An afternoon in Natchez, MS

Today we decided to go to the Isle of Capri casino for lunch since they were offering a 2 for 1 price for seniors. The buffet today featured Mexican and it was fair. There were a lot of different things to choose from and a nice salad bar and dessert bar as well. I would have preferred to have had something different than Mexican but at $8.61 for the two of us, it was good and I didn't have to cook!

Of course we played the penny slots for a little while after eating - you have to get some exercise in after all. Again, we played for quite awhile, but didn't really win, oh well.

We went to downtown Natchez to tour Magnolia Hall, a antebellum home that we hadn't seen on our previous visit. It isn't one that I would recommend as the furnishings were not from the family and the inside of the house has been totally refurbished. It served as a private school for a number of years before being donated to the city historical society. The one thing that was different was that it was built to look like a brownstone, but it isn't. It is brick with a stucco siding that was grooved to appear like brownstone and then painted. Very unusual for the time period that it was built.



After our tour of Magnolia Hall, we wondered around the downtown where we found the Eola Hotel - another Natchez landmark. Personally, I didn't see anything special about it! We noticed that there is a lot of the downtown area in need of attention - very run down.



Mickey and Patti will be joining us here in Natchez on Saturday, so we decided to save some of the "better" antebellum homes for when they tour with us.

I've added a link on my blog to my son's blog. My granddaughter, Morgan, who is almost 9 had a scuba diving class and he posted some pictures - really cute. Check it out if you like.

Mammy's Cupboard

On Sunday afternoon we passed this building on our way into Natchez, but didn't know what it was. When checking into the campground we discovered it was a restaurant named Mammy's Cupboard. It is listed on Roadside America's web site.



Dean and I went there today for lunch. He had Bavarian Black Beans with yellow rice, layered salad and broccoli cornbread. I had a ham and swiss on sourdough bread that came with a cup of homemade vegetable soup and a small scoop of potato salad. Everything was delicious. They have a very limited menu with one daily special and sandwiches or salads. They also make the most wonderful looking homemade pies with meringue about one foot high!

After lunch we went back to the visitor center for information on the antebellum homes then went to the Isle of Capri casino for a little afternoon fun. We both played my favorite penny slot machine - Texas Tea. We played for about 2 hours and spent around $15.00. Won some, lost it back, but had fun.

The day started foggy and then cloudy. While in the casino it rained, but not much. I was hoping it would rain hard so it would wash off the Mobile Suite - no such luck. The report is for partly cloudy sky's the rest of the week with a chance of a thunder storm. We need the rain. It is also supposed to cool down with lows in the 50's for a couple of nights. Sounds good to me.

Till the next time.....

A beautiful day in Natchez, MS

We arrived at River View RV Park in Vidalia, LA yesterday afternoon. Coming up highway 65 out of Baton Rouge was a really nice scenic drive. The campground is located directly across the Mississippi River from Natchez, MS - what a view! Here is a couple of pictures at the campground - first on is our rig and the second one is our view from the door or dining table.



This morning as I having breakfast I saw a paddle wheel boat coming up river. I wasn't sure which Delta Queen Steamship boat is was, but I went to the levee to take a picture. Turned out it was the American Queen and was coming to Natchez for some refurbishing (read this on their web site). See pictures below.



This afternoon we decided to take a drive over to Natchez. I noticed another paddle wheeler sitting at Natchez down under so went to the city park area to take a picture. This one happens to be the Delta Queen, their smallest boat. In the picture, the larger boat is the Isle of Capri casino. We then drove over to Natchez down under. We had been there back in the late 80's and it has changed. Not really much there anymore except for the Isle of Capri casino. Of course since we were that close, I had to go in and check it out. Didn't win, but then didn't spend much either, but had a good time on a penny machine. May go back one more time (hehe) before we leave here.




Not sure what we will do while in the area since we've toured most of the antebellum homes when we were here previously. Feel free to check back to find out.

The Wedding 2

More photos from the wedding.....

Scott (grandson) and his new bride of two weeks. OK Terry, that's high enough!



Suze caught the bouquet! Terry dancing with neice Morgan.



My dad with friend - dancing! He's only 86 and recovering from broken hip!



Krystal (our daughter) with husband Ed - cute couple.....



Umm, that cake was good. Finally a farewell and we're off for the honeymoon!

The Wedding 1

This post will contain more pictures from Terry & Teresa's wedding which took place in Plaquemine, LA on April 22, 2006.

The first picture is Amber, Terry's daughter, our granddaughter. Next is the "girls" that were in the wedding.



Dean (father of the groom), me (step-mom), Terry, Teresa, Dick (step-father) and Sandy (mother of the groom). Next picture is inside the church showing decorations.


Next is the bride with her parents, followed by the happy newly weds.



A beautiful wedding cake. Tim (our son) and his beautiful wife Cheryl.

It's been a long day...

Today was our son's big day. The wedding went off without a hitch other than starting about 15 minutes late. Something happened with the brides mother and she was running late.

Here are the bride and groom, the new Mr. & Mrs. Terry Schultz.















Below are father - Terry, daughter - Amber and granddaughter - Macie
















I can't believe I actually got Dean on the dancefloor!












We are moving tomorrow to Vidalia, LA which is across the river from Natchez, MS. We have been to Natchez many years ago and are looking forward to our return. It is a really nice city with a lot of old southern homes and history. Right now we are planning on staying a week then moving on up river to Vicksburg. But, that's the wonderful part of this life, we can stay longer if we want or we can go somewhere else. It's wonderful!

I'll update the blog and add more pictures to this entry after we get set up in Vidalia. It's now almost 10 PM and I'm exhausted. Time for bed so see you later...

Day before departure

Today we are getting ready to leave the windy town of Port Isabel, TX. The only thing that I will miss (very much) is our friends, Mickey, Patti and of course Frosty. Patti and I have had such a good time shopping and helping each other with purchases - should I buy it - yes or no? (Usually yes of course.) Of course our Monday's have been fun and HOT! That is the day that Patti and I have been going to the laundromat. The sisterhood of the sweat sisters! Mickey, well what can I say - hummm - he's great! Not only has he helped Dean with the computer and RVNotebook program, he has also kept us entertained the last couple of evenings with his slight of hand tricks. If you get to play cards with him - watch him closely. He's tricky Mickey - LOL! The four of us are going out for dinner tonight - our farewell dinner, but I have a strong feeling that we will be seeing them down the road again sometime - soon I hope.

We will be leaving here tomorrow morning around 8:30 am headed for Victoria, TX and an overnight stay at Dad's RV Park. Then on Wednesday we plan on stopping at Beaumont, TX at Gulf Coast RV Park. On Thursday our destination will be the Plaquemine, LA area. At this time, I'm not sure which campground we will be staying at. The reason for the Plaquemine, LA stop is that our son Terry will be getting married there on Saturday, April 22nd.

Check back after Saturday for pictures of the wedding, reception and whatever!

On Sunday we will head for Natchez, MS, well actually Vidalia, LA across the river from Natchez. We will most likely plan on staying there a week. If so, that is when I'll have a chance to update the blog again.

Until then.........

A Morning at the Beach

Another beautiful day here in Port Isabel and S. Padre Island Texas. Mickey, Patti, Frosty, Dean & I all went to the beach late this morning. It was so pretty there, the surf was up, the sky was blue and there was a light breeze.

Frosty was a little intimidated at first by the waves but after some coaxing by me and the birds, he decided it wasn't so bad after all.



While walking along the beach I saw this really big bird coming my direction - see pictures below.


Well, guess I can't fool you, yes it was a helicopter flying very low over the beach.

But, there were plenty of sandpipers and seagulls on the beach. Frosty really enjoyed chasing them so I hung back a little so I could get some pictures. Notice the beautiful surf!



While we were walking Frosty, the guys were busy playing with Mickey's metal detector. What did they find? Natta!! I thought afterward that I should have taken a picture, if only to prove that Dean was actually on the beach. That is something that doesn't happen very often.

Till next time....

Dolphin Watch Cruise

Today dawned a beautiful day and finally just a little breeze. Today was dolphin watch cruise day...

The first picture you see is Mickey and Patti on the bow of the boat. We were lucky as the cruise that we took only had about 10 people on it, so it was not crowded at all. On our way out to where we would see the dolphins I got a good picture of a formation of ducks - see picture below.




We got to the area where the dolphins were supposed to be and there was only one that occasionally broke surface. The captain said he would take us out to the breakers as it was deeper water and there were often dolphin out there. Well, there were a few more there, but as you can see by the pictures below, the dolphins were playing shy. They surfaced only slightly, no jumping and would only hang around the boat for a short period of time.





It was fun looking for them though and the scenery was really pretty. You could see the surf breaking on the beach at S. Padre Island, see below. Honestly, it was great being on the water again. I have forgotten how much I miss it. I told Dean that it's time for a real cruise!



That para-sailer was up high. Rather him than me.

That's all for now.... Oh, one more thing. I'm finding that on a lot of the pictures I post, you can click on the picture and it will enlarge. Give it a try.

Lazy Days

We have been kinda lazy the past several days.

Last Saturday I cooked dinner for the Ivey's and us. BBQ hot dogs, hash brown casserole and baked beans. I even put out some Wickles (wickedly hot sweet pickles) for Mickey which he enjoyed. For dessert I had strawberry short cake, well, actually pound cake. Later that evening Dean and I taught Patti and Mickey how to play Polish Poker. I'll let you all guess who the winner was - LOL.

Sunday Dean and I went to church then the four of us went to Brownsville for dinner. Went to Texas Roadhouse and shared a wonderful onion blossom then had steaks and ribs - ummm, very good! Afterward we went to the Border Flea Market. It was like being back in Mexico without crossing the border, certainly not like the flea markets back home. Actually it was more like a yard sale inside with the exception of a few booths.

Monday was a quiet day. I went to Curves in the early morning and then Patti and I did laundry - again! It sure has a way of piling up.

Yesterday Dean and I took off for Brownsville in search of some wood folding chairs. I saw what I wanted on the internet at Linen n Things and there is a store in Brownsville. They had them at a good price and even better, they were on sale, buy one get one at half price. We also found a Target and a Michael's on this trip. We spent most all afternoon shopping - what fun. I can't believe I actually got Dean to walk the entire Mall and it's a big one. We got back home about 6 pm to Mickey looking at his watch and asking "Where have you been". Made me feel like I was a teenager getting home late from a date - LOL!!! It's nice though, knowing that you have friends concerned about you.

I'm not sure what's happening today. Patti and I were talking about doing the dolphin watch if the wind isn't blowing too hard. Check back later to see if we did.

Meanwhile enjoy pictures of more porpoises......

Viva La Mexico!

Today we took off for Progreso, Mexico by way of Brownsville, TX. This was a very interesting drive as it took us through a lot of farming country. We saw fields that seemed to go on forever, so big that you couldn't see the other end. And onions, we saw onions in the field, onions being picked and 50 lb bags of onions for sale. These are the infamous Texas Sweet onions.

We arrived at Progreso, TX around noon and opted to park on the U.S. side and walk across the bridge to Progreso, Mexico. For those who have cruised this is not the same as Progresso, Mexico on the Caribbean. I've been to Mexico many times by cruise ship, but this experience was very different. When you arrive in Cozumel by ship and go downtown, you encounter an occasional street vendor, but here in Progreso the streets are literally lined with vendors.






We decided to have lunch before shopping and went to a restaurant that was recommended to us by some Americans that were leaving Mexico as we arrived. It was OK, but take me to Taco Bell any day! I did have some flan for dessert and it was delicious.

After eating we decided to split up and meet back at the truck. Dean and I took off in search of a ring that my daughter-in-law had requested. Sorry, I can't tell you if I found it or not as she reads this blog! We walked about 6 or 7 blocks then crossed the street and turned back toward the bridge. Because the street vendors had just about anything that you could want from Mexico, we went in very few shops. One thing that was very different here was the number of dentist offices along the main road. Probably 4 or 5 in each block. You can have your teeth cleaned for $20/$25. Other services are priced just as cheap. A lot of the Winter Texans (aka snowbirds) come to have dental work done since it is so cheap. More power to them! Drugs (the legal kind) are also readily available with many pharmacies along the main street. Name brand drugs are very cheap here as compared to prices in the U.S. Here again, a lot of the Winter Texans get their prescriptions filled across the border.

We met up with Mickey and Patti as we were getting ready to go back across the bridge to the U.S. side. One interesting thing - it cost us .25 cents per person to enter Mexico and .30 per person cents to leave! Why??? Don't know.

Our ride home was uneventful and I think all four of us were tired and hot. The temperature today was in the 90's and the wind had finally died down, so it was one of the hottest days since we've been here.

All in all a very enjoyable day.