This is kinda cool, Ethan... these girls can't hear or speak

I love you, Ethan,
Granddaddy
931-598-9160

Good morning, Ethan...

I thought I'd tell you about what I did yesterday. For the last year I have been building a house. My plan was that it would look like an Irish cottage nestled in our Tennessee forest:I wanted to make it passive solar and VERY energy efficient like the house I built for your Mommy in 1982 when we moved to Tulsa. I achieved both of these goals... when the sun was shining this winter, no additional heat was needed (most of the windows were on the south side with the appropriate overhang) and when supplemental heat was needed, all it took was another piece of wood in the Tempwood wood stove. I have been very pleased with how these things worked out like I planned.
I am still not completely finished with the house... I still need to finish the sheetrock on the inside, trim out the windows and stucco the exterior block/HardiPlank. With that in mind we (my experienced stucco helper and me) spent yesterday "smearing stucco" (surface bonding cement that was laced with fiberglass for added strength) on the east wall and the front of the house. Here are pictures of what we got finished yesterday:
East wall...Front wall...
It's going to rain today so the work has had to be postponed until tomorrow. That's actually good because I need to do some running around today and my shins need to heal from getting burned yesterday from the chemicals in the cement (I was wearing shorts which was not a good idea).
Here's a fun video produced by Honda. They had to do over 600 takes before the sequence worked like they planned... AMAZING:

I'll close for now... please know that I pray for you every day, Ethan and think about my BIG boy often!
I love you,
Granddaddy
PS. Call me sometime: 931-598-9160

Jesus is coming back!

Ethan, here is an interesting story about Jesus' resurrection:
Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!'

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in.

Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side.

Was that important? Absolutely!

Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, 'I'm done'.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because...

The folded napkin meant, 'I'm coming back!'

Jesus is Coming Back!

I'm sure your Mommy and Daddy have taught you that Jesus is coming back VERY soon.

I love you, baby boy,
Granddaddy
Call your Granddaddy sometime: 931-598-9160

Hey, Baby Boy... I hope you're having a great day

Ethan, your Granddaddy LOVES puppies... do you?... here's a video you might enjoy:


Here are some more neat pictures you might enjoy:
Aren't these BIG boys BEAUTIFUL!?
I've never heard of "knitting" a tree but it's VERY colorful
Chickens are so funny... I'm going to get some here for eggs... you'll have to come visit
Here's a BUNCH of lady bugs... they are good to have around
AND... a VERY big moth

I love you, Ethan,
Granddaddy
931-598-9160

Things I have learned from Baxter

Here are some things I have learned from Baxter:

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
• Take naps.
• Stretch before rising.
• Run, romp, and play daily.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you're not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

• Live simply
• Love generously
• Care deeply
• Speak kindly

Here are some beautiful pictures of animals... how many of these animals do you know?
I love you, baby boy,
Granddaddy
P.S. Give me a call sometime 931-598-9160

Here are some fun pictures, baby boy...

Who are you?
Peek-a-boo... do you see the racoons?
This little mouse is in cheese heaven:
This is one happy dog... my Baxter smiles like this:
Do you see the Red-wing Blackbird going for a free ride on the hawk?
Ahhhhh... I'm just hanging around:
I love you, Ethan,
Granddaddy
931-598-9160

Wally, the taxi cab driver

'Afternoon, sweet boy... I've been very busy the last few days so I don't have a normal post about me to share with you. A very good friend of mine from Tulsa sent me the following story and I wanted to pass it on to you because it is such good advice. I hope you enjoy it:
Harvey Mackay, tells this wonderful story about a cab driver.
Harvey was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey. He handed my friend a laminated card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.'
Taken aback, Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.
This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!
As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.' My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.'
Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.'
Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.' Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.'
As they were pulling a way, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.' And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.
'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'
Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always. In fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.''
'That hit me right between the eyes," said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at a time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'
'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.
'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. If I can't pick them up myself, I get a reliable cabbie friend to do it and I take a piece of the action.'
Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab. I've probably told that story to more than fifty cab drivers over the years, and only two took the idea and ran with it. Whenever I go to their cities, I give them a call. The rest of the drivers quacked like ducks and told me all the reasons they couldn't do any of what I was suggesting.
Wally the Cab Driver made a different choice. He decided to stop quacking like ducks and start soaring like eagles.
How about us? Smile, and the whole world smiles with you... the ball is in our hands!

Galatians 6:7-10: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up... let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

I hope you'll remember that the point of my previous post about making decisions throughout the day is similar to Wally's story... you can have a good day or a bad day... it's up to each of us to choose.
I love you, Ethan,
Granddaddy
P.S. Call me 931-598-9160

Ethan, here's a great lesson in doing the right thing

Someday when you're a little older, you'll see what an unselfish thing these girls did for their injured opponent... this is character... it's what Jesus would have done:

I'm trying to find some old pictures to show you, Ethan so I can tell you some more about me and my 62 years.
Don't forget to wish your Mommy and Daddy a Happy Anniversary... today's their special day!
I love you, baby boy,
Granddaddy
931-598-9160

Ethan, here are some photos I think you will like...

This is a Wood Duck... isn't he beautiful?This owl is called a Snowy Owl. God made him white so he could hide in a snowy background.
I'm not sure what kind of bird this is but it's a beautiful picture of his perfectly formed wings:
Here's a bunch of very hungry baby birds waiting for their Mommy to feed them:
How would you like to be "kissed" by a Beluga Whale?... this little girl doesn't even look scared.
Hundreds of beautiful blue butterflies:
Look at this mouse's whiskers and how black his eyes are... he's a real cutie.
This dog is wondering what to do with his new friend?
This is a really neat picture called "the smile of God."

I love you, Ethan... I hope you liked these photographs,
Granddaddy
931-598-9160

ilovedixie.com

Ethan, one of the things I want you to know about me is that a friend of mine and I had a cartoon strip for about a year. It was called "ilovedixie.com." This is what our press release said about me and Joe:

Fueled by their deep love of the South and having grown weary of the stereotype portraying most Southerners as ignorant, gap-toothed rednecks, Davis Mauldin and Joe Ruisi have launched a cartoon strip called “ilovedixie.com.” Ike and Henry, the strip’s main characters are puttin'-a-whuppin’ on the mean-spirited, inaccurate image that has been sold to large sections of the nation regarding the good folks from the South.

Ike, a black, middle aged, pharmacist, and Henry, a white, 50ish, entrepreneur, are close friends and proud, lifelong Southerners. They love Dixie and wax eloquent about the blessings of living south of the Mason-Dixon line. Frequently, they poke fun at Yankees (a Yankee is defined as an obnoxious liberal, contemptuous of Southern culture, telling us how to live) and their perceptions that are off base. Their comments range from good natured humor to country wisdom to politically incorrect commentary (“Politicians should be limited to two terms... one in office and one in jail”).

Continually listening in, Henry’s hound dog Wallace interrupts his perpetual snooze to offer pithy doggie commentary in thought balloons about the conversation at hand.

Ike and Henry are unapologetically and consistently politically incorrect. They are Christians without being preachy. They love Southern values and institutions, such as family, chivalry, country music, NASCAR, huntin', fishin', SEC football, and grits. There is no racial tension between the two men ... Ike and Henry genuinely like each other. The strip portrays Southern folks as the majority really are: people of faith, friendly, family oriented, laid back, helpful, and humorous - with a large dollop of country-inspired common sense.

The inherent goodness of Southern culture and values has been ridiculed too long in favor of race baiting and attacks on family, heritage, and history. Ike and Henry - with Wallace’s help - are on a mission to revive Southron pride and to preserve and celebrate all that is good and positive about the South.

ilovedixie.com is a collective effort by an unlikely north/south duo, Joe Ruisi and Davis Mauldin. Davis, the strip’s creator, is a lifelong Southerner, a 30+ year political activist, and writer. Joe, a professional cartoonist, is a transplanted New Yorker with a certifiable Southron heart. The two met providentially on the Internet and immediately recognized a common passion to promote Southern pride through a cartoon strip.

We did one (mostly political) cartoon each week... typically, I would come up with the gag and Joe would draw it. Joe was my artist and is retired. He loves playing/singing in church and for old folks in nursing homes. We decided after a year that we would stop the strip so he could spend more time with his music. We really had a good time while we were doing it and our cartoon web site got over 11,000 hits/month. Here is one of my favorite cartoons: Wallace, the hound dog, was modeled after my beloved "Credar-Crest-Velvet-Eared-Nucklehead" (a breed I made up) dog, Baxter. Baxter was the star of the show. He slept through each cartoon and awakened in the last frame to add his comments. Henry was a take-off of one of my friends from boarding school (St. Andrew's School; 1960-1964), Henry Hamman. Ike, the black guy, was a composite of several of my black friends.
We also had T-shirts for ilovedixie.com... here is one of my favorites:
Anyway, we had a lot of fun with ilovedixie... it was a life-long dream of mine to be a cartoonist and to follow in the footsteps of the famous cartoonist, Bill Mauldin. Working with Joe came pretty close to realizing my dream although Joe did the actual drawings.
I love you baby boy, call me sometime,
Granddaddy
931-598-9160

Good evening, Ethan...

Well, baby boy, your Granddaddy is recovering from a bout with gout. Gout is a VERY painful condition that I've had about a dozen times... this time it's in my right ankle. Here is a very old drawing that illustrates how painful gout is:Previously, I've had it in my foot and my big toe. I went to the doctor yesterday and she gave me a shot in my bottom that is beginning to help but I limped around all day trying to help Aaron, my worker, finish up the flashing on the roof. Here is a picture of what we have done so far at one end:I really am pleased with the way the siding looks. We are completing the flashing at the end of this gable wall where it ties into the main part of the metal roof. Do you see the blocks in the wall under the siding? Your Granddaddy laid all 750 of them last summer. It looks kind of messy but the blocks are glued together and the walls are VERY strong. I'll finish the wall by stuccoing a uniform white finish on it.
Yesterday I was thinking of when your Mommy was a little girl about your age. We lived in Waynesville, North Carolina which is in the mountains in the western part of the state. It's very beautiful there and I'm sure your Mommy will take you to see it. I searched google maps but I couldn't find the house I built for your Mommy before she was born but here is a picture of her Grandfather's store (Poppa). Do you see the door at the right of this first building? Years ago your Granddaddy (me) had a picture framing shop (Agape Custom Frames) and wood stove store (The Liter Knot) in that space. We used the stove in this picture (below) in our house in Oklahoma when your Mommy was a little girl. I still use the same stove to heat my new house here in Tennessee. Here's me and my favorite dog, Baxter next to the Tempwood wood stove from all those years ago.I have very fond memories of one day in the store with your Mommy. She was about your age and - like you - she was just learning to talk. I laid her on the carpeted counter where I took orders for picture frames and began to talk to her. She was smiling at me and I asked her, "Jordy, do you love your Daddy?" I'll never forget your Mommy's sweet, giggling response, "I DEW!"
I DEW love you too, Ethan,
Granddaddy
P.S. Call me sometime 931-598-9160.

Ethan, here are some TV shows I watched as a little boy

These shows are a little different than what you have available to watch. Our shows were in black and white - not color - and they were all REALLY corny. Here is Lassie, one of my favorite shows about a Collie dog named Lassie:

Cowboy shows were very popular when I was a little boy. They weren't realistic depictions of the old west but we loved 'em nevertheless. This is the Lone Ranger. The song is a very famous song called The William Tell Overture.

This is the Roy Roger's Show. Roy and his wife Dale are dead now but before they died they had a Christian Ministry and wrote Christian books:

I hope you had fun watching these old videos.
Oh, I forgot... you may not even know what I look like... here's a picture taken while I was building my house called Brigid's Wood... bald head, white hair, beard and all:
I love you, Ethan,
Granddaddy
PS. Call me sometime 931-598-9160