tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-213594142011-10-05T14:16:28.503-05:00Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.comBlogger5741100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-1302100248758546072009-06-17T07:57:00.007-05:002009-06-17T08:49:46.734-05:00

I've been watching for yellow in my daily life of late because of Project Spectrum. Though I don't normally wear yellow or want to knit or sew with yellow as a main color, I love it as an accent. Having said that I will confess to having yellow in my life in a big way, almost daily, as evidenced by the first picture.Princess and I spend many hours in yellow driving to class and rehearsals. I

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-42294230114978010442009-05-05T07:44:00.005-05:002009-05-05T08:38:58.821-05:00

A garden fence is a must have hardscape of the farm yard, especially if you have yard birds running amok. We have over twenty chickens (I'm scared to count because I don't want to know how out of hand I've become) and one pet turkey that would love to scratch out all the seedlings, peck any emerging produce, and feast at the compost bin.This year, instead of just protecting the crops, we have a

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-14043504791290204502009-05-02T08:35:00.008-05:002009-05-02T09:20:13.284-05:00

Sugar Snaps grow only during the spring and sporadically during the winter here. We get too hot to have a long growing season with delicate pea plants, lettuces, broccoli, and carrots. We have been in the 80's this week which means my precious peas won't last much longer, but this week we are enjoying this fantastically crisp and sweet treat in abundance.We like them barely cooked, either

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-22539375484678114162009-04-19T20:32:00.005-05:002009-04-19T20:44:05.965-05:00

There is something incredibly satisfying about walking out to my very own peach orchard, breathing deeply the scented air, and watching my very own bees pollinate the blooms that will produce the sweetest, most luscious Redhaven peaches in July. We are busy here. In fact, we are so busy that this picture was taken a couple of weeks ago. We now have tiny little peaches where all those blooms

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-36421118768250793232009-03-01T16:34:00.002-06:002009-03-01T16:43:04.623-06:00

Spring needs some serious help lifting itself into full bloom. One month ago, I found the first daffodil. Today, we had snow and I will have to find someway to warm my fruit trees tonight. The projected low temperature of 26 is not a great thing for fruit trees in bloom . We have weeks in the upper 60s and low 70s, tricking the trees and flowers into bloom, then BAM, back to winter.Isn't it

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-5455430939387458872009-02-08T15:17:00.002-06:002009-02-08T15:46:46.613-06:00

We have started our annual battle with thistle. Honestly, I think thistle is pretty, but when your hayfield is inundated the beauty begins to fade. This year we are trying a clove oil spray early in the season, and will resort to digging and bagging, as is our usual, when it begins flowering. Driving through the pasture on a tractor with a trailer sprayer full of Round-Up would be much easier,

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-15953810644456851862009-01-30T16:27:00.006-06:002009-01-30T17:16:06.528-06:00

As is my custom, I like to recognize the first daffodil of the year. For some reason, seeing that yellow bloom, even if the weather is stinky, makes me feel like spring is drawing nigh. My spirits soar. I begin piddling in the dirt, ordering seeds, and making plans. The power of that first flower is awesome.Though my spirits are rising, the temperatures are all over the place. A few weeks

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-83870735666894782222009-01-23T15:09:00.005-06:002009-01-24T08:46:36.411-06:00

This is Dusty. Dusty isn't his real name, but his real name is really weird (Spanish Straw DJ) so when we bought this horse for K, we asked him what he wanted to call him and Dusty became Dusty. True, changing an animal's name after 20 years seems mean, but the horse is smart and never missed a beat. I think he hated the other name. The horse comes up to the gate when you call, especially if

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-78392010809885951362008-12-16T17:12:00.004-06:002008-12-16T17:49:27.544-06:00

Believe it or not, I was attacked by Frosty the Snowman. Well, not the whole, "all a livin'" Frosty, but a small piece of him. Snow, in the South, can cause all sorts of strange behaviors. We had tons of big, juicy, snowflakes that fell on well saturated, but not frozen ground and the natives went crazy for the 14 hours the snow lasted. We made snowmen, though they were quite dirty. The snow

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-64217270445131245232008-12-09T07:53:00.002-06:002008-12-09T09:02:16.309-06:00

Nutcracker is over. Our 150 mile daily commutes are done. Four hour rehearsals are done. My late nights and early mornings are done. Sticky, hair gelled hands are done (until after Christmas). Believe it or not, I am experiencing a sense of loss. Loss of what, I don't know. Sanity? After two months of extra rehearsals, a week of daily stagings and dress rehearsals, and six performances,

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-18170759085951016932008-11-13T17:54:00.006-06:002008-11-13T18:29:44.551-06:00

I think I mentioned once or twice that we have some rental property. We have one house less, today. We may have one cat more.Yesterday, the children and I kept hearing sirens while doing school. Gawkers that we are, we had to run out onto the front porch to see what we could see. What we saw was smoke billowing over the hill. We realized it had to be our house. Obviously we went on full

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-13743947368211046522008-11-07T07:54:00.005-06:002008-11-07T08:42:05.544-06:00

Can you find the pecans? Seriously, you can't walk without crunching one, but when you are harvesting you can't see them until you hear the crunch. When people come to the house, they rarely make it inside, not that I want anyone to see the mess. They stand in the yard, pick up pecans two by two and crack them, then eat - one of the pleasures of fall.The chickens love them, too. As do the

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-60047751554989868422008-11-06T06:28:00.005-06:002008-11-06T07:46:14.904-06:00

I hate to do this. I really like to post about one thing at a time, but I can't seem to find the time to post regularly. So here goes.This. I feel that having knowledge that a certain vice-presidential candidate didn't know that Africa was a continent, not a country (My children, who aren't old enough to vote, know that Africa is a continent and consists of many countries.), and not telling it

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-17281627365509705512008-11-04T08:59:00.003-06:002008-11-04T09:11:38.005-06:00

I've voted. Here, there are no lines, few controversies, and no campaigning outside of the polling place. The only weirdness was that Roger Wicker, a Republican candidate for the Senate, printed out a sample ballot that made him appear to be a Democrat. I didn't get one, but they were around. I also got a text message that suggested that all Obama supporters should vote on Wednesday. Since

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-15686354481178730892008-10-31T08:18:00.003-05:002008-10-31T08:47:47.434-05:00

I'll come back to the bee fun tomorrow because I have so much to say and y'all are giving me an excuse to drone on and on by asking questions.But. . . Today, we are going to a haunted house, and making popcorn balls and gingerbread cookies. Last night we carved the pumpkins. Then, K experimented with nighttime photography with some fiery results.We had more time for experiments than the

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-45533481147756354262008-10-27T11:26:00.004-05:002008-10-27T12:55:38.250-05:00

Zilla needs more information than I thought would be interesting in yesterday's post. Who knew that honey could be so fascinating? Nevertheless, here goes.An Account of what I Know About HoneyHoney is the by-product of the bee's harvest of pollen and nectar so it stands to reason that the product would reflect the inputs. From a beekeeper's point of view there are two basic harvests, spring

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-43376727337224373642008-10-26T13:45:00.005-05:002008-10-26T15:26:49.049-05:00

One of the things I've been doing when I haven't been writing is harvesting honey. Actually, we harvested about a month ago, but we returned some of the extracted comb to the hive for a fall flow. I know it doesn't seem logical to those of you who are already shivering, but we are in the prime of goldenrod and fall flower season. We'll slip these fall supers off at the end of November when the

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-70931344536857391952008-10-07T07:58:00.003-05:002008-10-07T08:47:33.504-05:00

Sittin' by the roadsideOn a sunny day Chattin' with my mess matesPassin' time away Lyin' in the shadows Underneath the trees Goodness, how deliciousEatin' goober peas Peas, peas, peas, peas Eatin' goober peas Peas, peas, peas, peas Eatin' goober peasPeanuts have been harvested in our area. The green, non-cured, peanuts are great for boiling and are an oh so delicious salty treat. Yum! Yum!

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-68409918099984196192008-10-05T18:43:00.003-05:002008-10-05T19:01:55.079-05:00

Thanks to my little sister who called and suggested the pear entry was getting stale, Melanie for de-lurking to inspire me with all the nice things she says about me, and Zilla who is ever encouraging via email, I am finally posting something.Something.Just kidding. I'll give you a brief update on activities here, then I'll go into detail in separate posts. We've harvested gallons of honey,

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-59795901346506346902008-09-05T06:55:00.003-05:002008-09-05T07:15:41.479-05:00

Though our area was a near miss for hurricane force winds, we have gotten rain, rain, and more rain. Last night, after I thought it was finished, we got even more rain. In other words, we have spent a good bit of time inside. The time was not wasted.We made pear preserves.Pear preserves are the most labor intensive of the fruit based canning I do, because you have to peel the pears, core the

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-73528350061108680462008-09-04T07:41:00.008-05:002008-09-05T14:42:30.836-05:00

dnshepard at webshots.comBarracudas are fearless marine fish known for their fierceness and ambush style hunting. They lie in wait and catch their prey by surprise.Barracudas have a large mouth filled with teeth that look like tiny daggers.Great barracudas don't nurture their young.Barracudas eat young barracudas.Barracudas sometimes hunt in a group by herding small fish into shallow

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-48209306453423937022008-08-31T14:00:00.005-05:002008-08-31T14:20:45.485-05:00

McCain and Palin are coming to Mississippi to check on our preparations. What on earth? I just can't see what contribution they can make other than to slow traffic. If they really wanted to help they could go heave-ho some sandbags further south than Jackson or even go to Louisiana where the storm is scheduled to have the greatest impact.Haley invited him. Funny, he didn't look like he

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-29934349800790217902008-08-30T17:37:00.003-05:002008-08-30T18:26:25.466-05:00

I just watched a live message from MEMA on my television. I must say I was impressed. Mississippi has reacted strongly and started evacuations earlier than most even though the hurricane is not yet targeting our coast.Anyway, yesterday Haley Barbour, our governor, began his talk with "This is not a time to panic, but is a time to get prepared." I like that, though I'm not particularly enamored

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-13444248757380566832008-08-30T13:12:00.003-05:002008-08-30T13:24:03.493-05:00

Gustav is now a Cat 4. I've begun to think about the possibility of having a stretch of bad weather, though Mississippi probably won't have a direct hit. We will just get more rain, chance of tornadoes, and some wind. We are far enough away from the coast to feel safe unless there is a direct Mississippi hit.Baton Rogue, Houma, and all the little towns on the coast of Louisiana look as if they

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-2729143321246813862008-08-30T11:05:00.002-05:002008-08-30T11:24:23.941-05:00

Do you remember last month when I posted about the providence of finding Yellow Dog Books? I was thrilled to "have to" go to Madison, rather than Jackson for ballet simply because I knew I could walk across the street to this wonderfully personal bookstore.Mr. W even bought me a gift card for my birthday, so I could shop without guilt.They are closing. They just didn't have enough business to

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-61416750067838995522008-08-29T16:27:00.003-05:002008-08-29T17:12:29.565-05:00

Ever so much happened while I was unable to write. In fact I may have to write a few times a day for a while just to keep you current.One of the biggest things for our family is that we did connect. Let me explain.When we first moved to the hill, we bought a television antenna, but were stymied about how and where to attach it to this old house. It just didn't seem to fit and so many other

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-90444843455144111332008-08-29T07:30:00.004-05:002008-08-29T08:14:52.513-05:00

I've been in a period of annoyingly intermittent phone/internet service that made it difficult to post, respond, and talk on the phone. Technically, I had phone service, but the static on the line would get so bad I would temporarily hear a dial tone rather than the caller. If the caller didn't hang up, we would eventually reconnect. DSL internet relies on static-free lines, so surfing was

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-90850084294491227642008-08-13T08:14:00.003-05:002008-08-13T08:43:14.112-05:00

We are having unseasonably cool and wet weather this week. I suppose you could say it started last Friday with a high of 89° and a low of 66°, but I say that it started last Monday with a high of 95° with low humidity and a low of 70°. True, 95° is not cool, but lower humidity made it feel cool. Usually in mid-August we are in the broiler, so to speak, with temperatures in the high 90s and low

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-79153233637578141662008-08-10T14:40:00.004-05:002008-08-10T15:22:29.695-05:00

I've been using tomatoes. This time making catsup, which is what one of my grandmothers used to call it, ketchup, which is what branded varieties are called, or Catchup, which I find is an older version. Making this condiment takes lots of tomatoes and it is so much better than the bottled versions that are laced with high fructose corn syrup and who knows what else. I think I'll start calling

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-35866816670101207432008-08-09T08:33:00.003-05:002008-08-09T09:24:05.289-05:00

Yesterday, while we were in Jackson, Tuxie, my most favorite cat, was hit by a car and died. I thought I was old enough to not get emotional over the loss of a pet, especially an inside/outside cat who really couldn't tolerate ownership, but I'm not.We have lots more cats, but Tux can never be replaced. She epitomized cat - poised, graceful, well-groomed, and cuddly, yet intensely territorial

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-57632143582159112822008-08-08T06:31:00.005-05:002008-08-08T07:55:18.006-05:00

I was responding to comments on my Adventure post and I realized I had more to say. I still commented so you can go read that. I'm not saying the same thing here.First off. I don't know how she does it since she lives at least 800 miles away and we only email occasionally, but Zilla seems to know the rest of the story without me writing it. Yes, we were out searching for alligators for my son

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-55478034627086029022008-08-07T13:54:00.012-05:002008-08-07T15:09:22.505-05:00

K and I had a small adventure this morning. I mean small in the smallest way. I think our total river mile tally came to four, yet quality should certainly count. I just had to get away from the tomatoes, the computer, and from stuff in general. School started today in our area. We're counting this as PE, science, and let's see . . . What else? Not really. We are counting this as fun. I

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-29279066899411489732008-08-04T16:26:00.005-05:002008-08-04T17:33:58.905-05:00

Mississippi summer found us! We have been enduring the typical heat of the season. Though the temperatures are not as high as some years, the humidity is producing enough stifling heat to steam some fish. Perhaps, I exaggerate, but not much. The heat index was 110° yesterday.The heat arrived just in time for The Neshoba County Fair. We attended just to prove how tough we were and because

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-85540448369306045742008-07-15T08:10:00.004-05:002008-07-15T08:28:20.198-05:00

But I do like this NPR story.And the sentiment behind it. Do you own your stuff?

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-71023503519660630392008-07-14T20:21:00.004-05:002008-07-28T13:29:39.688-05:00

I've endured one week and one day of ballet camp. I'm not attending. My daughter is, but I may as well since my days are wasted in the metropolitan Jackson area. We leave the house around 7 a.m. and return by about 5 p.m. I did baby sit two days last week for my little sister, and pick up some emergency merchandise for the family business, so it wasn't totally wasted.Oh! One other thing. I

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-86644184082521223982008-07-06T09:28:00.003-05:002008-07-06T10:02:16.943-05:00

Prehistoric birds,Enormous bumble bees,Squash with pizazz, andAnd a BIG SMILE!

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-25078075555589372972008-07-05T08:20:00.003-05:002008-07-05T09:01:14.114-05:00

I would guess that there is not a garden in this area that does not have at least one row of southern peas, lumped affectionately together as black-eyed peas. The ones I grow are technically pink eye, purple hull peas, but fill the same niche in our garden and larder. There are subtle taste and texture differences between crowders, black-eyed, purple hull, and lady finger, so you try a few and

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-14599094819046597952008-07-01T07:10:00.005-05:002008-07-01T07:14:44.188-05:00

Whew!  That was tiring.

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-86245786400547970032008-06-30T07:44:00.005-05:002008-06-30T09:50:12.498-05:00

This snake doesn't have an egg shoved in his mouth and I didn't crop it at all. Though he appears and my son confirms that this is, as he put it, "just a king snake," I'm thinking if I have to upload another 36 pictures of a snake's eye, tongue, and scales that I will need to buy the child the telephoto macro lens he wants to keep him from lying right on top of a bunch of snakes to get, as he

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-69042801064313634352008-06-28T12:53:00.006-05:002008-06-28T19:01:39.264-05:00

This morning I did a hive entry check because last night, while I was sitting on the porch as a thunderstorm went right around us, AGAIN, I thought I noticed fewer bees hanging on the front of hive number 1. Fewer bees could have been caused by the cool, damp breeze blowing in or it could be a sign of trouble. Anyway, I stood around in front of the hives today and I saw lots and lots of bees

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-51741522225439067102008-06-26T08:37:00.003-05:002008-06-26T09:06:38.027-05:00

A few weeks ago, when searching for shampoo, I noticed these cute square packages, almost hidden on the bottom row. You guessed it, I wasn't shopping for shampoo at one of the usual venues, but at my natural foods coop. Because it isn't easy for us to recycle (I have to schlep glass and plastics 70 miles) so it doesn't always get done or it sits around cluttering my environs, I am always

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-2594949470145562242008-06-24T11:36:00.002-05:002008-06-24T11:59:59.188-05:00

I've shown you my 100 year old crepe myrtle before, but every year I'm drawn to the vibrant pink blossoms that are so heavy they droop. I'm smitten.Just like an old friend, she reappears, even when times are tough. The first year we were here, the carpenters butchered her, not realizing she was a keeper, because her limbs were draping on the roof. This year the late frost nipped her tips.No

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-33055992125102036082008-06-20T10:21:00.006-05:002008-06-20T11:04:06.594-05:00

Now is the time of good eating. I'm making jelly, preserves, and jam. We've harvested and have a wonderful excess of taste enhancers like garlic, onions, basil, dill, and peppers. And the summer melons are getting to that heat produced sweetness that only Mississippi can supply.This week, I produced blackberry preserves and syrup, and plum jelly. The plums weren't mine, but I should have

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-37988389229638241912008-06-20T07:07:00.004-05:002008-06-20T07:38:33.687-05:00

Yes, Zilla, I do know the name of the butterfly. It is a Painted Lady, Vanessa cardui.Of course, I didn't know when you asked me, but I have garnered quite a collection of online resources in my 12 years as mother of children who ask nothing but questions. Look at this wonderful UGA site. I needed other pictures to make the identification, but I just happened to have them, since Princess was

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-88607870350000273922008-06-19T15:52:00.004-05:002008-06-19T16:56:45.716-05:00

I've been having one of those time sucking days. I usually devote either the morning or afternoon of every Thursday to payroll activities - time cards, check writing, tax paying, employee bill paying, insurance and bank reconciling, and balancing the ledger - you know, stuff. This morning, because I had the audacity to install, on Wednesday, the operating system upgrade I purchased back in

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-7585901908910812172008-06-17T11:30:00.006-05:002008-06-17T12:03:44.720-05:00

In pursuit of perfect blackberries, we tramped through mud and briers, risked getting chiggers and ticks, and endured oppressive heat. Why? Wild blackberries are the best. No thornless hybrid, no tame orchard berry can even compete.The flavor and texture differences are subtle, yet distinct - the twang of the wild, I like to say.My children and I brought home 5 pounds. We picked many more

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-26492451030678509182008-06-16T16:10:00.004-05:002008-06-16T16:35:10.665-05:00

Finding the perfect roost for my turkeys was a challenge because, quite honestly, I didn't know what I was seeking. My husband took a partial cattle panel out to the coop and propped it against the wall when the poults were small. They hated it. The wires were too small or they couldn't figure out how to use it.When my husband was out of town, I decided to remove his work and find a real

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-78899151634799537852008-06-16T08:16:00.003-05:002008-06-16T08:37:19.124-05:00

Do you ever feel as if you speak some cryptic language in which perfectly legitimate instructions, perfectly subtle jokes, and perfectly nuanced inflections and details flow from your mouth, only to be misunderstood or ignored?Am I the problem?Communication can be exhausting.

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-65078815848697871222008-06-14T08:15:00.007-05:002008-06-14T08:43:35.145-05:00

We're at that awkward time of the gardening year when we get basket after basket of one thing, but don't have the other ingredients to make our favorites.Costata Romanesco, my favorite zucchini, is fabulous alone, sauteed in olive oil with just a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground pepper, served over a bed of spaghetti. Dust lightly with Parmesan to make it perfect. But, what I'm craving

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-10935373066495424382008-06-13T21:41:00.003-05:002008-06-13T22:03:05.370-05:00

Last hour, I lay prone on the porch swing listening to the frogs, crickets, and the blues, thinking about how wonderful it would be to sleep out there. I shared my perch with my children for a little while, but I kept encouraging them to take baths, brush teeth, read, and get in the bed. Finally, I was by myself.Sort of.I wondered if I could be comfortable. I would probably spend the entire

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-1024896418596426032008-06-12T16:12:00.005-05:002008-06-12T16:37:45.548-05:00

Yesterday, when K was finishing the lawn, he found an injured baby. Isn't it cute?He came for the camera, but then asked if he could keep it and try to nurse it back to health. It looked dehydrated and had some sort of fly attracting injury on his back side, but we didn't pry too much because that area of a skunk is not something you want in your face.Just in case.After a few droppers of water

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-66235311357552662242008-06-02T07:28:00.005-05:002008-06-02T07:51:36.293-05:00

The canebrake is an almost magical place with its muffled quiet of thick vertical growth and filtered light. Once you move a little way into the forest of canes light becomes even more scarce. The air is cool and damp. Cane strippings and leaves blanket the floor. Wildlife abounds - frogs, canebrake rattlers, voles and who knows what else is lurking- hidden by the shadows.Alas, we weren't

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-5248560776754344572008-06-01T11:57:00.005-05:002008-06-01T12:30:14.463-05:00

I absolutely, positively love basil. And why not? Basil grows when it is hot, is a companion plant to just about any other plant, and it provides the base for one of my most favorite dishes - pesto.In fact, we had pesto last night. I was tired from hoeing, weeding (I missed that one piece of grass in the basil), cutting and hauling cane for beanpoles, and sticking a few beans - not anywhere

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-15621723212855001622008-05-31T07:11:00.002-05:002008-05-31T07:15:54.384-05:00

Imagine the sweetest smell you've ever smelled!!

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-68950874955604916582008-05-30T19:44:00.004-05:002008-05-30T20:04:23.570-05:00

We move quickly from cold enough to freeze your entire garden and orchard to so warm the weeds are threatening to overtake the young plants and lettuce and English peas are failing. We have already cut the first cutting of hay. We are hoping to get at least one more, but even if we don't we'll have two years worth in storage, which is the goal each year.I harvested the garlic this week and will

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-14279448817658067562008-05-29T16:46:00.006-05:002008-05-29T17:12:04.641-05:00

Remember the egg-eating snake from a few posts? Well, he had a voracious appetite. The hen wouldn't stay on her nest after the incident, so we let the snake have those eggs since they weren't fit for human consumption. The eating was so good that he brought a friend to stay. I found two snakes in the chicken coop while collecting eggs last weekend. Seeing the one snake shimmy straight up the

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-27657475099897513872008-05-17T13:53:00.003-05:002008-05-17T14:34:08.366-05:00

I'm taking a break. This morning, inspired by the guests arriving Thursday, I decided to deschool the kitchen and declutter my office. I started with the office because its state of disorder has rendered it a place to enter only in emergency situations and this is not the way you need to feel about a space when it provides you your sole source of income.I literally needed a manure scoop to get

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-22197887440048401682008-05-10T06:55:00.003-05:002008-05-10T07:33:33.900-05:00

We are just wrapping up a performance week for Princess. With stagings, dress rehearsal, practice and what nots, I have driven to Jackson almost every day this week. Tuesday, the one day Princess didn't need to be there, K had tennis. Monday, as I was getting dressed, I could find only one foundation garment without holes and reminded myself to take care of that problem one day this week in

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-55179849227540669322008-05-08T21:20:00.007-05:002008-05-08T21:38:57.438-05:00

This morning when K was checking chicks, turkeys, and our broody hen who decided to nest outside of the hen house (not that it would have made a difference in this instance), he started squawking loudly enough for me to hear him in the house to, "Bring the camera!!!!!"When E and I did bring the camera, we saw the broody hen trapped in our temporary restraining pen with this enormous rat snake.

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-85654408225786895642008-05-06T07:06:00.014-05:002008-05-06T11:23:40.885-05:00

I changed my background color to match the blush roses climbing on my fence. I'm sure I showed them last year. Yes, here they are. This year I have even more, despite my lack of knowledge in the rose training area. Despite my lack of tender loving care, these heirloom roses that I started from cuttings are growing prolifically. A few buds were burned in the last frost, but most are near

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-42735627553473473282008-05-05T07:43:00.003-05:002008-05-05T07:45:05.845-05:00

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-4899111046532071322008-05-03T15:07:00.004-05:002008-05-03T15:18:16.779-05:00

We're in a honey flow. Meaning, that despite the slow start, spring has sprung and is moving forward quickly despite the cold and rain. My garden looks terrible, but the wild blackberries are blooming prolifically, the honeysuckle and privet are just beginning.The bees are working hard now. If all goes well, I will get to harvest and make jelly out of this bumper crop of blackberries.

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-66343484254472112682008-05-02T16:16:00.006-05:002008-05-02T19:43:41.738-05:00

Last Friday at about 8 a.m., the USPS central distribution center in Jackson called and said they had a box of chicks for me. I don't live in Jackson. In fact, I live an hour and 15 minutes from Jackson. I asked why my chickens were there. She said they had come in on Fed Ex and someone had forgotten to put them on the truck to my town. The next truck would be tomorrow or I could pick them

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-66679392980506519062008-04-25T07:50:00.004-05:002008-04-25T08:13:49.381-05:00

Our ten Bourbon Red heritage turkeys arrived yesterday from Ideal Poultry, packed with ten miscellaneous chicks to prevent jostling and to provide warmth.Cute, cute, cute!They are warming under their electricity sucking heat lamp in their brand new turkey house. Isn't it funny how you think you are ready for something - facility perfect, food and watering ready - and then when the post office

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-25430294933863513052008-04-24T06:45:00.002-05:002008-04-24T07:02:00.055-05:00

Don't you just hate that blue screen of death on Windows based systems. I don't get to see them at home anymore, but I see more than my fair share at work since I get to problem solve for a few companies. Unfortunately, we have had a system failure in our garden and will be forced to restart spring, so to speak.Through a series of unfortunate weather incidents, mild catastrophes, uncooperative

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-77709805913304391702008-04-15T07:34:00.006-05:002008-04-15T19:36:20.713-05:00

I was scared my children and I were running low on iodine and would sink into delayed development or thyroid problems, since I use only sea salt or other coarse salt with no additives, so we had to take a small trip south and east to eat copious amounts of crab, shrimp, and flounder. Getting iodine is tricky so we also had to haul a pile of extra trace nutrient carrying shrimp and crab

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-30306920051679220392008-03-29T09:46:00.006-05:002008-03-29T09:56:18.197-05:00

Cats attacking the hoe and mashing emerging asparagusCats resting where seeds have just been planted even though I attempted to thwart their efforts.Finally, Zilla flat out refusing to move even after threatening her.

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-29587507841960714012008-03-29T07:40:00.002-05:002008-03-29T07:44:52.536-05:00

Flip that switch tonight at 8 p.m. for Earth Hour.

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-31696067262320081642008-03-28T08:10:00.002-05:002008-03-28T08:20:10.380-05:00

Seriously, I do need a table runner for my entire house. I would like to blame the clutter on my children, husband, the yellow dog, or the cats (I still don't want to know the exact count), but I, too, am guilty of clutter. There are seed packets, peat pots, soil block makers, garden shoes, and garden plans on every surface. There are books, school work, and projects on every other surface.On

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-70348239705006916102008-03-27T07:32:00.003-05:002008-03-27T08:33:50.446-05:00

Than to invite people over and talk about politics, but after a week of politely waiting I am still itching to say one or two words about Barack Obama's race speech. I just can't stand it. Come back tomorrow if you don't want to hear it.Many journalists are comparing Obama's speech to the likes of Martin Luther King's I have a Dream or Letter from the Birmingham Jail, or J.F. Kennedy's Houston

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-65965207741337913842008-03-26T07:02:00.007-05:002008-03-26T08:34:47.801-05:00

We plant clover along with rye grass in our pastures for winter forage for our cows and nitrogen fixation for our soil. In the garden, we plant clover in the fall for nitrogen and added organic matter. The garden clover is always a sight to behold because it has no competition from rye (which is considered a feeder grass), making it lush and fluffy almost like green clouds.We find lots of

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-57574761480148511172008-03-24T16:51:00.007-05:002008-03-24T18:35:00.055-05:00

I finished some handmade projects last week just in time for the Easter fashion show. The first item is a dress (obviously not mine) that looks as fabulous on the inside as the outside. To me, finishing touches or details are what separate home sewn and a work of art that you happen to wear. Fabulous fabrics, perfect fitting, finished seams, flawless button holes, and quality buttons all

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-80775377130268947402008-03-21T15:57:00.009-05:002008-03-21T16:48:28.871-05:00

Wednesday, during school, because we were completely unprepared for spring beekeeping since we have had such strange weather, K and I noticed a swarm developing outside of our rough and tumble hive number two. Though timing wasn't perfect because of wind and impending thunderstorms, having a hive swarm in the spring is not a bad thing. In fact, spring swarming has even been recognized as a good

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-79439985680867904802008-03-18T14:26:00.005-05:002008-03-18T15:18:57.317-05:00

Some time last month while my husband was away, the children and I were all snuggled in my bed reading. Princess asked, "Which is your favorite flower?" At first I began thinking of peonies, azaleas, wisteria, irises, roses . . . Then I realized she wasn't talking about botanical flowers, but the quilted flowers on the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt on my bed.We studied the flowers and each

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-43314608184527530472008-03-14T16:37:00.006-05:002008-03-14T17:21:30.393-05:00

The plum trees are blooming! I was worried that we wouldn't have a blossoming because we had a freeze and snow (very unusual for us) a couple of weeks ago, but I suppose luck, orchard location, and the garden fence provided a little assistance. Today was a gorgeous 75° day and the plum trees were a buzz with life. I counted 10 different types of flying insects on one tree. There were red wasps

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-27832850213168899402008-03-07T02:51:00.005-06:002008-03-07T08:26:28.395-06:00

A woman from here, who is just a year or two older than I, had an appendicitis, which is certainly not a normal every day event but does not necessarily mean poor health though adding a bit of fiber might help. Anyway, her appendix ruptured and the surgical team had to go in and clean up, if you know what I mean.They found colon cancer, some sort of unidentified nodule on an ovary, and a cyst or

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-29345075759421079452008-03-06T07:04:00.006-06:002008-03-06T07:18:43.498-06:00

Doc (who now has her own domain), what do you think? Do you see anything bizarre about the gift from my hubby?About twenty minutes before my husband was to leave for his February frolic, he said, "You need to feed your goats at the sale barn."I said, "I don't have any goats.""You do, now!"I spent the next month trying to contain 5 goats purchased on a whim by my husband who was leaving town for

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-14646669864859042802008-03-05T16:57:00.003-06:002008-03-05T17:26:48.352-06:00

Zilla tagged me in attempt to get my lazy self to post. It worked. I couldn't resist.Hmmmm. I try not to have any books in my office and for this one time in my life what I attempted and reality is close to the same. I do have one, though. My mother just gave it to my son. Unfortunately, it is a coffee table book and contains beautiful photographs of the Sahara for the most part. There is

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-40256035566765056602008-02-14T10:47:00.002-06:002008-02-14T10:54:06.464-06:00

Zilla has once again shown compassion in the true Dickensian manner. I received an envelope with cash for the fund raiser at the Dixie National Trail Ride. I believe they earned $900 for the two meals the group served during the ride. This weekend there will be another fund raiser with barbecue chicken plates and fiddle music. If Zilla were here, she could eat, tap her foot, and maybe even

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-4068311855388703422008-02-08T17:32:00.000-06:002008-02-08T17:41:22.420-06:00

We are in the rainy season here in Mississippi. Though the longer term effects of this rain are aquifers full of water, lush growth for spring, and full streams and rivers after a drought year, the short term effect is a lot of fungi. Thanks to K for all of these pictures. Isn't he doing a great job?These are shelf fungi on one of the dead, eighty year old pecan trees we have left for the

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-85553628173723045912008-02-08T16:52:00.000-06:002008-02-08T17:32:19.162-06:00

We've had visitors again. The Dixie National Trail Ride rode through our town and stayed at our sale barn. Last year it was cold. This year it was wet. In fact, many of the riders drove their horses and mules forward and let them stable in our barn while the worst of the rains passed. I don't blame them one bit, but with the local riders we tried to predict who was dedicated to ride even in

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-82023023704697960392008-01-30T16:00:00.000-06:002008-01-30T16:51:13.482-06:00

Ben, my son's first friend, died this morning. When we lived in town, Ben was our neighbor. When K was five he started wandering over to sit on Mr. Ben's porch while he read the paper. They talked, watched people drive up and down the road, and just sat. As time went by Ben, who was retired, taught K how to shoot a BB gun (since I wouldn't let him have one). K then went to Ben's almost every

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-32997645397271401382008-01-28T17:00:00.001-06:002008-01-29T07:39:51.298-06:00

While I was on my blogging writer's strike, I was tagged twice. I wouldn't want to lose those two readers since little to no writing produces few readers, so I will respond.I was tagged first by Tara at Periwinkles and Pines back in November for the Eight Things Meme. I actually did this meme last June, but I bet I can think of a few more things.1. I had my first child when I was 34.2. My

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-89715709108647732032008-01-23T15:33:00.000-06:002008-01-23T15:53:21.697-06:00

A couple of days ago, while lying in my warm bed with flannel sheets, comforter, and a perfect quilt just as the light was changing, I was listening to the rain on our old tin roof and thinking just how perfect that moment was. As soon as I had the thought, our rogue rooster, Sport, started announcing his superiority from the cedar tree outside the window, then the bull that injured his hoof in

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-84805452319709980052008-01-14T19:01:00.000-06:002008-01-18T18:18:46.675-06:00

I've been eating good food like this wild caught salmon and couscous with roasted red peppers. I also ate a lot of great tasting but not so good for you food like divinity, fudge, pound cake, coconut cake, and so many other sweet treats that I felt hugely lethargic.I've been traveling - not far - but far enough to find more rich food at the Indianola Country Club, which is always a treat. My

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-24628474954556064392007-12-22T12:28:00.000-06:002007-12-22T21:02:12.513-06:00

My family's Christmas dinner is tonight. In a couple of hours I will go over to my mother's house and begin to help her with the food. Doing so, is tradition. Right now I'm waiting for the beeps that will let me know that my Cranberry-Pecan Pound Cake is done. This is the third cake of the day. The first and second refused to come out of my highly decorative, fluted, non-stick Bundt pan even

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-23323951694931320002007-12-20T08:56:00.000-06:002007-12-20T09:47:45.321-06:00

We've got more than a few cats. In fact, I am embarrassed to tally (2+1 +3 +2 + 3 +1 or Tux + Big Puff (Buchoochus) + Out of Focus + Dinghy + Rocky + McSquizzy + Tar Baby + Stub + Zilla + Dumpling + BarBar + Bumble Bee) the figure because speaking the number would make it real. The other thing that makes it real is the tally of vet bills for spaying and neutering. Ouch.Rubber Dinghy, the cat

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-56957393429114914312007-12-18T15:41:00.001-06:002007-12-18T17:40:05.159-06:00

I've written frequently about how much I enjoy keeping chickens. I love to watch them set and maintain their social order. I love to watch the roosters act just like human men so I can make derogatory comments about the less evolved species (Unfortunately there was this article claiming men evolve faster so I'll have to choose my audience carefully. Of course, the article also claimed men are

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-29214290665258328062007-12-17T20:36:00.000-06:002007-12-17T21:12:49.652-06:00

Forgive me, for I have been negligent. Twenty days have passed since my last blog entry.I think every member of my family who reads my blog has asked me why I haven't posted. My aunt even called my mother to get the scoop. My mother even suggested that if I have no intention of writing then I should at least tell every one so they will not continue to expect. m~ has emailed, asking what is

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-91803145334955501942007-11-28T07:03:00.000-06:002007-11-28T07:32:26.356-06:00

I have 5 more days of Nutcracker madness. We finished staging rehearsal number 2 last night at 7:30, then drove the hour and fifteen minutes home. There was a road block on the country road that leads into my little town which tacked on extra minutes. I was let past without much investigation, but the people in front of me on both sides of the road were checked thoroughly and I was annoyed

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-84266354051551737012007-11-27T08:15:00.000-06:002007-11-27T20:39:46.388-06:00

Is there anything I won't let in the house? I know this looks bad for me, but I have an excuse - a good one. My sister borrowed our incubator so she could hatch some eggs with her three year old. The eggs hatched a few weeks ago. Baby chickens are really nasty pets, if you have to keep them inside. They make a fine dust that gets all over everything. They poop like crazy and turn their food

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-83692037382825677372007-11-26T11:33:00.001-06:002007-11-27T20:40:08.766-06:00

In the South, sugar cane is the source of most things sweet. The weather and natural tree selection prevents maple sugaring, so to satisfy the Southern sweet tooth, we grow sugar cane. Just so you know, there are several varieties. Most people here grow two - one for syrup and one for chewing. In the fall, traditionally the weekend after Thanksgiving, the cane is harvested, stripped of its

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-90168686790258851942007-11-25T18:07:00.000-06:002007-11-25T18:11:16.441-06:00

I failed. I didn't write yesterday and I have no intention writing any more than this tonight. Sorry, NaBloPoMo people. I've got some great pictures of a cane syruping that I'll share tomorrow, but I can't do another thing tonight.

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-63412968290280328242007-11-23T21:26:00.000-06:002007-11-23T21:32:39.143-06:00

I'm cheating NaBloPoMo. Sorry. Here is another picture of Thanksgiving to make my post quota.My sister usually makes the salad, but she celebrated Thanksgiving with her in-laws this year, so I made a salad - lettuce, toasted pecans, pears, and clementines - tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette. Does this count as cooking?

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-35086693371903638692007-11-22T07:10:00.000-06:002007-11-22T15:52:56.993-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!Would you please pass the cranberries? Thank you. Could I get another roll? Thank you.May I have a little more salad? Thank you.Is there any more pecan pie? Thank you.

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-69865354538753457862007-11-21T07:23:00.001-06:002007-11-21T14:01:55.882-06:00

Let's start with the kitchen since that is where I will be today. There was tremendous water damage in the kitchen from leaky pipes under the sink. The floors were rotten and the floor joists were rotten. So we pulled up the floor, being careful to save as many boards as possible. We wouldn't have enough old flooring to use it all over the house, so we decided to go with new pine flooring in

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-80682340785384269372007-11-20T17:33:00.000-06:002007-11-20T19:09:09.297-06:00

Some of you have been curious about my house, so I thought I would do a before and after series. The house is a little over a hundred and had been rented for about 30 years, maybe more, before we got our hands on it. During this time not much maintenance was done. At some point a longer term renter tacked up some Sheetrock and Formica to the the walls and lowered the ceiling in the same

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-64134347830561432362007-11-19T17:03:00.000-06:002007-11-19T19:24:28.952-06:00

I've been slowly preparing for winter. I cleaned the ceiling fans and switched the blade rotation, yesterday. They were filthy - embarrassingly so. I thought about providing a before and after, but I was too embarrassed. With our humidity and open door policy of the summer, the blades are magnets for dust. Even with the blades spinning almost nonstop in the summer, dust just glues itself to

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-17170328694433948592007-11-18T16:12:00.000-06:002007-11-18T16:42:15.654-06:00

If you are family and expecting gifts from my family, read no further if you like surprises.I suppose it is alright to talk about Christmas since decorations have been up since Halloween and Frankie has already been to a Christmas parade up in Minnesota. Do you remember when I told you about my husband's family deciding to make presents this year rather than buying and how I was going to make

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21359414.post-59059158580206284322007-11-17T18:27:00.001-06:002007-11-18T08:11:06.378-06:00

Nandina is another one of those plants like wisteria, privet, and kudzu that was introduced to Mississippi in gardens or for erosion control and liked the situation so well that they decided to go native. A cousin of mine who works in the academics of natural reforestation told me to de-nandina my hill so as not to encourage invasion. I couldn't bear to rip the hundred year old nandina out,

Wisteriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646131135706997373noreply@blogger.com4