Some Pretty Flowers Taken Recently

 

Give thanks for the rain in your life
which waters the flowers of your soul.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Kyle's First Turkey

Sonny Horne's son, Kyle got his very first turkey recently near Grenada, Mississippi.  Look at the smile on his face.  Priceless!  My congrats to this young hunter in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!

A hunter is born!

Two Riverboats Visiting Our Hometown

Today, we got lucky to have "America" and "American Queen" riverboats with their passengers, visiting our Civil War town of Vicksburg, MS.  Vicksburg: The Key To The South!

America

They are spending the whole day and I'm so glad the weather was perfect for them.

America and American Queen docking in the Yazoo Diversion Canal.

Queen Of Mississippi Docked @ Vicksburg, MS

The Queen of the Mississippi showed up at our waterfront today with her passengers to spend the whole day touring our Civil War town of Vicksburg, MS.  Pictures were taken around 5:00 when most of the passengers were boarding to leave at 5:30 for more ports of call on the Mighty Mississippi River.  Tomorrow. the luxurious American Queen and America will be docked for a full day of touring our town as well  Tourism is so great for Vicksburg because we have so much to offer with the main attractions being the Vicksburg National Military Park/Cemetery/Battleground, Old Court House Museum, churches, antebellum homes and much more.  

I took this picture of the Queen of the Mississippi while departing.  You can also see some of the Vicksburg Riverfront Murals on the floodwall which is another unique attraction to our city by renowned artist Robert Dafford.

Riverboats Passing Through My Hometown

My Facebook friend, Marty Kittrell, took this video of the riverboats that come through our historic civil war town of Vicksburg, MS.  We are so fortunate to live on the Mighty Mississippi and get to see these majestic riverboats stopping by with their passengers to tour our town.  Check out more videos on his Facebook page called, How Great Thou Art!  Enjoy!

My Photo Published In The Vicksburg Post

LEAVING TOWN:  Marian Ann Love submitted this photo of the American Queen as she was leaving the city waterfront in the Yazoo Diversion Canal Friday, heading toward the Mississippi River northbound as her calliope was playing.  You are invited to submit your photos to share with The Vicksburg Post readers.  Simply email high resolution images in .jpg format to photos@vicksburgpost.com.

Once again I'm humbled to have my picture selected for publication in our Sunday hometown paper, The Vicksburg Post.  Thank you so much!

Steve's Turkey

Today, Steve Phillips of Marietta, GA and Owner-Operator at Phillips Outdoors Inc., took down this very nice turkey opening morning near Bowersville.  His hunting story below in his own words. 

No measurements yet. Located a Tom before light. Unfortunately I was standing under him when he reflex gobbled to the owl hooter. Backed out and set up. Heard him pitch out but never heard him land. That didn't pan out. 8 o'clock I started moving. High spot to high spot. No responses. Got in my ground blind in some hard woods at 9:15. Two jakes came in silent. This guy was with a hen. Passed at about 80 yards in the thick pines. He wouldn't break off. That mountain hussy... hen took him away. Figured they might be headed for a food plot in the thicket. Grabbed my pack and exited the blind. Followed the road to within 120 yards of the food plot and there he was in full strut looking my way. The hen was to the left and the thicket kept me covered from hen eyes. I waited. Then when he would turn I closed the distance on 3 separate Occasions. Finally at 40 yards the flop was on. Got a long hump to the truck now. No cell coverage when I start down hill. Been a fun morning.

Nice beard!

Spurs

My congrats to Steve on his turkey harvest this morning in our great wild and wonderful outdoors! 

American Queen Docked/Leaving and Northbound!

I went down to the waterfront today near The Old Depot Museum around 1:00 to take pictures of the American Queen before she departed.  While standing there taking some pictures the Captain blew the whistle and I waved back!

She is docked in the Yazoo Diversion Canal at the waterfront.  To the right leads to the Port of Vicksburg and to the left leads out to the Mississippi River.

I made it up to one of the two parking garages and took a picture of the American Queen sideways turning around to head towards the Mississippi River.  The building in the mid far right (The Old Depot Museum) was where I took the two pictures shown above.

She is passing near the Exit from the waterfront and a hotel that will be opening soon.  Lake Centennial is in the background.

Passengers taking pictures and the enjoying the music from the calliope!

Heading out through the woods on both sides of the canal.

Here she comes heading to the Mississippi River.

Coming through and leaving our town till next Wednesday when she will return with her passengers along with the "America" riverboat and her passengers to tour our historic Civil War town for a whole day.

Took this picture of the American Queen from the Louisiana Circle northbound for her destination of Memphis, TN, and I headed home.  So great to see so many riverboats coming to our historic City of Vicksburg:  The Key To The South!

Brian's Turkey!

Brian Walls of Tupelo, MS, recently killed this very nice turkey near Bloody Springs with an 11-inch beard and 7/8-inch spurs. 

My congrats to Brian in our great, wild and wonderful State of Mississippi.

The "America" Returns To Vicksburg

The "America" riverboat showed up yesterday at our waterfront in the Yazoo Diversion Canal with her passengers to tour our civil war town. It was a cloudless day with temps up to 87 degrees and a beautiful day to enjoy the historical sites. The American Queen will return Friday, Queen of The Mississippi, Tuesday, March 28 and both the America and American Queen, Wednesday, March 29.  It's great to have all the riverboats visiting our historic town of Vicksburg: The Key To The South!

The "America" is the second brand-new vessel of eight to be launch in 2016 by the American Cruise Lines in 2016.  This picture was taken between 4:30 and 5:00 when most passengers were already on board to leave Vicksburg at 5:30 for other ports of call on the Mississippi River.

The history on the flood wall of flood marks showing the great Mississippi flood of 1927, etc.

Turkey Hunting Together!

Papa Sam Cochran of Lucedale, Mississippi, said that his grandson, Dawson is hooked on turkey hunting.  He went with his Papa and Dad recently and got this very nice turkey.  Dawson said he was going back again next Saturday with his Papa. 

My congrats to this little guy and I'm so proud of him.  Raising them right in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors! 

A New Exercise/Fitness Trail

Yesterday, a friend and I checked out a new exercise/fitness trail and had a nice .88 mile walk with her dog, Rocky!

Halls Ferry Park is located on Halls Ferry Park Road in Vicksburg, MS.  

Rocky is ready to take a walk with us... 

...and his first trip on the new trail too!

A nice asphalt walkway.

Nice benches along the way that needs to be concreted down.

Trees with pretty flowers.

Very nice water fountain.

 

Batting cage.

A winding trail.

Concession

A new parking area.

Dead grasshopper on the walkway.

Beautiful fruit trees in bloom along the way.

Practicing at the ball field.

We enjoyed our walk and looking forward to going back soon.  Many thanks to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, City of Vicksburg and Shape Up Sisters!