Camouflaging Myself Back Years Ago

Now you see me!

 

Now you don't. 

I came across these two pictures of me taken back in 2007 while deer hunting in warmer Mississippi weather.  Thought I would post them today.

MS Bears Naturally on The Move in July

July is a time when bears are naturally on the move. Young male bears are leaving the areas where they were raised and can travel hundreds of miles in search of their own home ranges. Adult bears are also more active as the breeding season continues.

Seeing a bear doesn't necessarily mean it's lost or in trouble...this kind of movement is completely normal.

Sightings can be reported at MDWFP.com. More urgent issues such as aggressive behavior, property damage, or injured bears should be reported to 1-800-BE-SMART.

If you spot a bear:

-> Keep your distance.

-> Never feed or approach it.

-> Secure garbage, pet food, and other attractants.

-> Give it space, and it will usually continue on its way.

By removing food sources and allowing bears to remain wild, we can help ensure people and bears safely share Mississippi's outdoors.

To learn more about bear movement and how to live with bears, visit - https://bearwise.org/what-bears-do-in-july/

Happy 85th-1/2 Birthday Party from My Daughters

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, my four daughters, Theresa Marie, Kathleen Love, Debra Ann, and Marian Suzanne, gave me an 85th-1/2 birthday party. Actually, my birthday is January 27, but because everyone lives out of town or out of state, and because I never had an 80th or 85th Birthday party due to bad weather, etc., they decided to give me one in June and invite family and friends. It was held at Goldie's BBQ and had over 25 guests. It was such a wonderful time to be with my four girls, especially since it's hard to do with everyone living elsewhere. Also, time with my friends that I don't see often. Here are some pictures of the event that I will never forget, and I appreciate everyone who came to celebrate my June birthday. Of course, I had to wear a birthday crown and sash.  

My 85th-1/2 Birthday Party.

Beautiful flowers given to me by my daughters.

My bestest girlfriend, Jeanette, and I.  

My only brother-in-law, Chris Ables, and I.

My great-grandson, Ian, and I.

My only sister, Laura, and I.

My granddaughter, Lucy, and Hunter, with my two great-grandsons, Noah and Will.

My friend, hairstylist, and I, Nikki Taylor.

My neighbor, Paula Morley.

My very first tattoo was done by my granddaughter, Victoria.

My daughters, left to right: Marian Suzanne "Suzi", Debra Ann "Debi", Kathleen Love "Kathy", and my oldest daughter, Theresa Marie "Teri".

My family and friends who came to my birthday party.  Many thanks to everyone who showed up, and I love and appreciate each of you. 

I love this watercolor picture of us afterward at my apartment.

Doe @ My Apartment Complex

At 10:21 last night, I peeked out my window blinds, and lo and behold, I saw a doe. I was so excited, and as a deer hunter, I ran to get my phone and started taking pictures of her. I have never seen a doe on the property in the five years I have been here. The property backs up against woods next to the Vicksburg Country Club. She is pretty safe living in the area, and a very mature doe, and looks pregnant.

Happy 250th Independence Day America

Sun Reflection on Window Downtown Vicksburg

Yesterday evening, as the sun was setting in my hometown of Vicksburg, MS, I saw its reflection in the back window of the old J. C. Penny's Store downtown on Washington Street, and took this picture. It was the only window that showed the sun so bright.

American Queen - Be Defiant

So many out there do not realize the thoughts and emotions of the crew of the American Queen, let alone the significance of the moment and her passing.

To some who came and went, it was just something and a paycheck. Us, who were old timers, spotted them right away and knew it. She knew it as well.

To those of us who remained for years, it was much more. Maybe the best of words can not describe it. Maybe such words would not have been concepted in Webster's mind, if ever. It was more than a typical person on land could have ever comprehended, at best.

To a degree it was pride. Great pride, and it could be heard, seen and felt. We were proud of our duties, proud of our boat, and proud of the legacy she embodied. It showed every day, from the keel plates, to the crowns of her stacks. Polished brass, a quartet playing a melody, cabin attendants using paint brushes to check for dust, engineers and nav personnel preparing for another run and smooth ride on the rivers.

We all went the extra mile. We all did it in many ways and styles.

We took pride in our boat. We took pride in our duties. We took pride in our service to our passengers and fellow crew. We took pride in upholding a legacy. The Queen was the Queen.

We took pride in our flag. We took pride in the fact she was the passenger flagship of the U.S. Merchant Marine.

We were there, together....all of us.

Others may do what they will. They may polish things or give some illusion. Glorified discount stores of the rivers. Do look for the blue light special. It will be for not. A disgrace to the history, and a stone that shall be turned in due course. But let us digress from vengeance....

Focus on the beauty of our Queen, what she represented, and a spirit that shall never be replicated no matter how vainly attempted.

American Queen....be defiant....

by Mark Veum on May 23, 2024

A New Riverfront Community Park @ Vicksburg

I took these pictures this week of the construction underway at a brand-new community park. The Golding Family, owners of Golding Barge Line, donated 5.5 acres of undeveloped prime riverfront property in Vicksburg. The abandoned Riverfront Park is now being transformed into a new short-term rental destination called Around the Bend, which overlooks the river. I'm looking forward to our brand-new park at the corner of Oak and Lees Streets, with a fantastic view of the bend in the Mississippi River. (The bend is called Delta Point)

I can't wait to take pictures!

My Great-Grandsons Went Fishing

My daughter, Debi, and grandson, Stephen, took my two great-grandsons fishing last week.  Will and Noah had a great time.  Here are some pictures of their proud catch. 

William David "Will" with a fish.

 

Close-up of a fish.

The boys with their uncle are showing off their catch.

Will's first bluegill fish.

A happy Noah with his bluegill.

Noah with the "biggest" bass he ever caught.  Looks like they are having a fun time fishing and making memories that will last a lifetime.  

Sunrises

On The Move in Mississippi

         The cubs are on the move! Wilkinson County, Mississippi!

I Grew Up in Mississippi

The state of Mississippi is one of the most deeply Southern, most misunderstood, and most unexpectedly fascinating places in the entire United States — and the people who live there will absolutely defend it while standing in 98° humidity holding sweet tea and arguing about whose grandma makes the best fried catfish.

Mississippi isn’t loud about itself. It doesn’t need to be.

Because after a while, Mississippi stops feeling like just a state and starts feeling like an entire atmosphere made out of river towns, pine forests, football, blues music, thunderstorms, front porches, and humidity strong enough to physically fight back.

Unlike states with one obvious personality, Mississippi changes depending on where you are.

North Mississippi feels like rolling hills, college towns, backroads, forests, small-town football culture, and highways lined with trees that seem to stretch forever.

The Delta becomes its own world entirely — flat farmland stretching to the horizon, tiny towns steeped in history, endless cotton fields, old blues culture, and sunsets that somehow make everything look cinematic.

Central Mississippi mixes government buildings, country roads, churches, suburban sprawl, and enough fast-food parking lots to qualify as landmarks.

South Mississippi suddenly turns greener, wetter, and more coastal, where pine forests slowly give way to marshes, seafood spots, fishing towns, and Gulf Coast beaches.

And along the Gulf Coast? Everything changes again.

Now it’s casinos, shrimp boats, salty air, beach traffic, seafood restaurants, hurricane warnings, giant bridges, and weather reports that sound slightly threatening for half the year.

Then there’s the heat.

Mississippi summer doesn’t just arrive. It settles directly onto your soul. The humidity is so powerful that you can walk outside at 8 AM and instantly feel like your shirt has lost the battle.

Every Mississippian develops the exact same survival instincts: • park under literally any shade available • keep cold drinks within arm’s reach at all times • and never trust weather forecasts that say “partly cloudy” because somehow that still means thunderstorms later.

And the storms? Mississippi thunderstorms don’t play around.

One minute, everything’s calm. Ten minutes later: • the sky turns dark green • thunder starts shaking windows • rain hits sideways • and everybody suddenly starts checking tornado alerts while pretending not to panic.

Then winter shows up for about 7 minutes in total. The temperature drops below freezing once, bridges ice over instantly, and the entire state collectively decides: “Yeah… nobody needs to drive today.”

The roads in Mississippi are their own experience, too.

Driving through Mississippi means: • two-lane highways disappearing into endless trees • tractors casually slowing traffic to existential levels • pickup trucks covered in enough mud to qualify as camouflage • and somebody definitely tailgating you despite there being absolutely nowhere important within fifty miles.

And somehow every road eventually leads to: • a gas station with legendary fried chicken • a church billboard • a Dollar General • or a football conversation that lasts way longer than expected.

Because football in Mississippi isn’t just a sport. It’s basically a regional emotional support system. Friday night high school games feel enormous. College football weekends completely transform towns. And during rivalry season, entire families temporarily forget how to make peace.

But Mississippi’s biggest personality trait might honestly be the people.

Mississippi runs on storytelling. Everybody knows somebody. Everybody waves at strangers. And absolutely everybody has an opinion about barbecue, weather, SEC football, or where to get the best biscuits in town.

Because Mississippi isn’t just one thing.

It’s blues music, river towns, catfish, forests, football, Gulf beaches, church cookouts, thunderstorms, farmland, front porches, Southern hospitality, and humidity levels capable of bending reality itself — all packed into one state.

My Hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi!

Happy Mother's Day!

Grandson & Great-Grandsons Gone Fishing

This past Sunday was a beautiful day to go fishing, and my daughter, Debra (taking pictures), and her two sons, Stephen (not shown) and Ethan, took my three great-grandsons, Will, Noah, and 5-year-old Asher, fishing. She said Stephen caught a small bass and a perch, and that was it. They threw them back in and said it wasn't the best spot, but they will try a different place next time.

Great-Grandson Noah, Grandson Ethan, and my youngest Great-Grandson Asher.

William David "Will" fishing.

Noah fishing.

Five-year-old Asher is fishing.

Making precious memories in our great Mississippi outdoors!

A Memory of 19 Years Ago

 

Rex Dean Howell and I, with Rex's dog CAMO,

Sharing a memory from 19 years ago, on May 5, 2007, when I met Rex Dean Howell and his family at their deer camp, the famous Christmas Place Plantation Hunting Club, on the edge of the MS Delta near Eden, MS.  The property had 11 Indian Mounds, and our first picture together was taken in front of one.  One of the happiest days of my life.

We met by chance when he came to a hunting forum I had posted on, where I had included a picture of my first 8-point buck and left a link.  He came to my website before I turned it into this blog and signed my guestbook on January 29, 2007.  I always thank everyone who signs, and that is how we met.  He later told me to keep blogging about deer hunting because not too many women deer hunt. He had a hunting blog called Deer Camp Blog, and the rest is history.  At the time, we had the same template and green-colored blog.  It was meant to be.

My former husband, Bob Phillips, and I were invited to the deer camp, where we met his dad, Hershel, and his brothers, Paul and Trent.  We were treated like royalty when we arrived and toured most of the camp, which covered close to 2,000 acres and included a 40-acre pond.  

Until 2019, I was able to deer hunt on the property, but Rex got very sick with cancer and died on January 31, 2021.  He called me on December 23, 2020, and told me he was very sick and we could not hunt. On Christmas Eve, he went into the hospital and was operated on early Christmas Day. 

A wonderful memory in my life, from 12 years of deer-hunting with a friend, I will never forget as long as I live.  May he rest in peace.  Amen

Little Joe's First Turkey

Grandson's 1st turkey! So proud! 11 1/2-inch beard, 1.25 spurs.

 

Suzy Conyers (Grandmother) congratulated him.

Proud Grandfather (Joe Conyers) is taking a picture.

 Little Joe is very well camouflaged!

My congratulations on a job well done.  I enjoyed taking my grandson, Carl, deer hunting when he was much younger and got his first deer, a six-point buck!  Wonderful memories to cherish for the rest of your lives.

Rick's Turkey

My Facebook friend, Rick Macfarlane, has an awesome turkey picture. 

Congratulations!!!