Lay'n out my proposed garden --in my old hillbilly haid. Found a big Troy Bilt tiller older bro has [not ole jeep] and he'll sell it. Last year the deer, rabbits, coons, squirrels and other critters went hungry cause I didn't put one out. This year is different! I cain't stand to see critter goin hongry. More Illini Extra-sweet, Big Boy, Early Girl, Ky Wonder Pole, yellow onions. Oh, is there anything else? Naw, don't rekon---unless, can a body plant ham bones and raise hams? Ham'n beans, taters, onions, maters and corn on cob. Mix up a bunch a T and hit jest don't gits enny bettr'n this. Everybody be cool dudes and quit you'rn fuss'n with each tother. It makes m'belly hurt. hoot. Matt.24:44

-- hoot---who else! (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 01, 2001

Answers

Dear Hoot, I am dreamin' along with you. Gardening and feeding critter's is my life. You find a way to grow that ham, you be sure to let us all know, ya here! Enjoy your tea and i for one will play nice. Bye now, Shau Marie

-- Shau Marie (shau@centurytel.net), February 01, 2001.

If you're really wanting to feed the animals, you might try millet and/or sorghum. Wild birds and other animals are supposed to like them very much. I hope to try millet this year, at least a small amount. I'd like to feed it to my cage birds (cockatiels, etc.).

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), February 01, 2001.

Hoot:

Now remember, when you pull off the sweetcorn ears, cut the stalks and take 'em to Old Jake. He'll be glad to see 'ya coming.

My cow love it when someone lets me cut their still green stalks. Boy, can they chomp down on an ear which was left. As I'm unloading, one cow (Sweet Pea) nudges me in the back for an ear. However, can't just pull and put it in her mouth. I have to husk it back first. Complained about it to a friend who commented I'm the one who made her that way. And she was right.

I really like my girls and try to take care of them the best I can. Some may say I overfeed during the winter, but I normally get at least 90% of my calves within 45-days, which means they come into breeding season in pretty good shape.

I'll pull the bull and two bull calves I want to take a longer look at out about when the first calves start hitting the ground. They will also get treated well until it's time to go back to the herd for breeding. Sometimes they get so attentive, they forget to eat.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), February 01, 2001.

Oh Hoot!!!! I just got the taste of my most favorite meal of all. Go out to the garden right after you have put the pot on to boil and have your bacon all fried and fresh lettuce washed and onions sliced. Grab a couple of ripe warm red tomatoes, hush that corn right on the stalk and run it into the pot of boiling water. Slice tomato and toast the bread while the corn is cooking. Yikes!!! not sure if i can wait. God Bless you Hoot!!!

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 01, 2001.

Don't forget the cantalope and watermelon!! I had all the cantalope and strawberrys I could possible eat this last summer!

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), February 01, 2001.

Now this may be my southern upbringing talkin but there is no finer meal than purple hull peas(with some bacon cooked in it), fresh sliced tomatoes, some young onions and homemade cornbread. Yummy! I'd beg granny to fix us peas when I was little. I was so happy to learn that they will grow up here too. Just watch that when you first start cookin em that they don't foam over on the stove. Oh yes and for desert you just have to have some blackberry cobbler. Boy am I hungry....hurry up spring!

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), February 01, 2001.

Yum! blackberry cobbler with fresh whipped cream!!!!! Strawberries right out of the patch. Tomatoes right off the vine with your toes wigglin in the dirt!!!! Cold well water! Watermelon with the spittin contest afterwards! I'm such a lady that I always win! Hey, I keep my pinkies up! corn on the cob....the first ear never makes it in the house. Love to eat lunch out in the garden!!!!! Hoot, you figger that ham bone thing out and then we'll work on the fried chicken bush?! God Bless!!!!!!!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), February 01, 2001.

We had a 'city' friend's , four year old, daughter come to stay with us over a week end! We were "working" in the garden and she was busy at her little spot. She was going back and forth from the garden to the dog lot. That night we called her dad--he ask "what did you do today"? she replied "planted dog food". He ask "why on earth did you plant dog food" she drew a deep breath and said "Daddyyyyyy, I want to grow some puppies"! So if you figure out the ham bone thing let me know how you did it and we'll try again for the puppies!!!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), February 01, 2001.

Ohhh, I want to plant some of everything. ----->going to get my Jung Seed Catalog! Raspberries fresh out of the garden...be sure to pick high is you're gonna eat them out there cause the dog waters everything!

-- Ardie from Wi (a6203@hotmail.com), February 06, 2001.