Lessons

We've covered alot of ground since that last post. There are many pictures to post, but my e-time is limited, so I'll get where I can now.

Our time in Adrian was lots of fun with grandparents, fishing and cousin time, it was bliss. Not to mention all the 4 - wheeler rides and chores around the farm to help out with. Bryce enjoyed his class reunion until he was seeing sideways, when I finally dragged him home, giving Mother's Day morning a bit of a rough start. After a few hours, we enjoyed plenty of family time and silly time with Liam and Raquel (Uncle Eric and Aunt Rachel's little ones.)

Monday morning we were on the road again, back to Columbia, to drop Bryce off to walk and talk his way around town. It was I-70 for the three of us and onto St. Louis. A short but pleasant visit with my parents, until leaving Tuesday for Cleveland, MS and the Green family abode.

The Greens greeted us with plenty of sweet, southern hospitality. John was busy with a one-week intensive semester class and plenty of students to direct with that, so we missed him, but Eleanor and Edye kept us plenty entertained. I found that the Mississippi Delta environment was arguing with my sinuses and thought I had caught cold until Elle informed me that what I had was a condition refered to as the "Delta Crud." When you visit, try not to sample this lovely condition. There is, however, a "cocktail" to cure it, that only a doc can administer. Only in the south. I thought my head would explode any second. Luckily, the boys didn't feel the same way, and took to Edye (John and Elle's 9 year old kind, patient and all around lovely daughter) like ants to a picnic. They all had a great time with one another as Elle tried to connect me to folks that might need help with Oil Spill Clean up. She also pointed out all the great places to stop and enjoy on the way to the coast. Even highlighted a map for us. This was so nice. It was great to get to connect with old friends again and as Wynne informed me on the way out of town,"That was a fun place mom, and we didn't even break that much stuff there. We were good, right mom? We should go back to play with that big girl (Edye) and have some more of that break apart sandwiches (pulled pork) - they were yummy."

On our way down here to the Gulf Coast, we did get to enjoy a few unique pieces of Mississippi. We enjoyed a short stop at the Catfish Museum, where we learned that there are more Catfish raised in Mississippi than anywhere in the world. Catfish is an important staple in the south and catfish farms here now provide catfish to folks all over the world. Who knew?

Another find thanks to the Greens was a rest stop on our way into Jackson with an Indian Burial Mound right in the middle with an interpretive trail and historical markers surrounding it. This was a big hit with the kids and a great way to spend some energy scootering and learning after a picnic lunch.

Soon enough, just a few miles down the road a Donna's #6 Produce stand was full of goodies, where they were boiling peanuts in front of us and had just made a new batch of homemade ice cream. This was too good to pass up. Wynne was so sticky after it all I probably didn't even need to buckle him into his car seat, seeing as he was stuck like glue from all the melted ice cream covering his person. It wasn't all his fault. We haven't practiced eating ice cream cones in 90 degree heat since last year. There's always a learning curve.

Now here we are in Bay St. Louis. We had a leisurely trip down here to the coast yesterday as we still do not have an assignment with the relief efforts, as the oil still spills into the ocean so deep below the surface, it is unknown when it will hit the shore. No one really seems to know what is actually happening down there where the oil continues to spew out. You can catch up with us on our new blog relating to the oil spill at www.gulfgoocleanup.blogspot.com