Look!! A new look to the blog.
If you check this blog then you know it's been dormant for a while. This is because my camera quit talking to my computer and I haven't been able to download any photos. What's a blog without photos?! A page full of words is not nearly as interesting without photos to use up a 1000 words or so. With this new look to the blog I hope to add slideshows and perhaps some other goodies so don't give up on me yet!
We've had company (12 at Thanksgiving and up to 12 recently when Ben's family visited at New Years).
Laura and Ben's pregnancy is going along nicely. No maternity clothes yet but her regular pants have been replaced with stretchy waist bands.
The yard is in progress, with a very long way to go.
One of these days I'll get my camera fixed and show you what I mean!
In the meantime, I thought I'd share this article from yesterday's newspaper. Yeah! Chattanooga!!
City makes retirement top 10 list
Friday, January 04, 2008
Chattanooga is one of the Southeast's top 10 sites for retirees seeking a healthy, productive lifestyle, according to a new magazine poll.
"It seems to be a very active, vibrant place on the move," said Dan Owens, publisher of Retirement Lifestyles magazine.
Chattanooga was the only Tennessee city to make the list based on a poll of writers and others with whom the magazine consults, Mr. Owens said.
Brunswick, Ga., was the only Georgia city in the top 10.
The magazine considered criteria such as quality health care, climate, safety, ecosystems and recreation.
J.Ed. Marston, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce's vice president of marketing, said the city's efforts to woo more retirees is gaining traction.
The city has launched a Web site, ChooseChattanooga.com, aimed at seniors and retirees and has created a relocation video, he said.
In addition, the city has co-marketed itself along with a similar statewide initiative, Mr. Marston said.
Mr. Owens cited the redevelopment of downtown Chattanooga.
"It was considered to be a walkable community in the downtown area," he said. "There are a lot of things going on during the summer that draw people from the outside. It's considered to be a place with plenty of recreational opportunities."
Mr. Owens said Tennessee is one of the top states in the South benefiting from more retirees' decisions to avoid living in Florida.
He said retirees economically can stimulate a city.
"It's difficult to get an auto plant or plastics plant," Mr. Owens said, adding that retirees age 55 to 65 often bring large portfolios with them and invest in a city.
Mr. Marston said more efforts are coming to woo additional retirees, including prompting tourists to look at the city as a relocation destination.
In the past year, the city has sent out more than 10,000 relocation kits, compared to about 700 in the prior year, he said.
I've been wanting to share photos of the birds at the feeder. It's not a high quality photo to say the least but it give you an idea. This is a male and female Cardinal. Other birds that come to visit are Nuthatches, Black-Capped Chickadees, Woodpeckers (Downey and Redheaded), Finches, Sparrows, Tufted Titmice and Blue Jays. It's so much fun! The other day I saw a Towhee in the yard. (Larry bought a bird book for me which I've needed to identify all these birds.) This variety of birds is just one more reason why we love Chattanooga. Before too long, they'll start their singing. If I could capture that sound for you I would. 
