The Birds

Chattering Away
We walked out in the yard a couple of days ago, and we could hear the birds. The were chattering away. Maybe talking to each other or perhaps trying to tell us to give them something to eat.

Beverly and I worked in the snow and I put chains on my walking cane to be safe. We filled our two primary bird feeders and put out 3 cakes of fresh suet. Now the birds are enjoying the fresh food.

We're seeing lots of Cardinals. They look so pretty and vibrant with their red color in contrast to the white snow. Here’s a few pictures I took on Thursday. It was snowing at the time…

May we know how to appreciate and value the beauty of God’s creation, and care for it as good stewards.

Kevin’s Birthday Yesterday 
We had a birthday celebration yesterday for my son, Kevin. He turned 43, and that makes me feel a little older. Here’s a couple of pictures…

Up above you see Kevin with his Mom and Dad. To the left, Kevin is guarding the cake, ice cream and nuts. It was delicious.

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
You don’t have to be a perfectionist.
Just doing your best is good enough.

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Quote of the Day

A proverb is a short sentence based on long experience. 
~Miguel de Cervantes

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Joke of the Day

In the doctors office two patients are talking "You know, I had an appendectomy last month and the doctor left a sponge in me by mistake"

"A sponge!" exclaims the other "And do you feel much pain"

"No pain at all", says the first, "but do I get thirsty!"

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A Special Birthday

My Son, Kevin
Today is his 43rd birthday. Beverly and I were remembering yesterday about the night of his birth. It was a cold and snowy night in Kingsport, Tennessee. Before going to the hospital we drove by some friends so they could keep our older son, Greg, while we were at the hospital. (I was as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.) We were thankful for the healthy birth of our second son.

Kevin now has a family of his own, but a son is always your boy. You never forget the playing together, him setting in your lap, the ball games in the back yards, the experiences of life, and all the growing up to become the man he is today.

Happy Birthday, Kevin!

Tomorrow’s Blog
Tomorrow I’ll be showing some nice pictures I took yesterday of some of the Cardinals we have been watching in our back yard. I hope you’ll come back and take a look.

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
You’ve heard of a wild goose chase. Someone said that it’s OK to go on an occasional wild goose chase - that's what wild geese are for. But what happens if you catch the wild goose?

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Quotes of the Day

You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. 
And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes.
~Walter M. Schirra, Sr.

When you teach your son, you teach your son's son.
~The Talmud

Giving your son a skill is better than giving him
one thousand pieces of gold.
~Chinese Proverb

He who can be a good son will be a good father. 
~Author Unknown

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Joke of the Day

“Pull over the curb,” said the policeman. “You don’t have a taillight.”

The motorist stepped out, looked in back of the car, and stood quivering and speechless.

“Oh, it’s not that bad,” said the policeman.

The man mumbled, “It’s not the taillight I am worried about. Where are my wife and trailer?”

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Football

Football Season

The last college game has been played. Auburn beat Oregon for the National College Championship. Now the pros are at it, and soon we will have the Super Bowl.

All these games are based on kicking, throwing, and running with a funny shaped object we call the football. Ever wonder how they make a football. Well here’s the video. It shows how balls are manufactured at the Wilson factory which makes all the footballs for the NFL.

 

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Try not to be a grumpy person.
Things may not be going exactly the way you want, but don’t take it out on everybody else.

Pray first, and it will help your attitude.

Then you can be cheerful and smile.

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Quote of the Day

Men can bear all things except good days. 
~Dutch Proverb

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Joke of the Day

A Tennessee State trooper pulled over a pickup on I-65. The trooper asked, "Got any ID?"

The driver replied, "Bout whut?"

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You can say what you want about the South,
but you never hear of anyone retiring
and moving North.

 

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Snow on the Roof

Makes Icicles
We’ve had some snow, and now some icicles are hanging from the gutter. We very seldom ever had icicles before we had the Gutter Helmet installed on our gutters. Here’s a picture of some of our icicles.

We’re glad for the warmth inside the home these days. It makes you wonder how the little birds and animals survive. Reminds me of this poem my sister, Mary, wrote some time back.

        I Wonder Where They Are Tonight

     When it’s cold and dark and deep,
     I wonder where the squirrels sleep.
     Are they safe and warm and sound,
     When night shades have fallen down?

     I wonder if the birds are warm,
     If perchance ‘twould come a storm,
     I hope that they can safely rest,
     In their little leafy nest.

     I look out on the cold, dark night
     ‘Tis such a dark and lonely sight,
     But God His loving hand doth send,
     And then He safely tucks them in.

                 By Mary L. White (Dec. 2006)

 

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
I hope you are making the best of these
cold and snowy winter days. I think it’s good
to try to accomplish something on these winter days.

Some things you might consider: catch up on your reading, write some letters to your friends and loved ones, plan your vacation, learn how to do something, educate yourself, plan for things you want to do or accomplish when the seasons change, do some organization of your room or closet, etc.

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Quote of the Day

All promise outruns performance. 
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Joke of the Day

A man in North Carolina had a flat tire, pulled off on the side of the road, and proceeded to put a bouquet of flowers in front of the car and one behind it. Then he got back in the car to wait.

A passerby studied the scene as he drove by and was so curious he turned around and went back. He asked the fellow what the problem was.

The man replied, "I have a flat tire."

The passerby asked, "But what's with the flowers?"

The man responded, "When you break down they tell you to put flares in the front and flares in the back. I never did understand it neither."

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Panty Hose

How They Are Made
I thought you women folks might be interested in how one of the modern marvels of clothing are made. I have been in several textile mills, but never would have guessed the degree and level of mechanization and robotics in making panty hose. You might enjoy this video…

You can learn a lot on the internet. Just go to YouTube and search for “How It’s Made” and you can find numerous short videos on how many products are made. I enjoyed recently seeing how Q-tips, steel wool, and handcuffs were made.

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says:
Try to learn something every day.
Learning keeps your mind active and helps you stay healthy. You could learn a new word, do some research on the internet, read a book, etc. Try it… it will make you feel better.

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Quote of the Day

Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal
hanging on of an uncompleted task.
~William James

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Joke of the Day

The young man from Mississippi came running into the store and said to his buddy, "Bubba, somebody just stole your pickup truck from the parking lot!"

Bubba replied, "Did you see who it was?"

The young man answered, "I couldn't tell, but I got the license number."

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Model Railroads

Toy Trains for Big Boys
As a young boy I always enjoyed model railroads. I remember when I first started earning some money of my own, I would save up and go to down Knoxville and buy something new for my Lionel Train. I still have that train and it still works. It is a freight train which is pulled by those big Santa Fe diesel engines. I crank it up occasionally. I have all the track mounted on a 4’ by 8’ plywood display that folds up next to a wall in the garage.

Just recently I stumbled across a gigantic model train railway. The largest in the world, I am sure! I think you will be amazed at the size, detail, and breath of this display…

Frigid
Yesterday morning when I checked the indoor/outdoor thermometer it showed a cold 6 degrees outdoors. It was 68 degrees indoors. I’m thankful for a warm place to sleep and call home.

Question for you: When it’s hot summertime and 100 degrees outdoors, you feel very good at 68-70 degrees indoors. But when it’s 5-10 degrees outdoors, and it’s 68-70 degrees indoors, you feel like your are freezing to death! Is it in the mind?

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says:

Set your aims in life, and stay on track.
A derailed train makes no progress, so stay on track and make your attack.

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Quote of the Day

Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber.
~Plato

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Joke of the Day

A group of Alabama friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night, one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck.

"Where's Henry?" the others asked.

"Henry had a stroke of some kind. He's a couple of miles back up the trail," the successful hunter replied.

"You left Henry laying out there and carried the deer back?" they inquired.

"A tough call," nodded the hunter. "But I figured no one is going to steal Henry!"

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No More Google 411

My First Google Disappointment
I really enjoyed and used Google 411. It was very convenient. But no more. If you dial the number it says Google 411 is no longer available. More information can be found here: Google 411

Since most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, we need a convenient method for getting phone numbers. Thanks to a recent email from a friend, I think we have a solution.

There’s an alternative number to dial for a free 411 service.

Dial (800) FREE411   or  (800) 373-3411.

You will not incur any changes. I’ve tried it a couple of times and you have to endure some verbal advertising before getting to the directory. Still it might be better that nothing.

Read more about it on Snopes if you are concerned:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/free411.asp

 

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Tennessee Granddaddy Says: 
Getting older can be funny. 
I saw a cartoon the other day. The man asks his wife,
“What are you wearing? Chanel No. 5?
Moon night Musk? Love Mist?”
She responds, “No, just some Vicks.”

 

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Quote of the Day

Everyone is a moon,
and has a dark side
which he never shows to anybody.
~Mark Twain

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Joke of the Day

A kindergarten teacher handed out a coloring page to her class. On it was a picture of a duck holding an umbrella. The teacher told her class to color the duck in yellow and the umbrella green, however, Bobby, the class rebel, colored the duck in a bright fire truck red.

After seeing this, the teacher asked him: "Bobby, how many times have you see a red duck?"

Young Bobby replied with "The same number of times I've seen a duck holding an umbrella."

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