Hello There!

Coming back soon. Miss all of you.......
I'm looking for someone to redesign Bumpkin On A Swing for me. Who do you all recommend?

Hope you are having a joyous holiday season.

Saw this quote on a regular blog I read and found it very fitting for this time of year.

I'll leave you with this.

There are two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle".
~Albert Einstein

Love and Merry wishes,
The Bumpkin

Favre Football Hometown Edition

If you been riding the swing for awhile, you'll remember when I bid our Hometown Boy a tribute upon his 1st (of many apparently) retirements with this post here.
Brett in Packers jersey, oh the memories.

One of my favorite things about the Packers days were times like these....


It was hard to be a Brett fan, even if we are from the same blades of grass, when he was in the same league as My Bears. Urlacher usually got him at least once a game. Archrivals those Packers and Bears are, and you'll remember that I took an oath to My John (Southside of Chicago Native) that I solemnly swear to always hate The Packers regardless of the circumstances. Finally he retired from Green Bay, and with the help of Ebay I made a little extra dough selling the hometown newspaper tribute edition.
Then he sported this jersey.............

We Bears fans were more on the Favre bandwagon, because he wasn't that big of a threat, and now he sports this jersey...........

and...........he's breathing down our throats again. This "old man" is still nailing those passes.....I pray he ends it before the glory is gone.
So, we Southern Mississippi football fans are looking for a little excitement for when Brett retires for real. It's the next generation.........
This is hitting our newspapers nowadays.

St. Stanislaus Rochachaws senior Quarterback Dylan Favre, Brett's nephew, is tearing up the state records, before moving on to college. Dylan Favre made it a night to remember in Leakesville Friday night by breaking the state career records for both touchdown passes and passing yards. I really wanted a picture to share, but the press in Leakesvills is usally in bed by 6pm, right before they roll up the streets. Podunk central if you catch my drift. So instead I had to um...."borrow" a pic from his facebook page. I hope he doesn't mind :)
Younger ladies this one is still single, better get on it!

Don't forget when he's throwing passes to the end zone in the Superbowl, who told ya first!
Love,
The Bumpkin

Fang Banger?

It took me almost a month of stalking at Blockbuster to finally get my hands on the first two episodes of Trueblood. Almost every one of you bloggers have taunted me with a few spoilers, or at least enticed me to want to watch this series.

I am just a wee bit creeped by the fact that more than one of today's vampire tales come from the Louisiana swamps. These are my stomping grounds. Great fishing, GREAT FOOD, good people, Electric MUSIC (we call this swamp boogie), and lastly really strange characters on occasion. The next time I go to New Orleans, I will venture to "that" neighborhood, and take a few pictures of the self proclaimed blood suckers for all of you to see. Of course I know that vampires don't exist. Right? They don't ya'll Right? I am a very logical person, and reason most things as it's the trend right now.
However, for years before these tales ever hit the mainstream there have been our "campfire" Louisiana vampire stories. Is this the circle from where these writers feed? Furthermore, are they capitalizing on the doubt that each of us around those campfires have had at one point or another.
New Orleans is all things Voodoo, and some natives of New Orleans have some really strange trains of thoughts. Some just simply state, that people are strange, especially in New Orleans. That's my main theory, but I'll be "dadgum" if there aren't certain aspects of these stories that don't ring a bell.
For instance, drainers. Drainers are another claim from The Voodoo capital of the world. In the voodoo shops of The French Quarter, a vampire's blood is touted to cure impotency in men, and thrush in babies. It's $6.99 for a small vial. Of course, I'm never going to drink anything sold in a small vial off Bourbon street, but the correlation is odd to say the least. I have long since considered it common knowledge that the collectors of this blood are called Drainers. Even knew a "drainer" when I worked in New Orleans, and just blew it off, as some sore of mental oddity that he sold himself as such. I've heard this claim since I was a "wee little one." There is no way it could be a reference from these series.
Clairvoyants (defined as those able to sense things beyond normal senses), simulates to the Gypsies of Jackson Square. Creepy I tell you. Creepy.
Marketing majors of the Swamp South are jumping all over this, as in recent tourism ads, they are have been flashes of these vampire trends. Did any of you remember the movie with Lisa Bonet called Angelheart? Try and rent sometime, and you'll see what I mean. Very authentic Big Easy culture.
Off the subject for a second, Halloween in New Orleans will leave chill bumps on your arms. Promise, strange seeps from the woodwork that night. This year KISS and Eminem will be performing in City Park. On the posters advertising this there is a large declaration at the bottom that states, "NON-SEASONED NEW ORLEANS TOURISTS SHOULD NOT ATTEND THIS EVENT!" Now what marketing mind would ever warn potential spenders of danger? Only in New Orleans.
Two things even in two episodes of Trueblood that are not authentic. The food served in the restaurant where Sookie works. In the swamp we don't do burgers and fries. Come on LA people. It's crawfish, shrimp, and fish. We don't use ketchup either, it's Crystal Hot Sauce Ya'll. Get a Grip!
Secondly, the "accent" coach for Rene needs to be fired. That is the worst interpretation of Creole I have ever heard. A beautiful, and sexy language made to sound down right handicapped. Get an authentic, caramel-skinned, brown-eyed, muscled bound Cajun to play this part, and watch the ratings soar a little.
My last bit of realism tied to fantasy is this little statement that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Certain women who are Gothic in NO, refer to themselves as Fang Bangers. These women live in what's called the Marigny, and have what I believe disfigured themselves to appear to have been bitten by a vampire. My friends in New Orleans when I worked there called them Fang Bangers. It is really odd to hear that term used on HBO twenty years later. Something to think about it.
Despite all this creepiness I am hooked, or should I say I have been bitten, again. I really want to read this series. I have found it on EBAY for cheap and am bidding away. I dropped out of the Twilight saga after the first book.
We'll see where it goes. Anyone want to come visit and me, and aide me in a supernatural research series about the Big Easy. Come on ya'll don't be scared it's not real. Right?
Love,
The Bumpkin

Californication

I just finished watching the first season of Californication. I think it was the most enlightening experience of my thirties.
Some things I recognized, and some I didn't.
First I'm shocked that I found David Duchovny to be sexy. I never was an X (is this one of those times than X gets an "an" even though it's not a vowel ?)files fan, and he wasn't the love of my twenties like some of my gal pals back then. They would drool over what..... was his name then Moulder or something like that? Me, not so much.
I think the sexy about him in this series is his unfaltering love for Karen, then maybe it could be all the raw sex scenes (as caution, this is shown late at night on Showtime), and I understand why. My favorite scene, when Karen gets called the "C" word at the charity ball. That always deserves a good swing in my opinion. The knight in smoke covered armor, a writer, a sex machine, and a great dad. I think I may be getting old to hear myself say sexy and dad, all in the same sentence.
All of the characters are "groovy" in their own way. They become endearing to you, even the villans. I'm headed to Blockbuster tomorrow, to stalk Season 2.
Love Hank, but my favorite character is Karen, she is so Hippie Voracious.

Has anyone other than me noticed the resemblance to this woman?

Dooce herself, Heather Armstrong, number 26 in milk stains!
[cue jingle]
Photo of Heather and her new addition courtesy of Armstrong Media LLC.

I also rented the first two episodes of Season 1 of Trueblood. I hear you all out there gasping the word,"Eric"
Love,
The Bumpkin

What Rainy Days Are For

It has been raining cats and dogs here on The Mississippi Gulf Coast. Everyday last week, and my yard is one big mud puddle.
You all remember Jibbs, my beautiful white American Bulldog right?
If you haven't met him, you can go back and read his story here.

It's hard to keep this one clean. As I have told you, he lives to play the ball.
The ball, The ball, The ball. American Bulldogs are very active, and must be exercised regularly.

The only reason we get great pictures like this, is because we hold the ball while taking them.
He was so restless this weekend in all the rain. Mamma too, so I decided to take a nap before the Bears game on Sunday.

Doggy and Daddy fun apparently took place while Mamma was sleeping. I found these pictures on the camera late last night. I would have never known otherwise.

He was about to bust to play the ball, so I can't really be all that mad.

They covered their tracks pretty well. Jibbs was clean as a whistle,and inside sleeping before I ever woke up.

Look at the dirt in his mouth. He was really having fun! Sometimes even dogs need to let loose, and go "hog wild."
How was your weekend?
Love,
The Bumpkin

We're Still Bloomin'!

One of the most difficult times for a gardener in Southern Mississippi is the July and August months. The heat here can be unbearable, even for the flowers. My mixed baskets are heat exhausted, so is My John so it's pretty low maintenance for now. When we grew our seeds this year we focused on things that would be natural bloomers in the heat to fill the gaps of blooms during these months. Wanna see?

Peach Hibiscus

Moonflowers, these are night only bloomers. Love to walk out in the moonlight and see these beauties. A moonflower is a vine, started out small, and now is covering the front gate. Looks a little aggressive will have to keep the cutting shears near by on this one. This is the starter for what will someday be my "moon garden."


Pink mandevilla. This one is not scared of the 100+ temperatures here. Just start it on a trellis and let it go.


Yellow Hibiscus. The yellow flowers are my favorites. Even with roses, I want the yellow dozen that no one ever buys at Valentine's Day.


Cajun Hibiscus, a return investment year after year. These babies get it when it comes to bloomin'!


We have enough to share with co-workers, fellow chefs and neighbors. As a matter of fact, I have enough to share with you too, because everyone else is sick of me dumping on them. The peppers have gotten out of hand. This is one morning's pick.


This is Tibouchina, also known as a princess flower. This is John's favorite plant, and he really knows plants. Rare to say the least. I had one a couple of years ago, that was stolen. It took me forever to find another.

Here is my Plumeria. I am really proud of this one. Plumeria is very hard to grow. I really had to work at this one. You know how some flavored things don't smell like it originator at all? Like, grape flavored things do not smell like grapes. Well this smells exactly like the Bath and Body Lotion. Amazed me at first, and one little flower can fill my garden with this scent for days.

Thanks, for stopping by the garden, take some blooms home if you like!
Love,
The Bumpkin

Living On The Gulf Of Mexico

I love the fact that the Gulf of Mexico is a short walk from the swing. Cool, or at least cooler, tropical breezes have been a regular around these parts lately. $3 a pound for jumbo shrimp at the docks. Casinos are having awesome entertainment for each of their "summer series." Tropical plants in full bloom (watch for my upcoming post on this). Right now, other than the horrible heat, I'm lovin it here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Now here's a geography lesson for you.

Be patient, I don't have photo shop so I can't put a little mark for you. If you look right up there almost center where it says Baton Rouge, you'll see The Bumpkin waving at you right in between the n (in Baton) and the R (in Rouge)right on the very tip of the Mississippi Coast line. Hey everyone it's me The Bumpkin! I've got my thinnest cotton shorts, thin strapped tank top, and my Guy Harvey flip flops on. See me right there, toes dug into the sand?
This little geography lesson may come in handy in the next few weeks, I want you all to know exactly where I am.
Welcome to my nightmare once a year every year of my life.


Meet Ana.........

Alot can change in the next five days, especially the strength once it enters the Gulf. The water is mighty hot out there. Not good. It helps them to strengthen.
Now meet Bill.

Two days ago, Ana was on this same path, and now you see where she is going right. My brother-in-law is Bill, please don't let this one be the one. He's quite an a** to say the least, he's also very unpredictable. He is also a terrible drinker and wobbles around a lot.
Now meet Tropical Depression #4 which will later today be Tropical Storm Claudette.

She formed in the Gulf last night at the last minute. Great!
And finally meet Investigation #91----looks like this fellow will be Danny!

So, today will be spent taking pictures of all my stuff also known as a contents inventory for insurance claims, washing all the clothes, shopping for a few necessities, and drawing water for the boys. You must have 2 gallons a day for each pet and person. You do the math on us and our five dogs. My John says he will start to pick up stray things out of the yard, and secure them in the barn. You guys don't have to worry to much about The Bumpkin and our 2O paws. If there is one man who will be ready, it will be mine. The neighbors call our house "Fort Bumpkin", substituting our last name for the Bumpkin portion. After Katrina, we made the necessary changes to our little part of the world. It's the live and learn approach to hurricanes. He built a barn, so we would have somewhere high to go. The winds we have learned aren't necessarily the worst part of a hurricane.
Meet Mr. Storm Surge.

Now you think about the picture above, and laugh with me. Whoever was lucky enough to snap the pic, had to immediately run like hell. Lots of rain here lately which means the water level is rather high. Not good again.
Again, alot can change in the next few days, and now that you know exactly where I am, you will know when it's time for you to wear your knees out for The Bumpkin.
Keep us in your prayers,
Love,
The Bumpkin
Note to my regular readers.
I have not seen any banana spiders lately, we are going to search the garden today, and I'll keep you updated.