NANA NOTES

TRICK OR TREATED!!

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday but when we lived in town we always had LOTS of kids and I tried to make it fun.  We bought TONS of GOOD candy and I took polaroid pictures (does that give my age away!!) of the kids and gave them to the parents.  We always bragged about how cute or scarry they were and made a big deal out of everything. I love those little Peanut Butter Logs but I NEVER buy them because I would EAT them all.  When the kids would come to the door I would go through their bags and tell them I would trade them 2 for 1 if they had peanut butter logs.  Some of them understood--some didn't.  That was ok, I got some candy and they did too! :) When we moved out to the farm, we didn't have very many children--maybe four or five.  I guess the word spread that we gave GOOD candy because now we are getting more!  And you guessed it--I kept up my tradition of the 2 to 1 swap!    Mt. Zion Church came on Saturday night.  They all were so cute and they quoted Bible verses to get candy!  I love that idea!  When they got ready to leave, Jeanne Wallace's little grandchildren came up and handed me two bags--you guessed it--Peanut Butter Logs.  How sweet is that!  It doesn't get any better! Thanks Mt. Zion kids for coming to our home.  We loved it!

SANDY'S NEW HOME

Papa's been letting Sandy (our squirrel) out of her cage to play before supper.  We have to make sure the cats are outside!  It's been fun to watch her scamper about eating pecans and acorns out of his hand and running up and down his arm (and the curtains!).  When he would put her back in the cage she had a tendency to get upset and would rattle the cage like a wild woman trying to get out.  Sunday when I got up she had torn off two little pieces of the wire.  Thank goodness they weren't in the same place or she would have been out.  Late Sunday afternoon he decided it was "time".  We called Ryan and had him meet us at one of the old deer stands back in the woods where she would be safe. Ryan and I kept saying that we couldn't let her go because she hadn't stored up any nuts. You can see that we took care of that.  Lots of corn, sunflower seeds, acorns and pecans.  We plan to check on her every so often and replenish her stash.  She has water too. Ryan carried the cage to Papa and he put it in the stand.

We all said our goodbyes but none of us could leave.  We stood around and watched as she climbed out on the pine limbs and jumped from tree to tree.  She went up and came down--Ryan walked over to her and she jumped right on his shoulder.  He started walking away and she jumped right back to the tree.  She sat there looking at us like she was saying, "It's ok, this is where I live now.  I'll be fine.  Check on me later."  I know she belongs in the woods and she will be fine.  The day the bird cage shows up in the feed room at the barn I know she will have found a new place to hide her stash!

I'M READY, I'M READY, I'M READY!!!

Saturday, November 4, from 8 AM until 2PM the Meadville United Methodist Church is having its Annual Fall Bazaar. ( I think I told you I was announced as "chairman" in church one Sunday--the preacher said I had the "deer in the headlight look"!) :)  I have taken my job very seriously and everyone has been very cooperative.  Plans are going too well (something may be wrong here) but I'm expecting a great day on Saturday.  Sam and I have been working away getting our things ready for the big day.

We've made Creme Brule Hot Chocolate Mix, Toffee Nut Hot Chocolate Mix,

some cool clocks { MS State, Ole Miss, FHS, and Flowers}

some warm fleece blankets (Raggedy Ann, "Cars", Camouflage, Cats {hoping Tammy will see this one}, and beautiful flowers)

awesome cute and cool altered clipboards,

and our latest adventure has been some "No Knit Scarves". Lots of funky colors!

That little gem required some carpentry to make a "jig" (whatever that is!)  Anyway, we're ready--the signs are up around town, it's going to be in the newspaper and on the weather channel, and we're spreading the word--COME TO THE BAZAAR AT OUR CHURCH IN MEADVILLE!  SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 FROM 8 AM UNTIL 2 PM! We'll have breakfast, lunch and lots of goodies for you to buy.  The proceeds go to the "Steeple Fund". You have heard those beautiful chimes, haven't you!?

Patient "McDreamy"

The best part of waking up is having Sam jump in the bed with me. Now that Jen is back at school I am getting my usual wake up call.  This morning he told me his belly was hurting.  I asked the usual questions and got "no" for answers.  He showed me his belly button.  He said an ant had bitten him.  Good ole Dr's YaYa and Nana got to work.  We used q-tips and peroxide and cleaned the area and then filled it with Neosporin.  Isn't that the prescribed treatment for everything!?   We made a game of it--cutting the hole out of the paper towel like a surgical square and laying him out on the bar like an operating table.  He was a terrific patient.  Recovery time was short.  He jumped down and got his "pack-pack"; he's now doing his "homework". We're waiting for our next adventure!

RYAN'S FIRST DAY BACK!

Today is a red letter day!!  Ryan is back at school for the first time since early September.  I thought Jennifer would have posted but I'm sure she's busy since she's back at school too.  Congratulations to both of you for surviving the "illness from hell"!  Now we just have to clear up Sam's SNOT!

COULDN'T LEAVE THESE OUT

The Alluvian/Viking weekend was wonderful and having friends there made it even more special.  That's why we went.  Vicki and Wyatt are old/new friends and now Robert is a friend.  John and Melody are always fun to travel with.  We enjoy each others company and we all LOVE to eat!

FRIENDS + FOOD = FUN!!

What could be better than food and friends?  Maybe a weekend at the Alluvian Hotel in Greenwood with chef Robert St. John and watercolor artist Wyatt Waters (and wife Vicki) who happen to be friends of ours!  Beautiful weather, good company and awesome food--not bad for a couple of days of down time.  John and Melody Maxey, Ed and I left Jackson (in Melody's new Hybrid Lexus) and had lunch at Char--a good way to start a food weekend. The drive to Greenwood was pleasant and the leaf colors were pretty.  That night we had a book signing party after checking in to the Alluvian with those wonderful down comforters and pillows (and beautiful purple chairs!)  We were given two copies of Robert's new cookbook and we bought Wyatt's new children's book for a Christmas gift. He spent some extra time remarking it for a special little boy!   After the reception we attended a Chef's Dinner in honor of Robert St. John.  Let me just make your mouth water:  Crabmeat stuffed prawns; mixed greens salad with fried asparagus (awesome) cherry tomatoes, smoked bacon, sliced shallots and a citrus-sherry vinaigrette; filet mignon  with grilled red onion-white truffle whipped potatoes and black peppercorn-citrus compound butter; or pan roasted delacata with lobster risotto, micro greens and citrus sherry vinaigrette; topped off with bourbon pecan chocolate truffles and chocolate dipped strawberries.  Have you died and gone to heaven yet!?!?!?! :)  David Ferris is the Executive Chef at the Alluvian and he is young! This kid will go far in the food world.

After a good nights sleep, we had breakfast in the Terrace Room and went over to the Demonstration Center at Viking.  WOW!!  We're talking everything you'd ever hope to see and then some.  Our seats were very good and the morning was terrific.  I got so into it that I forgot to take pictures of the first two dishes.  One was Crab Imperial (delicious and easy) and the other was Chicken and Andouille Empanadas. (good but spicy) The next two things were good and I thought CAMERA! Black-Eyed Pea Dip and Red Beans and Rice Spring Rolls. Those with the Crabmeat made a pretty plate.  Dessert was to die for.  You know how I love those sweets. Have you ever had Sweet Potato Brownies? Oh, yeah, they were good! And easy, and pretty, and did I mention that they were awesome good!

Now for some walking and shopping to get ready for the night session!  Dinner!  Bloody Mary Oyster Shooters (gave mine to Ed); West Indies Salad (light and delicious--very easy and fast); Roasted Silver Queen Corn and Shrimp Dip (AM I EATING AND WATCHING WYATT AND NOT PHOTOGRAPHING THE FOOD!?) That's easy to do.  Watching him start a picture and bring it to finish is an amazing thing.  It looks so easy. I mean he just used a brush, some paints and paper and a straw with water!  Hmmmmmmm!

The Warm Crab Bread with Basil Tomato Concasse brought me back to reality--delicious! This was a wonderful mixture of crabmeat, cheeses, butter, green onions, red peppers and a roux spread on French bread and heated. The addition of the fresh tomato/basil mixture was delicious.

I didn't know that Robert got his start with Nick of the wonderful "Nick's" restaurant (one of my favorites).  The Paneed Red Snapper with mushrooms, green onions and creole cream sauce was good.  He explained how the creole cream sauce could be used lots of ways on lots of things!  I see this being a staple here at home.  He kept talking about dessert and I had saved room!  Fresh Strawberries and Creme Anglaise!

As Sam would say, "Oh, yeah, baby!"

I ate TWO and wanted more!  I loved it.

Sunday wakeup and breakfast.  The trip home was down Highway 49 to see the "yellow water flowers".  (You do know that you can "click" on the picture to make it bigger!  I urge you to do it on this picture of the "yellow water flowers". God is really struttin' His stuff!) A great ending to a great weekend.  Thanks, Papa for taking me!

GOOD NEWS---

If you've read Jennifer's post, you know that tomorrow she can go back to WORK!! (good news #1)  Wahoo!!!  She called me and ask if Cotton Branch Day Care would be open!  I told her only if her child was potty trained!  She said there had been NO ACCIDENTS since Saturday! (good news #2)  Maybe you've been in Meadville "on the hour" and heard the beautiful chimes coming from Meadville United Methodist Church!  (good news #3)  Our new steeple is up and the chimes play every hour until 8 PM at night.  Oh, how I wish I lived in town so I could hear it!  Tomorrow I take Mom to Jackson for a check up after her surgery last month.  I'm hoping for a good report. (good news #4)  Ed and I are getting away for the weekend.  It's long overdue and I'm excited about it.  We're going to the Alluvian (in Greenwood) for a Cooking Class weekend with Robert St. John and Wyatt Waters.  John and Melody are going with us and Wyatt and Vicki are our friends.  I'm thinking it's going to be a great, fun, relaxing weekend with good friends and great food. (good news #5!) Ryan got his driver's permit this week. (good news #6)  That is bittersweet I think.  That means he's growing up and will soon not be needing Ed and me so much. Thank goodness one of his favorite places to go is our house. I wish I had pictures for this post but I'll have some next time--especially of the Greenwood trip.  I'll leave the potty training pictures to your imagination!

"WHERE IN THE WORLD IS RYAN COWART?"

Sunday was October 15th.  Ryan's birthday.  You know the program at Cotton Branch--Sunday dinner birthday party!! There were presents and kids!  There was lunch with Ryan's cake (that he picked out) and ice cream! What's missing from this picture?! RYAN!!  We've discovered that when you turn 15 you'd rather go to the fair with your girlfriend than be at home with your family. The rest of your cake is in the freezer. Hope you had a great birthday, Ryan. We love you!

I RECEIVED A BLESSING. . .

Sometimes you just don't want to do something--like get up out of a soft bed and go to choir practice after a long busy week.  Sooooo, I never got in that soft bed Sunday because I knew I'd never make it to choir and I didn't want to miss the concert afterwards.  SOUTHERN PRAISE was performing at our church.  Being raised like I was, the guilt would have been too great (understand that Kelly?) Not being from Franklin County (that is born and raised here) I don't have any "real" relatives here only by marriage. BUT I do have lots of adopted family here and one of SOUTHERN PRAISE (and his wife) qualify in that respect.  (If you watch the program 6 Degrees, you'll understand.)  Anyway, back to the post. Being there and listening to the music --actually singing to myself almost every song--was a tremendous blessing.  Those old country boys from SW Mississippi are good!  They give you humor, beautiful music and a message all at the same time.  How blessed could you be by getting that on a Sunday night when you are so tired and just want to be at home! 

My "Mississippi Girl's" dad is the one on the left. Kay and Jerry, I love you guys.   This is for you, Kelly!

OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BRIDE. . .

At last the day arrived and "the" wedding is over.  Cotton Branch has been bustling for the last few days and it's been fun.  There have been people here from Seattle,WA to North Carolina to Missouri and Texas.  The day couldn't have been more beautiful and the bride---wow!   Amy and Andrew have never looked happier.  Everyone was amazed at how relaxed and calm they were.  The pool area was decorated with beautiful tables all done by Cookie (aka "Mom of the bride").  Her sewing skills and decorating expertise came alive with this wedding reception. We've all learned a few things about candles and chocolate fountains and blowing wind too! :)  The food was wonderful and the cakes were not only beautiful but delicious. Andrew loves fishing and his cake was especially for him.  He even fashioned the fishing pole himself! Everyone had a great time eating, visiting and dancing.  That's what weddings are--a celebration of love and family.  That's what we had today at Cotton Branch--a celebration.

Congratulations Amy and Andrew.  Thanks for letting us share in your big day.

WEEKEND OF CELEBRATION..

Friday was a good day! Saturday was a good day! Sunday was a good day!  That's what birthdays do for you!  Papa turned 60!  On Friday we surprised him with CAKE (lots of it) at the office and friends came by to eat cake and visit.  We had coconut, german chocolate, italian cream and the best chocolate cake ever! Everyone enjoyed it. Eileen and Janice surprised Ed with Tshirts that told him just what they thought-- In case you can't read the small one on the left it says--HGC & ED BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, STILL HERE, DOING THAT!  They've worked for Ed a long time and do a great job.  He got a big laugh out of the tshirts.

On Saturday we had the annual 4H chicken sale!  For me that is a BIG deal.  I got new chickens!  This little guy won Grand Champion and I got 'em!  Twelve new laying hens--woohoo!!

Sunday--the regular Herring/Cowart get together for the monthly birthday--this month we will have two.  Ryan's birthday is on the 15th (ah, and he turns 15!).  Since we'd had so much cake on Friday I just went with the homemade ice cream.  BUT take a look at the wonderful decoration!!

  Ed wanted all the kids surrounding him to blow out the candles.  Emily wasn't there and Bryden was taking a nap.

As we were finishing our cake and ice cream--Donald Ezell drove up with 15 quail for our pen.  Our zoo is growing.  "Ole McNana had a farm...."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PAPA!  You're not getting older, you're getting better!