Beech Tree News Network

Old-timey words and phrases from my generation are rare now, I’ve said that before.
PUT UP AN ENGINE- Old mechanics didn’t overhaul an engine. They “put-up” an engine.
How about GRINNIN’ LIKE A MULE EATIN’ SAWBRAIRS?  It speaks for itself.
HAPPY AS A COON ON A ROASTNEAR. Roasting ear is proper, but whose proper?
AT BANGER ‘S GOT A GOOD RANG TO IT.  Banjo rings good.
HOSEPIPE- Middle Tennessee; they also call an outdoor convience, The Statehouse.
QUILE- Something a snake does.  A spring coils, but doesn’t get riled.

Nicholas, born 3/98, likes to go by Nick. He has a friendly, likeable, and easy-going personality. Nick has good verbal skills and will ask for help when he needs it. He has been working hard in school to catch up to his grade level and get ready for high school. He admits that he enjoys taking classroom breaks for lunch and recess. If Nick got the chance to go out for dinner, he would choose a barbecue place like Famous Dave’s. For fun, he enjoys riding his skateboard and shooting hoops. Nick likes to be active and tends to act on impulse. He doesn’t like to hear “no” for an answer.

My friend, Jeanne LeBlanc, asked for a pair of red cowboy boots for Christmas one year.  She was forty-five and living in California at the time.  Jeanne had fond memories of the pair she had gotten for Christmas when she was six and living in her home state of Louisiana.  She wanted to revisit the joy of walking around in red cowboy boots.  I know that joy, for I too received a pair of red cowboy boots for Christmas when I was six and living in Kentucky.

According to recent statistics I have seen, half of all children experience bullying while in school and 10% are bullied regularly. Child bullying has existed in neighborhoods and schools for centuries and was once thought to be just something everybody had to learn to deal with as part of growing up. Today it is a serious problem that marks many children’s school experience. Bullying can be harmful to children and may drastically affect their ability to progress academically, emotionally, and socially as well as damage their self-image in ways that negatively impact them for life.

Do you have critters around your house? In my experience, some critters are members of the family and some are simply onlookers. 

According to an Internet site (http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-statistics.aspx), about 62 percent of all households in the United States have a pet. About 78.2 million dogs and about 86.4 million cats are owned in the United States.

My thoughts to you---another grab-bag of them if you don’t mind:  We’ve all heard that opinions are like noses, everybody’s got one… well almost everybody.  I once knew a couple of ole guys who didn’t; CANCER.  One guy missing his snozolla took it in stride though; he said every time he sneezed it blew his hat off.

My family and I are getting ready to move into a new house.  We are excited and stressed all at the same time.  We are all excited to have more space and my two older boys will finally have their own rooms.  The boys are stressed because they have had to start at new schools and make new friends.  My husband and I are stressed because of the bigger house payment that looms on the horizon.

My sister has a cup with a broken handle that she keeps on her kitchen windowsill.  She drinks from it occasionally to remind herself of its message.  I use the cup as my coffee cup when I visit her.  The bold letters on the cup state simply: Attitude Is Everything.  We both appreciate the message of a cup whose handle remains on the windowsill while it is in use.  We understand the cup and its message because we are the cup.  Despite the pieces of us that are broken and scattered, we remain useful and will not abandon our function.  Attitude really is everything.

With the weather breaking and the temps being bearable, we headed to the woods this weekend. Lost River Cave is a wonderful, close to home, place to hike. We visited the butterfly house of course and captured some nice shots. I don't know what it is about butterflies, but they are so peaceful to me. I guess it's just the way they soar with the wind.

Nature....get out and enjoy it!!!!!

Being in the audience during a taping of a television or radio show is pretty cool.  I’ve had the pleasure of being in the audience for Opry Live and part of filming for ABC’s CMA: Country’s Night to Rock, both of which are always cool. The difference in seeing a show live and watching/listening from your home is vast.  You get that feel of a live remote: people milling about, getting ready. You see the hosts’ notes on the table. The anticipation of the moments before going on-air is palpitating.  You always get a little spark of energy going live.