Sunday, November 23, 2014

THE GULF IS BACK


 On Friday we went down to the Mississippi Gulf coast. It is about 70 miles south of Hattiesburg. We had come to this area with our church to help rebuild after Katrina ten years ago. It was nice seeing the area recovered.
 Our first stop was in Waveland at the Ground Zero hurricane museum. It was a small room with  pictures of building before the hurricane and what they looked like after. There was a craft show going on in the building so we enjoyed walking around it and talking to the different vendors. Many had stories of their experiences and damages from the storm. They expressed gratitude to all the volunteers that came and helped.

 We were told this was just finished  this summer and they were quite proud of it.
 The bridge on route 90 from Bay St. Louis to Pass Christian.
 We stopped at Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis Home and presidential library
 Hurricane Katrina damaged the home and many of the things inside.
 It has been restored and we were given a tour.
  The house was built as a summer home in 1852 for James Brown, a wealthy plantation owner. In 1877  Jefferson Davis moved here to write his papers and books.
 Jefferson died in 1889 and his daughter owned it till 1898. She sold it to the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans with two stipulations. The first was the property was to be used for a Confederate Veterans Home for the veterans and their widows at no charge and that was done until 1957. The second stipulation was that the property be used as a memorial to Jefferson Davis and the Confederate soldiers. The Presidential library was built after Katrina.
 There are several animals on the property
 including a very friendly camel named Stanley.
 There is a cemetery on the ground and the Tomb of the Unknown soldiers of the Confederacy.
 We drove along the coast to Biloxi and then stopped at the Reef for dinner.
 Gumbo with shrimp, scallops and alligator sausage, very tasty.
 Larry had a whole fried flounder. Never had one like this before.It was a little boney, but he enjoyed every bite.

Monday, November 3, 2014

VISIT FROM ASHTYN

 Almost a month old, so Ashtyn came for a visit when we returned from Hawaii and before we head to Mississippi.
 She is still just a little handful.
 Cuddled in Grandpa's arm.
The happy family.