Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Mad Tuesday
Football starts Saturday with Ole Miss having a home game that afternoon and I am already mad at those damn Mormons at BYU. They are talking that talk and riding those bicycles and think they are going to waltz in here and beat us. I have news for them. We are going to let them all in, lock the damn doors and proceed to give them a butt-whipping the likes they have never seen and send their sorry butts back to soak in the Great Salt Lake. Boy, they are pissing me off.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday Morning Coming Down
My old friend at Charming, Just Charming uses that phrase and I understand it's implications. Here is the weekend roundup for Water Valley and the famous Christmas Place.
Water Valley won the ballgame 63-0 and I really felt bad for Coffeeville who had one of those nights where nothing went right. Our boys looked sharp and dominated the game. Should be a barnburner when Calhoun City rolls into town, PS. You would have thought we were playing those chumps at Germantown.
Dad got all the bulldozing done without loss of life. Trent got everything bushhogged. Three weeks 'till we plant and have our super WORK weekend.
Everyone is gearing up for college football this coming weekend when we will tailgate in the Grove and beat the crap out of those Mormons from BYU.
Hotty-Toddy! See you there!
Water Valley won the ballgame 63-0 and I really felt bad for Coffeeville who had one of those nights where nothing went right. Our boys looked sharp and dominated the game. Should be a barnburner when Calhoun City rolls into town, PS. You would have thought we were playing those chumps at Germantown.
Dad got all the bulldozing done without loss of life. Trent got everything bushhogged. Three weeks 'till we plant and have our super WORK weekend.
Everyone is gearing up for college football this coming weekend when we will tailgate in the Grove and beat the crap out of those Mormons from BYU.
Hotty-Toddy! See you there!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Blue Devils and Pirates Friday Night
The Water Valley Blue Devils will take the field at home tonight to face their cross-county rivals, the Coffeeville Pirates, in an early game for bragging rights. Come early as a big crowd should be on hand to see us hopefully send them back to Coffeeville severely disappointed.
You can read all about it at the North Mississippi Herald and browse the rest of the paper too. Water Valley -vs- Coffeeville
You can read all about it at the North Mississippi Herald and browse the rest of the paper too. Water Valley -vs- Coffeeville
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A Tree Worth Knowing
On Dad's recent bulldozing extravaganza, he cut a new road along the edge of the bluff so that he and Guy Dale could hunt squirrels without having to strain themselves. He came upon this magnificent white oak tree that has survived here for a couple hundred years. He cleared out around it and hopes to plant a food plot there so he can deer hunt and suirrel hunt here too. Paul and I managed to get our picture taken in front of the giant while checking out the road. I think a big buck may be lurking near here so I better be ready to get a stand situated nearby.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Once Is Not Enough
The dust at the famous Christmas Place has hardly settled and Dad has already set up for the bulldozer to be there again this Thursday. The road leading to the GraveYard is impassable, the Creek Road is washed out and we can't get across the Beaver Dam. Dad says don't worry, he will take care of it. For all of you worried that Paul will not be able to get to his favorite hunting spots; I can assure you that Dad and the bulldozer are going to take care of that too. Paul really is the Devil!
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Origin Of Our Mascot
Early on the morning of August 22, 1864 Union General Andrew Jackson Smith, also known as “Whiskey Smith” rode his army into the little town of Oxford, MS.
His anger at the southern people was boiling over and Oxford is where he was going to make them pay for their insolence. His troops started out the day by tearing up the rails and burning the railroad depot before they systematically started looting the whole town. Stores and homes were ransacked and any resistance was met with a bullet or fire and it wasn’t long until the General ordered the burning of the stately courthouse, and then the burning of every building on the town square.
Flames and fire lit the sky as the townspeople sadly gathered to watch the destruction from a safe distance a few blocks south of the inferno as the Yankees hauled everything of value away. Late in the day, the army prepared to leave and the soldiers turned their overloaded wagons down what is now University Avenue in the general direction of Pontotoc.
A crowd of older men stood on the porch of a small house on South Lamar and watched in silence until they heard running steps racing toward them and a young boy shouted up to them that the soldiers were going to burn the University before they left. The men spoke quietly to each in their pain. There was nothing they could do.
One of the older men listened for a minute and with grim determination in his eyes, turned and hurried the few blocks to his home, called for his horse to be saddled, changed clothes and briskly rode toward the University that was now serving as a hospital.
He had changed into his blue officer pants from his time in the United States Army and put on his prized red British officers coat that he had captured in the War of 1812 and soon was riding toward the University.
Colonel Jackson Augustus Steele was a dashing figure in his fine attire, string tie, and gray cavalry hat as he rode toward the bridge above Hilgard Cut at the entrance to the University. He was an imposing figure too as observers noted the many pistols draped around him and the long rifle he carried. The Colonel was retired and too old at the time to serve in the Army but was a renowned war hero that had served and fought with General Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, had served his country as an Indian fighter in the West, had stood with the Rebels in Texas against Santa Anna until he was wounded and missed the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 and had served as a Colonel in the War With Mexico in 1846. Now at the age of 65 he was still known as a dangerous man to be reckoned with.
A detachment of horse soldiers carrying torches soon appeared trotting their horses down the street toward the Lyceum and were surprised to see a lone horseman sitting tall and waiting quietly in the middle of the wooden bridge above the railroad cut.
The soldiers approaching took in his flinty blue eyes and relaxed commanding air as he calmly waited barring the bridge and they could also see the swelling mass of people starting to gather behind him. The townspeople of all ages had started to appear in the street leading to the Lyceum. Old, Young, Black, White, Women and Men quietly gathered carrying pitchforks, wooden staves, and bare fists in a last effort to defend the beloved buildings from being burned. The soldiers pulled up as the Lieutenant in charge rode up through the ranks of men to confront the old warrior.
No one knows exactly what was said as the two men quietly talked. Most people believe that he reminded the Lieutenant that the war was all but over and to burn a great University and hospital would be something that would haunt him the rest of his life, that he had led men in battle and sometimes to do the right thing you could not blindly follow orders and he most assuredly told the Lieutenant that he or his men would never cross the bridge alive if they continued with the insanity that they were contemplating.
Darkness was falling as the Lieutenant retired to talk with his men, but more and more of the Oxford people were moving into the street as word spread to hurry there to save the University. After a few minutes, the Lieutenant returned to face the Colonel, saluted, turned his men and they rode back the way they had come.
Years later, a drawing was made of him and attached to a football program to show the valor of the team. The tradition became part of our football history but the name of this hero was lost. He was simply known in Oxford as Colonel Jack.
His anger at the southern people was boiling over and Oxford is where he was going to make them pay for their insolence. His troops started out the day by tearing up the rails and burning the railroad depot before they systematically started looting the whole town. Stores and homes were ransacked and any resistance was met with a bullet or fire and it wasn’t long until the General ordered the burning of the stately courthouse, and then the burning of every building on the town square.
Flames and fire lit the sky as the townspeople sadly gathered to watch the destruction from a safe distance a few blocks south of the inferno as the Yankees hauled everything of value away. Late in the day, the army prepared to leave and the soldiers turned their overloaded wagons down what is now University Avenue in the general direction of Pontotoc.
A crowd of older men stood on the porch of a small house on South Lamar and watched in silence until they heard running steps racing toward them and a young boy shouted up to them that the soldiers were going to burn the University before they left. The men spoke quietly to each in their pain. There was nothing they could do.
One of the older men listened for a minute and with grim determination in his eyes, turned and hurried the few blocks to his home, called for his horse to be saddled, changed clothes and briskly rode toward the University that was now serving as a hospital.
He had changed into his blue officer pants from his time in the United States Army and put on his prized red British officers coat that he had captured in the War of 1812 and soon was riding toward the University.
Colonel Jackson Augustus Steele was a dashing figure in his fine attire, string tie, and gray cavalry hat as he rode toward the bridge above Hilgard Cut at the entrance to the University. He was an imposing figure too as observers noted the many pistols draped around him and the long rifle he carried. The Colonel was retired and too old at the time to serve in the Army but was a renowned war hero that had served and fought with General Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, had served his country as an Indian fighter in the West, had stood with the Rebels in Texas against Santa Anna until he was wounded and missed the Battle of the Alamo in 1836 and had served as a Colonel in the War With Mexico in 1846. Now at the age of 65 he was still known as a dangerous man to be reckoned with.
A detachment of horse soldiers carrying torches soon appeared trotting their horses down the street toward the Lyceum and were surprised to see a lone horseman sitting tall and waiting quietly in the middle of the wooden bridge above the railroad cut.
The soldiers approaching took in his flinty blue eyes and relaxed commanding air as he calmly waited barring the bridge and they could also see the swelling mass of people starting to gather behind him. The townspeople of all ages had started to appear in the street leading to the Lyceum. Old, Young, Black, White, Women and Men quietly gathered carrying pitchforks, wooden staves, and bare fists in a last effort to defend the beloved buildings from being burned. The soldiers pulled up as the Lieutenant in charge rode up through the ranks of men to confront the old warrior.
No one knows exactly what was said as the two men quietly talked. Most people believe that he reminded the Lieutenant that the war was all but over and to burn a great University and hospital would be something that would haunt him the rest of his life, that he had led men in battle and sometimes to do the right thing you could not blindly follow orders and he most assuredly told the Lieutenant that he or his men would never cross the bridge alive if they continued with the insanity that they were contemplating.
Darkness was falling as the Lieutenant retired to talk with his men, but more and more of the Oxford people were moving into the street as word spread to hurry there to save the University. After a few minutes, the Lieutenant returned to face the Colonel, saluted, turned his men and they rode back the way they had come.
Years later, a drawing was made of him and attached to a football program to show the valor of the team. The tradition became part of our football history but the name of this hero was lost. He was simply known in Oxford as Colonel Jack.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
08-22-1864
for all of you that keep writing and wanting to know what this is all about, I will at least give some clarification.
1.) no, it is not the date my dad got shot off his horse at Shiloh.
2.) It is not Bobby's Birthday.
3.) It has nothing to do with the age of Burney's latest girlfriend.
4.) It is not code for "PAUL IS THE DEVIL"
Keep researching, the answer is coming up in the next few days.
1.) no, it is not the date my dad got shot off his horse at Shiloh.
2.) It is not Bobby's Birthday.
3.) It has nothing to do with the age of Burney's latest girlfriend.
4.) It is not code for "PAUL IS THE DEVIL"
Keep researching, the answer is coming up in the next few days.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
It's Dozing Time!
.
Once again the time of the year has come when my dad gets that glazed look in his eye you need to look out for. His hands itch for action, he can smell diesel fuel in the air and he longs for mass destruction. Yes, it is time for bulldozing at the famous Christmas Place.
It does not matter how much money we have, it does not matter what any of the members think, it does not make a hoot in hell about any argument you make, he gets the bulldozer going the way he wants it done.
This past weekend he cleared a new road out along the base of the bluffs for him to hunt squirrels or maybe pop a deer if he feels like it. Then he went and increased the size of Burney's field and made a loop up to T- Field and made it bigger. In between he pretended to smooth the roads going back and forth to these areas. Stay out of his way at this time of year or you may look like a flattened tin can. Will let you know when it is safe to come visit
Once again the time of the year has come when my dad gets that glazed look in his eye you need to look out for. His hands itch for action, he can smell diesel fuel in the air and he longs for mass destruction. Yes, it is time for bulldozing at the famous Christmas Place.
It does not matter how much money we have, it does not matter what any of the members think, it does not make a hoot in hell about any argument you make, he gets the bulldozer going the way he wants it done.
This past weekend he cleared a new road out along the base of the bluffs for him to hunt squirrels or maybe pop a deer if he feels like it. Then he went and increased the size of Burney's field and made a loop up to T- Field and made it bigger. In between he pretended to smooth the roads going back and forth to these areas. Stay out of his way at this time of year or you may look like a flattened tin can. Will let you know when it is safe to come visit
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Bear Claw's Folly
Bear Claw is the Mailriders wife. Her name is Kim and she is not interested in deer, deer hunting, or hunting land. So when Mark wanted to go ahead and bush-hog our land, I was surprised that she was coming down with him to see her great investment.
The premise was simple. Buy the land, put it up for sale, walk off with $100,000 and call it a day. It hasn't worked out so well though and we still have the land and the note.
Denise and I met Mark, Kim and Drew out at the place and we went to work. Kim pitched in, she is going to sell that land if it kills us all.
It's her fault, she knew better than to trust me with her money.
of us.
The premise was simple. Buy the land, put it up for sale, walk off with $100,000 and call it a day. It hasn't worked out so well though and we still have the land and the note.
Denise and I met Mark, Kim and Drew out at the place and we went to work. Kim pitched in, she is going to sell that land if it kills us all.
of us.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Watermelon Roundup
The most important thing was that Dad got some fresh Cantaloupe. Oh and the fireworks display Friday Night was fantastic.
You can see the whole show on the Heralds new Youtube site.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
A Carnival Birthday!
This weekend was also the birthday of my youngest daughter, Erin. She came up to see all her friends and enjoy the Carnival before school starts again. She turned 14 going on 26.
Monday, August 08, 2011
A Cooling Contraption
To help with the heat exhaustion that I knew was coming, I set up a mister in front of my office. It was not a big hit but several people used it to cool off and every kid that came by had to run through it. Sarah went out of her way to play with the little kids that came through.
Denise and I spent a lot of time walking around, listening to music, visiting old friends and eating watermelon!
Denise and I spent a lot of time walking around, listening to music, visiting old friends and eating watermelon!
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Gearing Up for Carnival 2011
The temperature is 100 degrees, all the grass is yellow and dying, the ground is baked and as hard as a rock. Must be time for the Watermelon carnival 2011!
I don't see the enthusiasm of other Carnivals we have had here. I am sure part of it is the heat and part is the economy. It should still be fun though. The big street dance is tomorrow night and all my kids are coming so I am sure we will have a good time.
As usual we will be live blogging the event for all those people in China that are enthralled by the events.
As usual we will be live blogging the event for all those people in China that are enthralled by the events.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Small Town Election Night
One of the true things that I enjoy about living in a little southern town is election night. On this night everyone in Water Valley gathers at the park for the election returns. The kids play, food is served, music plays and everyone meets and greets as we wait for the returns to slowly trickle in as we anxiously watch the big board. It is a true symbol of small town Americana.
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