The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Cabbages make 101 quarts of kraut

Blair Branch


Hello everyone. I hope you are doing well and enjoying this wonderful weather. I am so thankful for the rain we have been getting. It has worked wonders for my tomatoes, strawberries, and watermelons.

The kids are really enjoying the showers as well. So much so, the first day it rained, they stood on Mom’s porch catching it in their hands with amazement. I think they forgot what it was like to see rain fall from the sky. God does answer prayers.

My sisters, Missy Fields and Opal Jent, got 10 cabbages from a girl at work and brought them to Mom and Dad’s house on Saturday for us all to make kraut, though we only used eight of them.

Those eight cabbage heads were so big we ended up with 101 quarts of kraut. I kid you not. They were alien cabbages I tell you. I’d never seen a cabbage that big in my life.

We used up the biggest one before we thought to weigh it. But the one we weighed was 19 pounds!

We had fun, but wore ourselves to a frazzle. Thank God for food processors. If we had to use the hand chopper like when I was a girl, we would still be chopping cabbage until next week.

Someone told me that they used a cut-off cream can before the hand chopper. I’m glad I was born in the ‘Pepsi Generation’ as Dad says.

We had cabbage all over Mom’s house. It took a while to clean that mess up but it’ll be worth it this winter though.

While I’m on the sub- ject of putting up garden items for the winter, Mom schooled me on how to make mixed pickles today.

I love to learn how to do new things and I hope to pass all this mountain knowledge on to my boys some day as well. Now, who wants to give me the recipe for chow-chow?

Lovell and Lois Blair came around to visit with us at Mom and Dad’s later on Saturday afternoon. It was good to sit and listen to them talk about the time Dad had to rescue piglets from a coal bank while Lovell stood watch outside to keep the sow from attacking him.

Mom said Lois called Sunday to check on her and Dad. She said they looked like they felt bad on Saturday. I’d say they did.

Ms. Op, and I worked them and ourselves into the ground with that kraut.

I was glad to hear that my uncles, Roger and Johnny Whitaker, went to visit with Aunt Wilma Halcomb on Friday as it was her birthday. Johnny’s wife Tammy went along as well.

I’m sure they all enjoyed the visit. Happy birthday, Wilma. I love you!

Speaking of Roger, he hasn’t been feeling well and has had a hard time getting around after he fell the other day. Send up an extra prayer for him.

I spoke with Mom’s sister, Aunt Mattie (Adams), on Sunday when she called to chat with Mom. She said Indiana really needs rain right now and that her yard looks like it is the fall of the year.

Mom said she also spoke with her sister Edna later that afternoon and looks forward to visiting with her at the end of September if Edna is able to make the trip down here.

I hear that Hazel Back is in the hospital. I hope she is able to recover and go home soon. We are thinking of you, Hazel. You are such a good friend to Mom.

Merle Caudill has been in the hospital with bronchitis but is improving.

I am thrilled that my uncle, Charles E. Blair, is doing better. I was really worried about him there for a little while.

My niece, Tonya Fields, has an appointment in Pikeville on Monday to find out when and/or if she is going to undergo surgery on her leg. She has an extra bone forming and it is causing her a lot of pain. Even if she could stand the pain, there is a small chance it could turn to cancer when she is an adult.

Gardner Allen and Jessica Jent’s son Hayden caught his very first fish this weekend. I bet he was ecstatic. Way to go, Hayden Alexander! Auntie wants to see a picture of it.

Rachael Smith, daughter of Chris and Renee Smith, had a baby shower at the Dixon Memorial Church. She is expecting a little girl in mid-August I believe.

My boys and I attended Vacation Bible School at Jeremiah Missionary Baptist Church this past week. We all really enjoyed it and the boys are excited to visit the church for Sunday school in the future.

Friday afternoon, I ran into Lyndci Adams Gilliam walking around the Blair Branch Church with her mom, Bonita. It was really great to visit with Lyndci, as it has been a few years since we had seen each other in person though we do keep up with each other online. Lyndci had her new baby girl Sadie with her and that baby is simply gorgeous.

I want to say congratulations to Chalena Williams on passing her LPN boards. I am very proud of her and hope that she is enjoying the new job.

Best of luck this year, you will be an RN before you know it.

I would also like to ask everyone to pray for Chalena’s children, Taytam, Catie, and Kory. They lost their grandma, Vada Webb. I’m sure it is a very hard time for them and their dad, C.D. So please, do pray for God to ease their pain.

My baby boy, Dalton Maddix Couch, will celebrate his seventh birthday on July 19; and both Travis Smith and Deidra Gibson have birthdays July 21.

Happy birthday to each of you. May your day be filled with all the love and laughter in the world.

Pamela (Crase) and David

Turner celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on July 11 with a trip to St. Louis.

Wade and Lena (Collins) Whitaker were married 17 years on July 15. Deidra (Fields) and Sammy Gibson also celebrated a wedding anniversary on July 22.

Happy anniversaries! I’m wishing you many more love-filled years together.

If I have left anyone or anything out, just let me know and I will be glad you get you next time. I hope everyone has a healthy and happy week.

If you would like to contact me, feel free to give me a call or you may email me at alanacouch@hotmail.com.



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