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Garden Gate:  OMG, What Have I Just Gone & Done: Part 2  |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
 Posted - May 23 2009 : 07:25:46 AM
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Congratulations on growing your first edible thing, Nikki! Isn't it such a thrill? I cut that broccoli yesterday and mixed up a broccoli salad for lunch. Kris, you were right! It was sooooo good! I could tell a definite difference in the taste. I may grow some more of the aggravating stuff again just because it was so tasty and because Lauren loves broccoli and cheese so much. I'm waiting on my better boys to get big enough so I can pick one to have fried green tomatoes. I love fried green tomatoes!
St. Andrews has a special little viewing area where you can watch the gators in this swampy little pond in the park. You have to drive past it to get to the beach. There are always deer walking around and I worry at how many have been grabbed by one of those alligators. St. Andrews is where Brian and I re-married. The gators weren't invited and thankfully didn't crash the party! But Brian and I spent the day there the day after the wedding and his brother let us borrow their bikes to ride around the park and we saw lots of deer and gators and birds. (Mental note: DO NOT ride a bicycle after sitting on the beach all day, no matter how many times you shower yourself off! There will always be a few stubborn grains of sand left in your bathing suit!)
And they have jetties at St. Andrews with all kinds of cool creatures living in the rocks. On one side is a huge man-made tidal pool and lots of creatures get caught in there and you can float around and watch the stingrays and horseshoe crabs and stuff. Three hammerhead sharks got washed in the tidal pool one time, not while we were there, though.
On the other side of the jetties is the "ocean" side. This is where the boats will come in to fish. One trip, Brian and I were snorkeling on the ocean side and we kept seeing these bigger and bigger fish. We came up to see what was going on and there was this fishing boat anchored in and they were throwing out buckets of chum. Oh, it made me so mad! Chum will definitely attract sharks and there are all these kids everywhere and I just thought it was irresponsible for them to do that. And nevermind that you don't want a bunch of fish guts floating around your head! They had the entire Gulf to throw out their stupid chum! But before we could get back to our chairs, there were three dolphins swimming around the boat. I've always heard that dolphins will keep sharks away, so I relaxed a bit then.
We like to rent a pontoon boat when we're there and try to find the dolphins. One summer, we found one in water like you described, Nikki. It was crystal clear but you couldn't see the bottom. One of our friends was out in the water with the kids and as the dolphin swam by him, Randy grabbed it's dorsal fin and it dove straight down! Randy wasn't sure how far down they went, but it was one of those moments when you're sitting there, thinking to yourself, Okay, he'll be back up in a second; in just a second he'll pop back up; okay, where is he? He said it was the most amazing experience and if he hadn't run out of air, he would have held on longer! I was too chicken to do anything other than hang over the side of the boat and pet it as it swam by.
I love your word for crowds!! If Brian's in an area that's too crowded, I worry about him decking someone! He has a very short fuse. Takes a lot to get it lit, but once it is, you better watch out, buddy! There's usually some rude idiot who will get on Brian's last nerve and before I know it he's looking around for something, whether an exit or a weapon!
Wanted to go to Pepper Place today, but decided not to since I'm taking Mama to Sips-n-Strokes tonight as her Mother's Day gift. So instead, I think I'm gonna go plant some more stuff in the garden and finish staking up those running beans before the rain gets here. It's coming up from the South, Kris, so I'm not sure if you'll get any or not. I sure hope so after you worked so hard to get your tomatoes planted!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 23 2009 : 12:32:01 PM
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I went to our farmer's market to see everyone and see what's there. I bought some bibb lettuce from a place in Chickamauga that grows only lettuces in a huge greenhouse using only water. So neat. And another little farm that had really nice looking spinach. Another guy had big ole cabbage, so got one. Also had to get a little fudge pie from a lady that brings fresh baked goods. Another guy had plants and another older man had single tomato plants in syrofoam cups for .25 each. So I got 4 Celebrity and 4 Homestaed to finish out my tomato row. And they fit perfectly! So I have 56 tomato plants now not counting the few heirlooms that are left.
I also found the okra plate (darn) that fits in my seeder. So I went out last night right before dark and got 1 1/2 rows planted. I heard the killdeer parents and saw the nest before I left. I wonder how many days for the eggs to hatch? Anybody know?
Now we need rain. My hubby said he saw on the news that we're supposed to get rain all this next week. I'm ok with that now. We need it now. So where is it?
I put 4 of my momma does out in the back yard so we can have some milk. The kids are right next to them but can't get to them. It's so sad. But I will milk in a few hours and leave some for them. I just can't bring myself to separate them at night now. I went out last night to do it and Abby was laying there with her 2 boys all snuggled up beside her. It was too cute. So I'll just do it during the day. It's not so bad then. I put an ad in the paper for next week, so hopefully I can get some sold soon. Also went to T.S. today and put up a note on the bulletin board. Wish me luck, ya'll.
My hubby has been busy while I was gone. I had started a big flower garden in the middle of the yard with rocks for the border about 4 years ago. Well, it just got toooo weedy and I couldn't take care of it. He's been wanting to know what I was gonna do with it. Even the SIL wanted to get in there with the weed whacker. So when I got home the deed was done. He did leave the day lilies and sedum and some spider wort and lamb's ear. So me and Kansas got the wagon and loaded the rocks up and put them around the things that were left. So I will just do a few small gardens now. Too much work with the big one.
And all this scuba diving talk makes me want to try. I have several friends here that go down to Fla. every year and do that. It really looks like fun.
I hope ya'll are having a great Saturday!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2009 : 05:49:35 AM
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Oh, Cherry, I was going to ask you if you harvested your broccoli. I am so glad that you did and it turned out to be so tasty! Oh my gosh, fried green tomatoes. Yum! We can never wait for those to be served at the table. When my mom makes those, we just stand right by the stove and try to eat them just seconds after they come out of the pan. Burn our mouths every time and never learn from it. HA!
St. Andrews sounds like a really, really cool place that I would like to see. As far as I know there is nothing like that where we go to the beach. (I have been rudely interrupted during my reply by a hungry Lovin' Man needing breakfast and being utterly unable to make it for himself)
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2009 : 08:55:03 AM
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 56 tomato plants!!! Wow, Kris! And now I wish I'd gone to Pepper Place yesterday. Brian offered to go with me, but he just bartered for a winch for the Dodge and I knew he wanted to get a new bumper built and get that winch installed before next week-end when he'll be cutting trees at my sisters, so I (unselfishly) told him no. Wish I'd been selfish now! He has all week to get that winch on!
That's really interesting about the lettuce greenhouse. Hmmmmm...business wheels are a clickin' in my little brain.
Don't you hate it when your perfect excuse for not doing a thing suddenly disappears? I still need to get out there and stake-up my last six running beans, only I need Brian to get me some branches or split some 2x4's. My excuse is that I'm banned from using both the chainsaw and the tablesaw. Hee! Hee!
I found this website, Kris, about killdeer. I really like their descriptions. Did you know the name for the babies means "precocious"? Maybe it can answer your questions now that you are the guardian of these pretty little birds! http://www.birdwatching.com/stories/killdeer.html
It's amazing to me that your does produce so much milk that they have enough to share with you and their babies! I need dairy goats. I need Brian to let me have dairy goats. But I also need an armored truck full of money and I'd come closer to getting that before I would Brian letting me have goats!
I'm bad to bite off more than I can chew with my flower beds, too. Brian sent me to Lowe's with a specific request; buy a shrub that would grow fast and hide the area underneath the pool deck. Well, I came home with the shrubs, but also with a dozen perennials. So then I had to round up rocks to edge it. And buy pine straw to fill it. And before you know it, I have yet another flower bed! But we have a new problem that can't be resolved with a weed-eater. I was sitting on the backporch this morning with my tea and noticed that there's KUDZU growing in one of the trees edging the back yard! UGH! Brian tried to down-play it and oversimplify things. His solution is to just snatch the kudzu up by the roots with his new winch! Ahhhh, a boy and his new toy!
I hope you finally got some rain, Kris. Lord knows we've had enough here, but it looks like He's not finished with us yet. Days like this make me sooooo sleepy! But I got alot accomplished yesterday while I was stuck inside. I cleaned out our closet, my dresser, and under the kitchen cabinets. Today I'll be tackling the spare room aka huge storage closet. Brian told me that "we" needed to do some spring cleaning around here. And Lauren wants to have a yard sale next week-end to help her daddy with the deductible for her car. She's the sweetest thing! And Nikki, it's been raining off-and-on at the beach. She said the sun will come out and they get all excited and get down to the beach and here comes another rain shower that sends them packing. Poor babies! She's already ready to come home. I worried it would be too soon after the wreck. She's been really clingy this week. She said she misses her guy friends and is so tired of the drama. She's down there with four other girls. Oh, my baby girl! I wish I could make it all perfect for her!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2009 : 09:09:02 AM
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Good Morning Ladies!
I am sitting in the middle of my dream ranch. No kidding. I have some friends who have a horse breeding ranch and I am here for about 2 weeks. I am so happy and am feeling so restful right now. It's hard to explain but the wind is sighing through the pine trees which is a sound from my childhood that ALWAYS gives me a sense of peace. The goats are bleating and the horses are happily chomping their hay. And the best best best part? My horse is here and she has grown up so gorgeous!! Is is beautiful! I can't wait to give her a bath and take some pictures!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2009 : 09:22:35 AM
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Oh, Alee, I am so excited for you!! You don't have to explain; you're in your "happy place" and we all have them and we can all relate! I can't wait to see your pictures!
(Hee! Hee! Brian just came in and asked me if I was back on my "farm" with all the other farmgirls! Wonder if he was just teasing or a tad jealous!)
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2009 : 10:54:29 AM
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I know mine does. I feel kind of guilty when I'm on here when he's home. He asked me last night what it is about this that keeps me so interested. I really can't explain, especially not to him. I know that;s bad, but this is a place where I can go and talk to other people who do the same things I do and like the same things, too. He gets all antsy when I talk about goats or chickens and ya'll don't I have told him that and he understands. Anyway, someone has already mentioned we should have a MJfarmguy forum. Don't ya'll think that might work? Except we'd all have to have 2 computers then.
I am so glad you are at your dream ranch. How is it going? Are you going to be milking, too? I'd love to see pictures of the whole place and your horse, too. I bet it's just beautiful.
Cherry, thanks for the web site on the kill deer. That is so amazing. And it takes 24-28 days for them to hatch. I did not know all that about the different kinds of birds. Well, I did but didn't know the words and all that. ANyway, very interesting. Thanks.
And the milk I am getting now is nothing like what I get when the kids are weaned. I'll be getting about 3-4 gallons a day then. We'll be swimming in milk. I just put the girls in the backyard at 1:00 today. I had a call from one of my customers wanting milk on Tuesdays again. So that makes about 5 gallons so far a week. I need more people.
Now if you have kudzu you definitely need goats! They love that stuff. They's have it all eaten in no time. And I am the same way about going too big with things. I can't help it. But I need to know that little is ok, too. And much more manageable for me with all the other things I need to be doing around here.
We have had a nice little drizzly rain off and on all day so far. That's the good kind of rain. Just right. I hope Lauren has a good time despite being with a bunch of ole girls. I know how she feels. I always had more guy friends. Much more interesting for sure. And not all the crap that goes along with girls.
I can't wait to see little maters on my plants, but I'm afraid it will be a few months for us. I love fried green tomatoes, too. I worked at a rest. that had them and I had to prepare them. We soaked them in buttermil and then put them in cornmeal and flour with salt and pepper and deep fried them. They were so good and ya can't eat just one.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2009 : 11:12:17 AM
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Oh, Alee, I am so glad that you are enjoying your dream ranch and having a good "rest", which means you are probably working your tail off! Do post photos soon!
Kris, you are to coolest! MORE tomato plants. I can't wait to see your garden and all your babies. I love your grand-daughter's name, Kansas. So cute!
Cherry, Owl Hollow Farm sells hydroponically grown lettuce at Pepper Place. I got the butter crunch and bibb one year. OH, I have a photo of that.
Neat, how you can keep it fresh a little longer in the water.
Cherry, that is SOOOO cool about grabbing the dolphin and riding it! What an experience of a lifetime!
Did y'all have a good time at Sips 'N' Strokes? I love the colorful artwork that they come up with there. My art without the sips is somewhat questionable, but maybe that is what makes their paintings so wonderful!
My grandmother is the one who came up with the word "hoogies" (pronounced who-geez) for crowds. We need to make a Nanny dictionary with all of her alternative words for things. She calls any carbonated beverage "booze", so when we five grandchildren were little she would march us to the coke aisle at the grocery store and order us to pick out our "booze". Strangers gave us some pretty funny looks over that one! Oh, her two favorite things to do on this planet are 1.) to preach about Jesus and 2.) to shock people, and her mission is complete if she can do both in one sitting. And if she can interject the epithet Jacka--, even better. My, but she is a colorful lady and lots of fun.
Lovin' Man calls all of y'all my "imaginary friends". I say he is just jealous. He says at least his friends are "real".
Oh, poor Lauren getting rained out at the beach. That is a very annoying thing. Once Oakley and I were so desperate to go to the beach, even in the rain. We were the only ones there. I sat under an umbrella and babied my camera, but she played in the water like the sun was shining! LOL!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 07:11:30 AM
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Oh, my, Nikki, did they sell the lettuce in those cool, blue Ball jars? I've looked and looked for the blue-tinted ones and can't find them anywhere! I'd buy up the lettuce just to get those jars!
Your Nanny sounds like a hoot! That cracked me up about the "booze"! Too, too funny! Brian's grandmother liked to shock people, too. She really intimidated me when we first met. She asked me who my people were and I told her and she kinda sniffed and said they must be people who don't socialize in Birmingham. One day I told her she scared the hell out of me and she loved me to pieces after that!
I love how uninhibited little kids are! That picture's just too darn cute! The sun came out for Lauren for a few hours yesterday and she said she parked herself on the beach for every last ray of it. Her only disappoint me yesterday was that Shukums was out of crab claws, so I'm guessing it was a pretty good day. They come home tomorrow, so hopefully today will be good, too. She said the top of her head has been hurting her, so I may be following-up with her pediatrician this week. But her cut is healing really well. I knew that the salt air would help it right along and she said it's itching like crazy, so that's a very good thing!
We did have a good time at Sips-n-Strokes, thank you! We painted a pretty angel. The best thing about that place is how you're standing there, critiquing your masterpiece and finding all these flaws with it and then you walk around and take a gander at all the other masterpieces and you realize that you're much, much better an artist than you give yourself credit for! Ha!
On closer inspection, the kudzu may be muscadine vines. They grow wild all over the place. But I've got a plan! I'm gonna let Brian keep thinking that it's kudzu and after all his remedies don't work, I'm gonna sweetly suggest some goats to do the trick! Think it'll work?
And I think if we have a MJ forum for men, they'll spend all their time on here fussing about us and the money we cost them! :)
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 07:21:27 AM
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Oh, Brian got me some branches cut and I finished staking up my running beans. And then I mixed up some soapy water and gave my tomatoes a bath! Some of my new baby tomatoes were starting to split. I think that's because of too much rain, right, Kris? But those little aphids are running rampant! I'm about to go check them to see how the soapy water worked.
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 09:47:18 AM
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Good Morning Ladies!
Things are going great on the ranch. We almost had a foal born last night but the mare decided to just tease us is all! Silly thing!
I'll take pictures but I am not sure if the ranch has a transfer cable I can use so it might be a few days before I can go get a CD made at Wal-Mart.
I have to go clean stalls here in a little while. Only a farmgirl could be happy shoveling manure!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 09:52:19 AM
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Nikki, I just love that picture. And to be the only ones on the beach must have been nice.
Cherry, I think certain types of tomatoes do splitwhen they get bigger. Some don't. I'm glad you're using the soapy water. I read something in Mother Earth about how to get rid of flies. Take a shallow dish and fill with water then put Joy dish detergent in til it turns yellow. It will be full of drowned flies. Throw it out and do it again every day. I was just in town and forgot the Joy. But my milk room fills with flies when I'm milking til I get all the stanchions cleaned up. I can't walk in the doors without bringing in a million of them. And I hate flies just about more than anything. I can't sit down without having to jump back up to kill a fly. I have fly swatters in every roon and I still lose them. I told my hubby I need to tie one around my neck so I'll have it with me always.
What are ya'll doing today? Any cook outs going on? We have the biggest brush piles in the valley out front so we might burn that today and have hotdogs fo dinner.
Oh, how close to Hineger, AL. are ya'll? I talked to a guy from Summerville, Ga. that raises grass-fed beef and sells at the farmer's market. We were talking about aging the meat. His butcher is USDA and they do age meat there. But that this place in AL. will age it for a few weeks. And that's what I want done with my steer. And it's not too far from us.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 12:54:24 PM
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Wouldn't you know it! It's stopped raining and the sun is out and I am stuck in the office!!!  BUT I've been watching baby killdeer following one another around the lot across from the office for the past couple of hours. They're so cute, playing follow-the-leader. So that's what I'm doing today, Kris. Brian's gonna grill us some burgers when I get home. Between the rain and having to work, I haven't been able to enjoy today with him.
We can never find our fly swatters when we need them either. Why is that? Or a pair of scissors, now that I think about it.
There's a Henagar, AL, up near Ft. Payne. Is that the same place you're talking about? It's about an hour from me. I don't know much about aging meat. Why is it done? So it'll taste better or keep longer? I swear, I am learning so much on here. Makes me feel right smart!
Alee, I couldn't help but smile over your excitement to clean those stalls! And I hope that foal gets here soon. I know the thrill of that is probably overwhelming for you! I'd be checking on her every 15 minutes just so I wouldn't miss out!
Ok. I think I'm outta here. I've done my time and now it's off to home sweet home! Why is it that "payday" work seems to just drag by but time flies when you're doing "work around the house" and you run out of daylight?
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 3:19:28 PM
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Hey, Cherry! I am so glad that Lauren was able to go the beach so soon after the accident, not only for the physical healing of the salt water, but also for the soul healing properties of the beach. Oh, something about being near that infinite seeming water just does something for me. I wish I could be there right now, even with the rain!
Those blue Ball jars were my great-grandmother's. Once on the cover of Victoria magazine, they had a beautiful peony, rose, and raspberry bouquet displayed in a blue Ball jar and ever since I have used mine as vases, too!
I am glad that didn't turn out to be kudzu! Although, I've heard that you can make tea and jam with it and it also fries up pretty tasty, too! So glad that you are using the soap bath on the tomatoes. I hope that it is working!
Kris, I looked up Henagar. And Cherry is right, it is probably about an hour from here and I bet about an hour and half from you or maybe more. I didn't know about the aging either. Is that supposed to tenderize it or something?
About killing flies. We bought a fly killing gun the other day at Bass Pro Shop. Lovin' Man, Selena and Oakley all took turns shooting at the fruit flies that had accumulated in the kitchen. They love fighting over toys and killing things, so they were happier than a duck with a June bug.
Alee! Your going to get to see a foal being born! How totally neat! I hope that you will be able to take photos and share them!
Well, y'all. It pretty much rained out any lake excursion or big time grilling today, but we managed to get out during the thirty minute "dry spell" and do something that Lovin' Man has been wanting to do for years. We took the 4-wheeler down the railroad tracks to a tunnel in the side of the mountain and we walked through it. It was kind of creepy and scary and water was dripping and the mud sucked our shoes down into it, and I had to say, "Shhhh!" and listen really hard for what I thought surely must be a train coming.
We heard rushing water, climbed over a hill, scrambled down into a little ravine and enjoyed the most beautiful little mountain stream. Then we saw a makeshift bridge up ahead with an extension cord on it and decided that we better leave since we didn't know if we were trespassed (probably were). But it was so beautiful out in the woods! I got some gorgeous photos of wild hydrangeas and other wildflowers that I don't know the names of. I am completely a list of native plants for one of my MaryJane Sisterhood badges.
Anyway, then we came home, ate leftover burgers, watched Season 4 of The Office, and then I went out to put another coat of clear on the camper floor and got stuck out there during another violent thunder storm. I just laid down on the floor and watched the rain beat on the windows and puddles form on my new floor from the leak in the roof above and waited. It was nice.
I hope that y'all are having an awesome day! I have so far. LOL!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 3:32:30 PM
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Here are a couple of photos of the train tunnel adventure.
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 3:45:22 PM
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OH, Nikki, I LOVE IT!! Is that Hardwick tunnel? That is way, way cool! I'm so jealous of your little adventure. And your waterfall pic made me think that I need to go out to the one on our property and see how it's running. Put some pics of the other wildflowers on here and I'll see if I can help you identify them. Brian said that there's an old tunnel out here that runs under the railroad tracks. That's pretty neat, too!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 4:54:02 PM
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Oh, Cherry! This is totally cool! I just found out that where we were was the Oak Mountain Tunnel and it supposedly has a connection to John Henry! Here is the link. Scroll down to the Oak Mountain Tunnel Part!
http://blog.al.com/goforth/interests/railroad/
This is a place that Lovin' Man has been trying to talk me into going to for about 5 years ! And we finally went today because MaryJane has taught me to say "YES" to adventure. HA! Next, Lovin' Man wants to go to the Coosa Tunnel that is mentioned in that journal.
I am so excited about this! I was actually thinking about John Henry while we were walking through the tunnel, but I couldn't remember his name. We didn't see any ghostly apparitions, but Oakley and I did run through the last half of it just 'cause we were afraid that a train might come. I wasn't afraid of ghosts. No, I wasn't.
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2009 : 4:55:11 PM
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Alee, we must have posted at the same time. I'm so glad you're having fun. We used to go to a place in Calif. for summers called Strawberry. We'd clean stalls to ride the horses for free. Also cleaned the saddles. I'll never forget that. It was fun. And I hope the horse has the baby while you're there to see it. I've never seen a horse or cow give birth but I bet it's about the same as a goat pretty much. Do you have Nora there with you?
Aging grass-fed beef is supposed to tenderize it. The guy here that butchers does not keep it but a few days then makes us come get it. He won't let us keep it there longer. So I think I'll take it to Alabama. But it won't be til about the end of winter before he's ready to go.
Nikki, I went to the Outpost and saw your camper. How neat. I love Airstreams. When I was a kid we'd go from Ga. to Calif. and I remember seeing lots of those all together driving somewhere. They were so pretty all silvery and shiny. I always wanted one. I love how you got stuck in yours while it rained and it was leaking on the floor. So peaceful. And you must be a very sweet person to not go bazonkers when it happened. My crazy self would have gotten up as fast as I could and gotten a bucket. And that tunnel and waterfall in that close to you? How neat is that? That would be kinda spooky to walk thru it.
I also read somewhere that scientists have discovered kudzu is good for alcoholics. It takes away the desire for alcohol. I guess they made it into pill form? And there is a kudzu festival somewhere around here. It's a big thing.
A friend of ours who loves boy toys too got one of those fly zappers that look like a gun. He had a ball with it. It was pretty cool.
It just poured here for 3 minutes then quit. But it's getting awfully dark. I'm glad I'm all done outside. We had everyone here for dinner. Even Abby's boyfriend is here still.
Me and Kansas went to the garden earlier to check on our little killdeer family. One of them was sitting on the nest and when we got too close it took off and did the broken wing thing. SO we told it we were just there to check on them. Then we went to look at the rows of field peas and beans I planted last week. All the field peas are up!!! But I didn't see any beans or corn. But everything looks good so far.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 03:08:01 AM
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Alee, I thought about you last night as I laid my head on my pillow. I wondered, "Is Alee out there somewhere watching a little life coming into the world, staggering awkwardly to its feet and starring with wondering eyes while its momma licks it clean?" It gave me such a happy, warm feeling in my heart. I know that you are having many magical moments, even the poopy rolling is special! LOL!
Oh, Kris! If it is true about kudzu curing alcoholics then the South has enough of it to cure the world! That would be an amazing thing for that pesty vine to be an answer to so many people's prayers! I've gotta look that up!
You went from Georgia to California. Wow! I bet y'all saw many neat things on the way! The most we could manage when I was a kid was to go from Birmingham to Mobile and even that was almost more than I could bear. Ha! I am really blessed with the Airstream. My in-laws gave it to me just so they could get it out of their driveway. I couldn't believe my good fortune. I even went so far as to say it was the best thing that anyone had ever given me! It was all covered in mold inside and I went right to work cleaning it up, even as Lovin' Man disparaged its potential. I was so full of dreams of getting out and going places with it. THEN I pulled up the carpet in the bathroom. OH MY GOSH! I discovered that once again Lovin' Man was right. Dang it. WHY DOES HE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE RIGHT?
That tunnel is about a 20 minute drive from where we live. Pretty awesome to have it so close.
I am so glad that you had all your family over and y'all had a great time! Kansas is so lucky to have you as her grandmother, sharing all the goodness of the outdoors and fresh food and so many sweet animal babies.
Cherry, I cannot believe it. It is freakin' pouring down rain right now at 5AM. Our neighbors down the road will probably have ducks swimming around in their front yard when we drive by. I will post those other wildflower photos when I get on the other computer. Oh, I hope you will know what they are!
I'm sorry that your tomatoes are splitting. My guess would be too much water. I hope that y'alls gardens aren't being washed away!
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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NikkiBeaumont
True Blue Farmgirl
473 Posts
473 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 06:04:19 AM
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Here are those pictures, Cherry. Do you know what they are?
And here is a picture that Oakley made for me last night after I went to bed and she left it under my purse for me to find this morning. The pigs and chickens are stickers. We belong to a "siterhood". Oh, she is so cute.
Farmgirl Sister #554 |
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CherryMeDarlin
True Blue Farmgirl
602 Posts
Cherry
Odenville
AL
USA
602 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2009 : 08:35:50 AM
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Nikki, I went to that link and was AMAZED at the story and that we have something like that around here! I wonder if those paranormal investigator guys know about that tunnel? Surely they do. They staked out some old bridge up around the Pell City/Talladega border. I love, love, love stuff like that! I had the best time in Savannah just thinking about being in such a ghost-ridden old city!
And geez, Louise if it ain't raining AGAIN at 9:36 a.m. Surely this has been the wettest May on the books around here! We can't keep the tree frogs out of the pool, so at least something's enjoying not just all this rain, but the pool, too!
Oakley's picture is too, too cute! Awww...I remember when La used to draw me pictures! (Tear. Sniffle.) My little nieces draw me stuff now. Callie Grace, the soon-to-be-6-yo, even renamed me. I am officially...ta-da-du-da...Aunt Cherry-chipper-cupid-sister! (But you can call me Cherry.) Don't you just want to bite 'em when they're being so stinking cute?
The 2nd picture of your wildflowers is a "sensitive brier". When you touch the leaves, they close up. Pretty cool to play with, but difficult to get rid of. There's one growing in one of my flower beds. But I don't recognize the first one and couldn't find it in my books. Is it more like a shrub or tree? It's very pretty. It kinda looks tropical. I love going through the woods and finding unusual plants and flowers. I plan to hunt ginseng this summer when it's supposed to bloom. It's very selfish of me, but I want to see the man-shaped roots!
And, oh, yes, Lovin' Man does always have to be right. It's a man thing. And they have mastered that "told you so" look to perfection. They've mastered that look so that you know that's what they're thinking yet they don't have to say the words that can later be used against them! Hee! Hee!
Another little tid-bit about kudzu: the Japanese eat the roots. I wonder if it's the roots that they make the pills from. I met this man at Homestead Hollow who sells herbs and herbal remedies and he told me that once upon a time, every thing you needed to treat any complaint could be found in your backyard. I came home that day and stood on the back porch, looking out over the mountain hollow behind the house and pondered on that for the longest time. The next day I was doing subdivision duty and felt so very sad, looking at all those houses sitting on land that had been scraped clean to build on and really mourned all the lost plants. When we bought this land, I made Brian promise me that no matter how bad things may get for us, that he will never sell the timber. Funny thing about that though, when we got d-i-v-o-r-c-e-d, I insisted on keeping the house and property and consoled myself on sleepless, worrisome nights that well, there's always the timber. I am so, so thankful that in 11 years, we haven't had to resort to that. I understand the necessity sometimes. My grandmother had to sell some of the timber off their land after Granddaddy died. But when I think of all those shade-loving, healing plants dying out because the tree canopy is gone, I feel really motherly and possessive towards them.
Kris, I never knew that aging was for tenderizing. Wow. Never too old to learn something new, huh? I understand now why you'd want to drive that steer to Henagar for butchering instead of that local guy. I've been thinking about asking a friend of ours if we could pasture one at his place to fatten up for butchering since Brian says we don't have the right type of grass for cattle. I may have to run that past Brian. This friend already has cows and butchers one of his every year. Or maybe we could buy one of his from him and pay for the butchering. Now my wheels are a turning! All I know is that he gave us some meat once as repayment for some work Brian did for him and it was the BEST beef I've ever ate!
Well, girls, my baby is home and waiting for me to come get her! I've missed her so much and am so thrilled that she's back home and all in one piece!! So I need to "paddle" on over and get her!
~~Cherry~~
http://cherrymedarlin.blogspot.com
"A thing is as simple or as complicated as you make it." --TT Murphy |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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Garden Gate: OMG, What Have I Just Gone & Done: Part 2 |
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OMG, What Have I Just Gone & Done: Part 2
