Squirrel Issues

While sitting on my patio the other day, I was fortunate to get some pictures of this squirrel stealing food from the bird feeder, which is supposed to be squirrel-proof. I don't think he knew I was taking pictures of him at first. Soon, he ran up a tree and continued to bark at me to leave.

Happy "Belated" 3rd Birthday, Asher!

My fifth great-grandson, Asher, lives in Ohio and celebrated his 3rd birthday recently.  Looks like he got a very nice toy to play with also.  I love and miss him so much.  Great Gran Gran

7 Layer Taco Dip

 Seven-Layer Taco Dip 

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8-10

Ingredients:
 1 can (16 oz) refried beans
 1 packet of taco seasoning
 1 cup sour cream
 1 cup salsa
 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
 1 cup diced tomatoes
 1/2 cup sliced black olives
 1/4 cup chopped green onions
 1 cup shredded lettuce
 Tortilla chips for serving

Instructions:
1. Prepare the Refried Beans: Mix the refried beans with the taco seasoning until well combined.

2. Assemble the Layers:
Layer 1 - Refried Beans: Spread the seasoned refried beans evenly in the bottom of a serving dish.
Layer 2 - Sour Cream: Spread the sour cream over the beans.
Layer 3 - Salsa: Pour the salsa over the sour cream layer.
Layer 4 - Shredded Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the salsa.
Layer 5 - Diced Tomatoes: Scatter the diced tomatoes evenly.
Layer 6 - Lettuce: Add a layer of shredded lettuce.
Layer 7 - Toppings: Garnish with sliced black olives and chopped green onions.

3. Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the dip for at least 1 hour to allow the flavours to meld.
Serve chilled with tortilla chips.
Enjoy this delightful Seven-Layer Taco Dip  

A Squirrel Trying to Get Seeds from Bird Feeder

I purchased a bird feeder a few weeks ago, and it took this squirrel a while to find it. The feeder is supposed to be squirrel-proof. While sitting on my living room couch, I took these pictures through my screened patio doorway. It was so hilarious watching him try so hard to figure out how to get the seeds. He climbed on a bamboo shoot, and his weight swung him over to the pole. He was so happy to at least accomplish this feat, but soon, he came down off the pole. Later, I saw him try again, and he was hanging desperately with both hands on the feeder and dropped to the ground. I wished I had my camera ready to take that, but it happened fast. I laughed my head off.  

Morning In The Woods

Truth!

Two Fishing Poles

You do this on a pretty day at the waterfront with two fishing poles in Vicksburg, MS. I wish you good luck fishing in the Yazoo Diversion Canal off the Mississippi River. 

Close-up

A 100 Years from Now, Like in 2124

 In 100 years, like in 2124, we will all be buried with our relatives and friends.

Strangers will live in our homes we fought so hard to build, and they will own everything we have today. All our possessions will be unknown and unborn, including the car we spent a fortune on, and will probably be scrap, preferably in the hands of an unknown collector.

Our descendants will hardly know who we were, nor will they remember us. How many of us know our grandfather's father?
After we die, we will be remembered for a few more years, and then we will be just a portrait on someone's bookshelf. A few years later, our history, photos, and deeds will disappear into history's oblivion. We won't even be memories.

If we paused one day to analyze these thoughts, we might understand how ignorant and weak the dream of achieving it all really was.

If we could only think about this, our attitudes and thoughts would change, and we would be different people. We will always have more, and there will be no time for what's valuable in this life. I'd change all this to live and enjoy the walks I've never taken, these hugs I didn't give, these kisses for our children and our loved ones, and these jokes we didn't have time for.

Those would certainly be the most beautiful moments to remember; afterward, they would fill our lives with joy.
And we waste it day after day with greed and intolerance.

Sally, The Donkey & Speck, The Horse

This is a picture of Sally, the donkey, at my granddaughter's home south of town while my daughter, Kathy, and grandson, Carl, were visiting family from NC. It was getting dark, and I had my phone's flash on. Sally looks like she has a perfect heart in her eyes.

Speck, the horse, grazing in the wildflowers at my granddaughter's home south of town in Vicksburg, MS.

A Shoutout to Maggie Boineau

In Her Own Words:

Day two! Eight hours spotting,stalking,calling gobblers. Hardest hunting when turkeys are not vocal! Another year solo hunting. Just when I thought the hunt was over for me, today I spotted this turkey strutting about 400 yards. I slowly worked my way through the woods and found a good tree to sit and to call. I was not optimistic because he already had a hen. I put out some soft calls and within a few minutes he was looking for me. I did not use a decoy so he let out a loud gobble which got my heart racing. Seconds felt like hours but he came into range. He is not the most magnificent turkey I have killed, but my heart is so grateful. More details on my blog soon I have a new slate call and it was custom made for me! Not a great pic as a solo hunter who does NOTsleep well during turkey season! #proishunting. #camo365 #turkeyhunter #iamprois #slatecalls

My congratulations to Maggie from South Carolina in our great outdoors!!

Have A Blessed Easter Bloggers

It’s thought that Easter lilies came to symbolize Christ not only because they embody purity—the trumpet-shaped blooms recall the horns that heralded the resurrection of Christ. And the life cycle of Easter lilies, which grow from a bulb for several years beneath the earth before blossoming into magnificent flowers, recalls Jesus’ death and resurrection. What other springtime flower could possibly represent Easter and Christ better? A beautiful reminder both in the Church and at home in celebration of Easter.

Winner of Hunting Showcase by Maverick

Maverick Stubbs, who harvested this 10-point buck during the youth season, is the winner of the 2024 Hunting Showcase.  Maverick will receive a $150 prize provided by The Vicksburg Post. 

My congratulations to Maverick winning the $150.00 prize and my congratulations again on a fine buck you harvested in our great wild Mississippi outdoors!

One of My Favorite Pictures of American Queen Steamboat

Through the years, this is one of my favorite pictures of the American Queen steamboat while leaving my historic hometown of Vicksburg, MS. She was in the Yazoo Diversion Canal heading to the MS River northbound. It's not your typical picture of her, which makes it different. Sadly, she will not be returning to our waterfront because the American Queen Voyages have shut down and suspended operations for good. The Queen will be missed at our waterfront, but life goes on.

Hunters Showing Off Their Deer

Shannon Hoover harvested two bucks this deer season. One was a 9-pointer she shot on December 17, and the other was a 10-pointer she got on November 26. Both were taken in Warren County.  

Congratulations to Shannon, outdoors in our great wild hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi!!! 

Young Hunters Showing Off Their Deer (6)

Andrea Lewis killed this old, mature 11-point buck on New Year's Eve.  Congratulations to Andrea!  That's an aweseome buck!

Colten Misskelley harvested this big 10-point buck during deer season.  My congratulations to Colten on his nice buck!

Laney Lewis harvested this nice 8-point buck with his bow on December 27.  This was his first bow kill.  The buck scored 119 points, and measured 22 inches on both main beams.  Congratulations, Laney.  Proud of you!

Joshuah Peterson, Jr., 9 show his first deer on January 13th.  Congratulations to you, Joshuah in our great Mississippi outdoors!

Gage Hilderbrand bagged his biggest buck to date, this 185-pounder with 24-1/2 inch main beams and a 21-inch spread, while hunting with Charles Pettway on Janaury 30.  My congratulations, Gage!  Way to go!

Hendrix Eldridge took her first mallards while duck hunting with her father, Brad, during the cold mid-January weather.  That is awesome, Hendrix!  Congratulations in our wild Misssissippi outdoors!

Happy "Heavenly" Birthday, Rex

This picture is in memory of my hunting friend, Rex Howell, whose Heavenly Birthday is today and died on January 31, 2021. His son, Spencer, took this photo of us at the family deer camp (Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club) on a workday in July 2009. He would have been 66 years old. Also, his youngest daughter, Erin, is marrying Carson today on her Dad's birthday. It will be a sad but happy day for the newlyweds but he will be there in spirit. Blessings to both of them.

Deer Camp Blog

Rex Dean Howell 

3.9.58 ~ 1.31.21