Omega Chapter, PAK

Bobby and Myrtle (Class of 1959) will soon be getting married on June 21, 2008, at St. Michael Catholic Church. Wishing them a long, happy and blessed marriage! Congratulations!

Barbara of Dixieland Realtors preparing a drink.

Pat enjoying a beer poolside.

Vera (Class of 1959) with her hubby George.

Willie and Andrea (Class of 1958). Andrea was related to me by my first marriage.

Lady of the House, Alice with Chuck who I used to work with at COE.

Connie with her hubby Homer enjoying the party.

Chuck and wife Frances with my good friend Joan getting ready to have a glass of wine!

Katherine's husband, Roy, (Class of 1959).

Katherine, our President (Class of 1959)

Last Friday evening our sorority, Pi Alpha Kappa Sorority, hosted our last meeting/end-of-season pool party at Alice's lovely home. In September we will resume our meetings. I really enjoy our monthly social meetings and we all take turns hosting each month with two to three co-hostesses to help out with food/beverages. I have been a member for over 15 years or so. Here are some picture of us having a great time. At the end of the party, gifts were given out and my secret sister gave me a really nice pole/flag with beautiful birds on it. Can't wait to get it up. I want know who she is until our Christmas Party this December. It's so much fun receiving gifts all year long and trying to guess who it is. Here are a few pictures of our fun evening together. (Would you believe I forgot to get someone to take my picture). I'm also in charge of our photo albums and take pictures of different occasions like Founders Day, Christmas Parties, etc. I have served as Secretary several times and Treasurer once. Not pictured, Ina and myself. Not present, Olivia, Anita (Class of 1958), Chris, June and Cindy. This is a sweetthing!

The Olds Ranch

About 15 years ago while in Santa Fe, NM, visiting my step-daughter and her family, we took a trip outside Santa Fe to a ranch up in the mountains called, The Olds Ranch. David Olds and his family owned this mountain top and during the winter would bring in hunters to hunt elk, bear whatever. We got to the top of the mountain by a rough and rocky road in a Bronco truck. At times it was pretty steep and could not believe we passed a speeding sign...of course was a fun joke. We all got a kick out of that one. We were told at the base of the mountain was a Wildlife Reserve....how sweet! As my daughter and I were walking around near the cabin, I came across this old wagon and took a picture of it. After I took this picture we heard some bells ringing and could not figure out where it was coming from, when all of a sudden two horses came running past us. Never heard of horses having bells on before but may have been their pets and was a way to hear them coming. The scenery was so breathtaking! This is one of my favorite pictures that I have taken while visiting my family out in the wild, wild west! This is a sweetthing in our great outdoors!

Thunderhoof hanging out at my blog...

Can you believe that Thunderhoof is hanging out at my site now! I know Rex must be worried and wondering where he is. He's not at Deer Camp Blog that's for sure! I hope Thunderhoof will let me have a chance at him this coming hunting season at the famous Christmas Plantation and Hunting Club. I know it will make killer Paul, editor-in-charge, and Trent-the-judge-and-jury upset with me. Happy Hunting to Me!

Who's eating out of the bird feeders?

A 5-foot-tall black bear was caught eating from bird feeders in Gautier, MS, which is located along the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico. A resident reported to the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, that he had watched a 5-foot-tall bear come into his yard late at night or early in the morning. The resident became concern after the bear began lying down and just hanging around in the yard. The homeowner removed the bird feeders in an attempt to discourage the bear from entering his yard. He said, "That didn't work, and he would just walk up in the yard and lay in the grass." The bear was about 3 years old. The bear was caught and sedated and relocated. That's a very hungry bear in our simple outdoors!

American Black Bears are large, mostly harmless bears that live mostly in forests, but also in swamps and desert scrub. These solitary mammals are found across North America.

Anatomy: American Black Bears are up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long and weigh up to 300 pounds (135 kg). Their long, thick fur ranges in color from black to brown. Like all bears, they are plantigrade (flat-footed). The front claws are longer than the rear claws.

Behavior: Black Bears are good swimmers and can also climb trees. They have a good sense of smell but have poor eyesight. They are afraid of Grizzly Bears and stay far away from them.

Cubs: Two to three cubs are born during the winter while the mother hibernates. Cubs stay with the mother for about one year.

Diet: American Black Bears are omnivores who eat plants, leaves, fruits, berries, nuts, roots, honey, insects, and other small mammals.

Classification: Class Mammalia, Order Carnivora, Family Ursidae (bears), Genus Ursus, species americanus.

Camo Home Alone!

Rex - I just found out what Camo is doing while you and Denise are away from the house!

Charming, Just Charming!

New Church Signs!

“Here are a few very unique ‘Church Signs’ I believe you will enjoy....

Brigadier General Tilghman, CSA

One of the thousands of monuments in our Vicksburg National Military Park that I took last week. This is Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman, CSA, who commanded the First Brigade of Loring's Division. He was killed May 16, 1863 near the close of The Battle of Champions Hill, Mississippi. When I was young my mother had a picture of me taken at the base of this statue. I also have a picture of my first daughter and one my granddaughters by the same stature. A very popular monument in our civil war park. I like shooting different angles with my camera. You can get a different perspective.

A Jewish Cemetery

The day before I went into the hospital Bob and I drove through the Vicksburg National Military Park and at the end of the park is a Jewish Cemetery. I pulled over to the side and took some interesting pictures that I wanted to share that was taken in the late afternoon.

Card from Little Emma!

I received my first Mother's Day card from my newest and sweetest granddaughter, Emma!
It reads ~

Hi Gran Gran,

Happy Mothers Day! As you can see from these pictures I'm a big girl! I've been crawling everywhere. I pull up on everything even Mommy and Daddy's legs. I stand all by myself without holding onto anything for just a few seconds. I know how to clap my hands. I say Mommy and Daddy to the correct person. I love giving Mommy kisses all the time. I'm growing so fast! Da-Da says I'll be walking by 10 months. Mommy thinks more like 11 months. I hope to see you soon! Love, Emma

At 9 months

Some Saturday Fun

Game time for everyone---Fun time! This will drive you nuts! Test your reaction time with this special test. As I remember, the automobile driving manual says the average driver's reaction time is: .75 seconds......or 1 car length for every 10 mph........

Click here to test your average reaction time!

A Bullet For Bob

When Bob and Marian came to the famous Christmas Place to hunt, they were thrilled. Rex explained the rules, everyone was extremely nice to them and it seemed like they had found some really good friends to hunt with. Maybe they had or maybe SOMEONE was trying to sabotage their trip. You decide.
Rex debated where they should hunt. He wanted them to both get a deer and also have a chance at a big buck. The light finally came on and Rex knew exactly where to place them.
Marian headed out to the Point and Bob would hunt the 71 acres. No prob, in fact Paul said that he would help put Bob on his stand.
Before daylight he helped get Bob situated and even loaded Bob’s gun for him and then handed it up to him. How nice can a guy be!
Unfortunately no one got a deer that morning but something strange happened when Mark and Paul went to help Bob out of his stand. The rifle was handed down, Mark tried to open the bolt and it would not open. He (and Paul) worked on opening the bolt for almost an hour, and when the bolt finally gave and flipped open, out flew a spent cartridge. Bob, Mark and Paul all looked at each other. Bob said “That sure is strange, I have not shot at anything.” Looking up he said “You would have heard me if I did.”
They all agreed to this as they were hunting nearby. They then came on in to camp and after much kidding and discussion of the strange blank cartridge in his gun we put the mysterious brass cartridge on the mantle and then the fact that Paul was the one that had actually loaded the rifle came out. He says he put the correct bullets in the gun. Maybe, he did or maybe he knew Bob was in the place where a really big buck was and Paul was trying to insure it for himself. Would he do that? Once again, you decide.

Marian's Favorite Things

With apology to "The Sound Of Music"

Raindrops on antlers,
And whiskers on beavers,
Bright copper bullets
And warm camo mittens.
Brown venison packages
Tied up with string,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Tan colored buck deer
And crisp footfalls stop here
Gunshots and sleighbells
And deer steak with noodles,
Wild geese that fly
With a bead on their wings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Deer with wide racks and tracks with red splashes,
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,
Silver white winters that the rut brings
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the does bite,
When the bucks scrapes,
When I’m feeling sad.
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don’t feel so bad!

My favorite huntress and blogger

Vascular Surgery

I want to let my blogger friends know that I will be having vascular surgery in the morning. I have had poor circulation in my left leg since my knee surgery back in February and it resulted in an ulcer forming on my foot with two staph infections. Will have to have some veins rerouted or whatever the Doctor has to do to get me well. My good friend Rex over at Deer Camp Blog will be hosting my site for me for the next two days until I get back home and start recuperating. I know he will do a fantastic job! Hope to be back online by the weekend. ~Marian

Mother Mary Ligouri

As I was growing up I was told that I had a great aunt who was a nun. I was born and raised a Catholic and when it came time for me to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I had to take a saints name for my confirmation name. My mother suggested that I take my great aunt’s name which was after St. Alphonsus Ligouri. Once I was confirmed , I started corresponding with my great aunt in New Orleans.

Recently, my cousin Sidney, who resides in New Orleans, LA, sent me some information about her. He also sent me this picture of her shown here. This will eventually be published in a family history book that he is putting together.

~My great aunt was born on March 27, 1878 and her name was Eulalie Marie and was known by her family as “LaLie.” She graduated with honors, as valedictorian from the Academy of the Holy Angles in New Orleans, on June 30, 1896. She entered the Congregation of the Marianites of Holy Cross on January 12, 1900 and received the Holy Habit on August 25, 1900 and made her Final Profession on August 26, 1901. She became Sister Mary of Saint Ligouri, M.de S.C. She first taught at Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary School in New Orleans and later taught high school and music. She was later sent to Lake Charles, LA, to fulfill the offices of Local Superior, and Principal. She became known as Mother Mary Ligouri. In the late 1950s Mother Ligouri's health began to decline and she developed a heart condition. At 82 years of age she retired but coached any novice needing help. She broke her hip in 1970 and that curtailed much of her activity. She died quietly on December 8, 1972. To this day I still have all the letters, leaflets, holy cards and medals that she sent me. What a precious keepsake!

Base Camp Legends Blog

I had a visitor last Saturday by the name of Tom Sorenson over at Base Camp Legends new blog. Tom, 25, is from Weiser, Idaho and co-founder with his Dad being the founder of a website called Base Camp Legends, LLC. The site is based on many great stories that have been passed down from generation to generations that have become legends over time.

Tom and his Dad love to hunt, fish, camp, hike, and write their adventures of said activities. He is married to his wife, Shanna, and they have a little mutt named Joey. On his new blog he had a post about Gun, Ammo and - What's This? It was hilarious reading. You can also join this site and tell your hunting stories and one day may become legends in time. It really looks like a neat place to visit and hang out. The blog is fairly new to compliment their website. When you have a chance go by and check it out. Charming, Just Charming!

In Memory ~ Marcus "Mark" Christopher Broome

The victim of the tragedy Saturday at the International Paper Mill had just started to work this past Friday and died the next day on the job.

Many questions still remain when a boiler exploded at the International Paper Mill in Redwood, in Warren County. The Saturday blast killed Marcus "Mark" Christopher Broome, 28, of Bolton, MS.

Seventeen other contract employees were injured. Most were treated and released at River Region Medical Center in Vicksburg. Five were taken to a burn center in Georgia, and two others were taken to Baton Rouge. The four of the five taken to Georgia are in critical condition.

It was a while before nearby residents like Vivian Middleton knew what was happening.
"I just heard the sirens go by," she says. "I looked outside and thought, 'Oh, something's got to be happening bad."

Sunday morning investigators were finally allowed inside to assess the damage and try to determine what caused the boiler to explode.

"It took a while for us to make sure it was safe to begin that work," said Amy Sawyer, a spokeswoman for International Paper. "

It's a fairly big building, and we want to make sure we have a very clear understanding of all the facts surrounding it."

Mill employees continued to work Sunday. Counselors were on hand to talk with the workers.

"As you can imagine, people are very shaken up. This mill prides itself on excellent safety performance," Sawyer said. "It hasn't had a serious injury here in more than a year."

The mill has been part of this close-knit community for more than 40 years. It employs many people in the area, and Middleton says she is praying for them all.

"I feel sorry for the families and the victims that were hurt and burned -- especially the family that lost their loved one," said Middleton.

Broome leaves behind his young wife, Brooke, and 4-year-old twin daughters, Madison and Olivia.

Cool Deer Pictures

I wanted to share these cool deer pictures with you. This is such a sweetthing!

Tragedy Hits North Of Town

Yesterday afternoon after we got home from Play A Day In May Away, I was in the kitchen when I heard on our scanner that there had been an explosion at International Paper Company. One of the two boilers had exploded and the hospital staff was soon alerted. One person was dead and 17 injured. Marcus Broome, 28, a contact worker, was pronounced dead at the scene. His mother lives in Vicksburg and was in total shock. He is the father of twin 4-year-old girls. His wife was at Jazz Fest in New Orleans when she heard of the news. All 17 injured in the blast, were taken to River Region Medical Center. Most of the injured were treated and released and five people were transferred to a burn hospital in Augusta, GA. About 400 people, including IP's 306 regular employees, were at the mill off Mississippi 3 when the boiler exploded. The blast is the first they have had in the 40 years they have been in business here. OSHA reps will be coming in to investigate and operations are on hold until inspections are completed. IP has manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia and North Africa. The company has about 51,500 employees, 33,100 in the US.

Play A Day In May Away

Maddyln Lee, the 6-year old daughter of Phillip and Lacy Lee, jumps down an obstacle course.

Yesterday was the 38th Annual Play A Day In May Away at the Vicksburg Catholic Schools. In the photo is Jimbo Halford, clockwise from top, John Phillips (our grandson) and Justin Goodwin horsing around on a water slide. Jimbo, 10, is the son of Jimmy and Marydee Halford; John, 14, is the son of Greg and Eleanor Phillips (Eleanor is a calculus teacher at St. Aloysius High); and Justin, 10, is the son of Mark and CeCe Goodwin. Play A Day In May Away is an annual fundraiser for the parochial school, which includes St. Frances Xavier Elementary (my Alma Mater) and St. Aloysius High School. About 200 kids attended Saturday's event, which ran from 10 to 3. Bob and I went by to visit with family who were working/playing at the event and had a great pork barbecue lunch with the trimmings. What a beautiful and breezy day to be out to Play A Day In May Away!

Father and Daughter Hunt

Awesome pictures a good friend of mine, Linda, sent me from Maine of her daughter Ashley and husband Bob. Last Saturday during a youth hunt, Ashley who is 12 years old, took this fine turkey and Linda's husband Bob harvested his on May 1st. Ashley's turkey was 18-1/2 lbs., with an 8-1/2 inch beard. Bob's was 7-3/4 inch beard. Congratulations to both of them in our great outdoors! This is such a sweetthing!

Funny Fuels!

Some fuel for thought!

Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel

This picture was taken approximately two weeks ago of the Diamond Jacks Casino and Hotel with the Mississippi River literally lapping up against it's back door. The River is going down faster than was predicted. This is a sweetthing!