tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18549747381694954712024-03-18T16:09:49.520-04:00Life in a small Mississippi Town/Small Nebraska townOff beat look at life in small town living in American South and Mid-West.
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-60721749118586501852022-11-11T07:58:00.001-05:002022-11-11T08:14:47.256-05:00"Pumpkin Pumpkin Who got the pumpkin?"<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3qAwg1eUEuI/RxkuI_W6AdI/AAAAAAAAAVM/v8oJPsztKbY/s1600-h/october+2007+034.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123176783091990994" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3qAwg1eUEuI/RxkuI_W6AdI/AAAAAAAAAVM/v8oJPsztKbY/s400/october+2007+034.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a>
The Bank reopened the lobby, so Bancorp South
treated the community to a party... to celebrate.
The speaker is Mayor Perkins...Thanking them on our behalf.
<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3qAwg1eUEuI/RxkuJvW6AeI/AAAAAAAAAVU/GiivgVVUS0Y/s1600-h/october+2007+043.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123176795976892898" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_3qAwg1eUEuI/RxkuJvW6AeI/AAAAAAAAAVU/GiivgVVUS0Y/s400/october+2007+043.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a>
This is the pumpkin patch...
We each got to choose a pumpkin.
Some of the pumpkins had prizes under them...
<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3qAwg1eUEuI/RxkuJ_W6AfI/AAAAAAAAAVc/qJsrhiuLtw4/s1600-h/october+2007+044.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123176800271860210" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3qAwg1eUEuI/RxkuJ_W6AfI/AAAAAAAAAVc/qJsrhiuLtw4/s400/october+2007+044.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a>
Fever didn't pick a prize pumpkin.....
<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3qAwg1eUEuI/RxkuK_W6AhI/AAAAAAAAAVs/LUcGww2VOjc/s1600-h/october+2007+046.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123176817451729426" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_3qAwg1eUEuI/RxkuK_W6AhI/AAAAAAAAAVs/LUcGww2VOjc/s400/october+2007+046.jpg" style="cursor: hand;" /></a>
But I did! My pumpkin won a flat screen HD
TV!!!!!!!
On the left is
Pat Sigrest the bank manager
That's me in the middle
The fella? I have already forgotten his name....
A grand Time was had by all!!!!!Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-67303451404702210822017-05-02T10:07:00.002-04:002017-05-02T10:07:22.419-04:00Planting Cotton and building "Eudora" The Joggling board. At my Nebraska home "Mississippi on the Plains"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hinds County News<o:p></o:p></div>
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June 2017<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in my brand new bibs! my Spring gardening uniform</td></tr>
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I, Gloria Christiansen, living at
my home, “Mississippi On the Plains” in Holdrege Nebraska, soon will be a
cotton grower! Yes, I will!!! Of course, my planting of cotton will not be
of the magnitude of lets say, a Mississippi Delta plantation or of a Gaddis
Farms in Hinds county…. doubt you would even describe mine as patch of cotton…I
am suspecting my cotton growing will be more in the manner of a large galvanized
tub from the farm store in size.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Y’all, at Garden Club Monday evening (April 17), our speaker was a Nebraska Master Gardener, toward the end of the
meeting he held up beautiful fluffy boll of cotton, he vowed and declared he
grew it right here in Holdrege. Well,
you know I light up like a Christmas tree! I was so excited! I had to know where I could get seed. lo and behold he had cotton seed with him
and he gave me a package! Now it is
just a matter of waiting for the ground temperatures to come up to between 65
and 70 degrees. Wish me luck! Because I
do not even live on the south side of town.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is not a cotton gin close by….so to get my
cotton ginned, I may have to box it up, send it priority mail, to the Gaddis
McLaurin Hardware store, Main Street, Bolton, Mississippi, and ask Joyce if she
would mind stepping it across to the Bolton Gin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcROPF4O_Ho/WPjyxd0NNuI/AAAAAAAADgA/Y_EzLZiDVV8QyrPWDJZOkO-b4k-s6tYigCLcB/s1600/20170410_080056%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcROPF4O_Ho/WPjyxd0NNuI/AAAAAAAADgA/Y_EzLZiDVV8QyrPWDJZOkO-b4k-s6tYigCLcB/s320/20170410_080056%255B1%255D.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Eudora"<br />The Joggling Board</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I told you last month I had lumber
delivered so I could construct a Joggling Board, like the one Eudora Welty
mentioned in her book “The Delta Wedding”.
It is finished! And It is Grand
addition to the back yard! Some of those who have seen my joggling board, have
speculated it is perhaps the only one in Phelps County…. Maybe even the whole
state of Nebraska! Wouldn’t that be
wonderful! I have never been first at
anything…ever. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“The Delta Wedding” Joggling Board
and the tub of cotton will be the focal point of my Mississippi Garden. In addition, to the Joggling board and cotton
there will be okra and collard greens. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Love to all,<o:p></o:p></div>
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stop by if you get this way!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-66739464147107066002017-04-02T14:12:00.000-04:002017-04-02T14:12:53.357-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hinds County News April 2017<o:p></o:p></div>
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Good Morning! Hinds County! I am writing this March 20, the first day of
Spring, today’s high, here in south central Nebraska, is fore casted to be in
the middle 60s, yesterday’s high was 85, weather man said this morning, snow is
a possibility toward the end of the week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We have had some gorgeous days of
late....so I have been scrambling to get yard cleaned up and ready for
spring. I have never been ready for
spring…. Ever! Now, I understand why it
was difficult to be ready for spring’s arrival while in Mississippi…big yard,
so many bushes needing attention, big pecan trees, dropping huge limbs all
winter long. Those limbs piled in and around
the burn pit had to be dealt with and that is not easy as you might think…You cannot
just strike a match and set the pile a blaze…oh no! It was
usually very dry, so had to wait until after a nice rain...and a day the wind
was not blowing.</div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlZ6G856TfE/SqG4pCwouCI/AAAAAAAADBM/DYAajazmWj0MhfifEeRsRD3rTZ8xTKXvwCPcB/s1600/tree%2Bdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nlZ6G856TfE/SqG4pCwouCI/AAAAAAAADBM/DYAajazmWj0MhfifEeRsRD3rTZ8xTKXvwCPcB/s320/tree%2Bdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fallen limbs from my pecan trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PKhWixV-qfc/WN_eSoIsvmI/AAAAAAAADfY/-khwO0SFemIAwRzwIcMEDCbPQRNxzRF-wCLcB/s1600/IMG_5432%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PKhWixV-qfc/WN_eSoIsvmI/AAAAAAAADfY/-khwO0SFemIAwRzwIcMEDCbPQRNxzRF-wCLcB/s640/IMG_5432%255B1%255D.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fire pit behind spider</td></tr>
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But here…in this little tiny yard…...I
still cannot be ready for spring when it blows in! Why!? <o:p></o:p></div>
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I know
the answer, I have come to believe I have a mental disorder “Putter Brain” …. I
will stop raking, cutting back roses, or cleaning out planting beds to run to
the lumber yard to buy lumber to build a joggling board!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dlnls8xfFFQ/WN_TdtuhIZI/AAAAAAAADew/OnyEaxjlOGsQG72CqbVpydnHzUbY2giOQCLcB/s1600/joggling%2Bboard%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dlnls8xfFFQ/WN_TdtuhIZI/AAAAAAAADew/OnyEaxjlOGsQG72CqbVpydnHzUbY2giOQCLcB/s320/joggling%2Bboard%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a joggling board<br />
(not mine)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Or make a hardware run to get a can of bright
pink paint to repaint my flamingos, or a junk run in search of yard art…. The junk
run turned in to a tree and flamingo pillow buying excursion. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQI1ZJjsqZY/WN_TKQZVdaI/AAAAAAAADes/_hyWiB7cJowXWQf7YQKf0BtKycKjulhRwCLcB/s1600/swing%2Bwith%2Bred%2Bpillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aQI1ZJjsqZY/WN_TKQZVdaI/AAAAAAAADes/_hyWiB7cJowXWQf7YQKf0BtKycKjulhRwCLcB/s320/swing%2Bwith%2Bred%2Bpillows.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Pillows</td></tr>
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I do recognize
I am an out of control putterer…. If there is a cure…I do I really want to be
cured? Me thinks not. This morning as I
peek out my front door…I see a fabulous flamingo pillow in the swing, bright red
pillows in the Adirondack chairs, plastic flamingos staked around in the yard. One hardly notices the shrubs that need
tidying up, or the great piles of leaves that have blown in the corners of the
fence.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GeSJNDAA68/WN_XC4VvmxI/AAAAAAAADe8/-HA4pBzGtxwx8TPpMVkLCDVZ3XPJNBDNQCLcB/s1600/20170401_113054-1_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--GeSJNDAA68/WN_XC4VvmxI/AAAAAAAADe8/-HA4pBzGtxwx8TPpMVkLCDVZ3XPJNBDNQCLcB/s320/20170401_113054-1_resized.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new tree</td></tr>
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The tree I planted in the front
yard, by the Adirondacks and swing, is a flowering crab, the picture on the tag
shows the blooms being almost the exact same color as the flamingos! Won’t that
be fabulous?!!!!<o:p></o:p><br />
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I planted a maple in the back yard….in
my direct line of sight, as I peer out the west window of the kitchen…. Won’t
that be fabulous when the leaves turn this fall!!!<o:p></o:p><br />
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I built the Adirondack chairs from
a kit, I like them a lot, they really dress up the front yard. I painted them bright white…I am not a neat
painter…lots of drips and runs…but I am not disheartened …because I have nearly
convinced myself drips and runs give the chairs character and age, like this
was not their first coat of paint. And
with the addition of the bright red pillows, one hardly notices the chairs runs
and drips of paint.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Essentially the paint job looks as if
it was done by your teenager, trying to make a fast buck, to buy a tank of gas.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love to all<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come see me if you get this way!<o:p></o:p></div>
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You can sit and joggle on my
joggling board with me….<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tW1xp0P4-nM/WN_YdZKEw7I/AAAAAAAADfI/Uh98j8qwQH4NGG6UR0B_pLp3-I7yTTM_gCLcB/s1600/20170323_154057_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tW1xp0P4-nM/WN_YdZKEw7I/AAAAAAAADfI/Uh98j8qwQH4NGG6UR0B_pLp3-I7yTTM_gCLcB/s320/20170323_154057_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since writing this I have begun to make my joggling board </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I had never heard of a joggling board, until recently
when my book club read Eudora Welty’s <i>The
Delta Wedding</i>…She mention a joggling board….so you know I must have one! I
have not gotten it built yet…But lumber has been delivered! <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-62158167766280457662017-03-26T17:21:00.000-04:002017-03-26T17:21:15.175-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hinds County News<o:p></o:p></div>
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December 2016<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our first snow
has fallen,<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yxlNph6NmH8/WFQY7pLBjPI/AAAAAAAADcM/1b3ighIUF5MdUpu1itopAfRkLbcwVw3zACLcB/s1600/snow%2Bon%2Bcollards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yxlNph6NmH8/WFQY7pLBjPI/AAAAAAAADcM/1b3ighIUF5MdUpu1itopAfRkLbcwVw3zACLcB/s320/snow%2Bon%2Bcollards.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
Winter came quite abruptly to Nebraska, we were blessed with a long
and delightfully mild, nearly jacketless fall. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our first snow
came, on Friday, the day after one of the most pleasant weather days in my
memory, Thursday the 17<sup>th</sup> of November, the high that day was 75
degrees, no wind just a gentle breeze from the South. The pups and I spent the entire day outside. <o:p></o:p><br />
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I cut greenery, and made wreathes for my
doors, windows and gates. That is going
to be a lot of green and red on this little house….But, the southern side of me
knows, “It is not done until it is
overdone” But my southern side also knows, there is a fine line that you cross over
to “tacky”. But southerners, especially
southern women, possess a very valuable
gift, they have an innate, you might even say God given ability to hone in on
tacky, we KNOW what tacky looks like. <o:p></o:p><br />
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But we, ourselves, we NEVER EVER do tacky….Our friends and our neighbors…they
are the ones who do tacky. And we do not
mind at all saying how tacky they are.
Oh! Not to them, not to their
faces…we would never do that…that would be tacky. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Southerners,
particularly the ladies, also have the unique ability, an art really, to
carefully pick their words, say them in a sweet tone, wearing a charming smile,
that never hurts feelings. They say things like “Interesting”, "Fascinating", they
will reach far to find something nice to say, “oh what a great color!”<o:p></o:p><br />
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Wait! Wait! This
reminds me! let me tell you about a
friend and what she did, that left us all rather stunned and without words…It
was winter, everything had turned brown in her yard….Our friend got up in the
middle of the night and took cans of green paint and went outside and sprayed all the brown
plants in her yard green. Her only
statement about the incident was “I just got tired of looking out the window and
all I could see was brown.” <o:p></o:p><br />
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Our friend had recently lost her husband, so
we attributed to the late-night painting spree to her loss. So, the worst that was ever said, but repeated
over and over was “Bless her heart she in mourning.” She never did it again. (I know some of you Edwards folks remember
this event) <o:p></o:p><br />
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So anyway where
was I before I got off on that…..Oh yes I remember! The day before first snow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Around noon, my
brother stopped by and we ate a nice lunch of my homemade Tamales, salsa, from one of the last farmer’s markets,
and sour cream…we ate in my little building. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
When he left, I took the wreathes to the
garage, for safe keeping until after the snow, and high winds that were
forecast to come with the snow, then I sweep out the little building. The rest of the afternoon the pups and I
spent watching the sky, as the sun went down, it spread a subtle glow of gold,
lite up the beautiful church across the avenue….It was a grand day!<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFz4N5C-C9o/WFQY75Mzm7I/AAAAAAAADcc/MkK3ucA9P344MQBQ1zyaMVAI55E8COsygCPcB/s1600/roses%2Band%2Bchurch%2Byard%2Bphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yFz4N5C-C9o/WFQY75Mzm7I/AAAAAAAADcc/MkK3ucA9P344MQBQ1zyaMVAI55E8COsygCPcB/s320/roses%2Band%2Bchurch%2Byard%2Bphoto.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
In fact, the
pups and I sat in little building, until the street lights came on, I did not
want the day to end, so Emma and I went for a walk, my house is a block from
downtown, we walked toward town, the store windows were brightly lit, in the
windows were Christmas trees, snow men,
dolls and toy soldiers…<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
We walked and we
walked, back home I went to close the little building for the night, instead I
sat back down and watched it get darker and darker. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Summer was gone,
there would be snow on the ground tomorrow. I felt not unlike I did after
Angela and Adam had left home, and they would come back for a visit. When they left…. John and I would stand on
the porch, and watch as they drove out the driveway, down the hill, over the
railroad tracks, up the hill and turn the corner by the old water tower….when
they finally disappeared from sight, John would sit down in his rocking chair,
I would go to the swing….and we would just sit….sometimes we cried.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
Wishing you a
Merry Christmas from Mississippi On the Plains<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-75290337829617966182017-03-26T17:19:00.001-04:002017-03-26T17:19:24.043-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hinds County News <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
February 2017<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Good Morning! Happy New year! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I celebrated New Year’s Day the in
the southern tradition…. sort of. This
may surprise you all, but smoked hog jowl is impossible to find up here. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
last year, about this time, I mentioned my
jowl disappointment to Tim, the gentleman who cuts my hair, he took finding hog
jowl as a challenge. Tim, bless his
heart, thought he had found it a time of two…. but just was not to be.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Black eyed peas, I found those in the bean section, on the bottom shelf,
at the Sun Mart, a bit dusty, but hey I found them….no collards though…I grow collards
but, mine were in the ground wilted from numerous frosts…so I had Cole
slaw….and as you well know, cabbage is perfectly acceptable as your green for
the New Year’s meal. Smoked hog shank was the replacement for the jowl. I Made
ice tea, they drink tea up here, but it is unsweet as a rule, and cornbread
baked in an iron skillet, so it was crusty on the bottom, rounded out my New
Year’s Day meal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Hog jowl is not the only thing
difficult to find…. pig feet they can be found up here but, it is a road trip
to get them. Well, that not exactly
true, every grocery stocks Hormel’s pig feet, pickled in a jar. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Storytelling, like the food is different here,
I came to that realization one day when a neighbor returned from a trip to New
York City. When I inquired her about
trip…she told the WHOLE story in a couple of sentences. A southerner can’t go to the grocery store
without coming home with a longer story than that! And she went to New York and came back without
a story… I was shocked! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
A southerner telling a story about
touring New York City! I am here to tell
you, it would be nearly impossible for that tale to be told in just one
sitting. Of course the story would not
begin in New York, might would begin in the car headed to airport…because a trip
to the airport is never uneventful….but could start anywhere anytime, even
weeks before the trip began…shopping for the clothes to take….or even years ago
telling about a movie they saw about New York.
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Let me tell you how stories in the
south are often born…I was having a gathering on my front porch, everyone had
arrived except my friend Fredna…. On after while, she arrives hurried and
breathless, and explaining her tardiness as she climbed the front steps. Fredna was late because she was trying to
meet a taxidermist…as she went on with the explanation, we discovered Fredna
was carrying around a deer head in the trunk of her car… and because she and
the taxidermist had not been able to make connections, the deer head had been
in the trunk for several days… Now keep in mind this gathering was on my front
porch so it was not cold or even cool…. she did have it in a cooler…. but still
and all.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
We laughed and laughed and a story
was born! Fredna did not know at the
time she was telling a story that will be told over and over.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Maybe the stories do change a bit
from one telling to the next… not to embellish you understand, but because we remembered
some very significant detail/details that will improve the story greatly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Things just happen in the south
that make great stories. I have a friend who is the mayor of one of our small
towns in rural Hinds County, as was her duty, as mayor, she was participating
in a celebratory parade, may have been 4<sup>th</sup> of July, can’t
remember. Any way she was being driven in
a patrol car by one of towns policemen, they were rolling along, waving and
smiling at the crowds gathered along the street, when suddenly among the
spectators, the policeman spots a “person of interest”. The policeman
had been looking for this “person of interest” all day. So, not wanting to miss
this opportunity, he pulls over to the curb, puts the “person of interest” in
the back seat and then continues the
parade route…with the “person of interest” in the back seat. He too, the “person of interest” got in the
spirit of the occasion and began smiling and waving too.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Southerner have stories…one story
leads to another story… the tales can go on for hours and hours and often do. I have fond memories of storytelling at
social gatherings, pig pick’ns, crawfish and shrimp boils, church dinners of
the grounds etc. And dinners parties….
sitting down at seven and not get up from the table… many times until after 10
to go to the living room for a night cap.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
One thing I love about the south…we
are easily entertained and not easily offended by a story told on us…heck we
will tell one on ourselves. <o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love </span></div>
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-35586095222281493842017-03-26T17:15:00.001-04:002017-03-26T17:15:42.195-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Hinds County News (Mississippi)<br />
for October 2016<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
So here I am, and
another month has passed, Summer is gone and it is Fall. Here in Nebraska there has already been a
frost in the panhandle. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Let me tell you a
bit about my road trip to Louisiana for grandson Garrett’s wedding. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
I do not travel the interstates at all, so I
am mostly traveling on two lane roads.
Been making the same trip up and down highway 183 for many years, in
fact 50ish years. There are not many
towns of any size on my route, mostly small farming communities…over the years
those little towns have changed from bustling main streets, with local cafes,
grocery stores, feed stores, furniture stores, a Ben Franklin 5&10, Western
Auto store, several full service filling stations, and every town had a
school. Oh! And an adorable little motel
with a bright neon sign flashing “vacancy” or “No Vacancy”.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
It is not that
way anymore, sometimes it is a challenge to even find gas, when you do it is
often an unmanned place, next to what used to be a Co-Op. If you happen up on a little convenience store
that has a gas pump, it is not uncommon that you have to pay inside, because
the pump is of an age that it cannot accommodate a credit card. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Many Main streets
in rural mid-west are empty shells, once lovely homes abandoned, schools and play
grounds vacant. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Even the smallest of villages may not have the
amenities they once did, but most still have a nice water tower, frequently
painted whimsically, but always proudly embellished with the town’s name, and
very often the towns have a well-cared for city park. In very recent years Dollar General stores
have begun to pop up. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
But what I find most fascinating about the
small towns in the rural mid-west is this, there may not be a school, grocery
or hardware store but, there is almost always a functioning bank. For some reason I find comfort in that….
maybe the rural Mid-west is not dying, maybe it is just beginning a new cycle.
We old people do not have to like it…we had our “good old days” these changing
times are the “good old days” for this generation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Before I head out
on “The Junk Jaunt”, Let me relay an invitation to you all, from the sweet folks
at Old Lebanon Church.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
There are many
abandon country churches in the rural areas of our country….But not Old Lebanon
Presbyterian Church off Highway 18, Raymond Mississippi, years ago the
congregation moved the few miles into Learned, Mississippi. But Old Lebanon was not left to out there in
the country unloved and forgotten, every fifth Sunday the congregation meets in
that old church, even though it lacks modern comforts, no kitchen, or reliable
heat and no air conditioning, I don’t think it even has electricity. The windows do function and as I recall there
is an outside privy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
October, 30, 2016
is Homecoming and dinner on the grounds, at old Lebanon. After the service,
under the trees in front of the church, is where the cover dish dinner will
commence. So take a covered dish, and a lawn chair, and enjoy the afternoon
visiting with neighbors, friends and strangers, and be sure and stroll through the old
cemetery. Everyone is invited. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
I have been to 5<sup>th</sup> Sunday at old
Lebanon many times, when it was raining, sweltering hot and when it was cool
bordering on cold. Grand! Grand!
Memories! I wish I could be there for this homecoming. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
By the
way Old Lebanon Presbyterian church is on the National list of historic places.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Love to all Come see me if you get this way<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-47993816187100279092017-03-19T20:56:00.001-04:002017-03-19T20:56:43.286-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hinds County News <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
March 2017<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The older I get the more conscious
I am of the fact, I will die at some point.
I am well past middle age now, unless I should live to be 144. I am certainly not afraid of death. To quote
my mother at age 92, “we cannot live forever just because our kids want us to,
we are tired and want to go live with Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Mind you, I am not wanting to go
anytime soon, because I have <u>BIG</u> <u>PLANS</u> for the coming spring and
summer. But I am ready when ever my time comes.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I do not often dwell on my demise
but, what got me contemplating it recently is this; I walk Emma Dog downtown
Holdrege, Nebraska, I live one block from the courthouse and the down town
area. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oqAUv2uloo/WM6Wgr_DOFI/AAAAAAAADec/cQIDZdyvQsI6My8z1SmXVidm5RtH8BMZACEw/s1600/church%2Bcourthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4oqAUv2uloo/WM6Wgr_DOFI/AAAAAAAADec/cQIDZdyvQsI6My8z1SmXVidm5RtH8BMZACEw/s640/church%2Bcourthouse.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> On the next block from my house is the Methodist Church<br />
across the street from the church is the court house. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvuilVGa7Tc/WM6WfXF8upI/AAAAAAAADeU/y2q2f8eOnKkrdeVHYjpyzmTFBVtA7MUswCEw/s1600/west%2Bave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rvuilVGa7Tc/WM6WfXF8upI/AAAAAAAADeU/y2q2f8eOnKkrdeVHYjpyzmTFBVtA7MUswCEw/s640/west%2Bave.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is picture on up my street, West Avenue, from the Courthouse,</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxTQScIrN-4/WM6SCEjYObI/AAAAAAAADd4/uq0Jj_agofMIklKWxJ8z1is_9xrGg9ACACPcB/s1600/Emma%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LxTQScIrN-4/WM6SCEjYObI/AAAAAAAADd4/uq0Jj_agofMIklKWxJ8z1is_9xrGg9ACACPcB/s640/Emma%2Bblog.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Emma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The downtown area is about 5
blocks long and 3 blocks wide. We enjoy
strolling past the shops, window shopping, and seeing what is new and exciting
going on downtown.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I walk her downtown because, when we walked
around our residential area…we were unable to enjoy the walk, for dogs barking,
from inside their homes and behind fences…early on over on Garfield street, I
thought this big dog might come through the large picture window, ….he was
jumping against the window…barking, growling and slobbering, he was so annoyed
by our passing. I was not afraid of the dog particularly…but what if it had
gotten through the window…was injured by the broken glass, I would have felt
obligated to try and catch him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
We had several incidents before, dogs climbing their fence to come out
and smell Emma. But the dog behind the
picture window was what made me decide to begin exclusively taking our walks
down town…where we seldom encounter another dog. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I had come to believe my death
might very well be the result of drugs….No! No! not illegal drugs! But some
brand spanking new miracle drug, I would be given by a well-intentioned doctor,
to treat some minor ailment….then find out from, from an attorney's TV commercial, that the drug had horrifying
side effects, sometimes even death. (does
it seem to you prescription drugs may be more deadly then street drugs? Me too.)<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHhnDJEyl2M/WM6SCI1bs4I/AAAAAAAADds/ybZvjreD0c4NXR35MP0lqq5G-CI2VnehgCLcB/s1600/corner%2B4th%2Band%2Beast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CHhnDJEyl2M/WM6SCI1bs4I/AAAAAAAADds/ybZvjreD0c4NXR35MP0lqq5G-CI2VnehgCLcB/s320/corner%2B4th%2Band%2Beast.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coming up on corner of East Avenue and 4th Avenue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well…. last week Emma and I were
walking down town, beautiful day, we were waiting in the sunshine, for the
light to turn green at the corner of East Avenue and 4<sup>th</sup> Avenue,
across from The Hotel Dale….the light turned green, we stepped into 4<sup>th</sup> avenue, at the same time, waiting for the light to
turn green was a car, as Emma and I began crossing the street, the car went to
making a right hand turn, in to our path and was barely able to brake and get stopped
before hitting us….I looked through the windshield at her, she was horrified,
still had phone in hand, I felt a bit sorry for her….<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Said all of that, to say this, it
may not be a new miracle drug that kills me…. I may die in the middle of a
street, from car crash wounds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Love to all<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sfc5THFkJVA/WM6Wg88AgaI/AAAAAAAADeQ/sdvVQvGw0zUQi-23AALUlAj0-Xuo3kahwCLcB/s1600/house%2Bflamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sfc5THFkJVA/WM6Wg88AgaI/AAAAAAAADeQ/sdvVQvGw0zUQi-23AALUlAj0-Xuo3kahwCLcB/s640/house%2Bflamingos.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
"Mississippi on the Plains"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Come see me if you get this way</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-12956315494103817312016-12-03T13:20:00.002-05:002016-12-03T13:26:25.597-05:00Hinds County News, Mississippi on the Plains column, for October 2016 by Gloria Christiansen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Hinds County News
October 2016<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
So here I am, and
another month has passed, Summer is gone and it is Fall. Here in Nebraska there has already been a
frost in the panhandle. <o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApHh4bRS7vs/WEMKU3xgHBI/AAAAAAAADbg/HnSF5sHeR6Q-Yq26C-EiSy_mTq3J987GgCLcB/s1600/fall%2Bpic%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApHh4bRS7vs/WEMKU3xgHBI/AAAAAAAADbg/HnSF5sHeR6Q-Yq26C-EiSy_mTq3J987GgCLcB/s640/fall%2Bpic%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Park <br />
Holdrege Nebraska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RI4J-DSUUa0/WEMKkXBVGvI/AAAAAAAADbk/LFUEDiZm4KAMSAwiKKaAQ8duQE2EA5DVwCLcB/s1600/fall%2Bpic%2Bfor%2Bblog%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RI4J-DSUUa0/WEMKkXBVGvI/AAAAAAAADbk/LFUEDiZm4KAMSAwiKKaAQ8duQE2EA5DVwCLcB/s640/fall%2Bpic%2Bfor%2Bblog%2B2.jpg" width="459" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Park<br />
Holdrege Nebraska</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-top: 12.0pt;">
Let me tell you a
bit about my road trip to Louisiana for grandson Garrett’s wedding. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tC3PK52u88s/WEMME0z431I/AAAAAAAADbs/3kThKPBHzlcWouzOvGuhdUcz9muPS7fHgCLcB/s1600/xenia%2Bbuddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tC3PK52u88s/WEMME0z431I/AAAAAAAADbs/3kThKPBHzlcWouzOvGuhdUcz9muPS7fHgCLcB/s320/xenia%2Bbuddies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Buddies<br />
Peggy Ann, Jacqueline, Me and Lindsey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hEnMh-0BgJA/WEMEU8EJT9I/AAAAAAAADbQ/rtlO4DJGNV0OG7XH6mOTEFEMEe3WUxR6wCLcB/s1600/xenia%2Bwedding%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hEnMh-0BgJA/WEMEU8EJT9I/AAAAAAAADbQ/rtlO4DJGNV0OG7XH6mOTEFEMEe3WUxR6wCLcB/s320/xenia%2Bwedding%2B2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xenia, Garrett<br />
And Adam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I do
not travel the interstates at all, so I am mostly traveling on two lane
roads. Been making the same trip up and
down highway 183 for many years, in fact 50ish years. There are not many towns of any size on my
route, mostly small farming communities…over the years those little towns have
changed from bustling main streets, with local cafes, grocery stores, feed
stores, furniture stores, a Ben Franklin 5&10, Western Auto store, several
full service filling stations, and every town had a school. Oh! And an adorable little motel with a
bright neon sign flashing “vacancy” or “No Vacancy”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is not that
way anymore, sometimes it is a challenge to even find gas, when you do it is
often an unmanned place, next to what used to be a Co-Op. If you happen up on a little convenience store
that has a gas pump, it is not uncommon that you have to pay inside, because
the pump is of an age that it cannot accommodate a credit card. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Many Main streets
in rural mid-west are empty shells, once lovely homes abandoned, schools and play
grounds vacant. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Even the smallest of villages may not have the
amenities they once did, but most still have a nice water tower, frequently
painted whimsically, but always proudly embellished with the town’s name, and
very often the towns have a well-cared for city park. In very recent years Dollar General stores
have begun to pop up. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But what I find most fascinating about the
small towns in the rural mid-west is this, there may not be a school, grocery
or hardware store but, there is almost always a functioning bank. For some reason I find comfort in that…. maybe
the rural Mid-west is not dying, maybe it is just beginning a new cycle. We old
people do not have to like it…we had our “good old days” these changing times
are the “good old days” for this generation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before I head out
on “The Junk Jaunt”, Let me relay an invitation to you all, from the sweet folks
at Old Lebanon Church.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are many
abandon country churches in the rural areas of our country….But not Old Lebanon
Presbyterian Church off Highway 18, Raymond Mississippi, years ago the congregation
moved the few miles into Learned, Mississippi.
But Old Lebanon was not left to out there in the country unloved and
forgotten, every fifth Sunday the congregation meets in that old church, even
though it lacks modern comforts, no kitchen, or reliable heat and no air
conditioning, I don’t think it even has electricity. The windows do function and as I recall there
is an outside privy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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October, 30, 2016
is Homecoming and dinner on the grounds, at old Lebanon. After the service, under
the trees in front of the church, is where the cover dish dinner will commence.
So take a covered dish, and a lawn chair, and enjoy the afternoon visiting with
neighbors, friends and strangers, and be
sure and stroll through the old cemetery. Everyone is invited. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I have been to 5<sup>th</sup> Sunday at old
Lebanon many times, when it was raining, sweltering hot and when it was cool
bordering on cold. Grand! Grand!
Memories! I wish I could be there for this homecoming. <o:p></o:p></div>
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By the
way Old Lebanon Presbyterian church is on the National list of historic places.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-70978341940727413892016-09-01T11:40:00.001-04:002016-09-02T16:36:51.967-04:00Red Necks and Cajuns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Mississippi Rednecks</h2>
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Louisiana Cajuns </h2>
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Hinds County News September 2016</h4>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iKpt-PBPB4o/V8hI4qPM-qI/AAAAAAAADZA/Rmq3buP_SY8mT0O7BR6I77EBb8tfGV9UwCLcB/s1600/20160805_121233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iKpt-PBPB4o/V8hI4qPM-qI/AAAAAAAADZA/Rmq3buP_SY8mT0O7BR6I77EBb8tfGV9UwCLcB/s400/20160805_121233.jpg" width="400" /></a>Recently, I was in South Louisiana,
White Castle, at Nottaway Plantation, for my grandson Garrett’s wedding. It was
beautiful! And the food! I do not think there is any better food anywhere,
than south Louisiana. We had a grand time!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
One week later, on that very area, a storm
with no name, dropped 20 plus inches of rain, more rain than came with Katrina,
causing history making floods. My
heartbreaks for those folks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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But, they are not without help and
support, almost immediately some of our Mississippi boys loaded up their
pickups and headed to south Louisiana. These guys have been called “Rednecks”. Those Rednecks took boats,
tools and all supplies they could carry.
And they were ready to work…hands on… boots on the ground work. Ready to do what they could to help out those Louisiana
Cajuns in their time of need. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I may not be politically correct,
using such terms as Redneck and Cajun, but those who are Rednecks and Cajuns
seem to be proud to be what they are…. Boys raised on the river and in the
woods! <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mississippi is jam packed with Red
Necks, some are riding tractors, some driving trucks, some roping cows, working
at the hardware store etc. But what may shock
folks not from the South…. they can also be found behind desks in corporate
offices!<o:p></o:p><br />
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God Bless those Mississippi men, black and
white, who were raised in the woods and on the river! Those guys know what to
do in a crisis! Thank you for all you
do! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I shall tell you about the trip and
wedding next time, my heart is not in it today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love to all<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-85766995846339608092016-08-29T09:30:00.000-04:002016-09-02T17:01:13.088-04:00Cream Can Dinner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>My first Cream Can Dinner</b></h2>
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I have been to many shrimp boils, Crawfish Boils and weiner roasts</div>
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Now then I have been to my first cream Can Dinner!</div>
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This dinner took place at the home of a friend of a friend....A grand time was had by all!<br />
<br />
Naponee, Nebraska, population 106</div>
Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-30901919026782480732016-08-23T13:01:00.001-04:002016-08-23T13:01:09.607-04:00How to Crochet an Old Fashioned Rag Rug<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BysQWtc7g98" width="480"></iframe>Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-21057889406229557902016-07-12T12:24:00.001-04:002016-07-12T12:24:44.598-04:00Hinds County News May 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Hinds County
News May 2016<o:p></o:p></div>
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The last day of
March I began my first journey back Mississippi, since selling my home, a year
and a half ago, my wonderful home of thirty years, to come back to Nebraska,
where I was born and raised, to be near family in my old age. It was hard leaving Mississippi when I left
the first time…it wasn’t any easier leaving this time. I will be back!!!<o:p></o:p><br />
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I began the trip
at first light, I leisurely motored along back roads, all the way…nearly a 1000
miles. What a lovely drive it was, the
morning I left Holdrege there were only miniscule hints that Spring might be
coming soon to Nebraska. I took highway
183 South through Kansas and Oklahoma, then Highway 70 across southern Oklahoma
and Arkansas, that is where spring took on color, Wisteria climbing in trees
that had not yet leafed out turning them purple…. The dogwood trees tucked in
to the edges of the woods were in full flower. Oh!! My favorite the azaleas
they were spectacular! <o:p></o:p><br />
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By the time I
cross over the Mississippi River at Greenville, into the Mississippi delta, it
was full blown Spring. The trees were
all leafed out, well that is not entirely true, there is always one exception….
the pecan trees. Bless’m they are the first
to drop their leaves in the Fall and last to acquire them in the Spring.<o:p></o:p><br />
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I was in hopes
that by the time I returned to Holdrege it would be Spring, was not to be… the trees
did not yet have their leaves, but thrilled to see the ornamental cherries, and
pears were in full flower….as were the dandelions, my yard was a carpet of
yellow, rather happy looking…I love the color yellow. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Recently I was among a group discussing the
dandelion, one meek little voice spoke up to say, “leave them for the bees” I must
say that was not the prevailing attitude of the gathered.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Folks up here
look down their noses at dandelions, my lawn in Mississippi if it was green I
mowed it and called it lawn! Now the
poison ivy, that was crawling in the grass and up the pecan trees, I, on
occasion, tried to kill it…but on after while I gave up that notion…. telling
myself it was okay because, some summers it was so hot and dry that the leaves
would just turn brown and plummet to the ground without ever turning color,
those years’ poison ivy gave us our prettiest fall color. I got to say in the fall, poison ivy is
spectacular…brilliant reds and oranges! <o:p></o:p><br />
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Back to the
dandelion saga, my yard was the only one on the block covered by the happy
yellow flowers and they did not go unnoticed. I do not know that I ever intentionally set
out to kill a dandelion…Oh whacked them with the weed eater…that does not kill
them, if anything whacking invigorates them.
<o:p></o:p><br />
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With sadness in
my heart, I set out to deliberately kill the dandelions…went to the hardware
store and bought a sack of happy yellow flower eradicator… that was a week ago,
so far they do not seem to be at all daunted by my efforts, they are still
looking up and smiling at me. I must confess, I am somewhat relieved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hey I got to go<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love to all<o:p></o:p></div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-65465644678083517302016-07-03T15:29:00.001-04:002016-07-04T14:49:35.349-04:00Ponderings from my front porch....On the Avenue Holdrege Nebraska<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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First published in the <br />
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Hinds County News <o:p></o:p></div>
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July 2016<o:p></o:p></div>
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I had always assumed my John did not
like talking on the phone. If the house
phone rang more than twice he would announce, “Telephone is ringing”. And he would continue making that
announcement until someone answered the phone or it quit ringing. John refused to answer the phone even if he
was sitting right next to it. He claimed, “it is never for me.” And of course
he was almost always right. But now that
I am thinking about it if someone was able to get to the phone before the
ringing stopped…he would always ask, “who was it?” …. “what did they want?” Hmmmmm
quite odd….<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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My dad was not a phone talker…I
have known very few men who were social phone talkers…. business yes. But personal no… for John his phone
conversations were limited almost exclusively to arranging hunting or fishing
outings and those were short and to the point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So anyway…as I was drinking my
coffee, from the porch I noticed most everybody driving up and down the Avenue
were on their cell phones. Even the men! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I said all of that to say this: On the porch this morning I had an epiphany!<br />
About
men and telephones…. They love their cell phones just like women do! What they did not like about house phones was
being tethered to a wire plugged into the wall or a phone that only functioned
inside a certain perimeter. And after John bought his first cell phone he
became quite a chatter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Done with that thought<o:p></o:p><br />
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What I planned to talk about this
morning is paint and painting. I
recently acquired a darling little building one of those already built, it is a
Derksen! <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4NpjES7xPwE/V3lfioySnXI/AAAAAAAADWI/jY8Eu2aGr3cOY9qsWVh6ND7hH0TlFFMIACLcB/s1600/20160630_114319_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4NpjES7xPwE/V3lfioySnXI/AAAAAAAADWI/jY8Eu2aGr3cOY9qsWVh6ND7hH0TlFFMIACLcB/s640/20160630_114319_resized.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Building <br />
"LB" for short</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As I have told you my house is small. I needed more room so I ordered a 10x12 <span style="line-height: 200%;"> shed … I really don’t know how I will be using Little
Building for certain, so far, in the evenings the pups and I just enjoy sitting
out there and watch the goings and comings on the Avenue.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ivec7rbpvM/V3lft96aXXI/AAAAAAAADWM/qfFU2drpWO0IvYylAJA343r17fnZatkpgCLcB/s1600/20160614_142132_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ivec7rbpvM/V3lft96aXXI/AAAAAAAADWM/qfFU2drpWO0IvYylAJA343r17fnZatkpgCLcB/s320/20160614_142132_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pups<br />
Emma on the left Shelby on the right</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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So back to the painting, I set out
to prepare to paint “Little building”, The outside was already painted a bright
shining white, so was only dealing with the inside. I was determined to do it right, go according
to manufacturer’s instructions. I have to tell you they have very specific
directions, no grease or dirt, if dirt or grease are present, it must be washed
and rinsed meticulously then let dry completely… any glossy surfaces must be
sanded lightly….no loose or peeling paint…rust must be dealt with… Certain kinds of woods must first be
primed! As I was uncertain of what kind
of wood, Little building was composed of I bought primer and paint.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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Daughter Angela volunteered to
paint Little Building over memorial weekend…<o:p></o:p><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-62QYSK6ChX8/V3lfWCfhJII/AAAAAAAADWE/4s5EnIGrc-A8sAgB3Ai8wKUAr7B4B7PBgCKgB/s1600/20160528_140436_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-62QYSK6ChX8/V3lfWCfhJII/AAAAAAAADWE/4s5EnIGrc-A8sAgB3Ai8wKUAr7B4B7PBgCKgB/s320/20160528_140436_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daughter Angela</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She was able to get the ceiling completed,
it took three coats one primer and two of paint. I was left with the walls…no
big deal…the she was able to do the hard part, the overhead painting. Angela
calls Monday morning her dog Scout has paint on her back and on her belly…. The
latex paint would not brush out or wash out…it had to be cut out. </div>
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After several days of me staying on task, the painting was complete! Walls and floor!<o:p></o:p></div>
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But! My brand new pedicure was a wreck, covered
with paint splatters, that could not be scrubbed off….Paint splatters all over skin,
hands, arms, and nose, that paint did wear off, but it was way on after while …
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Last week I went to get my hair cut… Tim the
fella that cuts my hair, after shampooing it, made the remark, “some of the
paint came out, but not all”. This after many washings at least 10! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The intended surfaces to be painted must be
dealt with carefully for the paint to adhere to it, but on unintended surfaces
that paint clings like grime death without any preparation what so ever. I think that is rather odd….But on the bright
side if the paint on little building clings to it like it does to noses, toes
and dogs…I will be in the grave many years before it has to be painted
again. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I sure do miss Mississippi<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love to all <o:p></o:p></div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-24156734542553297252016-04-19T15:27:00.002-04:002016-04-19T15:27:41.146-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
My column from the Mississippi newspaper</div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
The Hinds County News </h2>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
April 2016</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbOsT1A2Oag/VxaFT_MeuqI/AAAAAAAADT8/Lso-6WMJvMo4qQ4zf5UpqFip8eVGHCabwCLcB/s1600/20150924_074702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbOsT1A2Oag/VxaFT_MeuqI/AAAAAAAADT8/Lso-6WMJvMo4qQ4zf5UpqFip8eVGHCabwCLcB/s320/20150924_074702.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>
From the Avenue</h2>
<div>
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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Every year, to anyone who will
listen, I go into a long tirade, about the pointlessness of daylight savings
time. It makes absolutely no sense, no
matter how the powers that be, shift the hands on the clock, there are just so
many hours of sunlight in a 24-hour period!
That said…I believe I am adjusting a bit faster this year. However, my body is still in a bit of a
protest mode, body is slow to get out of bed in the morning …Maybe body is not
so much slow… as confused?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
But! my mind is doing MUCH better with the change! Yes, it is! Well possibly not…. when I look at the
clock, I translate it. For instance, the
clock on the wall may say four my brain converts it to <b>real</b> time three O’clock!
Okay, that is that rant.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Now then, we all know soft drinks are bad for us and we should not,
under any circumstances enjoy one. How
do we know this? The food scientists/
police tell us so… that is how. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I do not partake in sodas often, because they are bad for me…. but if I
have an upset stomach a 7up or Sprite seems to calm it and I cannot eat a pizza
without having a cola, Coke or Pepsi makes no difference to me. Just
yesterday I was enjoying my pizza and sipping slowly on my coke, trying not to
consume too much, as I do not want to hasten my death.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
You know how when you are eating cereal you
pick up the box and read whatever is on it? Well I picked up the Pepsi bottle
and commenced to read the ingredients. Here goes “Carbonated water, sugar,
caramel color, phosphoric acid, caffeine and natural flavors”. We all know sugar has been named one of the
really bad guys in the world of nutrition, but not bad enough that they are
banning it in schools like sodas. So it must be the phosphoric acid right? <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dWmf_xbjj8/VxZ7F3_rQ_I/AAAAAAAADS4/0PZpTdZLyGQbS8udU2CSUtqY6kbB7ScsgCLcB/s1600/20160419_131351_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5dWmf_xbjj8/VxZ7F3_rQ_I/AAAAAAAADS4/0PZpTdZLyGQbS8udU2CSUtqY6kbB7ScsgCLcB/s320/20160419_131351_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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So while sitting there munching on
pizza, sipping on Pepsi I picked up my phone and googled phosphoric acid. Well guess what folks!? According to my not
extensive research, studies have shown phosphoric acid “<u>may</u>” be
harmful. And orange juice has more of it
then sodas. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Phosphoric Acid is an inorganic mineral,
pretty much what I would call dirt. Who
hasn’t eaten a carrot or radish pulled out of the ground…cleaned off best you
could by rubbing on you pant leg…still dirt on it but ate it anyway? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I said all of that to say
this: I am not longer going to let the
food police tell me what I can and cannot eat or drink! They are so often wrong…over years they have
warned us about butter, coffee, eggs, bacon, dairy …. the list goes on and
on….and on and on. Corn syrup is high on
the beware of list.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Green Tea and nuts are pets of theirs at the moment, for a while they
were real high on kale. Very recently, I
bought a bag of pistachio nuts, BIG BAG, just two days’ later the pistachios
were recalled. That may explain my queasy
tummy after eating them…I had to drink a Sprite to get my tummy to behave. So
in this case I considered the ice cold soda a medicine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Speaking of Medicine, Just Google the side effects the medicines you are
taking…. the side effects of some of those are considerably more frightening, than
any health concerns related to the Pepsi consumed. I am sort of seeing it this
way…food can possibly shorten your life…. the medications you are taking can
kill you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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And if the lawyers who advertise on TV are correct, many medicines are
very dangerous. Even the manufactures of the drugs often do
not speak very confidently about their meds….after they finish listing the side
affects …you have to wonder, “how did this drug get approved?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
If sodas are killing us, those lawyers, <u>whose</u>
<u>only</u> <u>concern</u> <u>is</u> <u>our</u> <u>wellbeing</u>, they would be
on TV advocating we jump on and sue. Shouting
at us through the TV to take legal action, against food and beverage
companies…Right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I must tell you all, the Girls
Scout cookies, I ate for dessert, after my pizza and refreshing cola,…the
ingredient list on that package was much longer and less pronounceable than the
soda I drank …. but reading the ingredient list was not enough to dissuade me from
enjoying the cookie…. several cookies…half a box of cookies.... they were
really really good!<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zbjMB_sv-xA/VxZ8L2rPYlI/AAAAAAAADTA/-5RLmZWMqtcUN2isHJWry1FBGf3-u00ZQCLcB/s1600/20160419_131258_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zbjMB_sv-xA/VxZ8L2rPYlI/AAAAAAAADTA/-5RLmZWMqtcUN2isHJWry1FBGf3-u00ZQCLcB/s320/20160419_131258_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
You all, I am not suggesting that you adopt my devil may care attitude
toward food….I have had the cancer, twice, who knows if it is what I ate and
drank or genetics. Also I am over
weight and would not be surprised if the Alzheimer’s has been sneaking in while
occasionally eating at fast food establishments. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I am 71, and consider myself
healthy….However Doctors I have been to since gaining weight, seem to
disagree. But I can still out work
people decades younger than myself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I hope to die digging in the
garden, or running the string trimmer…. eating and avocado, bacon, cheeseburger
would not be a bad way to go ether…Oh! sitting on the front porch or in the swing watching the world pass by that
might be the best!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K6N6NWGxq-M/VxaBF8LG7uI/AAAAAAAADTQ/jJZ7o4FMZ3sYMxIVw8C8NDbjjDF-1NE6wCLcB/s1600/20150913_080235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K6N6NWGxq-M/VxaBF8LG7uI/AAAAAAAADTQ/jJZ7o4FMZ3sYMxIVw8C8NDbjjDF-1NE6wCLcB/s320/20150913_080235.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">porch last summer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VNK2LcW61sA/VxaBSDaaYaI/AAAAAAAADTU/75p_shERVOIhtK3Cl9ZGxRPtpyPvY-ahQCLcB/s1600/20160419_135652_resized%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VNK2LcW61sA/VxaBSDaaYaI/AAAAAAAADTU/75p_shERVOIhtK3Cl9ZGxRPtpyPvY-ahQCLcB/s320/20160419_135652_resized%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a><br />
But the way I die, that’s is God’s call. I shall just continue to soldier on best way
I know how until that day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love and good health to all!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-66236853604964982672016-03-20T14:06:00.000-04:002016-03-20T14:06:13.001-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hinds county news for march 2016<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Written February 20, 2016<br />
at Mississippi on the plains, Holdrege
Nebraska<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
The Great Ground Hog Day Blizzard 2016</h2>
Yesterday was a beautiful warm day here, the pups and I spent a good
part of the day, on the front porch, watching the last of the snow melt from
“The Great Ground Hog Day Blizzard 2016”. The snow in this yard measured 23 inches on
the flat, drifts along the fence and the side of the house were a good bit
deeper. Watching snow melt is slightly more exciting than watching paint
dry…and slightly less exciting than watching grass grow….That said, any one of three activities can be extremely
therapeutic.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmPxXC1sHjE/Vu7fJyzMQAI/AAAAAAAADR0/qfxZ2mQnMZ8HENFjzTxJAoqhzcuBA-tRQ/s1600/blizzard%2B2016%2Bmeasure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pmPxXC1sHjE/Vu7fJyzMQAI/AAAAAAAADR0/qfxZ2mQnMZ8HENFjzTxJAoqhzcuBA-tRQ/s320/blizzard%2B2016%2Bmeasure.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
I was rather surprised to learn
blizzards are not as common as I thought…As a kid growing up in Nebraska I
thought blizzards were a common. But for a big snow storm to be officially
called a blizzard, there has to be large amounts of falling snow or blowing
snow, and winds must exceed 35 miles an hour for at least three hours.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKFbpO7_UXU/Vu7fJKDZWVI/AAAAAAAADRk/xG0m3roJlQwP71kQblHbUOKtfoGuWpFyA/s1600/blizzard%2B2016%2Bflag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKFbpO7_UXU/Vu7fJKDZWVI/AAAAAAAADRk/xG0m3roJlQwP71kQblHbUOKtfoGuWpFyA/s640/blizzard%2B2016%2Bflag.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The weather people warned us it was
going to “BIG”, I have in the past been rather skeptical of dire warnings from
enthusiastic weather folks. But after
being caught by hurricane Katrina miserably unprepared. I had no real money, no gas in anything I
drove, not even the lawn mower. Thankfully John had a tank full of gas and money. Money was not much use however, because the
electricity was out over much of the state, so could not buy anything. So anyway, I said all of that to say this;
before the storm I went to ATM and got real money, (to pay someone to scoop the
sidewalks for me). I went to the grocery
bought lots of canned goods and water, you all I was prepared. even had batteries! And gas in my car!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
So the blizzard begins, first thing
snow drifts up on the back door to where I could not get it open. So I was diligent keep snow from building up
on the front door. Because I had to be able to get outside to measure snow and
take pictures to post on Facebook. Not
everybody was excited about the blizzard, but for me, “The Great Ground Hog Day
Blizzard 2016” was grand fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When it was finally over, it went
on for two days, I looked out, the sun was shining bright, I thought to myself,
“let me see if I can clear the sidewalk just to the front gate.” So I got dressed in the recommended layers,
my yoga pants, jeans, overalls, threes shirts and John’s hunting coat and
gloves. (I have yoga pants because my
doctor urged me to take yoga to improve my balance and get limber. Well, one look at myself in those yoga pants,
I knew I would not be taking a class!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Then as an afterthought, before
going out, I went to the computer, then to YouTube and watched several videos
on how to scoop snow. Even though I grew
up in Nebraska, doubt I ever scooped any snow before…I had brothers so I feel
sure that the snow scooping job fell to them. ( Heads up…if you do not want to
be snickered at do not mention the fact to Mid westerners, that you went to the
computer to learn how to scoop snow.)
So anyway, when snow is very deep you take it off in layers. It worked beautifully! So well in fact I went
on to scoop the sidewalk in front of the house, then on to free up the back
door…. still going strong I scooped from back door to the back gate. I was first on my block to get the sidewalk
scooped! I was sooooo enormously proud of myself! <o:p></o:p><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uQuAp09KY0o/Vu7fIysGKDI/AAAAAAAADRg/tD06RRcxD_YXp1XMR2pg0tutFOBC7zkeA/s1600/blizzard%2B2016%2B2016%2Bback%2Bsidewalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uQuAp09KY0o/Vu7fIysGKDI/AAAAAAAADRg/tD06RRcxD_YXp1XMR2pg0tutFOBC7zkeA/s640/blizzard%2B2016%2B2016%2Bback%2Bsidewalk.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taken from alley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ne6GKOi1fyw/Vu7fJVQ0lAI/AAAAAAAADRs/VhV53m4VRTcHIbR3XYI5dBSueGTaRLz-g/s1600/blizzard%2B2016%2Bfront%2Bsidewalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ne6GKOi1fyw/Vu7fJVQ0lAI/AAAAAAAADRs/VhV53m4VRTcHIbR3XYI5dBSueGTaRLz-g/s640/blizzard%2B2016%2Bfront%2Bsidewalk.jpg" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taken from back door</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t12HUrG6QHw/Vu7gLZS49II/AAAAAAAADSA/bmlMcOJX5TMUvP6k0XYzcFIjWmPPZrnog/s1600/blizzard%2B2016%2Bswing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t12HUrG6QHw/Vu7gLZS49II/AAAAAAAADSA/bmlMcOJX5TMUvP6k0XYzcFIjWmPPZrnog/s640/blizzard%2B2016%2Bswing.jpg" width="628" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swing area early on in the storm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KxiETb27PQs/Vu7fJIKi_aI/AAAAAAAADRo/I6HcTlkRP2oA20FTGMOK4jN7Z0TEXQmCQ/s1600/blizzard%2B2016%2Bback%2Bsidewalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KxiETb27PQs/Vu7fJIKi_aI/AAAAAAAADRo/I6HcTlkRP2oA20FTGMOK4jN7Z0TEXQmCQ/s320/blizzard%2B2016%2Bback%2Bsidewalk.jpg" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backdoor to gate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWSwBxegCXY/Vu7fKVuD7VI/AAAAAAAADR4/t-h-ecZyeGkvDdNWxHc4dcFK5ZA4yePhg/s1600/blizzard%2B2016%2Bshelby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWSwBxegCXY/Vu7fKVuD7VI/AAAAAAAADR4/t-h-ecZyeGkvDdNWxHc4dcFK5ZA4yePhg/s640/blizzard%2B2016%2Bshelby.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Shelby loved the snow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
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Decided to stop and continue the next day,
scooping from back gate, to the garage and alley. Big Mistake! Still puffed up with pride… I went to take trash to alley…there was no
pathway, I fell… as I was tumbling… I
recalled the verse from Proverbs “Pride goeth before a fall” I was not hurt, because the snow was so
deep…in fact, deeper than my arms are long, so could not lever myself up. You all I had to roll over to picnic table
and grab on to it and pull myself up!
Remember that movie <i>The Christmas
story?</i> When Ralphie’s mother bundled him up in that puffy snow suit, he
fell and could not get up? I know how he
felt….<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Then! I did not learn my lesson
form the fall in the snow! Later in the week, I was in the grocery store! In
the pickle isle! I Struck up a conversation with a sweet lady, about the blizzard! Boasted to her about me scooping myself out
at 71! She gently informed me she
shoveled her own snow too and she was 81!
When will I learn!?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Love to all<o:p></o:p></div>
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Come see if you get this way<o:p></o:p></div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comHoldrege, NE 68949, USA40.4402885 -99.36982169999998940.391946000000004 -99.450502699999987 40.488631 -99.28914069999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-88953959386531760612015-08-24T10:37:00.000-04:002015-08-24T10:37:19.383-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
August 23 2015<br />
<br />
It has been awhile!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I no longer live In Edwards Mississippi...I now live in Small Town Nebraska. I have moved to Holdrege Nebraska, will soon be here a year. Holdrege is where I spent my teenage years. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Daughter Angela moved from Jackson, Mississippi to Cedar Rapids Iowa...So I said to my self "I will go home." But you all, I really do not know if I came home or left home....I Love Mississippi! But I am enjoying Holdrege very much...My heart has duel homes. Your heart can be in two places....I so wish my body could.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I bought a house sight unseen...Yikes! Because very few landlords will rent to people with dogs. And I have two. But it is working out nicely, I have had a bit of work done to the house. Had a fence installed, new storm doors and painted inside...new floor in kitchen.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CMdM037kZew/VdnpMPulvtI/AAAAAAAACwA/Q9KSaz8H40w/s1600/photo-1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CMdM037kZew/VdnpMPulvtI/AAAAAAAACwA/Q9KSaz8H40w/s320/photo-1.PNG" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is how my house looked when I bought it.....Now it looks like this! As you can see it is a very small house. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qxSBB80k3A/VdoZgT5_LHI/AAAAAAAACwo/7qRdT0gPaEs/s1600/709%2Baugust%2B2%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0qxSBB80k3A/VdoZgT5_LHI/AAAAAAAACwo/7qRdT0gPaEs/s320/709%2Baugust%2B2%2B2015.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wc9E9NPyD9I/VdoYlD2B9WI/AAAAAAAACwg/sUHkSyx23eo/s1600/709%2Baugust%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wc9E9NPyD9I/VdoYlD2B9WI/AAAAAAAACwg/sUHkSyx23eo/s320/709%2Baugust%2B2015.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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I have spend the Spring and summer working on the landscape...not much was here when the pups and I moved in.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1XC8mLOGfJw/VdsjFQnj8CI/AAAAAAAACw4/UPQCC3DIvKM/s1600/20150812_064336_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1XC8mLOGfJw/VdsjFQnj8CI/AAAAAAAACw4/UPQCC3DIvKM/s320/20150812_064336_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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The Garage and it's yard...the picnic table, is not used to as intended...But as a work station/potting bench.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YdcEpfNfB0Y/VdsjtNcMUAI/AAAAAAAACxA/tHwxFegAfAE/s1600/20150812_064531_resized%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YdcEpfNfB0Y/VdsjtNcMUAI/AAAAAAAACxA/tHwxFegAfAE/s320/20150812_064531_resized%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Of course it would not be my house without a place to play in the cement!</div>
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I have begun a new blog </div>
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<br /></div>
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LifeInHoldregeNebraska@blogspot.com</div>
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It will be up and running soon!</div>
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Come see me there!</div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-76731041237920204402014-02-11T15:36:00.000-05:002014-02-11T15:40:56.110-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
HCG January 30, 2014<br />
<br />
.<br />
<br />
Good morning, this is Monday morning the 27 of January, it is 45 degrees and that will be the high for today. Yesterday, Sunday it was 60 degrees, tomorrow Tuesday the weatherman is saying there is a possibility of snow…by the end of the week it is predicted we will be back up the high 50’s and lower 60’s. This seems to be our weather pattern of late.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
During last week’s cold snap I became very nervous about the state of my pantry, there were long vacant spaces on the shelves, where there was suppose to be backup provisions, there was no can of coffee waiting on the ready …no extra sugar or flour…it was low on canned fruits and vegetables.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhijzZgQw98/UvoF7ql2ouI/AAAAAAAACAI/Oc9j7jPbN18/s1600/20140211_051310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dhijzZgQw98/UvoF7ql2ouI/AAAAAAAACAI/Oc9j7jPbN18/s1600/20140211_051310.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So yesterday Sunday I went to town and stocked up on groceries…when it is cold outside I do not like to be short in the pantry.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This maybe off subject….Maybe not since I have not yet picked subject…Yesterday as I was pushing my cart gathering groceries…I thought of Katherine Hepburn, and a line she had in a movie. I do not remember the name of the movie…just the statement she made, and through the years it has stuck with me. Another actor’s line was, “I don’t make the rules.”<br />
<br />
Katherine Hepburn’s reply was, “Sure you do, we all do.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Well there I was pushing my cart picking up cat food and lettuce with folks that it was obvious they, like me, had just come from church…. I could tell because they had their Sunday clothes on.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I begin to recall, maybe you all remember when it was decided, some time in the late 70’s early 80’s, to let the Metro Center Mall open on Sunday…And what a up roar that caused. Many of us vowed declared we would never shop on Sunday. Then came the little league baseball hullabaloo…remember? Remember when they began playing games on Sunday? Parents said they opposed the new rule…But they still took their kids out of Sunday school and church loaded them in a van to go play ball.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I will always believe the majority of people back then, actually did oppose both the opening of businesses on Sunday and the playing Little League on Sunday….<br />
<br />
Which leads me say this ….The majority does not rule…. we follow.<br />
<br />
As followers we are making the rules….<br />
Call if you need me<br />
P<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Gloria Christiansen<br />
201 Luster Street<br />
Edwards Mississippi 39066<br />
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-30314698412256852882013-06-02T09:20:00.002-04:002013-06-02T09:24:00.537-04:00Run For the Wall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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</xml><![endif]--><i><span style="font-size: large;">Christiansen's Comments</span></i><br />
<br />
First Published <br />
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Hinds County Gazette News Paper<br />
Raymond Mississippi <br />
May 30 2013</div>
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I am writing this early morning,
Monday May 27, Memorial Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Monday
the Veterans riding motorcycles, passed through Hinds
County, headed to Washington….making
their annual Run For The Wall<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9dFbg7xirLA/Uapg3FIUmeI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/3uBU-9-Z6as/s1600/photo(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9dFbg7xirLA/Uapg3FIUmeI/AAAAAAAAB4Q/3uBU-9-Z6as/s640/photo(17).JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<h1>
<b>Run For The Wall recognizes the sacrifices and contributions made
by all veterans who have served our nation. </b></h1>
<b>Mission Statement:</b> To promote healing among ALL veterans
and their families and friends, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of
War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), to honor the memory of those Killed
in Action (KIA) from all wars, and to support our military personnel all over
the world. <br />
<b>Philosophy:</b> We strive to maintain a safe, supportive and
private atmosphere in which all participants can reflect and heal on their
journey to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.
in the hope that they can return home to a new beginning. <br />
<b>Goals:</b> <br />
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">To guide the participants
across America.
</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">To educate future generations
as to the importance of accountability in wartime actions emphasizing that
no one should be left behind.</li>
</ol>
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I wanted my little buddy, three year old, Whit
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>to see the veterans on motorcycles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Run” is impressive sight… hundreds of
veterans participate. The group that came past us was the on the southern
route, there is also a northern route, and as they travel the route more
veterans join the band of vets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Memorial
Day weekend there are hundreds and hundreds riding in to Washington.
</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
stopped at the dollar store and bought an American flag to wave, so we could
show our support for their cause.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
we drove to the Farr Road I
20 over pass, between Edwards and Bolton, and joined a
group of Bolton folks, many of the same people are there
every year.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2WU5ZSxTLTs/UaphcYSMwUI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/_kJjKJf7JgM/s1600/photo(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2WU5ZSxTLTs/UaphcYSMwUI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/_kJjKJf7JgM/s320/photo(18).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whit </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
those gathered on the bridge to watch the motorcycles pass, it was both a solemn
and celebratory occasion. I believe that to an appropriate response. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Many men and women have served in the armed
forces, giving their lives, and far too many veterans sacrificed their sanity
to defend this nation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .25in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The cyclists, all they are asking, not for
glory for themselves, but that those veterans and their families who each and
everyday suffer the consequences of war, that they not be forgotten.</div>
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Keith Jenkins, himself a veteran, invited
those gathered on the bridge to his house in Bolton, for a cook out…Pulled pork
and all of the fixing…Grilled hot dogs, Jess Tackett was on the grill….Whit ate
four hot dogs. We had a grand time!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pBRloJUmnB4/UapiZjzQqsI/AAAAAAAAB4g/G-w5zip8jLs/s1600/photo(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pBRloJUmnB4/UapiZjzQqsI/AAAAAAAAB4g/G-w5zip8jLs/s320/photo(16).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess Tackett</td></tr>
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And of course it is the right thing to do
to make the day, a festive one, other wise their service would have been in
vain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those men and women served this
country, so we Americans could live, celebrate, and go on with our lives.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank
you</div>
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Love to all </div>
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Call if you need me</div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-82443189036048090372013-05-30T08:10:00.000-04:002013-05-30T08:10:51.608-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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First Published Hinds County Gazette<br />
May 23 2013<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Saturday I attended two parties, a crawfish boil out at Montgomery
Lake to celebrate Julian Gibbens
birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julian turned 100 on Friday
May, 17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One hundred!!!!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7fxRmQJ6_LY/UaZPVB7VlBI/AAAAAAAAB3A/DYWl9mfZKbo/s1600/photo%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7fxRmQJ6_LY/UaZPVB7VlBI/AAAAAAAAB3A/DYWl9mfZKbo/s320/photo%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And he still
has his mind! Still writes letters…still enjoys telling stories…remarkable!
(When I consider <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>living to 100…All I can
think about is…that equates to having to put up, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>decorate and take down the Christmas tree 31
more times!)</div>
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Julian came from a large family of
Louisiana Cajuns…I guess they are Cajuns…, people in Mississippi refer to folks
from Louisiana as ether Cajuns or Coon ___ (I am not allowed to say the word or
write the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can still taste the
soap mother use to wash my mouth when I said a word she considered
offensive…There were lots of them back in my day….The only person who was
allowed say “hell” was the preacher.) So anyway his Louisiana
relatives came up and cooked crawfish to celebrate Julian’s birthday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
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My word! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never seen so many crawfish!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wading pool full!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whit stirring Crawfish, Julian is Whit's "Paw" </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children were fascinated with them…Actually
touching the wiggling creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Crawfish are not ugly exactly…but I have to wonder who was the first
somebody who had the nerve to eat one?</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think that coon___ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>nickname is necessarily derogatory ….I am
thinking it is like us rural folks in Mississippi
being called “rednecks”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good ole Mississippi
country boys don’t seemed to be insulted by being called “red neck”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">100 Balloons! Photo P.A. Mckey</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later Saturday afternoon, I went from a party celebrating a
long life, to celebrating a little girl who is not yet born. I attended a baby
shower for Mary Frances Hilbun, Mary Frances was not in attendance…I guess she
was, but Mary Frances will not be born until July.</div>
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Mary Frances is the daughter of
Marrianna and Jamie Hilbun, the granddaughter of my friends Dave and Suzanne
Harpole.</div>
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The shower was given by some of
Marrianna’s young lady friends ….Us old ladies have wondered “who is going to
do the parties when we get to old to do them”…… let me tell you we can stop
fretting…. this younger generation knows how to do a party…the food, flowers
and table were absolutely beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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And I learned something from
them….you do not have to make everything from scratch ….stand over a hot stove
for hours…The cupcakes were exquisite…and tasted sooooooooooo yummy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were bought, not from a fancy dancy
bakery…but from a local grocery store! </div>
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Miss Mary Frances received many
beautiful gifts….or so I was told…us older attendees, stayed seated at a table
in the breakfast room, as the gifts were being opened, ….we were just plum dumb
giddy … we were at a party!! We were enjoying being waited on!!! We never shut
up…talking loud and laughing….If we were not so darn loveable we probably would
never get invited to another party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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We old ladies were unsure who we could
pass the party, Bible School, etc baton to….Actually I am not sure we were
looking….we were hanging on to it with a white knuckle grip…They had to come
peel it out of our hands.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young ladies have proven they can do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They learned from the best!</div>
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Call if you need me</div>
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P.S. I received a note from Julian yesterday May, 29, 2013<br />
informing me there were no Cajuns at his party. </div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-14403609201935154802013-05-19T17:16:00.003-04:002013-05-19T17:18:55.636-04:00Hinds County Gazette May 16 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is so much going on in May, we can not possibly get to everything we should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Thursday evening, I did get to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Southern</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cultural</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heritage</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Center</i> in Vicksburg
to take Nancy Mitchell’s art class. Nancy
led us through painting, Vincent Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon Cotton</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another friend Jim Biedenbach<br />
Photo Nancy Mitchell </td></tr>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend Gordon Cotton had taken the course a
couple of months ago... Gordon is enormously creative for sure…but I must admit
I was flabbergasted; he actually turned out a quite respectable interpretation
of the painting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not wanting to be
bested by Gordon I signed up for Nancy’s
May class. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am afraid Gordon bested me.
But it was great fun! Next time Nancy
will have us painting sailboats… hope I do well. Adam and his family have taken
up sailing, I can take my painting of sailboats to them for a happy, when I go
visit later this summer.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand daughter Julia<br />
Photo MK Christiansen </td></tr>
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Photo MK Christiansen </td></tr>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I did attend Commemoration of the 150<sup>th</sup>
Anniversary of the Battle of Raymond Saturday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day’s events began in Raymond at St. Marks
Episcopal Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guest speaker was
Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice William L. Waller Jr. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judge Waller spoke to an attentive, over
flowing crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Marks Episcopal Church Raymond Mississippi</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Judge William L.Waller Jr.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Photo Mary Adams Kuhn<br />
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The program was followed by the
Boys Scouts burning American flags on the lawn at St, Marks….I had forgotten
there was a formal procedure to retire of wore and tattered flags, in a
respectful, dignified and honorable manner. The ceremony was impressive, and
heart warming.</div>
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Photo Friends of Raymond </td></tr>
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After the flag ceremony, the
attending crowd was treated to lunch in the garden
of St. Mark’s….The food was scrumptious
and beautifully presented. Of course that is the Southern way.</div>
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The group then moved to the Raymond
Military Park
for the cannon dedication, and to recognize cannon sponsors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cannons on the Battlefield were
sponsored by individuals, and organizations from Mississippi,
and all over these United States of America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many sponsors traveled to Raymond just to
attend Saturday’s events.</div>
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After the Historical Marker
Dedication at Dillon’s Stand on Old Port Gibson Road,
Brenda and Charles Davis treated the out of town guests to an afternoon of rest
and relaxation at their home, The Dupree House.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The guests enjoyed a tour of the house, and an afternoon of visiting on
the porches of the Davis home. What
a fitting way to end a day, of course it is the southern way. I was thrilled to
be included!</div>
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Call if you need me</div>
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As I am writing this Monday, May 13, 2013…I have a fire
going! It is in the 40s!! This is not the weather we are familiar with for May.
We here in Mississippi by mid May
ordinarily have begun to whine about the escalating heat and humidity. </div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-47198353485466739332013-05-10T13:36:00.000-04:002013-05-10T13:37:33.747-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Christiansen's Comments</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Carolyn Mckey recently moved from
her home in Utica to Riggs Manor in
Raymond, in the preparation for the move they came across a drawer that held
newspaper articles, clipped and saved by her late husband W.C. "Dub" McKey, among
the clippings was one of mine from September
29, 1994.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peggy McKey,
Carolyn’s Daughter in-law brought the clipping to me.
<br />
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This is that column…. </div>
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That column survived for nearly 20
years in that drawer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just think how
many spring cleanings and fall cleaning that yellowing piece paper survived in
that drawer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can not think of a
greater honor, for a writer to then to be clipped, and saved.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never have called myself a writer before,
because I am not sure what has to happen before you can call yourself a
writer,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but now that I know I was
clipped and saved at least once….I shall always believe that qualifies me to
say<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I am a writer”.</div>
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Thanks Dub!!!</div>
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Love to all </div>
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Call if you need me</div>
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First published in</div>
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Hinds County Gazette</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
May 9 2013</div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-1869712944169208442013-05-01T07:28:00.000-04:002013-05-01T07:28:00.298-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Christiansen's Comments</i><br />
published in Hinds County Gazette April 25 2013<i> </i><br />
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John and I moved to Edwards in
1987,<br />
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<br />
Inez Lee, was my very first Edwards friend. Back in those days Miss Inez
was delivering the Clarion Ledger newspaper around Edwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miss Inez was out early every morning, she
had her finger on the pulse of Edwards, she was one of the first in town to
know who was sick, who needed help, and who had died…Black and white she knew
everybody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inez is one of the kindest
people I have ever known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Miss Inez is 92 now, I saw her at
the Edwards Fellowship Club last Tuesday, she had on a beautiful pink blouse, cute
as a button she was, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>an absolute
delight, Miss Inez kept the conversation bubbling at our table that is for sure.</div>
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The very next day, Inez fell and
broke her hip; she has had surgery, but physical therapy is ahead. I told you
that, to ask you this, please pray for Miss Inez Physical therapy is not comfortable.
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Inez was my first friend after
coming to Edwards….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doug Beard, he does
not know it, but he is my NEW BEST friend. </div>
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This is not the first time Doug has
been my best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spring after
John died and I just finished chemo…I needed a new string trimmer, I wanted to
know who I would be looking at if it needed fixing, so I went to Doug.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doug informed
me I could buy one a lot cheaper just about anywhere, and he advised me it was
heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bless him he tried hard not to
sell me one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess he didn’t think I
was strong enough yet to handle a trimmer…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I kept insisting until I finally wore him down a bit…Doug said he would
put one together, I was to come back later and he would see if I could start
it.</div>
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I left there, on the way back home
I called my friend Emily Dear, put her on notice that <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she might have to call Doug and testify on my
behalf…”You tell Doug I am well! And I am strong!” </div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later that afternoon I went back to pick up my
brand new machine…Sure enough I could start it…On the first pull! But he still
would not sell it to me!!! He insisted I take it home and try it…he wanted to
make sure I could run the thing, before he let me pay. Doug is a man of integrity.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
still have that trimmer and it still starts easy. </div>
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I am just about to the part about
why Doug is my NEW BEST friend…..</div>
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I told you about learning how to
change the spark plug in my riding mower a few weeks back…well I mowed and then
the crazy thing would not crank for anything…Knew it was not the battery it was
brand new…One of the guys from the bottom of the hill came up declared it was a
bad solenoid, but did not have time to work on it right then…. so I was going
to have to wait until the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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But then later that morning I was
in Bolton, I spotted Doug…an idea flashed in my brain…” I
shall go ask Doug about solenoids, see if he has one to fit my mower and ask him
if he thinks I could change it myself.” I talk to myself a lot. </div>
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Last year Doug talked me through
changing my fuel filter…..He did not actually say he thought I could install a solenoid …What he did was…he handed me two solenoids told me, one of them should
fit it…explained to me where I would find the solenoid on my mower…He even took the
parts out of the box…and gave me some pointers about removing the old and
installing the new….placed the new solenoids down in a bag, asked if I needed
to borrow any tools, and told me to bring back the one that didn’t fit....and sent me on my way.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took a couple of hours but I got it installed
and the mower ran!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that folks is why
Doug is my NEW BEST friend… </div>
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My new best friend needs prayers
too…Doug has finished treatments and will be having surgery soon. </div>
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Hey I have got to go! Shelby dog
has to go to see her veterinarian, Doctor Farr this morning! Doctor Farr has had<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some medical issues recently also…but he is
back at work…not sure wife Pam was ready for him to go back so soon….but he
seems to be doing great….But you might want to put Pam on your prayer list.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelby</td></tr>
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Love to all</div>
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Call if you need me</div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-31136768042535858982013-04-24T10:30:00.001-04:002017-04-24T10:38:44.220-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
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</xml><![endif]-->The Swing project</h2>
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There was a time a three year old boy was my best friend</h2>
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With much help
from our friends, Whit and my swing project is complete! We wrapped it up
Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But not, without, over the
course of the project, innumerable trips to Gaddis McLaurin and to Doug
Turner’s wood scrap pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The place in the yard, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whit always heads to when I open the back gate
is the front yard, to the left of the house, under the pecan trees, so that is
where we placed the swing frame. ….it is made from five, 8 foot, 4X4 posts,
Doug and Kay came and helped set the swing up, it is a good thing they
came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a picture of the swing from
a web page selling the plans to build it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did not want to pay the $12 for the plans, so constructed it from the
picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well when we got it set up…It
looked just like the picture! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes it
did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there was just one little
thing…it would not stand on its own, it wanted to fold. </div>
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</span>Kay and I had to hold it up while Doug scrambled around and found some
lumber to make temporary braces. After much measuring…Doug wanted it to be
square…Kay and I didn’t care so much about square…we just wanted to be able to
let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But way on after while… Doug got
it like he wanted and nailed in the temporary supports and it held on his own!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Doug went to his shop and cut permanent
braces, when I went to pick them up he gave me very careful and detailed
instructions on how to attach them. I hope it suits him….he has not been by yet
for final inspection of the braces and ropes.</div>
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I wanted a porch swing to place in newly
constructed frame; because the intended purpose of the build was a comfortable
relaxing place for me to sit while watching Whit play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I went swing shopping… but did not find a
swing like I wanted, in the short time I had to look. (I did learn one thing
though while out looking for a swing…I could have bought a swing set for what
this one cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is… if ever all
things were taken in to account…gas alone back and forth to Bolton
would figure to be a substantial outlay.)</div>
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So anyway, Friday Whit was coming
back and I knew he would be expecting something to be happening with the project.
Bless Whit’s heart, he worked hard on that swing frame, he learned real fast
how screw in the lag bolts with the ratchet wrench, I think he liked the sound
it makes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he can use the drill to make
the pilot holes for the bolts…But I do have to hold up the back of the drill…
that battery is heavy. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug Turner inspecting our build</td></tr>
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So anyway, not wanting to
disappoint Whit, I wondered “What to do? What to do?” You all, I felt like a
genius when the solution finally came to me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An old time rope and board swing! We went old school! John was a bit of
a rope aficionado, so had plenty of rope in the shop and there was a board in
my very own scrap pile just the right length.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whit calling himself tying a knot</td></tr>
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Whit enjoys the old timey board
swing so much….I may never get another swing….Until he grows up….which will be
way to soon, Whit will be three years old next month.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
working on this project with Whit… I came to believe my children were no doubt <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just as smart and clever at three years old…
as my grand children were and Whit is, if I had had taken the time and had patience
with them…. as I have had with the Grands and Whit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Love to all</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Call if you need me</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<i>Christiansen Comments</i><br />
First Published in<br />
Hinds County Gazette April 18 2013</div>
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Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-40556623162850086262012-04-22T19:39:00.000-04:002012-04-22T19:41:20.276-04:00Katherine Worrell died today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JUlE_7edJXQ/T5SU_SEt5II/AAAAAAAAByk/Nz8JIExImsY/s1600/08+August+Ms.+Worrell's+Birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JUlE_7edJXQ/T5SU_SEt5II/AAAAAAAAByk/Nz8JIExImsY/s320/08+August+Ms.+Worrell's+Birthday.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katherine Worrell<br />
This picture was taken august 2004</td></tr>
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Katherine Worrell Died today, she would have been 100 her next birthday. Ms. Katherine was much loved, greatly admired, and will be long remembered by those who knew her in person and through her years of writings in the Hinds County Gazette.<br />
<br />
Good Bye Ms Worrell</div>Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854974738169495471.post-86412945659612144922012-04-06T19:46:00.000-04:002012-04-06T19:46:28.715-04:00Christiansen's Comments from April 5 2012 Hinds county Gazette<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">HCG April 5 2012<br />
<br />
I do not know what the out come of us is going to be, if we do not soon get a break in this beautiful spring weather …. Most everyday has been sunny and warm with light breezes, ideal for outdoor chores…. My entire lawn has been mowed and trimmed at least twice; parts of the yard have been mowed 3 times. Many years in years past, come tax day I still had not gotten the yard mowed in its entirety for the first time. And it is still 2 weeks to tax day, I may set a record for number of times mowing in one season. Don’t get me wrong, I love working in the yard…But I am about worked right down to the ground. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vn3t5gWthow/T38aeH7Fn5I/AAAAAAAAByc/B-jQIERo7UE/s1600/Noah+pic+of+house.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238px" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vn3t5gWthow/T38aeH7Fn5I/AAAAAAAAByc/B-jQIERo7UE/s320/Noah+pic+of+house.jpeg" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My House<br />
Photo by Noah Blakey</td></tr>
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<br />
In fact, Saturday when I went over to the work day at the Raymond battlefield, I did not hit a lick I was so wore down. I watched lots of folks work; in fact there was quite a large group of us standing around visiting and watching Jeanie Chunn fluff up the flower bed. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeanie on her knees in the flower bed <br />
pulling weeds</td></tr>
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If you haven’t been over to the Raymond Battlefield Park lately, you need to go…. The Friends of Raymond have been working very hard getting it spiffed up for the reenactment this fall. Clearing brush and cutting trees opening views from walking trail to the cannon line. Bill Schmegal has had taken a big part in organizing that effort. And Sheriff’s department has certainly been a great help, by sending crews to help clear brush and trees.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Raymond Garden Club was out in full force Saturday too…they were working all over town. First I saw Georgia Cox with a group at the island there at the 3 way stop at 467 and Raymond Bolton Road, then I spotted teams at the Court House, and the Post Office. <br />
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So Raymond was looking sharp Sunday for Dr. Blakey 90th birthday party. And what a fabulous party it was too. The weather was perfect; the setting was perfect, their beautiful home, porch and lawn. It felt like the clock had been turned back 60 years. The lovely event could not be recreated, not even by Hollywood…May be they could but it would cost millions. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E4Hr5zCtAik/T38QljmEBlI/AAAAAAAAByM/5cJ9VR6WJ2Q/s1600/Doctor+Blakey.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E4Hr5zCtAik/T38QljmEBlI/AAAAAAAAByM/5cJ9VR6WJ2Q/s320/Doctor+Blakey.jpeg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doctor Durward Blakey<br />
90th Birthday Party</td></tr>
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The Blakey’s front porch is grand! The swing is wonderful, it is wicker and has springs in the chains, so not only can you sway to and fro, you can bounce up and down, there was always a line waiting for turn in the swing. I arrived at the Blakey home at 3, was going to stay a few minutes…but I did not leave until nearly six…Much of that time was spent in the swing; I was a “swing Hog”, But the view is so pleasant from the swing. I was able to watch the comings and goings on the street, see what was happening at St. Marks and the court house from the Blakeys front porch..<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6j_u2RDrwk/T38QJlwiBII/AAAAAAAAByE/kqsSVwjZcps/s1600/Blakey+Porch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A6j_u2RDrwk/T38QJlwiBII/AAAAAAAAByE/kqsSVwjZcps/s320/Blakey+Porch.jpeg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guest in wicker swing</td></tr>
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I heard The Gaddis McLaurin is selling or fixing to sell chickens… So I will be leaving you now….I want to go see how that is going… I can envision some issues between the chicks and Jack the Hardware Cat. <br />
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Love to all<br />
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</div>Life on the avenuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653865109641758173noreply@blogger.com1