I love watching birds in our back yard. I didn't used to be that way. One time we had just planted our very first garden in Illinois and Ted's sister, Barb, came to visit. I couldn't wait to have her see what we had done.
She noticed a Blue Bird out there and that was all she saw. I was so disgusted with her. Imgaine that, thinking a Blue Bird was more important than my garden!!!
Then we moved to the lake and one afternoon Shelby saw 23 different kinds of birds in our yard. We started feeding the birds and I was hooked.
We even fixed special suet in the winter when we lived at the lake. I'd mix oatmeal, peanuts, peanut butter, fat from a meat market, anything they liked. We had all kinds of wood peckers there and it was great. I don't go into all of that now but we do feed the birds and have had a lot of Cardinals this year.
Now we have been having a lot of Robins. I never noticed the Robins before but right now we probably have a dozen or so in and out of the yard. They prefer to eat off the ground so I usually toss some food on the ground for them.
I saw on FaceBook the other day about the migration of the Hummingbirds. Now these are about my favorite. I put that map on my Favorites and see they are already in Georgia. I usually don't put my Hummingbird feeders up till April but I may just try to catch early migrators this year.
I just hope they don't get their tail feathers frosted.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE
Franklin Tennessee has listed that the average income per household is somewhere around $73,000 per year. I know a lot of people that live there and would guess this is pretty accurate. I go to church with a lot of them and sometimes I will pick up on something someone says without being boastful that their income is a LOT more than ours.
However, most of the people I know from there are very caring, loving people. One lady I've known for about 20 years. She and her husband helped build the first stage of this church as Ted and I did. She is a teacher in the Franklin City School system.
This school system is much poorer than the Williamson County School system. That is the Brentwood area and also the land south of Franklin known as Leapers Fork. Leapers Fork area is where Naomi Judd comes from. Need I say more? It is beautiful rolling hills and the Natchez Trace flows through it. I know of two families from my church that live there. One is the Titans Trainer and the other is a music writer whose wife also teaches in the FCS but I know they live in a double wide trailer and he does an enormous amount of work in Nicaragua.
Back to my reason for writing this blog. The day we had the Women's Retreat I learned from one of the school teachers that many children in her school do not have blankets to keep warm. They are mostly latino children and money is tight - especially for these families. We decided to have a drive for blankets to give to them and I told her I would do the collecting.
I found out she only needed about 10 this year so I may just get fabric and make them like we do at Sager Brown. I need a job anyway and this would be a good way to spend some free time.
It just seems so wrong to me that these children have to be cold and she told me many of them are not well either. Their parents are afraid to go to a Dr. because of their status. I understand a lot of people's viewpoint but this is wrong. No child should go hungry or cold in the U.S.A. Or be ill and not get to see a Dr.
I'll put the soapbox away now for another few days.
However, most of the people I know from there are very caring, loving people. One lady I've known for about 20 years. She and her husband helped build the first stage of this church as Ted and I did. She is a teacher in the Franklin City School system.
This school system is much poorer than the Williamson County School system. That is the Brentwood area and also the land south of Franklin known as Leapers Fork. Leapers Fork area is where Naomi Judd comes from. Need I say more? It is beautiful rolling hills and the Natchez Trace flows through it. I know of two families from my church that live there. One is the Titans Trainer and the other is a music writer whose wife also teaches in the FCS but I know they live in a double wide trailer and he does an enormous amount of work in Nicaragua.
Back to my reason for writing this blog. The day we had the Women's Retreat I learned from one of the school teachers that many children in her school do not have blankets to keep warm. They are mostly latino children and money is tight - especially for these families. We decided to have a drive for blankets to give to them and I told her I would do the collecting.
I found out she only needed about 10 this year so I may just get fabric and make them like we do at Sager Brown. I need a job anyway and this would be a good way to spend some free time.
It just seems so wrong to me that these children have to be cold and she told me many of them are not well either. Their parents are afraid to go to a Dr. because of their status. I understand a lot of people's viewpoint but this is wrong. No child should go hungry or cold in the U.S.A. Or be ill and not get to see a Dr.
I'll put the soapbox away now for another few days.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
NOVA
Last night Ted and I watched Nova. It was a great show about a lot of different things we can use to make life safer and easier on us.
First they told how they will be using something they get from Shark skin in medicine. I'm not sure just how this works but there will be more on that soon.
Another idea was to paint gas cans on vehicles with some substance they have developed that seals itself after it is penetrated. They demonstrated by shooting into a gas can without the new product covering it and then WITH it. On the covered can the bullets went in but the can began to seal the hole immediately - thus not loosing any of the gas and causing an explosion.
Then they talked about making airplane wings different and flexible like a birds wings. All these scientists and engineers talk WAY above my head but it sounded wonderful.
The thing that caught my eye though was mixing corn starch and water and making a shock resister. They had a cement mixer dump this stuff into a tank and a guy literally RAN across it. He would sink in a little, kind of like he was running on a very soft foam mattress. If he tried to walk he sunk in all the way. When you hit this substance with a sudden shock it makes more of a solid foundation, but if you try just touching it easily it's like liquid.
I kept thinking of Connie trying to clean her hair one time with corn starch. She had heard if you could not wash your hair for some reason, putting corn starch on it and brushing it would clean the hair.
She and Mark decided to try this out when I was busy doing something else. I walked in just as Mark was going across the kitchen with a full plastic bowl of water. I asked him what he was doing with that? He said "Connie needs it".
When I looked on the deck, there was Connie with a rather white head of hair brushing for all her might but not getting much of the corn starch out. I told them they couldn't put the water on it or she'd have paste for hair. Once again one of my children was on the verge of inventing a wonderful new product and making us millionaires and I stopped it.
If I'd left her alone and let her put that on her hair when she played volleyball and got hit in the head it would not of hurt her near as bad and if she'd gotten caught in a rain it would of washed out.
They actually use this idea in shock absorbers somehow. I'm sure they don't use corn starch and water but the idea is there.
First they told how they will be using something they get from Shark skin in medicine. I'm not sure just how this works but there will be more on that soon.
Another idea was to paint gas cans on vehicles with some substance they have developed that seals itself after it is penetrated. They demonstrated by shooting into a gas can without the new product covering it and then WITH it. On the covered can the bullets went in but the can began to seal the hole immediately - thus not loosing any of the gas and causing an explosion.
Then they talked about making airplane wings different and flexible like a birds wings. All these scientists and engineers talk WAY above my head but it sounded wonderful.
The thing that caught my eye though was mixing corn starch and water and making a shock resister. They had a cement mixer dump this stuff into a tank and a guy literally RAN across it. He would sink in a little, kind of like he was running on a very soft foam mattress. If he tried to walk he sunk in all the way. When you hit this substance with a sudden shock it makes more of a solid foundation, but if you try just touching it easily it's like liquid.
I kept thinking of Connie trying to clean her hair one time with corn starch. She had heard if you could not wash your hair for some reason, putting corn starch on it and brushing it would clean the hair.
She and Mark decided to try this out when I was busy doing something else. I walked in just as Mark was going across the kitchen with a full plastic bowl of water. I asked him what he was doing with that? He said "Connie needs it".
When I looked on the deck, there was Connie with a rather white head of hair brushing for all her might but not getting much of the corn starch out. I told them they couldn't put the water on it or she'd have paste for hair. Once again one of my children was on the verge of inventing a wonderful new product and making us millionaires and I stopped it.
If I'd left her alone and let her put that on her hair when she played volleyball and got hit in the head it would not of hurt her near as bad and if she'd gotten caught in a rain it would of washed out.
They actually use this idea in shock absorbers somehow. I'm sure they don't use corn starch and water but the idea is there.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
BEATING MOTHER NATURE
Well, I'm sure that's improper english but that's what I'm trying to do today.
Last week I started back into water aerobics and found out if I go a few minutes early I can use their track without paying extra. So...I go in about a half hour early, walk awhile and then go do water aerobics for 45 minutes or so until my body says "That's enough".
Today we have more snow predicted but hating to break this good habit (I don't have many of those) I'm heading out anyway and hopefully will be home before we get our next storm. HA HA HA HAHA.
Two or three inches of snow in Tennessee is considered a blizzard so guess we have one coming.
Last week I started back into water aerobics and found out if I go a few minutes early I can use their track without paying extra. So...I go in about a half hour early, walk awhile and then go do water aerobics for 45 minutes or so until my body says "That's enough".
Today we have more snow predicted but hating to break this good habit (I don't have many of those) I'm heading out anyway and hopefully will be home before we get our next storm. HA HA HA HAHA.
Two or three inches of snow in Tennessee is considered a blizzard so guess we have one coming.
Monday, February 7, 2011
WHAT WAS THAT FOR?
Look, I know dad and I are getting old but the commercials at the Super Bowl were ridiculous - in our book anyway.
Even the Etrade one I was hoping to see more of wasn't near as cute as most are. And the half-time, well, I could of done without that but yes, I know, we are too old.
By the end of the 3rd quarter, or close to it, I'd had enough and was afraid Green Bay was going to loose anyway so hung it up.
BUT...one more commercial came on and for about the 15th time one of us asked the other one "What was that for"? and the other one said, "I don't know." We both had to laugh. I pictured these two old people sitting in their front room watching something they neither one understood and realizing it was US.
At least Green Bay did win.
Even the Etrade one I was hoping to see more of wasn't near as cute as most are. And the half-time, well, I could of done without that but yes, I know, we are too old.
By the end of the 3rd quarter, or close to it, I'd had enough and was afraid Green Bay was going to loose anyway so hung it up.
BUT...one more commercial came on and for about the 15th time one of us asked the other one "What was that for"? and the other one said, "I don't know." We both had to laugh. I pictured these two old people sitting in their front room watching something they neither one understood and realizing it was US.
At least Green Bay did win.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Catching up On Life
Have not been blogging lately. Until this week-end I haven't really had any reason to blog.
BUT...last night Meagan came for dinner and spent a couple of hours with Ted and I just talking. It was a wonderful time for us. We see so little of her and Sam and always wish we could have more "one on one" with them. She was so grown up I could hardly believe it.
Then today we got to go see Sam play basketball. He is a freshman and will be 15 in a couple of weeks. YIKES!!!! He plays on a church team but there were not enough boys in his age bracket for a team of their own, so he's playing with the BIG BOYS. Don't know what church they played today but they were definitely BIG BOYS. Sam made one just amaizing basket and played hard against this team.
This evening I got on here to catch up on all the blogs. Connie and Jim are still taking a "walk in the park" and I couldn't help but think it might be a little chilly out there.
Bob Ryder is now on a radio talk show and Kathy is about the end a year long project. Kim's kids are skiing and Sierra is also putting on a show - again.
Me? Well, I've just enjoyed doing some sewing this cold week and looks like next week will be another round of snow, sleet, rain, and hey, it's still February. I need this time to get some fabric and yarn used up.
BUT...last night Meagan came for dinner and spent a couple of hours with Ted and I just talking. It was a wonderful time for us. We see so little of her and Sam and always wish we could have more "one on one" with them. She was so grown up I could hardly believe it.
Then today we got to go see Sam play basketball. He is a freshman and will be 15 in a couple of weeks. YIKES!!!! He plays on a church team but there were not enough boys in his age bracket for a team of their own, so he's playing with the BIG BOYS. Don't know what church they played today but they were definitely BIG BOYS. Sam made one just amaizing basket and played hard against this team.
This evening I got on here to catch up on all the blogs. Connie and Jim are still taking a "walk in the park" and I couldn't help but think it might be a little chilly out there.
Bob Ryder is now on a radio talk show and Kathy is about the end a year long project. Kim's kids are skiing and Sierra is also putting on a show - again.
Me? Well, I've just enjoyed doing some sewing this cold week and looks like next week will be another round of snow, sleet, rain, and hey, it's still February. I need this time to get some fabric and yarn used up.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
BOOK SALE
A few weeks ago we went into Babbitts Book Store in Normal just to see what it was all about. AND...to see Kathy.
While we were there I had her look up a book for me that I have had forever and love dearly. I used to buy them by the dozens and gave them as gifts.
When they went out of print the author (a friend of a friend) bought several hundred and sold us copies for $2.50.
I have ONE left. Kathy saw someone had one for sale for $100 and one for about $40. It got me to thinking of a few old books Ted and I have. So this morning I looked a few of them up on line.
One I have, "Adventures of Grandfather Frog" is worth anywhere from $125 to $85. I have a book "English Men of Letters - Robert Browning" by G.K. Chesterton and it's worth between $15 to $50. Another book Ted just bought somewhere by William Bixby "The Impossible Journey of Sir Ernest Shackleton" is about $20.
Now, I tried to find a most all time favorite of mine "Birds That Frequent the Night" by Minor Brock but it isn't even listed. He was a little known author from the area I grew up in.
ANYWAY...I'm thinking if I want to keep these books or try and sell them. AND...wishing I'd of bought some of the boxes of old books a cousin had when they had his sale. I bet there was a really rare book in one of those boxes.
(Laughing to myself)
While we were there I had her look up a book for me that I have had forever and love dearly. I used to buy them by the dozens and gave them as gifts.
When they went out of print the author (a friend of a friend) bought several hundred and sold us copies for $2.50.
I have ONE left. Kathy saw someone had one for sale for $100 and one for about $40. It got me to thinking of a few old books Ted and I have. So this morning I looked a few of them up on line.
One I have, "Adventures of Grandfather Frog" is worth anywhere from $125 to $85. I have a book "English Men of Letters - Robert Browning" by G.K. Chesterton and it's worth between $15 to $50. Another book Ted just bought somewhere by William Bixby "The Impossible Journey of Sir Ernest Shackleton" is about $20.
Now, I tried to find a most all time favorite of mine "Birds That Frequent the Night" by Minor Brock but it isn't even listed. He was a little known author from the area I grew up in.
ANYWAY...I'm thinking if I want to keep these books or try and sell them. AND...wishing I'd of bought some of the boxes of old books a cousin had when they had his sale. I bet there was a really rare book in one of those boxes.
(Laughing to myself)
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