Beech Tree News Network

My Mam-maw Locke’s picture box was a treasure-trove.  She kept it under her bed.  On rainy or cold days when I visited and didn’t play outside, the pictures were a wonderous source of entertainment for a small-fry.
There was one picture that was most curious; it stood out from all the rest: the one of “Uncle Cook”.  I always looked for it first off.  It was very unusual-looking: a really old man, sitting in a huge chair, but something about his face didn’t ring –true…his eyes weren’t exactly open, or closed either.  He was dressed in his Sunday-suit…tie and all.

What You Can: One of my favorite quotes is: It is a mistake to do nothing because you can only do a little.  Do what you can.  In my younger days, I was drawn to the big splash.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become a fan of small steps.  I think it’s probably because I finally recognize the value of the collective.

Have you ever had one of those moments when you suddenly realize that you're not a kid anymore? The old saying goes, "you're as old as you feel." Most days I feel that I'm still a teenager. That is, of course, after I get out of bed and stretch and moan my way downstairs to some good caffeine to get my day started! After that has been accomplished, then I'm good to go.

Christmas-time is here… The Christmas season is upon us.  From decking the halls, to buying gifts, to fixing and mailing Christmas cards, this is certainly a busy and fun time of year.  One of the staples of this season is Christmas parades.  In my opinion, the best parades are small-town parades.

Are you a shopper? I’m a reluctant shopper. I shop when I need something and I shop for Christmas. I don’t normally shop as a pastime or for entertainment, but for the next few weeks – like many of you, I will carry a shopping list inside my calendar as I check items off.
According to Wikipedia, shopping has changed over time. Initially, goods were exchanged at markets in nearby towns. Then permanent shops were established, often as specialties such as bakeries, and later supermarkets appeared. In the last 100 years, major phases in the shopping world included the following:

Actually, Kathryn Zeta Jones is drop-dead-gorgeous.  Actually, Betty Grable had beautiful legs.  DID SHE EVER! (She was from my era.)  Say what? If you’ve feasted your eyes on either of these lovelies why would you need the word “actually”?
Recently first wife Bett asked a person where he was from.  “Actually”, he said, “I’m from Scottsville,” Why not, just, “I’m from Scottsville.”?  On a TV “judge show” recently a litigant said, “He actually told me, ‘don’t touch my dog, he bites’.”

The Little Things: My granddaughter, Sabria, has become mobile, which means I have become more mobile than I have been in years.  I had forgotten how many things in my house are floor level or two feet above.  I put safety plugs in the electrical outlets and made sure the closures on the cabinets worked properly months ago; but that’s small potatoes for a toddler.  They have bigger, or maybe I should say smaller, fish to fry.

Have you ever had one of those moments when you literally try to count your blessings.  When you really begin to think of all the blessings in your life, it's overwhelming!  Everyday on the news we hear of people, families, communities, and countries who are living with devastating circumstances.  Families losing loved ones, families starving, families losing their homes, and the list goes on and on.

The evidence that the Nanny-State spirit remains alive and well in Kentucky is the fact that too many politicians and law-enforcement lobbyists still favor restricting law-abiding citizens’ access to cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine.

We’re told that such heavy-handed government policies are needed because that ingredient is used by a handful of criminals to make the drug methamphetamine.

Duck of Many Colors:  I found this gorgeous colorful duck while roaming through Basil Griffin Park in Bowling Green. I don't know that I've ever seen one so beautiful.
 
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We actually have ours on Saturday here at our house, but I knnow it will be incredible. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. We have so much to be thankful for, not only this year, but always. The beauty we get to experience everyday is one of the blessings I'm so thankful for.