Sound Bites & Snap Shots

Taking a trip to Mississippi over Memorial Weekend was a sudden but splendid decision.  The timing was right and the opportunity just presented itself so naturally that we couldn’t pass it up.  You see, my aunt and Spencer live due south of us on a big piece of land outside of Tupelo in a small town called Okolona.  We have been intending to go visit them ever since we landed here in Indiana almost nine years ago.  We never made it happen until now.  As things turned out, Spencer finally sold the land (but is keeping the house) and is down there to get everything ready.  What I didn’t know was that my aunt Renee drove out with my gramma as well.  They once again extended and invitation and we jumped on it.  Driving a family of four for six hours is a much easier endeavor than planes, trains and automobiles to Los Angeles, right?

No major interstate highways lead directly from here to there so we enjoyed a lot of small country roads.  We attempted a few geocaches and stopped at an antique store for a pit stop.  That’s where my three monkeys sit in this giant chair.  We stopped for lunch and landed in Tupelo at about 4 pm.  My aunt, gramma and Spencer met us at our hotel and then we drove off for dinner.

Dinner at Cravin’ Catfish in Sherman, Mississippi was a true Southern Fish Fry.  Fried fish, fried green tomatoes, fried okra, French fries and a few sides of macaroni and cheese were some of the offerings along the giant buffet.  The company was the best part!

The boys were so tender with GG.  They are now big and brawny next to her.

After an early dinner, we drove back to Okolona to see the house.  Spencer and Renee have done plenty of entertaining boys on this piece of land.  There were lots of balls to play with.  Luck (?) would have it that Mason managed to trap all of them in the hoop. 

The next morning we got up and had a leisurely breakfast.  The boys swam for a little while but only Mason was a fan of the outdoor pool. We did a little more geocaches which took us through different areas of Tupelo than we might have discovered on our own.  Then it was off to Auntie Renee’s for lunch and some outdoor activities.

Balls.  Have I mentioned that Auntie Renee and Spencer have a driving range? Walker and Mason spent hours hitting golf balls and then retrieving them.

Just in case you were wondering, that hoe is for killing snakes that one might cross when on a hike.  No kidding.  Bill and the boys went out to explore without one and Spencer went barreling after them in the truck to bring them back to safety. 

These cattle could have been Spencer’s because cattle is what resided on his land for many a moon.  He had finally sold them last year so these belong to a neighbor.

Saturday night dinner was around the table just like it was when I was growing up.  We parted ways back to our hotel at dusk so we didn’t have to navigate through the country roads in the dark. 

Sunday we got up and checked out of the hotel on the early side.  We had a few hours to explore before meeting up with my aunt and gramma for Mass.  A chain called Scruggs caught our eye.

It was for me a crazy mix of rural farming and home improvement supplies.  Saddles?  Yes, right next to the large selection of cowboy boots.

Last stop before heading back home was Mass.  We were so warmly greeted and in such a Southern way.  Not only did people come over to greet us, they announced our names as part of the opening comments.

I’m so glad we got to travel to see family.  Our trip was filled with love!

Finally, on our travels I finished the Milo vest I was making for Milo May.  It doesn’t get better than that!