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...

March 7, 2020 - Saturday morning
38 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Meador Road /Laurel, MS

Miss Jody, Sargie, Garry, Erin, Ben, and me

There's no real reason why I need to write a lot today as pictures tell a thousand words, or in this case, a million or two.

For those who watch HGTV's, Home Town, we did indeed have the opportunity to hob nob a bit with Erin and Ben yesterday, watch part of an interview they were videoing, and was able to talk with Erin's best buddy, Malory, for a bit.

Miss Jody spotted the interview, so we parked. I walked ahead while the others were getting out of the car. Ben spotted me, gave a big smile, and waved. It made this old Alaska/UP boy feel pretty special.

The interview was being conducted right on the main street in front of God and everyone. There was no security, no walls, nothing other than a small fence, to separate the cast and crew of Home Town from the general public, not that there were that many people around.

Ben has just purchased a new Air Stream trailer and I believe he was more interested in playing with that than anything having to do with television. As one of the production crew said, he's just a big kid.

Ben was fiddling around with that when Sargie walked past. He turned to Sargie and said, "If you want to take some pictures, I'll be right along."

Meanwhile, Erin was up at the interview site and mentioned she wished Ben would hurry up as they had another commitment in five minutes. Meanwhile, she stood and talked with people while waiting for her husband to come ambling up the street.

I'm so happy to say that the kind, sweet, young, people that you see on the program is an accurate portrayal. Ben seemed almost anxious to talk with anyone who wanted to have a conversation and it was he who suggested we take pictures. Erin is more reserved, but those who know her say she is quite shy in real life.

Both were absolute sweethearts and they helped to make certain we felt a part of their lives.

We bade all farewell and made our way to Ben's shop and the Scotsman General Store. It's exactly like you see on television. Once again, it's laid out so a person can get up close and personal.

Yeah, that would be the Pennington's who live on the other side of the tracks.

Sargie and I, both, wondered who took this picture of us was while on our last vacation to the tropics.

We made our way from the general store and shop to their Mercantile Exchange. Standing around and looking at the goodies, the front door opened and who walked through? It was Malorie, Erin's best buddy, who is also featured at the end of every program.

Poor Mal is very pregnant, but was happy to have lengthy conversations with anyone who happened by. She and Garry talked at length about an antique map on the wall and the changing of counties over the years. 



It was two locals just talking local talk.

Malorie was very happy to have her picture taken with any and all and gave me a big hug when we were finished. 





Just like Ben and Erin, she was a sweetheart, a real, genuine, person.

The four of us spent no small amount of time in the antique store where Erin and Malorie go to add a little "something special" in each of their remodeled homes.





The rest of the day was spent driving around Laurel. Jody knew all the houses that had been remodeled, so we got to see all of them and of course, take pictures.
































We also drove past Ben and Erin's house. I thought Garry was going to drive into Ben's Suburban while we were looking.







Needless to say, we had a wonderful day on Friday in Laurel and were able to witness real southern hospitality. Thanks to Erin, Ben, and Malorie, for sharing their time with their admirers, also to Garry and Jody for serving as such great tour guides.

Back home, James wanted to know if Aunt Sargie, Uncle Tom, and Grandma, wanted to go for a ride in his new (to him) Jeep. 



Heck yeah! How many seventeen year old boys would go out of their way to share his time with three old people?



Full of southern manners, James (real name Nolan) always replies with "Yes sir, No Ma'am," and will do well in his life after high school. He's a real southern gentleman. 

Some of our Yankee students could take a few lessons.



Garry spent a while in the shop late in the afternoon working on the large burl. I've been asking a million questions and taking lessons from the master. No doubt, we'll continue later today.



Sargie and Miss Jody are leaving in a bit to attend a home decorating show/workshop. 

Springtime in Laurel

Garry and I? Well, Garry and I are going to let the testosterone flow and do guy stuff. It seems to be what we do best.



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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...