Ahhhhh the Delta -- Where the land is flat and the dirt is brown...

My column in this week's Star-Herald:
Every time I go to buy potting soil, I chuckle just a little bit.
Why you ask? About four years ago,  the husband and I decided to make a rose bed at our Pontotoc home. I told him we needed to make a list of everything we needed.
“Let’s see, we will need a tiller, plants, rose food and mulch,” I said.
And Paul said, “We will need to get some soil.”
“Why would we need that?” I replied, thinking we had acres of soil right here.
Then he explained to me that the land was made of red clay and we would need additional soil for the plants to grow.
Before you start thinking this brunette had a “blonde moment,” I have to tell you this – I am from “The Delta,” Rolling Fork to be exact.
If you wanted to plant a flower bed there, all you do is clear a spot and dig a hole. Then, “bam” the plants grow.
It’s magic.
Speaking of the Delta, Paul and I traveled there on Saturday to celebrate Father’s Day with my dad and grandpa. My parents, Paul and I traveled about 20 miles outside of Rolling Fork to Onward, where we treated them to dinner.
The only thing in Onward is The Onward Store and they serve some of the best hamburgers and hot tamales in the whole, wide world. 
A new addition to the convenience store is the sit-down restaurant.
It’s a real treat with memorabilia of President Teddy Roosevelt’s famous bear hunt and other Delta memorabilia.
The menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner items.
They have steak, seafood and hamburger steaks that would rival any restaurant.
Another thing that’s great about Delta life, you can actually see where you are going.
Since the land is flat and used for farming, you can see for miles and miles.
That is something I miss as I travel the hills of Attala County.  Well, that and brown dirt.

The corn is as high as an elephant's eye

 The nearly finished product. Just some salt & pepper and a little butter.

My mom took over the corn "scrapping" duties. I was washing the corn in the other side of the sink and it was splattering all over me.

My station with my bottle brush. Be gone silks!

Paul, Lisa and Daddy with the puppies, Gracie and Fetcher. They shucked and shucked.

The Harvest, well part of it. There will be more to come.

 The corn is as high as an elephant's eye.
–"Oh What a Beautiful Morning," Oklahoma -- the Musical. 

Fresh produce is something we always had in big supply growing up in Rolling Fork. We've always had a garden and fruit trees and my grandparents had a garden too. With my dad growing corn and soybeans, there is always a patch of sweet corn.

Before Paul and I arrived Saturday, my dad and sister, Lisa, had picked 400-plus of sweet corn and we all pitched and the end result was creamed corn! Canned creamed corn can not compare to this stuff. Yummy yummy.

The new "Tiger" ride

Paul's new Ford F-150 in Pebble Gold.

Our side antique business keeps us pretty busy and we needed more "hauling" space so Paul has been checking around for a larger truck. Up until today, he had a Dodge Dakota. Ironically and unintentionally, it's Vegas gold -- One of the Ethel Tiger colors. I told him since he got a truck then I should get some diamonds. We will see.

I am getting a house keeper one day a week so I can't complain to much. :)

Our first home....is now someone else's.

Our House in Pontotoc.

Almost exactly 3 years after we left Pontotoc for Attala County, we finally sold the trailer and land. It was our first home together and I can say it was a little sad. It was also exciting because we freed up some money.

We came home from our Disney vacation (I will post photos sometime soon.) and went to sign papers on to sell "our summer home."

We were able to visit a few friends before we headed back. It was finally the closing of the Pontotoc chapter of our lives. We are truly blessed now to have just ONE HOUSE PAYMENT.

Things Happen for a Reason

I am so far behind on blogging it is not even funny anymore.
I was invited to "Senior Day" activities (awards day of sorts)  at Ethel High School  and I cried throughout the whole two hour program. This bunch has been with Paul and I since we moved here in 2007 and I am very attached to them. I consider them "my babies." I made it through graduation fine and without tears! I was a proud "mom."

 I was very proud that I got the caps in the air. Usually I am not so lucky!

Here's a column I wrote for The Star-Herald the week of graduation. Hope you enjoy it!


“Things happen for a reason.”
When Coach Jim Wood said that to the crowd at the Ethel High School Athletic Banquet May 15, I realized that “Yes, it certainly does.”
In 1979, a seventh grader was excited to be on the campus of EHS because he was going to get to play football.
His parents agreed he could go out as long as he didn’t complain when he got banged up and off he went. What he didn’t realize was there was a lot of running to be done at football practice and after a few days he wanted to quit.
The teen along with a buddy told their coach that they wanted to quit the team. While the coach let his friend leave, he told the youngster – “Stick with me. You’ll get through this.” And, he did and he also fell in love with the game of football.
He continued to play football under the coach for two years before moving to the high school team and his junior high football coach continued to be a part of his life long after he graduated from EHS in 1985.
The late Ira Jones, known more for coaching basketball, was my husband, Paul’s junior high football coach.
And he loves and thanks Coach Jones to this day for his 20-plus career in coaching and teaching field.
“Things happen for a reason.”
In June 2007, Paul got to come “home” with me and a million packed boxes and our pets. He was the newly hired head football coach of the Ethel Tigers.
And it’s all because, Coach Jones told a seventh grade football player – “Stick with me. You‘ll get through this.”
A simple action can impact a life in ways far more than anyone can ever imagine.
Again – “Things happen for a reason.”
On Friday night, 30-plus seniors at Ethel High School will graduate and have the chance to impact lives.
Whether it’s entering the college classroom, the workforce or the military, remember that the decisions you make affect others.
On this eve, eve of graduation remember:
– Graduation is not the end but a beginning of a new phase in your life.
– Remember where you came from and where you are going.
– Believe in yourself and all the potential you possess.
– Surround yourself with goodness.
– Set goals and keep them.
 – For every action, there is a reaction.
And, of course, everything happens for a reason.

These are truly "my babies" and while we added more football players in their class over the years, they are the core.
–Hunter -- What can I say about Hunter? He has truly grown up over the last three years. I am proud that he now holds a driver's license (that's a long story). He looks like a Mexican in this picture and Paul made him into QB1.
-- Nico -- He is more quiet than the rest. When Nico would make a play on the field, it would make you smile. He's just all in all a good kid.
-- Troy -- He's quiet around Ms. Dees but I have been told he can be a little sneaky. I watched him get stronger and stronger each year. He became a two-time state powerlifting champion.
--Keith -- He's going to smack you in the mouth on the football field. Always smiling and always has a hug for you.  He has made the decision to serve our country in the National Guard.
-- Dustin -- Always smiling and will keep you in stitches -- that's Dustin.

We love you. We will miss you. And the door is always open!

Saturday's storms

It's been a crazy few days for me since the storm hit on Saturday.

As soon as the storm passed, we headed to my in-laws' home in District 2 of Attala County. They were in Kosciusko at the antique mall at the time of the storm and we went to see if their house was still there. From the radar on TV it looked as though it passed right over their house. Nothing was out of place when we arrived.

We then went to Berea Baptist Church and the Natchez Trace Parkway but couldn't get across either direction.

Then we got to where the storm damage hit Highway 440 in Hesterville. Talk about Nature's Fury. Twisted trees. Twisted metal. Uprooted huge trees.

Check out the photos at www.starherald.net

It wasn't until later that I went to Mill Springs in Choctaw County -- Sunday morning to be exact. People sifting through the rubble looking for their belongings. Sullivan's Crossroads Grocery, a building made of cinder blocks, was totally gone. The Weather Channel was already on the scene.

It was total devastation. I was horrified and saddened. I drove the scene and was in awe. Five were killed including three children.

I went back on Monday and the recover effort was underway. The remains of house were demolished by crews and a nearby church was feeding those who lost everything. I also went to a Red Cross Shelter in Ackerman and the White Plains area in Attala County.

Tuesday night was the first night I slept since viewing the rubble.

A few of the kids who attend Ethel High School, where my husband works, were affected by the storm. One family lost everything.

State Powerlifting

Troy squatting


Troy with Coach Dees and Coach Parish


Antez deadlifting


Ryan Self in a squat


Eight powerlifters went to Jackson Saturday for the state powerlifting championships and 3 place with Troymun taking 1st for the second time and setting two state records in the 1A 165-pound class for bench press (305) and squat (450) and Antez and Ryan took 3rd in their weight classes. Everyone lifted there personal best.

If you don't know about powerlifting (I really didn't until last year), here is the short version -- You have three lifts -- bench press, squat and deadlift. You get three chances to do each lift and your highest is recorded in each. The total weight determines how you finish.

Troy lifted a total of 1,175 pounds. WOW! That's all I can say. I was on the floor when he set the record for the bench press and it gave me chill bumps. It was awesome.

I feel like such a proud mom.