Taking a ride on Cotton Branch is a normal activity. Seeing two Cowart boys on tractors is not. Today we saw Ryan and Ben fluffing and baling hay. That was a good sight. Both boys worked hard today. The fields with hay bales always look good to me.
This is Ryan on the baler. He knows just how to do it right. Ben on the fluffer. He can really drive that tractor and keep those rows straight! The two of them working together warms my heart!!
Gotta love those hard working guys!!
What better way to start the Christmas weekend than a beautiful communion service!! Josh, Ed and I attended along with our MUMC family (and some extended Herring family that came from out of town). I love that service. Then it was home to a wonderful gumbo supper prepared for us by a friend who has done that for several years. (Thanks, George!! It was wonderful!!) Josh wasn't going to be with us today so he opened his gifts.
I found what I think will be his favorite gift under the tree when all the gifts had been opened!! Sure hope he comes by here soon.
Church today was very good. We had Jody, Tiffany, and all the Cowarts. What better place to be on Christmas Day!! Then off to the homestead to finish up lunch for 2:00 pm. It was delicious even if I did cook it!!
We have a tradition that the kids move the table back when they finish eating and arrange the chairs in a semi-circle. I was finishing my dessert and Tiffany told me that they had moved the table and gotten ready. She said I'd better hurry up or they were starting without me! You can't start without Nana--she's Mrs. Santa!!! :) We sang "Happy Birthday Jesus" and began opening the gifts. They are older now and actually held off wanting to rip everything apart!! We did it one person at a time.
Sam got the hoodie he wanted!!
Everybody got a set of 1500 threadcount sheets. I don't know who was the most excited!!
Boots and More gift certificates.
Jody and Tiffany are going to have to take a trip to Jackson!! The girls got "Mall" cards!!
Graham and Ryan picked out hunting clothes and Haleigh picked out dishes. All were happy!!
Ben had chosen boots and I actually could find his size. He loved them. I told him if I ever saw them in his yard, Papa and I would buy no more!!
Tiffany asked for Tervis Tumblers and threatened anyone who removed them from the house!! As in, she better not find them at the office!! :)
Shelby wouldn't ever tell me what she wanted. Tiffany knew she wanted some Oakleys and she knew there was a website where you could design your own. We designed her glasses and she was sooooo surprised. They even have her name etched in the lens. No one will get these!!
This was my favorite gift!! Sam didn't know he was getting these. He asked for a specific hoodie and pants. I saw these when I was ordering something for Ed and we both said "yes" the minute we saw them!! Sam said, "I look like an old man." But he loved them. They are insulated so he can hunt in them too. Just so darn cute!!
We gave Abby (our niece) luggage. She liked it!!
We gave Tom and Shirlee a Keurig Coffee Pot. I don't even drink coffee and I love that thing!!
Jody got a custom made Dopp Kit with his initials debossed on it. He said he needed it. Hope he likes it.
I guess Shelly can go to Boots and More with the Herrings.
The Cowarts knew just what I wanted--a Shark Steam Mop!! Now I can clean up after the dogs!! Somehow we missed Jennifer opening her SECOND Kindle Fire!!
Papa got a wonderful Pen and Pencil set.
With his crayon maker. I think I want to do this with him.
Everyone was much too good to me. Papa was so sweet and gave me beautiful things. The children gave me loving gifts; some of them were handmade which I love. We enjoyed the day with family. It's sad not to have little ones but it's fun with older kids too! Merry Christmas Cotton Branch Gang!!
I got to do something fun today. Sam had his Reading Fair Project and I was part of it. His book was Red Riding Hood and I was the grandmother. Imagine that!!! He worked hard on his project board and it looked great. I sat there while he told the judges about the book and answered what they asked him. He used his "big bad wolf" mask he made while he talked.
He did a great job and called me this afternoon to tell me that he won 1st place in the third grade in the family category (where a family member comes to participate in the project). He thanked me for coming to the school. So sweet!! Congratulations Sam!!
I received a call today saying that someone had baked me something and wanted to bring it to me. When I heard who it was, I said, "I'm not eating it." You have to know the story and the relationship to appreciate that statement! The person who baked it was Mary Lou Webb! She doesn't even know where her kitchen is!! And--that was said with pure love!! Mary Lou and I have always had our "kitchen jokes" and she always offers to "bring something" when needed. I have never been touched so much to find out that she was concerned about me being sick and wanted to do something for me. That is the ultimate gift--doing something you don't ordinarily do. She had it in a cute basket with tissue and ribbon. I promise you, I've never been so deeply touched. She and Rose sat and visited and we laughed and talked for about an hour. All of a sudden I realized this was a Monday and she had taken the day off. I had a thought that maybe she's thinking of retirement with a new job in her sights--Mary Lou's Cooking School. Let me be the first to sign up!! The banana bread is delicious and so appreciated.
In fact, I think I need a snack!! Thank you, Mary Lou!! I love the banana bread and I love you.
I knew it was going to happen. I would have bet money on it! The corn came in and we did 1050 ears in two days. Thank goodness the boys were around and we had a guest along with the regular faithful helpers. I felt sorry for our guest but that's country life. I was just glad it didn't come next week. I didn't get a picture even though Linda reminded me that we "always have a corn picture". Last week also included two doctor's appointments along with regular errands and wedding "to do's". The sprinkler system had some broken heads and I had to have that seen about; the ice maker at the barn went out and I had to make an "executive" decision about that while Ed was out of town--he did call for me to confirm it though. Ben and Sam both had "last" ballgames and I made both of them. I have signs to finish and legs to glue on the cake stand. Haleigh came with her mother and the wedding director and the kinks were worked out--hopefully. Ryan and Haleigh have been moving into their home and getting ready. I'm waiting on some UPS or FedEx deliveries, flower pickup, and tables and chairs. Enough of the work stuff!! Today we had a "Pink Party" for Charlotte, Ed's cousin who is going through breast cancer. Several of us decided to surprise her and we actually pulled it off!! She didn't have a clue. We had a wonderful morning at her daughter-in-law's home with friends. We surrounded her with prayer and fellowship--and don't leave out the wonderful brunch food!!
charlotte arriving and being totally surprised!!
A group of us surrounding her to pray for her.
After the prayer Charlotte released the balloons. The wind carried them up and away!!
After the balloon release we all went in for a delicious brunch and the opening of gifts.
Charlotte's favorite thing is "JOY" so there were several things with joy on them. She got lots of books, lotions, caps, pj's and things to help her through the next few months of getting over her surgery.
Charlotte (in the middle! with her daughter in law Kristie (left) and her daughter Christy (right). Three beautiful and sweet ladies!
I took lots of pictures of every one there and will fix an album later. I just wanted to catch you up on the "week before the week" of the wedding!! Seven days to go!!
Two weeks from yesterday we are getting a granddaughter-in-law. It's not like something new is about to happen, Haleigh has been around for three or four years and is already a part of our family. The day Ryan told us they were engaged, I was totally shocked. No one knew it was happening except for her Dad. I don't know why we were all so surprised. That was over a year ago and the time has flown by. I've enjoyed helping Haleigh with the planning of the wedding. I've had time to work on things while she went to school and worked. We've spent many hours upstairs on Thursday afternoons. I know Ryan is my grandson and not my son. But---we kept him for four years before he started kindergarden and have seen him practically every day of his life. I haven't missed a day (almost) of talking to him. Our bond is strong. I know the old saying, " a daughter is a daughter all of her life, but a son is a son until he takes a wife". Maybe a grandson is your grandson forever!! I'm looking forward to June 11, 2011 because I get my fourth granddaughter and a whole new chapter starts at Cotton Branch!!
These are the "tasting" cakes that Haleigh and Ryan tried for one of the tastings. Who knew that choosing a cake could be so hard? After several bites it really gets confusing!! I researched the web this week and found a recipe for one of the flavors we liked. I actually baked it for Josh's birthday. It tasted just as good as the one the baker made. I went to Hobby Lobby today and found myself looking at baking supplies--cake pans, coloring, cake stands, icing, decorating tools. What am I thinking????? I think I'll leave the cake baking and decorating to someone else. That's just like all my other hobbies--you have to have lots of STUFF!!
One afternoon recently I was gone somewhere and when I returned Ed said he had something to show me. He handed me his phone. This is what I saw.
He and Sam had built another bluebird house and it looked so good.
Sam even used the cordless drill to hang it on the fence post. He loves the bluebirds just like we do and loves the power tools just as much. Thanks guys, for building another house for our birds!
Today is one of my favorite days and I think it's because of the food! I love the traditional black eyed peas, cabbage, cornbread meal with all the extras. Today I fixed roast and chicken with rice and gravy, frozen salads, stuffed eggs and dessert to go with the peas. Jennifer brought her wonderful guacamole and chips and cauliflower with cheese. We have many funny stories that always surface on New Years Day that will never fade away. It's tradition!! Some people wish they would just go away! Here are some pics of the day.
Peas cooked with Maw's silver dollar.
Jennifer's favorite frozen salads. We finally remembered to get them out of the freezer.
Lemon Blueberry Bars--these were pretty good, but the Carrot Cupcakes were awful! Something I bought at Handworks that I won't be buying again!!
Josh and Victoria
Ryan and Haleigh--they'd already eaten one NY'sD lunch at MiMi's.
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Bryden is as tall as I am and can just about take me down with a hug. He's the lovable one--you have to grab Hayden to get a hug!
The gang getting ready to fix their plates.
Jody and Ed
We wish everyone a wonderful, prosperous and healthy new year! Our year is going to be an exciting one with the addition of a new granddaughter-in-law and things we don't even know yet. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us!
Nana and Papa--either before or after a wonderful lunch! Tiffany and the girls were MIA and Jennifer never slowed up enough for me to catch her. She took pictures so I hope she posts them.It took Sam a while to decide he wanted to pull the trigger on a gun. But, boy when he did----the gun powder is smokin'! Today it was freezing cold and all the guys went hunting after lunch. My brother and his family came and we ate and had Christmas with them. Then it was off to the deer stands. After discussions of "where are you going?" they headed out while the girls bedded down by the fire to watch a movie. We got a call to get the camera ready that Ryan had killed a deer. Then another call--Sam had one down. They showed up at the house for pictures and I fed them homemade soup to warm them up. Here are the pictures: Ryan's deer weighed 230 pounds and had a beautiful rack. Josh guessed the weight exactly!
Sam's deer was a nice 8 point rack and weighed 165. This was his second nice rack. Once he decided he could do it he hasn't let up.
Their Uncle Jody is a little upset! He's the "Great White Hunter" and the boys are beating him. Pressure is on!! He's taught them his tricks--Outwit, Outsmart, Outplay!! Way to go, Ryan and Sam!
Christmas pictures will come later! The boys came first.
April 6, 2009 - December 25, 2010
During our Christmas morning festivities Sadie went outside. Evidently she thought she saw a truck leave the house that was one of ours. A very sweet friend of ours called us and told Ed she was on the highway. There have been very few dry eyes at our house today. Sadie was Ed's best friend even though she was my dog. She went with him everywhere and he misses her terribly already. Please remember us and Sadie in your prayers. Pets and their families have a special bond. Sadie is following Jesus around tonight hoping to go for a ride in his Polaris Ranger. I'm sure he won't disappoint her. Papa never did. We love you, Sadie.
Ed and Ben left on their hunting trip (you saw the picture of them when they left) and Libby and I decided to treat a friend to dinner out. Deb needed some "girl time" so we went to Natchez and ate supper, looked around Walmart and came home. So much for a night on the town!!
On Wednesday afternoon the Elementary School held a painting class to raise money for the Relay for Life. Jennifer, Libby and I took the class. I should have carried my camera but I didn't. I did however take a picture of the "picture" I painted. We had a good time and plan to do it again soon.
It wasn't the hardest thing I've ever done, but it wasn't the easiest either. But it sure was fun. I found out that things don't have to be perfect to be pretty!
Now for the exciting stuff! Ben and Ed had a wonderful hunting trip. The first day Ben killed a 14 point mule deer. The second day he killed a 9 point mule deer. The third day he killed a havalena. To get Ben to be excited is like melting ice so I'm guessing he had a good time. He said he did!!
This is the 14 point and the guy with him is the guide Randall. Randall has been Ed's guide since he first started going to Longfellow many years ago. He knows three of our grandsons. I hope he gets to take the other three on hunts as well.
All this and getting the house ready for Christmas, doing a little shopping and starting to bake and make candy for trays to deliver, along with hours and hours of choir practice have filled the days and nights for me. It's a blessing to be able to sit here and tell you about our little adventures and thank God for them. Love to you all.
Ed woke me up at 3:17 this morning--thinking it was3:47!! I got up and started the bacon and cinnamon toast with fresh pineapple. The guys got up and dressed and were ready to eat in minutes. They ate and were out the door in no time. They let me grab a quick snap before they left. And poor Sadie--she really wanted to go with Papa.
I hope the next picture has a huge buck in it to go with his brothers'! Good luck Ben!!
Wasn't it just yesterday that we celebrated Ben's 11th birthday? All the grandchildren seem to be growing up so fast! Today is Ben's 12th birthday and he got the surprise of his life. Ed has taken the boys on their 13th birthday to West Texas to mule deer hunt. He surprised Ben a year early and is taking him tomorrow!! He's only flown once and has never seen any landscape like he will see when he gets to Texas. Both Ryan and Graham killed a mule deer (and so did I!!). He's outfitted and ready to go. He's spending the night and I'm fixing him breakfast in the morning at 4:30 AM before they leave. That's love,Ben! I don't get up at 4:30 AM!! Here he is clowning tonight with his brother in his new Brees jersey.
I pray for a safe trip and a fun time with memories made with his few days with his Papa one on one. Get a big one, Ben! Happy Birthday!
Ed took Sam and the other boys deer hunting this afternoon. He dropped Ben and Graham off at stands and took Sam with him. I got pictures from Ed's phone showing them clowning around in the stand. I guess that was before the hunting got serious!! I got a text from Ed saying that Sam had killed a six point. Pretty soon after that I got a call from Sam asking me if he killed a deer would I cook him some tenderloin. I teased him and said if he killed one I might. He said he sure would like to have some deer meat for me to cook. I couldn't help myself and I laughed. I told him that Papa had already told me he had killed a deer and that I surely would cook it for him. Ed later said that he was grinning from ear to ear!
Tomorrow night we'll be eating tenderloin. Thanks to Sam for providing supper again! And he'll have horns this time to hang on the barn wall.
The weather might not have been holiday weather but it didn't stop the Herring clan from getting together and having a wonderful day. My camera sat on the counter all day. I got up early thanks to Ed and Sadie and put the turkey on to cook. I somehow managed to get everything else done on Wednesday so I crawled back in the bed and watched a Christmas movie and was served breakfast in bed when Ed came in from hunting. (Did I mention blessings??) Things started to pick up around 10:30 and I finished up just as everyone showed up. This Thanksgiving was as uneventful as any we've ever had. The most unusual thing was Shirlee pulling Sam's tooth. It was hanging by a thread and she somehow got it and he didn't even know it. After it was over, he said, "I'm glad that's out. It was kind of agrivatin'." He got paid big time.
Now all he wants for Christmas are his "two front teeth"! Ed got up early on Wednesday and found the deer that he had killed the afternoon before. He somehow had missed it when he and the boys were looking for it. Sadie tried to tell them but- - - It was a nice deer and weighed over 200 pounds. Too bad he couldn't save it.
While the guys and girls hunted this afternoon, Shirlee and I did our "Black Friday" shopping at Walmart. There was no one there. We looked around a little bit and got a few items and came home just in time to welcome the hunters home and feed them.
Ben killed a coyote that spooked his deer and Graham killed the deer that Sam had wounded a few days ago. He let Sam claim the kill since he had already hit it. (Brothers can be nice sometimes.)
It's nice to go to bed with a comfortable, loved feeling knowing that you've had a wonderful day with family and awesome food. We are blessed beyond belief to have the things we have. When we said our blessing today we truly meant it.
Now let's get those ornaments on that tree!!
I just sort of skipped over this Saturday post. For some reason the week after the wedding was hectic for everyone. Ed was out of town and I spent a lot of time with Libby getting ready for the rehearsal dinner and taking some pictures of the rehearsal and wedding. I've known Libby's children since they were young and Sonny since before he was born. He has been a blessing to Libby. Megan has become a very good friend and I got to help her with the wedding--I was the "researcher" while she was finishing up her Master's Degree. I researched flowers, cakes, candy, invitations, napkins, food--almost everything. I made her Bridesmaid's gifts and loved doing it. The wedding was beautiful and very sweet.
Bride and bridesmaids at the rehearsal. (Megan has on a long dress.)
Libby and me before the wedding. Doesn't she look beautiful? I had the pleasure of going with her to pick out her dress. It was my favorite color and she looked great in it! Beautiful mother of the groom!!
The candy station!! I loved this and plan to use this idea soon.
Their cake was beautiful and delicious. It had two lemon filled layers (and everyone knows that Libby and I love lemon filling!!), a raspberry filled layer, red velvet, and Italian cream. The purple crystal "B" was gorgeous!
Beautiful bridesmaids!
The handsome groom with his beautiful bride. They made it to their honeymoon destination, had a great time and have returned to the "real" world. Thank you both for letting me be a part of your special day.
Just thought I'd show you the towel wraps. Cute and colorful!
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