Random Musings

Bobby's Uncle Roger is the farmer behind Balls' Berries & Produce in Garner. For non-locals, it is a small strawberry farm, but also sells other produce throughout the year, some of which he grows himself. Roger, like his Dad was, is a die-hard Democrat. But he had a surprise this past week when he had a call saying it needed to be kept quiet, but Ivanka Trump was passing through the area and wanted to visit some local farms and meet NC farmers. He did call two of his siblings and tell them he couldn't say why, but he needed them to come to the produce stand around 2:30 on Thursday. Left to right: Sharon Ball and Roger Ball, Forrest Ball, Ivanka Trump (in front), and Cathy Ball Rackly. Roger Ball, Ivanka Trump, Sharon Ball the sign in front of Roger & Sharon's produce stand the original produce stand across the road We saw Forrest this morning, and he was showing us the pictures from his cell phone...of the cars!! One of the secret service guys laughed and said ...

Weekends are half days for early voting, which is a blessing for poll workers. Today with my extra time we went to Ken's Produce and Garden to get some flowers and gourds to go with my one lone orange pumpkin from the grocery store. I figure since the dogs have not chewed up the doormat in a whole month (a first), they could handle flowers without dumping them so they can chew up the pots. And even though it is October, the grass still needs cutting. I managed to get the front yard cut when Bobby flagged me down as I neared the chicken pen. Turns out we have a new chick! I love it when they pop their heads out in random places. After cutting a little in the backyard, I fed the chickens and gathered eggs and realized we had more green beans. The hand full I was expecting became a bucket full. So while watching so.e of the Alabama game I snapped beans. I am simply too tired to do any more, so they're chilling in the fridge until tomorrow afternoon....oh, and the beaver is back. I...

The last few years we have planted a Blue Lake pole bean. Bobby's not a huge fan because they are very stringy. I like them because the grow upwards, making them easier to pick. The one thing I'm not overly crazy about is they grow all summer but never produce, but start producing in August and will go through the first heavy frost. Last year I was still picking in November.  So this year I didn't plant as many, and put them along the back fence of the garden. Above is the vines growing over the edge of the fence. And here is our surprise.  They not only went over the fence, but they connected to one tree limb and have spread out and up throughout the nearest pecan tree. I've actually picked beans out of the tree, and there are many more I simply can't reach!! And the pecan shells are beginning to open up. My preference is to wait for picking until they hit the ground, as the shells will stain your hands, but if I don't start picking them at this point the squ...

 When I was a kid, the summer church camp I attended had a canteen that was open after play time in the afternoon and after the evening service. I was allotted $1 a day, which amounted to one drink and either one bag of chips or candy item.  In Junior Camp, one of the crazy things available was a bag of hot fries. At least once every year, someone would throw out a hot fry challenge.  All her friends would buy a drink, and one person would buy hot fries as the snack. A fry would be passed out to everyone in the circle, and you'd eat it and wait one full minute. If you took a sip of your drink, you were out. The next round everyone still in would eat 2 fries. I made it to the three fry round once.  The bag from my childhood was snack size, was a Tom's brand, and only cost 50 cents. Why am I remembering this now? We were preparing a care package for my nephew, who loves spicy foods, and saw this in the grocery store. It ended up not fitting in the box, and during a Zoo...

March 03, 1969 - October 06, 2020 Tomorrow my family will gather once again to grieve together. The end of July they gathered to celebrate the life of Angela's mother Phyllis, a breast cancer survivor who died of Covid-19. Tomorrow they will remember the life of Angela. It's strange to look  her age and date of birth. Growing up, I always thought of her as one of the older cousins, one who could reprimand or assist as needed. At family gatherings growing up she was always with her sister Tina and her cousin Ron, and I was never that close to her. But I do remember there was always laughter whenever she was around. With Dad's job as a pastor and White family gatherings on Sundays, we were seldom able to be with the family except for holidays. As I moved away from home and life moved on for everyone, there were many times when family gatherings seemed awkward for me. Angela was one of the ones who always made them easier. The last several years we've connected on Facebook...