Tactics on the war on lady bugs

News from the Mountain

By CAROL GUNTER

Don't know if those buttercups will get any snow on them or not today but pretty sure they got a ton of sleet at times on them as that sleet sounded like a hard rain at different intervals today as it was bouncing everywhere. Snow showers every now and then but for the most part they're not sticking as the ground is just too warm. They are a beautiful sight though.

Here it is February and I have had a problem lately with ladybugs. Hard to believe I know. Someone gave ma a saddle of flowers as they were going to put a new batch of flowers on their loved one's rock. These flowers were still in super-good shape so I had this plan to fix them up as a truly beautiful bouquet of flowers that I would put in this tall, attractive vase I had. Started out fine pulling out some of the flowers and putting them in a pile and then a ladybug was flying around me then another and it was like a blue-million of those bugs were coming out of that saddle at me. Took some of them down with my fly swatter that I retrieved from the kitchen. Got a pint jar and started putting them in it but they were getting out quicker than I could put them in. Finally resorted to the Hot Shot as I think the whole family and their extended family had probably settled in that saddle for the winter and may some friends, too. I don't know how many escaped, I just know that will be the last time I take the flowers from a saddle or any other wreath apart inside our house. Sure didn't want one of them ladybugs swimming around in my Dunkin Donut coffee with the hazelnut creamer the next morning at breakfast. That would be a bummer for sure for those of us that love our coffee to get us going of a morning.

We have some people that we need to uplift in prayer: Edith Miller, Ruth Brown, Fay Pitts, Jody Reedy, Charlie Mai Daniel, the family of Michael Underwood, Denise Stanton, Betty Gunter, Donna Lawson, Chloe Evelyn Bogle, the family of Luther Lawrence, and the family of Bobbye Harrison.

Betty Gunter doing pretty good on Thursday evening. Daughter Karen and husband Jerry visiting with her.

As of late at Glenda's (DeKalb Market) Janice/"Spider, Jackie/"Aubreys" "Yankee"/"Skeeter" and "Ella" all doing well.

Our own Clyde Nokes here at Short Mountain was honored by Governor Bill Haslam and the Tennessee General Assembly last Thursday in Nashville at the Capitol Building with a resolution recognizing his accomplishments in Bluegrass Music that has spanned for more than 70 years. Be sure and check out the Clyde Nokes story on page 5 of this issue of the Cannon Courier. A picture with Governor Haslam and State Representative Mark Pody with lots of family and friends in attendance to make the day for Clyde one to remember. Congratulations Clyde to you for this honor bestowed unto you. You certainly do deserve it!

All is quiet on the home front as no turkeys, deer, or 'little green men' have I spotted. We all need a break every now and then as it is always welcome. Bobby has said those little aliens are honoring Clyde as well, since he is their leader and one fine fella. Sounds like they are not as bad as I thought - or either they're just buttering Clyde up to do him in at some point in time. Stay turned.

Saw 3 of my neighbor's pigs in our yard earlier inthe week. The neighbor got them rounded up before I knew it. Ham, gravy, eggs and biscuits sure would have been good eatin' I have been thinking. All is not lost as I can still see those plump checkens they have close to the property line. I may have to get a bag of chicken feed for them to keep them fed real good, because chicken, gravy, eggs and biscuits would be quite a treat too.

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead and that wherever you go let those you meet know that you serve an awesome God - the one true God there is. Jesus Christ, God's son, shed his precious blood on that old rugged cross so we could be free from the bondage of sin. We owe everything to Him.



If you have any news for the column, just give me a call at 615-563-4429. Have a great day!

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Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37.