Where have I been for the last two months

I am not sure why I have not been posting on my Blog. I will try to tell you what I have been doing during the past couple of months. This will not be in any order so try to keep up. I may not make much sense for a few minutes I am watching the news and which is showing the Auto Industry go down the tubes. Can you believe this economy. I don't know anyone that it has not been hit. I had butter milk and corn bread for supper tonight. This has shown me how we can cut out things that were not really necessary. Getting sleepy more in the morning.

Fall is here

Good morning Bloggers, it has been a while since we talked. Betsy and I are doing fine. We had a short visit from Jeff, Dawn and Jake. Jeff ran in an annual race on Signal Mountain (32 mles) Saturday morning so they came over Friday evening so that he could make the 8:00am start time. We didn't see much of them but enjoyed the short visit. They went back home after the race because Jeff is taking Dawn to Memphis this morning. She is riding in "A journey Home" this is a Bike Ride from Memphis to Knoxville. This will be a (5) day event about 100 miles each day. This is an event to support Adoptions. You can get more information at adoptiontour.org.

Sorry that I have not been Blogging these past few weeks but I just have not felt like it. You have to be in the right frame of mine to Blog.

I don't know where to start. The ELECTION is coming up next month and all I am going to say about it is that I hope you will all VOTE.

I love these cool mornings. I enjoy having my coffee out on the patio and wake up with the birds. Which reminds me I need to fill the feeders today.

Not being able to get out and do much work in the yard or much of anything with the word 'work' in it i have taken some time to paint. I can't remember what I have told you and I don't want to read past postings so I might repeat my self. Just account it as the old boy is getting old.

I know I told you that I finished the Barn paintings. Well I have just this past week finished painting "The Tree House". This is the tree house at Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Murdoc's house. I will try to attach a picture that I made of the original Painting. One of the reasons I had so fun painting the tree house is all the history that goes along with it. I guess all of the kids in our family has played in that house amd many of us have at sometime in our life done some maintenance on the structure.

I don't know if you have heard how the tree house started. Uncle Murdoc and I (after Wednesday night Prayer Meeting ) decided it was not in the best interest of the young people in the community to be exposed to a Billboard (Miller Beer) that had been built over on Highway 52 not far from the Church. We took the sign down ad rather than destroying good lumber and tin we decided to use it to start a tree house. That is how it started and as Steve got a bit older he took over and completed the second phase. Later eletricity was added for lighting. Over the years it just evolved. I don't know who found the paint that was used on the outside but I had a hard time mixing paint to match. I think with Betsy's help we came close.

I am now now working on a painting of the "Forrester Farm Hunting Lodge". My interesst in this has several reasons. If and when my all of family can come down home for the reunion or other events Glenn always makes the Lodge available for us to use. This building was orginally the home place for Mr. John and Miss Susie Ward. They were Brother and Sister I always remember them from Church. I never knew of any other family just the two of them.

I have to go for now Mitsy just got out of bed and I need to take her for a walk.

A few Pictures

These next four are some of the Giant American Begonias. Enjoy.

This is one of the one of our 'Sumatra Lilies'. This is our first year to have this beautiful flower. We planted 8 bulbs and had flowers on each. This is a 'Giant American Begonia'. We planted bulbs at both ends of the Island. We were not sure about these but they still have new buds. There is a mix as far as the blooms. I will try to include each variety. Some of the blooms are 6 inches across.

My Back

I told you I would update you on the progress with my back. I had the Procedure yesterday as scheduled. There was one thing different this time. The gave me some if that I can't remember drug so I didn't go through the pain as I had in the past. I feel very good today. I have been active most of the day. I laid down for my usual NAP but I couldn't go to sleep. I am getting tired now and will go to bed early. Sorry, I am just not in the mood to Blog tonight.

J

To Mark

I have no idea what you must be going thru right now. It has been a long hard road you have been following in the past. I am sorry to say that I didn't really know Tammy very well, other than seeing her at a family gathering. I know you have a real network of Family and Friends there with you. I talked to your Mom for a long time this afternoon. You are very fortunate to have the love and support of Aunt Bobbie. Mark I miss Mother so much, in times like this she had a way of putting her arms around you and make you feel that all would be OK. Your Mom has thoes same arms. Don't forget they are there.

My Thoughts and Prayerrs are with you tonight.

John

Surgery Today.

I will update you tomorrow. I wanted to update you tonight but I am just too tired.

I can't sleep

Charles is taking Jeff & Reilly down the Ocoee. This is Jeff and Reilly in the front of the raft.

I couldn't sleep (HURTING) so I got out of bed and came to the kitched where I keep my laptop. I have my laptop and a printer on the Bar/Island in the kitchen. It is not in the way and I like having it set-up all the time. I can readE-Mail or other things while I cook. I multi-Task all the time. A made some additions to "As I remember It" tonight.

Dawn and Jeff were here this this past week and weekend. They stayed at the cabin with some friends. Charles took Jeff and Reilly down the River. I will try to insert a picture of them.

I don't know why but it always put the picture at the front of the days posting rather in the middle of the comments. Anyway that is a picture of Reilly and Jeff. They had a great time. I am sure this was a highlight of Reilly's summer. Charles tried to get Dawn and Jeff to let Jake go down but Dawn said not NO but HELL NO. Her little for year old is not getting on a raft. All in all they ha a good stay. Dawn had used my van while the were here so they dropped it off on their home. I went out to the car to tell the boys but both were sleeping hard. They were worn out.

I just got news that a friend's wife died suddenly this past month. Tom and Sue had shared the Rock House at the Fold school. She and Tom had a room next to me. I am planning on calling Tom but i hae delayed it because it is so hard for me to do something like that. I am not good around deaths. I guess it is because I have lost so many family members.

I am having a procedure on my back to try and relieve me of some of my pain. The Procedure is called a "Denerveation Procedure" The Doctor uses a special needle with an electrical point on the end. He inserts the needle (HUGE) and touches the nerves along my spine until I can identify one that efffects a pain point. Remember I am awake (must be to talk to him while Identifying the correct area) when he touches the nerve. It really hurts, it is like a sudden sharp pain down your leg, back, arm. This goes on until he finds ONE OF the correct nerrves. Once he finds the correct nerrve he applies RF energy for 15 seconds while burning the nerve ending. Now it is like a sharp pain for 15 seconds. Oh, how it hurts. This is done until he has burnded several nerve endings thus cutting off the signal the brain identifying pain. It is very painful while the nerve ending heals and then I will be pain free in that area of my back for a few months we hope. He will do the right side of my spine thursday and I go back sometime in August and he will do the left side. Insurance Companies some time give the Doctor a hard time approving the procedure. They call it expermental. I have it done before but he says he will put me almost under for the 15 seconds but I still feel the pain.

So think about me Thursday morning around 9:00am. Pray, Burn a Candle do something I need the help.

I am still working on "The Tree House". Its't comming along fairly good but I look forward to Pebbie coming down on the 21st and giving me some advise. It is a real challenge with some of the colors such as the bark of the Pecan Tree. It changes colors as the light shines on part of it, part is in shadow and part is just in the shade. Getting the names on the side will be interesting also. I am going to need help from someone to identify some of the printing, it is very faint but it is there.

Holly cow it is 6:00am I hve been up for three hours. No wonder I am about to go to sleep. Well what should I do make some coffee or go back to bed? I will spell check this later.

Good Night.

Too Sleepy to do this

Well, it's Friday night and Betsy is in bed playing some game on her laptop, eating Wheat Thins, I am in bed Blogging, eating a Peanut butter sandwich. Mitsy has her little head laying on my pillow waiting for the last bite of my sandwich which she knows she will get. Now that is over \maybe she will go to sleep. Now she moved and put her face on the edge of my laptop. Wait just a bit while I get her settled.

She is not spoiled.

Let's seenow what did I do today. i went to see my JUNK Dealer and looked at some 55 Gal. drums. I am going to get three drums and make 'Rain Barrels' using these 55 gal barrels. I am going to place the barrel so that I can direct the down spout from the Gutter system into the barrels which I have put on a raised stand. I have inserted a water faucet close to the bottom of the barrel there by saving rainwater to be used for flower beds, flower containers, small vegetable garden, thus saving on our utillity cost. I will have to clean the barrels and paint them so they will not stand out. I will also landscape in such a way to hide the barrels.

Hump Day

Well it's in the morning but a few days later. Anyway, Good Morning. I hope you have had a good cup of coffee or are having one with me right now. I slept late this morning. I don't do that very often. I woke up hurting about 5:00am and took some pain Medication and went back to sleep.

This is our week to use the Cabin. Charles was moving up last night or today. Jeff and Dawn are coming tonight or tomorrow. They are spending a long weekend at the cabin. They will have both of the Boys with them. Reilly and Jake both love it up there. We don't have a boat any more. We did share one with Betsy's sister but every time we went to the cabin something would be wrong with the boat. We sold our half and got out of being boat owners. Never share a boat with anyone especially family. It just causes problems. Anyway, I feel like a boat is only a hole in the water in which you pour money. I am sure some one famous said that one day but I agree and will use it anyway.

W4e hope to go up to the cabin while the kids are here but only if it is not too hot. This heat, I could do without. The heat is rough on us fat boys. I have got to take a break now an go out on the patio and water my tomatoes. I need to take a picture of my tomator tree and wheel barrow tomatoes. I will be right. Oh, I heard Mitsy Bark so I guess Betsy is awake now. I will take her some coffee don't go away.

OK I am back. Betsy is up so we will have breakfast and maybe I will get back to you later today. I am going to paint or work on my taxes. Can you believe we haven't filed our taxes I filed for an extension so I have until August 15th. I need to do it so I can get that big Check from President Bush that is going to soleve all my problems. Don't get me started. Now to my tomatoes.

Later

Let start over

I am sitting here noding off.I will finish this in the morning.

A late Sunday night in the bed with Betsy

You can tell a couple has been married for 30 years when they are both in bed withtheir laptops at 12:00 at night. It is also very hard to type with my "Little white Girl" in bed with us and trying to see her picture.

A few Pictures

The view of the rusty roof done at the Folk School
The Original of the second Barn made of old Barn Wood & Tin.

Reilly's 9th Birthday

Reilly's 9th Birthday

Jake learning to ride without training wheels

One of many falls but Daddy there to catch me


The front view of the barn that I finished after I completed the Folk School
Painting with a tough Critic

Glenda and I painting during her VISIT

These are a few pictures that show some recent activity. The first is of our oldest Grandson Reilly at his Birthday. Next are pictures of our youngest Grandson Jakob riding his bike for the first time without his training wheels. Then there are pictures made when Glenda was here for a week of painting. Notice I have some help (MITSY) as I paint. There is also a picture of the barn I made of old barn wood and tin.

Raining in Tennessee

Good morning,
I haven't been with you for a while now. Lots of things have happened. I have finished both paintings now and am now painting The Tree House. This is the tree house at Aunt Bobbie's. There are lots of good stories connected to this tree house. I am sorry if my typing is not very good this morning but I am in a lot Pain this morning. It is so bad that my pain medication will not touch it. If it doesn't get better soon I am going back to bed. Betsy is making the coffee this morning and that is always my job. I get up before she does and I make the coffee and sometimes take her a cup in bed. It is ready now and she is getting me a cup so that I don't have to get up and walk.

Dawn and Jeff came three weekends ago and we enjoyed their stay as always. They had to leave early Sun. to take Reilly to camp. We went over there last weekend. Dawn's Birthday was June 24 so we celebrated her birthday. We went to eat at Miller's Country Store in Christiana, TN, where Dawn & Jeff live. It is an old general store that has been turned into a restaurant and now people drive from Nashville and around other places even further away. They served a varied menu and had a three piece Blue Grass/Country Music Band playing. It was true Tennessee Country. We had a ball. The band played a Blue Grass version of happy birthday to Dawn.

I think I will go over to the life story entry now and add a bit more to it. Take care. OH yes, Dawn and Jeff are coming Wednesday Night and staying at Stony Point. For those of you that don't know that is the name of the Cabin on Lake Ocoee. We share the Cabin with Betsy's two sisters. We have the cabin about 7 or 8 weeks from spring to fall. We stay in the early spring and fall. I just can't stand the heat in July & August. This hot weather is rough on us fat boys. My pain is getting better now but it never goes away. I have been taking steroids for 20+ years and they have destroyed the disc in by back. I am having a procedure done in two weeks on the nerves on the left side. The Dr. Uses a Large needle that has a special tip that is connected to RF energy. He probes around until he hits a nerve and based on the effect of pressing on the nerve he identifies the source of the pain. He then turns on the RF energy burning the nerve ending. I am not asleep because I have to talk to him to I identify the correct nerve. That 15 seconds is very painful, Its like pain you can not imagine. It is still painful for a couple of weeks while it heals but then my pain is better. The Procedure is considered experimental by most insurances companies and we have to fight with BCBST and Medicare ever time we do it or about any thing else. Don't get me started on Insurance Companies or Drug Companies they run our health care system such as it is. I don't need to go there either. I am leaving now will be back as soon as I find a spot of time. My spell check is not working and you all know I can't spell. (I'll ask Betsy to proofread this.)

Take Care and My Love to All of You.

John

I am back!

I have not had time to talk to BLOGER for several Days. Let me start with Monday June 2nd. Glenda and I were ready for Pebbie (my Painting Instructor) when she got here around 10:00AM. We had set our areas up so the our backs were to each other. This way Pebbie could sit or stand between us and see our canvas over our shoulder. She worked with us all day. Our agreement is that she will stay until I am tired and need a nap. She did not leave when I went upstairs to lay down. She stayed and worked with Glenda for a couple of hours longer. She wants to leave early enough that she will not have to drive the Highway 64 Run along the River in the dark. It is a very curvey two lane road that follows the Ocoee River.

Pebbie came back on Wednesday and worked with us for an additional Day.

Glenda is here.

Glenda called yesterday morning as she was driving up from Decatur. I met her in Chattanooga at "Art Creations", and art supply store. She helped me pick out a wooden isle. The one I had was a very light weight metal frame and was not steady enough. (Steve I bought a MABEF M/18) We got her moved in and after visiting for a while and a nap for me we went to dinner with Mickie and Jerry. After dinner Glenda and I worked Downstairs getting everthing setup so that we can get started putting paint on canvas. She and Betsy are still in bed. l;;welrkpwopflefijwir I thought Mitsy had gone back to bed but she is sitting right behind me and just saw another dog next door, barked and scared the s.... out of me. Well I am going to get off here and do a few chores and be ready to start when Glenda gets up. Glenda has two speeds (Slow and Stop) so we will get a late start every morning I am sure. I am so happy to have her here. I will keep you posted on our progress.

Memorial Day Week End

I hope everyone is well and having a great week. I also hope you will take a moment and think about the young men that have and are giving their lives today. I pray that the men in Iraq will soon be home and we can try to regain our International friendshps.

Ok, I am not getting political.

We had a great day today. I went up to the cabin and started sorting thru some old barn wood. Miles Gates cut some of the wood. I got a board of old barn wood last week from a man that was working at a fruit stand.

I hope to make a couple of additional works using the barn wood. I want to talk to Glenda about some of the details involved in pulling it all together. I hope to have many of the pieces cut when she gets here on Friday.

I think I will stop now and go over and work on the piece about my life events.

J

Plan for the Day.

I am having a cup of coffee trying to get awake enough to discuss a plan of activities for the day with Betsy. At least we are up and trying to get moving. I just want to be at the cabin by 1:00pm so I can put some paint on a canvas I guess most would call that painting. I went up to the cabin yesterday afternoon and struggled with with trying to paint some grass. That sounds so easy but this one area of this painting may be 1/4th if an inch thick because of paint overs. Maybe Glenda or Pebbie can help me. I don't remember if I told you that my Instructor from the Folk School will be here one day that Glenda is here.

I don't konw if I can but I am going to try to put a link to the Folk School in the BLOG so that you will be able to better understand more about the School. I got to go. I have a to-do list before going to the Cabin to paint.

Good Morning Blogger

It's early This morning. I got up before breakfast. Oh, I look forward to a wonderful week. God is good. This is my usual routine. If anyone does not belive in God they need to just get up early in the morning just before daybreak. I feed the Cat, fix the coffee,fix my medication for the day, pour me a cup of coffee and sit on the patio. The one that shows the sunset on the first page of my Blog. The birds start singing before the light of day. It is a beautiful sound. I wish I new the diffeent bird calls. When we were about five years old Jerry Knight could talk to the birds. at least we thought he could. It's just beginning to show alittle light out hjere this morning.

I have so much to say this morning. Betsy talked to Glenda yesterday and she is comming up on Friday, May 30th. Oh I hope she can stay for a least a week. My painting instructor from the folk School is comming for my first lesson one day while Glenda is here. That will be a fun day.

I called Jake yesterday afternoon, He came to the phone and I said "Happy birthday Jake," then he said "yea, I love you too" and he was gone. Dawn came to the phone and said that he was riding his New "MONSTER FOUR WHEELER. Jeff was riding the Lawn Mower with a trailer attached with the doog in the trailer and Jake was following in his little four-wheeler. Dawn said he would ride until the Battery was dead the would plug it in for a recharge and go all over again. We hate that we missed being with them for the weekend but if God's will we will see them soon.

Betsy call later but Jake was riding an could not come to the phone But, she did talk to Dawn. Jeff is Running in a three day event in Chattanooga in June. The weekend of Father's Day. He runs 21 miles on Friday, 18 miles on Saturday and then 21 miles again on Sunday. Dawn is taking Thursday and Friday off from work and have a long weekend with us. Jeff runs on trails. There are lots of trails in the forrest around Chattanooga. He does this race ever year if possible.
Then the next week Jeff has a meeting in Atlanta on Friday so after his meeting he is comming here and Dawn will meet him here that night. We will have them two weekend in a row. That never happens.

Sorry for the delay there I had to get some more coffee.

Richard was coming to do some yard work but i think it will be too wet. We had real bad storms in and around Cleveland during the early evening yesterday, Real high wind 60 to 70 miles per hour with hale. I don't know how much damage ther was, I haven't turned on a TV yet this morning. After a bit more of this I will walk around and see what it looks like in our yard.

Well, so long for this morning I will try to see you tomorrow.

J

Jakob McEntyre Puster is (4) four years old today

I have not called him yet. Betsy and I are goine to call him later this afternoon. We wanted to go over for his Birthday and visit with Jeff's Mom & Dad. They came down from Ohio to visit. They don't miss the Boys Birthdays if at all possible. We were in Birmingham last week for a visit at UAB Hospital. I had two out-patient surgeries on Wednesday and Thursday. On wednesday they removed several skin tags and what I call other ugly looking things around my neck and upperr chest. Thursday a differrent Doctor removed a cancer from my left ear. They took a small piece of my ear. But if you know me and my Great Uncle Jessie I could stand to give up a bit. After that I just did not feel like I could keep up with Puster Klan for the weekend. Jeff's Mom has more energy than jake and Reilly. They are good down home folk from farm country in Ohio. You would love them both.

We plan to go over later on a weekend when they have Reilly and have a little party for Jake.

I painted yesterday. I also have another project that I started that I would hope to be well along with it when Glenda comes up the first of June. By the way, I think that my instructor from the Folk School will be here one day that Glenda is here. I am working on it anyway. I am having a hard time getting Glenda tied down on her schedule. She is having Family there for the weekend and doesn't know when they are leaving. I am really looking forward to her visit.

My instructor from the Folk School has agreed to come here twice a month for a lesson. She is not only a good Artist but also a good instructor. I feel luck that she lives only 70 miles away. Even living that far away she comes to Cleveland often to shop. There is nothing around where she lives in the hills of NC.

Got to go for now. I am going to have lunch and call Jake.

Well, Jake was too busy to be bothered with a phone call. I think he was riding his new Four Wheeler. He had a big Birthday Party yesterday, that is when he got the four-wheeler.

Let me make something clear as you read my BLOG. I can't spell shet. So make the best of it I only use spell check if I am asking for money. Now back to where I was talking, typing, telling what ever I am doing.

Talked to Dawn she is sick with a cold or something. She sounded stuffed up.

I am trying not to take much pain medication because it makes me feel sleepy and tired and I have to take a nap. I am like Jake I hate to take a nap when I could be Painting or working on my other Project. Richard, who keeps our yard, flowers and anything else outside that I can't do myself (which is damn little). He maintains several yards around us. His Mom lives next door. Richard had a brain tumor removed some time ago and he is a little slow and his short time memory is not very good. I have a special feeling about him because of my Brother-in-Law Charlie Mayfield (That is a story for another day.) I keep a clipboard hanging on the outside wall so that I can give him a list of what he needs to do and I also have a time sheet for him. It works good for us. He keeps our outside looking good!

Back to Jake. He has a bit of his Mom, PaPa John and Aunt Connie in him and if you know these people you understand what I am talking about. We will talk to him later. Dawn said he would call us later. He is so busy with Grand Ma and Grand Pa. They get every moment they can whth Daw Jeff and the Boys. They are so far away they don't see them very often. That is another reason we don't go over at the same time, that way they have them all to therselves with out having to share their few hours with us.

Well I don't feel like typing anymore right now. The pain is back so I might take that nap after all.

Jakob is Here

Dawn and Jake are here for the week-end. Dawn gave Betsy a necklace and ear rings for her birthday. The are here for Mother's Day. Betsy got a real cute "Singing" Mother's Day card in the mail today.

I am having trouble keying tonight with Jake with me. He is drawing pictures of me and I have to stop a review is pictures. I will be back in the morning whe he is still asleep. I am happy tonight. Having Dawn an Jake with Betsy and I feels good tonight. I wish Jeff, Reilly and Charles were here with us.

Good Night!

Morning Update

I was out of bed at :30am this morning. Usual early morning pain.

I fix the coffee, now where is my coffee cup. I have at least one thing lost at all times, fix my daily medication , got coffee to take downstairs and headed down to paint. I rearranged the studio last night getting ready for Glenda. I think we can work in the same room. Lighting is the only thing I worry about at this time.

I was able to start to work as soon as I went down. Had not painted in several days so my stay-wet was a bit to wet. I salvaged it anyway.

Oh, I can't wait for Glenda to get here.

Betsy and Mitsy are still in bed this morning. I would like to look at the Morning Paper but I can't get the paper until Mitsy gets up.

I am eating Breakfast as I write. Eating Home made Granola. I make a pretty good batch of crunchy. I see my coffee cup now , just a moment. Now.

I bought two hanging baskets yesterday. I have a double Shepherd's hook they are beautiful. I will misspell it but the are Patunes.

That's it no more flowers.

Well I have finished Breakfast I guess I will feed Billy (cat) and go back downstairs.

Daily Notes

I got up early today. I had a couple of cups of coffee sitting outside on the patio. I went out just about daylight. I love to hear nature get up in the morning and start the day. I wish I new the different bird calls because they were very active today. I have feeders in the yard just off the patio. I re potted Town about 45 min from Cleveland. During the month of May and May only he serves 'Strawberry Short Cake' . It is the best I have ever had and I have tried to duplicate it but just cant do it. It is in the cake, very heavy lots of fresh strawberries and homemade whip cream. It is so big most of the time we just eat shortcake.

I had a low blood sugar a few minuties ago (60). Betsy got me some orange juice and peanut butter and crackers. It is OK now.

Better go got a few things to do before lunch.

Pictures to share

These are just a few pictures of our daily lives.

Azaleas in the Spring

I would like to post a picture of spring time at the McEntyre's

Log of my life

This is a work in progress I thought for along time about sharing but why put it in writing if you don't share it. I would love any comments feedback, suggestions. I want to express my feelings in as many periods of my life as I can. I Hope no one is offended by what I write but it will be as I remember it. Don't worry I would never include anything of a private personal nature.

AS I REMEMBER IT
Always take care of your dog and they will take care of you, don’t put stems and leaves in your sack just cotton, a baseball hit and broke the windshield on the truck, a ride in the back of the truck, new bike for the girls, I was afraid to climb up into his bed when he was sick, these are the few things I remember about him. I was only (4) four years and (7) seven months old when my Daddy (J. D. McEntyre) died. All the other things get confused with what others have said about him. I remember the funeral, I think it was raining, I was standing in the pew and saw Mr. Buster Hayburn standing in the door of an over flowing Church. Someone took us to Ma Maw and Granddaddy’s house and parked under a pecan tree. April 29, 1949, he was only 34 years old. I wonder what it would have been like if he had lived to see us reach adulthood.

I have very few memories of the next few years. We lived with Ma Maw and Granddaddy. Aunt Bobbie still lived there. She always saved part of her candy bars, it drove me crazy. I could never find it. I cried when she got married and moved away. I was happy about her getting married and I dearly loved Uncle Murdoc but I did not know she would move away and live with him. I don’t know how long we lived with Ma Maw And Granddaddy but I remember things that happened back then.

Buck Rollins walked by the house almost every day on his way to the store. He always talked to us but mostly from the road. He came up and sat on the steps if Granddaddy was sitting on the porch. I don’t think he ever came inside the house. I never new much about Mr. Buck but sometimes he would be gone for a few days and Ma Maw would say that he was having one of his sick spells. I think he would drink too much whisky and make him self sick. I did not know much about drinking. He lived in a small house next to his sister. She was a case her self. I can’t remember her name right now but I remember hearing her talk to Mr. Buck all the way across the woods to our house. She talked bad to him. Mr. Buck never seemed to mind. When I got a little older I would walk down to the Store with Mr. Buck. We called the Store “Mabel’s.”

Uncle Vernon Webb, Ma Maw’s brother would come to Ma Maw’s sometimes late at night in a Taxi. He would be sick and go right to bed. He would stay in bed for two or three days. Drinking too much I think and Ma Maw and Granddaddy would take care of him. When he felt good he would always buy a big bunch of bananas and tell me to eat them and drink milk. He wanted me to put on some weight. The year that I planted the patch of cucumbers he would scratch on my window screen to wake me at 5:00am each picking day. He would then drive me to pick-up my helpers, then to the market and on to the swimming pool. He always waited for us to swim then he would drop everyone at their home. I loved Uncle Vernon. I never new much about his family I don’t think they had much to do with him. Maybe it was his drinking and all.

The front porch reached all the way across the front of the house. The steps must have been ten (14) or (15) feet across and were located right in the center of the porch. The Dogs were usually lying around on the steps or up on the front porch. Granddaddy always had a dog, I guess “Skippy” was the first one that I remember. Skippy was very good with children. I remember one time some one was visiting and every time the little girl walked down the backdoor steps Skippy stayed right beside her with his head in front so she would not fall. The front porch at Ma Maw and Granddaddy’s house was a very popular place. Every one seemed to gather there. I remember a swing at each end of the porch. There was Railing that went around the left side of the porch and stopped at the steps. I don’t remember a hand rail on the steps. I remember the rail because of a story Granddaddy told me about a porch railing. He said that when you were a young man and you pied off the porch you put your penis under the rail to keep from pieing in your face and when you got old you laid it across it to keep from peeing on your feet. Granddaddy didn't tell many dirty jokes.

One night before Aunt Bobbie got married Uncle Murdoc was over (a date I guess) and they were sitting in the swing. As usual I was out there pestering them. There was a beautiful Spider Web that reached across the porch behind the swing, It had a big spider and we watched it as it would catch moths and spin a web around them for a later meal. Well, as the night progressed and I was no longer wanted as a part of their date I threw a stick and knocked the Web down. Uncle Murdoc punished me for the first and last time, he then talked to me about Nature and stuff. I grew close to uncle Murdoc over the years to follow.

The ice truck would come by every week and ma maw would get a block of ice for the Ice Box. Someone would have to call him down in order to get him to stop. One day I was on the front porch when the Ice Truck came by and I called out real loud “we don’t need any ice” of course the truck stopped and Granddaddy made me go down to the road and tell the Iceman I was sorry I stopped him but we didn’t need any. We had a “Rolling Store” that came by every week also and it had everything on it. I mostly remember the candy (maybe the source of my diabetes). I can remember a man that always came by and sold Georgia Peaches out of the back of his Pickup truck. The truck bed was about half full with a tarp pulled down over them. Ma Maw made Peach Preserves, Peach Jelly and Pickled Peaches. The Pickled Peaches were for important meals like Thanksgiving. She also made Fried Peach Pies. I can taste them to this day.

They paved the road that goes by their house. Connie and Snooty made ice water and they took it out to the workers and served them from a bucket with a dipper and a glass. They all drank from the same glass. One of the men wore sun glasses. They gave them money for bringing them water. I didn’t get any because I didn’t help them. I thought I should have got something. I did stop the Ice Truck so they could get some ice. This was a well planned venture. It's funny I don't remember a lot about Connie and Mary when I was real young (4-5). I guess there was so many other things that made up my life that they just blended in as a natural blanket.

Our cousin Martha Webb came to visit for a few days that summer. I thought she was beautiful. She would lay down with me and read me a book when I took a nap or maybe at bedtime. I knew I was in love. Aunt Katrine would come Home to visit I don’t know if it was before she got married or after. I just remember how pretty she was. She would always sleep late and she would fix her own breakfast. She would take left over biscuits, split them in half, put butter on each side and put them in an iron skillet like making a grill cheese sandwich. After she had grilled she would then put jelly on them. She always made one for me. Oh my, I can taste those grilled biscuits tonight. I still make them from time to time with left overs from the Cracker Barrel.

I can remember begging Aunt Sara to let Jerry stay with me at Ma Maw's. Jerry and I spent many hours together at age 5 and 6. We killed more Indians around that old Barn than ever lived in the Southeasterrn part of the States. Back then we called them Indians rather than Native Americans. We just didn't know any better. It is strange how two people could be close to each other, love each other the way Jerry and I did and then the older we got the futher apart we got. I remember one time there were several parts of the Family at Ma Maws and someone gave Jerry and I some money (15 or 25 cents) so we slipped away and went to Mable's Store. Well, they missed us and could not find us for some time. When we came wandering in with candy all over our faces, boy were we in trouble. Jerry and I were blamed for a lot of things that were not our fault. One time we were having a family gathering and the "Out-House" caught on fire. Well, Jerry and I were about to get punished by granddaddy for setting fire to the "out-House" when Aunt Sara and Aunt Katrine confessed that they were smoking while in the 'Out-House" and set some paper on fire but did not know it until smoke was boiling out from the rear. That was so funny thinking back on it. (Jerry if you read this send me some stories from those days. Also I would like to include your story about being lost in the woods if it is OK.)

Aunt Ethel and Aunt Katrine would visit almost every summer. I always felt uneasy around Uncle Kyle. The first thing he always said to me was “HI JOHN WHAT CH KNOW?” I never had an answer. He stayed in Dothan most of the time when they came. He stayed with his sister. Uncle Kyle always brought Florida Oranges. I always had to peel them before I ate one because the peelings were dirty. (I didn’t know he had picked them from a tree in their yard).

.I didn’t know it until many years later but Uncle Kyle and Aunt Katrine paid Mom’s expenses required for her to attend ‘Business School”. Mom had never worked outside the home before Daddy’s death. She must have been scared about the future without Him. Based on letters between Mom and Aunt Katrine I found in the many personal items that Mom saved, this was during a time when they had their on fears about the future. They lived in Georgia at the time and Uncle Kyle was buying and selling shrimp while Aunt Katrine was trying to run the Shrimp Box (a small Restaurant). They never hesitated about helping Mom because she was FAMILY. It had to be hard. I hope my cousins know what Family meant to the Girls and their Spouses. I know that there are many single parent families today but there was Mom with three children, no wok experience, or any real work skills. Dad was a tenant farmer had nothing to leave for Mom to get a new start. He had never paid into Social Security so Mom could not even draw Social Security. But She had a Family Network of four sisters and a Mom and Dad.

Many times when Aunt Ethel and Uncle Bernard came home (Ma Maw’s and Granddaddy’s) in the fall Uncle Bernard would take me to Dothan with him. He would go around to Auto Dealers that he knew, boy was that fun. But, he would always take me shopping to get clothes for school. I remember one time he bought me a leather Jacket with a fir collar. I wore the jacket until not only it was too small but it was covered with little picks all over it. I don’t think it was real leather but was real to me.

I was a real MA MA’s boy. I slept with mother longer than was normal for most .I guess it had something to do with Daddy not being around. I was afraid at night and had very bad nightmares, so bad that every one in the house would be up a 2 am or 3am in the morning. Granddaddy would sometimes build a fire in the fireplace. It took a long time to get me to come out of my dream. I had the same Dream every time and can remember it in detail to this day. No need to go there.You know a boy losing his father at such an early age has a very complex effect on him emotionally. Mom didn’t have any Doctor and Social Workers around to help. You just worked it out as best you could. I had Mom, Connie, and Mary. I somewhat understand what my Son Charles must feel sometimes. I know he loves me but no one can replace your Mom and/or Dad. (We will talk about Charles someday) I do know a boy needs positive male influence at an early age. I had an entire network beginning with Granddaddy. You know he read a lot, the Dothan Eagle, the Farmers Journal, the Bible, He always read his Sunday School Lesson on Saturday Night. The network was made up my Uncles. Uncle Murdoc, Uncle James, Uncle Kyle and Uncle Bernard. We will talk about each ones role in my life.

I haven't written about the McEntyre, Daddy's side of our family. My grandparents were PaPa Ed and Mother Mary. Papa Ed seemed old to me. He always played his Fiddle for Con nie, Mary and Me. I remember his hands had notty looking fingers and they hurt him sometimes. When his hands hurt he could not play but he would let us see it not touch it just see it. Papa Ed took some kind of strong Medication that made him seem drunk. I don't know for sure but I think He was on hard Drugs. Back then Doctors would put people on heavy stuff. I remember he would always take too much during times such a death in the family. Buddy Luther would always try to hid it but he kept a stash hid. I remember when Mother Mary Died he could hardly walk.

I remember Mothere Mary, my Grandmother, was a sweet that always wore an aporn. She was sweet and always gave us a nickle or dime before we left each time. I remember, She always some cake or pie in her Pie-Safe. We aften ate cake or pie while we visited. We would always go to see them on Sunday afternoon.

Daddy had two brothers, Buddy Roy and Buddy Luke. I was closer to Buddy Luke for some reason I guess because Buddy Luke had three kids close to my age and we visited them more oftenthat to buddy Roys. They both would openly drink whisky. That didn't happen on mother's side of the family. Iearned later they would drink but hide it. When Buddy Luke came to see us I would go home with them an stay a few days. If he was drinking Mother wouldn't let me go with them. They had three children, Charllot, Sandra and Phillip Carl. Charllot and I were the same age. I remember visiting them several times mostly during the summer. We had to pick cotton some of the times. I always had a good time. We drifted apart as we got older and got involved in school and working during the summer. I wish we had stayed in touch more because that is a part of my family now that I don't even really know. The have children and grandchildren that I haave never met. They don't know my kids and grandkids. It is really sad in many ways that we let things like this happen. The Culbreth Reunion keeps us in touch even if it is so large. We can see the younger generations take the rolls that we once played. I just love to see this transition. One example is that Rodny Knight is Chair Person for the 2009 Reunion. When I heared about his rool as Chair person I just stopped what I was doing and refledted on his life as I remember it and it made me feel proud. I bet you he will have the best or at least as good program of any reunion. From what I have seen and heard so far he is getting a lot of ideas and promised support.

OK for now.

I am Trying to add some pictures. This is a picture of the Painting I did at the Folk School that I attended in March. This is actually my first real painting. I have a few things that I have started and never finished but I am proud of this one. Betsy likes it so much she had me hang it over the fireplace in the Den. I hope to add other paintings to this Blog in the next few months and hopefully years. This is based on a picture of Graddaddy's barn that Steve Nall, my cousin took several years ago before the barn really begain to fall down. He took two views of the barn and gave several of us copies. I framed my copies and they are hanging in our den. I also did another 'THING' of the barn and I dcall it thing because I don't know exactly what to call it. I will include a picture of it. The piece is on an easel in our den. This is the second one of these that I have done. The first one I gave to my cousin Glenda. I don't know why, I wasn't sure she would even want it but she was the first and I say first not oldest Grandchild. She must have liked it because she cried when she saw it. It was after that day that she started trying to get me to paint.

Anyway the piece is made of several media. The barn it self is made from wood taken from an old barn out in the middle of a pasture near Dayton, Tennessee. I got a couple of boards and used my tablesaw to rip the rough surface off of the boards and made a very thin veneer that I could use to make the boards. I also got a piece of rusty tin from the old barn roof and cut a piece that I used to fold out a strip for the roof. So, you can see why I can't think of what to call it. I want to make another copy but I don't have any of the veneer left and my son Charles took my tablesaw away from me when he saw my how my hands trimble some times. He said my wood working days were over. If you have the ability to create some veneer from some old barn wood send me a few sheets. Well Betsy just call for lights out so it must be bedtime.

I am currently working on the other view of the barn that Steve took. I am hung up on that old barn maybe it is because of "What I learned out behind the Barn". That is a story for another day.

Starting a new week

Kristy came down to see uo today. Betsy and Kristy went to a miovie while I took a nap. I do a lot of that lately. It has rained here today. It will be too wet to do anything in the yard tomorrow so I plan to Paint in the morning. Betsy said she would trim my beard in the morning. I look forward to my time painting. I don't get dto paint as much as I would like to but I guess that is my fault. I always find other things to do each morning before I go down stairs. Tomorrow I paint just as soon as the coffee is ready.

Daily Re-Cap

I have had a good day. I bought top-Soil for the new raised bed. Ace had it on sale for $1.00 per bag. I got 10 bags. I also bought two bags of garden-mix. that feeds for three months without any additional feeding.

I made a list of projects that I need to do before Glenda comes up the first week of June. By the way did I tell you that Glenda is coming up for a week and we are just to PAINT. I can't wait I know I will learn so much working with her.

I have a Dr. Appt with my Pain Managment Doc.at 8:00am tomorrow and then bloodwork in the PM. We have the Cabin next week I am packing my Art supplies and go eaxch day and be creative.

I am all most going to sleep at the key board. Charles said he was coming bybut wh knows.

I am attaching some pictures. Its Spring time in Tennessee.

Monday, Trying to finish my taxs today.

I am going to try to enter a few thing each day but it get very busy around here sometime. Dawn Jef and the Jake were here this weekend. Jeff made Betsy and I a raised Planter so that we don't have to bend over to work with potting plants. It was a neat project for Jeff. He is so good to help me when they come over. Dawn got a keeper with Jeff. I put a picture on later. Also our flowers.



PaPa John

Late Thursday Night

Beautiful day here in Tennessee today. Betssy and I walked around the yard trying to plan for some new plantings in a few weeks. Our landscape and overall area outside of the house look better this spring than any otherr time. We have a ver good Yard Maintenance Person now that is the best we have ever employed. He does a very good job, is very detail in his work. Betsy just buzzed me I have to go to bed Mitsy will not settle down until I go to bed. Lots to say maybe later.

Sunday afternoon just taking it easy. Betsy is taking a nap. I tried but couldn't go to sleep because of my back and leg pain so I got up and started cleaning up E-Mail and updating my schedule. Yes, even I have a schedule. I sent Pebbie Mot an E-Mail about starting painting lessons. I hope to get started soon.

Friday March 7,2008

My first posting. I am setting this up so that I can share information with Family and Friends. Coments are welcome.