NANA NOTES

A FACE ONLY A MOTHER COULD LOVE!!!

Cotton Branch has a new family member!  We seem to be the home for everything that comes along and couldn't resist the challenge to raise this creature.  If you go any further in reading this blog, it comes with a warning--what you're about to see is something only a mother could love!! :) When we got him he was about half this size. If you think he's naked, think again.  He was less covered than he is now!!  His eyes weren't open and his mouth was bigger than his head.  He has outgrown his home and been put in a bigger box.  When we first heard about him, he lived in the styrofoam cup!  Are you getting curious yet???  We feed him every four hours with a special syringe that is inserted into his throat or "crop" with stuff that looks like "throw up"!!  Ed says after he's fed he looks like an old woman with droopy boobs.  Now you just have to be getting curious!!  :)   

 

Hopefully this is what he will look like soon.  
You've probably noticed I keep saying "He".  We are looking for a name. Do you have any ideas?  We need some help.  Send me your suggestions. The ones coming from folks around Cotton Branch aren't very acceptible!!

See Joann, I told you it would be a doozie!!  This one should really make your day!!  Thanks for encouraging me to keep telling the stories!

 

THE SEASON IS HERE!

You know how in the South people say we have four seasons--Football, Baseball, Basketball and Hunting!!  Well, the "hunting" one is here!  For the next month or so we will wade through a pile of smelly clothes and go running off to see the "kill" and take pictures.  The conversation always goes to "what did you see?" at the table after hunting.  Ben, Papa and Olivia Cox are the victors so far.  She was excited but didn't care much for the cleaning process.  She didn't like the "initiation process" either-even though David and Ed went light on her!!

 Congratulations, Olivia!  You're a real hunter now!
 
 

AM I JEALOUS OR NOT???

Ok, Sadie is supposed to be "MY" dog!  She goes with Papa almost everywhere he goes.  She is covered with orange paint [like most everything else around here these days!] and pouts when he leaves her!  Now this!!   Ok, yes, I'm jealous!!  This has gone too far!  She loves him!

LOCKED AND LOADED!

This summer Ed has been building a "pond" which has turned into Okhissa 2! It will be the Grandchildren pond with a great place for them to fish until they are tired of fishing. I can't imagine any of them being tired of fishing!! It was planned to be a three year project. The pier is built after a couple of months of "dirt work". Yesterday the Fish Truck came.  For me, that was an experience I've never seen.    

 This truck was loaded down with fish that had come all the way from Oklahoma---and had survived! That in itself is amazing to me. Technology!    The guy is Josh and he was very careful dipping them bucketful at a time and acclimating them to the pond water.   

He put in about 20 carp which are grass eating fish to keep the pond clean. They were the biggest fish that he put in.   
  

Then he put in catfish, coppernose bream and bluegill bream.  The poor little things looked like minnows to me but they should grow fast. (That's where the three year project comes in!!) That and filling the pond which God seems to be handling quite nicely lately.

 

 And then when it was finished, the guys do what they always do--stand around and talk about what they did!  You can see that Sadie and I were feeling the same way--it was time to go to the house.  I do have to say that I learned a lot and can't wait to go fishing with the grandchildren and Papa. When the deck is finished, I'll show you what it looks like.
 
 

HAVE I EVER SAID LIFE IS NEVER DULL AROUND HERE??

I won't tell you why we bought more Santa Gertrudis; I'll just tell you that we did--eight "three and ones" that look pretty good.  Especially one bull that I just love.  Too bad he won't get to stay here and Ed has already sold a couple of the calves.  Ryan went the other day and brought back a bull.  His name is Creel's Christmas Chunk and boy is he--a chunk!!  I made it to the barn just after he'd been unloaded from the trailer.  The three of us rode out to look at him and they we're kidding me about not making him mad--at least I think they were kidding me. 

I never could get a "lone shot" of him because the other bulls were curious.  He's already taken over as the "head honcho" of the crowd.

This afternoon Ed called me and asked me what I was doing.  That was pretty much a moot question since on Saturday's lately I don't do anything! I have become such a lazy person.  He said bring my camera and meet him outside--he had something I could blog about.  I have to say that he's never been filed under the heading of "neat" when he gets into the paint can and today was no exception!!

He decided to start marking a property line and didn't want to wait for Ryan to help him.  Not only was the paint on the tree line but also his glasses and his most favorite shirt!

You gotta say that when my man gets into a project, he gives it all he's got and really "gets into it"!

With 22 more miles of property line to go, wonder how much paint he'll use?  :) 
 

NEW BIRTH AT CB

Yesterday I got a call from the barn for "help"!!  "There are rabbits everywhere".  I went running to the barn after I grabbed my camera and sure enough we now know that we have one mama rabbit and two daddy rabbits.  The mama rabbit had given birth to seven babies who were scattered all over the place.  We gathered them up and put them with the mama in the cat carrier.  I tried to feed them to get them started and put the fur that she had pulled in the carrier.  I kept putting them under her and I think she's accepted them.  The tiniest one died and I buried it in the flower bed.  It's hard not to  bottle feed them but she needs to accept responsibility for her children.  They seem to be doing ok.

I don't know that we have even named the rabbits because we didn't know what they were. Here is the mama rabbit.

You can't see all seven of them [now there are six] but they are there. I hope they make it cause they really are cute.  And I plan to share with Jeanne cause she's the one who gave them to me!!

 

 

 

Update on baby rabbits:  Jeanne, you're safe.  I'm sorry to report that all of the babies have gone to rabbit heaven.  I gave them a Catholic funeral after choir practice tonight.  The mama is doing fine and back with the two other rabbits.  You know what that means!  :)

SOMEBODY'S "DOGGIE" MAY BE IN TROUBLE!!

Linda called me from the bedroom this morning to come and see what had happened. This is what I found!  

Sadie had torn up all of Ed's toilet paper in his basket and drug the hand towel to the bedroom.  I guess we weren't paying enough attention to her. She's not taking to the potty training very quickly but this is ridiculous--she doesn't even use toilet paper!!  Neither will we if she keeps tearing it up!!

LUCKY NEEDS A HOME

Last Friday Megan and I took Libby to Natchez. We dropped her off for an appointment and ran some errands. At a red light we saw something moving about on the highway.  Of course I stopped and we both got out of the car and looked around--only to see nothing.  We went on to the store and looked under the car--still nothing.  We picked up our items and Libby called.  We picked her up, told her our story and went to lunch. [We were all starving!] We kept on talking about looking for the kitten we had seen dodging car tires and hoped it was ok.  We got in the car and backed out of the parking place. Yes, you guessed it--there was the little black and white kitten huddled against the sidewalk.  I ran into the restaurant and got a box and a pair of gloves. They gave me water and came outside with me after I "made a long story short".  I picked up the kitten and put him in Libby's car. From there I called the vet and she said, "bring it on".  She cleaned him up and guessed that he's about 10 weeks old. He's eating well and is litter box trained.  She wanted to name him "Budweiser" since I brought him home in a Bud box but I told her I thought his name should be Lucky since he had survived the highway and a trip across Natchez under a car.  Here he is: 

Today Ben went to the allergy doctor.  He is allergic to cats, dogs and horses plus everything else that grows or flies through the air.  The carpet has to come up in their house.  None of us want to get rid of him but Ben's health comes first.  They won't be getting rid of their horses and their dogs stay outside. But absolutely NO cats!  Somebody please take pity on us and take this sweet baby.  He's too precious for some sweet family not to have him.  Email me [bherring@ftcweb.net] or call me [601-384-7192] or comment on the blog.

BEING A GOOD PARENT

I've been watching a pair of bluebirds that have built a nest in one of the houses on the workbench by the pool house.  I actually don't use it as a workbench, I put flower pots and birdhouses on it.  Every day I say that I wish I had my camera to capture them as they go in and out feeding their babies. [I am assuming that; I have not peeped!] Both the Mom and Dad fly off and bring back food all during the day and patiently feed their young.  There is no arguing or bickering--just constant care and love for the little ones.  I hope I'm outside when they come out to learn to fly. I want to wish them good luck and God bless.

SADIE UPDATE

Ms Sadie will have been here two weeks on Wednesday and she is fitting right in with our family.  She is definitely Dooley's sister.  It's amazing how much alike they are.  Ed and I both need protective gloves because her teeth are so sharp and we'd forgotten how much they love to play and bite your hands. We'll be glad when those baby teeth come out and the "big dog" teeth come in.  They won't be so sharp. She would make an awesome glucose monitor!  I'm having trouble adapting to the fact that she's a girl. We haven't had a girl dog in a long time.  We look forward to having her grow and be with us for a long time.  In the meantime---we're working on the potty training thing!!  And how could I get mad at something that looks that sweet!!???

PROUD TO ANNOUNCE!

The animals at Cotton Branch are proud to announce a new addition to the family! A wonderful friend of ours arranged for and delivered an eight week old Scottish Terrior to me this afternoon.  She knew how heart broken I was when we lost Dooley in January.  Welcome Sadie! 

She has the same parents as Dooley and the same sweet, awesome personality.  She played with everyone today even after a long plane ride and trip from New Orleans.  She arrived in a red dress with rhinestones but Ed wouldn't let me show that.  Our pets don't wear clothes!!  Melanie said it was a joke and to take it off anyway!  She's passed out now right here beside me on the bed.  Once we get through the "potty training" part, I think we're going to have a great time together.  Stay tuned for more pictures as she grows.  And to our wonderful friend, thank you will never be enough!!

TIME TO LEAVE HOME. . .

There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to leave home. The same goes for animals too--the wild ones that you save and raise so you can release them back to their "real" homes.  After having "Rabbit" eat a whole huge box of mixed lettuce, carrots, and drink two cans of evaported milk mixture he was getting pretty hyper!  My hands can attest to that.  When I walked in yesterday and saw Smoky "eyeing" him through the window I figured it was time to go.  See Smoky in the background of the window?  He was thinking "lunch"!!

  

I guess I was ready to do this-it's always bittersweet.  We took him to "Rabbit Corner" where we've seen lots of rabbits.  In fact there was one there when we got there. I'm sure he will make friends and there is plenty to eat and drink.

One last love and he's gone.  He left so fast that Ed didn't get a chance to take his picture as he left.  I'm sure we'll see him again.

Good luck, Rabbit.

WHAT WE'D ALL LIKE TO BE DOING!

I guess things around here will never slow down. We keep waiting and it never happens.  Someone asked me today if I ever stopped--I replied that if I stopped I guess I would mold. I am in constant motion-if not moving at least thinking of something to be doing.  I was walking from the kitchen to the bedroom one day and saw something in the swing. I investigated and this is what I saw.  That's Dufus with his feet propped up on the slats of the swing.  Magic is the one in the far right. They never moved when I eased the blinds open and snapped the shot.

Bandit was curled up in his very own rocking chair.  He very seldom lets us see him but lately he's been "out" more.  Copper chased him yesterday so he may go back into seclusion. He's my favorite, you know!! :)

I guess they had sent Smoky out on his own and he was sleeping on the driveway.  He didn't seem to mind.

 

Barney stays at his palace in the barn and Lana lives in the back barn.  She comes down to visit when Josh comes home.

But--the point is--don't they look peaceful? No cares, no worries, no "busyness"!!  Just lying there on the porch sleeping in MY "happy place"! I'm going to have to remember that last year I was the one in the happy place napping and go back out there.  It was FUN!!!

A NOTE ABOUT YESTERDAY: Graham appears to have no broken bones. He is sore and very lucky that the horse didn't break his ankle or leg. He will be xrayed again on Monday.  Jennifer's foot is still swollen and will be every color in the rainbow before it heals. She is walking on it but she probably won't be jumping any more fences any time soon.  Thanks to everyone who called and checked on them.

UPDATE ON "RABBIT" FOR MADGE

Saturday before Mother's Day Ryan found this baby rabbit.  Ella Delozier decided that his name was "Rabbit". My friend Madge wanted an update.  See Madge, he's growing.  He's drinking lots of milk and eating lettuce and carrots.                                      

    

 

JUST ANOTHER DAY AT COTTON BRANCH!

I was outside with the boys at the pool when Ed came out and said Ryan had found a baby rabbit. Oh, boy, just what we need--another animal.  Of course, I get out of the pool and rush to get it.  Ryan's cutting hay and he had seen a hawk pick up something.  He knew I'd come to save this one.  Ed said just put it in the cage with the three big rabbits.  We didn't know how tiny it was. 

I went looking for the bird cage that we couldn't find when I got the parakeets and found it up in the loft at the barn.  I cleaned it out good and filled the bottom with shredded paper.  I mixed up the "milk mix" that our vet taught me to make and fed  "No Name Rabbit" with a medicine dropper since I couldn't find the tiny baby bottle.  We looked for one when we went to town but couldn't find it so I used a syringe the second feeding.  He's eating a little bit [and I say "he" loosely--I don't know what it is].  Ed says that wild rabbits are really hard to raise but I'm going to give it my best shot. Wish me luck.  Or it could be the door prize at Ryan and Haleigh's senior party tomorrow!!

SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED!

Who else do you know that would phone someone who is driving down the highway with an old satellite dish on a trailer hauling it to the dump and ask them for it?  A friend and I were on our way to Jackson one day when we spotted someone with a trailer and I began to say how I had always wanted one of those old satellite dishes--well, we got up close enough to know that I knew the people who were driving and I called them.  They were taking it to the scrap metal place and I just plain out asked for it.  Bless Joddie's heart, they hauled it back to their house and I got someone to pick it up that afternoon.  Since moving to "the country" we've wanted martins to come to the farm.  We put up a fancy house for them and no luck.  I had seen how people used the satellites to hold gourds for martins to build their nests.  We are now "up town" with our martin houses [and we for the first time!!!, have martins in our fancy house that is almost worn out].

Ben is adding the water to the concrete hole while Ed holds the pole still.  Exal is stirring the concrete.  Together they all made a great team.  Ben and I tied the gourds on the frame.

 Here you can see the "fancy house" and the new house.  Ed said he thought there were five pair in the old house.  I just hope they come back and bring more with them like the children do!!

This is my birdhouse building crew! Didn't they do a great job?  Thanks, Joddie for giving me your leftovers.  I've always wanted martin houses!!

I'VE WAITED SO LONG AND SHE WON'T LET ME GET CLOSE!

Ed went to pick up bees this morning and left at 5:00 AM--he called me about that time--that could only mean one thing--BeBe had her baby!!

He told me it was a paint and I went right back to sleep after calling Jennifer.  He called me at 7:00 to ask me what I thought about it and woke me up again.  You would think as long as I've waited for this baby I'd have gotten up right away and busted it to the barn!!  When I went down to the barn BeBe wouldn't let me near her or the baby.  Usually she's a "lap dog" kind of horse and will just love all over you, but today she is the protective mom of a beautiful paint stud colt. I hope to get better pictures soon.  [Jennifer probably does and it's ok for her to post them now!!]

THE EASTER BUNNIES ARRIVE

 Meet the newest members of the Cotton Branch family--Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego--and we're guessing at that!  I guess we'll find out later! :)  Jeanne, Haleigh's mom, took Easter pictures last weekend and used these sweet bunnies. She then started looking for a home for them.  We just happened to have a pen and I accepted them gladly.  So far they are very happy.  We were putting them in the pen and getting the food and water fixed and Ryan asked me what I was going to name them. When I told him I asked him why--he laughed and said that Copper [Ed's dog] called them "Dinner".  That will NOT happen!!

IT ALMOST HAPPENED

On the way to church this morning Ed was reading me an article about a woman in Florida who had lost everything she had except her two horses. She decided to leave with her horses and ride to Texas to try and find work.  The article gave a website to follow her progress. When we got home he said it was in the Jackson paper as well. Curiosity got the best of me and I logged on.  Next thing I knew I was emailing the person telling them that we would pick her up and bring her to the farm for a good meal and some rest on her journey. They were asking for people to help along the way.  The lady emailed me almost immediately and told me that "Donna Byrne"had made it to Monticello, MS and was being taken care of tonight and would be coming to Brookhaven tomorrow. She would contact me after she talked to Donna to see if we could work out the details.  I just got an email that said a couple in Natchez had offered to pick her up in Brookhaven in the morning and take her to Natchez for a couple of days.  I can't tell you how disappointed I was.  We really wanted to help her and I wanted the grandchildren to meet her.  What a courageous woman she must be to be making this journey--a woman alone with two horses and $100 in her pocket.  The story said that people along the way had been wonderful to her--someone had shod and stabled her horses, and given her places to stay.  With all the bad going on in the world [even Donna losing her job and everything she had] there are still good things happening. 

Donna, if you read this I'm sending you prayers and my favorite scripture--Jeremiah 29:11--For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And Cindi if the pictures were yours, I hope you don't mind that I "borrowed" them. :)

LOVING THOSE BABIES-TWO MORE NEW ONES!

This morning Linda said she thought we had a new baby.  We jumped in the Ranger and went off to the pasture.  "Lou" my very first birthday horse had her baby.  Don't they look identical?  She wouldn't let us get very close; she's a very protective mother.  Now to come up with a name!!  

The boys have a horse named "Houdini". He literally swims under fences to get out of the pasture.  The white horse is his mama and we call her "Houdini's Mama" (very original, huh?).  She had her baby sometime this morning by looking at her tail.  There's nothing like seeing those first few steps and feedings.  She was much more cooperative about letting us get a close up picture.  Since we don't know what sex either one of them are the naming will come later on.  Right now we're one for five so hopefully  we have a couple of studs here.

We have two more to go--Bebe, my paint mare and a blue roan mare. I can't wait to see what comes next.  Jennifer and I both believe that Bebe will have a paint. Keep your fingers crossed!!