Cock of the Walk

On Tuesday we went to see Jeep's son and his wife at Batesville.  Before we left there, Doug wanted to show me his chickens, which he said were mostly Amish chickens.  I made a few pictures through the fence.

 I posted this one on Weather Underground's Wunder Photos and it got the Approvers Choice award.  Roosters of this kind must be scarce, because I got a lot of comments on it!  I called him 'Fancy Pants' after a rooster we had when I was a child.  His real name is Willie.

(If you follow the link, click on a picture to enlarge it)

This is some of his harem of hens.  

This hen's feathers were interesting!

Our main mission was to get peas.  They raise lots of vegetables and melons to sell.  I planned to pick the peas and bring them home to shell and put in the freezer, but they insisted on picking them and shelling them for us!!!  I put up 52 packages of the amount we would normally eat at one meal. This was 22 pounds of shelled peas.  The process took me all afternoon and if I had shelled them, it would have taken me three days!  We also brought home a cantaloupe, a watermelon, a quart of canned tomato juice and a quart of pickled beets.  Thank you Doug and Laura!!!

The daughter of another customer found this pretty kitty to play with while her Mom bought veggies.

 This is Doug's happy looking dog, "Tiny".

Today, I'm thankful for fresh produce and for loved ones who share it!

Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge

Thursday morning about eleven I started getting things out to start making lunch.  Just then, Jeep came in the kitchen, put his arms around me and said those magic words, "How would you like for us to go to Starkville and eat lunch?"  Can you guess what I answered?  Of course, I said, "Yes, I'd like that", as I began putting the things back in the fridge for another day.  After being married to Jeep for over 4years, I have learned that any time he starts out with, "How would you like...." I know it's going to be something good!  I suggested we take our cameras and maybe stop by Oktibbeha Lake on the way home and see if there was anything interesting to shoot.

  First, we stopped at Little Dooey's and ate lunch.  

 

The table in the foreground is where we ate.  I 'borrowed' these pictures from the Internet. 

I enjoyed a delicious plate of Catfish filets and trimmings while Jeep got the Bar-be-cued pork.

Next, we did a little shopping at, where else, Wally World and Lowe's!  We pulled out from Wally World and started home.  We had gone maybe a quarter of a mile, when Jeep crossed over and headed back South.  I asked if he had forgotten something and he said, "Yes, I want us to go to the Wildlife Refuge!"  He knows I always want to go there!!!  It was very hot, but we had a good time anyway.  Here are some of the things we saw.  I don't know the correct names of the birds, sorry.

This is at Bluff Lake.  There are two lakes separated by a road.

This is the only 'Gator we saw.

Cormorant?

I DO know this 'bird'!  This is Jeep, and we have walked out on a long boardwalk to look for Gators and birds.

 
I walked across the road to make a picture of a flower and this bird flew up in a tree and posed for a good while.  He had knobby looking knees:-)
 

 I asked Jeep to back the car up so I could get a picture of these flowers by this old stump.

This is the smaller lake, called Loakfoma.  I'm guessing that is an Indian name.  Lots of things in Mississippi have Indian names.

Today, I'm thankful for these spontaneous mini-vacations!

A strange looking butterfly

When I saw a yellow butterfly at the zinnias, I grabbed the camera and went out to find this wrinkled, crinkled looking Tiger Swallowtail!

Do you suppose he is just deformed or is it a new one that has not dried out yet?

Look how his tails are all rolled up!  It seemed to be flying okay in spite of its condition.

How about this tiny butterfly below?  You can judge its size by the Lantana bloom.

Does anyone know its name?  I need to get a book and learn the names of the ones I'm seeing.

 

Let's go to church on Sunday and worship our Lord!

Next year ......

...I plan to plant more Zinnias! Hummers and Butterflies love them. I wish I had been outside where I could have gotten a better shot of this Hummer and Zinnia. I shot this through the kitchen window.

The Butterflies flock to this old fashioned Lantana.  Next year I plan to have more Lantanas.

All the insects and the hummers like this summer phlox.  I'm gradually dividing and starting more of this.

I like these plants together because the magenta/hot pink color of the Phlox is also in the Lantana.

One of the main reasons that I like the Phlox and the Lantana is they are perennials and they don't mind the hot, dry summers!  I can count on them coming back year after year and doing their thing!

Maybe I will add more yellow Lantanas  to hang over the brick ledge around part of our driveway.  The Butterflies and the Birds like it.  I have lots of plans for 'Next Year', but will any of it get done???

A Winner!

I liked the way this picture turned out!  It's the male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on the Buddleia, commonly called Butterfly Bush.  The sun was shining through his wings, showing the shadow of the flower.  I posted this picture on Weather Underground's Wunder Photos and they liked it, too.
You can see all the pictures I have posted there by following this link: http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/dypepper/ .   When you get there, click on any thumbnail  picture to enlarge it.

Today, I'm thankful for digital photography!!!

What a Difference a Year Makes!

UPDATE:

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today,  July 2, 2010, we brought Joe home from spending two months in the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, GA.  So much has happened during the past year.  God continues to show us His healing power and His mercy.  Joe is working, but has to be in an air conditioned environment because he has so many grafts that have no sweat glands or pores.  He could easily get too hot and have a heat stroke before he even realized he was too hot.  There are many things he can't do and he still has to wear a full body compression garment 23 hours a day.  Hopefully, he will be able to leave that off some time this Fall.  If you saw Joe, you would not know that he had been burned unless you noticed his hands.  He and his wife have been back to Augusta for checkups and procedures many times during the past year.  There are several proposed surgeries he could have to improve certain areas.  He may choose to have them or leave things as they are now.  After being put to sleep for thirteen surgeries plus the 3 procedures, I'm sure he is not anxious to have more.  We are so very thankful to have Joe with us, scars and all, and we are so keenly aware that this story could have had a very unhappy ending.  We continue to be so thankful for all of you who prayed for Joe.

Peace and Grace,  

(look away if you are squeamish)

A few more Birds

Male Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

House Finch and  two male Goldfinch

We have more of these birds now than in previous years.  Also, the Goldfinch are staying longer.

Love these Cuties!

Name this bird ___________.  We thought it might be a Kingbird.