2009 Day 168 The long road home

We decided to go from Baton Rouge to Atlanta via Jackson, Mississippi, where we stopped for some incredible brownies and a short visit with Daddy and Martha.

A few hours later, we realized we were simply too tired to make it all the way to Atlanta, so stopped and spent the night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with my ever hospitable sister-in-law, brother, niece, and (yet unborn) nephew. Thanks, McConnell family!!

2009 Day 167 Roziers

Mrs. Rozier, Trish, Kathryn, Mary, Patrice.....all dressed up for Trish's baby shower.

2009 Day 166 Rozier Garden

Becky and I visit the Roziers (Tony's parents) and tour their garden.

20090 Day 165 Time with the Parkers

Becky, Jerry, and Juli very, very patiently taught me to play Settlers of Catan. It was fun, but most of all I enjoyed the time spent with the three of them.

Baton Rouge Farmers Market. The green and white squash are Cushaw, which I'd never heard of. They are huge, and (according to a site I read) can be cooked "like any other winter squash."

Always a good hostess, Becky fed me well!!

I have to report that Becky has weeds in her lawn. They are beautiful weeds, though, which she carefully avoids with the mower.

2009 Day 164 Fish and a Peacock

Becky took me to visit a friend's garden and animals...unfortunately the peacock wouldn't face us with his glorious tail, but still....

2009 Day 163 And then to Baton Rouge!

I spent a few wonderful days with my good friend Becky and her family in Baton Rouge. We rode across the Mississippi River on a ferry (then rode right back).

Becky took me out to her land in St. Francisville. This country girl was thrilled! The land was perfect....it has woods and fields and hills and lovely trees--and a chimney perfect for outdoor fires! It's happy land.

2009 Day 162 Fun in the Sun

Matthew being brave between waves.

And look who showed up for the last day at the beach...

2009: Day 161 I saw it in the sand

Pink barnacles!

I think this fellow (above)looks a bit confused....while the one below seems to be wringing his hands in worry.

2009 Day 160 Pensacola Beach

June 8 we (Lauren, Jonathan, and I) drove to Pensacola Beach Naval Air Station, where we met up with my dad, stepmom, stepsiblings, siblings, nieces, and nephews.

This little fellow seems to be looking for a larger home.

Early, early morning on the beach.

2009 Day 159 Family Fun

Jonathan, Lauren, Mama, and George look at photos of the visit so far.

Mama and Matthew at Dauphin Island.

2009 Day 158 Safari

George took us all out in the jeep to survey the land. We climbed trees, cut trails, and had a great time. Click here for more family visit photos: Family

I love my trees.

Tony, Laura, Jonathan, Lauren---all in (or on, in some cases) the back of the jeep.

2009 Day 157

Lauren, George, Mama, Laura, Jonathan

I've found that I tend to forget to take pictures of people, and usually come home with shots of flowers and animals and anything but people. I started out making an effort to do better, but at the end of the trip I discovered a woeful lack of people photos!


At any rate, I did get some people shots on this phase of the trip, out by the old oak tree. Above are the three generations: Mama, me, Lauren.

2009 Day 156

Matthew learned to take photos, along with some help from Tony (who was trying to lean sideways to compensate for the wild angle of Matthew's aim!

Brothers: Michael and Matthew

2009 Day 155 The Wedding Day

June 6 we attended the wedding of Terri Wilbanks and Jim Rice in Mobile. Terri and I have been friends since college. What a wonderful day!! Click for more wedding photos: Wedding

2009 Day 154 Southern Trip Begins

June 5 I started the morning early, in the pouring rain, cleaning my fish pond pump. Then I sat in traffic forever before finally heading toward Atlanta, about 1.5 hours later than planned. After picking up Tony around lunchtime, we drove to Auburn where we added my nephew Michael to our carload, and finally arrived in St. Elmo in time for a Shrimp Feast.

We had boiled shrimp from the boat, George's famous french fries, and fresh corn on the cob. Like in my childhood, we simply put newspaper on the table and dove in. What a meal!! Family, good memories, and delicious food--it doesn't get much better than that.

2009 6/2 Day 153 The Remains

Irene's house. Basically the chimney and tin roof remain. You can see the tip of the smokehouse roof directly behind where the house was, and the barn to the right. Neither were damaged. My heart hurts. (Guest photographer)

2009 6/1 Day 152

2009 5/31 Sunday Day 151 Gone

Irene's house--full of memories, love, and irreplaceable family items--gone. Arson.

How many times have I seen Irene sitting out here chatting? Gone. Senseless arson.


It's a sort of death. Wiped out without warning, with no appeal, by an incomprehensible act of arson. I'm grieving the loss.