NANA NOTES

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!  :)

ANNUAL DOVE HUNT 2009

The only day we dove hunt is opening day.  It turns into an event very quickly.  It's usually family and a few close friends from out of town.  Having nine grandchildren that love to hunt already makes a crowd!  The week before opening day is like the day before Christmas!  Everyone is hustling around getting shells, looking for just the right hunting clothes and making sure their guns are ready.  I'm usually making trips to the grocery store and more trips to the grocery store and cooking for several days getting things ready for the big "dove cooking".  I can only remember one year that I had to make a run to the grocery store for CHICKEN!! 

                 Top picture Jody 3rd from R; bottom, Sam B. 3rd from R.

Jody and Sam B. took turns taking pictures so that's the only difference in these two pictures.  I didn't want to leave anyone out.  There were five other hunters but they were gone when this was made.  Quite a motley looking crew!!  They came through with the product though.  Ed said it looked like "restaurant quality" and I agree.  After being on the grill for a while cooked by expert cooks they were delicious. Nobody does it better!! 

TREE PLANTING ON COTTON BRANCH

How does it happen? Or why? Who knows but it's always a fun experience!  Ed read about eucalyptus trees being good for bees and this could turn into a long drawn out story but the short version is that a group of people from the University of Florida have come to CB for four days and we've had a blast.  In this picture (l to r) Paul, Ed, Donnie, Sam, Dr. "Rock", Ryan and Exal.  

Even Sandy got into the job. Copper watched over a field they planted yesterday.  They've worked hard and eaten a little bit and we now have 1500 + two eucalyptus trees that will hopefully grow and flourish into a beautiful forest.  Papa cooked a beautiful whole ribeye on Friday and there was enough left for Copper! 

 Ben, Sam and Ryan along with Exal and Papa have been working right along side of Dr. Rockwood, Gail, Donnie and Paul--the official eucalyptus tree planting crew.  They arrived on Thursday and met the Cotton Branch crew. We started out with shrimp, potatoes and slaw with brownies and homemade ice cream.  After a good night's sleep, we got up (way before I'm used to!!) and they had breakfast and went to the field.  Sam and Ben fell right in and worked.  We had a houseful for dinner and got up early on Saturday.  Today turned out to be a little cooler, at least for the early morning, and they finished by noon.  

    I got two trees planted in the yard--one of each species--just so I can watch them grow.  Tonight we're all going to the Mexican restaurant and enjoy being finished. Tomorrow they will travel back to Florida and finish up some other projects. 

Meeting new friends, learning new things--always a fun time at Cotton Branch!  Sam was a "tree totin" dude!

Gail as she leaves the last field! Finished at last!!

FEAST OR FAMINE--with blog topics (and everything else!!)

There are lots of things going on here--it all comes at one time.  I want to blog it all but time prohibits and the subject matter gets old.  Sunday was a special day at our church and for lots of families in our community (ours included).  We had THREE christenings at our Sunday morning service--they were all cousins less than a year old and it was the sweetest thing ever.  Brother David said he didn't remember ever having that happen since he's been in the ministry.  It hasn't happened at our church.  We had two one time and I think it was Graham and Sally Katherine (cousins again-even if distant!)  Anyway---here are some pictures of the sweet babies and their parents. 

I had to use this picture because little Ms Callie Rivers Sullivan was waving to her public.  She is a doll!  She is the daughter of Stephanie and Chris Sullivan.   

Charles Vern Sullivan or as Jennifer lovingly calls him "Charlie Bug" is the beautiful son of Vista (Sullivan) and Bret Herring.  He was the calmest of the three--laid back like all the Herring's!  :) 

 

This handsome guy--Kale Sullivan Thomas-- is the son of Scott and Summer Thomas. Summer's mom was a Sullivan. This little guy was a chunk!  He enjoyed every minute and tried to help Brother David with the water.  Chris, Vista and Summer are all cousins.

 This was the fun part--trying to get a picture with everyone "acting right".  I can't wait to see Stephenie's pics.  I'm sure she got some good ones. 

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the Lord.  For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."                             I Samuel 27-28

 

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.

A BLUEBERRY DAY!

I decided last night that I wanted to pick blueberries this morning.  I invited Haleigh to go with me but she opted not to go so Ya Ya went and we had a really fun time and spent a couple of hours picking the most awesome blueberries.  The sign directed us where to go even though we'd been there before. 

 

 

The bushes were loaded and we found our favorite spot.

 

You can see that the berries are huge and it didn't take long to pick all we could use. I'm sure we weighed more when we left cause you have to taste every bush!!

 

We did the right thing and put our money in the box for the berries and the grounds keeper who does a great job of making the area a clean place to pick. We told him that too!

I didn't want my picture made because I was very dirty. YaYa had changed clothes.  Aren't our berries beautiful?  We are blessed to have such a wonderful place to go (Thanks, Barry!) and I'm blessed to have YaYa who loves to go with me to pick anything that's fun!!

GARDENING IS ADDICTIVE [and other sweet things]

We planted our raised bed garden this year and are having some good luck with it.  My good luck is because of Ed and the long hours of weeding, fertilizing and trimming he is doing.  He "Tom Sawyers" me into working out there--I just enjoy the "gathering" part but lately because he has taken an interest I have enjoyed it more.  It's more fun when there's two of you doing the work.  Our orchard has never been a very good one so we're trying to improve it.  We're even thinking about planting our citrus trees in the ground instead of big pots.  He worked out there all day Saturday and the entire orchard side of the yard looks great.  He did get "clipper happy" and I may have to call his cousin's wife for moral support. 

You can see the new trees that I gave Ed. They are already growing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are our raised bed gardens. The first one you see has cucumbers, peppers, eggplant and a couple of tomatoes.  The second one is full of different kinds of squash.  The third one is full of tomatoes.  So far all is well.   All kinds of fruit trees surround the boxes.  The blueberries have been doing well.  We've put some of them in the freezer and eaten some.

Ed had to taste them while we checked the bushes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Vitex isn't a fruit or vegetable but it does bring bees to the garden to pollinate. I think this is a gorgeous plant.

Welcome to our garden!

Thank you Papa for making it so beautiful!

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.

FRUITS OF THE "SPIRIT" [GARDEN]

Walking around in the garden with my camera often gives me ideas.  [Wish I'd had it today when we went to Natchez to eat with friends!! Long story there--will save it for later!]  I started snapping pictures of all the "edibles" in our garden-mostly fruit-that honestly just grow. I'm not a good fruit grower. I should be; I've had classes on it. I just don't do what I've been taught.  Here are a few of the things we'll be enjoying later this summer. 

Meyer Lemons that will make great lemonade!

Satsumas that are Ed's favorite!

 

 

 

Figs on a tree that Ed said would never make it!  Maybe this year we'll have more than enough to snack on.

Apples-I guess it's time to make more apple jelly. It's been a few years since I did that.

 

Blueberries-if the birds don't get to them first.  Every year we have more and more.

 

 

I love peaches more than I love strawberries and I can't grow strawberries. I wish my peaches would grow better-I should do more for them.

 

We have an abundance of pears and always share them with the deer.  The tree got trimmed this year and it looks much better.

 

There are two types of persimmons--I wish I had some good recipes to use them. They are so beautiful in the fall. I love the orange color.

The veggies are doing ok.  Ed has helped push me to keep the grass out of the beds.  Tomatoes, peppers, squash, eggplant (his favorite :) and cucumbers.

 

 

Our tomatoes compared to Jennifer's aren't too good. Maybe soon!

Squash are in abundance. We have three kinds-yellow, zuchinni and butternut.  We've even put some in the freezer. 

After the rain we had on Friday it will be "pull more grass" but it will be worth it.

I can remember my grandmothers gardening. I guess that's where I get my love for it.  They saved seeds and planted and preserved.  My mother canned and put things in the freezer. I am grateful for those lessons learned.

 

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!!

FINDING 'HEART ROCKS'

Until I got sick I walked every day all around the farm.  I read a blog called Farmgirl Fare and she collects "heart rocks".  Obviously her rocks are a lot bigger than mine [I've shown you some of mine from time to time and you can see hers on her blog. In the upper right hand corner of her blog there is a search block; type in "heart rocks"].  The other day I was out taking pictures and saw this rock.  It's been in my backyard for several years and I've never noticed it.  Right under my nose!!  If I had known it was there I would have put it in the center or in a more noticeable place. But, for now--it's special--a very special "heart rock"! 

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. :)