Beech Tree News Network

Some things that come to mind now that I’m looking at 83 years:
    We tend not to see things as they are; we see things as we are.

This week, I’ll tackle the question of “what time of day are you happiest and/or most productive?” I got several responses.  Most response were, as expected, in the morning.  Some may say “I’m not a morning person”.  Or maybe, as I am, “I’m a night-owl”.  On average, people are more productive in the morning. 

A few days ago we honored the brave men and women who gave their lives for this great country. Originally referred to as “Decoration Day,” the holiday originated after the Civil War as Americans would decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers each year. Following WWI it took on new significance and all of America's wars were from then on included and observed in the holiday we now know as “Memorial Day”.

Being a recipe collector, I have been searching for new summer recipes. I like to mix in new recipes with the ones my family and I have enjoyed for years. Some of the new-to-me recipes that sound delicious are listed below as well as the website – in case you want to search, too. I hope you enjoy them.

In her book, The Cruelest Month, Louise Penny’s character, Ruth Zardo, becomes a surrogate mother for two hatchling ducks, Rosa and Lilium.  The townspeople watch as the eccentric woman walks around town quacking, while the two little ones follow closely on her heels.  They quickly notice that Lilium, the smaller of the two, has trouble keeping up.  Many times, Ruth and Rosa have to stop to let him catch up. 

David, the sweet psalmist of Israel (II Sam. 23:1), penned a song concerning the home in Psalm 127. He wrote, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them…” (Ps. 127:4-5). Let us focus upon the phrase from Psalm 127:4 and make applications to ourselves.
 

MISPLACED:  Not too long ago we were having a discussion with the youngest member of our clan about the importance of keeping his grades up (once again) and getting just a little frustrated that our well-intentioned and experienced wisdom seems to be so easily dismissed at times. During this time my wife thought she would also check on our eldest child's academic progress and went looking for her name among the students in our particular county whom had made the Dean's list at her particular school.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance of those who have died in service of the United States of America.  Over two dozen cities and towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.  While Waterloo, New York was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of that day.

Next Monday, Memorial Day, is a day to commemorate U.S. men and women who died while serving in the military. At this time of year, some people also visit cemeteries, placing flowers on monuments of loved ones. It’s an emotional time for many, remembering loved ones who are gone.

Where are all the old cowboys gone? – Those that I remember.  The ones I used to see on the silver screen at the Palace Theater-back in my hometown on Saturday afternoons: Ray and Gene; Rocky Lane and Johnny Mack Brown, to name a few. 
Of course I know where; most have gone on up the trail, along with their side-kicks, the hikes of Bobby Hayer, Frog Millhouse.  (Smiley Brunette); Lee (Lasser) White and Al St. John (Fuzzy Q. Jones), and Festur (ken Curtis) of “Gunsmoke” fame.