Cold October Weekend

Brrr…. It’s 40 degrees here this morning, and I definitely think cold Monday mornings come a little harder than warm ones. It truly felt like fall this weekend, so we took advantage of it and brought out the warm winter clothes and made our first fire of the season.

Friday night we curled up on the couch and watched “Gremlins.” It was a quiet Friday night, and it was wonderful! On Saturday we bundled up and headed to Ridgeland for the Jackson Street Festival with some friends. It’s a wonder we didn’t turn into ice cubes, but it was nice to listen to some good bluegrass music outside. After a few hours of shivering, we decided to take our little party indoors for a nice dinner at Char. We ended the night with a cozy fire pit in the back yard. We had to stay warm somehow!

Sunday was arts and crafts day as we started getting my Halloween costume ready. I won’t give too many details, but it’s going to be a good one this year. I’ll keep you in suspense for the next couple of weeks… :)

And now it’s Monday already, and it honestly feels like I blinked and the weekend is already long gone. Hopefully this week will fly by so we can head to Hattiesburg for USM’s homecoming! I’m so excited to spend the weekend with old friends. Until then, I’ll be watching the clock for the next five days… Ugh.

Fun at the Fair

Last night Derek and I headed downtown for a sort of “date night” at the 150th Mississippi State Fair. We didn’t go last year, so we’re averaging an every-other-year venture. Even so, it’s a fun experience no matter how old you get.

Everyone likes the fair for different reasons… some like the rides, some like the food, some like the sights, sounds and smells while others like to people-watch. The fair is 10 times better for people-watching than even the French Quarter ever thought about being in my opinion, and that’s saying A LOT. I mean, you see all types of people at the fair. It would be a good sociology project, I think. It’s definitely a nondiscriminatory event. I think some families totally save up for months to go to the fair, and rightfully so! For two of us to go for two hours we spent almost $50. Here’s the breakdown…

$5 for parking
$10 for admission
$6 for chicken on a stick
$5 for a footlong corndog
$8 for two ice cold beers
$4 for a fried Twinkie
$4 for a pineapple whip
$4 for ride tickets

Two hours later, our bellies were full of fried goodness, my head was spinning from people-watching overload, and Derek was dizzy from the one ride he rode, so we headed home.

The fair is a one-of-a-kind event, and I think it’s a great tradition, especially now that we live in the “big city.” We’ll probably make our way back down there in October 2011.

A fair adventure every other year works out well for us, I think. That way it’s only like dropping $25 on fair fun a year instead of $50. Although once we add munchkins to the mix (especially based on all the "Mama, please!!" moments I saw last night) we may need to start a "FAIR FUNds" piggy bank... :)

To my dear friends...

Congratulations!!! I couldn't be more excited for you two. We wish you nothing but the best and a lifetime of happiness.

Margaret's Grocery

I'm a little sad today after learning that Margaret Dennis, wife of the Rev. H.D. Dennis in Vicksburg, passed away this week. She was 94. Mrs. Dennis was the namesake of the crazy, colorful folk art castle her husband built for her on North Washington Street in Vicksburg. The landmark is called Margaret's Grocery, and the story behind it is as colorful as the paint.

I interviewed this sweet couple back in 2005 when I worked at the newspaper. It was definitely one of the more unforgettable interviews I did there. They were such legends, and I felt extremely fortunate to be one of many to write about their personal story and the legacy they left. I found the story in the Vicksburg Post archives online, and I thought I'd share.

She was one of the most genuinely inspiring people I've ever met, and the two of them were so in love. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to meet her...

The paint is peeling and chipped now, and some of the letters once nailed to perfection are crooked, but the Rev. H.D. Dennis' Biblical castle on North Washington Street still stands strong after 20 years.

Dennis and his wife, Margaret, for whom he built the roadside phenomenon, both turn 90 this year, and as they reflect on their years together, it's clear their love for each other and for God and his word are as passionate as when they first met. But not all is as bright as the colors on the castle. His health is declining, and he's lost most of his hearing, said Margaret Dennis. A downturn in the number of visitors, which she attributes to terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, have made paying medical bills and electric bills tough for the Dennises.

In December, the couple learned the castle needed a new breaker box for the lights that illuminate the structures outside. It will cost $632. "We don't have that kind of money. We get donations here and there from visitors, but during the winter we don't have as many people come by. The church took up a donation, but we still don't have enough," she said.

Margaret Dennis said she knows they can't live forever, but she has no idea what might happen to the place after they're gone. "We haven't really discussed that. He has two children, but I'm not sure what will happen," she said. Still, the two keep a positive outlook. "Everything we have is God's," she said. "We own nothing. Everything belongs to him. He'll help us through the hard times," she said.

The two were married in June 1984 after being introduced by two of her friends. They were both 69, though she is two months older. "I robbed the cradle a little bit," she said. "My friends said, 'Margaret, we know a man that's here in Vicksburg. He's a preacher. He needs a wife, and you need a husband.' Then we met, and he asked me to marry him by promising to turn my store into a castle," she said.

The two were married six months later, and H.D. Dennis got to work on his promise. The store, Margaret's Grocery, had been her home and workplace for 39 years. He started by clearing the inside shelves for candelabras, Bibles and trinkets and decorating the walls and ceilings with red and white paint and tin foil. Then he started on the outside, using scrap iron and wood to make signs reflecting the couple's belief in God and equality for all.

For diversity, Margaret Dennis added the pink and yellow paint, which she said also reflects their love for all mankind."We don't see black and white, so the colors here are for everyone. We only see God's children," she said.H.D. Dennis pointed to the sign above the roof."All is welcome Jews and Gentiles here at Margaret's Gro. & Mkt. and Bible class."The castle has been written about in numerous newspapers, magazines and travel guides throughout the South, across the United States and some other countries.

Vicksburg artist and Attic Gallery owner Lesley Silver said Dennis has made his home a treasure for all to see."It's not just artists that appreciate it, either. He's made it an environment that I think is somewhat obsessive in him. He felt the need to do it, and we can all appreciate the end result," she said."People come from all over just to see what he has done. He brings the ordinary to life and makes it extraordinary," she said.

Silver said the structure is something many Vicksburg residents take for granted."Many people might ride by and point because the fear of the unknown scares some people, but others seek it out. His castle is something that should always be preserved because there will never, never be anything like it," she said.

Margaret Dennis said in her years living at the castle and in Vicksburg, she's seen a lot change."I want to say I've been here in Warren County for 64 years now, and I've never met anyone nicer than these people," she said."There used to be houses all across the street there and along this side, too. Now, there's not really anything left. Everything's changing now. Oh, goodness, how things have changed. But I'm satisfied," she said.

People in general are more loving now, she said."I think racism is much better now. People are learning better. I just think there are good people, and then there are those who are just ignorant. I tell them you can't hate for something in the past. It happened a long time ago, and the people now didn't do anything to you. God made you the color he wanted you to be, and there's not a think we can do about it," she said.

As for the castle, it's in need of a few cosmetic repairs, but Margaret Dennis said they usually stay on top of things, even at 90."It's holding up pretty well. We usually do what touch-ups we can in the spring," she said.Times have changed, but H.D. and Margaret Dennis have stayed strong."He has good and bad days. It's not Alzheimer's, but it's something like that in his mind. We think it's from he was wounded in the head in World War II," she said.

Though his health is slowly fading, the reverend wakes each day with the same mission he had when he was ordained in 1936 - to preach the word of God.His walk is a little more feeble now, and his voice a little more shaky, but the message is the same.

"We're all supposed to be sisters and brothers, but our country is divided. Mankind is divided. We're all supposed to live together in equality," he said."I've seen people from all over the world stop by here to see this church, and I've given them the word of God. I hope they listen," he said.

Granny better step up her game...

I didn't know you could technically "beat" Wii bowling, but Derek bowled a perfect game this past weekend!

Derek and my granny have had a long-standing rivalry at this game. Granny used to bowl semi-pro back in the day, and once she discovered you could bowl on a video game, it got her back in the competitive spirit. She injured her shoulder in July and hasn't been able to play since, but hopefully she'll get the all-clear in a few weeks and be back in the swing of things.

I have a feeling our next family bowling tournament will be intense... :)

Original Artwork

Yep, just call us the newest pair of Picassos. Ha! Friday night we had a "date night" at Easely Amused, and the theme was Picasso style. As you can see, we got in touch with our creative sides and had a blast painting our own original artwork.

Derek's painting on the right is more Picasso-esque than mine on the left. He did a great job! I think mine turned out looking like a cross between a Muppet, Sponge Bob and Maurice from "Little Monsters" (one of my favorite movies back in the day, by the way). All in all, we were pretty proud of our work!

This place was super fun, and they even let you bring in your own adult beverages to help you get creative. I'd love to go back again when they have another fun theme. In the meantime, we'll just have to figure out where to hang these two fabulous new pieces of art. I think they'll fit right in with the rest of our collection. :)

Best Weekend Ever

We had an AMAZING weekend that started out with birthday dinner at my parents' house in Hattiesburg. We headed down Friday afternoon and had a great time spending the evening with family.

Saturday we got up bright and early and went south to Lumberton for Derek and Gary's skydiving adventure! The weather was iffy, but it turned out to be perfect and they had so much fun! The peanut gallery (including me, of course) on the ground had an equally fun time watching. Here are a few pics...

After they were done we came back to Jackson to get ready for my birthday dinner out at Ro'Chez in Ridgeland. We had never been there before, but we absolutely LOVED IT! Great food, great friends, lots and lots of wine... it was incredible.

Here's Chef Roache going over the menu for the night...

Thai Pork - Peanut Satay of Pork Tenderloin served atop Thai Slaw on a Sesame Cracker
Chicken & Shrimp Dumpling - Moose of Smoked Chicken and Shrimp formed into a Dumpling served on Baby Lettuce with Sesame Dressing
Polynesian Filet - Jerked Filet Mignon on Roasted Potatoes and Onions Smothered with Coconut Hinted Demi
Citrus Scallop - 5 Spice Seared Scallop on Pineapple Fried Rice Finished with Roasted Citrus Butter
Bourbon Berry Crêpe - Bourbon and Berries in a Crepe with Ice Cream

We had our own private dining room beside the restaurant and right after the third course my favorite local musician Ralph Miller made a surprise appearance and entertained us for the rest of the evening. It could not have been more perfect!

We had to take a group picture Chef Roache and Ralph in it before we left. :)

It was a wonderful end to an absolutely incredible day... I can say that I will welcome my 29th birthday with a big smile on my face tomorrow. We truly celebrated in style!