Welcome to Casks and Quivers! I started this site/blog to discuss issues associated with two of my favorite activities: Brewing and Archery. As a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, I have interest in how these activities occurred in the Middle Ages as well as in more modern times. I am particularly interested in finding modern scientific support for Medieval practices. Recently, I developed an interest in researching the history of the WWII destroyer, USS Patterson, U.S. submarine war patrol reports, and poetry written in January 1 deck logs of ships during WWII. If you would like to know more about me “mundanely” and my SCA persona click on the about tab in the menu. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or use this contact form.
My friend, Gary Guinn, teamed up with me to author a book about the US Navy tradition of writing the first deck log entry of the New Year in verse. The book is now available order from McFarland Books. See the Midwatch in Verse page here.
“A unique and original telling of the story of the US Navy in World War II. A humane and delightful look at young officers in wartime called on to perform the most incongruous of duties—to write a poem in the place of a deck log. Midwatch in Verse informs, delights, and reveals a side of the US Navy known only to the few. Highly recommended.”
Admiral James Stavridis, author of “To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision” and “2034: A Novel of the Next World War.” Sixteenth Supreme Allied Commander at NATO – 2009-2013.
We also developed a new website for the Midwatch in Verse tradition.
Recent Posts
Midwatch Poetry Magazine Articles
The Midwatch in Verse Project authors published two magazine articles about this 100+ year old tradition. The first appeared in the December 2024 issue of Submarine Review and is titled Midwatch Deck Log Poetry Aboard U.S. Submarines: The Early Cold … Continue reading →
Upcoming Article Announcement
[Edit: 12/27/2024] The article is now in print. The Midwatch in Verse Project is pleased to announce an upcoming article to be published in the January issue of “Leatherneck Magazine” published by the Marine Corps Association. The article titled, Leatherneck … Continue reading →
Midwatch in Verse Project Upcoming Publication
An article titled Midwatch Deck Log Poetry Aboard US Submarines: The Early Cold War Years will be published in the December issue of The Submarine Review (a publication of the Naval Submarine League). It is authored by members of The … Continue reading →
Announcing Midwatch in Verse Project
In February of 2023, McFarland Books published the first book-length treatment of an old US Navy tradition of writing the first deck log entry of the New Year in verse. Titled Midwatch in Verse: New Year’s Deck Log Poetry of … Continue reading →
Barrel Project: Resurrection and Finale
Back in early 2017, I conceived a plan for a project that would involve aging 10L of Nocino in a charred barrel. After the aging process, I determined to add an imperial stout to the barrel when the Nocino was … Continue reading →