Freedom

Late in the summer, when the cotton is maturing, and the harvest has not yet arrived, the farm family enjoys a little bit of freedom...a certain brand of fun found only on the farm. Flying along the dusty ground beneath cotton candy clouds born of late afternoon humidity. Listening to the pop-pop of ATV motors as they roar over the narrow dirt roads that run through the fields near home. Watching the scenery change from cotton to corn, then milo and melons. Hearing the joyous squeals of happy childhood memories being formed in the hearts and minds of young farmer boys.

Enjoying even the coarse breeze that carries with it a thin layer of dirt and the pungently sweet smell of melons that have sat a little too long in the heat of day.

Summer Snow

Like giant snowflakes hurled to the ground by a blizzard of wind, the lightest dusting of pure white covers sandy beds of soil. Summer snow. Nitrogen rich pellets of life give nourishment to hungry stalks of cotton. A mid-summer dream come true.....for the quickly growing plants at least. Over the next few days, they will drink in a vivid green color and add abundance to their already hardy growth of leaves and limbs.

Cotton, the queen of southern crops, absolutely refuses to clothe herself in perfect white splendor until she's been properly fed.