Mississippi, Here we come!
It will take us a few days to get to Jane’s house in Mississippi. We basically just drove and stopped each evening with no detours or exploring along the way. Lunches were picnics and supper was in our trailer each evening.
There was one exception on the first day, Sunday, September 1 when we stopped in the parking lot of Diamond Joe’s casino for our weekly Bloody Mary’s. This is the 3rd time we have stopped here for this event. It was too chilly to sit outside so we had our beverages inside the trailer.
The first night found us at a Harvest Host Winery, Wooden Wheel Winery in Keota, Iowa. They were not open because it was Labor Day weekend but we had a reservation so were allowed in for an abbreviated tasting and tour. This farm was homesteaded even earlier than Dave’s family farm. The venue is an old barn and stable that has been refurbished and is beautiful. It was very dark and quiet there.
Day 2 brought us to a Cracker Barrel parking lot in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It was not as quiet as the night before but we still slept well after enjoying a meal in the restaurant that provided us with leftovers for two more meals.
We are really taking our time getting to Jane’s house. We spent a third night at an Army Corp park, Wallace Creek Campground near Pope, Mississippi. As usual, the sites are very large. Boo enjoyed staring quietly at a visiting deer.
We reached Jane’s house on Wednesday, September 4th. It is always great to get here to see Jane. Garrett and Anna were here too with their dogs. Bindi and Boo are best friends and look forward to seeing each other every year. This year, there is a new dog, Tala. Tala took to Boo right away but is a little shy around people. She is learning to trust us.
Our friends Lanna and Joel got married on Saturday night. It was about time since they had been together for 12 years. They did not know we had been invited to the pre-wedding party the night before at Joel’s sister Jenn’s house so we got to surprise them.
Rain had been forecast but cleared off for a gorgeous wedding day at the Hattiesburg Depot. Pictures will have to tell the story.
On Sunday, Hannah and Blakely came to Jane’s and we got to meet new baby Navey.
On September 14, we joined Tom and Jane at USM tailgating to listen to some good music. It was fun to watch the band too.
The next morning, we had to have a Mississippi Bloody Mary!
Dave has been busy patching the roof on our trailer. It looks like a lot of work and there were some very hot days. I am proud of him.
The next week, Tom Lanna and Joel came out to Jane’s. The guys were busy repairing the roof on her patio. Us ladies were busy drinking wine and watching football on TV!
We also spent time at Becky’s hose to celebrate her birthday. Somehow it didn’t seem fair that she should host her own birthday party but she had it catered.
It is almost time for our big trip and I had some ironing to do. Dave thought it was funny to see me do housework.
I will add another post for our BIG TRIP but when we returned, we spent two nights in New Orleans.
Dave found a quaint hotel 1/2 block from Bourbon Street, the Olivier House Hotel. This is a collection of French Quarter homes with the main one being the Olivier house built in 1839. There are 42 guest rooms. It is pretty quirky with little bumps and changes in direction or level so you have to watch your step. It is completely furnished with antiques and has 3 resident cats.
We wandered around a little the first night, mainly to find some supper. The second day, we really toured around the French Quarter. The high light was getting a Central Grocery muffaletta and some wine for lunch. Since Central Grocery has still not reopened after Katrina (but hopefully within a few weeks), they are being sold from liquor store next door. We took our lunch to Jackson Square.
Later, we did some browsing and window shopping. Eventually, we got to Pat O’Brien’s for a Hurricane or two. We sat at a table with another couple who were visiting from another town because their daughter was getting married the coming weekend.
Later we went to supper where we got engaged, Pier 424 followed by entertainment at Fritzel’s.
Tom and Jane were coming for us in the early afternoon so we stashed our luggage at the hotel after checking out and headed to the WWII museum. It was a 45 minute walk. We also wanted to see the movie “Beyond All Boundaries”. The movie was excellent and we were able to see parts of the museum as well as eating a light lunch in The American Sector.
Unfortunately, we did not know how much there was to see in the museum and had to get back to the hotel to meet Tom and Jane. WE felt the movie had given us a good overview of the museum and plan to return some day.
We wandered the Quarter with Tom and Jane for the afternoon before having an early supper and returning to Jane’s house. It was great to sleep in our own bed after almost 3 weeks and to see Boo again. We did take one picture, something we had overlooked each time we were in NOLA, the location of the signing of the Louisiana purchase.
We took in another USM tail gate event, their Homecoming because our friends, the Hub City Sound Machine were performing.
Jane hosted a football party so we could watch the Vikings lose to the Rams on the 24th. She made a delicious pot roast supper. I ditched early because I was tired. Biscuit was very friendly,
Friday the 25th is a surprise 60th birthday party for our friend Ken Garbee at So Pro.
Saturday evening is the annual Halloween part at Ken and Maureen Pace’s house. I am going to be a sophisticated witch and Dave is my chauffeur.
On Sunday we got a last chance to see Hannah, Blakely and Navey, Garrett, Anna and the dogs. We will miss all of them.
We had one last event, a gathering at Joel and Lanna’s house. Of course Mr. and Mrs. Ingram (Ami and Carroll) were there. Tom and Jane came as well as Ken and Jeannene for Ken’s actual birthday. We had a late afternoon wine time around the fire followed by a delicious Tortellini soup that Lanna made. Lanna and Joel showed us their new “digs” in the upstairs area of the house. What a great living arrangement.
It was great to be in Mississippi but Arizona is calling.