A Year Ago Today....

Brookie and I met at Family Bowling in Pearl, Mississippi, specifically at the snack bar. There was a large group of friends from Pinelake that decided to get together for a night of bowling. A friend and I went to get a bottle of water, and Brookie just happened to get thirsty at this very same time even though he had just visited the snack bar for a drink 15 minutes earlier. He had noticed my excellent bowling skills earlier in the night, though he really just thought I was hot (he's helping me write this post).

We introduced ourselves and then we didn't speak to each other for the rest of the night at the lanes. Then we all decided to go to a friend's house and order pizza. Somehow or another we both ended up next to the pizza and chatted for a few minutes. Right before he left, my friend suggested that I invite Brookie the next night to another friend's house for a strange night night of karaoke. He asked for someone's number to call the next night. Of course, I volunteered mine. After I gave him my number, I made sure to ask, "Do you even know my name?" The sad thing is he shook his head no. A few days later he text me out on our first date and I responded- Sounds good. A year later....we've been married for three months.

Big Buck Down

The Lord works in mysterious ways in our lives and that same rule applies to the deer woods. Dad, Shelton, and I went to the farm on Sunday to put out our new Cuddeback Trail Camera to take after-season photos of the survivors to give us an indication of what lies ahead for next year. We were walking around one of our fields trying to find a favorable location to gather some Kodak moments. Dad decided to ride the 4-wheeler to another location. He returned moments later and expressed his excitement about what he had just seen. A sad daddy had rubbed a tree that I couldn't put my hands around completely to the core. I then walked to a small opening at the back of the field and saw something that resembled an antler lying on the other side of a ridge. Dad and Shelton both saw it shortly thereafter and to our surprise this is what we found. It was like discovering the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Based on the wear of his teeth, he was probably no more than three and a half years old. However, I guess that he will score close to 140 on the Boone and Crockett Scoring System. He was 15 inches wide and had 13 scorable points (11 typical with a split brow tine and a kicker off the left G-3). We obviously have created a habitat conducive to producing deer with genes such as these and it is incredible that a deer of that age sported such a fine set of headgear. His dad is out there somewhere and he may just be the new county record typical if we are fortunate enough to harvest him. The problem is that these old deer have been around the block a time or two and know all too well to only move at night. Maybe we can get a snapshot of him on the game cam since it has the capability of taking pics 24 hours a day.

There is no way of knowing for sure if this was the final piece of The Trifecta since there is no definitive evidence (though coincidental) to prove it. It is a lot like instant replay at the Super Bowl....there has to be indisputable evidence to overturn the ruling on the field. At any rate, it is a memory and trophy that the family will enjoy forever. What may or may not be will certainly look outstanding on the wall.

Here Kitty Kitty

Well, the Trifecta didn't quite come to completion. There was really no opportunity to go back into the Congo with the bulldog to find my deer. It pretty much rained every weekend since the incident. Weather in the Deep South is so unpredictable. It is clear and cool all week, but the rainclouds will always open on Saturday. Not very conducive to successful tracking. At any rate, I did happen to go hunting again with my old hunting buddy in search of another fuzzy forest creature to replace the lost one. We got into our enclosed elevated shooting house very quietly around 3:45 and just like clockwork the deer started coming to feed around 4:00. At first two twin yearlings emerged and then a four-point appeared at the opposite corner of the field seconds later. The trail the buck used was fairly open just inside the woodline so I was able to notice the back of another animal creeping towards the field. We really thought we hit the jackpot. Suddenly the year and a half old buck started getting really nervous. Of course I was thinking old sad daddy (a really old mature buck to you novices) was going to slip in on us. The new guest happened to not be very popular with the party crowd.

Dynamite in a 50 pound package. The meanest, nastiest, gnarliest, bad to the bone, Eli's Coming critter in the woods. These guys don't go to the store to get their Kibbles and Bits, they get theirs direct. You seriously can't intimidate these dudes and you don't want to be in a briar thicket with one. They have a growl (yes growl, they don't meeeow) that will turn even a human's blood cold. As Nicholas (one of my esteemed groomsmen) puts it, "You don't wanna be tied up with one of them. That'll put you in a bind quick." Anyway, little bucky could just tell that he was being followed. He went full alert and started stomping and snorting (of course the whole day was shot now). Too young to know any better, he went to investigate. Adolescents! About two steps later, felis rufus comes over a a small ridge and flicked his claws at the face of the youngster, who happens to be three-and-a-half times his size. Bucky wasn't all too keen on this mess so he skirts on out of the way. In the meantime, the little devil sees the fresh meat in the other corner of the woods so he breaks back on another trail. Seconds later, he eases out across some water that was ankle deep on us (they aren't afraid to get wet either). Being the expert stalker he is, he slips totally undetected less than ten yards behind the twins making not a splash or a ripple trying to get downwind of them. Knowing what I know now, I should have flipped him with the 325 grain Hornady's I was slinging, but it was only 4:15. He never showed his face again, but the twins were restless for the rest of the afternoon. By far the largest and darkest of that sort I had ever seen, he was seriously pushing 50 pounds and was almost pure coal color. I had always heard that deer were terrified of them, but I had no idea until I witnessed this fiasco. Trappers have told that they were the fiercest and fearless of all southern predators. They have been known to pounce on deer from branches and take them down to the ground using their inch long teeth and razor sharp claws, which happen to come five to a paw. The wonders of the Delta flatlands.......

Homegrown Trifecta.....Almost

Over the last five or so years, the family project has been developing the habitat for the benefit of the deer herd on the part of our farm that we refer to as "The Johnson Place." While I have been in the Metro area for the most of the last two plus years, Dad and Shelton have spearheaded the food plot efforts. Fittingly, the story begins with them. Going backwards to come forwards, the first several years were pretty bleak with minimal deer sightings at best. If any deer at all were seen, they were slickheads (does to those who aren't familiar with the term). However recently, the select cut timber has provided unpenetrable briar thickets complete with cane and palmettos. As a result, the deer have more food sources in the woods and much more cover to hide from predators (that's another story within itself). This has by far been the best year as we have struck a homegrown trifecta....almost. Dad was the first to strike with the .45/70 during the first muzzleloader season. We have complete footage on camera to support the facts that it took about eight bullets to finally take the 9 point down for good. It was very entertaining to see Dad and Shelton playing the Geronimo twins on this deer, which later happened to be so old that the teeth were completely worn. Thanks to deer management, this buck could expire in a humane manner without starvation. Shelton's deer (photos to be included at a later date) was a 7 point that we claimed putting a slip on one afternoon. We had been searching for one that he hit the day before on another one of our select locations. We had just enough light and the perfect wind direction to come within 75 yards of Shelton's victim. Finally, last sunday I had the opportunity to sit in our shooting house with my Dad. It gave me the opportunity to have the type of conversations that is a blessing for a son to have with his role model. It was a little warm so we both knew that it may not be our day for hunting. About ten minutes before dark, Dad noticed a good buck sneak down the edge of the field in my direction. There was a little nook where he was going to come out that would provide a car's width of shooting room before he would reenter the woods. Pops instructed me to have my gun out the window waiting since it was so close to dark and so little margin for error. Several seconds later, I saw a brown object emerge in the near darkness. Through the scope, I saw antlers so I placed the crosshairs on the shoulder and squeezed off. Water and back legs flew high behind the deer indicating a chest shot so we went after him. After fours hours of looking the next day in the freezing rain, no pictures yet. Maybe Jeff's bulldog can help us out. To be continued.........

Reed's Nursery

I am working on painting canvases for Reed, our future nephew, to go along with the theme of his nursery. Here is a picture of the bedding Abbey and Jeff picked out and they have already received it all! They are going with a green, brown, and blue color scheme. Here are three of the canvases I have already painted and next is a frog! I haven't decided if I'm going to repaint the monkey yet. Brookie's favorite is the giraffe and mine is the elephant!

Cell Phones....

I had limited use of my cell phone this weekend. If you called me, you could hear me, but I couldn't hear you. I've had the same cell phone for almost two years now and I've been very pleased with it, but I had to get a new one. I went during lunch to upgrade my phone and of course they make you sign another 2 year agreement. That's a long time! Anyway, here is a picture of my new little cell phone and it is little. It's only 1 1/2 by 2 1/4 inches. I am sure it will be very easily lost in one of the huge purses I always carry around.




















Be sure to check back soon- if all goes well, we're going to pick up my new car tonight after work!

Fiesta Chicken Pasta

Brookie and I have been doing good this week cooking at home instead of eating out. Monday night we had the steaks I've already posted about, Tuesday night we had Chicken Enchiladas, and last night we had Fiesta Chicken Pasta. It was pretty simple and we both liked it! Tonight we are having Chicken Parmesan. Here's a picture of our completed dish:


And the recipe incase you're interested:
Fiesta Chicken Pasta
2 cups rotini pasta, uncooked
1 Tbsp. oil
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 cups chopped red peppers (about 2 medium)
1/4 cup KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 cup TACO BELL HOME ORIGINALS Salsa
1/2 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
COOK pasta as directed on package.
MEANWHILE, heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken. Cook and stir 6 min. Add peppers, dressing and chili powder; cook 3 min. or until chicken is cooked through, stirring frequently. Stir in salsa and sour cream.
DRAIN pasta. Toss with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with cheese.

Monday night...

On Monday night, Brookie decided to grill steaks on the grill. He comes home from Kroger with two steaks- one that was 2 1/2 lbs. and the other one was an 8oz. filet. Can you guess which one was mine? We didn't eat until 8 because it took so long for his steak and for the potatoes that I made to cook!
Here's a picture of Brookie grilling:



















Here are the steaks wrapped up in the microwave keeping warm while waiting for the potatoes to finish. In case you were wondering mine is on the right.














We finally hung the picture above our mantel:

Our First Christmas Tree

Even though Christmas is over, I figured we could still post about our first Christmas tree together. I took pictures of it in three stages.
First: Right after we put it together and fluffed the branches.

















Then after we wrapped lights on each branch. It took forever!


















Then, after we got all the decorations on it!

Happy New Year!

Check below...we finally updated our blog!

LM '06

Yes we are finally updating our blog! We've been quite busy the last few months!
Here's our first update....Moving out of my apartment!

Here's Dad filling up the U-Haul- they gave it to us on Empty. They also gave us a truck a few feet longer than I ordered which later we were very thankful...















Dad and Brookie loading up the truck!















I'm just goofing off while they are loading up the big stuff.















Here's why we're glad that they gave us the longer truck! We (I mean Dad and Brookie) packed it to the very edge! Thanks to Dad's expert packing techniques everything fit!
















We'll have some more updates soon! Including the situation with my apartment complex and the $1200 carpet bill! We've now included the family lawyer on this one.

Happy Halloween!

LM '06

The Little Move 06 has been scheduled for Saturday, November 4th! We've reserved the U-Haul and we've been busy packing boxes! Thank goodness it will not be as intense as BM '06, but at least we've all got enough practice! Updates soon to follow!

Engagement Celebration in Belzoni

Here's a picture of us at the party in Belzoni last Friday!

Room to Room Shower in Jackson

Last weekend some of my friends and bridesmaids hosted a Room to Room shower. It was held at Anna Haskins' house (she's one of my friends from work). Abbey came down from Nashville to help host the shower and to cook all of the desserts (see below). My Mom and Brookie's Mom, his Aunt, and his Grandmother all came to Jackson for it too.

The picture below is of me and Anna-Haskins.



This picture was taken when I was opening my gift from all the hostesses! It was a set of mixing bowls in my Gail Pittman pattern.




Look at all those gifts!





These strawberrys were so good (and pretty!) Abbey made this chocolate covered strawberries for the shower and she drew the little A's on each one! She is known as the Amazing Dessertista! :)

This is a picture of me with two of the hostesses. On the left is Rebecca (one of my bridesmaids) and on the right is Lisa (she is the registry attendant).

The shower was wonderful, all the food was yummy, we received some wonderful gifts and I loved getting to see everybody!

Batesville Miscellaneous Shower

We had our Batesville shower this past weekend. It went so well! My mom and I got to see a lot of people that we haven't seen in awhile. Brookie and I received so many great gifts from everyone and greatly appreciate everyone's generosity. We're now in the running for the most Peter's Pottery in the family!

Here are a few pictures from the shower:


Tangea (Brookie's Mom), Me, Linda (my mom) and Miss Katie (my stand-in grandmother!)











This picture is of me, Erin (a high school friend), and Chaeli (also a high school friend and a bridesmaid!). We all live in Jackson, but we have to come to Batesville to see each other!















Brookie comes in at the end to meet the hostesses and to help pack up all the gifts!

This Time of Year

There is something purely magical about this time of year. Autumn is a time for harvest and gathering and for me it is a time of reflection and thankfulness. As the days grow shorter and the nights turn cooler, it takes me back to the days of Friday night lights and the smell of hamburgers cooking on the charcoal grill at Rebel Field. It takes me back to Mom at the pep rallies and her coordinating our homecoming floats. I can recall gametime and the snap of the chip strap buckling just after the Nathional Anthem as I take my place as the man in the middle. The nervous anticipation just before opening kickoff and the overwhelming sense of invincibility before the initial crack of the pads. The way there was only one voice in the crowd that proved to be a perpetual source of inspiration for the 48 minute trench war and the feeling of respect you receive from many of the weekly "enemies" that eventually become friends for life .

This time of year brings back the moans of cotton pickers harvesting a bumper crop and the smell of the cotton being dumped into the module builders before being hauled to the gin. From checking the cotton for Second Generation Bollworms to putting down and "attempting" to effectively utilize Polypipe reminds me of the hard work and perserverence it takes to be successful in life. This time of year reminds me of the dedication of my parents to shape me into the type of man who by faith can overcome any obstacle that life may place in front of me. It also reminds me that no matter where your feet may be planted, you are never far from your roots.

As the cool becomes cold, the annual migration commences and the brotherhood begins. There is no way for a person to be more connected to God than to hear the whistling of wings at daybreak and looking above to see the cupped wings and the dropped landing gear of a flock of mallard ducks. My memories take me back to my most favorite duck hunt. My dad, brother, and I departed on what turned out to be a three hour tour. We broke from the house around 3:00 a.m. to one of our past hot spots. Charting a john boat and three paddles, we set off into a pitch black lake bottom with a hundred pounds of gear and eight dollar Walmart head lamps. Using my unequaled Eagle Scout navigation skills, we paddled around in circles for the next several hours. Thanks to Dad, we finally found our way out to the location that was a mere hundred yards from shore. Embarrassment being understated, we came up bird free. However, I cannot recall a moment where I have enjoyed the company of my two favorite men any more than our disaster duck hunt.


Finally, the afternoons bring back opening day and the anticipation of the first deer of the season. From the trials of Shelton getting his first deer to Dad's bobcat buck, the thoughts are too numerous to recall. From Magna Vista to Shiloh, the best memories of my life are buried in a place that now no longer exists.

As I now look forward to making new memories with the most amazing young lady I have ever met, I cherish the positive experiences in my life that happened in these same very months. It almost seems fitting that my most memorable day is only weeks away. I am thankful for all that God has bestowed upon my life and the examples that I have been provided. Indeed, there is something truly special about this time of year.

Third times a charm...

This is now the third attempt at writing this post!
The first time the weather cut the internet connection
out last night, and then the second time it just mysteriously
disappeared.















We received our first official wedding gift last
week. It is a Good Earth square platter in the
Blue Bird pattern. We both love it! Good Earth
pottery is made in Starkville, MS (home of the
Mississippi State Bulldogs). The platter was
given to us by one of the producers at the
Tupelo office of Ross and Yerger.















This is our second official wedding gift and no
we aren't going to post each one! We're just
both so excited! It is a dinner plate from our
Waterford fine china. The band appears gold,
but it is actually platinum, not chrome like
the Ford Special Edition truck! It came from
Brookie's boss at work.





















This is our Guest and Gift box we purchased
to help us stay organized! It has a card for each
one of our guest so we can keep up with our
invitations sent, gifts received and thank you notes
written!

Our Engagement Pictures...

We had our engagement pictures made on a HOT August afternoon.
Here's a few of the good ones- He took over 180 pictures!



But then we get a little sweaty...







But, I'm still not real sure what the photographer was trying to "capture" right here.