Even though I was born in Mississippi, I don't consider it "home". We moved away when I was in 2nd grade and only returned to visit family during the holidays. My childhood was spent bouncing back and forth between Texas and Louisiana every three years because of my dad's job in the oilfield business.
I do still have a cousin in the town where I was born. She and her husband bought the property our great grandparents owned and are building a house.
My mom and brother live a short distance away in Hattiesburg which is the home of the University of Southern Mississippi where they both graduated from.
Every single night, my brother feeds all of the feral cats on campus. They all have names and they all know him. Some even follow him around as he goes about filling bowls with food and water. We always had cats growing up and now we are both feeding feral cats in our respective communities. 
I always enjoy doing my own historical walking tour when in small town USA.
The facade of the National Bank of Commerce built in 1895 has been left standing though the building itself is gone.
One day we headed to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which is where I used to go on weekends to hit the beach during high school. Ironically, the distance from Slidell, LA to the Gulf Coast is half the distance it is from Hattiesburg, MS.
Since we had to drive over an hour to get to there, we decided to visit Beauvoir, The Jefferson Davis Home. The last time I was there was with my ex-husband in the mid-80's.
Mississippi doesn't have any major sports teams, but it's obvious which team these homeowners support.
My youngest son thought 5 days in Mississippi was more than enough.
The next leg of our trip takes us to Colorado to see our college boy.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
25 comments:
Oh what a beautiful property did your folks had (have)! I am sure it was fantastic growing up in such a place :)
Thank you for taking us on a tour with you!
Great tour! I have such respect for you and your brother CARING for the ferals....that's remarkable
Nice tour of your old stomping grounds! Can't wait to see some Colorado pictures.
That's so neat that your cousin bought your grandparents land. I would love to do something like that in Southern Illinois. Mississippi has some beautiful land - we went through there during our spring break travels from Illinois to the Alabama coast and stopped to see some of Dakota's family (Sarah's boyfriend) near Hattiesburg in fact. They too own land that has been in their family forever. I love that.
It's neat that you and your brother both care for feral cats in different parts of the world.
Great post Tammy - and some surprises!
Your childhood was a busy one moving about so much - I stayed put in that British seaside town until I left to come here, and of course have moved a few times but always on the east coast. Traveling came later - you know I've been around this vast world the past few years - but there's no place like home that's for sure!
Loved seeing your brother with the kitties - what a good guy!
Enjoying your trip and the pix are fabulous.
Hugs - Mary
Hi Tammy, it's great to see the photos of where you lived before. Lots of good memories I am sure..
On
Dagmar
Nice to have roots in different places. Lovely tour pics :-) It's so nice your brother cares for the kitties.
Great photos... and how cool that your family has kept the property... have a great time in CO... I miss it very much! Safe travels! xo
What a wonderful post! I feel like I had a little vacation seeing these lovely photos. How cool that your cousin is building a home on the property that belonged to your Great Grandparents. My Great Great had a log cabin about 20 mins from where I live, and I would love to try and hunt for it. I only know the road it is on. Also, feeding the ferals is so cool. My girlfriend actually has underneath her deck heated now for them (ferals) in the winter as she takes care of them. And my former inlaws had a heated shed for them to come and go. <3
It's fun to revisit places from our past. A pilgrimage of sorts. I was able to do that some this summer as well. Take care, Heather
I really enjoyed your photos today Tammy. I have never been to the south, except for Oklahoma and Texas. Mississippi is one place I've always wanted to go. I love that log cabin. Do you still have family living there? How nice that you and your brother both feed the cats. I used to do that in our precious neighborhood. I don't see many cats outside here. I'm looking forward to the next leg of your journey.
Blessings,
Betsy
Isn't that something how you and your brother oceans apart both care for feral cats? What caring people you are. Love the tour and it looks so lovely there but I know it is hotter than here so I'll keep hoping to head North....lol! I love the old cabins and what a pretty site that is where the house is being built. Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog post.
I really enjoyed seeing your visit to your family home.. how neat that your cousin is building a house on your grandparent's property! I love that log cabin. I am also looking forward to seeing your next destination! Have fun with both of your sons. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
I really enjoyed this post, Tammy. What a great trip back to the US you had, and I have just had a lovely time been catching up with your posts about it! It is always interesting to re visit places from the past, and wonderful for you to see your family there again.
Helen xox
Dearest Tammy,
It’s so nice that your brother also feeds homeless cats! I think that’s a sign of a good and animal-loving childhood, isn’t it?
I think I understand your younger son very well – when we left Louisiana to go to Memphis by car, we hoped to see interesting things in Missisippi – but there was „nothing“ but houses and trees and farmland and lots of churches and shopping-centers … and the Missisippi…… We visited a further Native-Americans-village which was mentioned in our Travel-guide but it wasn’t well displayed and explained and … well Jana found it boring there… and I have to confess, it was boring for me, too… ;o) May be it’s not too bad to LIVE there because it might be a big bunch of nature there and not so big and loud crowds of people … but for travel-holidays it wasn’t the biggest deal ;o))
Thank you so much for your comment to my fair-play-post. Yes, it is a perplexing situation – it would be so wonderful to help everyone… but our world can’t stand those lots and Lots of people who need more and more ressources… Well, nevertheless we have to enjoy our lives - they are so precious!
Lots of hugs, my dear,
Traude
Interesting to learn more about you, Tammy....I didn't know you were a southern girl! I also didn't know you were married for the second time. Very cool that both you and your brother love cats and take care of the feral ones. :-)
Southern charm was all around you. I love the South, so full of history and beauty. Well not all of the history is good but what history is? GLad you got to spend time with your family.
Hugs,
Meredith
I have never been to Mississippi but my ex-son-in-law is from there and still has family living there. Looks like you had a good visit with family and feral cats. How sweet that both you and your brother feed them. Our family always had cats too. I think I can understand your younger son saying 5 days in Mississippi was a bit much. Summer Sunshine Smiles...
Dearest Tammy,
Fond memories, even if you lived there only for a short time of your life!
Your brother indeed has the same generous heart as you have.
It breaks my heart to see feral cats; it is because of people's neglect that they have to fend for life.
Lovely visit and yes, taking photos like that is a blessing for later...
Hugs,
Mariette
That's so interesting. Thanks for sharing more about yourself and your trip!
Hi Tammy, It's wonderful that your brother is such a cat lover too and feeds the feral cats. Visiting your great grand parents property must have brought back some memories. What a lovely trip you had, even if your youngest son didn't totally agree.
Hugs,
Julia
Great to see new posts from you Tammy...five all at once in my feed! :)
This is quite a trip you've been on, travelling in space but also in time, with family and friends you've not seen for a while. Sounds like a lot of good times.
And of course, you and your brother are my favorite kind of human :)
Nothing like going home! Love the old architecture. Your son will come to appreciate it, one day. XOXO
It is interesting to learn more about you as you share your latest travels, Tammy. During the fifteen years I lived near Kansas City, MO, while growing up I took two trips through the south, one to Asheville, NC and the other to Pensacola, FL, but neither of those trips took me through the locations you are sharing. I'm glad you had a chance to visit family and friends along the way. Friends of mine from my northern CA fiber arts group share the commendable commitment of caring for feral cats that you and your brother have and I appreciate the kindness of all of you.
We lived in Ruston, Louisiana for a bit back in the 90's. We traveled around quite a bit while we were down there. :)
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