Nestled on a gorgeous lot about.4 miles from the Copiah-Lincoln Community College campus is one of the best restaurants in the entire Magnolia state. The Porches is advertised as, "traditional southern dining with an imaginative flair." I couldn't agree more. Everything was incredible from the bignormous (borrowing from Amanda) yeast rolls to the bread pudding covered in a perfect almond sauce. I was in heaven.

Two and a half hours from the Coast, The Porches is about 45 mins southwest of Jackson and is undoubtedly the best restaurant within Copiah and Lincoln counties. A true Mississippi gem.

The highlight of our dining experience was meeting Ms. Sybil (0n left) and Ms. Celia (0n right). These sisters are the quintessential Southern hostesses. Sweet as can be, they make everyone feel at home, in their home. Actually, Ms. Celia lives in the lovely Queen Anne The Porches operates in, while Ms. Sybil lives in another Queen Anne across the drive. While Ms. Sybil and Ms. Celia manage the gift shop, Ms. Celia's husband and son do all the cooking.
Does it get any better ladies? I don't think so. Ms. Celia and Ms. Sybil totally defy the old adage, "a woman's place is in the kitchen." Whatever! If we're talking about Ms. Celia's husband and son then "a man's place is in the kitchen" making those amazing yeast rolls, fried catfish, baked potato casserole, field peas, fried green tomatoes and bread pudding.
I am already planning another trip north so I can stop in for more yeast rolls and bread pudding. Thanks Ms. Celia and Ms. Sybil for a memorable dining experience. I hope to see you again soon!

is basically the New Orleans version of Georgetown's T. Sweet's. Infamous for their unique flavor combinations it's every ice cream lovers dream.

Two scoops is always a little much for me. So whenever possible I always ask if I can go halfsies. Not a problem at The Creole Creamery. I ordered a half scoop of their Cookie Monster flavor coupled with another half scoop of Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Pie. It was wonderful.

The staff is friendly and very helpful, always willing to offer samples of the numerous flavors. Before ordering, I sampled the Red Velvet ice cream which included substantial pieces of red velvet cake. Sooo good.

The only thing missing were my friends.

Hanging balls of light,

beaming in the night,

from the rooftop of Park Heights,

Tupelo, Mississippi.

You love it. You know you do.

Love-

BOO

German native Martin Kaymer defeated Bubba Watson in the PGA playoff. Initially it seemed the tie was three-way with Dustin Johnson in contention along with Watson and Kaymer. However, PGA officials decided to penalize Dustin Johnson with a two-stroke penalty for failing to recognize a bunker located outside an area-of-play where crowds were gathered to watch the tournament. Although Kaymer and Watson played excellent golf I believe many who watched today's tournament play will always wonder, "What if? What if Dustin Johnson had been allowed to contend in the play off? Who's name would have been added to the Wanamaker trophy?" A question for the ages to be sure. My hope is this experience will fuel Dustin Johnson's determination to become a smarter player who knows the game and how to play it with exactness. A fearless contender who will continue to "Wow" crowds and make history for years to come. Dustin Johnson, I look forward to watching your return next season and Mr. Kaymer congratulations for winning the 2010 PGA Championship!

On our way to Oxford, Meg and I stopped and stretched our legs on the banks of Lake Grenada in Grenada, Mississippi. Lake Grenada is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers and is absolutely gorgeous. The beach is clean, the water is clear and the trees are beautiful. Pecans covered the ground everywhere we walked. Even the outdoor restrooms were cool. Definitely one of Mississippi's best kept secrets.

I would love to return for a weekend of camping when the weather turns a little cooler and the humidity dissipates. Although it was summer the beaches and lake were barely occupied. It was a little piece of heaven on earth.
Also located in Grenada is a funky little ice cream stand called Spencer's Dairy Kreme. They have creative shake flavors that may seem questionable but not only do they work, they are delicious. I had a small shake with peanut butter ice cream and peanuts mixed throughout. It may sound awful but it was really good. So, if you are considering a trip to northern Mississippi be sure to include Lake Grenada on your schedule. It truly is a Mississippi Gem.

Although its difficult to read the sign above the metal hip roof it reads Boure. If you are ever in Oxford, please allow me to spare you the embarrassment of pronouncing the name of this local establishment incorrectly, which is exactly what I did. Although its spelled B-o-u-r-e the first part is pronounced Boo, instead of Bo, as I assumed, and the "re" is pronounced Ray. Put them together and you have Boo Ray. Although I've already told Rae about the restaurant, I promised I'd post a photo. It may not look like much from the outside but the filet minon and mashed potatoes were excellent. In addition, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The place was packed on a Thursday night.

The location is perfect. It's located just of the historic square in downtown Oxford on North Lamar. The Downtown Oxford Inn, where we stayed, was a short walk, which was perfect because trying to find parking on the square is difficult. If you are ever in Oxford stop by Boure. Just remember its Boo Ray.

This cow, which is an oversized lawn ornament, was so cute I had to get a photo. I love how the proud owners have taken pains to landscape around the guy, and believe me, it is a dude.

It reminds me of the large bull we used to pass on Highway 25 every time we traveled to and from Richmond. Since graduating from high school Croucher's farm has been carved up and the bull removed from his lofty perch. Although the bull of my youth was not as cute as the one pictured above, I will never forget how I always looked forward to seeing what color the Croucher family had decided to paint the bull's balls. Most of the time they were just pink but sometimes they would be something funky like blue or orange. No matter their color I miss seeing that bull, balls and all, as I traveled from Richmond to Berea and back. Some things may improve with time, but the drive on US 25 from Berea to Richmond will never be the same sans the bull of Croucher's farm.

I believe every serious cat farmer should have one of these by his side or under his feet. So, when would be a good time for us to get one? Because when Meg and I met this handsome fella we almost released him from bondage and piled him into the 300.

Isn't he adorable?

Dad, if we had a coon dog like this, I think we should name him Stonewall, Carter or maybe Happy after famous Kentuckian A.B. Happy Chandler. Something very Southern and noble-sounding. I also think Mary and Zu would love him and I have no doubt he would love the girls too. A dog like this would be a great companion; a worthy investment for a true agrarian.

You don't have to give me an answer today. Just think about it.

Love Your Devoted Daughter-

Amber

After finishing Eat, Pray, Love I decided to try Rhoda Janzen's Mennonite in a Little Black Dress. Reading Janzen's memoir is like catching up with an old friend whom you haven't heard from in awhile. The conversation, although one-sided, still seems familiar and intimate. Although I was not raised in a Mennonite family, as a Mormon, I feel like I can relate to Janzen in unique and meaningful ways.

Entertainment Weekly's says it better than I can, "A hilarious collection of musings on Janzen's childhood, marriage, and eccentric family...Janzen mines Mennonite culture for comic effect, but she does so with love."

If you are searching for a memorable summer read, look no further than Mennonite in a Little Black Dress. You won't regret it.

This morning while doing a site visit in Moss Point, Mandy and I spotted a momma raccoon with her three babies. Thinking it may be a great photo opp I put the car in park and tried to sneak up on them. I have to admit, I got pretty close before they noticed me and bolted. What surprised me was the mother raccoon totally abandoned her babies at the first sign of danger, or at least that is the way it seemed. While Momma took off one way, diving into a small creek to hide in the culvert, the babies darted to the opposite side of the road. In the photo above you can see there was a small creek on that side as well.

I decided to follow the babies and snapped this photo of them scurrying up the bank. As they were climbing to safety I could hear them whimpering. I didn't know raccoons did that. They almost sounded like puppies.

Before retreating further into the woods, one of the babies gave me this look. I think his/her expression says it all. I only hope the mother was reunited with her babies shortly after my departure. I am also very glad the mother raccoon didn't attack me while I was snapping photos of her offspring. That would have made for a very bad afternoon indeed.

Lisa, my coworker, started a tradition long before I arrived in Biloxi. For each persons' birthday in our section she decorates their cubicle or work area before we arrive that morning for work. This year she asked Amanda and Hugh to help her out. I think they did a fantastic job!

I especially enjoyed their attention to detail. This hula girl was on the Diamondhead cake Amanda made for me last year. I loved it! Tomorrow she is bringing my favorite cupcakes to work. I can almost taste them now. I am a very lucky girl.

After work Thursday, I had a wonderful dinner at Houston's. Even more enjoyable was the yummy brownie I had afterward. Imagine a soft, warm brownie sprinkled with cashews, walnuts and pecans, then topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Is your mouth watering? Mine is.
From Houston's I drove directly to Oak Alley to enjoy an evening in Cabin #3. A lovely historic side- gable cabin with clapboard siding, 6/6 wood double-hung windows and a brick pier foundation that was so cozy. I loved it and wish I could have spent more time there. It had an amazing garden tub with these jets that made you feel a little closer to heaven. I would spend another night there in a heartbeat but in the Spring or Fall. The humidity in the summer is brutal. How I managed to forget that about southern Louisiana is beyond me.

While the northeast is experiencing a heat wave, the Gulf Coast has been enduring winds and rain from tropical storm Alex. From Wednesday, June 30th to present we have had heavy rains daily. Although the forecast predicts the rain will end this weekend, I am not convinced.

I received a phone call at work Thursday afternoon from the OC saying I had flowers waiting for me at home. I could hardly wait to see them. Walking through the door after a long day at the office and seeing the colorful arrangement of cheery (sounds cheezy but its the only adjective I could think of) flowers was a welcome sight. Thanks Daddy! I love you!

Saturday, I received another beautiful bouquet from Steph and Rae Rae. After sleeping in Saturday morning I got another phone call from the Flower Basket (they delivered my first arrangement) saying they had a delivery for me downstairs. I rushed to meet them (I love getting flowers) and was surprised when the florist handed me this lovely arrangement complete with three Happy Birthday balloons. Thank you Steph and Baby Rae for thinking of me. If my birthday is any indication of how the rest of the year will be, I will welcome it with open arms.

that yields returns. Last night I purchsed the minimule Camelbak pictured above to use while surveying this summer. It works like a dream. In addition to the bladder compartment, it has another for miscellaneous essentials. I love it and can't believe it took me so long to buy one. Hooray for Camelbaks!

passed away today. So long Edith Shain.

Your memory immoratlized by a single photo will continue to elicit sighs from romantics around the world never to be forgotten. I hope your heaven is filled with moments like this.

Sunday, June 13th Hugh McAloon celebrated his 42nd birthday. To celebrate, we had lunch today at the Buttercup where Hugh's "girlfriend" surprised him with a yummy chocolate cupcake covered in frosting. Hugh being the generous man he is, shared with all the girls. Amanda gave Hugh his "This man likes Ta-Tas" t-shirt which we hope he will wear during the Susan G. Komen walk he is participating in later this year.

Tomorrow I will be giving Hugh my present which I hope he will enjoy as well.

Best wishes to Hugh for a year full of pleasant surprises which will bring him lifelong joy.

Last Thursday, upon arriving in Biloxi I was issued a Chrysler 300 (almost identical to the one pictured above) as a rental car for June-July. Thanks to Enterprise I'm cruisin' the coast in style.

had to be a woman's idea because they're a great way to satisfy the sweet/salty cravings many women experience while PMSing. I like the result but wonder why it took Mars so long to come up with the idea.

Last Saturday, I traveled to Cave City, Kentucky to tour Mammouth Caves the largest cave system in the world, thus earning its name; Mammouth. Although we had planned to take the 'Snowball' tour we ended up waiting around the park, there's not much to do above ground, for the 1:15PM 'Historic' tour because park personnel refused to make room for one more person on the 9:30AM 'Snowball' tour. I understand, believe me, I do. I should have reserved tickets in advance but I have to admit, at the time, I was really disappointed and a little pissed.

The 'Historic' tour was great. In fact, if my Aunt Linda had not recommended the 'Snowball' tour I would have selected the 'Historic' tour anyway because we all know, I love history.
Mr. Ty, our park ranger and native Kentuckian, was fantastic! He was not only informative but very enthusiastic. His excitement was contagious. I exited the caves with an increased sense of state pride.
Kentucky, home of the largest cave system in the world, can be added to the long list of what makes Kentucky a great place to live. Home of Bluegrass music, Loretta Lynn, Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, The Judds, Adolph Rupp, Henry Clay, Dwight Yokum, Maker's Mark, Derby Pie, the Hot Brown, the Kentucky Derby, Ale-8, and the list goes on and on. Oh wait! Kentucky, home of the Cat Farm. I knew I was forgetting something. I digress.
I have been wanting to see the caves since I was a child. Although the caves weren't exactly what I was expecting, I don't regret the trip. If you haven't had the opportunity to tour the caves and you are in the neighborhood; DO IT! And while you're there, if you happen to run into Ranger Ty, tell him I said, "hello."

We spent our last full day in Pigeon Forge at Dollywood which, according to the sign, is celebrating its twenty-fifth year. We had a wonderful time making memories we will, no doubt, share countless times in the upcoming years.

This was the first time my father and his brothers and sisters have ever taken a vacation together. Each mentioned they regretted waiting so long to do so. It was interesting observing my relatives apart from the environment I am accustomed to interacting with them in, i.e. my Grandma's house.

They were like teenagers. I wanted to crash at 11PM but they stayed up until 3AM playing pool, Scrabble and talking about anything and everything. Instead of sleeping in they were up again with the sun, rising around 6AM. They love spending time together and they all get along so well. It's truly incredible.

This was not my first trip to Pigeon Forge or Dollywood. Dad took Josh and I shortly after the park opened almost twenty years ago. All of my relatives, with the exception of my Aunt Lois, have also been to Pigeon Forge. It was especially exciting watching her experience an amusement park for the first time in all her sixty-three years.

Instead of watching shows, we decided to spend our afternoon riding rides. Beginning with Raging Rapids we persuaded my Aunt Lois to "trust us" and ride everything from water rides to roller coasters with us. She was so brave and she knew it too. Her reactions, which included exclamations like, "Lord Jesus save me!!" and "David, get me off this thing!!" were more entertaining than the rides. Despite everything she stayed with us, even riding the Tennessee Tornado and Mystery Mine rides.

We concluded the day with a train ride around Dollywood on an engine named Cinderella. At the beginning of the train ride, each passenger is encouraged to wave and yell "How-dee" to everyone they see as the train travels throughout the park, a custom I had forgotten since my last visit.
Although twenty years separated my two Dollywood excursions, it appears another trip is in my future. My cousin Latosha is getting married in nearby Gatlinburg on October 9th, an event that will reunite the family in the Smokey Mountains for the second time this year. From now until October I will be planning my next Tennessee adventure which I hope will include Cade's Cove and lunch at the Pizza Palace in Knoxville. If anyone has suggestions of other interesting attractions to see in and around Pigeon Forge I would love to hear about them.

Last Monday I drove to Pigeon Forge where I spent the week with my Dad, his brothers and sisters and their spouses at a 7 bedroom/7.5 bathroom cabin. So nice. I even had my own room with a full bath.

Typical of Pigeon Forge tourists we saw shows, hit the Tanger outlet mall, and spent a day at Dollywood, which I will blog about later.

After seeing a show at the Comedy Barn, Dad decided to sport his overalls, glasses and fishing hat assuming the personae of "Farmer Brown," which three-year old Brody loved. Most of our downtime was spent rocking on the upper deck where we watched Brody blow bubbles as we "chewed the fat." I couldn't resist getting a photo with Dad, or should I say, Farmer Brown as he whittled his cedar block; a memory I will cherish forever.

are generally something I like to have when on vacation, deciding where to dine, or to shop and especially where to use the restroom. If this home were on the market I would have a choice to make but it's not, perhaps saving me from making a decision I might regret.

However, I love it! It's located within minutes from the Cat Farm on Red House Road which intersects with the bypass and runs straight into downtown Richmond. The house sets back from the road on a gentle incline. There is a nice in-law cottage located in the back, perfect for guests. I love the small gambrel projection, the tapered columns and the three gable dormers. It's an unusual house but it has character and if it were on the market I would be tempted to snag it. Like Dad says, "Everyone needs a home base," and I think this little Craftsman hybrid would be perfect for me. The choice, for now, is not mine to make but someday...

Last Thursday afternoon, Kristy, Charisse and I traveled to Louisville to see the musical Wicked. Although I was familiar with the story before Thursday, I had never taken the opportunity to see it. I am so grateful to Marlow who graciously gave me his ticket and to Kristy for the invitation to join her and Charisse.

The set was impressive, the costumes lovely, the music fun and the cast

was fabulous. The energy of the auidence was incredible and made watching the show even more enjoyable.

Donna Vivino was a fantastic Elphaba but Chandra Lee Schwartz stole the show as Ga'Linda, or Glinda. Richard H. Blake made a handsome Fiyero while Richard Kline was a fun, but insensitive Wizard.

Although I enjoyed all the music I loved 'Popular' and 'For Good.' I absolutely wanted to steal Glinda's white suite, hat and heels and the dragon would be a cool addition to the Cat Farm. I'm not sure how musicals performed off Broadway compare, but I am curious to find out. If anyone's interested in a quick trip let me know. New York City in the fall would be, well...wicked.

Last Friday, while beating feet in downtown Washington, I decided to escape the heat by touring the National Aquarium located in the basement of the Department of Commerce building across from Federal Triangle. Much to my dismay drinks are not allowed in and cannot be purchased once inside. There is also a nine dollar entry fee to tour the aquarium, a collection of tanks arranged in a horse-shoe pattern.

While wondering the u-shaped aquarium corridor questions flooded my mind, such as, "this is our NATIONAL aquarium?" "Would it be more effective to combine the aquarium with the National Zoo?" "Why is it located in the basement of the Department of Commerce?" "Wouldn't a more effective use of this space be for storage or offices?"

Perhaps these are silly questions. I am positive I am not the first, and definitely will not be the last individual to question the location of the aquarium or its status as our NATIONAL Aquarium. Despite its size or content, if you're on the Mall and need a break from the sun check out the National Aquarium. The lines are a fraction of those for the museums and if you don't mind parting with nine dollars you can witness rats being fed to baby alligators, before walking away with that philanthropic feeling of I did something good today. I know I did.

Late last night I returned from a weekend trip to Washington that would have been impossible without the kindness of my Uncle Jerry. Saturday, as we were walking back from Georgetown we passed Pizza Paradiso's new location on P Street. Per Jerry's recommendation I decided to grab dinner there later that evening. I was not disappointed. The place was packed, always a good sign, and the food was excellent. I snagged a seat at the bar overlooking the large ovens in the rear where pizza "chefs" sported t-shirts with 'Eat Your Pizza' printed across the back. I couldn't decide if the phrase was intended as a command or encouragement. Either way, I obeyed and did just that. The only thing left on my plate were the fresh tomatoes I picked off my pizza.

Sooooo...should you find yourself in Washington, pounding pavement in Dupont or Georgetown, with a craving for pizza look no further than Pizza Paradiso. Like Papaleno's, its pizza paradise.

to Mary, "tink" model cat
and ZuZu, "fatty" bootiful girl!
This month our baby girls turn eleven. Since we can't remember their exact birth date we are going to do little things throughout May to celebrate. Yesterday, our "party" girls sported flower chockers around their necks. Today? Who knows?

Although Dad and I assembled it we're not the ones enjoying the new hammock.

I helped Dad hang the Seabee flag I bought for him at the Air Force base in Pensacola, Florida. It looks so nice floating beneath the Stars and Stripes.
I played with the cats in the backyard. A row of irises blooms every spring along the left-side of the fence. They are so lovely, I wish a row grew on the opposite side as well.

Two-story, double-galleried, variation of a Katrina Cottage with an asphalt shingle, gable-on-hip roof and Hardy Plank cladding. We spotted this pre-fabricated home on our return trip to Biloxi this afternoon just north of Gulfport on US Highway 49. I snapped this photo with my Blackberry.

Despite differing opinions of the populace, not a soul can argue the presence of Katrina Cottages have failed to significantly influence the built environment post-Katrina, shaping the future of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in ways that can and will only be measured years hence. It will be interesting to see if this two-story variation will be as popular or unpopular as its one-story predecessor.

Photo Courtesy Meg Richardson

Just for the record, not one of them is mine.