Tales from Pentoga

We're back in Laurel
Abby June Bug, Miss Jody, Miss Sargie

March 19, 2020 - Thursday morning
69 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Meador Road/Laurel, Mississippi

And just like that, we've been transported from the land of brown and dry to the beautiful climes of green and lush. We're back in Mississippi.

Miss Jody's flower beds, shrubbery, and yard, look like pictures from Better Homes and Gardens. (Not that Garry would have anything to do with it.)

Wednesday morning saw us out of bed at 2:30. Poor Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri. What a long day for both as they took us to the airport, half an hour distant.

We had such a good time in the Brownsville area. Mark chauffeured our little group all over the southern tip of Texas and both he and Sheri made sure we had a good time. Thanks folks, we love you.

And eat? Lord, there aren't enough miles on my regular daily walking route to work off all the pudgy pounds that have collected around my mid section. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm going to have to begin eating less, well, as soon as we get back home. Between all the great dining in Texas and Miss Jody's fantastic southern cooking, my belly is taking the lead everywhere I go.

The flight was a good one from Harlingen, Texas, to Dallas. The sunrise was one of the prettiest I've ever witnessed. While taking the picture below, I pondered, thinking that if a person didn't believe in God after witnessing something so beautiful, well, then he must be blind.

After receiving heavy rains this spring, it was evident Dallas and vicinity had more water than they knew what to do with.

Our plane touched down a few minutes early. Mississippi Brother Garry and Miss Jody were at the airport to pick us up and it was good to walk off the plane and into their hugs.

Wednesday afternoon was a fun one. Garry and I mixed enough resin to give the colored pencil bud vase it's first coat.

Garry's using a heat gun so the air bubbles trapped in the resin will rise to the surface and dissipate.

Abby June Bug and Monkey Man called and said they were coming for a visit. Taking a shortcut through the large pine plantation between here and their home, the two soon emerged from the woods.

Nothing better on a warm, sunny, Mississippi afternoon than a cold, refreshing, ice cream bar.

Garry had tilled the garden once or twice since we'd left for Texas and with rain in the forecast, was eager to plant sweet corn. Much of his garden is dedicated to corn and the folks give away as much or more than they use themselves.

First things first was to get the old Farmall ready.

Afterwards, Garry made furrows and spread fertilizer.

It was time to plant. Garry uses a rolling hand planter, much like the one I used years ago when we gardened commercially.

Being a true farm boy of rural Mississippi, Garry much prefers his footwear to be au natural and remains that way during the summer months. In Yankee terms, we'd call that going barefoot. (I'm told Miss Jody makes him wear shoes when attending church.)

It was warm and humid and I was itching to feel the soft dirt between my toes. Returning back to my days as a graduate student at the University of Southern Mississippi, I soon found myself barefoot behind the helm of the one row planter.

It's what all Yankees who garden dream about during the long winter months.

What we don't dream about is stepping smack dab into a nest of fire ants while going barefoot. The stinging mini beasts kept my tootsies on fire until I was able to do a quick dance in the loose dirt, rubbing them from their biting ways.

The Dallas Cheerleaders have nothing on Miss Jody and Sargie. The Meador Road Duo were rooting us on from the far end of the garden.

Miss Jody worked her kitchen magic last night by treating us to corn on the cob and barbecued pulled pork. Miss Sargie was her able and willing assistant.

Fresh homemade sugar cookies for desert?
Sure, why not!

Last night was a mellow one. Though I'd managed to slip in an hour nap earlier in the day, poor Sargie hadn't and was on her last legs. We both slept well and I awakened early this morning with my feet ready to hit the floor.

We had a delightful surprise when pulling into Garry and Jody's yesterday afternoon. Someone had washed our car! After driving over a thousand miles through snow, slush, and rain, it was once again clean and shiny!

We soon discovered that Kari Sue, Monkey Boy, and Abby June Bug, had driven it to their house and washed it while we were in Texas.

Talk about sweet munchkins, do they come any sweeter? Thanks Kari, Abby June Bug, and Monkey Boy. Aunt Sargie and Uncle Tom will enjoy driving home in their shiny, clean, car, and I hope you know, we love you all.

With Abby June Bug holding the sprayer, why am I thinking Monkey Boy may have come out on the wet end of things?

I think today will be a mellow one on Meador Road. Sargie and I are planning on leaving Friday morning for Pentoga Road. Right now, we're planning to drive the ten-plus hours to the Bloomington, Illinois, area on Friday and grab a room, then arrive on Pentoga Road sometime Saturday afternoon. Saying goodbye to our most beloved southern family is going to be a tough one.