Grandmother’s Birthday

Age? I Won’t Say
However, I would suggest you check out the picture of her with a birthday card in her hand. The number was handwritten and did not stand out until I embellished it a little. (The devil made me do it.)

We had a grand time tonight at Kevin’s enjoying some birthday cake and watching Grandmother open a few gifts. She also received some nice gifts from Bethany in the mail today. The festivities for Grandmother’s birthday will continue the rest of the week, with a great day planned for Saturday, when my cousin Karen & her husband Pat plan to visit us and they are bringing Mary with them. We will be celebrating 3 birthdays of Saturday: Beverly-Jan 30, Karen-Jan 31 and Mary=Feb 5.

Here’s some pictures taken tonight at Kevin’s home.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Don’t ever regret growing older.
It is a privilege denied to many.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be.
~Robert Browning

~~~
Joke of the Day

Two elderly ladies had been friends since their 30s. Now in their 80s, they still got together a couple of times a week to play cards. One day they were playing gin rummy and one of them said, "You know, we’ve been friends for many years and, please don't get mad, but for the life of me, I can't remember your name. Please tell me what it is."

Her friend glared at her. She continued to glare and stare at her for at least three minutes. Finally, she said, "How soon do you need to know?"

~~~

My memory's not as sharp as it used to be.  Also, my memory's not as sharp as it used to be.

 

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Some Peaceful Things

Birds I enjoy watching the birds in the backyard. We have several bird feeders. They were getting empty because of my surgery, but with Grandmother’s help we got them filled to the brim on Saturday. Here’s a few pictures of a woodpecker that way going back and forth to this feeder on Sunday morning.

Return to the Ship
I wasn’t aware of this. I thought you might not be also. It’s very touching. I’m proud to be an American.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
The only peace that we can ever achieve is the peace within our hearts and souls.

~~~

Quote of the Day
We seek peace,
knowing that peace is the climate of freedom. 
~Dwight D. Eisenhower

~~~
Joke of the Day

An old man walks into the barbershop for shave and a haircut, but tells the barber he can't get all his whiskers off because his cheeks are wrinkled from age.

The barber gets a little wooden ball from a cup on the shelf and tells him to put it inside his cheek to spread out the skin.

When he's finished, the old man tells the barber that was the cleanest shave he's had in years. But he wanted to know what would have happened if he had swallowed that little ball.

The barber replied, "Just bring it back in a couple of days like everyone else does."

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Dad’s Egg & Poultry Business

Ever Used a Blotter?
Or do you even know what a blotter is? They used to quite common when people used ink pens. I’m not talking about ball point pens, I’m talking about real ink pens. You know the kind you filled from an ink bottle. The blotter was a necessity to blot your writing so that it would not smear. Blotters were often used for advertising. I have picture of a real blotter that was used for advertising by one of my Dad’s first business ventures in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The side I am showing was on slick paper, the reverse side was a absorbent paper that would blot the ink. It’s interesting to note the phone number which in those days was a five digit number and there were not any area codes.

In later years people did not use blotters, so other types of advertising freebees were provided. Here’s some examples:

The main product of my Dad’s business during those years was eggs. His copyright brand was Pride of the Flock, and here’s a picture of one of the later day egg cartons:

I worked from my Dad on weekends and every summer during high school.  He made me start work in the most difficult part of the operation. My first year I worked in the chicken processing part of the operation. I was a trained killer of chickens and learned all the scalding, picking and preparation of the birds for market.

My second year I was promoted to work with the eggs where I was an egg candler. I held eggs to a light to learn how to grade the eggs so that only the Grade A’s would be packaged in that Pride of the Flock cartoon.

I was moved to truck driver for my 3rd year where I delivered eggs and poultry all over the city of Knoxville. It was one of the most educational experiences I ever had in dealing with the public and learning about human nature. I could share several stories about happenings with people in both small and larger grocery stores.

The last year I worked in the office where I did some of the bookkeeping, walk in sales and miscellaneous tasks. In all it was quite an experience. I enjoyed it very much and learned things that have helped me cope in life.

A President That Talked About God
This is an interesting video which is called a tribute to President Ronald Reagan. It’s amazing the things he said which I am sure would not go over with many people today. I really liked President Reagan and I still believe that there is a place for God in our government. Click here to watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds7vnZWQh8A

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I read recently where someone said “Bad decisions make good stories”. I guess there’s some truth in that because I can think of a few things in my own life where a bad decision resulted in a good story. Most of the time these stories are not very funny at first, but as time goes along there becomes more amusement in the story. But the main thing is we should learn something from bad decisions so that we don’t repeat them. That doesn’t always work because I have one story that is the result of 3 bad decisions that were the same decision. I might tell you about it some day.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.
~Edith Sitwell

~~~
Joke of the Day

A wife texts her husband on a cold morning: "Windows frozen."

Her husband texts back: "Pour some lukewarm water over it."

The wife texts back 5 minutes later: "Computer completely messed up now."

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Thinking of Atley

My Great Grandson
Our thoughts flow to middle Tennessee frequently because that’s were Atley lives. I’ve been getting some pictures from Mandy’s Facebook account that keeps us up to date. And sometime we will invoke Apple Facetime to watch Atley perform a new feat. If you’re not on Facebook you might enjoy the following pictures. (Thanks to Mandy & Alex for the pictures.)

My Recovery
All is going in the right direction. I had 2 sessions at out patient physical therapy. Very little change in the exercises: only one slightly modified. I will be going to physical therapy twice next week. I do the exercise twice per day at home. I feel stronger and more stable each day.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Some thoughts :

  If the world were a logical place, men would be the ones who  ride  horses sidesaddle.

  What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free?

 

~~~

Quote of the Day

I got the bill for my surgery. 
Now I know what those doctors were wearing masks for.
~James H. Boren

~~~
Joke of the Day

How birds tell someone to SHUTUP!
Guess which one is female.

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Enjoy Life.

Not much going on in Upper East Tennessee

I’m still recovering from hip replacement surgery that I had 3 weeks ago. As I recover my thoughts have been going toward spring and fishing. I have lots to do during the winter months to get ready. I’ll be putting new fishing line on all my rods and reels that we use for crappie fishing in the spring. I also like to go through my tackle boxes and get things better organized. Will I be purchasing anything? I doubt it. I think I could fish for the next 20 years and not run out of fishing tackle.

The picture above was taken last year on Douglas Lake on March 27, 2012. I’m hoping we can be on the lake this year in late March.

Today
I start going to out-patient physical therapy for my hip today. I’m very pleased with the progress I have made to date. Last Saturday I took Grandmother to Wal-Mart and this gave me the opportunity for some exercise by walking through the store behind a shopping cart. It was good to get out of the house for a while. I was getting cabin fever.

Special Musical Talent
Watch this man play Whispering Hope blowing on a leaf. It’s beautiful and amazing.

 

~~~

Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. It’s alright to make mistakes as long a you learn something positive from your errors.

and

A truly happy person is one who can
enjoy the scenery on a detour.

~~~

Quote of the Day

Happiness and sadness run parallel to each other. 
When one takes a rest,
the other one tends to take up the slack.
~Hazelmarie Elliott (“Mattie”)

~~~
Joke of the Day

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It WAS a Beautiful Snow

Yesterday’s Snowfall
The roads are clear now and the mess of the day after a snow fall is upon us. But it was beautiful. Those big flakes were so pretty.

During the snow we received a picture from Lesley showing Kara and Zachary outside and playing in the snow.

I sure wished I could get outside and join them in some sleigh riding or even a playful snowball fight. That would have been fun!

More News!
I now have a granddaughter that is very, very happy and excited. Maybe the  picture will give you a clue.

Do you recognize what she is holding? It looks a lot like a Tennessee Drivers License, but I am pretty sure it is a Tennessee Drivers Learning Permit. She took the test and got the permit today. That’s a happy girl.

Quote of the Day
The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror
with a cop in it. 
~Dudley Moore

 

Thoughts of the Day

In 1866, Mark Twain said, “No man's life,  liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in  session.” Those words are true today!

It is good for us to remember “Talk is  cheap...except when Congress does it.”

Joke of the Day

    A very thirsty man goes into a bar. As he's sitting down, he hears the man next to him tell the bartender, "I'll have another waterloo."

    The bartender gives the fellow a tall, well-iced drink, then asks the newcomer what he would like to drink.

    Thinking the other man's drink may be a specialty of the house, he says, "I'll have a waterloo, too." The bartender gives him the tall, well-iced drink, and the customer takes a big drink.

    "Hey," he says, "this isn't any good. It tastes just like water!"

    The man next to him looks at the bartender and says, "Well, it is water. Right, Lou?"

Snow Today!

Will It Be Gone Tomorrow?
Grandmother and I took a short trip out this afternoon to run a few errands. We stopped by the bank, the grocery, the post office and the pharmacy before returning home. Grandmother took this short video of the last leg of our journey home. The snow is beautiful!

Since we’ve gotten home we’ve been surprised by thunder while it continues to snow. Is this a thunder snow storm? Looks like we have a bout an inch or two on the ground now.

The New Hip
It’s still doing good. My leg gets a little stronger each day. Today I had my last home physical therapy session. Beginning Monday I will be be visiting an out patient location for 2-3 weeks of Physical Therapy.

I’m gradually weaning myself from the walker and using the cane more and more. Today I went in the grocery store and pushed the cart for Grandmother. I think the exercise and walking will be good for my recovery.

The International Space Station
A friend recently shared with me this follow video of a tour of the space station. I thought you might like to see it. It’s long… about 25 minutes. When I started watching it I thought to my self that this will be pretty boring and I will shut it off soon. Seems I never did. I enjoyed all of it. You might also.

Quote of the Day
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing,
wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;
there is really no such thing as bad weather,
only different kinds of good weather.
~John Ruskin

Thought of the Day
A lot of people say they want to serve God, but they want to do it in an advisory capacity.
When praying doing give God instructions…
just report for duty.

Joke of the Day

At a small zoo, visitors often ignored the many large signs that said, "Don't feed the animals!"

The zookeeper did not want to impose fines so he tried a different approach.

He posted signs saying, "Feed the animals for only twenty dollars!" and suddenly no one wanted to.

Good Hip Report

Hip Hip Hooray!
I saw the surgeon this afternoon. The X-rays looked good. He removed the staples. Here’s what I expect the next few weeks:

• I can drive as of today, and I already have.
• I have be extremely careful about bending, twisting and crossing legs for the next 3.5 months.
• Continue my exercises at home, and began walking more with the cane and less with the walker.
• I am to began out-patient physical therapy next week for 2-3 times per week for 3-4 weeks.
• I need to continue wearing a compression hose on my surgery leg for the next 3 weeks to prevent blood clots.

I see the surgeon again in 3 weeks and I will give an update then.

All is well, and I am thankful.

The Last Roll of Kodak Kodachrome Film
Here’s an interesting video about a professional photographer who asked for the last roll of Kodachrome film from Kodak’s production line. It’s a long video, about 30 minutes. However, it teaches us how to make photography more meaningful.

Photography has changed so much with the event of digital pictures. We just start snapping pictures because there is no dollar cost. But maybe there is a cost… the cost of not planning our photography. Instead we just hope to get lucky.

Thought of the Day
Worry is the darkroom in which negatives develop.
Keep you worry in control by prayer.

Quote of the Day
There is something self-defeating in the
too-conscious pursuit of pleasure. 
~Max Eastman

Joke of the Day

"What did you do this weekend?"

"I dropped some hooks into the water."

"How was the fishing?"

"I wasn't fishing; I was golfing!"

~~~

After a quarrel, a wife said to her husband, "You know, I was a fool when I married you." 

And the husband replied, "Yes, dear, but I was in love and didn't notice it."

All Going Good

At Tennessee Granddaddy’s White House
This old hip seems a little better each day. For the past two nights I have been sleeping in regular bed which is upstairs and that has made a bid difference in my ability to get a good night of sleep.

Home Health comes tomorrow and I will likely learn some new things. And later this week I will be learning about riding my exercise bike again. Oh Joy!

I see the surgeon on Tuesday when I will get my staples out and hopefully an extension of things I will be able to do, like driving and walking with the cane instead of the walker. We’ll see what happens and live with it.

Kevin’s Birthday
Tomorrow my son Kevin is celebrating his birthday. We gave him his birthday gift a few days ago. We were surprised and excited to learn he and his family will be joining us here at our home for some of that cake ice cream that he likes so much. They should be here any minute… and they were here.

Here’s a picture of Kevin just before we destroyed the ice cream cake!

 

Quote of the Day

What a wonderful life I've had!
I only wish I'd realized it sooner.
~Colette

Thought of the Day

Man’s way leads to a hopeless end…
God’s way leads to an endless hope!

 

Joke of the Day

New customer to Tech Support: “It says, hit any key and when I do that nothing happens'.

Tech Support: Can you try again and tell me what happens?

Customer: 'Tried but nothing”

Tech Support: “What key did you hit?

After a moment and some chick ling sound the customer replied: Well, first I tried my car key and just now my office key.

Small Victories

In the Hip Replacement Battle
I climbed the wooden hill. I made it to the top, and back down. It was not difficult.

Home Health was here earlier today, so we made a trip upstairs to my bedroom. Since last Friday when I came home from the hospital I had been sleeping in a downstairs bedroom and using a walk-in shower. The trip upstairs was in preparation into making the move back to more normality in my life. While upstairs I tried using my normal tub shower and found that I can use it without problems.

The Surgery
I am quite amazed at my own improvement after the surgery I had just 9 days ago. A few days after I return home from the hospital I got out my laptop and searched YouTube for some videos of a complete hip replacement. Then I watched it. I’m glad I did not see it before the surgery, but it was interesting to watch the process while you are thinking “They did that to me! How will I ever walk again?”

The video helped me in several ways. It helped me see what competent medical procedures can accomplish. It also helped me appreciate the amazing recuperative powers of the human body. And lastly it impressed on me the importance of being serious about physical therapy following the surgery.

Quote of the Day
”I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”
-- Winston Churchill

Thought of the Day

Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.

Joke of the Day

It was just before Christmas and the magistrate was in a happy mood. He asked the prisoner who was in the dock, "What are you charged with?"

The prisoner replied, "Doing my Christmas shopping too early."

"That's no crime," said the magistrate. "Just how early were you doing this shopping?"

"Before the shop opened."

 

All Going Good

Home Health
Home Health came today to check me over and assist me with my physical therapy. They will come once more this week and 3 times next week. Then it could mean that I will through with “assisted” physical therapy. All of the exercises are pretty easy for me to with the exception of the leg raise. It looks like it’s going to take a few more days to get the strength to do these on my own. It seems all is going in the right direction.

My biggest problem is getting a good night’s sleep. It’s difficult to find a legal sleep position that is comfortable. I’m sure things will get better.

Bragging Time
My Granddaughter, Kara, recently worked on a school project about “Bullying”. She developed this video which was put on YouTube. I thought you might enjoy watching the video which was all done with her Canon camera and her Mac laptop. I was amazed.

Thought of the Day
”Keep going ahead, never quit, don’t ever give up.”

As I was thinking about the above, that old story about the two frogs came into my mind…. Read on:

TWO FROGS IN CREAM

by T.C. Hamlet

Two frogs fell into a can of cream,
Or so I’ve heard it told;
The sides of the can were shiny & steep,
The cream was deep & cold.

"O, what’s the use?" croaked Number One,
"’Tis fate; no help’s around.
Goodbye, my friends! Goodbye, sad world!"
And weeping still, he drowned.

But Number Two, of sterner stuff,
Dog-paddled in surprise.
The while he wiped his creamy face
And dried his creamy eyes.

"I’ll swim awhile, at least," he said-
Or so I’ve heard he said;
"It really wouldn’t help the world
If one more frog were dead."

An hour or two he kicked & swam,
Not once he stopped to mutter,
But kicked & kicked & swam & kicked,
then hopped out...

via butter!

Joke of the Day
An enterprising journalist decided to get the scoop of the day by photographing the fearsome phantom that lived in the spooky old mansion house at the edge of town.
 
When he entered the house, armed with only his camera, the ghost descended upon him, moaning and wailing and clanking chains. "I mean no harm; I just want your photograph," the journalist said bravely.

Pleased at this chance to make headlines, the ghost posed for a number of shots, and the happy journalist rushed back to his computer and began uploading the photos. Unfortunately, they turned out to be so underexposed that nothing could be seen in them.

He was distraught, and went to a local pub to drown his sorrows. Meeting his friends there, they asked what was wrong. Not wanting to tell the whole story, he simply explained with a single sentence: "The spirit was willing, but the flash was weak."

The New Year is moving right along

As You Probably Know
I arrived home from the hospital yesterday after a left hip replacement surgery that was done on Monday, December 31, 2012. So far everything has gone very good and I am very happy with the early results.

I had knee replacement surgery 2 years ago. I have much less after surgery pain from the hip surgery as compared to the knee surgery. As I sit here this evening I am in absolutely no pain, and the only discomfort I have is in going through the important regiment of physical therapy exercises that I do twice each day. Each time I run through the exercises I see improvement in flexibility and range of movement. So things are going good. Beverly took that picture of me this evening to show me with my walker I used to moved through the house.

A Good Joke that is certainly appropriate at the present time…

Hip Surgery

It's A Process
We're at the hospital and waiting to be checked out. Just a few last minute things to be done. The most critical part from my view point has been the physical therapy. I have appreciated the kindness and patience of the people here. I have experience improvement every day. Now I go home for continuing therapy which will mean success.

I'm looking forward to a shower including scrubbing and shampoo. But the main thing is just being at home.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Hip Replacement - Healing is not over night

Thursday in Hospital
Things are getting better little by little. They said I could go home today, we talked it over and decided to wait until tomorrow since I had missed the PT on Jan 1.

They decided later today that I definitely needed 1 unit of blood. So that is what happening right now. At first I was going opt out of the blood. But I talked to my heart doctor and changed my mind. My first time for a blood transfusion. Sure hope I didn't get any blood some over zealous liberal!

I Shaved Today
I was feeling pretty scroungy, and I really looked like a bum. It is sure surprising how good a clean shave will make you feel.

So I'm hoping to be back home sometime tomorrow afternoon with clean shave and some strangers blood circulating through this old body of mine.

You all take care, I hope to talk to you tomorrow.

Happy New Year

From the Hospital
All going good. Hip replacement went without problems. They had me up a couple of times. I had a Subway sub for supper last night.

Here's a picture taken a little while ago.