Metro Monday

Sometimes Metro is too nosey for his own good.

Saturday afternoon as we walked around the Tree House at the Beaver Pond, he was obviously upset by something. As he marked his territory around the different small bushes, he would growl, bark and spin his wheels. Some animal had been in the area.

Then he found the source of the scent. He wanted to stick his nose into the hollow of the large oak tree. And his head... and his front legs... and his body...

We picked him up and and loaded onto the golf cart - he was ready to go back and investigate further!

Two Years Ago...

I was struggling with writing this post since last night. I started and deleted so many times, that I had just about given up on what to write. Then I get an email from Sherry when I get back from lunch and a doctor's appointment!

Thanks, Sis! I couldn't have said it better!!!

I know we haven’t talked yet today and I really don’t want to dwell on what day it is. I know that both of us have thought about the 2 year mark all week, and especially today. Instead of thinking that Daddy has been gone from us for 2 years and making today a sad event; I have been trying to think that this is a 2 year anniversary that we have become closer together as a brother and sister-sharing the memories we have of both Mom and Dad. Also Dad’s passing took him away from his earthly pains and illness; and moved him onto his next journey toward heaven. We both know that dad lived a wonderful Christian life, both as a devoted husband and father to us, along with a very caring person that was loved by many. So smile with me and say a prayer, and thank God for His love and allowing us to be stronger today because He gave us Dad and the memories to share.

I love you.

Amen!!!


Sherry, I love you, too!!!

And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Wont you do this for me son,
If you can?

Chorus to Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man
(by Gary Rossington - Ronnie Van Zant)

Beaver Pond Dam

Friday afternoon, we walked to the Beaver Pond to see the level of the water. Sarah had told me on Thursday, the water was within two inches of the top of the Beaver Stump. With just over 1.5" of rain on Saturday, we were sure that the Stump would be completely covered today. Well, guess again.

So I walked over to the Beaver Dam... I hear water flowing!!!


The pressure of the increased water on the earthen plug made by the beaver caused a collapse sometime in the past 36 hours.

And it most likely happened last night... The ice seen above shows a pattern of quickly receding water. The temperature overnight was 19.2° F.


I wasn't the only one investigating the damage, the tracks of a VERY LARGE beaver were near the flowing water.

Metro Monday

Metro loves to watch the birds. Doesn't matter if it is from the golf cart, walking in the woods or down by the Beaver Pond.

We recently put up a new feeder at the kitchen window and a bird feeder doesn't have to be a purchase from Wal*Mart!!! This one is a simple straight stick from one of the Tulip Poplar trees and Disk Harrow from an old piece of farm equipment.

Too cold for a ride on the golf cart - temperature was 19.2° F this morning!!! Northern Cardinals and Chipping Sparrows were the visitors this morning for Metro to see! We were enjoying our morning coffee by standing by the kitchen sink and watching the action. He knows, somehow he knows, when there is something outside that he needs to see also. Is it the tone of our voices, the length of time we stand motionless or just the fact we are not paying attention to the four legged pup on the rug beside us? He is not satisfied until he is picked up and held or placed on the counter beside the sink. HE'S GOTTA SEE OUTSIDE!!!

Metro Monday

From the following link: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/22670868/?GT1=10755

Best in show: The top 10 dog breeds

The American Kennel Club lists the most popular pooches in America

Best in show: The top 10 breeds

Popularity contests aren’t just in high school anymore. With all the cute contenders out there, you’ve got to narrow down your search when it comes to picking the perfect pet. The American Kennel Club, a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world, helps you sort out the 157 dog breeds by announcing the Top 10 Most Popular Dogs in America.

Who will paw their way to #1? Will it be the happy-go-lucky Beagle, which has consistently been included in the Top 10 list since 1915? The reliable and trustworthy Labrador Retriever? Or maybe the portable and energetic Yorkshire Terrier? Find out which pup made it through the ruff competition to be crowned the American Kennel Club’s most wanted pet.

According to the slide show countdown:

#10: Bulldog
#9: Shih Tzu
#8: Poodle
#7: Dachshund
#6: Boxer
#5: Beagle
#4: Golden Retriever
#3: German Shepherd
#2: Yorkshire Terrier
#1: Labrador Retriever

Photo credit: Takeshi Nakagawa/Wikipedia

But, that photo could have be taken by Sarah or myself. The little guy in the above photo is a dead ringer for Metro!!! And Metro IS #1 in our hearts!!!

Remember Mom on her birthday

Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

January 12, 1932 - October 20, 2005

Barn De-Construction

The Bee McCranie Barn... It stood on the hill, about a quarter mile up the road from our driveway. It stood there for, we think, for over 100 years. Stood, past tense, because it has been disassembled.

Thanksgiving weekend, Buddy (our brother-in-law) asked Mr. Breedlove, "Whatcha got planned for the old barn?"

Mr. B: "Nothing"

Buddy: "Could I have it to tear down?"

Mr. B: "As long as you don't leave a mess. Just put all you don't want in a pile so it can be burned."

The roof was the first thing to come off, Buddy hired a few men to remove the rusting tin.

The Friday after Christmas, we took over with hammers, pry bars, crowbars and a sledge hammer. Each board was carefully removed from where it had been for over 10 decades. Each nail was pulled, some so rusty that it took extra effort to extract it from the heart pine lumber.

And what lumber...

Full dimension boards, not of the 1 1/2" x 3 1/2" lumber that calls itself a two-by-four!!!

The floors of the barn and the loft were 2" x 8" x 20'

The siding boards were 1 1/4" x 20' x various widths (some as wide as 15")

The floor joist were 2" x 10" x 20'

The beams supporting the floor joist were 6" x 10" X 20'

Six trailer loads were removed, sorted and stack at Pond. With plans to build a "cook house" at the pond, when the lot was totally clean.

The unusable, rotten and broken wood was piled in preparation for a blazing end. We started this process last Saturday afternoon. With one flick of a lighter, a bundle of old hay was thrown into a burn pit. That same fire was still smothering this morning when I started my commute to work. Sarah and her brother worked all day yesterday, tossing the odd post and board onto the bonfire.

As we loaded the last of the salvagable lumber onto my truck, I spotted a LARGE furry brown mass and a much smaller grey one.

He was still sitting beside the scrap piece of lumber when I return from town with our dinner (yummmm, PIZZA).

In an IM to me this morning, Sarah wrote:

"I am going to check on it when I get going...you may be a father when you get home"

Metro Monday

Wait a minute, I thirsty!!!

Yesterday, the temperature was around 71°. Lower 70's in January ? Yes, in south Georgia, even with the overnight low Thursdaynight/Friday morning at 15°.

"If you don't like the weather in south Georgia, just wait a few days - it will change!!!"

After morning worship and before Choir practice, we took a walk to the Beaver Pond. Metro joined us, of course. He walked every step of the way from the house to the Beaver Pond and from the Beaver Pond back to the house. A round trip of just less than a mile. As we neared the Fish Pond and home, Metro's little tongue was hanging out and he was hassling. We paused as he took a drink of water from the Pond.

The inseam of my blue jeans is 32". Metro's little legs are around 4" long. 1:8 ratio. For every step I take, Metro takes eight. For every mile I walk, does Metro walk eight miles???

No wonder he was thirsty!!!

Beaver Pond

It was a long dry summer... The drought in Georgia has really impacted those to the north of us - Lake Lanier (the source of Atlanta's water) is now at all time low.

We were able to watch the level of the Beaver Pond drop. By taking note of the water mark on one of the Beaver Stumps we were able to guage the fullness of the pond. From the highest level at the beginning of June to the lowest point in mid December - the water level drop over 18 inches.

June 9

August 18

December 13

We figure that the total surface area of the Beaver Pond when full is around 6 acres. So with the drought and lack of rain over the summer - 18 inches evaporated and with 27,138 gallons per acre of 1 inch rain - the pond lost 2,930,904 gallons of water.

January 3


Today, with ice on the surface!

We are almost to the high water mark again with all but 2 inches regained. That means the pond has increased by 2,605,248 gallons.

Thank you Lord for the rain we have received in South Georgia in the recent weeks.

Metro Monday

Goodbye 2007!!!

A Pain in the Necks

Sarah and I had doctor visits with Dr. H a couple of weeks ago. After "reading" our x-rays, "You folks are a matched pair." He ordered a Home Traction Device -

The idea is to open the space that is being compress between verbrates where there should be disk. The pressure of the spurs cause us headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain and numbness of the arms, hands and fingers!!! owie!!!

• Directs traction forces toward the occiput (back of the head) thereby preventing compression of the TMJ through the chin.


• Applies up to 50 pounds of traction.


• Ensures safety--user has total control of force at all times


• Enables easy home traction without assistance.


• Includes patented self-adjusting neck wedges that rotate through a 30 degree arc and are removable for easy cleaning or replacement.


• Provides a comfortable and cost-effective option to continuing clinical traction treatments.


• Includes user's guide and deluxe carrying case.


• Patented self-adjusting neck wedges rotate through a 30 degree arc and are removable for easy cleaning or replacement. The rotation of the neck wedges combined with the ability to adjust the width ensure that even patients with extra large or extra small necks can achieve a perfect fit!


• Patented pump design incorporates an easy-to-use "click-in-place" mechanism for pumping, sustaining and releasing the traction.


• Gauge reads in in pounds/kg of traction to provide feedback to the user and to promote consistency in treatment.

Believe or not, it is actually quite comfortable and it HELPS!!!

Dr. H also ordered MRI's for both of us. The day after Christmas, we arrived at the hospital for our rides in the tube. An hour later, we were each given a Compact Disk, I mean Compact Disc, to take to our next appointment.

Metro Monday

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Searching YouTube for a Christmas doggy video, I found a really good renditions of Jingle Bells and he shares part of Metro's name!!!

"Sing it, Dakota!!!"

Practicing???

One month ago tonight we were at the hospital in Dublin. We were ready for an all-nighter, but Samantha Ann made her debut at 11:13!!! We have adopted Sammi's family as ours. Or, has Sammi's family adopted us???

We have an appointment next month. Sarah and I have a desire to open our home. There is a critical shortage of foster parents in Georgia. The process is approval is not simple or quick, but it is necessary to be sure that we are ready. Pray for us!!! We have love in our hearts to share. If we can be a blessing to just one child, it will be worth it!

Winter Flowers

There are three Japanese Camellias (Camellia japonica) around our house. One in the center of the front, one on the South West corner and one at the Breeze Way deck. They are all blooming, given a bit of color to grey winter days. When the first bloom appeared about two weeks ago, I had to bring it into the house for Sarah to enjoy!

While picking up pecans yesterday, I noticed the small while flowers in Mama's little garden. The White Narcissus are like the little snowflakes that we would never see this far south.

Metro Monday

Bible Quiz Time

You know the Bible 100%!

Wow! You are awesome! You are a true Biblical scholar, not just a hearer but a personal reader! The books, the characters, the events, the verses - you know it all! You are fantastic!

Ultimate Bible Quiz

w00t!!!

Really, it was quite easy if you eliminate the "dumb" answers.

Storm Damage

We heard at Sunday School that there was a tornado that touch down in Jay Bird Road. So, we took a ride after lunch to see!

There were trees uprooted, trees broken in half and trees across the road. The mobile homes near the intersection were not damaged (that we could see, the offical report says otherwise).

The distance from our home to were the tornado did its destruction was exactly 5 cromes (five miles by way the crow flies)

The Offical Report from NOAA:


6 Miles N HELENA, DODGE COUNTY GA
N32° 17' E82° 91'
EF0 NEAR INTERSECTION OF LONG BRIDGE AND NEW BETHEL CHURCH ROADS. MOBILE HOME DAMAGED AND TREES DAMAGED. PATH LENGTH WAS 1/2 MILE AND PATH WIDTH WAS 25 YARDS. (FFC)

Even closer to home:
The guys that rent to hunt the planted pines, felt it necessary to put up a gate at the lane. The lane has always be considered a public road way. A bit of land that each of the property owner's (one of which being Sarah's Dad) would give to be the common land - share by both, owned by none. We were upset by the installation of the gate but we still had access via the breaks in the old fence. With the power pole needing to be replace at midnight last night and no key to open the gate --- the guys from the EMC took the easy route. They plowed the bucket truck though the gate like it wasn't there!!!

The new and old pole

Mama was scared last night. The sound of something hitting the roof was LOUD. They were thinking hail... But instead it was the pecans being loosed from the huge tree and descending onto the metal roof. With the wind last night all the pecans have fallen from the trees and need to be harvested.

And then, the storm came,

The winds really picked up around 10:00 last night and shortly thereafter, the lights go out. Sarah grabbed the Weather Radio (battery operated, you do have one, don't ya) and we hear the alarm...

Tornado Watch...

and then, less than 10 minutes later...

Tornado WARNING, radar indicated wind rotation 10 miles north east of Alamo - the southern Laurens, northern Wheeler counties area. Moving toward the ESE at 55 mph, and away from us, the winds die down as quickly as they arose.

We head to bed knowing that when the power returns, Metro will run through the house looking for the unseen force that made the various clocks beep. We are unaware that the damage to the power lines are so close. Truck from Little Omulgee EMC stop in the road at the corner of the farm. The pole on the lane, is down. At 1:03 the electricy is restored and finishing touches are applied to the new pole...

Glad we got a good nap yesterday afternoon!

Rainy Night in Georgia

It has been a long time since the Weather Channel maps indicated rain in south Georgia. Sprinkles started this morning about 10:15 while we were fishing for our supper. Yummm, brim, cole slaw and fried sweet taters!!!

Our afternoon nap was enhanced with heavy raindrops hitting the back deck. And with rain falling nearly non-stop since 2:00, Metro's walks outside have been mostly done under the carport. Isn't that the main reason we build the carport in the first place?

With most of the country - east of the Rockies and north of the Mason-Dixon line - in the grips of ice and snow, we are due get a taste of the temperature but not the frozen precipitation. Monday morning's low will be in the upper 20's. We rarely get the moisture and cold temperatures at the same time - that's a good thing!

So far today, 1.22" of rain. More rain in less than 10 hours versus the past 30 days combined. The forecast has the rain ending overnight, between 2 and 3 a.m.

Honor your Father and Mother

Brenda Faye Gilder Sharpe - Dublin, GA

Passed away Friday, December 7, 2007.

Survivors include: Her husband, Johnny Ray Sharpe. Her sons Brian of Beaufort, SC and Jamey and Kimberly of Statesboro, GA.

Her Mother, Fredia Harvey
Sisters: Suzanne and Bill Blanton of Dublin, Leila and Victor Thigpen of Lothair, Anna and Buddy Garner of Tennille
Brother: Freddie and Linda Harvey of Dublin
Several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews

Brenda was born in Wheeler County. She was a graduate of Wheeler County High School and attended Brewton Parker College. She was a resident of Laurens County for many years and was a member of Dudley Baptist Church. She was employed as secretary for Lake's Alignment. Brenda was preceded in death by her father, William Jethro Gilder and her stepfather, Dudley C. Harvey.

Funeral services were held yesterday at the Chapel of Townsend Brothers Funeral Home, followed by burial at the Snow Hill Cemetery in Wheeler County.


So few words, for a life so full!


It was said by one of Brenda co-workers that took part in the eulogy yesterday, that - more often than not - Brenda would turn their conversations into something about her sons. "But, we weren't talking about our children?!?!"

I guess that's were Jamey gets it. Before his mother became sick, he would include his Mom in the conversations we had on the back dock of the Piggly Wiggly building. And when she was diagnosed, he was there for whatever his Mom needed. He honored her. With the devotion that is worthy of Deuteronomy 5:16.

"Honor thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee,"

I nearly lost it at the end of the service, when the music started playing. It was the same Amazing Grace by The Pipes and Drums and the Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards that was played at the end of my Dad's funeral.

Click the play button to start...

Monday morning edit: I took the mediaplayer off autostart. Jamey was back at work this morning, and said he nearly loses it when "Amazing Grace is played on the Pipes". Me, too!