Blackberry Pickin'

As the days continue to get longer... the blackberries get riper. They are on their way from bitter to sweet. Last night after work, three friends and I went to an abandoned golf course where natural succession is in full force. The lakes and ponds are now surrounded by blackberries, an assortment of scrubby trees and grasses; all things that before would have been held back through a rigorous mowing regime. Frogs, red-winged black birds, a blue heron, some blue jays and large number of doves were right there with us, enjoying the beautiful evening's slight breeze that was veiled by the soft coastal light of April. As darkness came we headed back to the truck with heaping containers of blackberries. In total, we picked almost two gallons. I have a feeling we'll be going back soon.

Poor Lamar

One of the big projects going on in the office right now is a master plan for downtown Moss Point, MS. In some of the research that has been going on we came across this old post card. It doesn't say too much, but just enough. Some girl, "Brown Eyes", who was obviously older than Lamar, broke his heart. The interesting thing is that he asks if she is coming South this winter, which would be before she is to get married next fall. I can't help but wonder what he had planned? Maybe a fake mustache and beard to fool her into thinking he was older; or perhaps his own set of hunting dogs and plug of chew, both of which he stole from someone in neighboring Pascagoula. I think both could have worked.

Sandhill Crane NWR

Early Saturday morning some friends and I headed east out of Biloxi and into the humid-rich pine savanna's of the Sandhill Crane Wildlife Refuge. It was busting at the seams. The pitcher plants were popping up all over the place as well as an orchid that is native to this area, a delicate, light pink with one dark pink stripe... no one successfully took a photo of them. Maybe that is part of their mystery.

The guided walking tour was only about 3/4 a mile long and had an elevation change of about 14 feet. Here, 14 feet means a lot; you can depend on the ecology to change about ever 2 feet. There are a couple of different species of flowers there that exist throughout but change color depending on their elevation. They were orange at the highest elevations, yellow in the middle and a lime green in the bottoms, down near the bayous.

This area is also home to a huge number of birds. The woods were full of so many songs, few of which could be located.

Freshly Bitter-Sweet

Each day my colleagues and I walk to lunch; this week the walk has been different. As you walk down Division Street's broken sidewalks that are flanked by short, crumbling retaining walls crowned by rusted and bent chain link fencing, you look beyond at the vacant houses and lots and sometimes think about their past lives. Like this one house that has the most beautiful live oak trees and I can image looking at them from the houses windows after waking from a nap. People who lived there used to do that. The boards are still on the windows... It's eyes are still shut. Maybe the house is just napping and will wake and look up at the live oaks. For now it will remain sleeping along with the other houses; meanwhile, their yards are more alive than ever. No one is there to hold them back from growing into what they want to be. There are no weeds there because no one is there to call something a weed and pluck it from the earth. With this, we've noticed as of this week, the sidewalks of Division Street are graced by the presence of blackberries, freshly bitter-sweet blackberries.

Pirates, a Dance Party and Easter

On Friday morning I got up early and worked in the yard; planted some herbs, perennials and a fig tree, pruned some existing trees & shrubs and filled a few holes. This was stuff that needed to be done for a while now and finally did, just in time, before my friends, Bryant and Patrick, arrived from out of town and for part 2 of a 4 part party. It was Leg Beard's birthday - a roaming pirate of a party that went from house to house pillaging for rum drinks, some random assortments of food and cake and good times. We started on the front porch of Leg Beard's Binachi St. house and then walked the four blocks to my Gill Ave. house. This is where a dance party broke out. I won't elaborate, it was what it was. We then went on to the Seal Ave. house where the major event ended up being a hula hoop contest, I won't elaborate on this either. We then went to another Binachi St. house where they have an old hot dog cart that is really cool. From there the crowd of about forty people that accumulated throughout the night began to disperse.

Saturday was much more low key. I made a breakfast of rosemary potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, home-made biscuits and coffee. We then went on a short tour of Biloxi, Ocean Springs and Gautier, all Mississippi Gulf Coast towns. We then found ourselves sitting on the beach with an occasional large cloud floating above. The day just got lazier from there.

Sunday morning we got up and went to Bay St. Louis to have brunch at The Buttercup, where we met up with some of my Biloxi and Bay St. Louis friends. From there Bryant and Patrick headed back west. I went to James and Sam's house where we listened to some Blue Scholars, made food for an Easter dinner and played backgammon. There was a nice breeze blowing through the house - front and back door open.

A group of about 15 got together for a pot-luck Easter dinner and egg hunt. The eggs were a surprise; they had jello shots in them. The food was amazing, everyone came with beautiful culinary creations and everyone left with a lethargic, food-coma smile on their face.

Alabama Home

This weekend I came home to Jasper, AL where I grew up and my parents still live. My siblings and their families came home too. Every time I come back to this part of Alabama it makes me realize what a beautiful and special place it is. On Saturday morning we were all awake soon after the sun was rising. It was a slightly foggy morning but the sun was shining bright through the freshly budding trees. Soon after a breakfast of scrambled eggs, whole wheat pancakes, turkey-based meats and a cup of coffee my brother and I were off to the woods and streams of Bankhead National Forest.

Upon our parking at the little dirt-patch of a pull off on Co. Hwy. 2 to start our hike through the woods, some other people pulled in behind us. They were new to this part of Bankhead which is known as Caney Creek. We talked to them a for a few minutes, they asked some questions about the area, and it was then that we realized we'd been coming to this area for the past 18 years. This time my brother and I were going down to the lower falls which we hadn't been to in what we figured out was 15 years ago. I can't believe how times flies, it really just seems like it was a few years ago.

There really isn't much of a trail to the lower falls so you just use the knowledge you have of the area and the lay of the land to navigate to them. After walking along an oak covered ridge line we headed down a steep ravine toward a small creek that is just a few feet wide. As you descend the forest changes from the bright airiness of the hardwood forest to the dense, dark green shades of hemlocks, moss covered rocks and an assortment of native trilliums and violets. The temperature drops and the humidity increases and before you know it you are walking in the stream because the cliff's and hills are to steep for a trail to exist.

After about 45 minutes of walking I began to hear a hollow rumbling sound, I knew we were close. Before I knew it we were standing in the stream atop the lower falls of Caney Creek. A beautiful spot where we climbed around on the rocks and to do what we ultimately came for, fly fishing. The water was so crisp and clear... the fish were too smart. I only pulled out a 5" long small mouth bass but that was okay because it was just about being there. For me, this is one of my favorite spots on earth.

Now, I must pack up and head back home to Biloxi.

Dark & Stormy

Usually on Tuesday nights we go to the Government Street Grocery in Ocean Springs and play trivia. Last night we decided it would be better to sit on the front porch of 212 Binachi and drink a Dark & Stormy or two while the dark and stormy night rolled in. It was a good plan.