this exposure brings with it. 

While this post is not about immigration, it seems to me that the anti-immigration mindset embraced by many in our country at this time is a reflection of how we as a country have lost the ideal outlined in so many religions and beliefs to love our neighbor. This spills over to our everyday lives. We are less compassionate for some than others. We turn our head at wrong when we know right, looking the other way when we should be reaching out a hand to those in need or even to those who desire to better their own lives and the lives of their children. They hold in their hearts a burning desire to make themselves and their families a better home in a more stable place. 

Even though this is not the theme of this post, I thought it might be good to provide a little background on its history in the United States. Immigration to the United States has evolved significantly since the 18th century. Initially, the country welcomed immigrants with an open-border policy, attracting settlers from Europe seeking economic opportunities and religious freedom. The 19th century saw waves of immigrants from Ireland, Germany, and other parts of Europe, driven by factors like famine and political unrest. The late 19th and early 20th centuries introduced more restrictive immigration policies, including the Chinese Exclusion Act and quotas limiting immigrants from certain regions.

Working toward compromise is a dying art.

In the mid-20th century, the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished quotas based on nationality, leading to increased immigration from Asia and Latin America. Recent decades have seen debates over immigration policy, focusing on issues like illegal immigration, border security, and the status of undocumented immigrants. Today, the U.S. remains a heterogeneous nation, often referred to as a "melting pot," as it uniquely blends cultures, traditions, and languages from around the world. This rich tapestry of influences has shaped a culture unlike any other, making the United States a microcosm of global distinctiveness.

Often, it took time, but every major nationality or group that came to our shores has been folded into this amalgamation we call the United States. Those making our laws in Washington, DC are proof of that fact. With this in mind, what has happened to the time when those men and women in D.C. could stand strongly for what they believe, and remain open and amenable to compromise? Now there is no room for compromise or a penchant for negotiation on which to meet on common ground. It reminds me of children arguing over the rules of a long-standing game. They are trying to change the rules as they play even though they and those who served before them have played by those rules for almost 250 years. 

...finding common ground.

I know I have gone down a rabbit hole and it looks like I have strayed from my original topic,  but I have not. It all comes back to no one holds a monopoly on this concept of love your neighbor. No, you should respect everyone for they are your neighbor. When man searches for common ground, he can find it and, when there is respect for others, that common ground can be the basis for the understanding we all need to build a community and enjoy more harmony and accord with one another.

…until next time. 

Do you read a lot? Here is a hint for you.

Thriftbooks is a great source for the avid reader.

It doesn't matter if you are looking for a first edition, a signed copy, hard copy, or paperack. You can be searching for collectibles, a book to curl up with on a rainy afternoon, or maybe one to accompany you on your next trip on a plane or a train.  Thriftbooks can become your go to source for good reading material, old and new. 

My wife and my sister found Thriftbooks before I did. (Neither of them bothered to clue me in to this fabulous book seller and I am still upset it took me so long to find it.) A few months ago, when an ad popped up on a page I was browsing on on the internet, I clicked it. It didn't take long for me to decide to give Thriftbooks a try. I haven't looked back. In the past few months I have purchased dozens of books; everything from 1970s spy novels, Faulkner, Hemingway, J. D. Salinger, to recent New York Times Bestsellers. I have purchased books on raising chickens, gardening, history, classics, popular novels, on almost any subject you want or desire. It needs go be mentioned that on thriftbooks you can find titlers you may not be able to find at other book sellers or merchant websites. 

• Get to know the Constitution.
  https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/full-text

Look, if you are an avid reader like me, I seldom sit down without a book in my hand, and this website is now my main source for books. I buy mostly used books in excellent condition but occasionally by some that aren't, but I have never gotten a book in bad condition and I get a lot of books. If you are looking for a book, almost any book even those that have been banned by some sources, give them a try.  

Let me know what you think about Thriftbooks. My theory is one can never have too many books.   https://www.thriftbooks.com/ 

No one paid me or even requested I mention Thriftbooks. This is completely unsolicited. I simply believe it is a great source for great reads and I think a lot of you will think so, too.

...until next time and remember: 

• Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The United States Constitution. 

• 
  

Shifted Gears a Little Today

Mock Interviews  

Last week, I was asked to conduct a series of mock interviews for graduating high school seniors in Indiana. I was a last-minute substitute for an interviewer who suddenly had a conflict. I received all the information about the mock company, the position for which they were interviewing, and a series of questions I could use as a starting point to prepare for interviews that took place the next morning. The interviews were to be conducted virtually, and although I had a scheduling conflict, I agreed to conduct them from the airport where I would be waiting

I set up a makeshift "office" in a waiting area at the airport, complete with my Mac, iPhone, and the materials I had pulled together the previous afternoon. These were intended to be short interviews designed to make the students more comfortable with and acustomed to the process. Two of the three students I interviewed had previous interview experience, one of whom has held a job for two years and was already familiar with the process.

I won't go into much detail except to say that I tried my best to make the interviews as realistic as possible. I told them not to be nervous. Interviews, if conducted properly, are not a test. Rather, they are questions intended to provide the interviewer with insight into who you are and the assets you bring to a job. I emphasized that there were no wrong answers to the questions I was going to ask, so they could relax and help me get to know them.

As I mentioned, I interviewed three young people virtually: two young ladies and a young man. I don't know whetehr they were average or above average, but I can tell you that each of them displayed characteristics that made them highly employable. All three handled themselves professionally and were very respectful to me as the interviewer. When you see traits like these, you know they have been influenced by positive elements in their lives.

Illustration created in Microsoft Copilot

Throughout my career, I have conducted hundreds of job interviews and have been part of good, bad, and indifferent interviews. These young folks from Indiana knocked it out of the park. They were three different personality types, but it was clear that each had been taught well on how to conduct themselves in a business situation. One was very comfortable with the process; she answered my questions and was able to adjust her responses to align with the direction of the conversation. She interpreted the questions thoughtfully and provided succinct answers. Another interviewee had never been through an interview before. She was noticeably nervous but quickly composed herself and performed very well. She provided answers that fully addressed the questions I asked.

I share all of this to highlight that parents, teachers, and others who come into the lives of our young people influence them immensely. Mentoring doesn't stop there with any one of these influences. We—you and I—should take up that mantle and provide today's young people with role models they can look up to kand aspire to emulate. It is up to each of us to do our part in providing good direction for them. Being a positive role model for the youth is essential. By demonstrating respect, compassion, and providing clear direction and guidance, we can help young people develop into strong, successful adults who contribute positively to society. Through our actions and attitudes, we have the power to inspire and shape the next generation.

...just writing a few lines about what is on my mind today.

This Is a Crazy. Mixed-up Blog

 It is all about living in the country, and by country I mean rural America.

Rural America. That covers a lot of ground and our little share of rural America is in the deep south. I write today about some of the things we, down here, talk to each other about daily life and goings on. This is definitely not a "how to" on being country or living in a rural area. I could go into great detail about that subject, but I won't. As I write, I don't  intend for this to be a lengthy post, just some ramblings about things I have seen and done in the past few days. After all, that is what we talk to our family, our neighbors, and our friends about every day. 

It is important to remember the weather dictates what we do and when we do it to take care of our outdoor animals. If it is hot we make preparations for our animals to endure the heat. If it is cold we try to keep them comfortable, dry, and provide them with shelter that keeps that in mind.  It has been colder than a witch's tit the past few days so we have had to do extra work to keep them safe and warm. I guess it isn't really extra work when it is a labor of love. 

A winter storm blew down from the north early in the week and snow fell as far south as Florida. The cold enveloped an area from the midwest down to central Florida. We didn't get snow where we live like the folks south of us did, but we did get temperatures in the lower teens (F) with chill factors in the single digits in the early morning hours a couple of mornings. We simply are not accustomed to temperatures that cold even in January and February which are traditionally our coldest months. What does this mean for us who have livestock of that stay outdoors? It means you have to first keep their water from freezing. You have to keep them as dry and warm as you can, and you try to adjust their feed whenever possible to keep them strong and healthy.
The four-legged livestock requires a good deal of water so we have to keep their trough free of ice and filled so they have plenty to drink throughout the cold weather. That means venturing out in the cold a couple of times a day to clear the trough of ice and fill it so they won't run out of water. While I  do this I provide them with more hay than usual so they will stay in the barn and out of the wind in the coldest hours of the day and night. You have to be particularly careful feeding horses at any time because they don't adjust quickly to changes in their feed.  The additional hay we feed does not present a problem but if we provide them with a sudden increase in grain and protein they could become very ill with gastro-intestinal distress and possibly die. Again, we have to be very careful with them. 

Some our chicks dining on pumpkin.

Now for our little dinosaurs, our chickens. They are very cold-tolerant but again we take special precautions with their care during extreme cold weather. Like all livestock, we keep their water clear of ice and make sure they have plenty of it when it is cold. We provide them with shelter all year, but in the winter we have to be certain their surroundings are dry and free of draft. Their roosts are in places free of draft and adequate for the number of chickens we have in our flock. We increase their feed when it is cold so they are able keep themselves warm from the inside by being fat and healthy. 

When the temperature in our area is forecast to go below 20 degrees F I install infrared heat lamps to keep them warm. Now that the worst of that cold snap has passed my measure for success with our chickens is how they are laying both through and after the cold. I am happy to say they have performed well, keeping their average production about the same or maybe a little higher than before the snap. They are all still healthy and full of energy. By measuring their success, I can give us, as their stewards, a passing grade and say that we have been successful as well. 

A young female cardinal flew into the glass of 

our window. It was unconscious when 

I found it, and I rubbed it and got it war and 

within thirty minutes it flew away.

Now, we don't stop with the domestic animals. We also love the natural creatures that live around us all year. We have rabbits, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, deer, coyotes, foxes, turkeys, and all the birds that either live here all year, migrate quickly through on their way south, or migrate here for the winter to get out of the cold farther north.  There is not much I can do for most of those. The majority of the wild creatures are on their own. With the forest growing around us they have abundant food, water, and shelter to survive the winter comfortably. However, the birds are different. We provide them with food, a lot of food, for the winter and keep feeding them through the other seasons. 

This time of year we stay busy around here. We have a warm house and want all the animals we look after to be as comfortable as we are. We see ourselves as good stewards to them, that is, if they think of things like that. 

Our job is to take care of those around us as we would want to be taken care of if we were in their position.

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Jack Daniels Creates an Uproar Among Its Customers

Jack Daniels has the audacity to change its product packaging without first consulting its consumers.

With all the political upheaval in the world, things like a changing climate adding to unpredictable weather like snowfalls on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, blizzard conditions in Louisiana, extremely dry windy weather adding to the fires in California, lack of snowfall in the Rocky Mountains causing hardships to the skiing industry, multiple year droughts killing millions of pine trees in the south and adding to the spread of the destructive pine borer beetle devastating the timber industry for years to come, it appears most people don’t care about these minor things. It seems they are paying little attention to what is going on around them.  

Add to this numerous border disputes and national boundaries in question are causing wars and strife around the globe. Again it seems people don’t care about these things. But there are some things worth raising the ire of the masses and here is one of those things work getting upset about: Jack Daniels has changed their bottle, and people are up in arms about it. I am not a Jack Daniels drinker, but maybe I should be so I could have that unyielding loyalty the brand’s imbibers possess.

Jim Beam is why I don't have a
horse in this race.

 

Americans have so many things to worry about, and for that reason, I am extremely pleased Jack Daniels recently made changes to its traditional packaging to take its customers’ minds off other potentially detrimental issues in the world. You know, I really don’t have a horse in this race but anything to change the subject from the major events of the day is newsworthy in my humble opinion. Border disputes and national boundaries in question are causing wars and strife around the globe.

It seems people don’t care about these things, but here is something to be upset about: Jack Daniels has changed their bottle, and people are up in arms about it. I am not a Jack Daniels drinker, but maybe I should be so I could have that unyielding loyalty the brand’s imbibers possess.

How dare a company make changes to something that absolutely has no effect on the product they are selling. This is an important development affecting millions of people in the US and globally for that matter. There is political upheaval in Washington, DC like no one has ever seen. At least 50 percent of the voters in America are optimistically hoping they have made the right decision while the other 50 percent are praying the nation can make it through the next four years with an enduring democratic republic intact.

To complicate our whole thought process and give us a little more to worry about, we are seeing a new administration's Cabinet appointees coming from what appears to be nowhere, which of course is not totally unlike every election before this one. However, in the past most appointees have had some experience at the national level. This time, unlike most elections, those being appointed are complete unknowns to most of those they will be serving with no apparent experience in public service or in some cases the fundemental basics of their appointed position. As a result gloom and doom are present on both sides of the aisle. But wait, we don't need to worry about this. But wait, that is not the important thing I am discussing here. It is important that we take a stand for or against Jack Daniels' right to change its bottle without asking permission from its customers. 

Jack Daniels has made changes to their bottle and people we just can't let that stand.   

To my knowledge there were no surveys, polls, or focus groups conducted by JD to help them decide the fate of their company and we all know this decision will determine its fate. How dare they mess with their own product. Who do they thinjk they are. It just doesn't matter that what is inside of the bottle remains unchanged the status quo has been breached and you dedicated Jack Daniels drinkers need to rise up and over throw the man. What gives them the right to change something that has worked for so many decades? Who do that think they are? It is not like they will make the ultimate decision and get the final vote. 
No, to the contrary. That final vote comes at the cash register. I think everyone should join in the ruckus and speak up for what you believe in. Speak loudly enough for everyone to hear you. Write letters to the management, talk to the managers of the store where you buy JD, stand on the street corner with a sign. Make your voice heard. This is your chance to stand for something that really matters, something you really believe in. 
With so many things to worry about, I am really pleased JD made changes to take its customers’ minds off other potentially detrimental things. You know, I really don’t have a horse in this race, but anything to change the subject from the major events of the day is newsworthy in my humble opinion. 

Forget about all of that other mundane trivial stuff that is effecting the world.  It is time to stand up for something that matters. 

Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own.   Jonathan Swift

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A Solitary Sunday Stroll

A Winter Sunrise (photo ©Copyright 2025 John Helms)

The early morning sun cast a golden glow over the landscape, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange. It was a bright yet chilly January morning, typical for the season. I found myself yearning for solitude, the kind that only a long walk down a country lane could provide. 

As I stepped onto the path, the crunch of frost underfoot mingled with the soft rustling of pine needles swaying in the light breeze. The lane, framed by towering pine trees and small open meadows, seemed to welcome me into its embrace. My hands were snug in my pockets, while a wool cap shielded me from the cold bite of the air.

The tranquility was interrupted only by nature's whispers. Deer delicately nibbled on the sparse winter grasses, moving gracefully between the shadows. Squirrels busily darted up and down the few oak trees scattered in the pine forest, searching for the last remnants of autumn's bounty, while winter birds chirped and called from their perches. Above, a pair of hawks called out to each other, their cries echoing through the crisp air as they soared gracefully overhead searching for their next meal. (illustrations created in Microsoft Copilot) 

My thoughts turned inward, reflecting on how nature provides a sanctuary for spirituality and adoration of our creator. Here on this peaceful walk, I found a different kind of sanctuary. The simplicity of nature, its purity and unwavering presence, brought me closer to him and his creations. 

I inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of pine and the crisp, clean air. This walk, with its serene surroundings and honest wildlife, felt like a prayer, a meditation, a direct line of communication with God. My footsteps became a rhythm, a heartbeat, syncing with the Earth's pulse. 

My wool cap warmed me but it was the quiet reflection and bond with nature that truly comforted me. As I wandered down the lane, I realized that faith could be found in the simple, unadulterated beauty of moments like these. The pine trees, the meadows, the creatures—they all spoke of a creator far greater than any human construct could capture. This place in nature is my cathedral, the colors of the changing seasons replaced the stained glass and the filtered sunlight shimmering through the branches like candles on the altar comforted my soul. 

With each step, my heart grew lighter, my mind clearer. I found a spot off the beaten path and stopped for a moment of silence that turned into prayer and thanks. Though organized religion comforts the souls of many, I find my time in the woods with nature does it for me. This walk reminded me that spirituality could be simple, profound, and deeply personal. And so, I bowed my head in prayer and then continued my solitary stroll, grateful for the peace and clarity it brought to my soul.

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