Clip, Clip, Freedom!!!

Hey, everybody!! 

Dolly here with some exciting news.......

We are free ranging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right!!  Mom finally clipped our wings and we are free to roam all over the garden - scratching, pecking, and foraging to our hearts' content!

Now you might be wondering what took so long, so here's the scoop.....

I hate to say it, but our mama is a chicken!!  Of, course I don't mean literally, well, I guess our mama back at mypetchicken.com literally was a chicken; but I mean our mama here at Turkey Creek Garden. She's a chicken too, because she kept saying that she was going to clip our wings so we could free range, but then she would chicken out. (There are just way too many chickens in this paragraph, but since this is written by a chicken, what did you expect!)

Anyway, the girls and I were beginning to wonder if we were ever going to run free and then we heard that our grandfather, Tom, was coming to see us.  This was great news because he is a Ballard Road country boy and we had high hopes that he would shame Mama into 
getting this free ranging business underway.


Sure enough, after pecan pie and a good cup of coffee, Tom and Mama came out to the coup and the clipping commenced!!  Clip, clip, and we were free!  Out in the garden there were delicacies everywhere; you just can't imagine it. Worms, grubs, muscadine leaves, you name it.  We roamed around for about an hour, then Tom and Mama started calling us to the coop.  Of course, I knew just what to do and went right in the door.  Reba came in behind me.  Tanya and Patsy.......well, let's be kind and say they just got a little confused as to where the door was.  Tom had to herd them in with a rake.  It was all very undignified. 

The next day, Tom was gone and Mama didn't come out until about an hour before dark to let us do some free ranging.  We knew what we were supposed to do this time and hurried right out into the garden to start scratching around.  Mama sat down to relax and read her Kindle, but the girls and I got together and decided to stress her out just a little; you could call it pay-back for waiting so long to clip our wings.  We headed straight for the fence closest to the dogs and started acting like we were going to try to flap up over the gate.  You should have seen her come flying out of that chair in a blind panic!! It was epic! 

Mama's dogs, Fred and Ethel. Mama loves Ethel, but I've got to say that I think that is one ugly dog.  I mean really; she's colored just like the bark on that pine tree!!

She let us stay out until it started getting dark.  Then we realized what she was up to.  She was trying to find out if we would head for the coop on our own when the sun went down.  We decided it was probably best to stay on her good side, so we headed to the coop when it began to get dusky dark and she started ringing her bell. (Did I mention that Mama thinks she has trained us to come to the coop when she rings a cow bell.  Bless her heart! She came home one day, several months back, wagging a cow bell.  Morning and evening, she would ring that darned bell and stick her hand filled with hen scratch in the run.  We'd all go eat out of her hand. but it had nothing to do with the bell; we just like scratch.) This time Reba and Patsy followed me inside the coop, but poor old Tanya got confused again, and Mama had to actually catch her and throw her inside.  I'm going to have to have a talk with her!

So there you have it, free at last!

Love ya'll, 

Dolly

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

 that all men are created equal;

 that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights;

 that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

-Thomas Jefferson

You've Got To Move It, Move It!!!

It’s time to get moving in the garden! November and December, with their cooler temperatures and increased rainfall (yes, it will rain again here in north Louisiana), are ideal for moving plants around in your yard. Here are four moves to make in your garden:

1. Move that pine straw! Your yard is probably covered with it and it’s got to be moved. Take a good look at your flower beds.  It’s time to remove dead annuals, weeds that got ahead of you at the end of summer, and any shrubs that succumbed to the recent drought. Once your beds are cleaned out, add a nice layer of pine straw. Many perennials can handle the freezing temperatures of winter better under a thick covering of pine straw. Your efforts will give a neat appearance to your yard and help you enjoy the beautiful fall days ahead.

 If you have been imagining a new flower bed in your yard, now is the perfect time to create one using the “no dig” method. Use a water hose to outline the shape of your new bed. Then cover the area with nine layers of newspaper.  Wet down the paper. Next, cover the paper with a 3-6 inch layer of compost or top soil. Cover this layer with pine straw and wet down the area again. Done! How easy is that? Your new bed will be ready for planting in the spring!

2. Move those leaves! Your yard will soon be covered with these too. Leaves are great “brown material” for your compost pile. They make great mulch for your flower beds as well. My neighbor spreads a nice layer of leaves over his entire vegetable garden in the fall and then tills it into the soil in the spring. This year try mowing your leaves before moving them. Chopping them into smaller pieces will speed up their decomposition regardless of how you decide to use them.

3. Move in shrubs! Adding shrubs (and trees) to your landscape in the fall gives the plants time to establish their root systems before the stress of summer heat and drought. Many gardeners follow the rule of thumb that says your yard should consist of 30% evergreen shrubs and 70% deciduous. Evaluate your yard now and make some additions. Some good evergreens to consider are camellias, sasanquas, azaleas, hollies, and boxwoods. Deciduous additions could be bridal wreath spiraea, forsythia, Japanese flowering quince, and mock orange. Always understand the growth characteristics of plants before you include them in your landscape!! Some shrubs such as thorny elaeagnus, Japanese and Chinese privet, and summersweet can become invasive. For more suggestions, The Southern Gardener’s Book of Lists: The Best Plants for All Your Needs, Wants, and Whims, by Lois Trigg Chapman, is a fantastic source of information with sections such as “Perennials That Do Well In Shade,” “Peonies For Southern Gardens,” “Annuals That Bloom Unaided From Spring Until Frost,” and “Shrubs That Bloom Four Weeks Or Longer”.

If you build a new no dig flower bed this fall, shrubs can be added to the bed at this time. You may want to hide a soaker hose under the pine straw which will make irrigation a breeze when summer gets here.

4. Move it to the Master Gardener Fall Plant Sale! North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners have been potting plants from their personal gardens to sell at their annual Fall Plant Sale on Saturday, November 7. This event will take place at the Ruston Farmers Market from 8:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. Plant prices range from $0.50 to $5.00 and all the proceeds will be donated to the Ruston Farmers Market in support of their efforts to bring locally grown produce to our community.  Brown turkey fig, chocolate mint, Lily of the Nile, Tandy, wood ferns, and ajuga  will be available as well as rubeckia, Sapoaria Soapwort, Peggy Martin roses, Louisiana iris, and  Hemerocallis Day lilies to name a few. Most importantly, Master Gardeners will be on hand to give advice and answer questions about your purchases. 

Fall is such an important gardening season. You better get moving !! 

Sunday Schoolism #26: Faith and Works

"However, following Christ consists of faith and works........both give evidence of the power of God that transforms hearts and lives."


                                                                                                               Bill J. Carter

                                                                                                    Adult Bible Studies

                                                                                                    Uniform Series    

CCA Soup For The Soul Tablescapes (2015)

 OK, ya'll, grab a cup of coffee and settle in to peruse some really creative tablescapes from Christian Community Action's Soup For The Soul fundraiser.....

First, imagine that you are walking through the door......

and looking at symbols representing lots of different celebrations.

After presenting your ticket, or buying one at the door, and giving your canned good to one of the kinesiology students from Grambling University who volunteer for the event each year; you enter the banquet room.

You make your way to the soup tables, where you are served by a delicious soup of your choice by members of Ruston High School's Keywannettes.

Now comes the hard part - choosing where to sit!!

This year's tables are decorated with tablescapes promoting the theme "Celebrations!" Each table was adopted by a civic organization, church group, or creative individual. 

Celebrating Tech Homecoming
brought to you by
Louisiana Tech University Alumni Association
Go, Bulldogs!

CCA volunteer, Lee Smith, decorated with her awesome collection!

A tea cup spilling signs of the four seasons graced Marsha Armond's tablescape honoring her Sunday School class.

Cheryl Maxwell was just so clever to use little tables when creating her Farm to Tablescape (pun intended) and then setting them with abundance from the market itself. Bravo!!

Patriotism sparkled on this table by St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church!

What a great sign for a table decorated by Grace United Methodist Church.  I was so enthralled with it that I didn't get a picture of the Easter egg tree and napkins that completed their sweet look.

Characters from the nativity adorned this tablescape by Emmanuel Baptist Church.

So many survivors were touched by the thoughtful decor by Marsha Armond in honor of her mother. 

Susan Kelly celebrated May Day with a lovely May Pole complete with fresh flowers and ribbons. Susan is the owner of Chickadee Hill, an at home floral business specializing in small weddings and events. It wouldn't have surprised me to see the people sitting at her table get up and start dancing around the May Pole!!

That's right! This awesome group of women from Mount Olive Outreach Women's Ministry used a real wedding cake on their table!!

Betty Jo Fagan, you are the spirit of Ruston and your table proves it!!!!

The Ruston Garden Club celebrates cool fall weather, harvesting pumpkins, and  planting pansies in their First Day of Fall arrangement. 

My poor photography skills don't do this fun table justice.  The ladies from McConathy/Hall Sunday School Class at Temple Baptist Church set a birthday table that was ready for excited children to blow out the candles and rip open the gifts! 

Another fun collection; this time shared by Marsha Armond.

Good Shepherd Sunday School class put us in the mood for the first cold front with their beautiful table.

This exuberant Mother's Day table was decorated by our friends at LifeHouse Ministries.  (They have an amazing community garden, by the way :-)

I did this table in honor of my awesome Sunday School Class, Women of Grace, because I'm so lucky to be a part of them!

Colorful and inspirational describe this tablescape by Mayes Chapel CME Church!

Creativity abounds on this Grambling University Homecoming table by Annie Hamlin.  The goal posts are even handmade!

A timeless, classic Christmas table by Annette Warren and Diedre Smith. Beautiful!!

North Central Louisiana Master Gardeners remind us of their dedication to Mother Nature in this precious table.  Sweet little clay pots each containing a pine tree seedling complete the look

The Harvest Moon tablescape by Abundant Life Sunday School class from Trinity United Methodist shone on the night's event.

The people sitting at this table were tempted to yell, "Throw me somethin', mister!"  Thank you, Amy Stegall, for your festive decorations.

P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) celebrated the importance of higher education with their creative table. Their sign "Women helping women reach for the stars" is blocked from view, but tied in with the showy star balloons flying over their table.

Bonita Mitchell combined elegance with casualness to create her beautiful wedding table!

Domestic Abuse Recovery Team (DART) combined their organization's mission with a Valentine theme to send a powerful message on their beautiful table.

And lastly, I celebrated the fact that my sweet daughter and her awesome husband are expecting their first child (our first grandchild) in the spring. Poppy, this table's for you!!!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures, but think how much more you would enjoy them next year if you were there surrounded by friends...

Soup For The Soul is a casual, fellowship filled event.  The delicious soups are provided by participating churches and there are lots of great silent auction items up for bid.  Tickets are only $10 plus a canned food.  All proceeds go to CCA and directly impact those in need.  I hope you'll join us next year!!

Love ya'll,

Shelli

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. ~Dr. Seuss

Tablescapes

Each October, Christian Community Action (CCA), the local food pantry, holds its fall fundraiser, Soup For the Soul. This year Soup For the Soul is introducing tablescapes.  A tablescape is a creatively designed table arrangement that highlights a specific theme.  This year's theme is "Celebrations."

Civic organizations, church groups, and individuals have "adopted" tables and chosen celebrations to portray. I chose St. Patrick's Day and Baby Shower and thought I would share some of my early prep work with you, but let me start by saying, "Thank you, Pinterest! Without you, none of this would be possible!"

St. Patrick's Day

So I started with a clay flower pot and large clay saucer that were painted green.

Next, I used painter's tape to mask off the rim of the pot which was then painted black.

Now all that's needed is a gold buckle! Pinterest said to use a cheap gold rectangular picture frame.  An arrangement of fresh flowers will go on top.

 Baby Shower

I bought a cardboard box and painted alternating sides pink and blue.

Then cut strips of white craft foam to edge the sides of the box.

Hot glued the edges on each side of the box.

Then glued on wooden letters that I bought at Hobby Lobby and painted white.  Balloons will be attached to the top of the box.

I bought pink and blue plastic plates at Party City to use as chargers.  The baby rattles were a party favor from Party City also. I glued two on each plate.

So there are my two centerpieces and I have other components to finish off the table.  I hope it all turns out well!!  I must also mention that the idea of using tablescapes was not original. We got the idea from my sister, Carole.  They do the same thing at her church in Mobile.  We even stole the theme from her group!

Soup For the Soul is tonight. I can't wait to see all of the creative tablescapes! I'll take lots of pictures and have them for you to enjoy later this week.

Love ya'll, 

Shelli