One of my favorite blogs is Life's Little Garden written by Valerie. I have written Valerie a couple of times because her blog has so blessed my life and brought back so many memories of my Grandmother. Valerie's Granny has been sitting on the right hand of God for a week now and my wish is that Valerie has found peace and comfort in that thought. It doesn't fill the empty spot left in her heart, but it helps it to heal faster.
Granny was a delight to visit with via Valerie's blog. Valerie, I hope you continue to write your stories and we look forward to your memories of Granny.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
I have been down and out for a couple of days with allergies. How could something so small be the cause of so much pain? It is an ongoing problem, but I am on the mend and ready to get back to it.
The chicks are progressing wonderfully. We had a scare on Sunday when the daughter-in-law found a "huge" chicken snake in the barn. We all went running, but the thing out smarted us all and escaped. I am keeping a close eye out for him as I know he is eating my eggs and will continue to do so until he is dispatched to other terrain. I knew something was amiss when production dropped from 5 eggs a day to 2 eggs a day.
The garden is growing by leaps and bounds. The rain has started everyting to growing including the weeds. Suppose to get more water today, so the weeding will have to hold until tomorrow or Thursday. The ground is too wet to be tromping through the rows.
My oldest grandchildren are coming for a short mid week visit and I will be busy "absorbing" for a few days. Who knows what we will find to get into, but I have a couple of ideas. I need to keep them here for a week at least to finish some sewing I started. They grow so fast they will have outgrown everything before I finish.
Until next time,
Happy reading!
Belle
The chicks are progressing wonderfully. We had a scare on Sunday when the daughter-in-law found a "huge" chicken snake in the barn. We all went running, but the thing out smarted us all and escaped. I am keeping a close eye out for him as I know he is eating my eggs and will continue to do so until he is dispatched to other terrain. I knew something was amiss when production dropped from 5 eggs a day to 2 eggs a day.
The garden is growing by leaps and bounds. The rain has started everyting to growing including the weeds. Suppose to get more water today, so the weeding will have to hold until tomorrow or Thursday. The ground is too wet to be tromping through the rows.
My oldest grandchildren are coming for a short mid week visit and I will be busy "absorbing" for a few days. Who knows what we will find to get into, but I have a couple of ideas. I need to keep them here for a week at least to finish some sewing I started. They grow so fast they will have outgrown everything before I finish.
Until next time,
Happy reading!
Belle
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sunday Afternoons
With dinner eaten and dishes washed and put away, we piled in the car and headed out. Out to way was at Dad's discretion and we were always surprised. Sometimes it was a trip to Uncle Owen and Aunt Ruth's (not our aunt or uncle at all, but so close you wouldn't know the difference) or maybe down to Higgins Mill, Pine Mountain, High Falls or over to Jackson Lake. Just a ride to see what the rest of the world was doing and how it was progressing.
Most of the time it was pretty boring for me and Sis. When Sis was bored she wouldn't look out the window so she always got carsick and she would get in the front with Mom and Dad which left me sitting in the back all alone. Normally I would just lay down and take a good nap or watch the passing clouds out the back window. When we weren't bored, we would watch for "Beetles", white horses or make a game out of tag numbers.
The first two or three numbers on the old old tags were the county of registration. Sis and I use to try to guess the counties the cars were from. The killer strip (old highway 41) was the best place to play the tag game as cars from up north travelled this route to get to Florida. An old two lane blacktop with no passing lanes, old highway 41 claimed more lives than the DOT would like to admit. It is a shame that interstates are not conducive to Sunday afternoon rides as we would really rack up with the tags on those vehicles.
In the fall, our Sunday afternoon would takes us to the North Georgia mountains for an afternoon of ohing and ahing as we witnessed the spenldor of the colors of the changing leaves. It seems to have gotten later in the year when this change takes place and doesn't seem as prolific as it once was, but so many of the old hardwoods have been cut out and replaced with pines or hemlocks.
My Dad was and is a firm believer of Sunday as a day of rest. On Sunday, we went to church, ate dinner, and rested - period. There was no work on Sundays, that is until he became a dairy farmer and all that changed. No more Sunday afternoon rides, vacations, or holidays, but those cows provided a decent living for me and my family. He stood be his guns on non-essential work - burning limbs or leaves, cutting grass and nobody in our little family went shopping on a Sunday even after he became a dairy farmer - that was considered non-essential.
In our hurry scurry world, we sometimes get behind some blasted Sunday afternoon drivers that are not in a hurry at all and I feel a pang of envy. Wouldn't it be nice just to roll the windows down and drive real slow along some country road and smell the earth, the trees and the animals and not be in a hurry to get anyplace at all. It is so relaxing and restfull, which is why Dad enjoyed those rides so much. It was an escape from work, chores, and daily living. A speck of peace in a hurried world.
Yes, today is a perfect day for such an unhurried ride. The winds is lightly blowing, the air is fresh after a good nights rain and a peaceful rest is just what we all need. A time to gather strength, rest our bodies and calm our minds.
I hope you find a special way to enjoy your Sunday afternoon. Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Belle
Most of the time it was pretty boring for me and Sis. When Sis was bored she wouldn't look out the window so she always got carsick and she would get in the front with Mom and Dad which left me sitting in the back all alone. Normally I would just lay down and take a good nap or watch the passing clouds out the back window. When we weren't bored, we would watch for "Beetles", white horses or make a game out of tag numbers.
The first two or three numbers on the old old tags were the county of registration. Sis and I use to try to guess the counties the cars were from. The killer strip (old highway 41) was the best place to play the tag game as cars from up north travelled this route to get to Florida. An old two lane blacktop with no passing lanes, old highway 41 claimed more lives than the DOT would like to admit. It is a shame that interstates are not conducive to Sunday afternoon rides as we would really rack up with the tags on those vehicles.
In the fall, our Sunday afternoon would takes us to the North Georgia mountains for an afternoon of ohing and ahing as we witnessed the spenldor of the colors of the changing leaves. It seems to have gotten later in the year when this change takes place and doesn't seem as prolific as it once was, but so many of the old hardwoods have been cut out and replaced with pines or hemlocks.
My Dad was and is a firm believer of Sunday as a day of rest. On Sunday, we went to church, ate dinner, and rested - period. There was no work on Sundays, that is until he became a dairy farmer and all that changed. No more Sunday afternoon rides, vacations, or holidays, but those cows provided a decent living for me and my family. He stood be his guns on non-essential work - burning limbs or leaves, cutting grass and nobody in our little family went shopping on a Sunday even after he became a dairy farmer - that was considered non-essential.
In our hurry scurry world, we sometimes get behind some blasted Sunday afternoon drivers that are not in a hurry at all and I feel a pang of envy. Wouldn't it be nice just to roll the windows down and drive real slow along some country road and smell the earth, the trees and the animals and not be in a hurry to get anyplace at all. It is so relaxing and restfull, which is why Dad enjoyed those rides so much. It was an escape from work, chores, and daily living. A speck of peace in a hurried world.
Yes, today is a perfect day for such an unhurried ride. The winds is lightly blowing, the air is fresh after a good nights rain and a peaceful rest is just what we all need. A time to gather strength, rest our bodies and calm our minds.
I hope you find a special way to enjoy your Sunday afternoon. Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Belle
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Chicken Update
I have 9 beautiful new little chicks that are as of yesterday a week old. Eat, eat, eat and drink, drink, drink is their main forte at this point. We are proud of the little buggers and just know they will be producing big brown eggs in just five months and start giving back.
With our laying hens and roosters, our new chicks brings our flock to number twenty four. Of course, some of these precious babies will be roosters and will either go in the cookpot or to the sale barn.
I want to share a few things we learned through this process. First, keep the temperature between 98 and 100 degrees. We maintained the 100 degree point through the use of an old thermostat from a discarded hot water heater. Second, rotate the eggs in the incubator - this is in addition to turning them three times a day. Third, close to hatching time (21 days in the incubator) listen and watch. We had been told not to help the biddies hatch (remove the shell or open the egg a bit) as this would make for a weak bird, but about nine of our eggs were fully developed but the shells were too hard for the little chicks to break through. They expired in the process and we lost about a dozen little chicks. Fourth, remove the water from the incubator so the babies will not drown (I lost one this way) or move the chicks immediately to another container keeping them warm and dry, but providing food and water (in a container they cannot fall into).
Our chicks did not eat anything on the first day after they hatched, but on the second day they ate like they were starving and haven't slowed down. It took about an hour after hatching for them to dry and get their legs under them, but at a week old they are flutter flying all around their box. The first chick is still the boss of the others as evidence by her tending her flock. I know this will change when they are merged with the larger chicks that are about 7 - 8 weeks now.
I was a proud Mama yesterday when I went into the pen late in the day and found my older chicks (about 4 months old) on the perch roosting with my hens. They have found their place in the flock and the hens are keeping them in line but have accepted them.
I know I have a ways to go, but this has been a most gratifying process and I think I might just try another couple of dozen in a week or so. My friends are anxious to put my babies in a pot for chicken and dumplings, but I think they may have to go to the grocer for their chickens.
Thanks for stopping in for a visit and come back soon!
Happy reading!
Belle
With our laying hens and roosters, our new chicks brings our flock to number twenty four. Of course, some of these precious babies will be roosters and will either go in the cookpot or to the sale barn.
I want to share a few things we learned through this process. First, keep the temperature between 98 and 100 degrees. We maintained the 100 degree point through the use of an old thermostat from a discarded hot water heater. Second, rotate the eggs in the incubator - this is in addition to turning them three times a day. Third, close to hatching time (21 days in the incubator) listen and watch. We had been told not to help the biddies hatch (remove the shell or open the egg a bit) as this would make for a weak bird, but about nine of our eggs were fully developed but the shells were too hard for the little chicks to break through. They expired in the process and we lost about a dozen little chicks. Fourth, remove the water from the incubator so the babies will not drown (I lost one this way) or move the chicks immediately to another container keeping them warm and dry, but providing food and water (in a container they cannot fall into).
Our chicks did not eat anything on the first day after they hatched, but on the second day they ate like they were starving and haven't slowed down. It took about an hour after hatching for them to dry and get their legs under them, but at a week old they are flutter flying all around their box. The first chick is still the boss of the others as evidence by her tending her flock. I know this will change when they are merged with the larger chicks that are about 7 - 8 weeks now.
I was a proud Mama yesterday when I went into the pen late in the day and found my older chicks (about 4 months old) on the perch roosting with my hens. They have found their place in the flock and the hens are keeping them in line but have accepted them.
I know I have a ways to go, but this has been a most gratifying process and I think I might just try another couple of dozen in a week or so. My friends are anxious to put my babies in a pot for chicken and dumplings, but I think they may have to go to the grocer for their chickens.
Thanks for stopping in for a visit and come back soon!
Happy reading!
Belle
Monday, April 19, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Thank goodness a break! No new ones hatched in the last 12 hours, but still have several pecking and scratching inside the shells. The "pecking order" has already started with the first born being king of the roost. It mothers each and everyone and attacks my hand on a regular basis, but eventually just sprawls out and takes a rest with its little head laying down on the back of my hand. The first born is also trying to assist each little chick with the birthing process and even pulled the shell off yesterday. When one little chick poked nothing but its beak out of the little hole in the egg, it was promptly pecked for its effort. It is also the one to peck the others if they interfer in its assumed duties.
We probably will get another dozen out of this batch of eggs, maybe more but no one knows what is going on inside those little shell houses.
Meanwhile, the biddies we purchased at the Buggytown Auction have rapidly out grown their pen and two have been released into the barn with an "escape" pen handy for those times the chickens decide they look good enough to eat. I also feed them in this pen to ensure they get enough to eat.
The laying hens and rooster have enjoyed apple cores and lettuce this week. They really enjoy these treats. When one pecks the apple core the others will chase it around. These ladies will then toss the core into the air and let another catch it and once again the chase is on. Majestic, the dominate rooster, will run a bit and then stop and look around to see if anyone caught his antics. He is so arrogant!
Thanks for dropping in. More updates are pending as are the little broken shells!
Happy Reading!
Belle
We probably will get another dozen out of this batch of eggs, maybe more but no one knows what is going on inside those little shell houses.
Meanwhile, the biddies we purchased at the Buggytown Auction have rapidly out grown their pen and two have been released into the barn with an "escape" pen handy for those times the chickens decide they look good enough to eat. I also feed them in this pen to ensure they get enough to eat.
The laying hens and rooster have enjoyed apple cores and lettuce this week. They really enjoy these treats. When one pecks the apple core the others will chase it around. These ladies will then toss the core into the air and let another catch it and once again the chase is on. Majestic, the dominate rooster, will run a bit and then stop and look around to see if anyone caught his antics. He is so arrogant!
Thanks for dropping in. More updates are pending as are the little broken shells!
Happy Reading!
Belle
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
I fear this is going to be a long process - one more hatched overnight and two more are cracking. The two that were cracking yesterday are still in process. It seems the blue eggs (probably a variety of a game chicken) hatching hatching easier than the brown eggs which is logical as the brown eggs have probably been fed a laying mash with extra calcium where the game chicks foraged free.
I have two beige and 1 black. One precious baby got into the water container before I could get to it and drowned. So, if 50 - 75 % are expected to hatch, we started with 120 eggs, lost 12 due to accidental crushing or dropping, a hen is still sitting on 6 and 6 are ladies in waiting, then I still have a long long way to go.
Expect 5 more to hatch today, but that is what I thought yesterday also. Buying the eggs as mixed dozens, I have no idea what we will end up with, but I must be game for anything or we wouldn't have started this process to begin with.
It looks like we are pretty close to the normal hatching days as the eggs were started on March 21 and that puts us on day 24. Thanks for letting me share this experience with you and come back soon for more updates.
By the way, the garden has not suffered as I have hoed and planted while the chicks are doing their thing! Thanks to all the rain we have had over the winter and early spring, the flowers and plants are flourishing. I did lose my sago palms, but we had a really nasty winter as far as temperatures and snow went. My "thrift" is beautiful and I am so pleased that my rosa rugosa came back and is so full and lush. My asparagus is sprouting its little shoots everywhere and the hostas (thanks to all the rain) has multiplied into large bushy clumps.
Again, thanks for visiting and come back soon!
Happy reading!
Belle
I have two beige and 1 black. One precious baby got into the water container before I could get to it and drowned. So, if 50 - 75 % are expected to hatch, we started with 120 eggs, lost 12 due to accidental crushing or dropping, a hen is still sitting on 6 and 6 are ladies in waiting, then I still have a long long way to go.
Expect 5 more to hatch today, but that is what I thought yesterday also. Buying the eggs as mixed dozens, I have no idea what we will end up with, but I must be game for anything or we wouldn't have started this process to begin with.
It looks like we are pretty close to the normal hatching days as the eggs were started on March 21 and that puts us on day 24. Thanks for letting me share this experience with you and come back soon for more updates.
By the way, the garden has not suffered as I have hoed and planted while the chicks are doing their thing! Thanks to all the rain we have had over the winter and early spring, the flowers and plants are flourishing. I did lose my sago palms, but we had a really nasty winter as far as temperatures and snow went. My "thrift" is beautiful and I am so pleased that my rosa rugosa came back and is so full and lush. My asparagus is sprouting its little shoots everywhere and the hostas (thanks to all the rain) has multiplied into large bushy clumps.
Again, thanks for visiting and come back soon!
Happy reading!
Belle
Monday, April 12, 2010
Consistently for three weeks we have turned eggs three times a day - 6 to 8 hours apart - not knowing whether we had even purchased fertile eggs, nevertheless, hoping that our efforts would pay off. Friday was suppose to be hatching day, but I do understand that the temperature must stay within the 99 to 100 degree window for the process to even begin, so it can vary by a few days.
We started checking the eggs on Friday in hopes that we would be able to watch the little shells burst open and little creatures would emerge. My daughter and granddaughter, very excited over the idea, swore they heard scratching and chirping. I heard nothing and was sure they were hallucinating due their wishing to be part of the birthing process.
I had a rather busy morning on the inside and did not rush out to check my biddies and the eggs in the incubator, but around mid-morning I hit the barn. Two little biddies had hatched and were soaking wet and wobbling around in the incubator. With pounding heart and a smile on my face, I quickly gathered them in an old towel and tucked them safely into the corner of the incubator to keep them warm and dry. I removed the water and placed a small plastic top in the bottom with water and feed. It took about an hour for them to settled in and start to cuddle in their bed. That was about 4 hours ago and 5 more eggs are cracking and the little peeps are chirping away in their shells.
Of course I called hubby to let him know that his 10 dozen egg purchase was not in vain and that the little peeps were hatching fine. I am now the nursey and delivery nurse for the rest of the day. Will catch you up on my progress during the day. I am in the process of making a true nursery for the little darlings. I have read that the process can take from 5 - 10 days so I will be watchful until I am sure the process in over.
Stay with me on my chicken and biddy venture! It is so exciting to watch the miracle of birth which only further affirms that our God is one of miracles!
Happy reading!
Belle
We started checking the eggs on Friday in hopes that we would be able to watch the little shells burst open and little creatures would emerge. My daughter and granddaughter, very excited over the idea, swore they heard scratching and chirping. I heard nothing and was sure they were hallucinating due their wishing to be part of the birthing process.
I had a rather busy morning on the inside and did not rush out to check my biddies and the eggs in the incubator, but around mid-morning I hit the barn. Two little biddies had hatched and were soaking wet and wobbling around in the incubator. With pounding heart and a smile on my face, I quickly gathered them in an old towel and tucked them safely into the corner of the incubator to keep them warm and dry. I removed the water and placed a small plastic top in the bottom with water and feed. It took about an hour for them to settled in and start to cuddle in their bed. That was about 4 hours ago and 5 more eggs are cracking and the little peeps are chirping away in their shells.
Of course I called hubby to let him know that his 10 dozen egg purchase was not in vain and that the little peeps were hatching fine. I am now the nursey and delivery nurse for the rest of the day. Will catch you up on my progress during the day. I am in the process of making a true nursery for the little darlings. I have read that the process can take from 5 - 10 days so I will be watchful until I am sure the process in over.
Stay with me on my chicken and biddy venture! It is so exciting to watch the miracle of birth which only further affirms that our God is one of miracles!
Happy reading!
Belle
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
My World in April
Only a few days left before we see whether or not or diligence has paid off and we are blessed with new chicks. The process hasn't really been that bad, but has been a little inconvenient having to turn the eggs three times a day.
Wouldn't you know it, one of our hens has gone back to brooding (sitting) on her eggs. It would have been nice if she had decided to do this 20 days ago. Anyway, that means I will be doing without her eggs for a few weeks, but I have two more hens that have started laying regularly.
Plan on getting some tomatoes and pepper plants in this weekend in between yard selling and visiting with my grandchildren. My potaoes are growing profusely and the beets, beans, squash, and lettuce are all showing their little heads and the rain scheduled for tomorrow will not only provided relief from the pollen, but also give these little guys a much needed drink. After the weekend I will put the okra in as the ground will not only be moist but warm enough for the temperamental okra seeds to sprout. I do believe those little okra seeds have a thermometer stuck in them and they refuse to take action until it reaches the ideal temperature - maybe I should put them in the incubator.
My hostas and canna lillies have started poking their beautiful green foliage through the ground and I am anxious to see how well they multiplied in their first year. I will dig them up and separate in the fall, but I usually let them rest in the first year. I do believe I managed to kill my asparagus fern by dividing this spring. Usually, an asparagus fern needs to be divided each spring by removing from the pot and cutting into four equal pie shaped and then replanting in fresh potting soil. I noticed when I divided my two pots, the roots were extremely spongy so I was unsure whether they would make it or not. I should have seen some new growth by now as it has been almost two weeks since I divided and re-potted. I may need to start over with the ferns.
In all my 50 years in dealing with plants, I have never been able to grow Aloe. I know, everyone says it is the easiest thing in the world to grow, but up until this year I could kill it by thinking about it. My dear sister gave me several plants when I requested some droppings from her Chandelier cactus (fern). A story in itself as to how she came about having this unusual, but beautiful plant, but I seemed to have left mine exposed during an early cold snap year before and wanted to start some more. Not only did sis bless me with many baby cactus, but gifted me with many, many Aloe.
I tried something different and am well pleased with the results. I took a couple of fish bowls, poured sand in the bottom to about 2 inches, adding 3-4 inches of potting soil, then watering until the potting soil is damp (not wet) once a week. The aloe has flourished in these bowls and they make a beautiful centerpiece. The fronds lift out of the bowl and spread. I added a few small animals to the bowls which has become a favorite topic of conversation.
Time for me to get a move on it. I am making some pretty halter tops and vests to go in my online shop (http://www.clairescollections.etsy.com/), but that will have to wait until after my yard sale this weekend. Keep your eyes open I may have something just for you listed soon. I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping in!
Happy reading!
Belle
Wouldn't you know it, one of our hens has gone back to brooding (sitting) on her eggs. It would have been nice if she had decided to do this 20 days ago. Anyway, that means I will be doing without her eggs for a few weeks, but I have two more hens that have started laying regularly.
Plan on getting some tomatoes and pepper plants in this weekend in between yard selling and visiting with my grandchildren. My potaoes are growing profusely and the beets, beans, squash, and lettuce are all showing their little heads and the rain scheduled for tomorrow will not only provided relief from the pollen, but also give these little guys a much needed drink. After the weekend I will put the okra in as the ground will not only be moist but warm enough for the temperamental okra seeds to sprout. I do believe those little okra seeds have a thermometer stuck in them and they refuse to take action until it reaches the ideal temperature - maybe I should put them in the incubator.
My hostas and canna lillies have started poking their beautiful green foliage through the ground and I am anxious to see how well they multiplied in their first year. I will dig them up and separate in the fall, but I usually let them rest in the first year. I do believe I managed to kill my asparagus fern by dividing this spring. Usually, an asparagus fern needs to be divided each spring by removing from the pot and cutting into four equal pie shaped and then replanting in fresh potting soil. I noticed when I divided my two pots, the roots were extremely spongy so I was unsure whether they would make it or not. I should have seen some new growth by now as it has been almost two weeks since I divided and re-potted. I may need to start over with the ferns.
In all my 50 years in dealing with plants, I have never been able to grow Aloe. I know, everyone says it is the easiest thing in the world to grow, but up until this year I could kill it by thinking about it. My dear sister gave me several plants when I requested some droppings from her Chandelier cactus (fern). A story in itself as to how she came about having this unusual, but beautiful plant, but I seemed to have left mine exposed during an early cold snap year before and wanted to start some more. Not only did sis bless me with many baby cactus, but gifted me with many, many Aloe.
I tried something different and am well pleased with the results. I took a couple of fish bowls, poured sand in the bottom to about 2 inches, adding 3-4 inches of potting soil, then watering until the potting soil is damp (not wet) once a week. The aloe has flourished in these bowls and they make a beautiful centerpiece. The fronds lift out of the bowl and spread. I added a few small animals to the bowls which has become a favorite topic of conversation.
Time for me to get a move on it. I am making some pretty halter tops and vests to go in my online shop (http://www.clairescollections.etsy.com/), but that will have to wait until after my yard sale this weekend. Keep your eyes open I may have something just for you listed soon. I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping in!
Happy reading!
Belle
Monday, April 5, 2010
Thank You, Preacher Mac!
I sat in the same pew I did 50 years ago and the memories came flooding back. With Johnny, Gwen, Billy, Barbara, Donald, Dennis, Dean and the rest easily slouched down in the pew behind. Janice, Diane, Mary Ann and I would peek over the top to watch them as the good old gospel songs were sung and we all waited for Preacher Mac to call his "Syrup Soppers" to the front to listen to our special Bible story and sing our special songs. There was not a child in that church that did not know that Jesus loved every one of us and we were His. He made his children a part of the church, keeping the families worshipping together.
Preacher Mac didn't wait to teach us, but he grasp our little minds early with love and caring and showed us that we belonged to Jesus. We were left with no doubt that Jesus had claimed us, would protect us, and guide us through life. We felt the security of Jesus' love.
Through Preacher Mac's stories we learned the Bible from front to back, from God's great creations to his son returning to gather us all up unto the heavens at the end of time. We were taught not only the words of the Bible, but how it applies to our lives today. He taught us fear out of reverance and the joy found in living our lives for Christ Jesus.
Preacher Mac was a special man. He could reprimand from the pulpit without offending, yet each and every offender knew he was being admonished, leavingmany wondering how did he find out about that. He had a Bible verse for every occurrance and didn't just share the verse, but could explain exactly how it applied to each of us and our situations. He knew his people and he knew his Bible.
Our little church flourished under his ministry. No one missed church on Sunday and if we did Preacher Mac would visit or call before services on Sunday night. During his ministry we had more "dinners on the ground" than any other time, because everyone wanted to eat with the preacher.
Preacher Mac taught us to give thanks when God'a sun comes up in the morning giving us another day to His moon rising at night signaling the time for rest from our labors. God created it all for our benefit and enjoyment that we might glorify Him. Preacher Mac belived and taught that we should pray continually asking God to guide our thoughts, steps and actions. If it would not be pleasing to God, leave it alone.
There are many scholarly pastors in the world, but few great teachers. Preacher Mac was touched by God and it was evident in the way he lived his life and preached the Gospel. I thank God for sending him to our little Church and enriching all the lives of those that had the honor of knowing him. This little "Syrup Sopper" remembers.
Preacher Mac didn't wait to teach us, but he grasp our little minds early with love and caring and showed us that we belonged to Jesus. We were left with no doubt that Jesus had claimed us, would protect us, and guide us through life. We felt the security of Jesus' love.
Through Preacher Mac's stories we learned the Bible from front to back, from God's great creations to his son returning to gather us all up unto the heavens at the end of time. We were taught not only the words of the Bible, but how it applies to our lives today. He taught us fear out of reverance and the joy found in living our lives for Christ Jesus.
Preacher Mac was a special man. He could reprimand from the pulpit without offending, yet each and every offender knew he was being admonished, leavingmany wondering how did he find out about that. He had a Bible verse for every occurrance and didn't just share the verse, but could explain exactly how it applied to each of us and our situations. He knew his people and he knew his Bible.
Our little church flourished under his ministry. No one missed church on Sunday and if we did Preacher Mac would visit or call before services on Sunday night. During his ministry we had more "dinners on the ground" than any other time, because everyone wanted to eat with the preacher.
Preacher Mac taught us to give thanks when God'a sun comes up in the morning giving us another day to His moon rising at night signaling the time for rest from our labors. God created it all for our benefit and enjoyment that we might glorify Him. Preacher Mac belived and taught that we should pray continually asking God to guide our thoughts, steps and actions. If it would not be pleasing to God, leave it alone.
There are many scholarly pastors in the world, but few great teachers. Preacher Mac was touched by God and it was evident in the way he lived his life and preached the Gospel. I thank God for sending him to our little Church and enriching all the lives of those that had the honor of knowing him. This little "Syrup Sopper" remembers.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Grandpa, a tall, slender man, couldn't stay in the house for any length of time. He enjoyed cooking and didn't mind cleaning the kitchen, but that was the extent of his household chores. He was an outdoor man. Piddling in his barn, cutting the grass or working his garden was where you could always find Grandpa. A quiet, gentle man, he was always a pleasure to be around. Some may have called Grandpa a simple man, but he was far from simple minded. Sharp as a tack with patience to spare, he could design and build anything from a piece of furniture to a house - he designed and built his own home, but he knew how to make do with what he had.
In the winter, I would follow him to the barn and watch as he worked on tools, repaired chairs or tables, or built some piece of furniture for the house. He was a fine carpenter and seem to be able to build a beautiful piece of furniture out of scaps. He used hand tools - no, not the power tools of today - to slowly plane the wood to the perfect size. He used a brace and bit when holes needed to be bored and made his own sand blocks for achieving the smooth beautiful finish on his furniture. He carved his own dowels and biscuits to ensure a good tight fit to each piece of furniture he made. I could sit idly by and watch him for hours, but when I "got on his nerves" he would tell me to go check on Grandma and make sure she was alright.
In the spring, Grandpa would get his mule out and plow the garden. Poor old mule, that was the only time Grandpa put him to use. Grandpa felt that if you wanted to eat you had to plant and Grandma's freezer was always full. He had a huge field that he planted each and every year. From the road to the barn, about 300 feet, he turned the ground and layed out the rows. I would go with Grandpa to the seed store and we would come out with bags of limas, string beans, corn, okra, squash, cucumbers, crowder peas, watermelons, cantelopes and of course tomato plants. Grandpa didn't waste garden space on vegetables he didn't like, but he was known to plant a few gourds for his bird houses and scoops.
I wasn't allowed in the garden until it was time to put the seed in the rows, but I sat at the edge of the yard and watched as he turned the ground. I had the job of dropping the seed, but Grandpa was awfully finicky about dopping the seed. I would scoot down the row on my bottom putting the seed in the row. Grandpa would place the first few seeds and tell me to space the rest of the row just like he had done. He would follow me covering the seeds and if I didn't have them spaced right he would tell me "too close together" or "too far apart." I loved scooting down the row in the freshly turned dirt curling my toes in as I scooted along, but man those rows were long. When the planting was done, we waited on the rain and watched for the little shoots to poke through.
My work was done until picking time, Granpa didn't trust anybody with a hoe in his garden but him. I would sit at the edge of the yard and watch him hoe up and down those long rows. Sometimes he would take a break and send me for a glass of water while he rolled him a Prince Albert. Grandpa didn't smoke much, but he enjoyed his cigarette after eating, midmorning, right before bed and those breaks after hoeing the garden.
I think of Grandpa often, but this time of year when I turn my garden, lay out the rows, and place my seeds, he is very close to me. Grandpa always had enough garden for the whole family. Maybe I will make my garden bigger this year.
I have been looking for those same Alabama Black pole beans that were so good tasting and had little or no strings, but I have not found the first one. One of these days I will find someone that has a stash and maybe they will share. For now, I am off to my garden for more planting. The ground has warmed and tomorrow is Good Friday! Thank you all for visiting and come back soon!
Happy reading!
Belle
In the winter, I would follow him to the barn and watch as he worked on tools, repaired chairs or tables, or built some piece of furniture for the house. He was a fine carpenter and seem to be able to build a beautiful piece of furniture out of scaps. He used hand tools - no, not the power tools of today - to slowly plane the wood to the perfect size. He used a brace and bit when holes needed to be bored and made his own sand blocks for achieving the smooth beautiful finish on his furniture. He carved his own dowels and biscuits to ensure a good tight fit to each piece of furniture he made. I could sit idly by and watch him for hours, but when I "got on his nerves" he would tell me to go check on Grandma and make sure she was alright.
In the spring, Grandpa would get his mule out and plow the garden. Poor old mule, that was the only time Grandpa put him to use. Grandpa felt that if you wanted to eat you had to plant and Grandma's freezer was always full. He had a huge field that he planted each and every year. From the road to the barn, about 300 feet, he turned the ground and layed out the rows. I would go with Grandpa to the seed store and we would come out with bags of limas, string beans, corn, okra, squash, cucumbers, crowder peas, watermelons, cantelopes and of course tomato plants. Grandpa didn't waste garden space on vegetables he didn't like, but he was known to plant a few gourds for his bird houses and scoops.
I wasn't allowed in the garden until it was time to put the seed in the rows, but I sat at the edge of the yard and watched as he turned the ground. I had the job of dropping the seed, but Grandpa was awfully finicky about dopping the seed. I would scoot down the row on my bottom putting the seed in the row. Grandpa would place the first few seeds and tell me to space the rest of the row just like he had done. He would follow me covering the seeds and if I didn't have them spaced right he would tell me "too close together" or "too far apart." I loved scooting down the row in the freshly turned dirt curling my toes in as I scooted along, but man those rows were long. When the planting was done, we waited on the rain and watched for the little shoots to poke through.
My work was done until picking time, Granpa didn't trust anybody with a hoe in his garden but him. I would sit at the edge of the yard and watch him hoe up and down those long rows. Sometimes he would take a break and send me for a glass of water while he rolled him a Prince Albert. Grandpa didn't smoke much, but he enjoyed his cigarette after eating, midmorning, right before bed and those breaks after hoeing the garden.
I think of Grandpa often, but this time of year when I turn my garden, lay out the rows, and place my seeds, he is very close to me. Grandpa always had enough garden for the whole family. Maybe I will make my garden bigger this year.
I have been looking for those same Alabama Black pole beans that were so good tasting and had little or no strings, but I have not found the first one. One of these days I will find someone that has a stash and maybe they will share. For now, I am off to my garden for more planting. The ground has warmed and tomorrow is Good Friday! Thank you all for visiting and come back soon!
Happy reading!
Belle
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