Birthday at Gailyas

Thanks Gailya for a wonderful birthday bash. Gailya entertained the group of about 20 people, some actually had bithdays in March. What a great time we had . The food was wonderful, and a good time was had by all.

Welcome Home Gail

Village resident and our good friend Gail just returned from her annual winter visit in the Texas Rio Grande Valley.   Welcome home Gail.  Sorry you missed the ice storm, but we will try to make it up to you .

Some how she was voted Queen of Mountain  Street, and I understand the sign is worth lots of money.  

Along the River

The Old and The New

                                           

Memphis is an interesting town.  I think most towns along the Mississippi River have a lot to contribute as a unique place to live.  Most recently the trend to live downtown along the River has been increasing.  New construction along with remodeling of old building for living space has made living along the River popular.  

Come down and take the Trolly Ride and check it out, and keep in mind Elvis is still alive.  For some more information check out Memphis 

Spring Rains

Oh Dear (John Deere) what can the matter be?  

You've heard of Delta Gum-Bo.  Now you know.

Hats! The Red Hat Musical

Phil and Jamie  invited Cloody  to see the Red Hat Musical in Memphis and I got to tag along.  We all enjoyed the show and had some extremely good laughs.  The theater was packed and several Red Hat clubs came as groups to see the show.   Many were wearing red hats.  

 

                                                              

When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

By Jenny Joseph

When I am an old woman , I shall wear purple

and a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain 

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised 

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Hazlehurst Boy ' Getting Somewhere' In Nashville

Hazlehurst native and country music artist Pat Roper, whose hit single " Now We're Getting Somewhere" is getting big-time radio play throughout the country, took a winding road to recent success in Nashville.  It include signing a deal with Lofton Creek Records and rubbing elbows with some of country's greatest artists, including fellow Mississippi native Faith Hill and husband Tim McGraw, as well as Mark Chesnutt, Leann Rhymes and Sugarland.

 Jo Coates,    Copiah County Courier

Dual County Seats

Blytheville, AR  ( built 1919)

Osceola, AR  built (1912)

Upon moving to Mississippi County, AR , I soon learned the county had two county seats and two courthouses.  I thought this was strange, and when I mentioned it, I was told Mississippi county was the largest county in Arkansas, and two were required.  In the early 1900 hundreds roads were poor and travel was difficult.  Since then I have learned that nine other counties share dual county seats.  

I'm still curious.  

March Snow, 2009

It's Doing It Again!!!

Delta Sightings

Having lived in many different parts of the country has been a rewarding experience.   We enjoy learning about the people and places wherever we live.  Each place is different, but has a unique offering if one will only take the time to discover it.

A Mule Barn

There isn't many of these left, and it's easy to understand why.   With modern day farm equipment mules are no longer needed or a place to keep them.  This old building is on the National Register of Historic Places.  

The Flying Interprise

A Tribute To Captain Kurt Carlsen

This is a true story of a sea captain named Kurt Carlsen.  In order to understand what happened, please read the link Captianstayput.   I was a ham radio operator and followed his story as it happened.   I later talked to Captain Carlsen who was then aboard The Flying Interprise II. and was off the coast of South America .

The photos are of a QSL card which hams exchanged to confirm the contact.  Note the postage at that time was 2 cents. ( It had gone up in price).

Spring is Coming

While driving though the Village I came upon this wonderful bed of daffodils, and I had to stop and get a quick picture.   I know Wordsworth says it better :

"I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils;

Besides the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze."

St. Patrick's Day

Thanks to the Activity Group for the nice green decorations for St. Patty. The Ramey Center always reflects the current season, and your effort is greatly appreciated

Barry and the Activiy group planning more resident activities.   Come join in and contribute your ideas .  Everyone is welcome.

Clean Up

The ice storm left lot of limbs and debris and the snow a week later really slowed clean-up, but things are happening fast now.  It won't be long.

Newfondland Screech

From a Village neighbor  who is a native of Newfoundland, and some research on my own, I have learned many things about this wonderful place.  The people of Newfoundland, their unusual  lifestyle, history, and customs are unique to say the least.  Of all the stories I've heard the one I'm about to tell fascinates me the most, and it's the story of a native rum drink, it's origin and how it got it's name.  

Long ago salt fish was shipped to the West Indies in exchange for rum.  The fish became the national dish of Jamaicans and the rum became the traditional drink of Newfoundlanders.  When the government took control of alcohol  it began selling the rum in an unlabelled bottle.  The product might have remained permanently nameless except for the influx of American servicemen to Newfoundland during World War II

As the story goes, the commanding officer of the original American detachment was having his first taste of Newfoundland hospitality and , imitating the custom of his host, downed his drink in one gulp.  The officer's blood-curdling howl, when he regained his breath , brought the sympathetic and curious from miles around rushing to the house to find out what was going on.  The first to arrive was garrulous old American sergeant who pounded on the door and demanded , "What the cripes was that ungodly screech?"    

The Newfoundlander who answered the door replied simply, "The Screech? Tis the rum, me son."

So a legend was born.  Amercian servicemen adopted it as their favorite.