Thanksgiving 2023

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving at Jane's (grandmother/great-grandmother) home in Jackson, MS, with my daughter, granddaughter, grandsons, three of five great-grandsons. and her extended family. Pictures of three great-grandsons, Monkey Shining, with my Air Force Grandson, tree climbing. I'm truly blessed to have family and extended family to be with. A delightful and memorable Thanksgiving Day 2023.

Happy 34th Birthday, Stephen

I wish my oldest grandson, Stephen, a Happy 34th Birthday today. I love you so much, and may you have many blessings on your special day!

Gran Gran

Happy Thanksgiving Bloggers!

 The Gifts They Leave Behind!

In all things, Give Thanks!

The Love's New Forever Home

Last Saturday, my nephew, Bubba Love, and his wife, Cassie Jo, moved into their forever home north of town and were invited to come and check it out the next day.  Here are a few pictures of their lovely new home next to a lake with deer running everywhere.  

Beautiful scene from the back of the house on top deck.

Lapdog Hank sits on the bottom deck in Cassie Jo's lap

Man of the house, Bubba Love.

Bubba and Cassie Jo's family's new home.

My great nephew, Oliver, and me!

Reminder To All Hunters

This reminds all our hunters of a few facts to remember this season. Here are a few things we’ve learned over the years as we constantly push to raise the bar:

1. Deer does not require aging or (hanging) in a cooler like beef because venison is lean meat and does not retain water like beef. You change the flavor and gain tenderness as the meat decomposes. This makes for a tender steak with less flavor, not a fresh ground burger. 1 to 2 days in a walk-in cooler is all that’s needed.

2. Please do not soak your meat. Blood is in the veins, not the muscles. Myoglobin is the red/pink you see in the muscles. A Muscle is similar to a sponge that soaks up the water in the ice or icy water drained every few days and makes tasteless steaks and wet burgers. Do your steaks absorb marinade? Why wouldn’t it absorb that water it’s soaking in? Google search washing meat in water.

3. If you MUST put venison in a cooler: To have great-tasting meat, place your venison in a bag and then in a cooler to keep the meat cold and dry.

4. The wild game taste you get at other processors results from them leaving some tallow/fat behind, trying to cut corners. While you can hide it from the eye when you grind it all up, you are left with the game taste. If you want bland, tasteless venison, buying chicken is cheaper. Instead of making the perfect environment for a Bactria bath, your meat is soaking in. Again, just Google or research washing meat in water.

All rea

Proud of Grandson & Granddaughter on Veterans Day

My Grandson, Staff Sergeant Michael (Ethan) Kelly, is serving in the U. S. Air Force and has been in the service since October 2, 2012, to the present.  He graduated from basic military training on December 2, 2012, at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX, and is now stationed at Grand Forks AFB, ND.  

My oldest granddaughter, Sonya Michelle, a Navy veteran, graduated from boot camp at Great Lakes, IL, in 2001. She was stationed at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA, and had an honorable medical discharge. 

I am honored and proud of both of my grandchildren for their sacrifice and bravery in serving our country.  May God Bless all our servicemen and women, and may God Bless America!

Deer Interview

Highlights of Great-Grandson Ian's 16th Birthday!!

Here are some highlights of celebrating my great-grandson Ian's 16 birthday yesterday on the sandbar at the Mississippi River in Vicksburg. Family and friends celebrated his birthday, and I had the best time riding the four-wheeler with Ian and later with his Dad, Jamie, and two great-grandsons, Will and Noah. It was a perfect photo op for me!

Happy 16th Birthday, Ian!!!

Today, my great-grandson Ian is 16 years old. This picture was taken last hunting season down on the farm. I had to post two pictures of him because I loved the picture I took of him at 10. I look forward to seeing him later today and having pizza and birthday cake on the sandbar beside the Mighty Mississippi River. Wishing him a very Happy Birthday on his special day. I love you so much!! Great Gran Gran  xoxo

Ian is 10 years old.