Wednesday, October 8, 2008

THE FIELDS ARE WHITE

I have had several of you ask that I post pictures of the cotton fields around my house so made a few pictures to show you what I see when I look across my front yard and also to the side of my back. At first I thought who in the world would be interested in seeing fields of cotton but then I realized how much I enjoyed seeing Linda's pictures and posting of bittersweet. I didn't have a clue what bittersweet looked like growing (and there is absolutely none to be found around here), so this is for all of you who have no idea what fields of cotton look like before it is harvested (or picked, as we say in the south). As I sat here waiting for my pictures to upload my mind went back MANY years ago to when I was just a little girl. Our house sits on land that my family farmed and as a child I spent much time in the fields (not working ---but playing and having such a good time). I remember seeing the cotton picked by hand--not machinery--and being brought to the wagons to weigh. After it was weighed the long sacks were dumped in the cotton wagon and off they went to pick some more. There was this long board that stretched across the top of the cotton wagon that you stood on to "shake" the cotton out of the sack into the wagon. As a little girl I would get on that board and jump in the cotton over and over again. Those days were fun for me but I am sure my family had to look at those LONG rows of cotton and think they were never ending! The cotton wagon would stay in the field until it was packed full (my jumping on the cotton helped to pack it, I'm sure) and then it would be taken to the gin. This was another experience I remember.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these pictures of the cotton that is almost ready to be picked. As I sit here the verse in the Bible keeps coming to me....."the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" . I know from my list of blogging friends that you love the Lord. May this be a reminder to all of US that there is a huge harvest out there and we need to work hard to get it harvested!

16 comments:

Georgia Girl said...

Love the pics. I used to see cotton all the time on farms down here in Gerogia but I don't see cotton anymore. very rare now adays around here.

Darlene said...

I LOVE seeing those fields of cotton. I have never seen anything like it. Of course, I was born and raised in Houston right smack dab in the CITY!! In Oklahoma, now living on an acre of land is about as far in the country as I have ever been......

Neat pictures...thanks for sharing.

basketsnprims said...

I love those pictures of the cotton all ready to be picked. I have never seen it, being from Michigan. Thanks for sharing.

Pam

{lauren} said...

Such pretty pictures:) I don't think I've ever seen cotton, even though I live in a rural area in NC....actually I don't know if it is grown here very often..I'm not well informed about farming or anything. But the pictures are pretty anyway! And what a great reminder....thanks:) <3Lauren

Tricia said...

Oh, I am so glad you let everybody in on our cotton fields. If we can't have snow, we can still have white fields. I gave you a "heads up" on my blog today.

Something Nice and Pretty said...

I loved seeing the cotton fields we sure don't have any here in PA.:) It has to be beautiful at different times of the day too.
Rondell

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

There is beauty every where we look isn't there? I love that you shared those pictures and your wonderful memories. I love that we get to know each other through our blogs. Great post!!

Robin Beck said...

Amen!
I do so love your post today. I had never seen cotton until my mom brought some back a couple of years ago from a trip. I was fascinated by it! I would have to say that is the first cotton field photo I have seen upclose -It does look like I imagined it would look. So cool. My dad told me he picked cotton when he was very young and peaches (which he won't eat to this day!)
Thanks so much for sharing!
Robin~♥

Angie said...

I live in GA so I have seen lots of cotton. Never worked in it though, but I'm sure my parents have!

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

Love it! This is what I have seen growing up all my life. When I go to my Dad's this morning, I am planning to drive out to the fields and take some picks too.

Have a happy day!

Cathy said...

Hi Sue....I have never seen a cotton field! I guess sometimes we take for granted whats around us. That is surely a beautiful sight!

Cathy

Edwina at The Picket Fence said...

Sue, you always remind me of the things in my life that I hold so dear. I hope you will read my Final Farewell that I posted today. It has been a good ride:)

Terry said...

I think it is so beautiful! We take rides all the time to see the beauty that's growing in the fields.
The small village I live in is surrounded by farms. My favorite right now is the wheat fields.
I loved reading about your childhood memory too.
Terry

Lorrie said...

Hi Sue, I found your blog through a link on a friend's blog. I love this post and the pictures of the cotton fields. I can picture you as a little girl jumping up and down in the cotton! I live in North Carolina so I've seen cotton fields in the eastern part of the state.---Lorrie

Anonymous said...

Your pictures bring back such good memories of growing up in the delta of Arkansas. I can remember playing in my dad's cotton trailers helping to "pack" the cotton before he took it to the gin. Nothing was any warmer on a cold fall day than to snuggle down in a trailer full of cotton! Thanks for the pictures...and he memories.

Connie said...

I'm so glad you posted the pictures. I love seeing what everyone sees from their home. I had my hubby when we first met...stop at the cotton fields outside Phoenix so i could see them up close and I have a picture of me in the cotton fields. It was interesting to see all the little cottonballs. Connie