Pecan Picker Upper - a neat gadget to have

This is the most remarkable invention! It's a "pecan picker upper" - no kidding, that's the name of this weird looking gadget that my friend was using to pick up pecans when I visited her earlier this week. I was absolutely amazed at the ease of picking up pecans with this "thing". You just roll it over the ground and the pecans hop inside the circle of metal coils until you have about 2 quarts of nuts. Then you hold the metal expanded circle over a bucket and pull the bottom rings apart and the nuts come tumbling out. I was in a hurry that day so my friend suggested I come back later and use the pecan picker up to pick up some pecans for my use.

Today I called to see if she was at home and asked if Jim and I could come pick up some pecans. I could hardly wait to show him this remarkable "machine". I told him I'd love to have one for my birthday coming up on Nov. 25, but he reminded me that we don't have any pecan trees. Oh, well .... I could gather mushrooms from the lawn or pick up practice golf balls. I'm sure I could find a use for it.

We should eat some nuts every day for good health. Just don't add too much butter when you toast them, or cover them in chocolate--yummm. I like to put pecans in salads, casseroles, on top of desserts, etc. You have to keep pecans in the freezer. They become rancid in a short time due to the fat content. If left in the shells for a long time, they dry out.

And of course you need lots of pecans for the Christmas cakes. It is fruit cake weather right now - freezing temperatures but warm in the afternoons. I enjoyed an article a fellow AARP member put in our Christmas Memory book a couple of years ago. Her mother's friends baked fruit cakes every Christmas and competed with each other to see who had the "heaviest" cake. They all used large dishpans with a glass in the center to bake their cakes in. Then they would take them to the country store to have them weighed. That was a "first" for me. My mother and grandmothers made fruit cakes and wrapped them in clean white cotton flour sacks, put an apple in the center of the cake and then soaked the cloth with homemade wine (my aunt used brandy or whiskey and her cakes were the best!). The cakes were stored in the old ice box to age for Christmas day feast. We peeled oranges and grapefruit and boil the peelings in sugar water to "candy" them. Dried figs were used for dates. There were other cakes, including fresh coconut and lane cakes, but the fruit cake was "Top Dog". I think I will make one this year just for old times sake. It probably won't taste anything like I remember, but I bet the aroma of one soaking in wine will refresh my memories.

This is a photo of the famous Corcicana's fruitcake. They are almost as good as my mother's, but a big chewy and too sweet. A Texas friend usually sends us one of these every Christmas. I share it with friends who come by to visit during the holidays.

You can just imagine how much I enjoyed Truman Capote's "Christmas memories" on TV several years ago (the TV movie Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory, with Patty Duke and Piper Laurie, was a 1997 remake, directed by Glenn Jordan) when he (Buddy) helped his

Aunt Sook gather things for her many fruitcakes she made to give away every Christmas. Then there was the play (Capote narrated his The Thanksgiving Visitor (1967), a sequel to A Christmas Memory, filmed by Frank Perry in Pike Road, Alabama. Geraldine Page again won an Emmy for her performance in this hour-long teleplay. I catch these re-runs whenever I can. I connected to these stories so much. I really would like to own these two TV plays someday. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Memory 

On becoming a Master Gardener

The Master Gardener program, conducted throughout the United States and Canada, is a two-part educational effort, in which avid gardeners are provided many hours of intense home horticulture training, and in return they "pay back" local university extension agents through volunteerism. Master Gardeners assist with garden lectures, exhibits, demonstrations, school and community gardening, phone diagnostic service, research, and many other projects.

Purpose of the Alabama Master Gardener Volunteer program- To increase the availability of horticultural information to Alabama- To improve quality of life with community projects related to our mission.


We learned that weeds are just plants out of place! These weeds were beautiful at our lake where we used to live in the country.

Today was my final Master Gardener Class, #12. The classes were taught at the Coffee County Extension Systems office building. I have learned so much in the past 12 weeks. And I have a stack of handouts about 7" tall. I need to buy a file crate to hold all the folders and books. We had 22 people in our class, with only 2 attending from Elba. Most were from Enterprise. Today they honored us with a nice luncheon the last hour. The classes were 4 hours every Wednesday. We had outstanding lecturers and specialists in their fields of horticulture.

Each week was a different topic, ending with an interesting session on Fire Ant Control today. Only a few southern states have these pests. They make big mounds in the yard and if you are bitten by them, they inject poison into your system and leave little "boils" that itch and make sores. We are always trying to kill them and I think I might have learned what we need to do to better control them in our yard - using fire ant bait. You have to isolate and kill the "queen" to get rid of the ants. She lives 5-7 years and lays about 1,000 eggs a day!!


I have to volunteer for 40 hours before I receive my badge and certification. I hope to complete that by next summer.

Today was "graduation" of a different sort. Wonder what I can find to sign up for next, that will be of benefit to me of course. Here is a photo of my "classmates".

Going to the Fair - Peanut Festival in Dothan

James Gilmer and his favorite ride at the fair

Do you remember going to the fair when you were a kid? I guess the first really big fair I every attended was the Peanut Festival in Dothan. When I was in high school (early 1950's) our band was invited to march in the Peanut Festival parade each year. The first time I went was in 1950 and I remember it was a very hot day. Mrs. Gladys Dorsey (wife of Claude Dorsey, one of the founders of Dorsey Trailers) rented a suite of rooms in the hotel downtown for the band to assemble and get ready for the parade, after traveling the 50 miles by bus from Elba that morning. We were probably the only band afforded this luxury, and maybe she did this since her grandson Pete was in the band.


The grand marshal of the parade was none other than the cowboy movie star, Johnny Mack Brown, who was from Dothan. He led the parade, riding on his horse (and I don't remember the name of his horse). I don't remember much else about the parade but do remember the good time we had. We didn't go to the midway since it was located away from downtown.


My first time to go to the midway was in the 1980's when we moved to N. Alabama and would spend week-ends at our cabin on our farm near Elba. Our son James loves to go to fairs and we have attended the Texas State Fair at Dallas for many years when we lived in Paris, TX, the Minnesota State Fair in St Paul, MN when we lived in MN, and the NC State Fair in Raleigh and Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem, NC. Then in Albany, GA I participated in the Dougherty Co. Fair since I worked part-time with the GA Cooperative Extension Service. It was always late November and most of the time the weather was very cold. James wanted to go every day since I usually had to be there most every day.


All these years, James would ride only one thing - the merry-go-round. He likes to climb up on one of the fancy decorated horses and pretend he is riding a horse. For two weeks he has been talking about going to the fair and check out the rides. Today we went to the fair and he got his wish - riding a horse on the Carosel. 


One of us always has to ride with him to help him get on the horse and then to get off. We went to the fair at 2 pm today. It was senior day and the gates opened at 12 for senior citizens to go - free. Not much going on before 4 pm; exhibit buildings were open and a few of the food vendors were cooking hot dogs, elephant 
ears, roasted corn, etc.


We walked around until James got tired and we hopped on a wagon being pulled by a tractor that was escorting elderly people around. We told them James was tired and they let us ride to the arena where there was a program going on for seniors. We walked inside and looked around and listened as they called out numbers for door prizes. We soon left there and headed for the midway at 3:30 pm. The rides didn't start up until 4 pm. We checked them all out and bought tickets for James to ride the Carosel. He was at the head of the line (only person in line at 4) and got his wish - to ride a horse on the carosel. Then he was ready to go home after that. Jim commented that it was an expensive ride! Driving 50 miles to Dothan and spending $3 for about a 3 minute ride. But James was so happy and will talk about this for a long time. It takes so little to make him happy.


 Somehow the thrill of going to the fair just isn't the same as when you are young. And it's much more exciting to go at night when all the lights and music are on. I got my wish - some good peanuts to snack on. I guess this is the next best thing for James. His greatest wish is to go to Macy's Christmas Parade but we just can't work out the logistics for him to go due to his kidney failure and problems he has walking, having to go to the bathroom, fear of loud noises and he doesn't like crowds. So he is somewhat content to watch it on TV, but every year he says "I'm going to see the parade in person next year." Oh yes, the Peanut Festival Parade is coming up this Saturday and you can probably find us sitting along the sidewalk near First Baptist Church, downtown Dothan. He has his favorite place to watch the parade. We can talk him out of going only if it's bad weather.

Homecoming at New Ebenezer

Today was homecoming at New Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Curtis Community, between Elba and Opp, AL, where we grew up. The current brick church was built after I grew up and left home but I still feel at home there since many of the families who were members in the 40's and 50's still have ties to the church. The congregation is very small now since there aren't too many families living in the area anymore. Pictured here are some of the families I grew up with.

Enoch and Jimmie Lou Cowen had 10 children who were pretty much the ages of the 7 children in our family and we lived near each other. She is pictured here (in red) with two of her children, Jeff (wife Sharon) and Mary. Other children in her family attending were Ed, Ramona and Helen, along with several of their spouses, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Mrs. Cowen will be 89 in December. Her husband died many years ago.

Dot Daniels has been a member at Curtis for many, many years after she married her husband Dick and moved to the Curtis community. Her son Jim came with her, and daughter-in-law, Martha who is married to Frank (Bub). Miss Dot as we all call her, is a very busy lady. Until about a year ago when she fell and broke some ribs, she was still cutting her grass with a tractor and bush hog. She has a daughter Judy, and another son, Fred.

Another long-time family in the Curtis Community is the 
Frank Donaldson family.

Pictured here are children of Jessie Lee and Frank Donaldson (all seated).

Mack and his wife Mary Dean, Syble Henderson and Linda Newman. Their mother died this year at the age of 99. Not present today were daughters Frankie and Mary Ella. A brother, Buck, is deceased. The lady in red is a cousin, Helen Cowen Murphy.



Also pictured here is Sara Calhoun Donaldson, wife of Buck Donaldson. She and Buck lived near his mother. She recently sold her home and moved to Enterprise after Buck died. Sara grew up in Elba. Her brother Fred  married  Edith Jones,  sister of Earl, Ned and Evelyn.





And who can forget the Jones family and the two Jacobs families. Pictured here is Earl Jones, son of J.C. and Lena Jones. On the right is his wife Dorothy (Dot) Jacobs Jones, daughter of Bud and Jewel Jacobs. Between them is their daughter Susan. Dot and Earl spent their married life in Opp but still count New Ebenezer as their "home" church. I remember going to their wedding on a hot summer evening in the old church.


Pictured here are two other members of the Cowen and Jacobs families - Helen Cowen Murphy and Dollie Jacobs Moore.

No doubt they are "catching up" with things going on with their families. Helen lives in Smiths, AL and Dollie lives in Dothan.
Dollie has 4 deceased siblings: Dora, Richard, Charlie and Cassidy.
One sister Annie "Boots" lives in Dallas, TX. and another sister, Dot Jones was at the reunion today.


These are just a few of the many families represented at the homecoming today. I was the only one of 7 members of my family attending. My 5 sisters live in FL, NC, and MD. My only brother Perry Wilson lives in Elba but doesn't come to the homecomings at Curtis very often.

I love going to homecomings, whether it is church, school or family reunions. I remember reading a poem one time that was something like this:

Homecoming notes the reality that the more each of us is rooted in a community where we feel at home, the more joyful energy we have available for this journey of transformation of self, church and world. As Anne Peterson’s Homecoming poem reads, “If home is where the heart is—Some safe, comfortable place Where one is loved as-is, without condition—Then you are home.”

I guess that in today's world it will be difficult for children to claim a "hometown" as families are so mobile. I have to think that our boys call Paris, TX their hometown since this is where they spent their early years and graduated from high school there. They went to college in Texas also. Son Ron lives in Austin, TX and Bill has been in Florence, SC for the past 15 years.

A Gardener's Paradise - Callaway Gardens, GA

Botanical Garden at Callaway Gardens

In January 2004, I went to Callaway Gardens, GA to attend a Southern Gardening Symposium.

I read about the symposium in Southern Living Magazine and thought it would be helpful in planning for a southern heirloom garden for the old country home and birthplace of an Ala. Governor, Big Jim Folsom, which was moved to Elba in 2003. Also we had just moved into a home that had no landscaping and I needed all the help I could get.

I arrived at the Lodge late Friday afternoon and attended the Opening Reception where I met others attending the symposium, many who come every year. I could hardly wait for the classes to begin on Saturday. A bus arrived at the Lodge to take us to the classroom building inside Callaway Gardens. There were many interesting speakers and workshops throughout the day. I opted for a box lunch so I could spend some time in the gardening marketplace where there were so many plants for sale and a a silent auction. I signed up for a lot of unusual plants and was I ever surprised at the end of the day when I was top bidder for lots of healthy plants; almost more than I could load in my car! I think I spent less than $25 for all these, including an amaryllis that had 4 or 5 large blooms which I brought back to a sick friend.

I bought some books and had them signed by the authors who presented programs. One I really enjoyed was a program on Southern Heirloom Gardens (bought that book) that was presented by one of the authors, Greg Allen, from Center, TX. Greg was the speaker at the banquet on Sat. night. Another book I bought was "Front Yard Idea Book" by Jeni Webber, who was great.

Sunday afternoon I drove through the gardens and sat inside the chapel while someone was playing the organ. What a treat! Then I drove through the gardens enjoying every minute. In January you can see much more of the landscape than in the summer.

I have been to the gardens in the summer when all of the azaleas and other flowers are blooming and it's beautiful. This was my first winter trip except to go to "Fantasy of Lights" at Christmastime. We have been twice to see the lights and both times it was extremely cold, even sleeting once. It's truly a winter wonderland.

This is a place that changes every season. I can't wait to go back again someday.  Check it out at:
http://www.callawaygardens.com/Callaway/

Memories of times spent at Ocean Isle, NC

News of a tragic fire last Sunday which killed 7 college students in a beach house at Ocean Isle, NC was devastating. We have been to this family beach so many times over the years. In October 2003 we celebrated our 50th anniversary there with family and friends and stayed in a rental house that looked much like the one that was burned. I do remember checking the smoke detectors before going to bed on the 3rd floor. We probably had about 20 people staying there, including lots of kids.


We went to Ocean Isle in November 2000 to celebrate my younger sister Carolyn's 50th birthday. She was the 7th person in our family to turn 50. We sent Carolyn and her husband Dave away from the house while we decorated and got ready for the party. They were to return at 2 p.m. for the party. In the meantime we got busy decorating, etc. and getting the food ready, making a birthday cake which was a mud cake with worms (not really) which the kids got a kick out of. I made Jim

an Elvis outfit to wear and he was going to come to the front door and serenade Carolyn. Things were going along as planned and it was getting close to time for the party. We sent Jim to the back of the house, on ground level, to wait for Carolyn to arrive, etc. Everyone was gathered in the big living room area waiting for her to arrive.


The doorbell rang and one of the little girls answered the door and ran back into the room and said there was a "crazy" lady outside.

One of the adults went to the door and this really wierd old lady was acting strange and insisted on coming in to see what was going on. She was very aggressive and pushed her way into the room. We were all so startled and didn't know what to say to her. In the meantime, Jim came to the front door and rang the bell, and was ready to serenade Carolyn. Well, the old lady rushed to answer the door and you should have seen Jim's face when she answered the door. He just stood there looking at her and she told him to come on inside. The kids were all hiding behind furniture, etc. and peeping around corners, etc.

Carolyn realized she was scaring them so she pulled off her long gray hair and wrinkled mask. Everybody had a good laughed. The joke was on us - not her. I don't remember if Elvis (Jim) ever got around to singing or not, we were all laughing so hard. We always have a good time when we have family gatherings like this.


Once Carolyn removed her crazy ole' lady mask, everybody relaxed.
Then Elvis began to serenade her and everybody joined in the fun.

Our last big family gathering was James' 50th birthday at Thanksgiving last year, 2006, when many of the family gathered in Elba for his party. We gather for special birthdays, weddings, graduations, and other special times. Next summer we will be celebrating Bill Gilmer's and Cindy Gilmer's 50th birthdays (date to be determined) and Ron and Cindy's 30th anniversary which is in August.

Weeds - a plant out of place!

Today was my 11th day of the Master Gardener Class at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System office in New Brockton, AL. One more to go next Wednesday. Then after 40 hours of volunteer work using my knowledge gained from the 12 weeks of study, I can become a Certified Master Gardener. This all came about when I read the course content and discovered I could learn all about fertilizing, pests, proper planting techniques and landscaping. So I signed up and paid my $100. I have learned so much. I enjoyed the class on identifying weeds and what to do about them. I am well acquainted with weeds in our yard but didn't know the names of most of them. We were provided with a handout to help us determine how to get rid of the weeds. I didn't realize there are spring and summer weeds and then a whole new group of weeds that come up during the winter, and then die in the summer.

I was introduced to weeds at a very young age. We lived on a farm and my mother taught me how to pull up weeds in the flower garden and vegetable garden. As I got a little older, my dad taught me how to hoe the weeds and grasses from the peanut and cotton rows. Today there are so many herbicides you can use to kill weeds. We learned all about that in class.

I went about our yard looking for weeds to identify and came up with several varieties. Using my new Weed Book from Auburn

University I was able to identify all of the weeds. We try to control weeds that grow among the lawn grass using herbicides, but I just pull them up when they show up in the flower beds.


Bahia grass with the "v" at the end of the stems. I call it "peace" grass!
The runners (or stolens) that spread out on top of the soil get so thick you could almost gather them to use for firewood!! You mow your grass and in two days the little "v" signs are signaling all over the yard, ready for you to mow them again.