Lightning Bugs

Mid summer nights of my youth were filled with the small glowing insects. I was always able to find an empty Mason jar in the smoke house. Poke holes into a lid with a nail, and there you have it: the perfect night light - for a few hours anyway. The fields to the west of the house and across the road would sparkle and glow with thousands of the bugs.

Just don't call them Fireflies in middle Tennessee. That would be like calling fizzy cola drinks; soda or pop instead of "a coke" or "a cold drink".

Lightning Bugs in south Georgia? We have very few to none! In fact, I have seen zero, nil, none this year.

But this weekend, I will have an opportunity to see another light show in the summer sky. Particles traveling as fast as 133,200 mph will be entering the Earth's atmosphere - causing as many as 90-100 streaks per hour. The peak times for the Perseid meteoroids this year are during the early morning to dawn hours. Maybe an afternoon nap is in order!

*Chuck Hunt's capture of a 2006 Perseid meteorid on Space.com

Daylight, Tennessee

The old post office/general store is most likely no longer. It wasn't looking so structurally sound some 31 years ago when the photo was taken.

Sherry was working for the Southern Standard, the local newspaper, at the time. She was taking photos, developing and printing in the lab on High Street. I was about to enter my freshman year at MTSU, when I asked her to take a photo of the old run down building. We drove down the steep hill on the dirt road that then ran parallel to Charles Creek. It was the same path that the school bus took right after picking us in the mornings. I remember that I purposely sat on the left side of the bus so I could gaze at the old boards.

When the green shingle house was built in spring of 1960, none of the mail coming to our home had a Zip Code affixed along with the Route 1, Daylight address. The Postal Zip Codes were established for the entire country on July 1, 1963 and sometime before that date the move was made to the main Post Office on the Court House Square in McMinnville. Along with Centertown, Ivring College, Dibrell and other small operations - the postmasters then became letter carriers. Two generations of the Womack family delivered the mail for as long as our family lived on "Route 8".

And yes, that is a tree growing through the roof.

Shhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

To help occupy their son during church services a young couple supplied him with toy cars...

You remember the kind - like Matchbox or Hot Wheels. Only now they are called Diecast Replicas.

This worked well until the lad started adding sound effects to his play.

"Vroooooooom, Vroooooooom, Vroooooooom."

His parents tried to quieten him but he continued.

"Vroooooooom, Vroooooooom, Vroooooooom."

Finally the preacher, in frustration, paused his sermon, "Son, will you please STOP!!!"

"Screeeeeeeeech."

'Nuff Said

755

Photo credit: Fox Sports


At least it has finally happened...

Padres Fan Nabs No. 755 Home Run Ball

Photo credit: Lenny Ignelzi / AP

“I’m pretty ecstatic,” said Adam Hughes, a 33-year-old plumber from suburban La Jolla. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

D'oh

I have never watched an episode of The Simpsons.

I’ll give you a moment to recover…








But I have been exposed to Simpson-ocity over the years. How could one totally avoid it? I do know that Bart is main character in the show and he hasn’t aged a day since the debut in 1989. Physically or Mentally!!!

The Simpson Movie premieres tomorrow and Matt Groening, the creator of the ‘cartoon’ was interviewed on NPR this morning. While the story might intrigue the loyal Simpson fan to rush to theater tomorrow night to spend 8 bucks and 88 minutes – the plot summary by Steve Inskeep give a good reason not.

It's entirely within normal Simpsons behavior that Homer, the family patriarch, pollutes the local lake with pig manure, causes an environmental catastrophe, and finds a lynch mob at his door. And somewhere in the absurdity is a long-running commentary on American family life.

Whose family are we talking about? Not mine, I hope! Normal Simpson behavior? Springfield is definitely not on my list of must visit cities!

*image: I think that must be Homer saying, "D'oh"

Uncle Bratten

Bratten Benjamin Woods

McMinnville resident and Cannon County, TN native Bratten Woods, age 71, was born April 22, 1936 and died July 25, 2007 at NHC Healthcare McMinnville following an extended illness. The food manager at Bi-LO and a member of the Church of Christ, he was the son of the late Sherman and Nora Haley Woods.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Dorren Woods and two sisters, Helen Woods and Jean Stembridge.

He was married in 1974 to Linda Sue Hall Woods of McMinnville.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Dana Woods of McMinnville; brother, James Woods of McMinnville and sister, Robbie "Ronald" Fults of Manchester, TN.

Neices and Nephew - Bernice, Bob, Sherry, Beverly, Regina, Stephanie, LeAnn and Christy.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 27, 2007 in High's Chapel with Garland Robinson and Ray Weddington officiating. Burial will follow in the Trousdale Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thursday and from 10:00 a.m. until time of service Friday at High's.

Most of my memories of Bratten includes James. Mainly because James and Bratten were always working together on the farm. They worked "in town" and would arrive home within five minutes of each other.

• Building the Barn


• Building the Garage (it was call the garage, even though there was never a vehicle park in it - it was full of wood working equipment). It is from these experiences that I obtain my interest and love of construction and woodworking


• Feeding the cows in the afternoon


• Playing catch with a real baseball and glove for the first time. James and Bratten bought them for me!!!


• Watching the bulldozer dig the pond


• Being careful not to tip over the "tin cans" at the ends of the couch


• Driving the tractor


• Riding in the new red Pickup Truck to Whitlock's Grocery to get the item needed by Granny to finish preparing supper


• Sitting with Bratten and/or James instead of Mom and Dad during worship services


• Wrigley's Spearmint Gum that had extra flavor added by osmosis

James and Bratten - March 25, 1951

Long-Short-Short-Loooooooooooong

Did you hear that? That is the Whistle Code for a train approaching a road crossing. There are nine different series of long and short sounding used for various reasons as engineers and railroad workers shunt a train. But the one that is most hear and most important to the public is Long-Short-Short-Loooooooooooong as the track intersects grade crossing.

Many times during the day and night, we can hear the train as it passes the side roads along Highway 341/23. The tracks are just less than a mile from the house at their nearest point and we tend to ignore the sound of the Dissonance Cord as the engines pull the loads of gravel, wood chips and automobiles.

Sarah had just arrived at the Beaver Pond when she heard another sound of warning: The shrill of the sirens of Police, Fire & Rescue and Ambulance. When I arrived home, we rode to the scene about half mile from the Telfair/Dodge county line.

The majority of the emergency crews that responed had already left the area.

The story as reported by 13WMAZ.com:

A log-truck driver, Newell Kitchens, died after his truck collided with a train outside a McRae lumber business, according to Dodge County sheriff Lawton Douglas. The accident happened around 4;25 p.m. outside Sylvan Hardwoods on Highway 341 outside McRae, according to Janice Graham, office manager for the company. She said the train has derailed and driven the truck up an embankment. Douglas says Kitchens was trapped in his cab for nearly an hour but was removed and taken to a local hospital. But, according to Douglas, Kitchens later died. Both Dodge and Telfair county emergency crews responded to the accident.

The two photo above are from the WMAZ website

Stop-Look-Listen. Please be careful around road/tracks crossing!!! The train is much, much bigger and will win in a battle of force!






May the Lord bless the Kitchen's family during this time of loss!

Older Brother, Younger Sister

My younger sister was my constant companion when I was growing up. Living out in the stick of rural Warren County, there wasn’t much to do. We made up our own fun.

Making forts/playhouses with tin cans and scrap lumber
Riding bikes on paths in the woods that were swept clean with an old broom (we weren’t allow on the dirt road)
Playing with a kitten that had a strange name
Hide and Go Seek in the red clay gullies
Climbing into a tree house that seemed so high back then(we would most likely bump our head if we could walked under it now)
Watching cartoons, Dark Shadows and Batman

Sherry, you were always there! Sometimes to ad nauseum. But I wouldn’t trade the memories for anything. Even the spats. Even throwing you through the wall in the den of the old house at Daylight.

Now with 387.6 road miles separating us, we are closer than ever. Thanks for being there for me.



Sis, whatcha think this is – your birthday or something!

Pythagorean theorem

It is one of the first formulas you learn in Geometry.

And using this equation to square a foundation or a deck is one of the easiest things you can do to ensure that you end up with perfect right angles or SQUARE CORNERS.

Start in one corner.
To apply the rule, start at stake B and measure out 3 feet toward A. Mark the string.

Beginning again at stake B, measure out 4 feet toward C. Mark the string.

With a second pair of hands and starting at your 3-foot mark on string A, pull a tape measure to the 4-foot mark on string C.

This diagonal measurement should read exactly 5 feet. When working alone, put a stake on the outside of the string at the 3-foot mark on A and tie a string to the stake. Mark this string with a 5-foot measurement. Now, pull the string so that the 5-foot mark lands on your 4-foot mark on C.

If the distance between A and C doesn't measure 5 feet, then move A or B out or in until it does.

When the measurement between the two points (A & C) reads 5 feet, your layout is square!

My Geometry teacher (Mr. G.L. Dotson) back at WCSH would be proud...

Or not...

31 years ago

Hank Aaron was the featured guest on the pregame show before tonight's Braves/Cardinal match up. He hit his last and 755th Home Run on July 20, 1976 at Milwaukee County Stadium. "The Hammer" was traded by the Braves to the Brewers after the 1975 season.

Hammerin' Hank only played for two teams in the majors: The Braves and the Brewers.

Milwaukee Braves became the Atlanta Braves in 1966 - an event that brought Major League Baseball to the southeast and young boys in Middle Tennessee to following the happens in Fulton County Stadium. Kevin Prater (one of my best friends growing up) and I discussed games, players and stat - usually after church services.

As Hank narrowed in on the record held by Babe Ruth in the early 70's, interest peaked even more. Saturday's afternoon schedule of NBC's broadcast of the Game of the Week included the Braves. There wasn't national cable channels way back then. And with only one chance per week to see live baseball, it was a extra treat to be able to see a few more from our "home town" team. Even though Atlanta was 200 miles away.

Now there is some guy that is within two Home Runs of Hank's record.

I've got ten words to say about that:

MayPop

Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), also known as Purple passionflower, is a fast growing perennial vine with climbing or trailing stems. A member of the passionflower genus Passiflora, the Maypop has large, intricate flowers with prominent styles and stamens. One of the hardiest species of passionflower, it is a common wildflower in the southern United States.

The fleshy fruit, also in itself called a Maypop, is an oval yellowish berry about the size of a hen egg; it is green at first, but then becomes orange as it matures. In this species, the yellow mucilage around the seeds of the fruit is sweet and edible, however it is quite seedy and mostly benefits wildlife.

I remember the field just to the west of the house in Daylight, TN. It was full of the purple flowers and green eggs. Very few of the fruit made it to maturity with me around. I would seek out the orbs and apply pressure with the bottom of my tennis shoe...

POP!!!

The sound of the air escaping from made for entertaining a young boy on a hot summer day.

"Passion" does not refer to love, but to the Passion of Christ on the cross. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Spanish Christian missionaries discovered this flower and adopted its unique physical structures as symbols of Crucifixion.

For example: the 72 radial filaments (or corona) represent the Crown of Thorns. The ten petals and sepals represent the ten faithful apostles. The top 3 stigmata represent the 3 nails and the lower 5 anthers represent the 5 wounds.

In North America they are also called the Maypop, the water lemon, and the wild apricot (after its fruit). Native Americans in the Tennessee area called it ocoee, and the Ocoee River and valley are named after it.

Young Folks at Church

We are very bless to have very talented and dedicated Youth at church!

Blake plays the piano, guitar, bass, banjo and he sings. He taught at VBS this year

Laura is plays trombone, piano and sings. (only she is away at Barry College now)

Emily plays the clarinet and sings.

Cole plays the drums and sings.

Linsey plays the flute and sings.

Miranda plays the saxophone and sings.

Jenna plays the clarinet and sings.

Brittney plays the flute and sings.

Jarrod & Matthew sing and round our the Youth Choir on Wednesday night.




Did I miss anyone??? Oh yeah! Jessica!!!

Jessica had been missing. Not from church, she has been in church. Every time the doors were opened. Just not at Faith! She had been attending where her brother William had been preaching. She knew that this summer contained the last weeks that she would have him closeby. William and Caitlin were married at Faith yesterday.

Now, Jessica is back at Faith!!! Starting with VBS and every service since, she has been there. It is good to see her smiling face.


Oh by the way, Jessica plays (wait a minute, it been so long I forget what she instrument she plays???). And she sings, I heard her sweet voice tonight!

Really, I remember the instrument Jessica plays. Saxophone!!! It is saxophone, right???

Laura and Jessica

Jessica, all dressed up for her brother's wedding!!!

Wedding Cake

The cake was beautiful!!!

The flowers were lovely!!!

The food was delicious!!!

The Kitchen was CROWDED!!!

Jimmie Gail called about 10:50, "WE NEED HELP!!!" --- not her exact words, but that is what she was saying. So we drove into McRae with the intention of helping for a while and then coming back home to dress for the wedding at 2:00...

We were put on sandwich and slicing detail - Pimento Cheese and Chicken Salad. Pinwheels Wraps and Mesquite Chicken in Crescent rolls.

"As they are saying their vows, we need to put the Buckeyes (peanutbutter/chocolate balls) and the bowl of Pimento Chesse dip on the tables."

No one answered... Sarah and I looked at each other and with agreement and in unison we volunteered to forgo changing clothes and sitting in the sanctuary.

Trudie, let us know when we can see the video of the wedding. Okay???

William and Caitlin

How long had it been? Probably 18 ½ years??? Yep, it has been that long since I took photos for a couple getting married.

I was just doing a favor for the family. Just using my time and talent (and our Rebel XT) to record the people and events of the wedding rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. The Kilpatricks are a very special family and it was my pleasure to take the photos.

I can imagine the conversation as they planned their wedding:

Caitlin: I know, lets get married July 14th...

William: Hey, that's the day after my birthday!

Caitlin: Oooooh, it is, isn't it! (note to self: Now, he will have no excuse for forgetting our anniversary!!!)

Change your blades once a year (whether they need it or not)

One year and nine days ago, I changed the blades on the mower. I knew that it was time to do it again. The balance of the steel going 'round and 'round was way off.





This time instead of relying on the cross reference book at the hardware store, I {with the help of a Call-a-Sister (thanks Sherry!!!)} was able to use my own blog to get the correct blade number. A quick change of old for new and a run back to town for gas (who would of thunk you could put $15.00 worth of gas in a 5 gallon gas can), and we were ready to start cutting grass.





The grass blades of entire yard are now one level. (Still need to Weed Eat around the carport and goat/chicken pen). We (I was using the BIL's mower) finished about 9:30 last night by using the headlights. And with the weather predication for rain and our schedule this weekend being full (William and Kaitlin's rehearsal and wedding), we are thankful to have that task out of the way!

Tying Flies

Dylon, our grandson, has been visiting with us since Monday afternoon.

• We have been fishing at the pond.
• We have ridden the golf cart all over the farm and especially to the Beaver Pond.
• We have rescued a bicycle from the rust heap.
• Tonight, we pulled the fly tying kit.
  

I forgot he was left-handed!!!

Turning the vise around, he was able to get the wraps down.

Metro wanted to eat the Peacock Hurl...

INTENSE CONCENTRATION

"Can we do another one?"


Here... Fishy, Fishy, Fishy!!! Not really trying to "match the hatch" on this one. Dylon just thought it was colorful. It wouldn't matter much to the Blue Gills at the pond anyway. They have been known to strike and bite an empty hook!!!

Flies from last year and tonight

Bird and Butterfly

< /2000 Words >

Figs

Figs blossom inside themselves!

I didn't know that!!! When I moved from Tennessee to Georgia nearly 18 years ago, the only figs I was familiar with were Fig Newtons and the figs mentioned in the Bible.

They are the only fruit which fully matures, then partially dries, before falling from its tree a perfectly ripe piece of fruit! But not really... It is a faux-fruit. A fig "fruit" is derived from a specially adapted type of inflorescence (structural arrangement of flowers). What is commonly called the "fruit" of a fig is actually a specialized structure- or accessory fruit- called a syconium: an involuted (nearly closed) receptacle with many small flowers arranged on the inner surface. Thus the actual flowers of the fig are unseen unless the fig is cut open. In Chinese the fig is called 'fruit without flower'. The subtle crunchy texture you detect when you chew into a Fig Newton are the blossoms of the fig.

Beginning in the Garden of Eden, the fig, with its astonishing health-giving and healing powers, is mentioned more than 50 times in the Bible. In fact it is the first fruit specifically named in Genesis (3:7) the leaves of fig tree used for covering nakedness. Figs are a traditional food in the Jewish Passover celebration.

Only one of the fig trees in Mama's yard is showing any sign of 'fruit' this year. Mostly because of the killing frost on Easter Sunday. The largest of the fig trees is protected beneath the canopy of the huge pecan tree in the side yard. The figs are just starting to ripen. If you have never had a fresh fig - you have missed a sweet and crunchy treat.

Ficus carica - Common Fig

Crinums

I had been told they were amaryllis... And I called them by that name for several years. Last summer I was better informed, "They are crinums, do you have some spare blubs you can sent me?"

I just wish I had the knowledge to identify (by Genus and species) the flowers in our gardens and the wildflowers on the farm.

Kylee, I bow to your gardening skills and widsom...

From Wikipedia

Crinum is a genus of about 180 species of lily-like perennial plants that have large showy flowers on leafless stems, and develop from bulbs. They are found along the sides of streams and lakes in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, including South Africa. In addition, swamp lilies are members of this genus which are cultivated for their attractive flowers like ornamental plants.
Crinum leaves are basal, typically long and strap-shaped, with colors ranging from light green to green.

The Tortoise and the Hare

We so enjoy our afternoon rides/walks to the Beaver Pond and we never know what we might see.

Our Bird Watching Blog usually record the photos we take. Today we took pictures of a couple of famous fable characters.

The tortoise seemed to be ahead. But I would imagine that depends on where the finish line actually is.

Happy 4th of July

I'm not sure if there is a public display of fireworks in town tonight. With conditions being so dry and the wild fires of South Georgia still burning - it is probably a good idea to forgo shooting fire into the sky and allowing it to fall back to earth.

On our walk into the woods today, we were treated to a private display of ooooooo and ahhhhhhh's:

Star Burst

Showers of Sparks

Happy Birthday, Mama!