Give Us Independence!

I want to wish you all a Happy July 4th. We need to remember how great this country is and pray that we can stop the "Change" that is occuring.

Friday's Favorite Family Foto

How many guys can say their first job was to catch pro-baseball players in The Bullpen......

Brett

Brett and the pitchers waiting for a 16 inning game to end. Braves won.

This summer, Brett got his first job. His job is to help warmup pitchers in The Bullpen. I think he was a little nervous at first, but now his confidence has grown. Nothing to it. Lucky kid.

A Five Bazillion To One Chance

It's a five bazillion to one chance, but what the hey, I thought I'd try. Today was the last day to enter the Southern Living Cottage Giveaway. You could choose from four cottages located in Texas, Georgia, North or South Carolina. My favorite was the Georgia cottage that is located in Callaway Gardens. Callaway Gardens is one hour southwest of Atlanta, near Pine Mountain, Georgia. Here are a few photos, courtesy of Southern Living.

Carolina Jessamine Cottage

Living Room-I love the walls and the beamed ceiling

Living room looking into the kitchen

Love the kitchen counters and the chicken wire on the open cabinets

My favorite thing in the house is this bed in the master bedroom






Master bath

The loft. Another bedroom is through the sliding barn doors

Screened porch




If you'd like to view more pictures or take a virtual tour of this cottage and the others, just go to Southern Living to view them. I know the contest is over, but they're still fun to checkout.

New Math

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feeding cattle on a 10,000 acre Texas ranch

oops, used your monthly allowance of electricity, sorry

the new SUV

preparing the fields for corn to be used as fuel, not food

The last few days we have been bombarded by the death of Michael Jackson. While the media was going wild over this, The House of Representatives passed 219-212, (if several Republicans had voted no, this Bill would have gone away)our new Energy Bill which includes Cap and Trade. A lot of you may think, "So, what?" I am all for protecting God's green earth, but some of the things in this Bill are ludacris. Here is one example of what is in this bill...if you want to sell your home, the feds, yes FEDS, will have to come in to inspect your home. Your home must be up to the federal environmental standards. If not, you will have to spend money to upgrade your home or guess what.....you won't be selling. That is only one part of this over 1,000 page Bill. If it passes, the taxes on the American people will be tremendous. The Bill now heads for the Senate. Please call or e-mail your Senator. I know they don't listen much these days, but if you threaten to take them out of office, they may listen. They hate to lose power. I am e-mailing my Senators and telling them this, "If you do not actively fight against this Bill, I will agressively campaign against you when you run for re-election." Please. We have got to try. This Bill will change many, many things for America. A lot of it is similar to the rules California abides by and look at what a mess they are in. Do you want that?

Book Report

"Mudbound," by Hillary Jordan, is a novel set in the 1940's in the Mississippi Delta. It is about a White family that buys an old, rundown Delta farm in order to grow cotton, and their relationship with the Black sharecroppers on that land. Two boys from both families fight in World War II. The Black boy feels free while he is fighting in Europe, only to return home to Mississippi to find the same old prejudices. The White boy struggles with what he experienced in the war. They both form a brotherhood because of the war and their struggles to fit back in with life in Mississippi. Each character in this book has some sort of struggle that revolves around the hard lifestyle of The Delta. It's a very quick and good read.

An update on "The Help." Apparently the novel is causing a stir here in Jackson, just like it did with the characters in the novel. I am hearing much talk and whisperings around here about it and this morning at the gym, I heard even more. For the most part, the talk seems to be positive.

Friday's Favorite Family Foto

Dad and Me

This picture of my dad and me was taken when I was 9 years old. We were on my grandfather's farm riding his horse, Beauty. My dad looks like a real cowboy here with his hat and gun in his holster. I am wearing my little holster, too. I was such a tomboy. My dad passed away 20 years ago at the young age of 49. I miss just talking to him. He would call me quite often after I married Phillip. He always made me feel better whenever baseball took Phillip and me to a new place. Even though he's been gone for a while, I can still hear his voice as clear as day. My favorite memory of him was on my wedding day when he told me how beautiful I looked and how he was so nervous walking me down the aisle. I hope he knew how much I loved and adored him.

Visit my hostess, Deborah, for more adoring Family Fotos.

What The Heck?

It is 100 bazillion degrees with 100 bazillion humidity in Mississippi, U.S.A. Why is this young man practicing on a ballfield wearing long sleeves?
Brett