Tuesday, February 26, 2013

A Lagniappe Kind of Day

I plan to visit the gardens of the Old Court House Museum in Vicksburg today, and hope to find lots of signs that Spring is getting closer and closer with each passing day.  


The Irises should be at their peak and the trees should be proudly displaying their tiny "spring green" leaves.  I hope to see buds on the dogwoods, too, but it may be a little early for them (the above pictures are from last Spring).

I'll look forward to sharing whatever I find today, and, who knows ... I may even discover a little lagniappe along the way!  I hope your day is a lagniappe kind of day, too ... wherever you may be.

Friday, February 22, 2013

The Lotus

 The Lotus Blossom

Born in muddy waters.
Grown in muddy waters.



Rising above and beyond the water ...


Unblemished ...


Pure ... 


... and Untouched.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

A Rose is a Rose is a Rose

Have you ever thought about how many expressions we use every day with the word rose in them? My favorite rose expression is "Stop and smell the roses" ... and that is exactly what I did when I captured the following pictures.  

A rose ...
Is a rose ...

Is a rose ...

Is a rose.

No one said life would be a "bed of roses."


The Yellow Rose of Texas ...

I never promised you a rose garden.

My love is like a Red, Red Rose that's newly sprung in June.


It's a good thing when you come out "smelling like a rose" ...


Everything's coming up roses.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns,
or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."

                                                       [Abraham Lincoln]

Looking through "rose-colored glasses" ...


His smile "puts the roses back in her cheeks."

Hope you have a rosy day!


Monday, February 18, 2013

Pictures from the Past

Just wondering if I'm the only one having problems with Blogger's new post editor. I use HTML formatting to create my posts, and I absolutely despise (to put it mildly) the new "improved" post editor. Until I can figure out how to get around it ... or master it! ... I'm just going to share some pictures from the past, and even that has me pulling my hair out!

Please let me know if you are having problems with the formatting, too.

The Bridges of Vicksburg
Sunrise over Biloxi
Sweet Magnolia
Life is just a Bowl of Cherries
Come Sit a Spell
Curtain Call

Life in a Fish Bowl

Best wishes to you for a happy and peaceful week,
wherever it may take you ...

Friday, February 15, 2013

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Every day in our beloved Mr. Rogers' neighborhood was a beautiful one, and after several days of rain, rain, and more rain, we finally had a beautiful day in our neighborhood yesterday. The bright sunshine and perfectly clear blue skies beckoned me and my cameras to come out and play ... and that's exactly what we did!

One of the first things that caught my eye while driving through the neighborhoods of Vicksburg, was this dogwood tree at Crawford Street Methodist Church ...


Its bright red clusters of fruit were happily soaking up the sunshine, and made a perfect picture with the bright blue sky as a background ...

All those little fruits will soon turn into gorgeous white dogwood blossoms.  I can't wait!

While I was in the downtown area, I also captured some pictures of a couple of buildings I have never photographed. This is the Seargent S. Prentiss building, which, according to its sign, was built in 1791.


I googled Seargent Smith Prentiss, and discovered that he was originally from Maine.  Prentiss moved to Mississippi when he was 19, where he became a Vicksburg attorney and Whig congressman.  He is still considered the greatest orator in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives.


The next picture is of a small courtyard area next to the Prentiss building, and the tree with the red berries is a large holly tree.  It was literally covered with some of the brightest red holly berries I've ever seen.


I love this elegant old concrete bench which was at a house next to the Seargent Prentiss building.


The building featured in the next four pictures is an old carriage house ...
I love the dormer window and dome on top. 

Another building I've never photographed until now is Planters' Hall.

Built in 1834, Planters' Hall housed the Vicksburg branch of Planters' Bank of Mississippi, until 1842.  Occupied by officers of the 28th Louisiana Regiment during the Siege of Vicksburg, it was acquired by the Vicksburg Council of Garden Clubs in 1956.

The detached building in back of the Hall was used as the kitchen ...

Notice how thick the brick walls are!


The next house could be featured on HGTV's "Curb Appeal" show. 

I love its colorful window box ...


And speaking of "curb appeal" ...
For a mere $449,000, you can own this historic 1910 mansion.
Can't you just imagine the glorious parties that were held there in its "glory days!"

The house pictured below has always fascinated me.  

It has been abandoned for several years, and now has a "Posted, No Trespassing, by the State of Mississippi" sign blocking the driveway. 

It must have been a grand house once, with its lantern-lined driveway and ornate fountain ... and I would love to know its history and the story of the family who lived there.  So sad to see it just sitting there ... unloved and unwanted.  

As I was heading home, I was delighted when I came across some lagniappe in the form of a patch of dandelions growing beside a sidewalk.  


I couldn't resist stopping and getting a closer look at these
beautiful little reminders that Spring is on its way ...


May your weekend be filled with "dandelion bouquets"
and lots of happy memories-in-the-making.