You Really Have to Be Here!

Christmas in Collierville is magical and words and pictures cannot describe it adequately.  I wish everyone could ride through the Square at night and marvel at its wonderful white lights everywhere.  We used to have our parade around the Square and it was the most beautfiul Norman Rockwell event.  Politics moved it to Byhalia Road about 10 years ago and I have boycotted it since.  They have added more lights every year to the trees and light poles on the square and it just keeps getting better.  Tonight they are having an outdoor movie showing of "The Polar Express."  There is a new yoghurt place on the square, Zolo's, that is the perfect finish for any night of riding around town to look at lights.  For years, we have had luminiaries in the neighborhood and all houses had single white lights in each window but lately those traditions have yielded to some creative Clark Griswolds.  That is the only sad thing I can think of about our neighborhood.  Last night we went downtown to the Cannon Center to hear Handel's "Messiah."  It is a not-to-be missed opportunity.  There will be performances of the "Nutcracker" at Collierville High School next weekend that will be special as well.  I remember when Camille was in the Harrel Theater version and I had to see it 11 times--I never tire of that music, however.  I wonder how many times Lindsay had to see it as well. 

Gator Bowl Bound

From the Taj to Bumble

Amazingly six weeks in India passed by quickly (thanks to an awesome football team and Dan Mullen) and Camille was back in Bumble for Thanksgiving. We had a whirlwind week of eating and shopping and basketball and football and I even watched movies. Time flies when she's gone and moves even faster when she's here. The Egg Bowl victory was the highlight of the weekend, I think. We ridid go out and manage to shop on Black Friday only to find out we were not given the full discount so had to make another trip to the mall to straighten it all out. That is the big advantage to the mall nearby in our beloved Bumbletown. We forgot to make Chex Mix so have something to anticipate in three weeks.

Popovers

One of our favorite experiments is popovers. We fell in love with them at the long-lost Vidalia Cafe and Charles. We continue to try to find the perfect popover recipe to serve with Strawberry butter---this recipe was from Paulette's but we didn't follow directions exactly so they were a little doughy on the inside--but we are a work in progress.

Boardwalking in Bumble

Today was the first chance we've had since Camille came home to take our walk on the boardwalk. We needed to burn up some calories before the big dinner today. Dean reminded us to get some umbrellas out of the trunk because it might rain. We thought him crazy but we dutifully got them out anyway. I was using them as batons and doing my impression of the Sonic Boom Drum Major. Our walk on the boardwalk was interesting because it was nothing but fathers and rug rats who'd been shooed out of their houses this morning we presumed. When we got to the riverside we noticed a new path going off in another direction we'd had never been so we followed it around the ledge of a high riverbank. Casper thought it was delightful and I took every step very carefully. We took the picture and headed back to the car when it began pouring rain. Dean and Cap were so far ahead that they didn't get to take advantage of the umbrellas I had in my possession but it proved he is right more often than wrong.

A Little Color in The Neighborhood

Bumble Street View

A very dry fall meant very little color in the Woods but finally in the last couple of days, some color has emerged but it has been nothing like the brilliance of color we had last fall.

The Sprint is On

As the final week of the India experience comes to a close, I will be so glad when it is over and we can all be together--we had to adopt another State child--Jase--in the interim.  It has been a good thing that our football has done so well this fall and I really hate to see it come to a close.  We have already had 10 football games and it seems like just yesterday we started the season.  The weather for each game has been perfect.  We deserve it.

Thinking of Cheerful Things!

Basketball

Lenny's

Casper

Breakfast in Bed

Walking Trails

Seki

Holiday Ham

R.I.P. #36

R.I.P. #36: "After a bout with cancer, Mississippi State defensive end Nick Bell passed away this afternoon. Loved and respected by many, Bell crossed over to the other side after being readmitted to the University of Alabama medical center in Birmingham on Sunday. He was able to watch his beloved Bulldogs earn a win over Kentucky on TV Saturday night."

Thoughts and Prayers Needed for Nick Bell

Thoughts and Prayers Needed for Nick Bell: "I have re-written this article in my mind a dozen times or more since news broke earlier today that Mississippi State defensive end Nick Bell was back in the hospital. Nick began like most other players, as a name on a list, but he grew to be much more over the course of the last few years. Nick made the transformation from prospect to recruit to commit to signee to player to family."

Please Pray for Nick Bell and his family

Today we heard that his cancer had spread and that his condition had taken a turn for the worse.  Coach Mullen and 50 or so players are over in Birmingham tonight to visit with Nick and his family.  It is very sad as he was playing football for us when this season began.

The Cutest Halloween Costumes EVER!

I just loved these precious white bears! They were featured on the jumbotron w/more of their white bear brothers and I couldn't resist the photo op!

Casper as a Starkville Yellowjacket

It is amazing how much Casper loves wearing his Halloween costume! I think he would wear it every day if I would let him!

Camilla and the Elphaba!

Maroon Friday in Peru--It's a Family Tradition!

Machu Picchu is a magical place and I am so happy Jordan and Saunders got to experience it together. Jack, on the other hand, got to be the Mayor of Pickwick for a day.

I Successfully Predicted the State Win Over Florida!

Sometimes you just get a "feelin" and I got one about our game w/Florida last week.  I learned my lesson years ago that if you are going to predict a big upset, you better tell people on the front end.  I predicted the 6-3 Alabama win back in the last century and didn't tell anyone but Dean and he swears I didn't so I was going to make sure this time I was going to get all the credit I was due.  I was apparently so excited when it was over that I got a phone call from Robo and didn't even realize it was her!  I couldn't understand today why she hadn't called me about the game and she informed me she did right after the game was over.  I was delirious apparently.  Several people agreed there were "signs" everywhere that this would happen.  Even Dan Mullen got a fortune cookie this week that gave him the idea that something good was going to happen.  I kept Jack for the weekend and I swear we won because he brought two pompons in his suitcase for him and Casper to have and shake during the game.  Whatever it was, it worked.  It is a great time to be a Bulldog.  

Grizz are 5-0 in Preseason

Today started out downtown where we spent the night after "Wicked," had a detour to midtown to lunch@Fresh Slices w/Lauren to a visit to the friends on College Street--and ended w/a trip back downtown to  the Grizz game.  We had planned to eat dinner@Hunt Phelan but when we got there found ourselves in the middle of a private party for RSVP so we left and headed for the new McEwens.  The new McEwens was a very pleasant surprise--Small Plates--Big Tastes. Deano had hangar steak w/wonderful garlic mashed potatoes and I had shrimp and grits--very good choice---Grizz played ok--won--are 5-0--this is good.  We miss Camille.

For Basketball Junkies: A Really Nice Article about Renardo Sidney

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=jn-sidney101110

Faces in the Crowd

The reason for all the gloom in this photo fromn the TV broadcast was that Leon Berry had just broken his leg returning the second half kickoff. We were out in Houston and feeling really good at halftime w/the game in hand and then this happened and we were sort of sad. We went on to win handily 47-24 and everyone was happy in the end. Houston's Robertson Field (32,000) was sold out but the Bulldogs had a great presence at the game and were rewarded w/a very nice road win.

Shortly after this photo appeard on the tv broadcast, people all around were getting calls and texts from their friends who had seen them on tv from their homes. Someone sent one of the kids behind me the photo and through the magic of technology, he was able to send me the copy of the photo.

Walking Trail

The girls in the family prefer this walking trail to the others. It runs along a creek right behind our subdivision. It ie s tree lined and goes behind lots of pretty backyards. The best thing for Casper is that it ends in a little kiddie park complete w/swings and slides. Camille takes him down the slide and he appears to love it. I don't take him down the slide. Anyway, Collierville has miles and miles of walking trails and it is my intent to walk on all of them while I am on this kick of walking in Collierville.

A View from the Top

I ran across this picture of what Scott Field at Mississippi State looks like from the upmost corner of the upper deck. The Jumbotron on the left make the game day experience like none other. I think this was the Auburn game. Everyone looks like they are dressed in Maroon.

Looks are Deceiving

This is the little lake and walking trail behind City Hall and although it may look a little boring, it is quite the favorite place of Casper to walk w/me. I am on this kick of walking 45 minutes a day--I have done this now for three straight days and it could be habit forming. This walking track is about a mile and has a light pole every fifty feet and Casper visits each and every one so it takes almost 45 minutes to get around the lake at his speed. There are ducks and geese and people sitting in their cars reading. If he gets tired, there are benches all around the lake for us to sit and rest. It amazes me how we park and get out of the car and he goes the same way EVERY time.

I didn't have a camera this morning when we went of a walk to the board walk. We saw two young deer at a very close range and I promise to go back there soon and take a photo.

PS this is not the favorite place of Camille nor Dean so it it where Cap and I go when they are not around.

What's With this Memphis Weather?????

Not a cloud in the sky nor a % of humidity and it has been this way for about a week!  In fact, it hasn't rained here since August.  However, it makes for easier decisions on what to wear to football games.  Without the threat of rain or extreme heat indexes so common to our area, it is really easy to decide what to wear and not have to prepare for the worst!  We are the people who get run out of the stadium by tornadoes and hurricanes.  All you have to think of this year is what color (maroon or white) is the designated color.  For the Memphis game, we all wore white.  For the Auburn game, we all wore maroon.  To make it more interesting for the GA game, the East Side fans wore white and the West Siders wore maroon.  Mississippi State has come a long way in getting fans to wear the "colors."  Of course, Mississippi State has come a long way in lots of areas but most noticeably in the game day experience.  Since the introduction of the Junction and the Biggest Jumbotron on this side of the Mississippi, the game day experience has exploded not only w/more people but w/a lot more interesting things going on around the stadium.  

We are three victories away from bowl eligibility--so if we could beat Houston, UAit would beB, and KY this month.....it would be a good thing---a great thing actually.

All this being said, the really good part of the fall is that we are inching closer to basketball season and we should be really, really good.  Everyone picks us to win the West and I have even higher hopes than than.

We Won the Battle of the Dawgs/Dogs!

This past Saturday was another picture perfect day in Starkville.  The game vs. the GA Bulldogs was sold out.  People were crammed in every nook on campus.  The weather was a little hot for this time of the year but no one seemed to mind but me.  People on the East Side of the stadium were to wear white and the West Siders were asked to wear Maroon---It looked great!  I will try to find a photo somewhere.  We won seemingly easy and it was a thrill to see the happy players in the end zone singing the fight song and alma mater after a very meaningful win.  After the game, no one wanted to leave the stadium and then the campus.  It was fun to absorb the moment.

A White-Out That Actually worked!

As many white-outs as we have had over the years for very important games, it never seem to bring home a victory. This time the weather was absolutely perfect, everyone got the memo about wearing white--and the Bulldogs came through with a great victory over Memphis. This is usually a very ugly game that we either eke out a narrow victory or lose so it was a great surprise to win this particular game so easily. All those things were well and good but the best part of the day was the Ole Miss loss to Jacksonville State.

2010 Mississippi State vs Memphis RECAP

No Words, Just Pictures

Afternoon Yawn

I have tons of cheeta pictures to be sorted ted but I wanted to share this one on the blog until I get some more pictures delete

I Just Can't Wait to be King

Zebras Amaze Me!

Why Can't WE Get Along with Each Other Like They Do?

One of the most amazing thing about African animals was there relationship to other animals. Some animals like these zebra and giraffes could get along beautifully while other animals retained a predator/prey relationship. The Lion is King of the Animal World.

One of the Selinda Lions

We still have 1600 pictures to reduce to a mere 500 so in the process, when I run across a photo I particularly like, I will post it on the blog and maybe get the whole blog back up and running by next week.

Home from Africa

This is the picture I carry in my mind from the safari but will add more as I sort through the 2,000 pictures we made. I love giraffes and Africa.

Bridge at Rouen at Night

Simply a beautiful sight at night in France-we like France better than we used to as well.

Wine Tasiting

This was the typical layout for a wine tasting on board from our hosts, FoodandWine Magazine. This was a tasting of Spanish wines which were very good and very underpriced here in the United States. We have a new appreciation for Spain and her wines.