Beech Tree News Network

There’s a movement afoot to slow down fast fashion.  Fast fashion is the industry that uses cheap, usually man-made textiles, to produce designer knockoffs that are here today, gone tomorrow.  The Slow Fashion Caucus, led by Chellie Pingree, congresswoman from Maine, is a congressional effort to rein in Fast Fashion pollution—textile wastes in landfills.

This week, we’ll be going back under the covers.  First is “Back Door Man”.  I came to know this song as a Doors song.  It’s not a Doors original.  “Back Door Man” is a blues song written by American musician Willie Dixon and recorded by Howlin’ Wolf in 1960.  The song is one of several Dixon-Wolf songs that became popular among rock musicians, including the Doors, who recorded it for their 1967

I’ve learned a lot about picking blackberries during my time on earth.  The first and foremost lesson is I hate picking blackberries…always have, always will.  I do however, love blackberry cobbler and blackberry jelly, so I press on into the patch, braving the briars and the heat and the insects.  

Everyone knows about the British Invasion of the ‘60’s: The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, etc.  You might not know this: there was a second British Invasion.  In the 1980’s, there were loads of British bands on pop radio. The AXS Top 10 show I watch regularly ranked the top 10 on a recent episode.   First up is Tears For Fears.

The 4th of July is one of my favorite days of the year. For decades, family members who are able gather at my house for the evening to eat and watch fireworks. We overflow the house, spilling out to the porches, the yard, and the garage. As one of six children, a mom, and a granny, I look forward to this family gathering.

During our never-ending cleanup of Garey’s parents’ place, his sister, Charlotte, said to me, several times, “You are so organized.”  I always thought, but didn’t say, “No, I just have a lot of self-discipline.”  I’ve learned how to do things I don’t want to do for the reward ahead.  I’ve had others in my family tell me that I have a lot of patience, as they watch me stay with an unpleasant task until it is complete.  I think the same thing then, as well.  “No, I just have a lot of self-discipline.”

The Old Testament scriptures were written “that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). Patience, comfort, and hope come from what we learn of God’s character and principles revealed in His dealings with His people. Sometimes applications for us are not readily apparent, but sometimes they are. In Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Moses reminds the people that wandering through the wilderness had purpose and taught principles. Enduring trials, temptations, and tests will accomplish some things if we will let them, or if we will let Him.

One of my favorite things to do as a kid was go to Pizza Hut on a Friday night.  For many years it was part of our family’s New Years Eve tradition.  One of the best things about Pizza Hut, obviously except for the pizza, was their arcade room.  My favorite was Wrestle Fest.  Back then, a game cost 50 cents.  Does anyone know the first game to cost that amount?

In the last three years of the Biden administration we have seen rising prices, record levels of illegal immigration, and communities flooded with illegal drugs. To make matters worse, the Biden administration has taken aim at the very heart of our communities across Western Kentucky.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a male mockingbird can mimic as many as 200 different bird songs.  Their repertories mostly depend on the species of birds that inhabit the area.  “Having a large repertoire of songs apparently makes a male mockingbird attractive to the opposite sex” (tuscaloosanews.com).  If that is true, the Hugh Hefner of mockingbirds lives in my yard, and his playmates have nests in my grapevine and peach tree.