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!

 

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!!
 

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!
 
 

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.]   

 

BIKE TEAM HAS A REDNECK TIME!

The Herring Gas Bike Team finishes the season with a dinner at Cotton Branch each year.  This is a time when they all get together to "relive" the season and eat and visit.  It's a time when the wives and families come and enjoy being together.  Ed and I have a good time feeding our "family" and listening to the stories.  This year we decided to have a pig roast.  After all, we do have a pig cooker!!  I don't think they believed we were really going to do it but it happened. 

 Frank and Kenny came over to help Ed cook.  They did more riding around on the Ranger than cooking but they had fun.  

 As the crowd gathered the pig cooked.  I had a board cut to put him on and we didn't think about getting it through the door. That was a trip! But--the guys figured it out and got him in. 

 
 Candy couldn't resist getting a picture of the carrot tail; I choose the apple in the mouth!! :)   

 
  Kenny and Frank clowning around doing a parody of David and Laura (some of the other sponsors).   

 The most fun is talking and waiting for the food; Taylor is carrying the next generation of HGC bikers!!   

 Just as we were getting ready to eat someone noticed the sunset.  We went outside and watched it.  Nothing could have made the afternoon more perfect than seeing what God had created for us.  We went back in for the blessing and a delicious meal.  

 Bill's beans, cole slaw, hash brown casserole, pork and rolls.  Finished off by one of Sue Sullivan's cheese cakes and Gooey Chocolate Brownies.

I have a picture of what the pig looked like when we finished but I just can't show it.  There was nothing left but head and bones.  Frank took the head.  I don't even want to know what he did with it.

 Even Sadie got into the act--Cagney put the wig on her and she posed!!

We're already looking forward to next year but I don't think we can measure up to this one!  :)  Congratulations guys on a good season.  You're the best!
 

 
 
 

MY MAN CAN FISH!!

Ed and Jody are in the Florida Keys getting to do some awesome fishing. Yesterday they caught "bonefish"; today they each caught a marlin.  It's fun to hear from Ed and listen to the excitement in his voice when he talks about the men and the boats, etc.  I told him not to tell me about the wonderful food!!  :)   We miss him but Sadie and I are holding down the fort.

MUMC BAZAAR WAS GREAT!!!

The MUMC Bazaar was tremendous.  Not a huge crowd but enough to have a wonderful day.  Here are a few pictures to show you what was there.  For those of you who will be at church on Sunday, you still have a chance to purchase the items that are left.  Thanks to everyone who helped make the day such a great one!!

Cakes, pies and peanut brittle!

 

Chocolate cashew clusters that even had samples!!  Yummy!

 

 

 

Treat filled decorated paint cans for special occasions. Very cute!

 
  

 

 

Beautiful homemade aprons!!  I thought of that last year after the bazaar but forgot about it.  I'm glad Suzie did them. They were gorgeous!! 

 

Heritage Candles--smell good! Sold well!

 

MUMC Coffee Mugs--perfect for my Peppermint Mocha Hot Chocolate Mix!!

 

Ms June and Mr. Mark did a  wonderful job with biscuits and sausage and the awesome "West Burger" for lunch.

 

Those wonderful "Pot Scrubbers" are back!!  Cute blankets and burp pads too.   

Grandma's attic was in the pavillion.  What a wonderful place for that.  Barbie did a great job.  Maybe we should move the whole Bazaar out there if next year is as beautiful as today was!

 

Thanks again to everyone for making the Annual Fall Bazaar a good one!

And Doc, you took my Diet Dr. Pepper!!

**The report at church today was that we made over $4000.00 for the Building Fund.  AWESOME!!

BAZAAR ITEMS BY NANA

It's almost Saturday and the Meadville UMC Bazaar is going to be a good one.  Here are some of my items and I can't wait to see everyone elses.

 Tacky Yard Art Flowers made from cooking utensils!  They are adorable. Limited quantity--early bird gets the worm!!

Monogrammed towels--have lots of these in lots of colors and patterns and initials. They are adorable and wrapped already!!

Peppermint Mocha Hot Chocolate Mix--so good on a cold night. Makes a perfect Teacher Gift!!

Very limited number of pendant necklaces--another good Teacher Gift.

The Bazaar will also have baked goods (homemade bread, cakes, pies, candy, casseroles)

Breakfast--sausage and biscuits

Lunch-Mr. Mark's hamburgers

Woodworking, Candles, Pot scrubbers, Grandma's Attic and much more.

Saturday, November 7 from 8 until 2 in the Meadville UMC Fellowship Hall.
 

 

CC's tutu

 
CC's birthday was a few weeks ago and I made her a "tutu" that I had seen on Martha Stewart.  Now I surely don't claim to be MS but I did print out the instructions off her site and for a first effort it turned out ok.  Ryan and Haleigh finally brought her by here and she wouldn't have any part of it. When she did put it on, she loved it.  Of course, it didn't really match her Halloween shirt and jeans but you get the idea.  Haleigh called me today and wanted one for a little friend of theirs.  I had enough material to make another one and I "did my own thing" with it.  I might have to remake CC's to look like the one I made today.  I think it turned out very well.  I'd show you but it's a gift and they aren't giving it to her until tomorrow.

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.
 
 

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!  :)

Ed's Fly Fishing Trip

During the days that we were melting here in Mississippi, Ed and some friends were fly fishing in Montana, Colorado and Utah in 40 degree weather looking at snow capped mountains.  Doesn't that just hurt your feelings!!  :)  I finally got the pictures today.  He had called most every day with stories of what they were doing and what they were seeing [and giving me weather reports which I did not want!!!] but the pictures do not do his stories justice.  The excitement in his voice told me that the water and mountains were as beautiful as anything he had ever seen and that they were having a wonderful time.  Here are a few shots of the trip.  He said there just wasn't time to take pictures--they were too busy fishing and "looking" to be photographers.  

Ed said some woman passed by and offered to take this picture.  Left to right: Yancey, John, a guide, Vin and Ed.  Look at all the "stuff"!! The mountains are beautiful. 

This is the Green River and the water was so clear.  Ed said in some places it was 15 feet deep and you could see fish swimming everywhere.  This river is in Utah.  

One day for lunch [which Ed always bragged about] they stopped on the side of the river and had a picnic--chairs, tables and all.  I can't remember what they had but the other night he said he wished he had some of the cookies that they had that day!  He always makes the food sound so good. He sent me a video [from his phone] from Old Faithful. If I could figure out how to get it on here I'd let you see it. Awesome is the only word I can use for how it looks.

Thanks to Susie (who went to Belgium and Paris) and Ed who toured the West, I've had two good vacations this summer and didn't even have to leave home. No packing and no stress!  The best way to do it and I got happies from both trips!!

A BEAUTIFUL SURPRISE

Have you ever had someone go somewhere and they brought you a tshirt or mug that said "my friend went to 'wherever' and all I got was this tacky tshirt/mug"?  Well, Ed went to Montana/Colorado/Utah for twelve days fly fishing and one night he said he was bringing me a mug.  I really think it was in jest but I told him that it was ok not to do it.  He makes me clean out the cabinet every now and then and throw them all away!  I reminded him of that.  When he came home he surprised me with two CD's, some cute pj's and this: 

If you read my blog on a regular basis you know that when I'm out walking I sometimes find "heart rocks". I started doing this when I read Farmgirl Fare.  She has a farm and collects all sizes of heart rocks.  This particular one is beautiful.  It's rose quartz and I'm sure it's shaped and smoothed by someone but that's ok.  It was a very sweet thought and I'm putting it in a very special place.  A wonderful remembrance of his trip--one that I took by phone every night hearing about the fishing and beautiful scenery and COLD temperatures!!! 

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

 

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!

PLANTED IN FRONT OF TYSON'S!

Early in the spring I stopped by Tyson's Hardware to check out their first load of plants.  There was this funny looking plant sprouting out of their flower bed between the sidewalk and the street.  I asked someone what it was and they said it was something that didn't sell last year and they had stuck it in the bed.  I mentioned that it looked like a thistle and he gave me some long botanical name.  I just said "hmmm" and smiled. The leaves were pretty and I made note to watch it as it grew.  Today I rode by there and noticed it was blooming.  Of course I didn't have my camera with me but I had my phone.

Here it is.  The common name is Milk Thistle. Ed said we had them everywhere on the farm and you see them everywhere on the highway. I have to admit--it does look pretty growing in front of Tyson's Hardware.

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.

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.

 

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!!