Nature's Message

My Friend Went Home

Well, I helped sing at Hugh Allen’s funeral today. He was my friend, and a very good man. He was almost 80 years old. He was essentially comatose his last 5 weeks on earth. I went to see him a couple days before he died and took an autoharp that I had retuned to a special tuning that sounds like one might imagine an angel harp would sound. I stood by his bed, near his head, and strummed softly on it….I just know he could hear it….and I hope it brought him some comfort and peace.

Hugh had the kind of heart that this world really, really needs. I thank God that he puts those people on this earth. Hugh really would help anyone in anyway he could. You could not count the number of times he has stopped on the side of the road and either fixed someone’s car for them, or took them home with him, fed them and then went back and fixed the car, if possible. His children remember that happening many times. Shortly after I first came to know Hugh, and his sweet wife Betty, I told my wife that they were straight out of Mayberry, NC with Andy Griffeth. I meant that in a very complimentary way…..they had the purity of simple, loving, non-judgemental hearts. Betty first saw Hugh when she was 14 years old, and never took her eyes off him. She never dated anyone else, and they were married 56 years. Being around Hugh was like sitting in your favorite chair….you felt very comfortable and cared for.

He had some stories to tell, I mean! One I will never forget. He ran a TV and radio repair shop in the small town of Edwards, MS, where he lived, back in the 50’ and 60’s. He told me he had repaired an older black man’s TV. The gentleman came in and got it, took it home, and brought it back to Hugh’s shop the very next day….very angry at Hugh. He told Hugh, “I want you to put my cowboy show back in there!!” Hugh says, “What are you talking about?” He said, “When I brought my TV in here there was a cowboy show I always watched, and you took it out….it ain’t in there anymore!” Hugh said that he never did convince that man that they must have changed the programming while he had the TV in the shop. He didn’t believe Hugh, and he left angry!! Ha! He mighta been from Mayberry too, you reckon?

We love ya, Hugh! We’ll see ya at the Taco Bell when we get up there. Save us a seat and make sure they give us those “old people” (senior) drinks free!

Stanley :)

First Kiss

Happy Valentines Day, Everyone

Stanley :)

I Know Nothing

(Thoughts on Ecclesiastes 11:5)

I do not understand
the winds that blow
Where they come from
where they go
So how might I understand
Your works, O God
Maker of all things?

I do not understand
the mothers womb
The way a life
is made to bloom
So how might I understand
Your works, O God
Maker of all things?

Stanley :)

Drive....and Laugh!

Here's some interesting and entertaining driving. Should at least give you a break....and a laugh!

Stanley :)

Sound Financial Advice

Don't gamble; take all your savings and buy some good stock and hold it till it goes up, then sell it. If it don't go up, don't buy it.

Will Rogers

New Couch

We have been wanting to get a new couch. I think we will. The one we have just isn't quite long enough for a good Sunday afternoon nap!

Stanley :)

A New Musical Insturment

This is one of the neatest newly invented muscial instruments I've seen in a long, long time....and what a wonderful use for it! There are no wrong notes. Did you hear that....no wrong notes. That's got to be the way an angels harp is made. Yeah....angels have harps....the pictures are correct. :)




I took my autoharp tonight and totally retuned it to a very similar tuning as this Reverie Harp....and it sounds beautiful....played by anyone.

Stanley :)

(Be sure to pause the player at the bottom of the page before starting the video)

The Power of the Mind

There is an old, and wise, belief among Native American peoples....that 90% of all illnesses come from bad feelings, guilt or negative energy.

Stanley :)

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

There once was a very, very talented young lady....not very well known....mainly because she "passed over the rainbow" at very young age of 33....skin cancer. Her talent is greatly missed by many. This is one on my most favorite songs she does.....especially with the feeling and expression she presents to it. I think I would be very happy if this song....sung by her....was played at my funeral. It would be somewhat melancholy, but a beautiful thought. On a side note....I would also really appreciate another song at my funeral....sang by the entire audience....and that is...."Happy Birthday"....I'm serious. Anyway, here's Eva.....there couldn't be another quite the same on this song:

(Be sure to pause the player at the bottom of the page before starting the video)

Stanley :)

Homeless

I've always enjoyed what I might incorrectly call African Tribal music. Cum-Bah-Ya, when I was a teenager, was thought to be of African origin. The Africans have always seemed, to me at least, to have such a "real" "truthful" way of presenting life in there songs....both the words and the music. Until recently, with the advent of YouTube, etc, I hadn't been able to really listen to much of this type music. I've been enjoying listening to more now. Here is one of my favorites of late. It's called Homeless and is by a very talented group of Africans. It's about being homeless....really homeless. Listen, as one of the singers quickly tells the words in English at the beginning of the presentation. Crank up the speakers.....and Enjoy! :)

(Be sure to pause the player at the bottom of this page before playing the video)

Stanley :)

What Day is It?

Now that I'm retired, I sometimes get up and ask myself...."What Day is It??"




Stanely :)

What Do You Think?

Every thought is a seed.
If you plant crab apples,
don’t count on harvesting golden delicious.

Bill Meyer

Baptism

Is There Good Anger?

While in the checkout line at my local hardware store I overheard one man say to another, "My wife has been after me to paint our shed. But I let it go for so long she got mad and did it herself."
His friend nodded. "I like women who get mad like that."

Readers Digest

Clean Up After Yourself

A Recap of Last Year!

January:
Took new scarf back to store because it was too tight.

February:
Fired from pharmacy job for failing to print labels.....
Helllloooo!!!.......bottles won't fit in printer!!!

March:
Got really excited.....finished jigsaw puzzle in 6 months..... box said '2-4 years!'

April:
Trapped on escalator for hours .... Power went out!!!

May:
Tried to make Kool-Aid.....wrong instructions......8 cups of water won't fit into those little packets!!!

June:
Tried to go water skiing..... ...couldn't find a lake with a slope.

July:
Lost Breast stroke swimming competition.....learned later, the other swimmers cheated, they used their arms!!!

August:
Got locked out of my car in rain storm.....car swamped because soft-top was Open.

September:
The capital of California is 'C'.....isn't it???

October:
Ate 20 M & M's.....they are so hard to peel.

November:
Baked turkey for 4 days... instructions said 1 hour per pound and I weigh 108!!

December:
Couldn't call 911 ..... 'duh'.....there's no 'eleven' button on the stupid phone!!!

:) :) :) :) (Donated by my sister, Dot...no!...It wasn't her recap!! Ha!)

Smart Dog

Maria Swartzel sent this to me.....it's really cute....and interesting!

God's Creativity...More

An Albino Peacock....Wow! Beautiful! Thank You, God!!

May your troubles be less,

Your blessings be more,

And nothing but happiness

Come through your door.

Don't You Just Love the Snow??? Be Careful!!

Love Yourself

This is one of my favorite "unknown author" sayings...

very healthy advice:

Be gentle with yourself today.
Don't hurry too much
or laugh too little.
Be patient with yourself.
Don't expect to be perfect.
Be good to yourself.
Be happy with yourself.
Be a friend to yourself today.

Unkown Author

Stanley :)

Old Age....whew!

This is truely what happens when you get older.....those bottle caps to protect kids have "taken out" a senior citizen... or two! HA!

Stanley :)

God Smiles on His Creation!

This western sky shows off stunning colors and dramatic clouds reflected in Brisbane Water on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It also featured the remarkable conjunction of the crescent Moon, Venus, and Jupiter forming a twilight smiley face. While the gathering of the two bright planets and Moon awed skygazers around planet Earth, astronomer Mike Salway reports taking special pains to record this gorgeous view, braving mosquitos and rain squalls along a soggy shore. His southern hemisphere perspective finds brilliant Venus at the highest point in the celestial grouping.

Go here to see a larger picture of this so you can see God's "smiley face":

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0812/smileyfaceatsunset-2000px-mikesalway.jpg

Don't Drag Your Feet

Let this be a lesson......don't drag you feet!



Stanley :)

Decision Time!

Decision time for the pilot.....and the cameraman!

True Love!

I climbed up the door
Opened the stairs
I said my pajamas
And put on my prayers
I switched off the bed
And climbed in the light
All because he kissed me goodnight.

Unkown Author :)

Happy Boy!

One of my most favorite from way back when:

(pause the player at the bottom of the page)

Stanley :)

Are You Serious??

Sometimes life is confusing. Sometimes it's good to think about....sometimes it's not. Life's purpose?....What is real happiness?....How do I get it?....What is real love?....How will I know?.... Should I do this?....Should I do that?

Sometimes it's better to just reast and BE. To just exist, look about you, and enjoy all you see today.....Reserve another day to think deeply....if you must.

Stanley :)

One-Liners

I always loved One-Liners.....here's just a few:

Roses are red, violets are blue, I'm a schizophrenic and so am I.

All I've ever wanted was an honest week's pay for an honest day's work.

He who sneezes without a handkerchief takes matters into his own hands.

Hi, you're through to the Incontinence Hotline...Can you hold, please?

That's all for this time....

Stanley :)

Life's Choices

Life usually has choices......make the right one.

An example:

Stanley :)