It's not that EXTREME but we saved some moo-la!

After Paul and I watched TLC's "Extreme Couponing," we decided that we could do this too.
We are far from extreme but we began clipping coupons and downloading coupons and even paying a "clipping service" through Ebay to get a set of coupons.

We've got a binder full of coupons and through in-store sales, digital coupons and clipped coupons .... We saved $175! The best deal we got was the $1 Gillette Bodywash. It was on sale for $2.99 w/ a $2 coupon. Paul isn't going to need body wash for a long time! He got 9 bottles and also 4 discounted or free deodorants. I also got a great deal on Pantene Conditioner.

Every week, we The Star-Herald comes out I "tweet" a deal of the week using the sales papers and coupons. This week the deal is......drum roll....25 cent French's Worcestershire Sauce  from Dollar General or French's 8 oz. Yellow Mustard $1 @ Dollar General, coupon 30 cents off; or 18-20 oz @ Walmart for $1.37 w/ 30 cent coupon.

Can you believe that Spring Football has come and gone...

I can! So in the midst of Spring Football, our air conditioner went out, we had tornadoes in Attala County and no power,  and I went to home to help pack up in case of flooding. I am sure there is something I'm leaving out. You get the point! CRAZY!

I can't believe that D.W., Brent, Adams, Corey Mac, M.J., JerMich, and Garrett have played their first game as seniors. Man, how times flies....seems like yesterday they were playing 8th grade football. They are a really good group of young men.

This year is going to be very emotional for Paul and me because we've grown very attached to them. Next year, is going to be even worse! Because Antez, Potts, Hunter, Justin and Moody are our "babies."

I'm so tired of natural DISASTERS!

My mom has been pestering me for quite some time to come and get "my stuff" out of her house.
I think it's only fair that my childhood home contains my childhood toys and photos, etc.

Now, my mom is getting her wish thanks to the possibility of the Mississippi River flooding the South Delta and my hometown of Rolling Fork. In all actuality, where my parents' home sits and granted the back water levee holds, everything will be fine.

So just to be on the safe side, I'm going to head to Rolling Fork tomorrow and get all the things that can't be replaced -- photos, original land deeds, my wedding dress, and whatever else they want me to take.

Two sets of great aunts and uncles will be moving out of their homes this weekend. My Uncle Horace and Aunt Florence are very dear to me and live in Issaquena County. They live in my great-grandmother's home and we spend Thanksgivings and Christmases there. My dad grew up in that house.

Uncle Marion and Aunt Betty Jo are moving out of their home too. Uncle Marion just had surgery and predictions of the flooding would close two paths to Jackson. They are moving in with their son in Vicksburg.

All of this has been emotionally draining. From viewing last week's storms here and elsewhere in the state to Rolling Fork's Red Barn collapsing (I'll blog about that later)  to now the flood, I think I'll just lock myself in my room and hide.

8 lift at state and two get medals

It was a good day for Ethel Powerlifting. John Housmann took first in the 114 pound class and Christian Sanders took 3rd in the 308 pound class. The rest lifted their personal best or the most weight ever!

Deep Delta Festival a success!

 Annabelle @ her puppy, Percy. Her pup is a female.

This is Cherish's four-year-old daughter.

Part of the both. I mainly sold my Bears of Rolling Fork Poster & Note cards.

It's safe to say my posters and note cards featuring my hometown's bear statues was a hit!  I sold a few other things. I can't wait until the Great Delta Bear Affair to have different note cards and posters.

I also got a  new hand blown glass pendant from Cherish. It's so pretty! Check her stuff out on Facebook at Wild Magnolia's Glass. She made me a pendant that says "EHS" on it.

Kids these days worry me...

I get a little frustrated at "the way things are," especially after talking with Paul last night.

I sometimes feel like I was raised in a "bubble." I had probably the most stable home environment that I could have -- Two married parents who worked hard, made me know right from wrong, taught me about God, and made me appreciate the things that I had even though I didn't always have what I wanted.

They stressed to me getting good grades and I did. I wanted to go to college and it was expect. I completed it and there you have it.

Most of my high school friends in Sharkey and Issaquena Counties were much the same way.

Today's kids don't have it so lucky. Most have at least one parent and some have none at all. They go to school not to learn but because they have to. They don't try to make the best grades they can. They merely show up.

Student is failing tech. discovery with a 40 and his teacher says he won't do his work.

Do you know what would have happened to me if I can home with a failing grade on progress report? My butt would have gotten beat, I would have been grounded for a long time and I better pray I could get my grades up before report cards.

The student, unfortunately, is part of a cycle. I like to call it -- "School's not important." Parents didn't finish high school so he's probably not being taught at home that education is key to a successful life.

Sometimes, we get so caught up it numbers and state test scores that we, as a community, forget that school is for educating children to become successful adults.

Last year, I was talking to a high school junior and he told me that he doesn't know if college is for him. He's grades are okay.

I told him that's OK. What I want for you is to become a successful, responsible person. If that means you work construction or weld so be it but don't be a dead beat. Make something of your life.

The Blues & The Bears

Rolling Fork, my hometown, is known as the birthplace of bluesman Muddy Waters and home of 7 chainsaw carved 10 feet tall bears in honor of Teddy Roosevelt's bear hunt in nearby Onward, MS.

With all that being said I created a Blues and Bears themed  notecard set. I've also done a poster of black and white images of all but one of the Bears.

And I'm going to Rolling Fork for the Deep Delta Festival  on Saturday to sell my stuff! Wish me luck!