In over eighty original essays, Rex Alphin presents us with a folksy, contemplative view of the beauty and wonderment of everyday life in the rural South. In these brief, introspective essays about his life as a farmer in Isle of Wight, Virginia, Alphin captures the simple moments of country life with the candor, grace and old-fashioned wit of a master storyteller. He writes about the rich experience of being connected to the land, about the joy and beauty of the seasons, and about the importance of the small but profound moments in life overlooked by so many. Watching a rain gauge fill after weeks of drought, digging peanuts, listening to old folks tell their stories, or remembering what it was like to fall in love the first time, Alphin discovers and shares those moments and the valuable lessons that come with them, reminding us of how astonishing life can be when we just pay attention. Underneath his descriptions of the death of a mule, the miracle of a kernel of corn growing eight feet tall, and teaching us the mysteries and beauty of farm life, we eavesdrop on a writer who, with the eagerness of a child, knows how to appreciate the power of simple things. The Nature of Things: Stories from the Land offers a singular perspective that will remind you to pause, remember, and appreciate life and the world s blessings. Your columns are original, thoughtful and entertaining. I look forward to reading them regularly. --Russell West I love your column and try never to miss it. Reading it is like reliving my childhood. Your words express it so nicely. Thanks for letting me know why the Sunday afternoon driver was so slow. --Juanita Drake Rex Alphin writes through eyes that see the world uniquely. He looks at objects, people and scenes around him and sees life lessons, inspiration and hope for our world. --Dr. Michael Ponder In over eighty original essays, Rex Alphin presents us with a folksy, contemplative view of the beauty and wonderment of everyday life in the rural South. In these brief, introspective essays about his life as a farmer in Isle of Wight, Virginia, Alphin captures the simple moments of country life with the candor, grace and old-fashioned wit of a master storyteller. He writes about the rich experience of being connected to the land, about the joy and beauty of the seasons, and about the importance of the small but profound moments in life overlooked by so many. Watching a rain gauge fill after weeks of drought, digging peanuts, listening to old folks tell their stories, or remembering what it was like to fall in love the first time, Alphin discovers and shares those moments and the valuable lessons that come with them, reminding us of how astonishing life can be when we just pay attention. Underneath his descriptions of the death of a mule, the miracle of a kernel of corn growing eight feet tall, and teaching us the mysteries and beauty of farm life, we eavesdrop on a writer who, with the eagerness of a child, knows how to appreciate the power of simple things. The Nature of Things: Stories from the Land offers a singular perspective that will remind you to pause, remember, and appreciate life and the world's blessings. Rex Alphin has been a weekly columnist for The Tidewater News in Franklin, Virginia since 2006, where the essays appearing in this volume were previously published. In addition to being a blues harmonica player and a lover of Russian novels, he farms 1,000 acres of peanuts, corn, cotton and soybeans in southern Isle of Wight, Virginia on the Blackwater River a farm his grandfather bought in the 1930s and where Rex grew up and has spent his life. This is his first essay collection.