Happy 15th Birthday Belle!!!!

Our precious dog, Belle, is 15 today!! Can that be possible??? Let's see that is 105in doggie years. That ain't old is it?? We also need to give a shout out to, Gage, her sister who resides at the Connell household up Highway 49 in Clarksdale. Belle has lived a long good life I must say. She lived out our college and grad/law school years with us at Oak Grove in Oxford and then ventured WAYYYYYYYYY south to Miami for a year of tax school. She went too of course. I can still picture her peaking through the blinds of our apartment in Coral Gables just waiting for us to come home. She has been the best dog, both as a hunter and family member, we could have ever wished for. She has outlived many of her pups and siblings and suffered through severe hip dysplasia and pain but still musters on with a good wag of her tail. Which by the way is almost beaver like it's so thick. I hope she hangs in there a few more years but if it's her time to go soon she has surely lived beyond our wildest expectations. Here's to you Belle!! Cheers!! We love you and you will never be forgotten.

300 Oaks Weekend Pics!!!

RUN BABY RUN

This past weekend was the annual 300 Oaks run in Greenwood. It consisted of a 10K run, a 5K walk and a 1 mile Fun Run. It is always the best kickoff to fall no doubt and this year was no exception. The high temp. for the day was 80 and after the run a light jacket was a must. The weekend in itself was a small reunion of many of my closest girlfriends. We had an easier time getting together for this random Sept. weekend than planning our yearly weekend at the end of July. Guess last minute planning is really the way to go but that is very NON LISA for sure. It was really a monumental weekend on many accounts. First of all it was the first 10K for several of my dear friends who are all relatively new runners in themselves. I am so very proud of them. Anna Tyner, Kelly Connell and Lulu Pedigo all completed the 10Krace with very good times I might add. I was super proud of them. Even poor Kelly who suffered a lost, infected, big toe nail the week of the race still mustered through beautifully. I have a picture of her as she crosses the finish line that says it ALL! What an accomplishment and sheer joy!!!. (Hope to get those on in slideshow format soon). Besides the race, Kitt also was in town b/c her husband, Jason, was working in Clarksdale and she decided to come on to town from Starkville. Not only Kitt, but Elizabeth Barnwell decided to come home from Memphis and she walked the 5K with her parents, Ann and Big Jon. And that was not it. Kim Whicker was in town with her research group from Univ. of Ark doing their "Spit for the Cure" in conjunction with the race to help gather research data from women here in the Delta which as we all know is a HOT SPOT for breast cancer. I think it was a very successful SPAT!! OH and that is not all... some other DEAR friends, Dan and Rachel Dear from Jackson came to town and ran the race. This was their first time to Greenwood in a while and had a great time. We were with Dan and Rachel at Double Decker back in April in Oxford for the 10K there and had a blast so they decided to come give the Delta Flatland race a try. They too went to Delta Bistro and we had a good time catching up. Friday night Kitt, Kim, Lulu and myself went to dinner at the new Delta Bistro which has relocated downtown from its' former home as Delta Fresh Market on Park Avenue. The Tyner's had a business dinner at Yianni's and Kelly joined Boyce and others at Giardina's for a couples outing. The night was hysterical but nothing tops Dick Meek staring Lulu down in disbelief of her new look and hugging her with his comment, "Did you get implants?" "Weren't you always chunky?" It was so funny and such a Dick Meek moment, guess you had to be there. (That is his way of giving compliments I might add.) Which by the way, she did NOT get implants. HIsterical night and so fun to catch up. OK- back to the run most importantly. Little Floyd won his age group in the fun run with a SEVEN minute mile. Yes, a SEVEN minute mile. Little man ran his heart out. We were so proud of him. I too won my age group with a 53min. in the 10K. I might add that it's a very hard age group thank you very much!! Haha. BUT, nothing beat seeing Gooddaddy sitting beside my new house which is at mile 5 and hearing Floyd and Anne Craig ring the big bell with each passer by they knew to cheer on. I could hear that bell ring half way down the Boulevard after I passed it. (insert pondering thought now- I wonder how many future nights I will be woken up to that bell ringing at say 3am? hmmmmm) I could not help but tear up as I passed by our new house (which we are not in yet officially by the way- save that for another post). But the tears were tears of joy indeed. It's a moment I will not forget for a long time. Oh- one more surprise friend couple to mention from this past weekend is T and Hayes Dale. They were in town for a get away weekend at the Alluvian for a cooking class and spa day and they too joined us at the after race party for a quick catch up. It was a great weekend and we did enjoy the break from moving into the house....BUT the break is now over!!! The official move is this weekend!!! How do I know that?? How many official move in weekends have we set?? How many official move in weekends can we possibly have? I guess more than one when you move 2 blocks away right?? Well, the phone and TV say it all my friends. They are OFF effective this weekend. More house venting coming soon.....KUDOS to 300 Oaks!!! It was a great time indeed.

WILD ABOUT OLE MISS!!!!

I must say that my seven year old son, Floyd, must be one of the youngest sports trivia enthusiasts I know. He is so passionate about Ole Miss football and really all football teams in general, pro or college- it matters not. If football is involved he is all ears and action I might add. He can tell you stats, names of players (both past and present), coaches, etc... from several teams and especially Ole Miss. That being said he has been to 2 of the home games this year thus far. That's 2 more than his parents and sister have been to I might add. This fall is crazy for us right now as most of you know we are TRYING to get moved in our new home and therefore Ole Miss football games have had to be pushed to the backburner. That's ok! We hope to rekindle time up there in October and November. We do love to go and see old college friends and enjoy the Grove. The weather is usually not so scorching in October so we hope all goes as planned and we will be there eventually. That being said, this past weekend was one that was well enjoyed by a young Rebel fan. Husband Floyd met McLean, Lisa D, Mary McLean and Patten in Winona last Friday evening as they were passing through from Fairhope to Oxford. They were so sweet to let Floyd join in their weekend plans. They stayed at Papa and Jane's condo in Oxford and had a great time. From looking at the pictures priceless moments were made and Lisa D is the best Aunt ever in that she captures moments that are amazing and speak for themselves. Thanks for the memories guys. Let's make some more soon!! (See below for weekend slide show in Oxford)

Hotty Toddy!!

MOVING UPDATE

Like I said in previous posts?? This moving crap is for the birds and I'll say it again, "THIS MOVING CRAP IS FOR THE BIRDS". I don't think I have been this stressed about things going on in my life since I was in graduate school preparing for comps and trying to plan a wedding all at the same time. Here's the latest. Kitchen stuff is moved for the most. That consists of fine china, crystal, silver odds and ins, all Christmas nicknaks, tupperware/plastics, all heavy duty cooking equiptment (which is Floyd's territory for those that know me-I HATE TO COOK), serving pieces, trays, cannisters, containers and pyrex dishes. By the way we have about 20 of those if anyone needs to borrow. I was trying to convince Floyd why on EARTH would one family need 20 pyrex cooking dishes for heavans sake. He proceeded to remind me when he has his yearly cooking marathon where he makes gallons of spagetti sauce or duck gumbo or something of that nature when we'd need to call upon those dishes for dire usage. I have decided that moving a few blocks down is the worst. I almost wish we were moving across country. Maybe then and only then would we actually THROW OUT SOMETHING. Anyway, it's a sore subject with me... this moving topic that is. Just when the painters were about to finish up downstairs and head upstairs Floyd decides to add insulation into the attic. Not just a little insulation but a TON. But in his explanatory defense he had to finish the wiring for speakers before he insulated up there. It was the kind of insulation that you fill into a machine it sucks it up and and you direct it for placement and it shoots it out. Kinda like a reverse vacuum persay I guess. Floyd, for 48 hours strait (just about) was up in the attic with Dennis and little Dennis. I swear to you he looked like a creature from the Thriller video NO LIE complete with black eyeliner and gray eyebrows. Where was my camera you ask???? Pitiful on my part not documenting this past weekend. Anyway....so operation insulation wrapped up yesterday about 8pm when Floyd drove the machine back to Lowe's in Gville. NOW operation clean up in the attic from insulation installation is underway. We were hoping to get curtain rods and some curtains hung this past weekend but with the "dust storm" that swept through to the attic no way was that happening. Today, some light fixtures were going up and maybe carpet and mirrors will be in by the end of the week. I am thinking at this point we will not move till the end of the month officially. These next few weekends will be a little at a time if we are lucky but I guess that is just the way it is. Oh well. We'll get in and settled eventually. It's as though the last minute detail stuff is the worst and most frustrating. Here ends my vent session. Thanks.

IS IT DOVE SEASON ALREADY???? Surely not...

I must admit that I am not the greatest "hunting wife/mother" in the world but isn't this the cutest picture and the proudest display of accomplishment two 7 year old boys could exude? Pictured here are Floyd IV and Brent Butler, who is our cousin from Jackson, shown with their black labs, Gem and Bertie, in the dove field after the first hunt of the season early Labor Day morning. Each year I DREAD the arrival of hunting season. I know it sounds absurd but I am not really sure why. I think it's become habit in a way. Is it because I didn't really grow up with a Dad that lived, breathed and ate hunting? Is it because it means that each weekend my husband gets up in the wee hours of the Saturday and Sunday mornings and goes to pursue some helpless (usually migratory) animal? I guess I really can't answer the question why I don't really like it. I know when our kids were babies it was sheer terror to me that he would even think to leave me to go hunt when we've worked hard all week and wanted to sleep in. Later I have realized that hunting is his form of rest and relaxation. As Gamba told me years ago when Floyd and I started dating and we'd come home to Greenwood for holidays or some function and he'd get up in rain, sleet or snow to go. She would tell me to always remember that there are way worse things he could be interested in doing like gambling, staying out late drinking or chasing women than hunt. She's right and I guess now what can I say??? The torch passes on to the next generation. Some women relish in the thought of upcoming hunting seasons that their husbands are GONE for the next however many weekends. I guess I am one that likes my husband around. Yes, maybe for selfish reasons of wanting something done around the house or for my longing desire of all of his free time to be spent with me doing whatever I want to do like watching a movie or whatever makes me happy. (ha, wishful thinking) But still, I think my feelings are relatively normal. I must give Floyd credit where credit is due... He has NEVER turned any fun social activity that I wanted to do or that we wanted to do as a couple down just to be home so he could wake up early fully rested. It's usually the total opposite. We could be at the biggest, most awesome party and he would stay till the bitter end and get up in time to go hunt or better yet, go strait when he came home to change clothes. Anyway, I think hunting does run in my family as I also seem to recall Gamba telling me that her father would be gone weeks or even months at a time down the Mississippi River somewhere or even up to Canada to pursue wild game. I don't even think he came home in late December to present his daughter Carol when she made her debut in the Debutante Ball. I do think Floyd would draw the line there. I think I will use this blog to document a promise to myself to be a better hunting wife and mother. Now that my kids are older I am sure Anne Craig and I will become quite independent and maybe even venture into our own escapes....who knows. With all of that being said... Let the season begin....