Barges and Boats

Last Sunday we took a drive down near Diamond Jacks Casino just to sit closer to the river to see if a barge would come along.  Across the river were 3 boats anchored on the sandbar bar and people swimming in the river.  Nearby, a couple was getting ready to go ski boating on the river.  All of a sudden here comes a towboat with a huge unloaded barges up the river and he made a wide turn in bend because another barge was coming behind and was close to where the people were on the sandbar.  It was very interesting to watch and was very hot day.  As we went back up the steep hill to leave, I stopped to take a picture of the bridge that was out and being torn down.  This bridge has the Kansas City Southern Railway tracks under it.  The 80-year-old bridge began coming down on August 7th in preparation for its replacement by a roadway-topped train tunnel expected to be completed by next summer.  It has been close since January 2009 and is the lone bridge along the main north-south corridor connecting downtown and I-20.  It has been a problem for motorist and business owners along Washington St.  Kanzaa Construction of Tokepa, Kansas, holds the $8.6 million contract for the project.  As we were going back home we saw another long barge making it's way up the river.  It is something about the river traffic that makes everyone stop and look.  To me it's fascinating.  What I miss the most about the river are the three queens, Mississippi, Delta and American paddle steamboats that would dock at our riverfront and you could hear their whistle blowing as they were coming down the canal and started playing calliope music.  Hopefully, one day they will put them back into service.  If you are interested in towboats you can go to a towboat gallery and look at them. 

Ergon Towboat Company at riverbank.

People enjoying an outing on the sandbar.

You can't see the towboat pushing the barges...its so long!

"Jennie K"

Jennie K making the big turn in the bend and heading up the river.

Couple riding the waves from the barge.

Dru Lirette heading up the river.

Looking towards the entrance of Diamond Jacks...it's a very steep hill.

Tearing down the lone bridge into town to make way for a new one.

Twins In Mushy's Backyard

Mushy happens to be my blogging friend over at Mushy's Moochings and this particular blog is an autobiography of his life.  His real name is J. Paul Mashburn and he's a sixties kind of man who has several other blogs also; Cross+Hairs, Mushy's Cookings, Smoked-Filled Backroom, The Princess Theater and The Silverbacks (Restricted).  Mushy has written two books as well, Cross+Hairs and The Laugh and Times Of Mushy/A Boomer and his Values and hails from Harriman, Tennessee.

Yesterday, he sent me some photos that he said were not too good of Mama Doe and her twin fawns that was taken in his on backyard.  He said it was almost dark and was shooting through the porch screen, but you can get the idea!  I thought you would enjoy seeing them as well. Thanks Mushy!

 J. Paul Mashburn

a.k.a. Mushy

Vicksburg's In The Running!

Vicksburg National Military Park Superintendent Mike Madell stands in front of the Illinois Memorial.  ~The Vicksburg Post

This is exciting that our Vicksburg National Military Park (VNMP) is in the running to be America's Favorite.  The contest is sponsored by the National Park Foundation, the Coca-Cola Company and Dr. Ian Smith, a medical/diet expert on VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" and creator of the nationwide 50 Million Pound Challenge. 

Through the America Is Your Park campaign, all national and state parks in the US are in the running to be named the most popular park, and a title that comes with a $100.000 case prize.

"The VNMP is the crown jewel of America," said park historian Terry Winschel.  "We are the art park of the world."

The park was established in 1899, the 1,800-acre VNMP has about 1,350 historic monuments, markers and tablets.  It also features the country's largest cemetery for Civil War burials, containing about 18,000 grave sites.  The park's program include the Living History Program, which features live re-enactments of Civil War battles by volunteers, and Junior Ranger Day, a day for young children to learn about the park's history through interpretation and hands-on activities.  Among the accolades, the park was named weeks ago by readers of AAA Southern Traveler, an American Automobile Association publication, as the South's second-best heritage attraction behind the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.

The contest winner will be announed via a news release a week after the voting window closes.  A special event at the winning park will take place in September. 

Please take time to vote for our beautiful park by logging on to http://www.livepositively.com/ and cast a vote for the Vicksburg National Military Park.

The Rogue Huntress

I noticed a new follower on my site yesterday and decided to check it out and see what it was all about.  I saw that The Rogue Huntress is a hunting lady by the named of Laura and she lives in Manitoba, Canada.  Her new blog is called The WhiteTailed Doe.  Laura went on her first hunting trip three years ago as an observer and the next fall she went rifle hunting.  She harvested three deer and was hooked.  She said she received archery lessons as a gift for Christmas that same year and in the following fall of 2009 she hunted with her new bow.  Since it was a warm season she did not get a deer.  She is looking forward to this season in getting the buck she has been watching.  She even bought her a new deer stand and was looking forward to this hunting season and have everything set up in time.  But her luck changed when her hunting friend was assaulted and badly injured and will take months for him to recover.  She is still trying to get her stand set up and find a good spot to hunt in time.  I do hope things will work out for Laura and that she will find someone to help her since archery season opens August 30 and black bear on the 25th.  Go over and wish her good luck and I'm going to encourage her to join our Outdoor Bloggers Summit so she can get a good support team going in her favor in our great wild outdoors.

The Rogue Huntress par excellence!

A Polar Bear Baby

My friend, Steve, shared this video with me the other day!  I know you wll enjoy it also!  Thanks Steve!

Another Picture Published!

Wow, it looks like I'm on a roll here...got another picture published today in our hometown paper, The Vicksburg Post!  I had sent several in a few weeks ago and was surprised that they picked this one and very happy they did.  I'm hoping they will published the one of a swamp scene that I thought turned out very well also.  (From the swamp scene link, it was the top one)

Caption they put under my picture which reads...Marian Phillips and her husband were at a deer camp in the Mississippi Delta when she spotted this sunflower, one in a full field of blooms.

Good One!

A Rare Black Fawn

My friend, Steve, sent me these rare and beautiful set of pictures.  If you love animals....you will love this!

Oops!! Little Too Close

We were out running errands Wednesday morning and always look out towards the Mississippi River to see any river traffic and saw this barge that had ran aground.  Looks like he did not make a wide enough turn and the swiftness of the river turned him back into the bank at the bend in the river.  We do not live far away from the river and went to the house to get my camera.  It always happens when I don't bring my camera, I see something I want to take a picture of.  When I got back he was still trying to maneuver his way to get unstuck from the bank.  He finally made it and and continued on upstream.  Looks like some boats were nearby just in case.  At least his day got a little better!

Ma Bear

You get down from there, RIGHT NOW!!!

Watermelons and More Watermelons!

After we left Rex Sunday morning, we headed towards Okolona, MS, to visit some friends there before heading home the next day.  Gerald, "Rooster", and Bob used to work together at Anderson-Tully Lumber Company in Vicksburg.  Rooster worked as an inspector grading lumber and my husband was Director of Labor Relations for the company when they became good friends.  Bob is retired now but Rooster works at a sawmill in Mathison, MS, still grading lumber.  Actually, Bob and I hunted behind the sawmill and really had a great time a few years ago.  Rooster grows his vegetables on some land which backs up against the Natchez Trace Parkway, where he and his wife used to live and he still deer hunts there as well.  He sets up his produce stand near the garden and sells on his off time.  We were able to bring home some fresh vegetables and a nice size watermelon.  We really enjoyed seeing both our friends in Water Valley and in Van Vleet near Okolona, MS.  It was a wonderful and relaxing get-a-way for both of us.

A Watermelon Blast

Bob and I had wonderful time at the Water Valley Watermelon Carnival this past weekend and was so good to see my mentor and good friend Rex of Deer Camp Blog and visit with his family and friends again.  It was pretty hot but we had our tent pitched in a good spot near a tree which was nice and shady.  We did have a short rain shower to come up but other than that everything was great.  We did make a small profit on Bob's copper trees and got a lot of looks and compliments on his craft.  Actually, this was our first time at a flea market environment to try and sell his copper trees and we both enjoyed the experience just being there and being lazy, meeting and watching all the people, especially the children.  We also had his Dad's books, LIM and JEFF'S GOD, for sale that he wrote/published and made a nice profit on them as well.  Bob and I really appreciated Rex inviting us to come up to sell his copper trees and for all the help that we received to make it all possible for a fun watermelon blast!

Friday evening in downtown Water Valley!

Denise and Rex (sporting his watermelon cap) checking out one of the copper trees Saturday morning!

Hershel and Bob engaged in deep conversation.

A customer with his cute puppy named "Daisy".

Hershel with a new tag for his truck given to him by Rex's sister, Holly, Dennis and two grandsons.

A What-A-Melon Ride!

Trent, Rex's other evil brother, working the Rotary Club booth giving away FREE lemonade!

Crowds enjoying the Carnival!

Fireworks display after dark!

Bob and Trent enjoying after hours drink together at the office!

Thanks Rex for a fun time at the Watermelon Carnival!  

Water Valley Bound

Bob and I have been invited by Rex over at Deer Camp Blog to come to their annual Watermelon Carnival in his hometown of Water Valley, MS.  This will be our second trip to Water Valley and the first one being when Rex turned the "BIG 50" two years ago.  Bob is a sculptor and has been making copper trees for awhile now and Rex is giving him this opportunity to help him sell his copper trees at the carnival.  We are looking forward to our visit and being with our dear friends from Water Valley.  I will be out-of-pocket till next Tuesday and when I come back will share with you pictures of our adventures.  Until then...

How Hot Is It In MS?

So hot it melted the ice cream truck!!!

Yo-Yo's For Our Troops!

My blogging friend, Albert, of The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles is stationed in Afghanistan working as a contractor.  He has asked his fellow bloggers to help him out in supporting his idea of Yo-Yos for our troops.  Please read the post below and participate in a cause that would not cost you very much out-of-pocket and put a smile on a serviceman's face.  I know I will do my part and Albert is doing his by promoting his marvelous idea.  Please do YOUR part in supporting our troops in harms way!  May God Bless America!


Ok, I know what your thinking...


"What the devil are you up to Albert? Yo-Yos???"

As it turns out, that's exactly what I am thinking. Yo-Yo's.




I was just walking down the side of the camp road when I spyed something green in the dirt. After a couple of hard learned lessons, you tend to stop and carefully canvas the surrounding area for anything else out of place. After a pretty thorough investigation I came to the conclusion that it was safe to investigate more closely. I had happened upon a broken Duncan Butterfly yo-yo. The side was off, and the axle was loose. As it so happens, I travel prepared. I brought some gel crazy glue with me, along with assorted a sundry other items that make your life tolerable in Afghanistan. (See my post: What You Need to Bring Overseas as a Contractor.)  A few minutes later I had a perfectly serviceable yo-yo again.

I remember that sometime around 1970-71 there was a Yo-Yo craze; at least there was in my neighborhood!  We all had to have Yo-Yos and many of us learned tricks like "walk the dog," "around the world," and "rock the cradle."

So, I was outside the tent in our compound, Yo-Yoing away the afternoon. Boy what fun it is to have something to do while the interminable hours drift by.

A couple of the other fellows whose brains had yet to be baked in their skulls stopped by, so I offered the Yo-Yo to each in turn so they could have some fun with it. We must have spent a couple of hours out there, getting the hang of it, laughing, telling tall tales, and forgetting we were hot, dirty, and far from home.

As a parent, you know the tell tale signs of boredom, frustration, anger, and fear in your children. I see it in our young military folks all too often. I can't tell you how many of these kids I have seen that are dangerously close to the breaking point. All they need is something to distract them from their daily drudgery.

Therein lies my idea.

I would like for you to forward a Yo-Yo or two to me, so that I may distribute them to the young men and women that are out here sucking up dust and dodging bullets. If you have never sent anything to a deployed service member before, let me tell you that it is a one of their greatest pleasures to receive a gift from the states from someone they don't know. It just makes their day!

I hope many of you will be inclined to take a moment out of your day and box one up. I'll let you know who received it and take a picture or two and post it on TROC. Make sure you put a slip of paper inside with your name and email so I can let you know it has arrived, and so the service member can thank you too! It's a little thing, a Yo-Yo is, but it can mean the world sometimes.

My address is:

Albert A Rasch

AEW 451st ECES/FP

APO AE 09355

This is the corrected address please double check!

One more thing if you don't mind. I want to ask all of my fellow bloggers to please link to this post, or even better, email me and I will send you the html of this post for a guest post on your blog! I sure would appreciate it!

I want to thank you in advance for giving this some thought. And for those of you that will forward a YoYo, I can't thank you enough for the kindness you are exhibiting. Believe you me, you will make a service member's day!

Benefactors of

The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: Yo-Yos for Troops Program!

Rick Kratzke of Whitetail Woods has graciously published this post on his blog! Not only that, but he has offered to send a Yo-Yo to the troops! And will now be flying the banner too! Well done my friend! Guest Post from Afghanistan

Troutrageous! has also committed to forwarding a YoYo, and check out what he has done on the right side of his blog! He has created a banner! And he posted too: YoYos: They're not Just for Kids Anymore! He is another true supporter of our troops!!!

Okie Redneck is going to help out too! She's going to fly the banner, and allow me the privilege of guest posting on her blog! Now there is a great troop supporter! PS: I love the header on your blog!

Hippo on the Lawn's own literary ExPat has emailed me from Angola! If I may quote him: "When I first read your post I was beginning to think you'd gone stir crazy but then I remembered when I was doing bomb disposal tours and being on call all the time. It really was, as they say, long periods of boredom interspersed with short periods of real fear. Anything we received that helped take our minds off the job and pass the time was gratefully received." Even in Angola, our friends are going to help us out! Thanks Tom! The links are on their way. His hilarious post on the matter is here!

KC of  DiaperBagWrangler.com is going to do her part to help support the troops! She will be forwarding a Yo-Yo too! Huh... will you look at that... She's got a blog too! DiaperBagWrangler.Blogspot Boy have I got a lot to learn about stuff still... Thank You Ma'am!

Deer Passion in Kansas is going to send some Yo-Yos too! Her post, Yo-Yos for the Troops, is lovely, and she is flying the banner too! She says,"...finding a broken yo-yo, he is on a mission to bring smiles, a little bit of hope and alot of fun to our men and women serving overseas." On a mission, I like that!

I Don't Wear Pink Camo to the Woods is Kari's blog on all things outdoors in Wisconsin. She bumped into Ricks post on YoYos for the Troops and is sending some my way to distribute. BTW if you're interested in bear hunting, Kari's your gal!

Another Falconry Blog has been very kind to blog about the Campaign, and has posted and linked to the YoYos for Troops! The momentum is building!

Big Mike S is flying the banner! He is also a huge fan of linking to posts so stop and see what he finds most interesting on the net!


Please email me if you would be willing to place the banner that Mike Troutrageous! has so graciously designed for the Yo-Yos for the Troops campaign. I would be very appreciative of all of you that would do so. TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)msn(dot)com


With regards, your friend,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Kandahar Tent Club

The Hunt Continues...

Not A Good Sign!

According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are nearly 31 million people currently unemployed -- that's including those involuntarily working part-time and those who want a job, but have given up on trying to find one. In the face of the worst economic upheaval since the Great Depression, millions of Americans are hurting. "The Decline: The Geography of a Recession," as created by labor writer LaToya Egwuekwe, serves as a vivid representation of just how much. Watch the deteriorating transformation of the U.S. economy from January 2007 -- approximately one year before the start of the recession -- to the most recent unemployment data available today. Original link: http://www.latoyaegwuekwe.com/geographyofarecession.html. For more information, email latoya.egwuekwe@yahoo.com

Couple of Pix from Dave

Here are a couple of pictures that Dave sent me last month and said...it's been slim pickins picture wise this year so far, but I did get one good one out of the north woods, and one of me showing what I go through to get these pictures. The "suit" I have on is a bug suit made for summer hunting especially in Canada...I bought it for my last bear hunt up there. It looks like a bee outfit, but is made for hunting...Comes in really handy when going into the woods to re-stock my bait and mineral licks. Hope you enjoy. ~Dave

Robert (Dave) Quick

I want to Finish Well

I want to end this race

Still leaning on His Amazing Grace

Member: Community Christian Church

Member: Pilots 4 Christ

Member: Christian Outdoor Fellowship of America

MY WEBSITE:

HANDLOADING FOR HUNTING

MY DISCUSSION FORUM:

HFH DISCUSSION FORUMS

Another Picture Published!

When I opened this mornings paper, The Vicksburg Post, I went straight to the Classifieds where photos are sent in and published by readers.  I had sent this particular picture in a few weeks ago, and there it was!  The caption they inserted was...Marian Love Phillips looked over the barrel of a Civil War cannon at Louisiana Circle to see a bird's eye view of the two Mississippi River bridges at Vicksburg.  There is also a plaque near the cannon which reads...

 "The Widow Blakely" 

Because it was the lone Blakely rifled cannon in all the Vicksburg defenses, the Confederate Soldiers called this 7.44-inch gun, "The Widow Blakley."  During the seige it was mounted about 1 mile north of its present position.  On May 22, 1863, the "Widow" was manned by a detachment of Company H, 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery, Lt. A. L. Slack, commanding the detail. 

In that day's action against Union gunboats, one of the "Widow Blakely's" own shells exploded in its muzzle.  Later, the Confederates cut away the damaged end and used the gun as a mortor. 

After the war, "The Widow Blakely" spent 96 years on display at the U. S. Military Academy's Trophy Point.  U. S. Department of the Interior - National Park Services. 

It sure is a nice feeling to know that your picture is deserving enough to be published!