Action Jacksonette

I am becoming an Action Jackson-ette. That's what we call my husband -- Action Jackson -- because he's always on the go, doing something exciting.



Yesterday we went flying -- here's a plane that took off while we were waiting outside the main office.

We flew over our property we call Hoota Woods to see how it looked from the air. Everything looked great; - the pond, the hardwood bottom, the shed, the work camper, the newly planted fruit orchard, even the prepared planting beds looked great from the air.

And, then, as we were leaving, we noticed something tragic. The pine forest next to our property is getting cut, clear cut. What a shame. It's a beautiful pine stand -- couldn't they at least just think about doing a 3rd row cut to thin? It made me feel sick to my stomach (or was that feeling from the turns we were doing in the air?!)

Then we drove to Hoota Woods to meet Linda and to do some work. And, I mean work! Linda and I hoed 9 large beds and two long beds. Man, was that tiring work, but gratifying. This city girl is rapidly becoming countrified!

We all went to the fruit orchard, checked the 90 trees, some flowering, others putting out some fruit, and still others with no sign of life externally, except that by the firmness of their branches, we know they are still alive. We placed orange flags by every tree so that when the tractor comes in to plough under the weeds, he won't take the trees with him. Some of the trees are just 8 inches high.

On to Jinna's florist where we bought trees and shrubs and other things. A man carefully takes cuttings from his trees and repots them and nurtures them. You can buy beautiful azaleas for next to nothing. I bought hydrangeas, and Linda bought azaleas and a banana tree.

Then we went to Linda's house where she had planted many shrubs and trees and inspected her greenhouse. No doubt Linda has a green thumb.

Finally, our day began to come to a close when we were invited to the "Skinning Shed," a local, informal hangout run by her husband. It's a collection of buildings where his dad used to have a hog farm. They have two ponds, one stocked exclusively with catfish, and the other with bass and bream.

We ended the night by sitting by the fire in our Carolina room and watching the sun set over the marsh. It was a perfect day in the country...