Cranberries, Sandhill Cranes, and SAID Bank

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We live in cranberry country. Our county produces more cranberries than any other county in Wisconsin, Wisconsin produces more cranberries than any other state, and the US produces more cranberries than any other country.

Cranberry harvest is going on right now.

It was a gorgeous, warm, sunny October day yesterday, so I took Fisherhubby out into the "wilds" of Cranmoor to show him the cranberry harvest live and in person.


One cranberry "farm" is called a marsh - - - "the cranberry marsh."

A cranberry marsh consists of MANY rectangular, approximately football field sized depressed areas called bogs. The cranberry vines grow down in these bogs.

During the growing season, the cranberry plants are NOT under water. However, water is sprayed onto the plants to keep them from freezing whenever there is a frost warning.

About a month ago there was a WHITE cranberry harvest. White cranberries are not quite ripe and are harvested to make white cranberry juice. They are not called "green" cranberries (though they are) but rather "white."


When the berries are ripe and red, it is time for the full harvest.

In order to harvest a bog, it is first completely flooded with water. The cranberries and plants are then several inches below water.

Next a large tractor with a paddle wheel on the front, called a beater, goes through the bog agitating the water's surface. The motion of the water is enough to "pop" the berries off of their vines and they float to the surface.

The vines themselves are NOT beaten - - - they will survive to produce berries season after season.

Once the cranberries have floated to the surface of the water, the entire bog looks bright red.


Next the berries are corralled into one end of the bog with floating "booms." Then the cranberry "elevator" can lift the berries from the bog and deposit them into a waiting truck. (You can see the elevator dropping berries into the red truck in the above picture.)

This harvest process is repeated in each bog until all the cranberries have been picked.


At this point in the harvest, you very well may see harvesters in hip waders walking among the berries just like in the Ocean Spray commercials.

I'm NOT saying they go around doing ninja kicks or shaking up cans of sparkling cranberry juice, mind you. I'm just saying you do see them wading in amongst the cranberries from time to time.



This National Geographic cranberry harvest video was made out at Cranmoor, Wisconsin - - - which is just where I was yesterday observing harvest. I don't think I was at this EXACT marsh - - - we have LOTS of marshes out Cranmoor way.

Near the end of the video you will see some VERY large birds take off and fly away. Those are Sandhill Cranes - - - one "signature" Wisconsin wildlife species.



In the way of other important news today - the unnamed bank which had hithertofore not given me credit for paying off our son's student loan has finally made things right.

Of course, Fisherhubby and I had to jump through hoops, blow whistles, and ring bells to get it to happen.

(Read: spend copious time on the phone with them over the course of multiple calls, fight our way through an impossible phone menu TRYING to get to a real live English speaking person, pay the bill a SECOND time so they would stop threatening to send us to prison for life [I exaggerate, just a little about this one], and fax a copy of the CANCELLED check to PROVE they did receive our money AND had deposited it even BEFORE the due date.)

But fair's fair - - - I COMPLAINED to all of you while I was doing battle with SAID bank, so it's only right that I tell you we received a check from them in the exact amount of the SECOND payment I sent to stop the collector phone calls.

Oh - - - and there was a letter of apology too.

Many of you said I should never deal with SAID bank again - - - but unfortunately, I have MORE children with school loans and SAID bank is BIG into school loans so I may HAVE to.

Next time, SAID bank - - - please just LISTEN to me and HELP me in the FIRST place.

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Wherein Ghosts, Excuses, and College Mascots Collide

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So many of you have contacted me to see if I'm "OK" since I haven't been blogging much lately. OH MY GOODNESS!!! How "loved" you have made me feel.

Technically I am "OK" - - - well, as OK as is possible, for someone as anormal as myself, to be.

Mostly I've just gotten busy with two part time jobs - - - one paid here, and the other compensated in heaven - - - and that "busyness" has sapped my creative juices.

I don't plan to tear down the old blog, or anything RASH like that - - - I'm sure I'll get my little puny act together at SOME POINT and return to "regale" you all with my witty banter.

As if.

Now for a "ghost of a smile" to cross your face, because a "ghost" is all I've got to give - - -


The other day I jokingly asked my nail tech, who does fabulous free hand designs on my ring finger nails, if he could give me a Bucky.

"What's a Bucky????" asks he.

So, of COURSE I went out to the car (yes Sister Pam, it WAS in the car and NOT covered by a blanket either) and brought in my new Badger Purse to show him who Bucky is.

He took a quick look at Bucky and said,

"Oh - - - he looks like a skunk trying to be tough."

Somehow I don't think super nail-tech guy is a college football fan.


Another friend recently asked me if I realized our Bucky looked a LOT like the NC State BADGER. She said they had the same shirt and stance.

The stance I'll give her.

The fact that the NC State mascot is a WOLF and wearing a SOLID red shirt - - - - not so much.

Ok, so the "claws" and clenched fists are also dead ringers.

It's all good - - - what NC State decided to "throw away" this season - - - namely their FORMER quarterback, Russell Wilson, we GLADLY snapped right up.

Now we're winning - - - and they aren't.

So how did THAT work out for them?????

And now, I have to go get ready to go to the nursing home to conduct a worship service and since not even I can make much of a devotional out of college football mascots I'd better get my act together - - -

Oh But Wait!!! I think I CAN use college mascots in my devotional - - - I'll let you know later how it works out.

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The Badgers Bully The Cornhuskers

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Despite a rocky start in what I'm calling the "Red and White Bowl", Bucky surged ahead to soundly beat the Huskers 48 to 17.

Welcome to the Big Ten, Nebraska! How do you like us NOW???

Wisconsin quarterback, Russell Wilson, orchestrated the victory like a symphony conductor. I know it's early, but dare we say "Heisman" and "Russel Wilson" in the same breath?


Photo Credit: therepublic.com

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Sister Pam Goes to Peru

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My Sister Pam and her Hubby Joe are in Peru on a missions trip working with the "Kids Around the World" organization.

I have not heard hide nor hair from them since they've been there, but I am getting a trip update e-mail letter. From that e-mail I found their trip photo album, which I have pilfered to bring you this report.

The information in this report is totally fabricated by me guessing at what I see in the pictures.

It may or may not be factual. ;-)


I assume this is at least PART of the group of volunteers with whom Pam and Joe are partnering.

It would appear that at least SOME of the time they are traveling around in this van - - - at least I recognize Joe in the front passenger seat.

I'm just surprised Joe isn't hanging out the window making a face to match the one on the guy in the sliding door.

I don't think they get to do all their traveling in this van however. I believe some walking in torrential downpours through ankle deep mud and piling in long, narrow, wooden canoes has also been experienced.


I believe this is "home" while they are there.

Not too shabby!


I'm in LOVE with this ceiling and I WISH we could see the views out of those windows.


Sleeping quarters.

This soooooo reminds me of our bedrooms when I was in Costa Rica a year and a half ago.


I WANT this dining area, don't you???


The food looks yummy too.

I hope Joe Joe is behaving himself and NOT throwing little wads of napkins and things at his fellow diners.

I know from experience he is want to do so. No, not behave - - - throw wads of things at his fellow diners.


Preparing materials to make crafts with Peruvians.


I'm guessing these puppets were made and then used by team members.

Pam, puppets, and her new friend.

Joe and his alter ego.

Pam supervising a craft session.

Lots of happy faces showing off their new puppets.

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Forever and For Always

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Pretending It's Still Friday So I Can Frag

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Here I am a day late and a dollar short AGAIN.

Now folks, I COULD doctor my date and time stamp on this post to make it LOOK like I squeaked into this party on Friday. But instead, I choose to let all my failures and faults just hang out in the open for all to see.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Kamma bought a pillow pal for little miss Piper Renae. She named it "Tick Tock" (that was Papoo's idea) and I think she likes it!!!

* * * * * * * * * * *

I cannot TELL you what a JOY it is to watch Russell Wilson in the gorgeous red and whites of my beloved Badgers.

"My Boys" beat the UNLV Rebels 51 - 17 Thursday night.

Our defense needs some work, but the offense was clicking along like greased lightning and Russell was the grease to the lightning!!!

* * * * * * * * * * *

The other day we drove into a parking lot and I didn't even SEE this red beauty.


Even when the "boys" (uh, that would be fisherhubby and my dad) pointed it out to me,


I STILL only thought, "Hmmmm, pretty red sports car."


Fisherhubby, of course, recognized it as the Ferrari it was.

In fact, he TRIED to tell people it was what HE DROVE to that event.

In his candy apple red DREAMS!!!

* * * * * * * * * * *

If it were possible to improve on nature, I believe some golf courses have done it.

And the structures they build there are sometimes nearly as fantastic as the greens.

I didn't INTEND to capture a shadow shot, but looks like I did OK for an amateur, doesn't it???

* * * * * * * * * * *

Please head on over to Mrs. 4444's place
And check out all the Friday Fragments.

Photo Credit: Russell Wilson by Andy Manis/The Associated Press

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"He" Didn't Think I Was "Nice!"

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I'll warn you right up front - - - this is going to be a RANT.

If you aren't up for a rant this morning just toodle along down the internet highway to some other destination. It won't matter to me at all for I shall feel better just for having RANTED.



My rant today is against some HUGE bank, which shall remain nameless though there just MIGHT be a clue or two in this post.

SAID huge BANK loaned us money to help pay for #1 son's college bill. For TEN YEARS I've been paying this bank off for that loan - - - - something I happen to know that many many many Americans DO NOT DO - - - pay off school loans.




In July, when I was paying my bills, I noticed that with just a few dollars MORE on my monthly payment to SAID BANK I could pay off our loan one month early and get that one small bill out of my hair forever.

At least I THOUGHT I could get that lending institution out of my hair forever.

NOT.

In august, I received a bill and evidently in THEIR eyes I had not only NOT paid off my bill, I was a month LATE with my last pay - - - in their opinion.

Now comes the really hard and really RANTY part.

We started TRYING to call SAID BANK. Oh my word - - - they have the "long phone menu" down to an art and nary anywhere on that long phone menu is a "talk to a real live person" option.

Once I finally DID get a hold of a real live person - - - only to find they could barely speak English.

Once I allowed them to deduct the payment - - - now with late fees attached - - - from my checking account because I was afraid my check was lost in the mail. After I did that, Fisherhubby asked if I had looked at the bank records to see if that check had cleared.

Oh my friends - - - the check CLEARED MY BANK ON JULY 15.

More phone calls.

More fighting with long, long, long, phone menus.

Finally, when I was about to pull every last hair out of my head, I got a REAL LIVE ENGLISH AS A FIRST LANGUAGE PERSON. I went over and over and over my story. Finally, real live person told me he had credited me with the payment that I made back in July, that he would take off the check-by-phone I had just given, he would put a notation on my account, AND would take any bad reports off my credit report.

I THOUGHT all was well.

I was even almost happy.



Then, while we were in Indiana FOR OUR SON'S WEDDING the calls from SAID BANK began coming in yet again.

Oh my goodness!!! What IS IT WITH THESE PEOPLE??? What part of English do they NOT understand?

Today I spent LOTS of time on the phone, after a long menu where I just started punching in random numbers and "7" finally connected me to a REAL LIVE PERSON, trying to get this all straight yet again.

I finally consented to PAY electronically the same amount of the check I sent back in July - - - just to get them off my back. Then I sent Fisherhubby to our bank for a copy of the FRONT AND BACK of the cleared check which he then faxed to them.

Hopefully, at some point, I will get a check BACK from them for the extra payment.

Oh - - - but this is after fees I've had to pay to get the check copy AND fax it.

SAID BANK owes me for those fees.

I expect I shall COLLECT those fees from them when:


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Oh, and I didn't even BEGIN the rant about them not talking to ME unless Fisherhubby LET them - - -

Kelly and The Two Matts

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Once upon a time I lived in the same state as these two girls, Kathy on the left and Sheryl in the middle.

Not only were we all raising our families at the time, but we had children which were all stair-stepped around the same ages.

Our children spent time together at camp and so did we.


Here we are with our best-friend-sons each standing behind his mother.

My son is Kelly, the other two are both Matt.

Thus Kelly and the Two Matts. Sounds like a band, doesn't it?

It was a band all right - - - a "brother" band of mischief makers!!!


These boys were the "bane of our existence" at camp. If there was any possible trouble to get into, they got in it. I'm pretty sure Kelly was the ring-leader.

There are way too many tales to tell - - - but let me just say that some of them involved parking their cars between dorms to block the entrances, hiding hymn books, boxer tag, Gold Bond Powder (don't ask), poop splashing (don't ask) and even mooning (again - don't ask.)

ALL of their pranks and mischief made camp security angry, and made their mothers want to choke them - - - especially that mom in the middle.

I will NEVER forget the time they came toodling down to my camper at nearly lights out on the last Saturday night of camp. I looked them straight in the eyes and said, "I am exhausted and have a REALLY full day tomorrow. I do NOT want security knocking on my door at 3 AM, so PLEASE go to your dorms and stay there all night."

They all grinned innocent grins and ASSURED me they were headed to bed.

3:01 AM security was pounding on my door.

I KID YOU NOT!!!

I REAMED my son out and went back to bed.

I then heard security knocking on the next door camper - - - where Kathy stayed. I heard her open the door and before security could even tell her what was going on she looked her Matt right in the eye and said, "Matt, everything Keetha said to Kelly goes TWICE for you!!!"

Those boys!

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A Real Tight Knot Was Tied

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The day finally came when our son Kelly
Married his true love, Cathy.

We had been looking forward with anticipation to this day
For a long, long time.

Of course we had to practice the night before.
Without practice we might not know where to stand
Or what to do.

Family and friends gathered in from far and near.
Far: Sitka, Alaska and Marco Island, Florida.
Near: Indianapolis

The groom ushered in his own mother.
(Uh, that would be ME)

My dad, Peepaw, was the officiating pastor.

Little Brother Kyle was the best man.
Can you see the look-alike smiles?

Big Sister Keri read a scripture blessing.


Little Sister Korie sang - - - - beautifully.

Before we knew it, they were pronounced man and wife:
Mr. and Mrs. G. Kelly Broyles.

A "sand bar" buddy in the back
Gave a red neck cheer.

That made Cathy giggle, made Kelly proud,

And made all the rest of us smile.
Even the mama of the groom.
(Uh, that would be me.)

Kyle and the bride's Big Sister Suzie
Toasted the newlyweds.

Kyle thanked his brother for coming first
Because after HIS antics, Kyle's own
Appeared minimal.

Old friends were reunited,
And reminisced of days gone by when their
Boys were young(er) little "imps."

But those stories will be the fodder
Of another post.

Uncle Joe danced like a wild thing.

And long-time best friend Matt
Came all the way from Roanoke, Virginia
Just to make sure a real tight knot was tied.

I'm linking this little peek into my world,
My son's wedding in Fort Wayne, Indiana,
To YOUR world at Communal Global.

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