Weekend Wanderings

We were quite busy this weekend.  Terry cut cedar most of the day Friday and was so sore that he couldn't sleep.  We watched the Alabama game on Saturday and were very happy with the final result.  When we went to put the chickens up on Saturday night, this is what we found:

Max watching the flock to ensure they all go to bed.

Some of the chicks are ready to sleep.

  Today we got a lot done but not what we needed.  A tree dropped into the sawmill track and knocked it out of balance so we couldn't saw lumber.  Terry moved the track and sawmill to the side and will work on re-leveling it this week.  We went to Lowe's to find parts for the propane tank and were unsuccessful.  We didn't come home empty handed though:

We bought a new welcome mat today when we went looking for pipe fittings.

The propane tank is now in its new home.
It was so beautiful out this afternoon.  We had lots of company following us around.  

Lucy has been quite curious all day.

The bees and wasps were very active this afternoon collecting end of the summer meals.

Terry finally decided to rest some.

This is looking back towards our house from the far side of the pond.

He even let me get in the boat..........lol 

Max wanted in, too!

He usually won't get in when we go to pick him up but today he did.

Scooter was looking for fish. (I don't know why this keeps turning sideways!)

And here is what all the boys were trying to find.  This guy was about 2 foot long and FAT around the middle.  There were 3 others like him that I didn't get pictures of.

The weekend was way too short!

History can be interesting

During our ride on the river last weekend, we cross under several bridges in the old river run.  Two of the bridges fascinate me a lot.  Neither bridge is used anymore as they are in disrepair.  I can only imagine their importance and workings when barges still used the old river run.

Here is the turnstyle on the first bridge that moved to swing the bridge out of the river lane.

 The second swing bridge has a turnstyle in the middle of the river.  You can see the new bridge behind the swing bridge.  The bridge in the background is the only way onto the island between the old river run and the new shipping channel.  I would love to see this bridge in its open position.

 The turn style is probably 16 feet in diameter and looks to be solid concrete.  There are small windows at the top right under the bridge.

 Here is the mechanisms on the end of the bridge away from the turnstyle.  Alex was amazed at the purple martin nests built along the ledge.  

And this is a close up of the teeth for the gears that turned the bridge.  

This bridge was part of the Old Robinson Road which actually passes on the top edge of our property.  It was a former stage coach route between Hunstville, AL and Jackson, MS.  The road passed through the middle of Choctaw Territory and the Agency headquarters was situated about a half mile from our house. 

More information on the Old Robinson Road can be found here.

The south is full of history that still intrigues me!  I am learning a new passion for history!

Sunday Boat Ride

This has been a crazy week -- stressful and shocking events.  Before all the craziness, we took the boat out to run some fuel cleaner and add stabilizer for the winter.

The water was about 80 degrees and calm.  The skies were beautiful and the ride was quite relaxing even with the spinning in the river.  The boat is a Seadoo Speedster and can turn at full speed and head back the way you came.  There are grab bars by each seat fort a reason.

We saw this nest and tried to guess what it was.  I was thinking egret or osprey.  We also have eagles in our area but this seemed too small for an eagle nest.

We had a few other boaters out and about for company.

Alex has been watching Hillbilly Handfishin' and thought this might be a catfish hole.  Then he realized it was above water so it couldn't be.

Nice hair do's!

There sure are some beautiful places in the world right next door to me.  So glad to live in the Deep South!

Hopefully since the house is almost completed, we will be able to get out and about in the boat more next year.

What day is this?

There must be a full moon coming!  The children were squirrely at school today!

I was talking to my mother today and it finally dawned on me why I feel so overwhelmed and scattered.  I am working 3 jobs.  I teach PreKindergarten at an Elementary School; I teach undergraduates at a local university and I tutor 5 students for dyselxia.  I am not getting sick or going crazy.  It is just called busy!

Monday was a nice day for resting!  No work, no tutoring, no building.  Lots and lots of rain though!  We were in the middle of Tropical Storm Lee.  Our pond before the rain was down about 3 feet and today is is full.  Between the 12 inches of rain and the runoff, the fish should be happy.

Other members of my family who are happy are the dogs.  The cooler weather has them out and about more.  They have nearly knocked me down every time I go out the door.  I am glad they are feeling more energetic.  I just hope the beautiful weather sticks around awhile. 

Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.  

~Robert Benchley

random musings

Starting a blog seems a bit intimidating.  I have often been told that I should write a book and this seems to be the closest thing to getting started with that.  I will do my best to entertain you!


We are a small family of 3 (and many extended family members) living in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi.  We got here in quite a round about way.  Terry and I met online in 1998ish and talked for several years online before ever meeting in person.  Once we met in person, that was the beginning and the end all at once!  ;)  We married in 2000 and Alex was born in 2000.  I moved from Illinois to Alabama after we married and set up life in a rental house and then on family land. 

In 2008, we purchased 15 acres of property between Columbus and Starkville, MS.  We have made many changes to the property since purchasing it and our most recent was the building a a small cabin style house.  We moved in last November but are still working on finishing up.  We began siding the house with cedar planks from our backyard sawmill last weekend and will spend many more days working on this to finish up the outside. 

Life is crazy here in the woods but it is our crazy mess and we love it!