Delta blues part 2

 

 Headed out of Rolling Fork we were told to look for Mont Helena. You are driving through the flat delta and suddenly in the distance you see this.

 

 

Built  on a ceremonial (not to be confused with burial) Indian mound. This gorgeous home is Mont Helena.

 

 

It is fully renovated and used for parties and events. We drove up the steep driveway.

 

 

Beautiful porch and view.

 

View from the porch.

 

On to Nitta Yuma. This is where the trip got sort of magical. We were told there was another old house there, with lots of out buildings. It was all so cool and surreal. It felt like a ghost town.

 

Oh god...another loser photo...is this thing on??

 

Nitta Yuma Post office.

 

Surrounding buildings

 

This one was especially interesting. Chimneys all along the sides.

 

Peeking in a cool old store...full of antiques

 

Parked on the side.

 

As  we were peeking in this guy and his super cute girlfriend pulled up on a four wheeler. I asked if he knew anything about Nitta Yuma. He said in fact he did. His ancestors established the town in the 1700's! He told us a bit about it and then said..."would you like to see inside?'. Are you kidding? It was so wonderful. The store was filled with family heirlooms. He said his grandmother had an antique store on this property. He told us he is Henry Vick Phelps VI. Their family history is rich with ties to the Vicks of Vicksburg. So cool wanted to hear more but hated to impose. So sorry  did not get a pick of his girlfriend and her name. Hope they will see this and comment.

 

another family home there

 

this is why I love the Delta, endless vistas and great stories and people

 

Last stop, Glen Allan

 

Ruins of Episcopal church in cemetery.

 

some great tombstones. Y'all know how I love that.

 

Beautiful day all around

 

Headed home. Cool bridge

 

Lucy lady bug

Lucy was very excited to pledge a sorority recently. She chose Phi Mu.

 

Had to send her a little happy in the mail.



Delta blues? Part 1

I think not! Bev had admitted to a mild case of January blues. I decided that what she needed was a little fresh air. Candy's dad used to say "you need to go outside to blow the stink off of you". As  crude as that may be I understand the sentiment. So the trip started from Candy's...fortified with coffee drinks to go for Bev and Candy (hers with Kahlua, Bev's with only whipped cream) and me with a pretty righteous Bloody Mary. Hey Bev was driving. We headed for Onward Mississippi.

 

Onward is near the site of the famous incident where Theodore Roosevelt refused to shoot a tethered injured bear that was brought to him. He had not had any luck hunting black bear that day. News spread of his kindness (I guess you could call it kindness, I'm sure the bear bought it anyway), and the toy Teddy bear was born.

 

This one welcomed Bev and Candy. The store and restaurant looked great. We had been their several years ago and the place was a disaster.

 

 

Not so anymore. Cute as can be. They kept the charm and lost the disaster.

 

 

Imagine our delight when they said "Yes the tamales are homemade".

 

We all love tamales and these were very traditional and good. Maybe our next road trip to the delta will be to follow the tamale trail

 

Not sure how I could get more carbs on this plate...maybe if I moved the tartar sauce. It was good though and a sweet waitress.

 

Cross dressing cigar store Indian (Native American? doesn't sound right) bid us adieu.

 

 

On to Rolling Fork. We were greeted at the visitors center and sent on a carved bear tour. This little shotgun shack is right in the middle of town with Muddy Waters Blues marker. Candy said they were two poor widow women on their porch.

 

 

 

 



Ryan's 30th

You know I love my son-in-laws. So I didn't mind the devastation that Texas sheet cake left in my kitchen.

 

 

Yes that is part  of the 4 sticks of butter it takes melting in the foreground. I always use the Pioneer Woman's recipe. It is perfect.

 

 

Made a couple of posters featuring the pets.

 

He was very surprised. Don't know how Mary Grace and I  kept our mouths shut.

 

 

We sat all over Candy's house and had excellent Jambalaya and Gumbo made by the lovely Margaret.

 

 

She was a little intimidated when she heard that their friend Casey, who owns Sal and Phil's restaurant, was coming. He and Ryan were discussing the fact that Pizza Shack just won best Pizza in town and Casey's restaurant almost won best Seafood on town. He said he will win next year and I believe it. It is the best in my opinion.

 

 

The few leftovers.

 

Trying to figure out indoor fireworks.

 

 

The poppers festooned the chandelier.

 

 

The cake.

 

Liam Sebree helped with the candles.

 

Everyone enjoyed the cake.

Flora

Went to pick Vick up and was greeted by her 4 barking Chihuahuas. They all ran away before I could get a  picture. This is Pebbles the matriarch.

 

 

We headed to Livingston Market since she had never been, only to discover they are closed on Monday. Being halfway to Flora (and starving), we decided to go back to that little place on Main St. We enjoyed country food with the good citizens of Flora.

 

We were too late for the chicken so we got vegetable plates. It was so good.

 

This was homemade, from scratch chocolate cake. I know, I know, sugar is not my friend, but this cake showed up from 1967...what else could I do.

 

Vick scored at the antique mall. $30!

 

Alright, the next day I paid. Took this one so Lucy could see me using my Christmas bag.

 

Goat food followed.

Uneventful weekend

You know it is a slow news day when you get pictures of these two.

 

 

Junior on camo. Ed used to call his previous cat, Tiger, camo cat.

 

 

Pepper is notorious for never looking cute in pictures.

 

Gibbs who thinks he is a lap dog.

 

Mary Grace and pups came over for dinner Friday night. Ryan was duck hunting.

 

Had some leftover broccoli, so I made cheese soup with it.

 

Ok let me be a bit nostalgic here. When Vick and I quit work after we had our kids, we made a vow to get together once a week. One of the things we did, especially when babies were in Mother's morning out and preschool, was breakfast at Olde Tyme Deli in Highland Village. For years we got the same thing. It was some kind of big old sausage split, cooked on the grill and served on an egg roll. Now I don't mean Chinese egg roll, but a big, soft, yellowy bun. They were so good. Have never seen anything similar anywhere else. This was not the same either. Oh well, as Mom says it is one from the memory bank.