Uncle Mike's

06/03/2026

The Lord Jesus has finally permitted me to talk about one of the most difficult times in my life. A time when I was horribly lost, extremely vulnerable, and domestically abused. In this short movie, I talk about how I was seduced by evil in the 3rd grade. How it shaped my early life. And how parents have got to get involved early on in their children’s spiritual development…not leaving that to someone else…before someone else steps in to do it for you.

This is the true story about how I was seduced, at a very early age...

05/30/2026

Well…it looks like Aunt Amanda’s and I will once again have summer pumpkins 😂

This all began by pure accident a few years ago. We were having fun and chopping up some old Halloween pumpkins in the backyard with our niece, Harbor, and the next thing we knew they had taken root. That was three years ago.

Here we are, once again with pumpkins. We’re pretty sure the white one is a Candy Corn Pumpkin, and the green one is a Pie Pumpkin. I threw a few out last fall.

This just seems to be our thing. We love it 🤣

05/26/2026

WOOHOO 🥳🎉

My Steen's Syrup Dark Molasses just arrived from Abbeville, and just in time. I was down to just a few tablespoons in my last jar.

Since I started making my own brown sugar, I’ve been going through tons of molasses. So, no reason not to buy the best, and the best comes from our beautiful state of Louisiana.

Looks like they changed the jar style. I’m guessing this will probably make it pour much easier.

If anyone is interested, my ratios for Dark Brown Sugar are 48 grams of molasses to 172 grams white granulated sugar. This makes exactly 1 Cup of packed dark brown sugar.

05/23/2026

Our Bluebirds fledged yesterday evening around 6:30pm - 7pm. They fledged just as the heavy rain hit our area, so all of my trail camera images are blurry or water droplets blocked the view on the lens. But that’s okay.

Maybe it sounds strange, but these are bittersweet moments for me. Amanda and I get so use to coming out in the morning, having our coffee, and watching them feed the babies…it’s weird when they’re gone and there’s no longer any activity at the bird house.

The one blue egg in these pictures was there from the very beginning…before any of the others were present. We’re pretty sure this was an egg that was never fertilized, so she rolled it to the side and it became part of the nest.

I must consider and appreciate this in its entirety. When we first came here, the Bluebirds were working on a nest in the old Purple Martin house. There was no way they could defend it from all the House Sparrows or other avian predators. I built this Bluebird house without any plans or blueprints. I just built it off the top of my head. I had no idea if they would accept it. But then, slowly, over time, they visited it and decided to change residence. To see them choose the house I made with my own hands, raise their chicks in it, and then them successfully fledge…it’s a pretty awesome feeling. It’s a God-moment. It’s a connection to something bigger than myself, and I thank Jesus for the JOY it has stamped in my heart. 🙏🏻☝🏻

05/22/2026

Some pictures of our accidental sunflower. This 7+ foot tall beauty is the result of some birdseed I tossed to the side. Pretty cool.

05/22/2026

Here are a few cool pictures of our Bluebirds from yesterday and today.

My favorite is the one of both the male and female getting ready to dive-bomb the juvenile Blue Jay. They do this everyday with this particular Blue Jay. He antagonizes them by getting too close to the house, and they dive-bomb him. It’s like a game they play 😂

The male has been calling to the babies from a distant tree in the early morning and late evenings. He gets them use to his voice, that way when they fledge the nest, they fly to where he is…to a safe branch or perch. I’m guessing they’ll fledge by this weekend.

05/16/2026

05/15/2026

05/14/2026

Working on our next planter box.

This one is double the length of the previous square box I constructed a few months ago (just over six feet), but half the depth (13 inches deep). Aunt Amanda’s wants this one to be more for flowers and herbs, which have shallower roots.

I have two more legs to attach in the center of each long side (hence the placed concrete capstones). Then I’ll attach the joists and bottom.

The side panels and w**d barrier will be last, then the soil.

I’m so blessed to be able to work on what I want, at my leisure, in such a beautiful and peaceful place. Only Jesus can make such improbable things possible. My story should have concluded very differently. 2,817 days ago, Jesus rescued me from a fruitless life, and from destruction at my own hands.

Amen 🙏🏻☝🏻