American Song & American Duchess Moored @ Waterfront

The American Song is the newest and most modern of American Cruise Lines' riverboats and made its initial stop yesterday in my historic civil war town on its maiden voyage from New Orleans to Memphis.  The second ship from American Cruise Lines is expected to make the trek up and down the Mississippi River in 2019 called, American Harmony.  

The ship, with lounges 40 feet above the water and a four-story, glass-enclosed atrium, accommodates 184 passengers.  Besides stops in Natchez and Vicksburg, the New Orleans to Memphis cruises is eight days and seven nights with daily shore excursions in ports of call that also include New Orleans and Baton Rouge.  

The American Song is the fifth cruise ship to dock in our city.  This is good for business, good for the city, and good for tourism. 

American Duchess and American Song were moored together at opposite ends of the waterfront.  She will be heading southbound and will return on October 19th.  

(Today, October 13th my Facebook friend Dan Knowles, a banjo player on American Song, posted that the American Duchess was dead in the water.  Her electricity went out and had to remove all their passengers). 

I took this picture of American Duchess while I was walking through Children's Art Park At Catfish Row.  The riverboat is peeking above the beautiful Vicksburg Riverfront Murals on the floodwall about the history of my hometown of Vicksburg:  The Key To The South!

MS Snakes Still Out There!

Killed in Harmony, MS while crossing the road.

Killed in Silver Creek, MS that didn't get away.

Killed in Collins, MS.

Killed in Starkville, MS.

Killed in Gulfport, MS by a neighbor putting it to sleep.  Watch your step...they are still out there in our wild Mississippi outdoors!

Hunting Dogs!

I can say that I have hunted with dogs at three deer camps and to hear a dog come closer and closer running a deer will keep you excited and your eyes peeled.  Years ago I had a dog to run a doe right by me but did not shoot and let it go.  I've had dogs to just hang around my stand as well and did not like that at all.  Beagles were used at the deer camps where I hunted here in Mississippi. 

3 Out Of 4 Great Grandsons @ Belated B'Day Party

This past Saturday the family was invited to attend William David's very first birthday party in Raymond, MS and also to meet for the first time our newest member of the family, Noah James.  Here I am holding and feeding him.  I'm so blessed to have lived long enough to see and enjoy my four Great Grandsons.   

Hugging up to the birthday boy, William David "Will!"

This is my Great Grandson Ian.  I love him so much and looking forward to hunting with him this season.  He just passed his Hunter's Education Course with flying colors!  His Mom and Dad are also hunters!

This picture was taken of Tidus David by his Grandmother, Kathleen, this year while visiting her in Wisconsin.  Tidus lives in Montana and I have not seen him since he was a year old.  I miss and love him so much!

Little Will digging in and tasting the sweetness of his very first birthday cake!

You can tell he is savoring every bite!

Will with his Mom, Lucy Ann, and baby brother, Noah James at their home in Raymond, MS.  Everyone enjoyed visiting and singing Happy Birthday to Will.  Will and his baby brother are a day and year apart with Noah born on September 27th and Will's birthday September 28th.  Wishing my Great Grandson Will many more returns of the day!  Happy 1st Birthday!  I love you, Great Gran Gran  xoxo

Duchess In Town Today!

The American Duchess paddlewheeler showed up this morning with passengers to spend a full day of touring our historic civil war town of Vicksburg, Mississippi.  I really like the opened blue umbrellas on the top deck.  

A pulled-back shot of the American Duchess today looking down towards Catfish Row Children's Art Park.  It was a pretty warm day for touring but I'm sure all the passengers enjoyed themselves.  She will return on 10th, 19th, and 24th of October.   She is northbound towards Greenville, MS, and then Memphis, TN.

Vicksburg, The Key To The South!

Get Out of The Road!

My Picture Published In Hometown Paper

Supper On The 'Sip:  Marian Ann Love submitted this photo of the view from the Old Mississippi River Bridge at Vicksburg of the inaugural United Way kickoff "Supper On The 'Sip" Thursday evening.  You are invited to submit photos to share with other readers of The Vicksburg Post.  Simply email high-resolution images in JPEG format to photos@vicksburgpost.com.

It was a fun and enjoyable evening last Thursday with over 15 restaurants that were lined along the bridge with 500 guests listening to music.  We also had three trains crossing over the bridge and towboats northbound/southbound.  It was truly a night to remember.   

Many thanks to The Vicksburg Post for publishing my picture in yesterday's paper in my historic civil war town of Vicksburg:  The Key To The South!

What's For Supper?

Squirrel Dumplings!

Jerrad Whisenant of Hernando, Mississippi killed him some squirrels and will be having squirrel dumplings for his family in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!

#17 ~ Another One Bites The Dust

My Facebook friend, Kareen Beinhauer killed #17 hog this past weekend in Alpine, Texas.  The story below of the kill in her own words.  

I was out before 10:00 p.m. I figured I would have the luck like I have had lately so I didn't hold out much hope that a hog would come in. The moon is full enough that I could see quite well and sometime after 1:00 a.m. I thought I could see a shadow or two and sure enough, two hogs came in and started eating the corn. I thought about taking a lung shot but I said to myself, screw it, take the headshot and I did and down he went. He actually tried to get up and take off but I put another one in him and he was done. I am so happy!!!!!!! 17 for the year, 153 total! 

She used a 6.8 SPC Rifle to shoot her hog.  My congratulations to Kareen in our great wild and wonderful TX outdoors!  Way to go girlfriend!

Happy One-Year-Old William David!

Wishing William David "Will" a very Happy One-Year-Old Birthday today!  His baby brother, Noah James was born yesterday weighing 9lbs. 2 oz., a day and year apart.  

With all the excitement the family will celebrate his birthday next weekend.  I did not want to forget my Great Grandson's birthday and can't wait to see him and his little brother for the big celebration.  I love you!  Great Gran Gran  xoxo

A Night to Remember on the 'Sip

The United Way kicked off its campaign in a big way by having for the first time, "Supper on the 'Sip."  The picture above is showing volunteers and vendors getting ready to set-up and greet 500 guests on the Old Mississippi River Bridge.  It was cloudy after downpours Wednesday but by Thursday afternoon it had let up.  Here are some pictures I took while my sorority sister, Pat and I got ready to attend a night to remember on the 'Sip!   

Beautiful fall arrangements on the bridge at the entrance on both sides.  

Ralph Miller playing on the bridge.  He is a singer, musician, songwriter, 60's, 70's, Easy Listening Folk & Pop.  

Myself with my sorority sister, Pat really excited about joining in on a fun night on the bridge.    

We are finally moving towards the vendors!

Here comes a Kansas City Southern train eastbound and the first of three trains during the evening.

A Union Pacific train going west.

Looking towards the Ameristar Casino from the bridge.

M/V Ron Callahan northbound heading for a sharp turn at Delta Point.

Wide angle of the Mississippi River and the banks of Vicksburg.  

A nice long table to sit down to eat and rest.

Vicksburg's lights on the Mississippi River.

Another Kansas City Southern going east towards Vicksburg before we left for the evening.

Lights from the city casting a nice glow on the low hanging clouds over my hometown of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River.  What a night to remember by all and was a huge success!  Looking forward to next year!

Hunting Older and Smarter Bucks

A Youth Hunt Offer

Last year, Donald Robertson, Administrator of - I Killed It In Mississippi, held a youth hunt twice for a kid until he killed his first deer. He would like to give another kid the same opportunity. This is Chance with his big doe he killed at his place. His uncle Dennis L Stacey brought him from Moss Point, Mississippi.

Chance

I am located in Sandy Hook, Mississippi so please check to see if the drive is too far before applying.

There will be only one name chosen since I have a lot of my Saturday’s already full. Hunt will be held during early December since November is full for me.

Rules are as followed:

1. The kid must be between the age of 7 and 13

2. Must be able to handle and shoot a rifle safely. If a rifle is needed, I can provide a single shot .243 youth rifle.

3. A parent/guardian must be with the child chosen.

4. Parent/guardian must be able to clean deer and show the child how to do it.

5. Parent/guardian has to have a valid drivers license, Mississippi hunting license and hunters education card if applicable. Must follow all Mississippi rules for deer hunting. Doe’s and Bucks both can be taken by youth. May even see a hog and they can be shot as well.

6. THE BIGGEST KICKER...the child must not have anywhere to hunt except public land. I want to provide a place they can easily harvest their first deer so please be honest so that you do not take a child’s place that qualifies.

7. Kids with disabilities will be considered as well, however, the stand is not wheelchair accessible. I am saving up enough money on the side to try and accommodate that need for the future.

If this fits your child’s/grandchild’s description please PM him with some details.

Good hunting to all the young hunters in our great wild and wonderful Mississippi outdoors!

Happy 46th Birthday, Suzi

Wishing my youngest daughter, Marian Suzanne "Suzi" a very Happy 46th Birthday today.  Suzi is the Mother of two daughters, Emma, 11 years old and Kate, 5-1/2 years old.  She with her hubby, Dennis and grandkids live in Virginia which is a very long ways from Mississippi.  Wishing her the best birthday yet!  I love and miss you so much!  MOM  xoxo

Fish Bites On Fire Yesterday!

According to Matt Guyton of Columbia, Mississippi, and friends the fish was on fire yesterday in Biloxi.  Looks like a fine catch of mullets in our great wild outdoors of Mississippi.  Congratulations guys!  That's some fine eats!

Big Buck Down!

This is a great video of a 2018 Iowa Youth Deer Season hunt by this young hunter's first buck. It was a perfect shot!! My congratulations to him in our great wild and wonderful Iowa outdoors! Way to go young man!

The "Cats" @ Cat Island

It looks like the gator "cats" at Cat Island are getting very big these days!  

Cat Island is a barrier island off the Gulf Coast about 7 miles from Mississippi.

The island's namesake comes from French explorers who mistook raccoons for cats.

It is unknown who discovered Cat Island.

Pictures were taken by Shore Thing Fishing Charters of Bay St. Louis, MS.

A Grizzly Encounter

The Mighty Mississippi On The Rise Again

The Mississippi River is on the rise and predicted to reach 32.7 feet by next Monday.  Hurricane Florence may be dumping rain and causing flooding in the Carolinas and along the East Coast, but the heavy rains falling in the east are not affecting a current rise in the MS River.  

It was 17 feet on September 10th.  The rise is the result of a combination of rain from Tropical Storm Gordon and a frontal system that was dropping heavy rain in the upper Ohio River Valley before Gordon arrived.  

Right now, storm Florence is in the upper parts of the Ohio River and maybe will get 1-2 inches more.  The Mississippi's level at Cario, Il is holding at 40 feet.  Unless heavy rainfalls occur it should be coming down a little bit more. 

Let's hope it will not flood in my hometown again with the rising river.  River Level today is 28.70 feet and rose 1.82 foot with flood stage at 43 feet.  

Flooding from the Mississippi River in the Yazoo Diversion Canal, in my hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 2011 at 57.1 feet.