Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween!



I surprised Ned with a Halloween drive down to Vicksburg. I almost ran over him with the car while he was walking down the street with our friends' borrowed lawnmower, to be exact. We enjoyed the first official china night this Wednesday, and we carved our first Vicksburg pumpkin. Happy looking, no?

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Pretty boring when we don't post, huh?



Last week was crazy busy. We (Ned included) were all working on the Southern Foodways Symposium. This is a four day weekend in Oxford filled with good food and great friends and, save for our wedding in August, it's usually the most enjoyable thing we do each year. After four days of eating pork, I feel like a pig myself! We were happy to have brother-in-law Marvin join us for the fun this year, all the way from Austin.

Photos today are from the wildlife in our backyard. Ned took pics of the critters, as I'm not a fan. We found them when we were ripping out the summer garden in preparation for the fall garden.

I return to Vicksburg this weekend, to check out the repairs on our roof and to meet with a contractor about doing some work on our fireplace. Ned hates the small "fake fire" that the gas logs offer. And I'm afraid that I'll freeze this winter in that drafty house without some additional heat. Plus, we like the roar of a real fire. It's not the same when you just flip the switch and get small flames.

Friday, October 19, 2007

Kitchen of dreams...weekend of baking


I head to Vicksburg this afternoon. I can hardly wait. My Kitchen Aid mixer awaits. Next weekend (in addition to being symposium weekend) is also the fall festival at St. John's Church in Oxford. I think I might get my baking game on...make a few margaritas for the afternoon, whip up a few caramel cakes for the freezer, and generally enjoy my green kitchen and new cookware. Ned might even get a hot meal! And then, of course, there's Auburn-LSU. My friend and I have a bet for lunch at the City Grocery. Either way, a Tiger wins and I get a good meal. Of course, I prefer the purple and gold tigers.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Excruciating minutiae from the eraser collection


When Ned and I drove through Valdosta on the way back from the honeymoon, my parents sent me back with everything I've ever owned. Groan. Who knew I owned so much? As I agonize over what to do with that box of my first grade papers, the old trophies from t-bat teams I barely remember, and an enormous collection of Winnie-the-Pooh items from overzealous Disney store days, Ned's enjoying the quirkiness of my childhood eraser collection. Of particular interest is this one, made by non-native speakers.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Our first disappointment



The Irish lost, the Tigers lost, and I don't remember the pep rally. This photo is from a stop on the drive up that looked promising, but when Ned and I arrived at 8:30 they told us there'd be no fried bologna until 9 a.m. Bummer.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Rally, Sons of Notre Dame...



Ned and I are off to ND this weekend. It'll be Ned's first Irish home game. We're traveling on a bus with 48 other members of the Memphis Alumni Club. And we're watching RUDY on the ride.

We're staying at Sacred Heart Parish Center. When I sent in the rooming list I had to make a special notation that Ned was my spouse, b/c Our Lady has no tolerance for unmarried couples sharing a room at the parish hall. And, since our last names are different, we got a "checking up" call from the front office.

Here are some photos from our last trip to the Holy Land. This time, we look forward to seeing baby brother Patrick and going out with him legally (for a change). CJ's burgers, here we come!

Cheer, cheer -- after the Irish got their first victory last Saturday, anything could happen. We could beat the Jesuits. And how great would that be...

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Saving Willie Mae's Scotch House at NOLA Film Fest


Some of y'all may remember that crazy weekend when I ran around New Orleans shopping for scaffolding and renting a jackhammer. I was just one small part of an amazing work crew that helped rebuild Willie Mae's Scotch House, a small restaurant in the Treme area of the French Quarter. This weekend, my amazingly talented friend Joe York will debut his film on the whole rebuilding effort at the New Orleans Film Festival. And the film, which I hope you will see, will chronicle the work of my amazingly talented friend John Currence -- as well as lots of other SFA-ers who worked to get the job done. For more info on the festival, visit www.neworleansfilmfest.com. Miss Willie Mae is pictured above.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

We're all over the internet!


Yep, we have another Web site for photos. Hard to believe, after all you've already endured, huh? Well, here are photos from the rehearsal dinner: www.nedandmarybeth.shutterfly.com We'll add more wedding photos as they're available. But don't worry -- we won't ask if you've viewed them...

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

On the road again



It was another busy traveling weekend for Ned and me--Friday I went to Jackson, Saturday and Sunday we made a whirlwind trip to New Orleans, Monday I spent hours unpacking wedding gifts, and Tuesday finds me back in Oxford counting the minutes until I can turn the car around to Vicksburg again on Friday afternoon. Check out the festive Fiestaware--we had lots of unpacking and dishwashing happening on National Street, let me tell you. We broke them in (not literally) with another fabulous night of tacos. Thanks to our friend, Sarynna, we now know the trick to easy tortilla making: the Ziploc freezer bag. Next time, it'll be catfish tacos. Maybe I can even find Ned a fancy chef's hat to wear while he makes all those tortillas. Then he can match the catfish you see pictured here--doesn't he look happy? You'll see this joint on the Causeway exit off I-10, very near a "gentlemen's club" that has happy hour drinks beginning at 3 p.m. It seems the lunch spot closes down before the afternoon clientele arrives. Probably not a bad idea.