Last Night's 150th Grand Illumination

Last night the Vicksburg National Military Park's Sesquicentennial Grand Illumination was held.  I was lucky to be able to make the whole trip through the park which took close to two hours.  It was held from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.  You could not stop or exit your vehicle and had to keep moving about 5 or so miles an hour with your lights on. We had to stay alert for wildlife but saw no deer, hogs or turkeys that have been seen in our park. It was a very memorable and uplifting experience for me.  Could hear the cicada bugs and frogs loud and clear.  I went in close to 7:00 and came out around  8:45.  As I was exiting the park their were a mob of cars trying to get in and to view the illumination.  Below are some pictures that I took that turn out fairly well considering I was trying to drive and take pictures at the same time.  By the end of the tour you could really see the luminaries well with the led candles inside.  It was an awesome site!  Their were yellow bags and white bags throughout the park.

According to the brochures that was handed to me at the entrance, the luminaries were representing men who were killed, wounded, or missing were place at the state memorials - one luminary for each soldier from that state who was a casualty.  Of the 19,233 casualties, records could not determine the exact location for 2,228 confirmed casualties that could not be identified by state were dispersed though out the Grand Illumination in yellow bags to mark them as confirmed, but unidentified casualties.  No site had less than 100 luminaries.  The traditional white bag luminaries represented confirmed casualties honored at their state memorial.  In addition to state monuments, several sites were  selected to honor other casualties including the U. S. Colored Troops and the C. S. River Batteries.

"...we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground.  The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."  
~Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address 

Memorial Arch

Minnesota Memorial

Michigan Memorial

Wisconsin Memorial

African American Monument

Maj. General Ulysses S. Grant's Headquarters

Rhode Island Monument

U.S. Navy Monument

Setting sun.

Nearing the USS Cairo Museum.

 The Yazoo River Diversion Canal.

Fort Hill

Tennessee Memorial

Missouri Memorial

Arkansas Memorial

Louisiana Memorial

Mississippi Memorial

Texas Monument

Indiana

 Coming up on the Iowa Memorial.

Iowa Memorial

Trying to drive and take pictures...

Traffic jam at the entrance with people trying to get in to see the Grand Illumination.

Heading out...a wonderful experience.

In Memory of Margie

Today, I attended the funeral of a very sweet lady huntress whom I looked up to and admired. I first met her when I started hunting at Jasper Bottom Hunting Club on the Big Black River in Claiborne County about 28 years ago.  I was a member for about 25 years until I had to get out because of unforeseen circumstances. Her husband, Bill, worked at Anderson Tully-Lumber Company (ATCO) where my husband, Bob, was Director of Labor Relations for ATCO.  Bill leased the land from (ATCO) to hunt and that is where I got my start in hunting.

In George Joy's tripod stand at Brown's Point Hunting Club in Kings Point Island, at the MS River with my cool orange hat on.   I still have my hat to this day!

The very first time I saw Margerey (Margie) she had on the coolest looking orange hat and I knew I had to get me one just like hers.  I had never met another lady hunter before and it was awesome to see her hunting with her husband, daughters and son, Allen.  Her daughters each had their own deer stands and also her son, Allen.  I hunted off their stands and even had my very on stand as well near the Big Black River.

~Margerey Sollys Brown~

Died Friday, June 28, 2013

at home.

Margerey, 78, who was well known for her quick wit and dry sense of humor, grew up in her father's tamale business.  There, at a very young age, she would stand on a stool to dip up, wrap and serve hot tamales.  After graduating from St. Francis Xavier Academy for girls, she met and married the love of her life, Richard "Bill" Brown.  During her 56-year marriage to Bill, while raising three daughters and one son, she was an avid fisher woman and huntress.  Along with her husband, father and children, she traveled extensively for family vacations.  She also enjoyed golfing and attending numerous functions and dances at the Elks Lodge, where she and Bill were members for several years.  She also was a wonderful seamstress and enjoyed making clothing's for her girls.  In 1993, she opened The Tamale Place, where she drew upon her life experience working for her father.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Frederick "Bill" Brown, her father, Henry Howard Sollys; her mother, Hazle Courtney Connerly Sollys; two sisters, Allie Mae Chappel and Stella Naomie Mathis; and a daughter, Rhonda Brown Tuggle.

Survivors include one son, Richard "Allen" Brown (Shiela) of Utica; two daughters, Judy Formby (Alan) of Bossier City, LA, and Brenda Sims (Andy) of Gallman, MS; one sister, Bonnia Knipp of Austin, Texas; 13 grandchildren, Brian Formby, Erin Formby, David Formby, Rachel Sullivan, Cerissa Neal, Daniel Sims, Joel Sims, Paul Sims, Andrea Sims, Matthew Brown, Michael Brown, Kendra Mauldin and Jack Mauldin; 12 great grandchildren, Lyle Formby, Garret Neal, Landon Neal, Sawyer Neal, Shaye Sullivan, Josh Sullivan, Peyton Sims, Olivia Sims, Steel Sims, Bradley Dwiggins, Emmy Hollowell and Blake Hollowell; numerous nieces and nephews; and a longtime friend, Dot Griffin.

Services were held today at 11 a.m. at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home with Brother Glen Allen officiating.  Burial followed at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery.  

Pallbearers were David Formby, Michael Formby, Matthew Brown, Daniel Sims, Joel Sims and Paul Sims.  

The family would like to extend a special thanks for Dr. Sam Pierce, the staff of Camellia Home Health and Hospice, the staff of Private Home Care and Leigh Ladner for their care and dedication.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105

May she rest in peace!

Shot Placement

I have encounted all three shot placements during my 28 years of hunting.  I have also harvested two bucks with a neck shot that is not shown here.  It is very important to make the shot count and be a clean one.   Hunting season is right around the corner in our great wild outdoors!

My Neighbor's Day Lilies

 

 

I stood at their white picket fence and zoom in to get these photos.  I love their day lilies!

Coyote or Fox

This is a cam shot from my Facebook friend, Dave Quick, that was made the first part of the month and it looks like he is not sure if it is a coyote or a fox.  It looks like a fox to me. What do you think?

Note:  Thanks for your replies...I now know that it's a coyote! 

Bo's Lucky Pig!

Bo, who finally got his pig last night according to my Facebook friend, Jeff Hunt, his Dad. He said it will be a good eating sow weighing in at 100 pounds.  Red, the dog, saved them again on the recovery.  Notice the bell on Red's collar.  I had a similar experience when I shot a buck and could not find it and a dog was sent from another camp to look for my deer and luckily it was found.  He also had a bell on him and did not bark until he was at the buck.  What in the world would we do without dogs in our lives?  I'm so happy for Bo on his hog hunt.  Red was a good dog to find it so we could get this great picture of Bo proudly smiling and showing off his harvest in our great wild outdoors.  Congrats Bo!

My Three Fawns!

 

Have a great weekend everyone!  

A Lady Hog Huntress

This lady hog huntress, Thetis, from Tennessee, said that she never gets tired of a hog hunt! This is from her hunting trip in Florida this year.  What a challenge with a bow!  I will be trying to get me a hog with my .270 rifle this year at the famous Christmas Place Plantation and Hunting Club on the edge of the Mississippi Delta.  I hope to be as successful as she is.  My congrats to her on getting a very fine hog in our great wild outdoors!  You go girl!

We Sing The Forest

M/V O. H. Ingram Passing @ Vicksburg

You can almost find me everyday or so taking the Louisiana Circle to check out the MS River and the towboats passing through our beloved city.  I don't live far from the river so it makes it easy for me to swing by.  As I was approaching the circle I saw one coming under the bridges and it was a big towboat pushing barges/containers.

I'm posting this article for a former SFXA classmate of mine, Shirley, whom I saw today and we talked about our historical city and the love we have for our hometown and the riverboats.  These pictures were taken between 11:15 and 11:30 this beautiful Tuesday morning!  

(Click on pictures for a better view)

An ERGON tugboat heading to M/V  O. H. Ingram of Ingram Barge Company to drop off supplies/groceries.

Closer view of the M/V  O. H. Ingram.

Getting there...

A pull-out view on a beautiful Tuesday morning.  

Turning into the towboat to get along side.

Made it...

Got groceries and everybody is happy!

The M/V  O. H. Ingram getting ready to swing out to make the turn in the bend of the Mighty Mississippi.

Tugboat headed back to ERGON.

Making the wide turn and heading north with empty barges/containers.