Well, here I am playing with this new fangled equipment we got in the recent updates.  Things have been interesting around here to say the least.  We've been putting up peppers and making Bread and Butter pickles.  Right now the garden is giving us potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucinni squash, eggplant and a variety of peppers.  Okra is just starting.  Will cook the first cutting tonight.

Emmy horse still doesn't have colt.  I've said it before and I'll say it again:  her name is Immaculate Conception but I believe it should be Perpetually Pregnant. 

There has been a steady flow of kids of all ages.  Coming to visit.  Coming to fix trucks.  Coming to swim.  Put to work in the yard or garden.  Fed at the table.

Pete's latest idea of leaving off all sugar and caffeine hasn't really done him any good.  Still suffering.  Planning to make another trip to the doctor.  Thinking of trying a chiropractor.  Any prayers are very welcome. 

A lady who is much the local history buff and a gentleman friend of hers from Beaumont were out in the woods Monday near our home marking the old wagon trail that used to run through there.  Somewhere along the way they got turned around and mixed up.  They decided to split up and each try to find the road or pipeline.  She made it out.  He didn't. 

Park rangers and locals, including Bubba and his friend Brandon.  Made sweeps through the area to no avail Monday evening.  A helicopter search was made just before dark.  Nothing.  Poor man, over 60, in those woods with the mosquitoes, various snakes and muggy weather.  Next day, a more organized search by what looked to be about 30 ranger types was conducted.  Word is they found him okay, but worn.  Took to be checked out at the hospital. 

At workyesterday, we sat for three hours with no electricity because someone ran headlong into a pole that shut of the power and killed several stop lights in the area.  As far as I know there were no injuries.  And thankfully for us the electricity was back on before things got too hot. 

I haven't waxed very contemplative lately.  Been in a soak up the moment and enjoy myself mode.  But you know me; never can tell what will get me pondering, reflecting and posting.

Tags: Bread & Butter pickles, lost in the woods

Down on the Farm

Well, here I sit.  Can't believe it has been a month since I made an entry!!  Things got sort of hectic around here.  We had Bubba turning 18 and graduating from High School.  Anyone who has been through it knows it adds a lot of extra stuff to your lives for awhile.  And there was extra work at work.  And Pete and his garden that keeps growing and growing and growing!  And Bug and her pool.  Mom's been getting in with her many evenings to teach her to swim.  She's a great student! 

We've built a fenced in chicken yard.  Pete put a ceiling in it so he didn't have to clip their wings.  And we are all anxiously awaiting Emmy horse's arrival of a colt.  I swear if she gets any bigger she will pop!

Then, after most of the hoopla died down, we lost our phone service for a little over a week.  And of course, no phone, no slow old dial up to sign on and make an entry with.  I've missed you all, and expect to get back in the swim of things.  Hope I haven't worried anyone (Sam).  Daddy's favorite answer for how have you been? seems to sum it up:  Never felt better or had less!  Life is good and we are living large and drinking in every last drop right down to the dregs. 

 

Those boys did it again!!!!!

Yes,  sir-ee!!  Bubba and his friends, Brandon and Logan, won State for their classification in Waco!!!  Way to go guys!!!  I'm so very proud of you!

 

And now that it is all over, I can tell all!  Their project was a "system" in a box.  A full stereo system in a box on wheels that can go anywhere.  You play it off of a battery & there is an on board charger, when an outlet is convenient you can plug it in to keep the battery good. Features a Pioneer CD Player, 4 Lightning Audio 6 1/2" triaxials, a Hifonics subwoofer amplifier and two Kicker CVT 10's.  (Bubba assures me this is a good setup.)  It went to the competition as a blue box.  Bubba will be putting finishing touches on the paint job and "Backwoods Arena" on it for Mario, the man who sponsored him.  He's running what used to be the Lions Club rodeo arena here. 

            

Bubba said he slept most of the way to Waco.  He didn't care for the size of the place or all the people.  He went by himself and toured the Dr. Pepper museum there.  Did you know it started in Waco?  He said he saw an antique bottle there that actually said Dr. Pepper and underneath caffeine and cocaine.  Early sodas really had a kick!  And he found a Bar & Grill that had pool tables.  If you bought your lunch there, you could play for free from noon till 2:00.  So, I suppose you could say he enjoyed himself, but he missed Caneyhead.  Suppose you could say Caneyhead missed him as well.

Tags: Waco, Dr. Pepper

Authorities make big "bust" for CarnivAOL!

  News Flash!!!  This just in from the Caneyhead News Desk!

 

In an organized sweep of J-land, several journal entries were apprehended for participation in CarnivAOL.  Suspects offered no defense.  Bail was denied pending investigation by the J-land community at large.

 

On suspicion of soliciting charitable contributions for a good and worthy cause, is Stephanie from Home in the Heartland.  She is the author of the journal entry:  Fundraising ~ American Cancer Society.

 

Picked up for distributing educational information on bees, is Bea of Wanderer.  Be careful, for you might learn something at her entry:  Easter Sunday and Bumble Bees!

 

On suspicion of faking his own demise is Dan of The Wisdom of a Distracted Mind.  Turned in to authorities by a friend, he comes clean with the real story in his entry:  As a matter of fact, I'm not dead... .  Seems he was only throwing nuts or something.

 

Debbie of Me Thinks Too Much has been charged with inspiring and encouraging others with beautiful graphics and lovely quotes in her entry entitled, It Doesn't Take Much To Make A Difference!

 

For facing the nasty C word head on, bravely and sharing the tale in her entry:  BC And Me, authorities picked up Jeannette at Jeannette's Jottings.

 

In a warm and tender display of affection for her father, Mary of Just Mary was arrested.  Her entry Cathy's dad, as well as mine was all the proof officials needed for the warrant.

 

For abandoning her "boys" and talking about something other than Hockey, Donna of This, That and Hockey was hauled in.  No warrant was necessary, as the title of her entry gave her crime away:  Good Morning... this and that .

 

Dawn at Carpe Diem is facing charges of inciting real feelings over her tender and mushy entry, All About Soul.

 

And our last suspect, Gerry was found at Daughters of the Shadow Men.  She is charged with attempting to make us think about alcoholics and how and if we can reach them in her recent entry simply titled Reaching the alcoholic....

 

It is the humble opinion of this newsperson that you keep a wary eye turned on all nine of these suspects.  Review the evidence in each case and draw your own conclusions.  Sweet dreams from the Caneyhead news crew.

 

This broadcast made possible by Paul in affiliation with CarnivAOL.  If you'd like to guest host an upcoming edition of CarnivAOL, Paul is currently searching for more!  You can check which dates are open at Upcoming Editions of CarnivAOL page.  Email Plittle@aol.com.  This offer subject to a few terms and conditions.  Tax in Netherlands.  Not available in Portugal.   

Tags: CarnivAOL, blogplugs

Questions and Answers

Had a couple of recurring questions regarding my boys will be boys post.  So I thought I'd oblige and answer them here.

First, what does Pete have in his garden?  Might be easier to tell you what Pete doesn't have in his garden!  The picture is just of a small plot behind the house.  There are also rows all the way down the pipeline towards his brother's house.  And there is another larger square to one side of the house, out towards the hog pen and the pond.

So we have:  potatoes, greens, squash, watermelon, cantelope, peas, okra, tomatoes (several kinds), eggplant, butterbeans, peppers, and corn.  I think that's all.  I'm not sure.

And the second question was how did Bubba get that four wheeler out?  Being young and almost 18, he is a high-tech redneck.  He had his cell phone with him.  Kept him and Brandon from having to walk all the way out just to get help.  So they called Pete's cousin and he and his son-in-law came down the river in a boat with a very long cable, a chain and a set of come-a-longs.  Once they got there it took them about 45 minutes to come-a-long it out of that hole.

See, sometimes I forget I live in Caneyhead.  Most everybody around here just assumes you have what we have in a garden.  And anyone around here would have looked at Bubba's picture and the location I gave and known what it took to get it out.  I forget sometimes just how big and diverse the world is; even in the South.  ;o )

P.S. - We are now planning to go to Galveston on Saturday.  Bubba will be at the TSA Regionals with his top secret project.  And Bug will be somewhere with Aunt Edna.  But around here, you never can tell and you don't count your chickens before they hatch.  And if you count them afterward, you'll likely find you loose one or two each day to some varmit or another.

Tags: high-tech redneck, come-a-longs

Boys will be boys.

Yes, boys will be boys.  Though you never know just what that may mean.  Different things at different times.  At different ages and stages. 

Take my Pete and Bubba for example.  This past weekend Pete put finishing touches on his vegetable garden.  He took a lot of time and care with it.  And it was good to work in the soil.

                                 

And then there was Bubba.  He went off to enjoy the weather with his best friend Brandon on a four-wheeler.  And when they got to a certain spot about 6 bends of the Neches River south of Bush lake, they quickly and most likely carelessly got right in to the good earth.

                             

Pete turned out to be very thankful he didn't let Bubba take his four wheeler. But it wasn't too many years ago I remember getting off into situations just like that with him:  in jeeps, in his AMX and on four wheelers. 

Update:  Pete and I did not go to Galveston on Monday.  He didn't rest well at all Sunday night, and did not feel like making the 2 1/2 hour trip. 

Tags: four wheelers, mudding, vegetable gardens

Calling all Cars!! Calling all Cars!!

                          

Be on the lookout for journal entries...................Entries described as any that the author is proud of or otherwise wants to share...........Fits this M. O.:  E-mails the link for that specific journal entry to bhbner2him@aol.com absolutely no later than Sunday night, April 29th............Once apprehended, all suspects will be posted in CarnivAOL, May 1st, on this journal..........Be advised entries could make you laugh, cry or inform you. 

Tags: CarnivAOL