March 8, 2020 - Sunday morning
46 degrees/clear/calm winds
Meador Road - Laurel, MS

We're up bright and early this morning for church. Garry and I will leave in a bit for Indian Springs Baptist Church and Jody and Sargie will follow shortly after. 

Jody and Sargie enjoying breakfast Saturday morning

Today's special music? Jody's preschool choir of four and five year olds is performing and we're looking forward to hearing the warbling munchkins sing the praise of God.

Yesterday was another fun one. Jody and Sargie left for a home decorating program. Sargie won the door prize of an acacia plant and was also introduced as a special guest. My girl was beaming when they arrived home later in the day.

Garry's and my first stop was at Freddie and Jan's.



The folks live just down the road and around the corner and I hardly recognized Freddie who has lost almost sixty pounds! I told the boy if he stood sideways and closed one eye, he'd resemble a sewing needle.

Last week saw a killer hail storm around Laurel and the talk of the town as been what hail damage many have received. Freddie was good enough to share the following video taken during the height of the storm from his front porch.

Our next stop was at Jame's and Brenda's, not far away. 

James turns some unbelievable bowls and is truly a master craftsman. I enjoyed the company of both and learned a lot after asking him a zillion questions about turning.

James has his priorities in all the right places.

Garland and Bobbie were next on the list to visit. Garland has a shop that I would kill for and just like James, has turned some bowls and other items that would retail for huge money if he sold them. He doesn't. Like most hobby woodworkers, the humble man simply gives them away.

We were met by Garland's wife, Bobbie, who gave us mugs of coffee and unlimited friendship.

Garland

Nephew Douglas's chicken farm was our next stop. Though Douglas wasn't around, Garry's been there enough that he was able to give me the tour and explain much of the process.

It was pitch black in the one barn we visited, so I was shooting pictures completely blind. The lights go on and off at feeding time, regardless of the day. It's all a very scientific process.

Douglas has four barns, stretching from here to the horizon, and all are neat and clean as a pin.

We met the girls later in the afternoon back home and made plans to go to one of my favorite grazing places, Charlie's, to dine on catfish.

I originally found Charlie's over forty years ago while in grad school at Southern Miss in Hattiesburg. Other than the prices being a bit higher, it hasn't changed much.




Kari and the kids, Madeline, Garry and Jody's granddaughter, Sargie, and I, enjoyed a huge meal of fried catfish, hushpuppies, fries, and cole slaw.

I ate three catfish and hard telling how many hushpuppies and handfuls of fries.

I may be a Yankee at heart, but when it comes to fried catfish, pecan pie, and sweet tea, I'm 100% southern!

Madeline, Abby, and me

My newest BFF is Brently. I had a lot of fun making faces and watching the munchkin imitate me. Just a cutie pie.



It's time to end, chow down on one of Miss Jody's sweet rolls, and think about heading to church. I've always enjoyed attending Jody and Garry's church where NO ONE knows a stranger. Just plain good folks, all of them.

It's springtime in the deep south and the songbirds are building nests everywhere. Above is a cardinal. Below, a bluebird.

Time to roll.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...