Happy Father's Day

Today is the day that we celebrate the men in our lives who are fathers.  I know it is hard for my father to believe that his only daughter is 60 years old, and as many other fathers, wonders where the time has gone.  I'm not sure either, but I know for these 60 years of my life on this earth my daddy has always been a part of my life.

My father is a humble man who I don't think has ever had a mean thought, at least that I know of.  He worked hard all his life and provided for his family honorably.  He cut a penny out of my tummy (not really but made it seem like he did); tried to teach me how to ride my bike despite my protestations; saved my life (again I'm sure I was not in as much trouble as I thought) when I was caught in a current in a creek where we were swimming; taught me how to drive; and gave his permission for Lance to marry me.

He has been a wonderful Poppa to Laura and Taylor to his great grandsons.

He has slowed down as his 84 years have caught up with him but still is as humble as ever.  HAPPY FATHERS DAY to my daddy.

Just Another Day in the Delta

My Aunt and Uncle from Denver are here visiting my mom and dad.  We have enjoyed having them here so much, and I will be sad when they go back home to much cooler weather; for that I don't blame them.

Left to right:   My Dad and Mom (married 62 yrs.)  and Virgina and Joe (married 52 yrs.)

My mom (80) and Virginia (72)

These pictures were made in Greenwood at the Alluvian Hotel.  We ate lunch at the Delta Bistro and then walked around downtown and had the Greenwood/Viking experience.  Then we took The Help tour around Grand Boulevard.  Just another day in the Delta.

Happy Anniversary

On Friday Lance and I will be married 38 years. I'm not sure how he has put up with me all this time, and I know I got the best end of the bargin. Happy Anniversary, Lance. Here's to 38 more!

Mont Helena Drama

Last Thursday evening Lance and I went to the play at Mont Helena in Rolling Fork.  If you are not familiar with the play, you should check out the information here . We traveled with the Planters Partners and had an enjoyable bus ride, along with a wonderful supper including mint juleps. During  intermission we again enjoyed food prepared as part of the play.  The friends of Mont Helena produce this event for five weeks during the Spring on Thursday through Saturday evenings.  They selflessly give of themselves during these five weeks, i.e. they do everything without pay.  The citizens of Rolling Fork have joined together to produce a wonderful event.

 View of Mont Helena from the bus as we arrive

 The front facade of Mont Helena

 Arriving on the front porch

 Mantle and chandelier in the front parlor area

 Staircase--The play took place here.

 Dining room table

 Dining room mantle

 Family memorabilia

 Portriate of Helen Johnstone Harris

If you look closely, you can see the ghost of Helena Johnstone Harris on the widow's walk.  I have a new camera and still have not figure out all the ins and outs of the settings, so this one is not the best to see the "ghost."

 Drew and Dianne McDowell; Mark and Elizabeth Atchley

 Drew, DK and Lance riding up to the house

DK and Drick Rogers--Mr. Rogers is the owner of Mont Helena.  It is through his efforts that Mont Helena is being restored.

It's That Time of Year

Well, we ate the first cucumbers,squash, potatoes, and green beans of the season! Lance is at it again; the garden is planted and growing! 250 tomato plants this year.

Cherry Tomatoes

Onions

Squash Blooms

 Zinnias and Sunflowers

 Green Beans

 Potatos

 More Tomatoes and Cucumbers

Blackberries

Pears

Figs 

Plums 

Watermelons or Cantaloupes--not sure

I think my farm manager is two-timing me! 

It's Up!

My cotton seeds have popped their little heads through the soil.  Looks like I may have to fill in some places, but over all I still say I am going to have a bumper crop.  I will have to check with my farm manager.

L & DK Farms

Last summer when I drove by the Blue Biscuit in Indinaola I would always check on the progress of Trish's cotton she had planted on the south side of the restaurant.  I cleaned out a flower bed and decided that I would plant cotton this summer.  So, L & DK Farms was born.  Lance is a great farm manager, and I predict I will have a bumper cotton crop this fall.

 Two rows tilled and ready for the seed

 The seed goes into the ground

My state-of-the-art pivot, aka a watering can

Premier fertilizer, aka fish guts

I plan on applying for my farm subsidy as soon as I talk with my nephew Walter so he can give me advice on how to get the most for my labor.

Do you want to be my friend?

My Profile Picture

Did you know that Indianola Academy had meet the Colonels last night?  Did you know that Sandra and Jerry Nobile had a wedding anniversary last week? Did you  know that Kathryn Dyksterhouse had a mag treatment and is doing well and back at home?  Did you know that Larkin Kennedy had a birthday Sunday and that the twins had their four-month check-up? Did you know that Wilson got a good pathology report? Did you know that Mike McIntyre came to the Delta this past week-end?  Did you know that there are so many people playing all kinds of games, winning all kinds of stuff and needing all kinds of stuff?  Well, I know the answers to all these questions because I am now on Facebook.  Yep, you read correctly, Facebook.  I have fought signing up for several years.  I even signed up several months ago and then signed off.  Too much info and too many people wanting to my "friend."  But I could not resist any longer.  It is amazinig all the info a person has access to on Facebook. I look forward to keeping up with you if you are my friend, and if you are not, just ask.

One Stop Shopping

One of my favorite ways to pass time as Lance and I are riding in the car is to read signs. With the availabilty of a camera on my phone, I have started taking pictures of some that amaze me.  This is one of the best I have ever seen.

Garden Time

I haven't posted since early April.  Life has been pretty busy around here with the end of school, weddings, and getting ready for a trip to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.  Lance is also staying busy with his garden.  It is a big one this time and is looking good.  Laura made a post on her blog that was from Reed asking his Poppa to hurry up and bring him some veggies.  Don't worry Reed; we will be able to feed you and all of Inverness this summer.  Her are some pics.

Every garden has to have its friendly scarecrow.  This one is Lance's creation.

One row of the 368 tomato plants

Not too long before we are eating bacon, lettace and tomato sandwiches

Pole beans

Beans are starting to bloom

Row of  squash

Squash are starting to come in

Onions and cucumbers

We even have zinnias that are starting to bloom

58 Years Ago Today . . .

Not too bad for a 58 year old grandaddy! Happy Birthday, Lance!

Happy Birthday to Me

This past Friday I turned 58! Yep. Hard to believe (ha ha). I'm not sure what 58 is suppose to feel like, and even though I have a few aches and pains here and there, I still think I am in my 30s. Okay, my 40s.

This birthday was an unusual one to say the least. It really started on Thursday.

A little background: Earlier in the week, I was sick with a sore throat and achy ears and congestion. William had strep throat the week before, so I figured I got it from him and brought it home with me when we came home on Sunday from keeping the boys in Tupelo over the weekend. I laid around Monday and didn't go to work on Tuesday. I went in on Wednesday and worked on Thursday to make up for the time I missed on Tuesday.

Thursday afternoon around 2:30 my mom calls to say that my dad is in the hospital and the doctor thinks he has had a stroke. Naturally, I drop what I am doing and head for the hospital in Cleveland. When I get there, my dad is lying in the bed like he is king of the hill. He has already had a CAT scan and a series of x-rays. The tech told daddy that we would find out the results Friday morning when the doctor makes his rounds. Side note: Daddy's doctor was a young fellow I taught in the 11th grade. I know him well, but there is just something about my daddy's doctor being a student whom I put on detention several times when he was younger. I leave daddy at the hospital and mama safely locked in the house that evening.

Friday (my b'day) morning first thing, Sara Ann drops by to bring me a birthday present as Lance and I are leaving to drive to Cleveland to wait to hear from the doctor. My former student doesn't come by, but the on-call doc-of-the-day does. Immediately, my defenses go up, but once he starts talking to daddy, I like him and feel at ease with him, even more so than with detention doc. There are some problems with Daddy's carotid artery, i.e. blood not getting to the brain. If there was a stroke, it was a TIA, nothing to worry about. The doc orders a Doppler to be done on the arteries and will make some decisions after the test is completed.

One down; two to go.

Mama and I hit the road for Oxford so she can go to the eye doctor. She has glaucoma and has to keep a check on it. On the drive over, I get several calls and texts wishing me Happy Birthday. BR calls and tries his best Elvis impersonation and ends with, "Happy Birthday, old lady!" With friends like BR, I don't need any enemies. Wes calls and sings "Happy Birthday" to me complete with the blowing out of pretend candles. So Sweet!! Cindy calls to say "HB," and Gale texts to extends best wishes. Rachael texts and calls me an "old fart." Joyce from work calls to check on daddy. Mama makes the comment that I am popular.

We get to Oxford, eat at McAlister's where we share Mama's favorite reuben sandwich, and get to the eye doc a bit early. She gets in right away, and we get good news that her eyes are doing better on the new meds. Hooray!! During the exam, I get a call form William who sings "HB" also. We jump in the car and head back to Cleveland. When we arrive, daddy is again lying in the bed like a king, and Lance is reclining in the recliner. What a life! The Doppler went well and the tech said the doc would be by Saturday morning with the results.

Two down; one to go.

Now, I have been looking forward to my birthday meal all week, and since daddy ios doing well, we head out. We are going to Doe's in Greenville to meet BR and Cindy and Gale and Bill. I get another gift, and we are entertained by Cindy who has had one too many beers. We eat the best salad and steaks ever and visit. After supper we all head home. The day has been a pretty long one, and one that has been spent in the road for the most part.

Three down; none to go.

When we get home, there are gifts sitting in my swing and one hanging on the door. No mama, I'm not popular, but I do have some truly good friends that I treasure so much and ones with whom I plan to spend many more birthdays, the good Lord willing and we can keep daddy out of the hospital!

FYI: Daddy got a fairly good report on the Doppler from still another doc. He has 69% blockage. Usually, nothing is done until there is 80% blockage. Daddy is to see his regular doc next week for a close look at all the tests and a plan of action.

"This is my Father's world . . . "

Every summer Lance plants a garden. Some of you have seen posts before of his garden and how productive it is. This year was no exception. We had an abundance of beans, squash, okra, eggplant, tomatoes, watermelon, peppers, and cantaloupe. The last couple of years he has planted zinnias and red sunflowers to humor me. We had a beautiful bed of zinnias this year also, no help from me other than to drive out to the garden to see them. Anyway, thought you might like to see some of the beautiful blooms. Enjoy!

Note to Jay: I know these are nowhere near the size of your beds but are pretty as some of yours.