A Tribute

To the powers of observation!

Art Park @ Catfish Row & The Queen

I had to run to town today and while there I saw one of the buses that take the American Queen tourists around town to see the sites.  I decided to run down to the waterfront and take some pictures of her.  It is always a treat to take a picture of the American Queen docking at our waterfront especially on this beautiful cool Wednesday morning.  Above is a splash fountain for the youngsters to play at the Children's Art Park at Catfish Row. 

One of three American Queen buses that take tourists to the historical sites in and around Vicksburg.  

Took this picture from Catfish Row of the American Queen peeking up over the Vicksburg Riverfront Murals on the flood walls. 

The American Queen is so impressive and so regal at the same time. 

A fisherman coming in at the waterfront with his best buddy in tow.   

It's time to get out and load up!

Took a picture of a small towboat pushing a larger container in the Yazoo Diversion Canal to the Port of Vicksburg before leaving.  

Coming Around The Bend

Vicksburg Riverfront Park below and Diamond Jacks Casino to the far right while the M/V Andrew Cargill MacMillan makes it's way to turn in the bend of the MS River at Vicksburg.

A new flag just raised a week ago flies over the MS River at Vicksburg.

Zoomed in to see the M/V Andrew Cargill MacMillan turning in the bend of the MS River.

Towboat heading for the bridges at Vicksburg while a lone police car sits to protect the Vicksburg Riverfront Park.  

Passing by a huge tree at the park. 

A pulled-out view of the towboat with it's huge load of barges.

A close-up view of towboat.  

Pushing on...

 

M/V Andrew Cargill MacMillan passing under the bridges and heading to it's destination.

Tom Turkey With 10 Beards

The hunt unfolded just like a turkey hunter would like.  Rick Bay, Kooper's dad, Kooper and his brother-in-law, Kevin Sawyer, hit the woods just before sunrise and set up in a spot where they had heard turkeys. Rick said, "We had seven or eight turkeys gobbling and knew there were plenty of turkeys in the area.  We were close to some birds, but when they flew off the roost, they went in a different direction where another hunter was calling.  We then moved to another spot when we heard some birds right there.  We didn't have time to put the decoys where we wanted when two big gobblers appeared.  We got the decoys out and I cleared a spot for Kooper to sit.  After making a call, the toms came running.  After sitting there for about two or three minutes, they came around the corner and when they saw our decoys, they went back into the woods, but after more calling the gobblers started moving towards us.  I told Kooper to take the second bird because a lot of the time the larger bird is behind the first bird.  At about 30 yards out, Kooper fired his 20 gauge shotgun and dropped the big bird with a well-placed shot."

Sawyer said, "I saw the two birds heading our way and then go back into the woods.  I made several soft calls and they came back out, I was in a position to see all the action and watched Kooper make a good shot."

The Humansville fifth grader said he was very nervous when watching the toms headed his way, but was able to take advantage of the situation and get his first turkey on his third Youth Turkey Hunt.  He is looking forward to going after another turkey during the second week of the regular three-week season that started Monday.  Youths who take a turkey during the youth season may not take another bird until April 27.  This is because the bird taken during the youth season counts as the first bird for the first week of the regular season.  The Youth Season Limit is one male turkey or a turkey with a visible beard.

The young hunter also got a deer last year and is looking forward to going to South Dakota pheasant hunting this year now that he has completed the hunter-education requirement for that state.  He also likes to play baseball and basketball at school.

The thrill and excitement from Kooper's turkey hunt, the big smile on his face tells it all. After all, the future of the sport lies with today's youngsters.

My congrats to Kooper in getting his very first and special breaded turkey in our great outdoors!

Excerpts taken from Springfield News-Leader ~ Editor, Ken White

I Am A Hunter

A Flea Market Today

We had threatening rain storms during the night/early morning and I think it really hurt the flea market today which started at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  It was not as many people there when I arrived around 12:30. Here are a few pictures I took walking around which did not take long at all. Their were booths of arts, crafts, antiques, plants and food.  Around 3:00 the blue skies appeared and hopefully more people decided to run by the flea market to shop which is a great fund raiser for the Old Court House Museum. 

On the grounds of the new court house.

Looks like the dogs were enjoying the flea market as well as the human beings.  

A very sparse crowd around 12:30.  Hopefully, more came earlier. 

Heading downhill at the boulevard on the north side of the Old Court House Museum.

Old Court House Museum on Facebook

Savannah's First Turkey

What a beautiful picture of a young hunter with her very first turkey in our great wild outdoors.

Picture Published ~ First Time

Marian Love Phillips shot this photo of the American Eagle passing under the bridges heading south after docking at the Vicksburg waterfront for the very first time recently.  The Vicksburg Post will only accept for publication ViewPoint photos that are current and of interest to the public and submitted electronically. Submitted photos should be accompanied by complete caption information and include a phone number for the photographer. Photos may be submitted to photos@vicksburgpost.com.

Once again I was so happy and humbled to see my picture published on the second page of our hometown paper, The Vicksburg Post, yesterday.  Thanks so much!  

Day In The Woods

Where the animals and birds live!

Busy Day On The Mighty MS

The American Eagle once again showed up today at our waterfront looking so regal as usual.  

On my way home I took a chance going by the Louisiana Circle and got lucky to see three towboats making their way up the Mississippi River, except for the small Ergon towboat.  Above the M/V Rusty Zeller heading for the bend in the river.

The Ergon towboat heading for the Port of Vicksburg.

M/V Rusty Zeller in front going for the bend in the MS River while the smaller Ergon boat heads for the mouth of the Yazoo Diversion Canal. 

M/V Dan Jaworski with a huge tow.

A pulled-out view of the M/V Dan Jaworski near the turn in the bend in the MS River at Vicksburg.

A wide angle view of both M/V's making their way north navigating the turn at Vicksburg, MS. 

An Early Morning Surprise

This beautiful shot of a fawn with a buck was taken on August 3, 2014, very early in the morning according to my Facebook friend, Mike Persichini.  It really looks like a beautiful painting to me. Mike takes pictures of deer in an area near his home in Michigan in our great outdoors.  

A Smoked Boar

Nathan R. Price recently posted on Facebook a picture of his 6-year-old daughter who smoked this boar by herself.  Don't you just love the attitude look she has?  How cool it is for girls to hunt too in our great wild outdoors!  My congrats!  You Go Girl!

RiverFest Fun

Last night was the beginning of the 28th Annual RiverFest Music and Arts Festival in my hometown of Vicksburg, MS.  The rain held off for the entertainment last night but for tonight it does not look so good. The main attraction of RiverFest is, Craig Wayne Boyd, the winner from last year's "The Voice."  Today was a great turnout for children of all ages to enjoy the festivities as well as for the adults with the arts and crafts. Below are some pictures I took while walking around earlier today. 

This car was looking at me through the fence!