8mm & 16mm film transfers, books & videos by Carl Feather

Lost … and found

The October picnic ended with a backyard softball competition between the relatives and in-laws. Outfield was the row of dense hemlocks along the lane, and late into the eighth inning, Junior hit one straight into this thicket. Billy dove into the crisp accumulation of oak and maple leaves. He failed to notice the ball had … Read More

Guard Your Heart

Part 5 of a memoir of heart failure, open-heart surgery and complications One does not come so close to death as I did without learning many lessons along the way. As I continue to recover from heart failure, open heart surgery and its myriad complications, I am given the gift of time to reflect upon … Read More

My times, His hands

Part 4 of a memoir of heart failure, open-heart surgery and complications One of the things that sustains me during my weeks of hospitalization and recovery from open heart surgery is the hope of seeing and cuddling with my mixed-breed dog, Edison. We adopted him in January 2020, and he quickly became a member of … Read More

Waiting for the big muscle to heal

Part 3 of a memoir of heart failure, open-heart surgery and complications At some point in my recovery at the acute-care facility, a cardiologist tells me that the muscles in my body will not recover any faster than the big muscle, my heart, recovers.I do not understand those words at the time, but as the … Read More

And the jam goes on

Nearly four years ago, Ruth and I attended the old-time music jam at the Morgantown Brewery on a Wednesday evening in October. It was 2018 and the world was a wonderful place. People didn’t wear masks unless they had a medical condition, gasoline was affordable, and a trip to the grocery store didn’t involve a … Read More

West Virginia Backroads videos added

During the past six months of recovery from open heart surgery, I have had the downtime necessary to put together several videos of my interviews for Goldenseal magazine. These videos are packaged as “West Virginia Backroads” and are available on YouTube. Most of these videos deal with upcoming stories for Goldenseal. However, one of them … Read More

The sawblade embedded in my neck

Part 2 of a memoir of heart failure, open-heart surgery and complications The journey home is one of 10,000 steps, and the first one is always the most difficult. On March 23, 2021, I am released from Allegheny’s heart failure unit to an acuity unit in Morgantown. I recall nothing of the ambulance ride or … Read More

Are you ready to die, Carl Feather?

A memoir of heart failure, open-heart surgery and complications I have chased sunsets most of my life, although of late I’ve not had no passion for such pursuits. Nevertheless, on that evening in February 2021 was before me the most stunning example of a fading Helios I’d ever witnessed. The afterglow across the Amish hamlet … Read More

Decoration Day

It is Memorial Day weekend in the United States, but in Appalachia, particularly West Virginia, it is more commonly referred to as “Decoration Day.” My parents, Carl J. and Cossette (Watring) Feather, seemed to have a standing engagement in West Virginia each May, for the sole purpose of decorating the graves of parents, siblings and … Read More

Watch our videos on YouTube

West Virginia Backroads: Pickin’ in Parsons

West Virginia Backroads: John and Tom Rowan, woodturners

West Virginia Backroads: Reed’s Mill, Second Creek

West Virginia Backroads: Virgin Hemlock Trail in snow

West Virginia Backroads: DePollo Reunion, Thomas

1962 Moundsville, W.Va., Christmas parade film transfer

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Ashtabula Ohio, procession, film transfer