Metro Monday

Deck the Halls...



Sarah and Metro took the fall colors in the house and placed them back into storage. And out came the REDS and GREENS.

With each item pulled from the box, Metro excitement grew.

• Stockings hung
• Village lit
• Holly sprigged
• Candles stood
• Pond sitters sitting (sound it out, you'll get it)

We didn't just fall...

Off the Turnip Truck, that is.

We have been enjoying the turnip roots and greens and Mustard greens for about five weeks now. Maurice, Sarah’s brother, loves to buy seeds, plant and fertilize and then watch stuff grow. That’s about the end of his involvement, until the bounty comes out of the cooking pot.

Our Turnip Queen, Brooke!!!

Mustards, washed and ready for the pot.

We have been rather selfish with the mustard greens. Of the nearly acre of greens planted back in September, only about 5% are mustards. Sarah's favorite green is by far --- mustard. We gathered the last of the curly tops, if we don't get rain before the next frost.

There is a 60% chance of rain in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow!!!

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:20

Over the River...

The lyrics to the traditional song just don't fit us. We only have to cross the lawn and pass the cedar trees.

We loaded our dishes on the back golf cart and headed for Mama's house. Sissy and Buddy brought the majority of the meal and it was delicious!

While I was taking photos of the cedars, our 'across the road' neighbors were headed out to Grandma's also. And like us, they only had a short drive. In fact, the back of the farm shares property boundaries with his parents farm.

Metro and Geli made sure that the chicken was turning 'round and 'round just right.

Yummmmmmm, roasted chicken...

The full menu:

• Roasted Chicken
• Beef Brisket
• Honey Baked Ham
• Dressing (don't dare call it stuffing)
• Peas (from the fall garden)
• Turnip Green (again from the garden)
• Onion and Turnip Roots
• Ambrosia
• Cranberry Sauce
• Pumpkin Pie with whipped topping

Family, Food, Friends, Fun

In Loving Memory

Mrs. Yvonne and Mr. Robert (Homecoming 2006)

Yvonne Sutton Garrett

Monday, May 25, 1936 - Monday, November 19, 2007

Services for Mrs. Yvonne Sutton Garrett, 71, were held Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 2:00 PM at the Liberty Baptist Church. Burial followed in the Dublin Memorial Gardens. Visitation was on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

She was a member of Faith Baptist Church in McRae, Georgia. She is survived by her husband, Robert. Also surviving are three sons and daughters-in-law, one brother, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Robert and Mrs. Yvonne celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in 2005. It was around that time Mrs. Yvonne was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Robert was faithful to his vowed he made to Yvonne. He cared for her, sought the best of medical care regardless of the location and was by her side every single minute possible.

We visited with Robert and Yvonne last Friday morning. They were preparing to go home in East Dublin for the first time in over four weeks and talking to the health care folks about what they would need in order to make her as comfortable as possible. We excused ourselves for a few minutes to visit with the mother of another church member that had heart surgery earlier in the week. When we returned, they were both smiling, they were going home. Mrs Yvonne and Sarah were talking, "Sarah, when I get home I want you to come see me."

Monday, when I arrived home from work and before our rescheduled Mid-Week Prayer Meeting, I told Sarah that we were going to see the Garretts tomorrow evening after work. We promised to go see her when she got home. As we arrived at church, we were told the sad news - Yvonne had passed away around 3:00.

Mrs. Yvonne, while we didn't get to see you at your house; we did come to see you and Mr. Robert when you made it HOME.

But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:13

Iron Chef Tumi

10 entries --- 7 Judges

1-5 Points for Presentation
1-5 Points for Originality
1-5 Points for Taste

A couple of bites of each

ONE HUGE SUGAR RUSH at 10:00 in the morning

Before:

After the Tasting:

A closer "crop" of the winners (for Amanda):

Metro Monday

He's a LOG DOG

Metro has always joined us in our chores outdoors... Whether it is pulling weeds from the landscaping, gathering veggies from the garden, feeding the goats and chicken or cutting wood for the fireplace. One of the first photo we took of Metro outside was of him perched on a log while we were cutting wood for use during our Christmas vacation (2000). Unfortunately, that photo was taken with film rather than digital.

Saturday, we found ourselves again cutting wood. Sarah's brother was cleaning up some scrub oaks that were in the northwest corner of the farm. Not wanting to let the usable firewood go to waste, we cut to length and loaded even the skinniest of logs into back of the pickup. Metro was there to HELP.

Metro and Chainsaw loaded up and ready to go.

Metro standing guard while the chain is being adjusted

Fall Time Drive

A series of photos taken on our way to/from Macon on Friday... Trees do change color in South Georgia, they just are harder to see for all the pine trees.

Thirty-seven years ago

Info from Wiki:

17-11-70 (US title 11-17-70) is a live album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1971. The recording was originally popular among bootleggers which, according to Gus Dudgeon, eventually prompted the record label to release it as an album. It has been said that the release by an eastern bootlegger of the whole sixty minute aircast rather than the forty minutes selected by Dick James Music significantly cut into the U.S. sales of the live album.

Track listing
all songs by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, except where noted

• "Take Me to the Pilot" – 4:57
• "Honky Tonk Women" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 4:07
• "Sixty Years On" – 5:55
• "Can I Put You On" – 7:22
• "Bad Side of the Moon"– 6:10
• Medley – 18:27
  "Burn Down the Mission"
  "My Baby Left Me" (Arthur Crudup)
  "Get Back" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney)

According to longtime NYC radio DJ Dave Herman (who can be heard at the beginning and end of the album), Elton John cut his hand at some point during the performance, and by the end of the show, his piano keyboard was covered with blood.

Cotton Pickin' Cotton Picker

Today, as we drove to Macon for Sarah's doctor appointment, we noticed the cotton fields around Eastman. The cotton bolls were bursting with the white fibers, ready to be picked. Before combines took to the field, it was the most labor intensive crop to harvest. The boll has four sections, that when it opens, creates sharp burs, which will prick the hands of those after the white fibers.

A module builder waiting to compact the cotton into a bale.


Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. John 4:35

Service with a Smile

The Comsumer Affairs Department

Front Row (l to r): Sharon, Erica, Wanda, Lisa, Heather
Back Row: Amy, Lavora , Shawnte, Cally, LaTanya, Kim, Kevin, Shandra
Absent on Picture Day: Amanda

Consumer Affairs Representatives (aka Customer Service) often get a bad rap. Many times that bad reputation is deserved. Like the last time you got the call center in New Delhi.

Lately, I have been working more closely with the group upstairs. From fielding questions regarding how to clean some of the lighter colored fabrics to how long is the shoulder strap on one of the new handbags; it's never a dull moment when dealing with the 14 coworkers that interact with our clientele.

Sharon is the Department Manager, and has a knack for keeping them in line and answering most of their questions. But she is going to be out for a couple of weeks or so. Is she going on Vacation? Going on a business trip? Nope and Nope...

Sharon is doing something that most people would never consider. Her sister, Jeanette, needs a kidney transplant.

John 15:13 says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".

I would put "..., that a sister give one of her kidneys to her sister" really high on the Top 10 Greatest Love List. Like number TWO!!!

Sharon and Jeanette are scheduled for surgery this Friday morning at 7:30.

Franklin, Tennessee

My sister, Sherry, works in downtown Franklin.


Veterans Day Dedication Ceremony (from the Williamson County website)
Date: November 12, 2007
Description: Please plan to attend the dedication of our restored cannon on November 12, 2007 at approximately 10:15 a.m. at the Williamson County Veteran’s Park, at Five Points, in downtown Franklin, TN. This dedication will be prior to the City of Franklin’s Veteran’s Day parade which begins at 11:00 a.m.

Our rare cannon is a 3.2 inch Field Gun Model. The muzzle was manufactured in 1892 at the Watervliet Arsenal in Albany, New York and weighs 832 pounds. The carriage was built in 1887 at the National Armory in Springfield, MA. Both were recently restored by Mr. J.T. Leathers of Murfreesboro, TN.

With her office located just across the street from the Veteran's Park, the High School band assembled and lined up just outside her door. After all the festivities, she took a lunch time walk toward the post office and ran into a trio of older Veterans still milling around. She told them about Dad and his services to our country.

"Well, I see you miss him very much. And since you are not able to give him a hug today, do you mind I give you one?"



If you can read this, thank a teacher...
If you are reading this in English, thank a Vet!!!

Metro Monday

An email from my sister Sherry:

I don't know if you have a picture of Metro and Daddy, but Metro Monday needs to talk about their relationship. Dad loves both our pets, and I know every time he got on the phone with you, he would ask about his "boy".

Sadly, I don't have a photo of Dad and Metro together... And yes, Dad always asked about Metro when we talked on phone. Dad and Mom both loved animals. CoCo, their mixed terrier, was one of the best loved little dogs ever. He moved with Mom and Dad from our home in Daylight. Loved by a constant stream of foster children at Sunny Acres in Morrison. And then to the three houses that they called home in Smyrna. If Sherry and I remember correctly, Coco was nearly 15 years old when he died five years ago. I don't think I ever heard any more sadness in their voices as I did the day that CoCo went to wait at Rainbow Bridge.

• Sherry's cat, Midnight
• Her Siberian Huskies, Sha and Katie
• Our Yorkshire Terrier, Metro

All our pets were dearly loved by Dad and Mom. So on this Veteran's Day Weekend, Metro salutes the special Veteran in our lives.

Thanks, Dad!!!

Dad's Medals and Badges: Purple Heart, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, Army/Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantry Badge, Cold War Recognition Certificate and Medal

When we had to opportunity to visit Mom and Dad, Metro would be always make the trip with us. Not since Sam, the white Poodle (circa 1973), was a dog allowed inside their home. But Metro was greeted with welcomed arms...

A Number 2 Warsh Tub

Last year's pecan crop on the farm was nil even with a half dozen trees that should bear nuts. Pecan trees goes through alternate year bearing cycles and some how the large trees decided to take a "rest" together. And last year we only had a couple of small trees that even produce enough nuts for a couple of pies for Thanksgiving.

Even with the severe drought that the Southeast is experiencing this year, pecan production in Georgia is reported to be 35 - 40% better than last year.

After about 45 minutes of rolling the ground we have enough nuts to fill a number 2 warsh tub and an 1000% increase of our pecan harvest versus last November.

Frost

Well, maybe it suppose to be 9 weeks after the goldenrods bloom?!?!?

Frost on the lawn... does this mean we won't have to mow any more till spring?!?!

Fog and Frost - the pond on "fire".

Just Ducky

Actually, it's a buck-and-a-quarter quarterstaff. But I'm not tellin' HIM that.



Ho! Ha-ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust! *sproinggggg*!

Metro Monday

Bed Puppy

At five months old or so, Metro was invited to sleep in bed with us. He was no longer put to sleep in the utility room behind the Closet Maid shelf. See, we trusted him to hold his little bladder through the night, since he was doing so the 10 to 11 hours during the day while we were away at work. He has been there ever since. In fact, if he falls asleep on the slipper bench at the foot of our bed before we turn out the lights - we call him to come join us. He takes his spot where we have fixdidit.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
The king-size bed is soft and deep...
I sleep right in the center groove
My human beings can hardly move!
I've trapped her legs,
He's tucked in tight!


And here is where I pass the night.
No one disturbs me or dares intrude,
Till morning comes and "I want food!"
I sneak up slowly to begin
my nibbles on my human's chin.
They wake up quickly,
I have sharp teeth-
I'm a puppy, don't you see?
For the morning's here and it's time to play
I always seem to get my way.

So thank you Lord for giving me
These human people that I see.
The ones who hug and hold me tight
And share their bed with me at night

Author Unknown - but could easily be Metro

Sleepy Puppy yawning

Bachelor Pads

We have too many roosters!!! At least we had too many roosters too close to each other. We corrected that on Friday afternoon and Saturday. By building individual "stalls" for the boys, we no longer have to worry about them pecking each other. We remodeled the cart and hay storage area we had built a couple of weekend ago into Rooster Roosts.

During Construction

The tin dividers were installed to insure that the roosters did not fight over who had the best apartment. The 3" PVC pipe is the water delivery system... simply add water from the south side of the pipe (there is a 2 foot riser on the right hand 45° joint) to flush and fill the pipe.

The roosting perches allows the three guys to get up high and have something to 'crow' about!

Marvin, BigBoy 1 and Monty

Perhaps I should have told them to reset their clocks for the end of Daylight Saving Time!!!