Mom & Dad’s Flower Garden
Today is an EXTRA special day. It’s our dad, Garland’s, birthday. I won’t tell you how old he is, but if you are familiar with Elvis Presley, well, they were born the same year. And while I can imagine dad singing on stage. I just can’t picture the white sequin jumpsuit and the flashy scarf. 😉
In honor of my dad’s day, several folks have shared a bit of wisdom that he has spoken to them over the years. So sit back and enjoy a few “Garland-isms”:
“If you can’t take advantage of your relatives, who can you take advantage of?” “It’s not fair? Life is not fair” ~hubby
Three things I especially remember. 1- He was always adamant about good posture when we were in school. I recall him sitting in the bleachers on the opposite side of us in the gym. All he had to do was give us the “eye” and do his ram rod straight thing and every teenager on our side would immediately throw their shoulders back and sit up straight! 2- When meeting him as I was driving down Main Street, his hands, of course, were always on 10 and 2 (!). He would give the one finger wave of the index finger. 3- Whenever I (or any of us) happened to be whining about doing some chore or homework, he would always look at us and sternly declare, “It builds character.” ~ Julie B. (Love & Birthday Greetings!)
“You’re first in line, right after me!” (This is at Sunday dinner!) “Keep your friends close, your enemies closer.” ~ Sister Renae & her hubby
Never date an ugly woman. Treat em nice, but leave em at home. ~ Grandson, Chi
You can only get good cognac in France! ~ Grandson, Mad
Glass eyes are tricky! ~ Erin, Granddaughter
“Look it up.” ~ These are the three words spoken to us so many times while growing up. They sent me to search dictionaries, encyclopedias and libraries. These words instilled in me a love of learning, research and reading. These words are why my boys were raised with a hunger for learning. “Look it up.” Good advice, dad! Still using it! ~ Paula
Mom & Dad’s Veggie Garden
HaPPy BiRtHdAy and Much Love, Daddy! Thanks to you and mom for raising us right! (although I really do hate this responsibility thing! lol) ♥
Disclaimer to my dad….The above quotes were sent to me via texts. If you prefer to challenge any of these “isms”….we’ll just say they were paraphrased or perhaps due to a memory lapse on the part of the contributor. 😉
(If I didn’t get your “ism” in the post, please add it in the comments)
stuff i tell my sister 
Aw! My is my dad’s birthday!!!! It’s fun to collect the sayings, what a good idea, haha.
Happy birthday to YOUR dad as well! There are so many sayings….some we won’t “list”. 😉
Happy Birthday Garland! Love the isms 😉
😉
Another Tuttle birthday today is my nephew, Kyle Osborn. Sounds like he shares it with a great man!
Awesomeness! HappY Birthday to Kyle!
Another favorite “Oh bull! ” (Taught to a 3 year old who repeated it loudly during the pastor’s sermon) . 25 years later and I am still laughing ! Never saw Garland move so fast trying to cover Madison’s mouth . Even the preacher got tickled.
Oh I forgot about that! That day he was YOUR child! 😉 Sermon stopped by a three year old standing in the pew. lol
Happy Birthday Dad… love the isms.. what a good way to build an image… I love it… he doesn’t look old enough to have been born in 19 .5 I don’t believe it .. he doesn’t look a day over 65…
And I like that because that make ME younger too! 🙂 I think working hard, gardening, being good to people, and taking your vitamins….all of that combined must pay off!
Are you following in his footsteps then ?? cause he certainly does not look his age… hell I hope I look so young when I become 70 +
We can only hope, right!
Happy birthday to your Dad!! I love the name Garland and that is one beautiful garden!!
Thanks, Jeannette….I know he will appreciate! 😉 We have snow today…..guess it’s the cake icing?
I saw lots of snow pics of Tulsa on my niece’s FB page this morning:) Wish I could play in it and then come home to CA 🙂
The snow is pretty, but has already stopped. They say we will have a round two….we shall see what happens!
Happiest of Days to you Sir. To be honest, I can’t see Elvis in a flashy spandex jumpsuit at age 80 either.
😉
They have a beautiful flower garden. Love the veggie garden!
The flowers & herbs surround the house, front and back. Really so pretty….but so much work!
Happy birthday to your dad. 🙂 I enjoyed the Garland-isms. Very good indeed.
thanks! 😉
So true on the “raising us right”. Sometimes it would be nice to get a day pass on responsiblility…..but then again, we are still building character. Julie, that is so funny…..I for got about “Sit up straight” and “Oh Bull” I’m going to start using that again since there is a lot of it around these days! Oh, and we always had to make our bed before we went to school, and we better not be late for school. I still make the bed before I leave home…..but sometime I may run a lttle late 😀
I know….I can’t leave without making the bed either! But as for your timely arrivals….you always liked to make an entrance, me thinks! 😉
hehehehe, perhaps ;D
Happy birthday to your dad. He sounds like a solid character. By the way, I love your parents’ garden!
A character for sure! And I agree….their hard work in the garden shows! 😉
Happy Birthday, Garland! What a great name. Such great -isms, but I love the finger wave. He was ahead of his time. 😉 Lovely garden pictures. Hope you all have a great day!
Hi Paula,
What a great idea to collect sayings and memories from the whole family!
😉 and there are SOOOO many more! 😉 Thanks, Naomi ~
🙂
I used to hate when I was told to “look it up”. No problem now, thanks to Google!
I hope your dad has a great Birthday 🙂
Happy Birthday to Garland. I’m wondering if the snow ruined the garden. I see green tomatoes. How I miss homegrown vegetables. It sounds like you came from a good raising. I sure miss hearing my sweet old dad’s advice.
These pics are last year’s garden…though I know they have already planted the hardy stuff (onions, etc). Our temps are not bitter, so all should be okay and good for eating before too long! ♥
It is much easier to do that now, for sure!
Love this idea of ‘isms’ !! Happy Birthday to your Dad may he have many more years to develop more ‘isms’ we should all heed!!!
Thanks….I should have started earlier and we’d have had many more! But oh well….Have a great day! 😉
Happy Birthday to your Dad!
😉
These isms made my day, you write so well and I enjoyed your post so much. So glad that I found your site. Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much. Our dad tends to give me a lot of material! lol! Appreciate you ~ paula
What a great tribute to your dad, I love all the ~isms…it is clear he is a good man! How lucky you and your sister are, to have a wonderful father. Happy Birthday to your dad! 🙂
We could go on and on about mom & dad….My sisters & I are fortunate, indeed~ thanks, Bonnie! ♥
Happy Birthday Papa Sims! Hope it is a good one!
😉
Happy Birthday to your dad!
Thank you….he has enjoyed the many greetings today!
What a beautiful tribute to your dad!! He sounds like an amazing guy and very wise. I hope he has a fantastic birthday :).
😉 Wise and funny. He is enjoying the many comments. Thank you! 😉
Happy Birthday Garland – what a great name! It’s funny, I was working on a piece about Nana-isms 🙂
Great minds….scary for YOU! 😉 Can’t wait to read! Are you iced in?
It is starting to ice – sleet on the roof – most of my snow melted before I got home. I made chicken soup and stacked firewood inside – a couple days worth. You?
Not much snow left…but it is sleeting here. Not too bad, but the a.m. may be a bit of a challenge. At least our temps are not too bad. Stay warm and “in”!
You too – I am ready to work from home if it’s iced in in the AM.
Good. Just do that!
I love this – it’s great! I hope he’s read the tribute… I had to smile when I read the advice about ugly women LOL
You don’t know me Garland… but you’ve got an awesome family… happy birthday my friend, and clear skies to you…
He enjoyed reading the post and the comments today. I was a bit hesitant to post the one you mention…but then decided…..It’s about his day and his “isms”…. His humor is very dry, so until you “know” him…you aren’t so sure what to think!
Thanks for his well wishes….he will enjoy manana. 😉
How wonderful! I love your parents’ gardens. They’re beautiful…the garden AND your parents! 🙂 Love the “isms” and think they have a sound wisdom to them! 🙂
😉 thanks so much….they have certainly enjoyed reading all the comments! 😉
Have loved seeing the flower garden at the top of your post and now love seeing the gardener behind it. Sounds like you were raised right and have passed it on. Happy, Happy!
Thanks for identifying the “why” of my blog pic! It is a constant reminder and inspiration to me. Have a “HaPPy” as well!! ♥
Happy birthday to a wise guy, if Elvis had listened to him he’d still be around!
A good point! 😉 I wish he had ♥
Birthday blessings for you dad…. I like the Garland-isms..good advice.
Thanks, Patty….will pass that along. 😉