An Album of Renovations And Farm Living in 2006

I have a dear friend in Oklahoma who is so interested in our farmstead and what we are doing that Christmas 2006 I made this album for her. . .I had forgotten just how much we did those first few years, it was a treat for me when I found these photographs of her album. . .Just recently, she asked for another with the farmstead as it is now. . .Maybe I'll get it done by Christmas?

Anyway. . .I thought you might like to see how hectic and rewarding our farm was in 2006.

Enjoy!

Sneak Peek: The HISTORY IN POSTCARDS SERIES Coming Soon!

PICKING COTTON--EARLY 20TH CENTURY

It's February and I have no idea where the last two months have gone. . .

but I do know it's 'high time' I get back to BLOGGING!!!!

But. . .it IS Winter. . .which means indoor projects. 

This is one I've been working on for some time. . .with the dozens of POST CARDS that are connected to COTTON. . .I'll be sharing them with you soon. . .and the COTTON STORIES that go with them. . .

AN EARLY COTTON PRESS--VERY PRIMITIVE

It will be coming your way SOON. . .so BOOKMARK this site. . .

I'll be back with much to tell. . .

 

 

Cotton In My Sack

I have a confession. . .I have never picked cotton long enough to fill a 'pick sack'. . .or even get enough to feel the weight of it as the bag is pulled behind me. . .Chop cotton--yes--I've done my share of that. . .No picking it, though. . .

When I was growing up, we still used cotton pickers in the fields, along with a small mechanical picker. . .Every Fall we had people come in to pick. . .many from Mexico and spoke little English. . .That vision of pickers in the field comes to mind every year about this time. . .

Once during my Senior year in High School, we went to several fields to pick cotton. . .The farmers had given us certain areas to pick so that we could raffle off a bale of cotton for class money. . .A bale back then weighed about 500 pounds. . .A lot of cotton. . .There were only a few girls in the class. . .more guys. . .so some of us females talked the guys into pulling the long heavy bag, while we all picked. . .It was still hard, back-breaking work. . .But ever since, I've intended to actually pick at least half of a pick sack. . .

 The morning came when I had to make a decision to try my hand at cotton picking with a six foot long bag. . .It was early dawn as I walked out to the field behind our home. . .Cloudy. . .Threatening rain. .  .

I have to admit, it was a little daunting as I looked out over the fields, trying to put myself in the place of the pickers and what they must have felt looking at those acres and acres of cotton before them. . .I was lucky. . .I had a back-up. . .I was doing it for fun, too. . .not as a matter of survival. . .

In the early light, I headed for the field. . .with visions of my all time favorite book by Lois Lenski. . .thinking about all those tenants and sharecroppers of the past. . .

This is proof positive that I actually did pick. . .but you'll note, I'm sure, that there's not much in the sack. . .or off the rows. . .And then. . .it began to sprinkle. . .Time for breakfast. . .

After that little shower (which was NOTHING). . .the skies cleared. . .I thought I'd give it another try. . .if nothing else than to get some good photos. . .With the cleared skies and warmer morning, the wind decided to pick up. . .I was spending more time holding onto my hat than picking cotton. . .

And those endless rows of white were getting no shorter. . .

I DID get the pick sack somewhat stuffed. . .

This is where I have a second confession. . .In the end,

I was cutting whole limbs of cotton. . .for my 'plain and simple farmhouse decor'. . .

A pick sack fills up quickly that way. . .

I certainly did not regret the experience. . .but by 10:00 I was tired. . .the wind was hard to stand up in. . .the bolls were cutting my fingers. . .my back was hurting from bending over. . .and I was hungry. . .

Time to call in the RECRUITS. . .

Mr. Roy Gaines made quick work of my endless rows of cotton with his John Deere. . .

As I sat in my rocker on the porch drinking coffee and watching. . .

I counted my blessings that my days of picking cotton by hand were over. . .(grin)

 

Fall Photo Shoot for a New Primitive Magazine

It's FALL. . .and HARVEST SEASON. . .The Farmer's have been taking every good weather opportunity to get those crops out of the field. . .The highway in front of our home sees more traffic this time of the year than the other ten months together.  .

People, too, seem to be energized after the long hot Summer. . .It happens every year. . .and because of that, we are at our busiest. . .There doesn't seem to be enough time to squeeze in all the requests. . .but there is one that we couldn't turn down.

A new country magazine is in the planning stage to hit the newstands sometime in 2017. . .It will feature the SOUTH in a brand new way. . .highlighting our unique homeplaces. . .in the same PRIM fashion as 'A Primitive Place' and 'Mercantile Gathering'. . .but featuring the antiques and primitive CHARM of places in the South. . .influenced by our Southern CULTURE.

I was so excited when I heard from the Editor about this new concept for a PRIM MAGAZINE. . .even more so when she invited us to be a part of next Fall's issue. . .along with our COTTON FIELDS, LOG HOUSE, and PIONEER COSTUMES. . .

Of course, those photos had to be shot this year, since there is no COTTON open during the summer when the Fall Issue will be published. . .So it was into my pioneer clothing I went. . .influenced by the colonial French. . .for a morning of photos. . .John grabbed our camera and we took the ones I'm showing you today. . .The magazine photos taken by a professional are under wraps (or so they say). . .I can't show you those. . .sorry. . .

We're keeping our fingers crossed that John will finish the LOG HOUSE in the coming months, including the interior. . .If so, we'll have another photo shoot sometime next year. . .Won't it be fun to see how the pioneers lived inside this tiny log house?

I'll share more information about SOUTHERN PRIMITIVE MAGAZINE once it begins publishing. . .I can hardly wait. . .It's about time us DELTA FOLK are recognized nationally in such a positive way. . .Don't you agree?

A Note to Our Delta Friends: Please know that each time we are honored to be a part of magazines, documentaries, or anything else that brings our way of life to the forefront in a positive light, it also honors everyone tied to this Delta area. . .We hope it makes you feel a little prouder of the heritage of which you are a significant part. . .You and your families have given us this legacy. . .this story. . .that we are honored to make known to the rest of the world. . .and we thank you.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

A Little Bit of Barn Charm

We've added one more barn to the FARMSTEAD. .  .much smaller than the other two. . .but with just as much charm. . .don't you think? . .So cute and just in time to have it's photo taken with the cotton fields in the background. . .I simply love it. . .LIFE IS GOOD. . .