NANA NOTES

EMILY GETS HER A DEER!

Cotton Branch is not gender biased!!  The girls here can do whatever the guys do!  Emily proved that with her seven point kill on Sunday afternoon. This is her first buck.  Way to go Emily!    
Jody took the picture with his phone because I was at choir practice and could get there with the camera.  The picture would be HUGE if I'd been there, Em!!  :)  

GRAHAM'S TURN!

Sort of a "right of passage" when the boys turn 12 Papa takes them to West Texas to Longfellow Ranch to mule deer hunt.  Ryan and I have been and they closed down last year.  Graham was much disappointed that he didn't get to go. They opened back up and this is his year!  Ever since he found out he was going he has been so excited.  Getting clothes together, planning, anticipating--that's part of the excitement and fun of the trip.  Making memories!  Today he and Papa left for New Orleans to spend the night so they wouldn't have to get up so early to catch the plane.  They felt it necessary to call and tell me that they ate supper at Middendorfs--one of my favorite places.  Graham had fried shrimp.  Sadie and I had frozen pizza and sugar free cookies!

 Jennifer saying goodbye to her #2 baby boy. He will always remember this.

 Sadie was less than excited for Papa to leave.  She's been sitting by the door listening for him to come home.  She's stuck with me however.  Maybe I can win my dog back!  I'll keep you posted on how Graham does with his hunting.  The chances of a big "kill" are good.  Ed has one of the best guides out there and the weather is supposed to be very cold!!
 

NOVEMBER GARDEN CLUB

I was lucky enough to get invited to Brandon Garden Club's Tablescapes Luncheon this year.  It was so fantastic that I wanted to share it with my club members. My longtime friend Karen is in the club and I asked her if one of their members would do a program for us. Charla, her mother and Karen came down and not only did the program but had lunch with Ed and me and toured the farm.  We had a wonderful day!  [I shared the Tablescapes pictures with you back in February.]   

 

FUNNY FOR THE DAY!

 I was "surfing" and found the comics on the web.  This one caught my eye and I thought of Sam and us doing homework together on Wednesday afternoons.  I get to help him with his "figurin'" and reading. We haven't made it to the "flowers and old news" yet.  He's a smart little boy and I enjoy helping 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.
 
 

LITTLE THINGS MEAN A LOT!

When we got home on Sunday night these were sitting on the cabinet. Didn't even remember it was Grandparent's Day  [since not much fuss is made over it on TV] and they were such a lovely surprise.  Mums always bring the message that Fall is right around the corner and we have much to look forward to with the seasons changing.  Thanks to Ryan, Graham, Ben and Sam [with a little help from their Mom I'm sure] for the beautiful lavender mums!!  My favorite!

SAM MAKES A "HAPPY"

Over the Labor Day weekend we had lots of company. During a "grocery run" with Libby we both bought "Pot Holder making kits". You know what I'm talking about--used to be red metal with a wire hook--now is plastic-with fabric loops for making pot holders!  I've made many of them when I was young!  Sam thought it was cool and wanted to make one. He picked out the colors and got right on it. With very little help, he did it.

He was very proud of it and wanted to give it to his Mom. 

She loved it and I'm sure she uses it every day!

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!! 

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

 

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.

PROUD OF MY BOY!

Jennifer and Shelly's #1 son graduated last night--an honor graduate who's made us all proud.  He's been my heart since the day he was born and will continue to be so until I am no longer here.  I'll leave the details for Jennifer to blog but here are a few of my candid shots.  Jeanne and Jennifer have much better ones I'm sure.  They had the "big" cameras out.

As he was coming in to the Processional.

I never tire of seeing the flag flying and hearing the National Anthem.

It's official--diploma in hand!!

 

When I left them Ryan and Haleigh they were very happy and deciding where they were going. I pray for all of them a safe and happy life.

God bless and I love you.

Nana

TIME HAS MOVED WAY TOO FAST

It seems like only yesterday that Ryan was born.  There are so many memories. I wish we'd written all those things down--like Jennifer and me riding him around at three in the morning to get him to sleep and our cell phone ringing--it was just some kind of phone check.  Kindergarten programs, first bike rides, singing for the Cotton Branch cow sale when he was about five--and I could go on and on.  We had a party for him and Haleigh last Sunday with mostly family. With our two families that ended up with quite a few people. And it was FUN!!  Haleigh graduates on Thursday of this week--Ryan on Friday.  And then they are off to new adventures.

Tim said he wouldn't be wearing an apron but I did get him to pose with it. He and Papa cooked our burgers.  They were delicious.  Handsome cooks, don't you think?? 

Haleigh and Ryan are really sweet about having their pictures taken.  Both of them have mother's who are photographers. They are used to "posing"!  Now, you know they are cute!

All four grandmothers were at the party. I'm glad Dona wanted to get this picture.  It's special.

Part of the crowd before the blessing--they were ready for the burgers.   

The pool was a popular place for all the children.  Ella loved it. Come back soon, Ella!

 

 

 

Footnote:  On Awards Night Ryan received Honor Cords, his Four Year Beta stole (in three years), an ACT scholarship, the Billy McGehee Scholarship, a Franklin Education Corporation scholarship and a Herring Gas Company scholarship.  Haleigh had her Awards program on Friday and I know she received a Herring Gas Company scholarship. She didn't tell me anything else.  They both had bacculaurete at their churches and schools today.  Graduation for Haleigh is Thursday and Ryan's is Friday.  Congratulations to you both.

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!!

OUR GRANDSON IS GRADUATING!??

It's just not time for Ryan to be a senior--literally and figuratively--but it's happening and we can't stop it. I realize he's not going far away just yet but I'm already missing him.  Friends gave him a party this Sunday night and here are some candid shots. 

Phillip, Katherine, Ryan and Haleigh--Katherine and Ryan were born just a few days apart.  They've been in school together all these years.

 

Sam, Ben Abbey and Emily with the Strouds and Halfords in the background. 

I think I interrupted Papa and W. H.'s supper. MiMi looked happy though. You can see the rest of the family in the background.  Supper was delicious.

 Anna and Lindsey had to pose. Cute girls, huh? Lindsey is Ryan's cousin.

And here's Ms Carmon Claire!  She was calling Ryan on the cell phone.

Can't believe he only has about three weeks left in school.  He graduated on May 22; Haleigh graduates on May 21.

Oh, the places they'll go!

BACK TO THE BALLGAMES

I jumped ahead of myself with my posts but I thought Easter was a timing thing.  On Saturday my brother and his family and I went to Sam and Hayden's ballgame.  Sam plays on one team and Hayden on the other.  That is something I definitely can't handle. I spend all my time yelling for both boys and people get confused.  How can I not be for each child?  They both played very well [except for the time Hayden got Sam out on first base!!]. I teased him about it on Sunday and he just grinned at me.  They both can hit the ball and do well in their positions.  At one point I told Jennifer that Sam "had left the building".  He was getting tired right at the end.  He's the youngest child on his team--he's playing with kids older than he is.  Sam's team won but only by one run.  The coaches are to be commended for the work they do with those children.  They're patient and helpful--especially Ms Marla.   Sam was really into the game when it started--see his "eye glare tape"!!  Hayden was ready too--watching over first base.

I think this was where Sam hit the ball and Hayden got him out at first! Oh, didn't like that!!

Hayden got a lick on this one and made it around to third.  He had a huge smile on his face.

Bryden decided that he wasn't going to play this year.  He's just as happy watching his brother and playing video games. And with a face like that, ya gotta love him too!!

THE BEST EASTER DAY!

This is what greeted us at church this morning--a beautiful fresh flower cross made by the Jolly Elders of our church--a beautiful sign that Jesus died on the cross for US!

The choir sang two very good specials that we'd been working on for a while.

I got to do the children's sermon--something I've just recently learned that I really like to do. I read the children The Parable of the Lily and they look like they enjoyed it.

The rustic wooden cross inside the church was decorated with beautiful fresh flowers.  The church was alive with beauty this morning.

 

A former member of our church sends flowers every holiday. There's a long story there and he's never forgotten us. We won't ever forget him either.  

 

The flowers were beautiful and so much appreciated by our congregation.

After church it was home to lunch and the Easter Baskets.  Lunch was delicious and we all enjoyed it-lots of family and some friends.  Cagney baked

a beautiful carrot cake in the shape of a bunny. Even though we hated to cut it, Jeanne and I did and it was delicious. Cagney makes the best desserts!

 

Then it was on to the egg hunt.  Even though the kids said they didn't want to do it, after the eggs were hidden they all got really into it.

 It was a totally great Easter Day!

RYAN'S SENIOR PROM

How could it have been a year ago when I was standing on the porch with Ryan and Haleigh taking prom pictures? There were more tears than smiles--probably because of the circumstances--but there was more love than you could imagine.  This year there were lots of laughs and "wise cracks".   Kim, Cody and Haleigh got to the house before Ryan and Haleigh had on shorts, a guy's shirt and bling on her eyelids!  Cute, huh?

Haleigh and Ryan did the traditional "putting on of flowers". Haleigh always knows exactly what she wants and Ryan does a good job of getting them!  :)

I'm so blessed that the kids really want to come here to take pictures and to see us before they go somewhere important.

This is probably my favorite photo of the night.  Ed looked at it and said "Howdy, Mam!" I agree totally. Aren't they just the cutest couple.  God bless them and all the kids who are out tonight having their last senior prom.

 Check out Jennifer's blog for more pictures and more of the story! 

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!!

ANOTHER PIZZA HUT ADVENTURE

Ed and I took the boys [all four] plus Haleigh to Pizza Hut tonight while Jennifer and Shelly were at the funeral home.  The boys didn't want to stay there the whole time so we "occupied" them for a while.  You can always keep them busy eating!!  Ryan and Haleigh decided to go along and we were glad.  It's nice to have teenagers want to be with you.  They put a movie in and laughed the whole way there.  I think we ordered some of everything on the menu--even a new item which not everyone liked!  It didn't make the carry home box.  Ben and I always get a salad. We love our greens.  Sam tried the Pizza Rolls and did eat one, but said to leave them there.  Haleigh tried one but said "no thanks" to any more.  Haleigh will kill me when she sees this picture--she was tickled and saying "don't take my picture".  Ryan dodged out of the way.    The boys put money in the "junk" machines and got some really tacky toys.  Graham got "tracks" for his teeth and a "mood ring".  He said it was really hard to smile with his tracks on.  Sam got "floam" and had fun playing with it.  We're not sure what he had made here but he loved it.  Ben got a "Squidward" and he wasn't thrilled.  Some days you get it and some days you don't.  This wasn't Ben's day!!

Just for the record--this was the best service we've ever gotten at the Pizza Hut--our waitress didn't write down one single thing and she got everything right and it was FAST!  We had a fun time making memories.