Christiansen's Comments from Hinds County Gazette Published January 12 2012

Good Morning and Happy new year!

This morning as I write from my home, here at the South end of Main Street, downtown Edwards, Mississippi, it is foggy and a light drizzle is steady coming down. For several days, here in Mid Mississippi, it has been incredibly mild. This morning while I ate my breakfast at the kitchen table, the back door was wide open….the sounds of a steady drizzle and birds noisily waking up, came through the open door to my ears delight.



The weather of late has been spring like, highs in the 60s approaching 70….I take that back, it is not Spring like…the recent days have been much prettier then spring.



Winter is not my favorite; the days are short, often depressing, grey, dreary and cold. But I come to appreciate, the clear, sun filled days of winter, the sun’s light is coming from a low southern angle, which makes the shadows long and spectacular…the strong winter sun light makes the woods sparkle…the world sparkles. The clear, sunny days of winter, to me are the prettiest days of the entire year…they are magnificent. Winter’s sunlight is exquisite; it is so intense….rather piercing at times, I feel like it could be going straight through me.





The answer to “why aren’t you writing?” first of all, I have come to realize in my old age, that I can not do as much in a day as I once could.....during the holidays there are so many things to do…there is cooking, the decorating and lots and lots of fun events and parties!



Second, my stride was broke by a minor medical predicament. The medical thing was minor for sure…but the treatment was major in my book….It required stitches was quite painful……so I lost several days to recouping…bed bound…not because the doctor ordered me to be in bed…but bed is the safest place for old people on medication…we do not need to be up wobbling around…risking turning a minor medical event, into a major medical catastrophe.



I was quite whiny during my recovery…..then Charles Davis reminded me what the definition of minor surgery is, “Surgery that is happening to someone else.” Charles made me feel much less guilty about my whining.

Love to all, see you next week

Call if you need me

Christiansen's Comments...Hinds County Gazette May 26 2011

 “What did you say you were doing?????”


My answer: “I am going to Raymond to help entertain Yankees.”

Question: “Why you? And what are Yankees doing in Raymond?”



Well, I don’t think it is a long story, but with me you never know. So here goes…. as I understand it,

The tale begins with Doctor Clark Stewart, Clark is a periodontist, Clark grew up in Raymond, after a bit of time away, he came back to Raymond to raise his family, giving them the small town experience he had growing up.



So anyway, several years ago, Clark was attending a conference in Jackson, where Doctor Bob Levine, an oral surgeon/periodontist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was speaking. In the course of conversation Clark learned that Bob has a passion for history. Clark invited Bob to come to Raymond, somehow Clark was able to get Raymond Mayor Isla Tullos and civil war historian, Parker Hills, involved with Bob. The Mayor and Parker took Bob on a ride around the area, pointing out the points of interest.





Parker is a retired general, who now is a tour leader with Battlefield focus Tours. Parker is a well qualify guide…. I was told, and I am quoting a source who wants to remain anonymous , “Parker knows everything there is to know about the battles of the civil war. He can even point to the exact spot Grant’s horse Pooped.”. I hope I do not have to go to jail to protect my source.

Parker Hills

Because of the efforts of many ….beginning with Clark… Bob has been back to Mississippi several times and is a generous donor to The Raymond Battlefield, plus Bob a cannon sponsor.



For this trip and tour with Parker Hills, to Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hill and Vicksburg, Bob and his wife were joined by several other people from Yankee Land and Memphis, they were mostly from the dental profession accept, a pilot and Ray. Ray is a retired psychiatrist. You all, I caught my self being very self conscious of what I said when I was with in ear shot of Ray…then I was offered a glass of wine and got over that, and asked “So tell me Ray, is this group is so messed up it needs a psychiatrist to travel with them?’’ didn’t get an answer…Patient doctor confidentiality no doubt.



Other members of the South’s team called on to entertain the Yankees were Bob Chun, Brenda and Charles Davis, Mayor Tullos, and of course Clark and Ruth Stewart. It was great fun, Thursday we met at the Mayor’s home on the Square for light refreshments before motoring on to Jackson to Cherchale’s to meet up with members of the tour group who’s plane had been delayed. Bob Cherchale went all out to make the Yanks feel at home.

Isla and Tilly

Friday evening we met at the Clark's home for light refreshments….Has Clark ever got the man room! He doesn’t just have a few stuff deer heads…he has whole animals stuffed and mounted to the walls….they are mounted in such a way they appear to be climbing down a rock wall.



Then way on after while we left the Stewart's and we caravaned to Learned, to Gibbes Grocery for dinner….We didn’t leave the restaurant until almost 11 o’clock. So obviously a grand time was had by all!

I know I wasn’t invited because of my vast knowledge of events surrounding the Civil War. I learned everything I know about the Civil War from my friend, Gordon Cotton and Parker Hills….But!!!! don’t ask me any dates… Or specific places…or names…. best not ask me any questions.



So any way…I believe, I was invited in case an interpreter was required. You know my field expertise … I can translate Yankee!



I do hope this band of Yankees comes back to Mississippi soon…I want to have them to my house for a party on the porch!



If you can…Adopt a Yankee…they are so much fun. But you can’t have these Yankees…they belong to Raymond.

Love to all


My deepest sympathies go out to the family of Dick Kilby, indeed the entire city of Raymond. Raymond has lost a friend.



Dick Kilby
getting ready to unload Cannon


Call if you need me

"Christiansen Comments" for Hinds County Gazette January 13 2011

Before day break....Monday Morning January 10 2011

The back steps are covered with sleet and ice….over the weekend we here in mid Mississippi experienced a rare, winter, weather event…sleet, freezing rain and snow.

Now then, let me ask you this, does it seem to you, that these “rare” weather events are not as rare as they once were? We came to Mississippi in 1979 I do not remember snow and ice as frequently in the 80s and 90.…. Maybe is it just me and my unreliable memory.



The weather folks began warning us early on in the week that this weather “event” was very likely to occur…But as their prophecies are not always accurate….So I did not hurry out to prepare.



But by late Friday, early Saturday morning the weather folks warning were in earnest. I got to thinking the weather people can’t be wrong every time. So I was up and out of here by 5:15 AM Saturday morning, first I filled up the truck with gas, then went on to the grocery store.   I was in the Kroger Store before 6 am.



Actually I didn’t really need anything at the store, but the news people were insisting we  stock up… I was already stocked up…But I went anyway. It took more then one trip up and down each and every isle to do it, but finally I managed to gather up enough stuff to spend $88. Then I came home made the biggest batch of chili you ever saw…got my laundry all done….and finished vacuuming. I was sooooooooo ready, I had even stopped and got a bit of real money. John could never understand, way I never had any cash, or gas in my vehicle



Now that the sun is up…I do not see any damage…not even any broken branches.



But still and all, I will not be going out today…it was my mother contention that old people had no business out side when it was below freezing….while it was or after a freezing rain, sleet or snow. If you did, she thought you were asking for a broken bone .



If God allows the loved ones that went before us, to look down and check on us…John and mother should be happy to know, their words of wisdom were not wasted …I did listen….and am now taking their advise very seriously.





I am still on my quest to make the very best tamales.   And I did make 2 new tamale recipes last week, , the dough covering the tamale filling… I am satisfied I have found the right formula for it….But the filling, I believe could use a bit of fine-tuning . However, Charles Davis, who quite possibly has had a taste of every tamale recipe I have tried so far…. has declared Daughter Angela wrong , Charles says, “they do not need a sauce”.

Ginger Kilby told me she recently found a recipe for tamales, that was sent to her sometime back, from a lady up in the delta ….I am waiting for Ginger to run up on that recipe again…when she does, she has promised to send it to me….I want to try it for sure, the Mississippi Delta is famous not only for the blues but also for their tamales….




Love to all

Call if you need me