Monday, February 28, 2005

A Bluebird Idea

I was just thinking that the land surrounding PLBC (Promised Land Bible Church) would be an excellent place for several bluebird boxes.

The place would be perfect! I'll ask about it. Maybe we can get the scouts involved in a service project to build and install them.

Sunday, February 27, 2005


Southeastern US Posted by Hello
Genus species
Sealia sialis
The Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, is a blue songbird that sings a melodic warble. This beautiful member of the thrush family lives in the eastern half of the USA and in southern Canada, ranging from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky Mountains. Its numbers have been decreasing greatly in the last few decades. The Eastern Bluebird has a life span of about 6 years. This songbird is the state bird of Missouri and New York.
Anatomy: The Eastern Bluebird is about 5.5 to 7 inches (14-18 cm) long and has a wingspread of 11 to 13 inches (28-33 cm). The bill is thin. Males have bright blue feathers above, an orange-red throat and breast, and a white belly. Females are camouflaged; they have dull blue wings and tail, a gray head and back, a brown breast, a white eye ring, and a white belly.
Diet: The Eastern Bluebird mostly eats insects (especially
grasshoppers, crickets, katydids, and beetles), worms, snails, and spiders; it also eats fruit.
Nest and Eggs: Eastern Bluebird nests are cup-like and are made from dried grass, pine needles, and plant stems. Nests are built in holes in trees and rotted tree stumps. Females lay 3-6 pale blue eggs in each clutch (a set of eggs laid at one time). The female incubates the eggs for 12-14 days. Both parents care for the hatchlings for 15-20 days, when the young leave the nest.

The Eastern Bluebird

http://birds.cornell.edu/BOW/EASBLB/

http://www.rivernen.ca/bird_6.htm

I have a few favorite birds found in the wild. The Eastern Bluebird is special to me.
I think bluebirds are special, probably because they are rarely seen. When you see one
it is UNMISTAKABLE and gives you a thrill. The other reason is because it may remind you
sitting in the old movie house watching Uncle Remus ( James Baskett) sing "Zippity - Doo-Dah".

My Oh My! What A Wonderful Day!
The Song of the South - written by: Joel Chandler Harris of Eatonton, Ga
(He and my maternal gr grandmother {Annie Bell Bowden} were classmates in Putnam Co. Ga).

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038969/
I remember seeing it at the Buford theater and again at The FOX in Atlanta.

Eastern Bluebird Posted by Hello

People I'd Like Know Personally (or like to have known)

ACTOR/Entertainer-celebrity= Jimmy Stewart - Dan Blocker - George Kennedy - Don Knotts - Jimmy Durante - Al Jolsen - Victor French - Frea Astaire - Dennis Franz -

ACTRESS/Entertainer-celebrity= Katherine Hepburn - Marilyn Monroe - Sophia Loren - Gilda Radner - Bettie Page -

Sports Figure = Roger Bannister - Joe Namath - John Hannah - Jim Craig - Carlton Fisk - Johnny Bench - Johnny Unitas - Stockton&Malone -

Presidents = Reagan, JFK, Lincoln, Truman, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, GW Bush

Friday, February 25, 2005

The Big House -


The Big House in Buford, GA about 1955. Posted by Hello
We lived here in the home of my Great Grandfather, Victor H. Allen.
A Big yard, Bunker Hill, Mysterious Attic, and a long Bannister in the back hall. Homemade brew in the basement.
Riding my red bicycle down the sidewalk toward town with the roots of the big oak trees lifting the pavement sending me flying through the air. Tony Hawk stunts in 1957. HA !
I remember Allena, our maid, in the kitchen rocking and talking to the churn. "Come Butter Come!" Allena had a nephew, Taft Smith, a proud WWII veteran. He would walk with a limp to work at the tannery and often stop in our front yard and entertain us atop bunker hill ( a mound in the front yard) by playing his military bugle calls. God Bless Him, he was a sweet unforgettable man.

Another view of the Big House.  Posted by Hello

Thursday, February 24, 2005

Where and When to Begin

Now that I have opened the door, looked in and decided to step through I see shelves and shelves of cans.
Which can of worms shall I open first? The cans are not necessarily filled with worms. Though certainly there are some squirming rampantly.

Shall I do this Chronologically? at Random? I can't seem to decide. I was told once upon a time how wonderfully organized I was. Well, SURPRISE !! I am not. Perhaps, in a former stage in my life out of professional necessity, I used to be organized. I am no longer. Perhaps I was a prisoner to the notion of being "in control" and "on top of my game" though as I see it now I am FREE of that notion.
Who and what was I trying to impress in those days? They, (whoever the nameless "they" may have been) didn't love me back, didn't really care about me and in the long run chewed me up, spit me out, burned me up and out.

It was a real deep hurt that you get when something you believe in, that becomes a big part of you, almost defines you and it leaves you. I'm not talking marital divorce here. Divorce in the marital sense, is worse - much worse.
Feeling are somewhat similar, sort of, but magnified astronomically by those that lay forever in the wake.

I really loved my work as a Professional Scouting. I believed in it. I had a great role model in Charlie B. (who you'll hear from later) and the concepts and principles of the Oath and Laws. I couldn't find myself compromising the movement for the notion of making someone else "look good". It went against the first Law and it made me sick. I didn't expect to do it, but it appears I took a can off the shelf and dropped it. There are a few loose worms out of the can. I gathered them up and put that can back on the shelf to be visited later, I am certain.

I digress-- (BUT THAT WAS IMPORTANT as the opportunity presented itself) .

Back to the organize thing = If you don't believe me, consider the condition of my notorius "back room". I have been saying for the past few years that I am going to organize that storage room. That would be a story in itself.

NOW, There is an idea for a real mind study -- the mysterious Back Room.

I'll decide soon where to begin.

Feedback? Comments?

Who Knows? Do they Know? Here Goes!


I have been accused of being NOSTALGIC

Dictionary defines Nostalgic as : A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past.

A key word in this definition is "bittersweet" - It conjures up bitter visions of pain, anger, hurt, betrayal, lies, death, tears, confusion, loss, frustration and helplessness along with sweet visions of beauty, streams, mountains, magic, beaches and seagulls, walks and stroller in the park and airport reunions, caling alligators out of a pond, singing, dancing, pure joy, unconditional love, ballet recitals, hugs, acting , births, first words, first steps, ball games, music, funny faces, finally meeting and getting to know grandchildren, praises, friends, pets, family and loved ones.

(Try this, take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle of the page and on the left write down the
challenges, hurts and sorrows and on the right write down the blessing, praises and joys. Place one item per line. You'll find always that the right side will be longer)!

I am okay with being nostalgic. As long as I don't allow myself to get stuck in the bitter side of the matter.

I shall attempt to bring to bring to these pages some recollections and deep thoughts of the past for the present and future folks that come to my mind.

The full impact we have on others is NEVER known to us. One of my grandmother's favorite movies was It's A Wonderful Life. It was introduced to me at the Little House in Buford ion the small library den with brother Keith and Mama Lucy a long looong time ago. AS you know iot serves as a great reminder of the impact we don't realize we have on other people we come in contact with. Strangers, acquaintances, co-workers, neighbors and especially those we too often take for granted: our family members. Encourage one another.

The experiences we have, and the circumstances we are in at the time, impact us all differently in how we perceive them and the depth to which it will effect us. These experiences stick with us forever.

I think it is important to point out that our age and our perception are to be taken into serious consideration. As Benny Buffington used to say "In other words..." things are not always what they seem to be.

Example: In about 1958, I went to visit the Stamey family on their farm outside Clarkesville, GA . I was 10 yrs old. I thought I'd been dumped off and abandoned by my parents. It seemed like weeks to me. It must have had something to do with getting up at 4 am to feed hundreds of chickens in the 8 long chicken houses, milk the cows and care for the cattle then go fishing. They'd all go to bed just after dark. That made for long sleepless nights for a young night owl like me. Many years later I was told that it was only 4 1/2 days!!! perception and circumstance !

So as you read these entries my children, (young and older) remember that which you perceive ain't necessarily so.

More later- stay tuned.

Monday, February 21, 2005

Kalalau Lookout, NaPali Coast Kauai, Hawaii

One of my most favorite places on planet Earth- This is an always and forever kind of place!!
Kalalau Lookout, Kauai Posted by Hello

Jeannie and Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This photo was taken by a nice lady that sold natural pearls at a little shop in the International Market Place near Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii --
The Banyan Tree behind us is the same tree that stood there in 1968 when I was serving in the Navy at Pearl Harbor before going to VietNam.
Michael and Jeannie 1993. Posted by Hello

The Outer side of Hanalei Bay


Outer Hanalei Bay Kauai - North Shore Sunset Posted by Hello
Jeannie and I sat here and watched the whales blowing and rolling all afternoon one day.
This is a great place to make a memory. It comes very close to defining beauty, peace and
magnificence. It seems to capture you and caress you all the while filling your cup to overflowing. OH, if you're at all adventurous after dark you can find a bushwhacker, or two, just for fun!

First Post 2/21/05

This is my first blog entry.
My Dad (Bill ) http://catodepot.blogspot.com/ and my wife, Jeannie, http://jeannieallen.blogspot.com/ have been posting very interesting articles and keeping a journal on their own blogs for some time. I think it is time I join in and begin keeping a journal of sorts when the mood hits me.

It will be my intent to post certain statements, muses, thoughts and items that would be deemed "important" to share with family and friends.

I hope it will in some way serve as a door, at least a window, into who I am and what things I find significant. Perhaps, my children will gain some knowledge they hesitate to ask me about.

I trust this will be a safe place and a place to be respected and remembered.