Softball and Summer Weather

Well, Elizabeth's softball is over for the summer. We had many fun evenings at the ballparks watching the girls play. They did a great job of showing the other teams how softball is to be played. The girls had fun and really learned how to play as a team and how to be good sports, unlike a couple of the other teams who had coaching problems....

Last Friday's game was to be a double header to make up for a missed game, but the weather decided to step in and cause some trouble. We were in the second inning (I think) and the sky got dark and the wind blew and the lightning flashed with booms of thunder and little girls screamed at that really high pitch only they can reach. My ears are still ringing.

We headed to the cars to sit out the rain only to receive a phone call that there was roof damage reported by one of our neighbors (Marty's ex-in-laws). Marty was at work so I called him and I tried to get out of the ballpark to head home to check on things. It took a little longer than normal to get home due to a tree in the road (thank you to the gentleman in the gray truck for moving it), I arrived home to find a few branches and some roofing off the old shed but nothing major. No power as I expected.

Marty and I then loaded up some things and headed to the Carroll's to lend a hand. Marty and James and others worked until after midnight to get things taken care of and we headed home to crank the generator at the house, at least we thought we would crank the generator... No such luck, so at 2:15 a.m. I told Marty he could work on it all night but I was going to bed!

We had power restored about 2 p.m. Saturday so it was not too bad. It did get a little warm but we made it. James is handling repairs to the Carrol's home so they are in good hands. James works so hard and takes on so much - he is the guy you want in your corner when the going gets tough!

Enjoy the softball photos - I do not have weather damage photos available to post (took some and should have some soon)

HAve a great day!!

News from the garden

Just when we think it will be dry, it rains. Candace and the kids have made two trips out to the “farm” to dust the garden with Sevin Dust for bugs. Of course, 30 minutes after they left it RAINED! Thankfully we have not noticed a large number of bugs or have had much damage, but we have to be proactive on this. I have seen bugs ruin a plant overnight here in the country.

We are also seeing lots of deer tracks in and around the garden but not seeing any damage (yet). I have been told to use coyote urine in the garden to stop this problem, however have not yet figured out how to get the coyotes to urinate in the garden. Do you put up signs or invite them over? I know that many dog parks put fire hydrants out – do coyotes understand what a fire hydrant is used for? Guess I’ll have to research this and report back when I have more information.

I have now had my first salad made with fresh grown garden ingredients. Tomato, lettuce and cucumber! Wonderful! We have only harvested two small tomatoes and four small cucumbers from the garden, but they were very good! Thank you to Candace for the lettuce. I worried that it would grow and kept watch over it for weeks, then all of a sudden it was there!!!

The squash plants are putting on blooms like crazy. I am not a squash eater, so hope that James or Candace are. I do have a recipe for squash relish so might try that out. Will have to find someone who will volunteer to taste-test it for me.

I am really excited that the watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew melon vines are taking off like they are. Marty is going to see about getting some hay to put under the melons as they begin to grow to get them off the dirt. Do not know if this will do anything, but sounds good to me. I don’t remember any hay in the watermelon fields in Elkhart, but the soil there is sandier than here we have a lot of clay in the soil here.

This is the first year we have had apples! I do not know anything about apples, and do not know if these are green apples, red apples or what! If it’s anything like the pears, the birds will harvest them before we do. We also have pears and peaches not to forget my favorite’s blueberries! Nothing tastes better than fresh blueberries right off the bush. I have one or two bags left in the freezer from last year and am thinking about making some cobbler or some blueberry syrup.

Enjoy the photos from our garden!

The Brown Thrush

The Mocking-bird of the North, as the Brown Thrush has been called, arrives in the Eastern and Middle States about the 10th of May, at which season he may be seen, perched on the highest twig of a hedge, or on the topmost branch of a tree, singing his loud and welcome song, that may be heard a distance of half a mile. The favorite haunt of the Brown Thrush, however, is amongst the bright and glossy foliage of the evergreens. "There they delight to hide, although not so shy and retiring as the Blackbird; there they build their nests in greatest numbers, amongst the perennial foliage, and there they draw at nightfall to repose in warmth and safety." The Brown Thrasher sings chiefly just after sunrise and before sunset, but may be heard singing at intervals during the day. His food consists of wild fruits, such as blackberries and raspberries, snails, worms, slugs and grubs. He also obtains much of his food amongst the withered leaves and marshy places of the woods and shrubberies which he frequents. (http://www.birdnature.com/mar1897/thrush.html)

We have been fortunate to be able to follow the "birth" of four Brown Thrush babies in the snowball bush next to our driveway. I have taken many photos of the nest and eggs and the babies since they were born. Between the grandkids peeking at the nest and the fact that the nest is located at Lab/Golden mouth level - the parents have become very protective of the babies. This morning while snapping the latests photo of the babies one of the parents kept my attention while the second one attacked me from behind!! He/She pecked me on the back of the leg twice!

Enjoy the photos while I limp back to my desk!

These photos were taken between May 25 (eggs) and June 9, 2009.

No photos please

This entry will not have any photos associated with it as I do not take photos of snakes!

Okay, I have a huge fear of snakes. I don't remember worrying about snakes as a child, I knew they were out there, but did not stop playing just because I thought there might be one in the grass. I even remember playing in the fields, where we KNEW there were SNAKES!!!

Last night, as I was talking to The Beebs and walking around the front yard enjoying the rain cooled air and looking up at the sky, I had an encounter with a reptile. No I do not know what brand of snake - brand?? do snakes have brands? - anyway, I very calmly told The Beebs that I would have to call her back as there was a snake in the yard. I closed my cell phone and then flew (yes I flew) to the steps and bounded into the house to announce to Marty that he needed to get outside and kill the snake!!!

After having to point out the snake to him - for heaven's sake it was almost 50 feet long with flames and teeth and smoke pouring out of it's ears and he had to have it pointed out to him?!?! He then asked me to hand him the SKS (a little overkill as the 38 is loaded with rat shot) and he headed out to take care of the intruder.

After three shots of the rifle, lots and lots of howling barking and hiding by the dogs, and a couple of whacks with a long pipe the snake was no more and I headed back outside to continue my phone call with Beebs.

Life in rural Mississippi can be hazardous to my health!