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Showing posts from November, 2024

Miss Hospitality

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OLD WARREN COUNTY COURTHOUSE Vicksburg, MS Rusty and I had to make a trip to Vicksburg this weekend to tend to some family business. As I sat in a building near the Old Courthouse Museum, I thought of how many people travel to the area to see the historic buildings and homes of the Hospitality State.  I laugh about that phrase because although I’m from Mississippi, hospitality is not one of my strong points.  I grew up in a town near Natchez and later on in life I realized that people travel from all over the world to see the many Antebellum homes with their grand architecture and furnishings.  My friend, Lisa, and I made it our mission to visit a few of these homes and see what all the hype was about. My absolute favorite will always be Longwood.  If you’re ever in the area and only have time to visit one, I would suggest that you see it. The fact that it was never completed is an added bonus as you’re able to see some of the old ways of construction as well as the ...

It’s Personal

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I've always thought that any personalized gift was special. It meant that whoever gifted it to you took the time to pick it specifically for you. Many years ago, I started making hand routed signs in Dad's shop. He let me use his leftover materials and taught me how to use his tools. I learned quickly to keep my fingers out of the way while using the router table. That lesson only cost me a fingernail and a near heart attack. In later years, I purchased a laser engraver and set it up inside a former 8'x8' pump house. The workspace really was itty-bitty, but it was big enough to turn out thousands of items that I sold on Etsy until my equipment failed.  As much as I think personalized items are nice, personal relationships are even better. Everyone needs someone they can talk to. Someone we can trust with our struggles. Someone who will pray with us and pray for us when we don't seem to have the strength to do it on our own.  Although we all need people, there is one...

What's a Little Rain?

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  Kristine and James own an AIRBNB at Shoal Bay. One of the unique outdoor features is the swinging bridge that crosses the small wet weather stream. Most of the time, there’s at least a little water present.  But in times of a drought as we've had lately, it does dry up. Although this is listed in the description, some tend to read over that part and not pay it much mind. Recently, a guest complained that there was no water in the stream and said that was the main reason he had rented it. The eventual reply to the complaint was professional and courteous, unlike the urge to send… We’d like for it to be flowing too, but we don’t control the weather. Lol This weekend, I attempted to burn boxes and leftover materials from our recent renovation. For weeks, they had piled up due to the burn ban. I was so thankful when the much-needed rain finally came, and the ban was lifted. I looked forward to having a raging fire and getting rid of the clutter that seemed to stare at me in my h...

Taking Things for Granted

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Lake Dardanelle from Mt. Nebo When we moved to our current area, it was hard to get used to living near mountains and large lakes. I remember standing at the edge of Shoal Bay right after we purchased our house and looking across the water with East Pine Ridge in the background. It was a beautiful and peaceful sight. Family and friends love to come visit and take in the views of the Natural State. One day, someone who has lived here all of his life told me he didn't understand why so many people come to visit this area as our mountains are small compared to others in the country. I said it's because he had just gotten used to the things around him and taken them for granted and that people who live in areas without things we're used to, enjoy seeing them. I could say that because I was guilty of it as well.  For a while, I would gaze at the beauty of Mt. Nebo each time I drove past it, but the longer I've lived here, I hardly pay attention to it anymore.    I think we d...