Ethan Charles Newberry, Movie Star ?

Ethan is my oldest great grand child. He is 10 going on 30. He gave me his best movie star look for this picture.

3/29/11 243.6 50.1 130 65 63 96.1 3603 64 50 1.5

3/30/11 243.4 50.5 141 61 67 96.4 3630`64 64 51 0

Seen around Ruston last weekend.

There were some folks seen around Ruston last week. Some looked like they were from out of town. They just took over a section of Ryan's.

The next day some were at Starbucks.

Then they took over part of the Pizza Inn.

You know, some look like they were part of this group that met Sunday noon at the Russell Family Farm out in the Piney Woods.

Come to think of it, I think that they are all related to me! The six children in the above picture are six of my great grand children. Do you think that I am a proud great grand father?

3/29/11 243.6 50.1 130 65 63 96.1 3603 64 50 0

The Wrocks from Woodenville, Washington

It is 2468 miles from Woodenville to Ruston. But the Janelle, Matt, Winter, and Holy Wrock made it.

It was grand seeing them. I really appreciate all the work and trouble that Matt and Janelle did to visit us at his Aunt Kerry's house in Ruston. We really had a wonderful weekend. The two wonderful little Wrock girls won the hearts of their Louisiana relatives. Cousins can be fun.

3/28/11 242.6 50.3 135 65 69 96.1 3430 52 45 0

A Tribute to Snaggletoothie, aka Chris Monson

I was really touched yesterday and was reduced to tears. My grandson and his wife, Matt and Janelle, brought a book that they had made of articles and pictures of Chris. Janelle authored the book using Shutterfly. They had copies for me and Chris's siblings. I think it is beautiful and I so appreciate their thoughtfulness.

3/27/11 241.4 49.8 126 70 65 96.2 3600 54 49 0

Sunday morning at the Russell Family Farm.

I had a wonderful time this morning! My family and I visited the Russell Family Farm. Skip Russell gave us a great time. He loaded us into a livestock trailer. He hauled us through the gate and into the land of miniature horses, mules, and burros. He called them up with sweet feed. It was great fun to see them come running. My family really enjoyed it. There were six of my great grand children and eight assorted adults. The 14 of us had a good time. To top it off Skip took a group picture of us. I hate to see the bill.

John and Kerry's dog, Midnight, did not know about six kids.

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Six great grands.

Had six of nine great grand children at Kerry and John's house tonight.

On the couch is Ross, Ethan, Christian,and Winter. Behind the couch is Johnny Lynn and Holly. Six children is a lot for one house! They sure made a joyful noise and made the Prune Picker happy.

A quiet Friday evening.

Not much went on last night. My youngest great grandchild drove in from Franklinton. Actually her mother Katie drove.

She received a warm welcome.

After helping to greet Johnny Lynn I went to the Tech campus and saw a few innings of the Techster softball game against Fresno State and a few innings of the Bulldog baseball game against UTPA (University of Texas Pan American). UTPA is located in the Rio Grande Valley.

So there you are. A quiet evening in Ruston for the old Prune Picker. It is nice to be retired. An arrival of a precious little girl, a college lady softball game, and across the street a college men baseball game. And it was a beautiful evening, shirt sleeves at the games. (In truth it was a wonderful exciting evening.)

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Natives of the North Louisiana Piney Woods. This is a Prune Picker Blog Series. NATIVE #2 RHONDA BLAKLEY.

Rhonda was born in West Monroe about 29 years ago. She is known far and wide as a lover of puppies and helpless critters. That is probably why she gives me a big smile every morning. She opens the Jefferson Corner Chevron Station at 5 am five mornings a week. I am usually waiting for her. I think that she is a wonderful person! That is the typical smile of a North Louisiana Piney Woods native.

In this picture Rhonda is suggesting to a fellow Native of the North Louisiana Piney Woods the best way to care for little horses. The gentleman is Skip Russell who was Native #1 in this series of blog

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They are dancing!

I danced in a beginning square. Could not remember what a California twirl is.

Square Dance in Jonesboro

This is Francis and Jerry Stinson. They were so kind to drive me from Ruston to Jonesboro. I am investigating the possibility of square dancing. I am square. That will help.

Pretty House. Could use a little work.

3/23/11 242.2 50.8 139 57 67 96.9 2489 82 66 0

Black-water and Baseball

Yesterday was pretty exciting. It was time to dump my black-water tank and there was an evening baseball game.

This is my macerator pump which is mounted on the outlet of my black-water tank. The pump grinds up the solids and pumps the black-water to the septic tank.

The black-water is pumped through a 3/4 inch garden hose over a hundred feet to the septic tank. I have to do this every two weeks. Happiness is an empty black-water tank,

In the evening Alcorn State played in a baseball hame with Louisiana Tech.

Alcorn replaces the pitcher.

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