NANA NOTES

PATIO FURNITURE

 

  This is awesome furniture.  I went to purchase a grill today and found this cool and very colorful adirondack furniture.  You know that I love funky and fun and this definitely fits the bill for that.  The colors I've picked out are pink lemonade, lilac, seafoam and lemon. What else could you want to go with a pink house?  The umbrellas will be green and blue. I think it's going to be fun.  Let's see what Ed will think about it!!
 

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?  :) 
 

NO, I AM NOT BORED but you would think-----

While I was fixing supper I saw a magazine that I had not read.  I brought it to the bedroom while Ed was watching FOOTBALL and found an interesting thing to do.  They were having a contest where you took pictures of some of the pages with your phone if the page had a certain symbol on it.  You emailed the picture to the website and you were entered into a contest to win something. Each page had something different you could win. Not having anything else to do [ho hummmmmmmm] I got my phone and started through the pages.  Here are two of the things I snapped.    You can see a wire mesh rolling basket in the right hand corner. That's just what I need!  :)

In the bottom right--see the food processor?  Mine is old as our marriage--so maybe!!

I didn't photograph the "new age boom box or the Iphone notebook or some of the other things.  If I win, I'll let you know.

The recipe at the top of the left hand page looks too good to pass up. I'm going to try it!  Orange Monkey Bread!!  Let you know about that too.
 

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!  :)

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!!

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.

ALWAYS A GROUPIE

All this week there has been a big red bus parked outside at the condo.  We've been curious but not enough to ask--until there just happen to be an opportunity--and we took it.  Turns out that the bus belongs to The Simmons Brothers Band from Nashville.  Can't say that it meant anything to me but maybe you know "Party Like a Rock Star".  They were here in Orange Beach making a video and did a few "gigs" at several places around town.  Here is a picture I lifted off their website. 

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.

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!!

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. . .

We woke up this morning like any other Sunday, had breakfast and were getting ready for church.  Tiffany called from town and said if we hadn't left yet--don't! The weather was awful and it was raining, hailing and a tree had fallen on the house we own next door to them.  I told Ed and he said "change your clothes." Before we could leave Tiffany called back and said another tree had fallen and it was raining horribly and hailing at our house.  Ed's sister's husband called and said a tree had fallen toward his house and barely missed his truck and tractor.  Off we go in the rain.  This is what we found. 

The master bathroom and closet of "Maw's house" are destroyed. Ed and I bought the house after his brother died.  We redid it and have it rented.

This oak tree at the side of the driveway has stopped many skateboards and bicycles as the children rode down the hill. As it fell it took out a beautiful camellia and a pine tree.

 

 This is the tree that barely missed Tommy's tractor!  It also took out the electricity on that block! 

As word spread the HGC family came running to help. Jody's friends came by and helped.  Gary Jones called in a wrecker to help lift the tree and Ryan used the backhoe to move it.  We had our own parade.  Praise God there was no one home when this happened.  No one was hurt that we know of and there were lots of homes damaged around the county.  A house can be repaired.

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"! 

BOYS AND THEIR TOYS

Josh has told me several times that he doesn't want his life posted on my blog.  The other day when he left with his "handbuilt modified racing fourwheeler" he told me that I could blog this one.  I'm not too crazy about the idea of him racing anything that looks like this but I have seen him and he does wear protective headgear and a vest.  What impresses me more than anything is that he has taken parts that have come in boxes by UPS and FedEx and built this vehicle piece by piece.  His patience is amazing.  It's been taken apart and put together more times than I can remember--or maybe other ones.  This is the third or fourth one he's built.  To quote Cagney who went to Louisiana this weekend to watch him race, "he's like a rock star in this circuit".  This machine will go 300 feet in less than 3.4 seconds.  It has to be a man thing because that scares the @#$% out of me!!

 I think he said he about broke even this weekend! Congratulations, Josh!

I'M ALWAYS ON CALL--24/7--:)

On Wednesday I was having physical therapy on "the knee" when my cell phone rang.  It was Jennifer and she had seen my car parked in the North Forty at the hospital. It just so happened that it was closer to Graham's doctor than my therapy session.  He was about to have his staples removed and I was just about finished with therapy.  She said I might want to come over and lend some moral support.  I was glad to do it.  I got there just as he was going in.  The nurse came in and asked if the bandage had been removed.  His incisions looked great and she began the process of taking them out.    After she took the staples out we got to look at the xrays.  See his steel rod and screws?  He's still on crutches but is walking pretty good. School may be a possibility on Monday--we'll see how it goes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THINGS I MAY HAVE NEVER TOLD YOU:

1. Things are NEVER dull around the Cotton Branch "Compound"!!  We get strange calls asking for strange things and we usually do them (if they're legal!).  Today we're the proud owners of another [our fifth] peacock that was found wandering around the county.  We had a male peacock that wandered off a couple of years ago so it could be ours anyway!!  :) 

When Ed took him out of  the cage, he jumped right up into the dump truck with the other peacocks.  He's right at home. 

2.  My husband has been practicing for "Dirty Jobs"!  We knew we had a water problem under the house but today everything came to a head.  I discovered that it was very bad; called a plumber; sent Exal after two pumps and got serious.  Ed ended up under the house pumping water out (seemed like 100 gallons), replacing light bulbs, hooking up a fan to blow from one side of the house to the other and hopefully getting the place dry.  We're going to replace all the insulation on the vents and move the elevator motor to the attic.  And--that's just the beginning.  After three hours, he crawled out and smiled at me.  What a sweet man!!              

3.  And did I mention that things are NEVER dull at Cotton Branch??

 

ARE YOU SURE THIS IS MISSISSIPPI??

This is what we woke up to this morning!!  I have been jealous of my "twitter" friends talking about snow in the north.  Now I can brag too! 

 

  

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas---and all my dreams have come true!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!! 

DOOLEY LIKES "DEER PORN"!

Saturday night Ed and I watched "My Dog Skip" [or rather part of it] and Dooley loved it.  I told Ed that I wished I had taken a picture of him watching TV. Whenever the dog would come on the screen Dooley would bark or growl.  Today during the ball games Ed would flip from the ball game to the hunting channel. Dooley saw the deer and went crazy!  He climbed on the foot of the bed and watched for the longest time. He growled and barked every time the deer was shown. Ed is seriously thinking about making him a hunting dog!!

I don't know if he will be interested in the hunting part, but he sure knows what a good buck looks like!

SCORE ONE FOR JODY!

First of all, if you are "animal sensitive" please move on.  We live in the country and the sport of choice is hunting.  I would rather hunt with a camera than with a gun, but I live on a farm with lots of guys.  It's the passion here and it consumes most of the time--planning, planting and getting ready.  I even have a sign outside our back door that says "Welcome to Deer Camp". :)  Jody's oldest son got a doe last weekend. Today Jody came in and wanted Dooley to "trail" for him. [Dooley is my Scottish Terrier!!]  He didn't really need him but he and Ed wanted to see if he would do it since Scotties were bred for hunting. [Not Dooley!]

Of course there is the "group" picture--Dooley, Ben, Ed, Sam, Graham, Jody and Sandy--with the poor deer on the ground.  What a bunch of guys-oh, Sandy is a girl.

  

Then comes the weigh in!  This old boy weighed in at 230 pounds. They were excited!

After the weigh-in comes the cleaning and I was out of there.  A bunch of guys with knives and a dead deer just don't appeal to me.

When they all gather in tomorrow for Thanksgiving there will be more hunters.  I'm sure the game will be on to beat Jody's measurements!

After all, isn't that what it's all about-the search for "the big one"!!