A Floodwall Beauty

Robert Dafford is one of the foremost mural artists in the United States today, with over twenty years of experience and over 200 public works in the U.S., Canada, Belgium, and France. The 46 year old Louisiana native is constantly sought out for his dramatic, large scale illusions.

Mural of “The Big Mama” Sprague: The “Big Mama” was the largest and the most powerful stern wheel towboat ever launched. After it was decommissioned in 1948, the City of Vicksburg brought the boat and used it to house a floating theatre for “Gold in the Hills.” Gold in the Hills is the longest playing melodrama in the world and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records performing every year since 1936. It also had a restaurant upstairs and was draped all in red velvet. I’m lucky to have saved the menu from this magnificent towboat. Sadly, it caught fire and burned on April 15, 1974 and sank in 1979.

Mural of Coca Cola Museum: The Coca Cola Museum is located in downtown Vicksburg and was one of Rex’s favorite places to check out when he and Denise came to visit us for the first time.

Mural of Logging by Anderson-Tully: My husband Bob was Director of Industrial Labor Relations for Anderson-Tully (ATCO) from 1980-1994.

Mural of the Sisters of Mercy: I attended school at St. Francis Xavier Academy and was taught by the Sisters of Mercy for twelve years.

On April 12, 2002, the City of Vicksburg unveiled it’s first Riverfront Mural by renowned artist Robert Dafford. The electricity of this project has spread across the south and up and down the Mississippi River.

The panels of the Vicksburg floodwalls are the canvas capturing the City of Vicksburg’s crucial past, present and future roles in American history, commerce, culture, religion, and technology.

(There are 22 panels painted now and 5 more in progress. When the project is completed it will be 35 panels in all. When you come to Vicksburg, take the time to check out the beautiful murals on the floodwall)

Deer For Breakfast

Coolest Place in Town

Art work that my granddaughter Lucy drew in a special class last fall and was eventually placed at The Art Park at Catfish Row in downtown Vicksburg, MS this past Spring. She is so proud of her art work and will be there forever for everyone to see. Of course, I am a proud Gran Gran! This is a sweetthing!

This Is My Life

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	7.1
Mind:	6.8
Body:	7.7
Spirit:	6.4
Friends/Family:	6.9
Love:	3.6
Finance:	6.3
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

I found this quiz over at Becky's blog Tall Cool Drink of Water!

Telegraph Operator

This is a picture of my grandfather (James Edward Love) taken in his office working as a telegraph operator for the Illinois Central Railroad in New Orleans, LA. As you can see the calendar on the wall says November 1909. My Dad was born in June of 1916. My grandfather was transferred to Vicksburg, MS when my Dad was nine years old. I found out a few years ago when looking through an old family Bible that was passed on to my brother, that my grandfather's brother was named Marion and had past away at an early age. My Dad was the only child/son and my grandfather named him after his deceased brother. When my sister, brother and I were young we would ride on the trains a lot, thanks to my grandfather. I guess this is why I have such a fascination with trains. One day I would like to take a fun trip on Amtrak. This would be Charming, Just Charming!

Hurry Uppppppppp!!!!!

This was one of those days that you would do one of the craziest things in your life on a dare. On this particular day, Bob and I and some friends of ours went to the Jasper Bottom Deer Camp in Claiborne County, about 35 minutes from the house, to ride around and just hang out in the great outdoors. As we were making our way through the woods towards the Big Black River, we decided to stop for a minute and take a break. A rattlesnake suddenly appeared and crawled under Bob's 3-wheeler. Bob pulled out his .44 mag from his holster and blew his head off. As we were standing around talking about the rattlesnake, Bob convinced me to pose with it around my neck. Well, I had had two beers and said OK, why not! As I was posing for this picture, which seemed like he was taking forever to take, I said, hurry uppppppp!! This thing was quivering all over the place and I will never, ever do that again! This was not a bright idea!

Disease Hits TN Deer Population

Just received this site from a friend in Texas about an article in the Commercial Appeal about a disease that causes whitetail deer to develop high fever, drink water incessantly and bleed gruesomely that has been noted all over Tennessee, leading wildlife officials to fear that one of the state's worst outbreaks is imminent. A must read.

MS 2007-08 Hunt & Bag Limits

Last week I picked up the Mississippi 2007-08 Outdoor Digest, which is a publication by the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, to read. It includes information and regulations on hunting and fishing, State Lakes, Hunter Education, State Parks, License Requirements, Wildlife Management Areas, Boating Safety, and much more. In Mississippi you have two deer management zones. Zone 1 - a legal buck is an antlered buck deer with antlers of four (4) points or greater may be taken. An antler point is define as any antler protrusion that would hold any size ring. Zone 2 - a legal buck is an antlered buck deer with antlers of four (4) points or greater AND either a minimum inside spread of ten (10) inches OR a minimum main beam length of thirteen (13) inches may be taken. An antler point is defined as any antler protrusion that would hold any size ring. Vicksburg, MS is located in Zone 1. Here is this seasons info and bag limit list:
WHITE-TAILED DEER HUNTING SEASON & BAG LIMITS
Archery ~ Oct 1- Nov. 16, 2007; either-sex on private and open public lands.
Youth Gun ~ (Youth less than 16 years old) Nov. 10 - Nov. 16, 2007; either-sex on private lands and authorized state or federal public lands.
Gun ~ (With Dogs) Nov 17-Nov. 30, 2007; either-sex on private lands; legal bucks only on open public lands.
Primitive Weapon ~ Dec. 1-Dec. 14, 2007; either-sex on private and open public lands.
Gun ~ (Without Dogs) Dec. 15-Dec. 16, 2007; either-sex on private and open public land; Dec. 17-Dec. 23, 2007; either-sex on private lands; legal bucks only on open public lands.
Gun ~ (With Dogs) Dec. 24, 2007 - Jan 17, 2008; either-sex on private lands; legal bucks only on open public lands.
Primitive Weapon ~ Jan. 18 - Jan 31, 2008; either-sex on private and open public lands.

Bag Limit: Antlered Buck Deer - The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year. On private lands, youth less than sixteen (16) years old may harvest one (1) deer with any hardened antler, regardless of number of points, inside spread, or beam length.
Antlerless Deer - The bag limit on antlerless deer is one (1) per day, not to exceed three (3) per license year, except that two (2) additional deer per license year may be taken with a bow and arrow.

Hunting season is just around the corner! This is a sweetthing!

Remembering Hurricane Camille

My six year old daughter Theresa was vacationing and camping with my sister and brother-in-law when they were told to evacuate the camp grounds because of Hurricane Camille coming inland into Mississippi. I was a total wreck until they were all safe and back home.

Here is the history of Camille - August 17, 1969

A tropical wave left the coast of Africa on August 5, becoming a tropical disturbance on August 9, 480 miles east of the Leeward Islands. Aircraft reconnaissance identified a closed circulation in the disturbance on the 14th near Grand Cayman and the system was designated Tropical Storm Camille with 60 mph (95 km/h) winds. The storm already had a well organized circulation and rapidly strengthened from August 14 to August 15 to a 115 mph (185 km/h) major hurricane before hitting the western tip of Cuba later that day. Land interaction weakened Camille to a 100 mph (160 km/h) hurricane, but it returned to perfect conditions as it crossed the Gulf of Mexico (possibly while passing over the Loop Current). On August 17, Camille reached an intense minimum central pressure of 905 mbar (hPa), and it continued to strengthen to a peak of over 190 mph (305 km/h) winds (possibly the strongest ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane). In the hours before landfall, a reconnaissance aircraft was unable to obtain a surface wind report, but it estimated winds of up to 205 mph (335 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 901 mbar (hPa). Camille nearing its final landfall crossed the southeastern tip of Louisiana, and then hit near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on the night of August 17. Its Category 5 strength winds are only estimated, due to the lack of wind reports near the center, though the NASA site at Stennis Space Center near Picayune, Mississippi, recorded an estimated gust of 160 mph with a pressure of 950 mbar. It maintained hurricane force winds for 10 hours as it moved 150 miles inland. As Camille turned east, it weakened to a tropical depression over northern Mississippi on the 19th. It picked up additional moisture from the Gulf Stream along the way and produced torrential rains in the remote mountains of Virginia. Camille turned eastward as it moved inland, and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia Beach, Virginia, on the 20th. The depression restrengthened over the Gulf Stream, and briefly attained a peak of 70 mph (110 km/h) before becoming extratropical on the 22nd, east of Nova Scotia.

Elvis Presley Tribute

30 Years Ago Today

In March of 1977 before Elvis died on August 16, 1977, 30 years ago, I was fortunate enough to see him in concert at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson, MS. My sister called and said that her husband did not want to go (imagine that) and asked would I like to go in his place. I was so excited and glad I had the chance to see "The King" in concert. It was a moment in time that I will never forget. When I heard of his death I was in the kitchen preparing lunch and it was announced on my radio which was on top of my refrigerator. In the late 80's Bob took me to Graceland for a tour of the mansion and graves. While passing through Memphis a few years ago coming back home from visiting my cousin in Missouri, we decided to stay over in Memphis at the end of Lonely Street at Heartbreak Hotel. It's a fashionable boutique hotel that takes its cues from the legendary hospitality and personal style for which the King of Rock & Roll was known. If ever in Memphis, you need to check it out. Elvis is everywhere! That's a sweetthing!

Tribute to our Fallen Heroes

Kitowski ~ A Fallen Hero

I just received word this morning that my Classmate 59', Theresa Martin Kitowski's only son was killed Sunday by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. Charles B. Kitowski III, 31, was living in the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch but was born in Gulfport, MS. He was assigned to the 345th Psychological Operations Company, 2nd Phychological Operations Group, U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. He worked in the finance department at Southwest Airlines in Dallas before deploying to Afghanistan. He earned several military awards, including the Marksmanship Qualification Badge and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He is survived by his parents, Chuck and Theresa Kitowski, of Katy, Texas. The family requested that they wanted the Patriot Guard Riders with them on their sons last journey. He will be laid to rest on Saturday. (Also, killed with Kitowski were Sgt. lst Class Jeffrey D. Kettle, 32 of Madill, OK and Staff Sgt. Jesse G. Clowers, Jr. 27 of Herndon, VA)
May they all rest in peace!

Blogging Buddies

It is always such a pleasure to have Rex to come to Vicksburg to visit Bob and I. He and his family have treated us like part of his family. We are so lucky to have met here on the Internet and look forward to more good times together. After we left Borello's we all headed up to the famous Christmas Place Plantation Hunting Club on the edge of the Mississippi Delta. We all enjoyed a delicious hog feast and celebrated Wanda's birthday with homemade ice-cream and cake!

Denise is the most sweetest lady you would ever want to meet. Bob and I am so proud to know her and Rex is one lucky guy to have her in his life. We consider her a very dear friend.

After we left the bottle show at the Battlefield Inn, we took off for a cold beer. Our favorite place to go is Borrello's in downtown Vicksburg. They have the coldest draft beer ever! With temps in the 100's, this was the place to be to cool off. While there we took some pictures of us having a good time and toasting to friendship. Left to right, Rex, Denise, myself, Wanda, Paul and Bob. Charming, Just Charming!

Resting!

This is Radar, a parrot that is in one of four bird cages located in the main lobby of the Battlefield Inn. This is a sweetthing!

Bob and Wanda (Happy Birthday Wanda!) resting in the lobby of the Battlefield Inn after taking in the bottle show. The Inn is decorated with civil war artifacts, pictures and cannons. It has a charming southern lobby with a fireplace and player piano. Next to the Battlefield Inn, is the Vicksburg Battlefield Museum. This museum has a collection of the world's largest civil war gunboat models featuring many of the war's most famous ships. The Inn is also located close to the Vicksburg National Military Park.

Bottles Everywhere

My deer blogging friend Rex over at Deer Camp Blog came to Vicksburg, MS to visit us Saturday with Denise, his fiancee, his brother Paul and wife Wanda, to attend the 10th Annual Vicksburg Antique Bottle Show. We all enjoyed checking out all the unique bottles and antiques. Here Rex is showing off a Biedenharn (Coca-Cola) bottle that was first bottled in Vicksburg back in 1894. The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum which is located in downtown Vicksburg, is owned and operated by the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation and is one of the Foundation's key success stories in preserving Vicksburg and American history. Charming, Just Charming!

Bottles and more Bottles! Note the one to the left front. Looks like a violin.

Tara Wildlife

Kristine of our Outdoor Bloggers Summit has asked each of us to write a post about a grassroots effort supported by a local hunting or fishing organization. I have chosen Tara Wildlife which is north of my hometown of Vicksburg, MS and was founded by Maggie Bryant pictured below. I have taken some information for you to read about of this fine organization that is dedicated to our wildlife habitat.



Maggie Bryant, Tara's Founder, is a past-two term Chairperson of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and retired from her board position in 2001. Maggie has been awarded the prestigious Chevron Conservation Award as well as the Governor's Award for Conservation in Mississippi. She is active in conservation measures around the world.

Tara's philosophy is founded on a strong commitment to the management, development and sustainable use of a broad spectrum of natural resources. Tara recognizes the importance of wildlife, timber, water, wetlands, agriculture and recreation in maintaining a high quality of life for current as well as future generations. To this end, Tara has endowed the future by placing all 17,200 acres under conservation easements. As a further commitment to conservation, in December of 2001 Tara was deeded to a private foundation, Purvis Grange Foundation Inc. While promoting an appreciation of the environment through educational and direct-performance activities that conserve land and protect the wildlife that inhabit it,Tara is a model center for the study of habitat and the animals that are part of the ecosystem.

Tara is located in the Eagle Lake community about 30 minutes northwest of historic Vicksburg, Mississippi and 72 miles west of Jackson. With 12 miles of Mississippi River frontage and 17,200 acres of oxbow lakes and bottomland hardwood forests, Tara is one the nation's ultimate destinations for deer, and turkey hunting. The new 5700 square foot state-of-the-art conference center is the perfect location for your corporate retreats, business meetings, team building seminars, family reunions or conservation workshops

Tara's commitment to the sustainable use and management of natural resources is what we are all about. Several weeks of Summer Youth Camps are scheduled annually to educate children in outdoor skills and the appreciation of our natural resources.

We invite all hunters, companies, families and youth to visit and experience this unique place we call Tara!

MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of Purvis Grange Foundation, Inc. dba Tara Wildlife is to manage its natural resources in an ecologically and economically sustainable manner while promoting conservation awareness and the wise use of those natural resources within a framework of both consumptive and non-consumptive opportunities.

CONSERVATION:

Through its partnerships with numerous conservation groups, Tara is active in black bear restoration, management of neotropical bird habitat, protection of nesting bald eagles, Mississippi River ecosystem issues, wildlife and wetlands habitat management and the preservation and restoration of bottomland hardwood resources.

CONSULTING SERVICES:

Tara's long standing experience with conservation issues allows it's expertise to be generously shared with others who seek assistance in wildlife and habitat management.

On August 25-26, 2007, Tara will host in association with Audubon MS, the Mississippi River Nature Festival. They will have all kinds of activities such as an open bus ride through the bottomland forest along 12 miles of the MS River; spectacular gatherings of Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills and other wading birds; Tara's Backyard Native Plant Gardens which attracts hundreds of hummingbirds; exhibits by the MS Museum of Natural Science & hear renowned guest speakers and learn new skills at their outdoor photography workshops. This organization to me is making a huge impact on our community. I am proud to say I have been to Tara and hunted at Halpino a location of Tara about 18 years ago. It was quite an experience. Will write about it at a later date.

Male Painted Bunting!

My dancing teacher at the Senior Center, who works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sent me this photo by e-mail Monday of her friend that was the overall winner of the Wildlife Federation Photography Contest which was announced (Sunday, August 5th) at the Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza. This was a state contest. Her name is Pam Johnson and lives here in Vicksburg, MS. The majority of her pictures are of birds, flowers, nature pictures. The link is http://natureshooter.deviantart.com/gallery/ and will take you to a web site that has 25 pages of her photos. Please take a moment to look at her photos.

Git-R-Slung!

I received my Git-R-Slung with Gunslinger yesterday from Kristine at Gun Safety Innovations, LLC, in MI. I'm looking forward to using it this deer season in the outdoors at my deer camp. I will now be able to safely raise or lower my gun from my deer stand and it will keep my gun from either discharging or possibly causing injury. It secures my gun to the deer stand and if my gun falls, it will fall with the barrel pointing down. It comes with a carrying pouch (picture above) that is a blazing orange and can be used for extra visibility and its waterproof. Can also be used for tagging deer after a successful hunt and for signaling in case of an emergency. I know my Gunslinger will give me peace of mind and that I am doing everything possible to Hunt Smart, Think Safety first! I highly recommend all hunters to get one for your own safety. Thanks Kristine!

Little Emma!

My fifth granddaughter came into this world on July 25, 2007. Doesn't she look like a little angel?

First time Grandmother Midge, Little Emma and Dennis. How cute yawning! When I had Suzi's baby announcements made, it was one of her yawning!

Dennis a new and proud Dad - This is a sweet picture of him holding his newborn daughter, Emma!

I received these pictures yesterday evening via email of my new granddaughter. I was so happy to see what she looked like. The new beaming parents are Dennis and Suzi Nicholas! I will be going to Fredericksburg, VA, the first part of October to see them. Can't wait! This picture above is made soon after Emma Claire was born. It was a long night for my daughter Suzi. Emma was born at 6:27 a.m. on July 25, 2007 and weighed 7 lbs. and 7 ozs. Congrats to the new parents!

Wildlife Extravaganza!

The Wildlife Extravaganza was held at the Trade Mart in Jackson, Mississippi, from this past Friday, August 3 through this Sunday, August 5. This morning Bob and I got on the road and spent the morning and afternoon there. Their were a lot of good exhibits and wildlife. We really enjoyed ourselves. They had a Fetch-N-Fish fetch tub and when we got there they were teaching this dog to fetch his favorite toy, which was a Cat In the Hat toy, and to retrieved it from the watertank full of fish. This is first time I have ever seen a dog swim in the water whereby you could see his feet doing the dog-paddle! On stage a guy was talking about all the snakes that live in Mississippi. Of course, he had the snakes there and showing them off! A lot of deer heads, 4-wheelers, hunting clothes, etc., etc., etc. We saw some of our friends and got some goodies to bring home. Charming, Just Charming!

Old-Time Saloon!

I have this picture of my daughter, Suzy, and her old flame Jason, dressed up in old-time clothes. They both look so cool and tough! I like the way you can change clothes and be in a different era of time! He is now a Professor at a college here in Mississippi and my daughter has married a fine man who works for the FAA in Washington, D.C.

A Somber Day!

My Godmother, Mrs. Marie Davis, died this past Monday at Madison Parish Hospital in Tallulah, LA and was buried today here in Vicksburg. They had a Mass for her at St. Paul's Catholic Church, which I attended. She was a dear, dear lady. Would you believed she had dated my Dad before he married my Mom and she ended up being my Godmother? She was 88 years old and graduated from St. Francis Xavier Academy in 1937 the same school I had attended. She leaves one daughter, one son, (who I babysat when they were young), four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She will be missed. May she rest in peace!

Congratulations Ashley!

Linda sent me this picture of her daughter Ashley Elliot the other day by email. Ashley is 11 years old and lives in Mount Vernon, Maine. She is here with her first turkey, a Jake, weighing 15 lbs., taken last season. Linda and I met about 9 years ago on Bowsite Bowhunting Conference. I went by Marian (Lady Hunter) and she went by "Sunshine". We have remain good friends through the years. You can really meet a lot of good people via the Internet and some that will last a lifetime. I will put her picture up on my website at A Dixie Lady Deer Hunter!

It's great to see young girls get involved in hunting! Linda also told me that Ashley had harvested an 8 point buck weighing 157 lbs., taken on Youth Day, October 21, 2006. As soon as I get that picture, I will post it here on my blog. Charming, Just Charming!

On The Deer Stand!

Bob coming to get me after a morning hunt in the backwoods to go to the camp to eat lunch. Another hunter is also coming out.

While hunting, riders would come by and check on us to see if we had seen a deer or if they heard us shoot, would come to see if we needed help in either finding the deer or getting it loaded up. This was the hunting life!

This is the view off of Bob's stand (Triple X) on the north end of Brown's Point Hunting Club. Looks like a good cold foggy morning to hunt smart!

Greg, my step-son and I hunting off a deer stand. When I started hunting down at Jasper Bottom Hunting Club, our clubs president's wife, Margie (a lady deer hunter), wore a hat like this. I wanted to be just like her and went out and bought me one. Charming, Just Charming! I still have this hat after 22 years of hunting. I hope one day my daughter would be proud enough to wear my hat. It would be a sweetthing!