Mason's 15 minutes of fame

I am playing the proud mama now. If you go to the Wednesday, Sept. 5 edition of the Times-Herald, you will see my little man's picture that appeared on the front page today. What the picture DOESN'T tell is that by 6:00, he had already lost the BRAND NEW glasses we had picked up at 8:00 this morning. At least they made their debut in the paper. He was so proud of his little doggy bone-shaped glasses case, he hid it somewhere, presumably with them tucked inside. And speaking of doggy bones, I'm in the dog house again. Well, I have another dog in the house again. Heidi, the German Shepherd, and Little Bit, the terrier, join Blackie and Spooky the cats in welcoming Daisy, the rescued boxer to our brood. My husband did not speak to me for two days. If I can potty train all these animals, why can't I potty train my two year old?!?

Life in Far Cy (life in Forrest City)

The last few weeks have been...lived through. Our museum festival was a success. We had from 200 to 300 people, which is excellent considering it was the first year, held outside, and over 100 degrees. The wienie dogs were the favorite part of the day. Check the Times Herald website for Monday, August 27 for pictures.

We've (I've) been painting at my mom's to prepare to move in. We will spend most of the school week at her house, to make life easier with the girls attending school in her town. Maybe I'll actually learn to cook.

Brian lived through his first week of school. No ulcers yet.

3 different groups have scheduled overnight studies in the Museum to record paranormal activity. TAPS from the Sci fi channel wants to come and bring a tv crew. At least work is interesting.

The Museum's the place to be!

I SOOOOOOO love working at the St. Francis County Museum. Where else can you go to work where they discover 100 year old blueprints under the roof decking? We are finally getting our roof replaced (Praise the Lord!) and some decking had to be removed where our worst leaks were. Our roofer found the wonderful old blueprints of the Crowley's Ridge Institute, (we think), which we have a picture of from 1905. Later the same day, he brought us a lithograph found rolled up in a mailing tube addressed to Mrs. J. O. Rush, the wife of the doctor who built the house in 1907. The print is titled, 'London Bridge is Falling Down', and is a black and white of children playing.

I Love my job!!!


I'd like for everyone to come share my favorite place on August 25, (a Saturday), from 11:00 to 3:00. Our 100th year celebration will be held at the museum, and we have singers coming from as far away as Conway, bluegrass and gospel groups, face painting, games, a "wienie dog race" in honor of the museum "wienie dog", Forrest, a peach pie baking contest, and many food vendors. Admission is free, with each vendor sharing profits with the museum. Our roof wiped out our bank account, so this event will help reestablish our operating budget. At least with the roof fixed, we can reopen the damaged rooms and display all of the artifacts. We look forward to adding an Al Green display (a native Forrest Citian), a music room which will be a stop on the Delta Music Heritage trail, featuring blues and rockabilly, a display of school history from St. Francis County, and an in-depth SFC timeline. Our plans' fate rests on the success of the celebration. Here's hopin'!

By the way, I feel a little clarification is needed. The museum has been in existence only a few years. The building housing the museum, the Rush-Gates house, is having its birthday. The doctor, JO Rush, built it and slowly amassed a large collection of Indian artifacts, fossils, and other oddities and antiquities. He passed them down through his family, and about ten years ago, his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews decided to turn their memories into a lasting legacy for this great doctor and historian. So began the Museum's residence at this wonderful home.

Home from SLUFY

I just returned home from Little Rock (with Brianna and Maddie in tow) and two weeks spent with several hundred gifted/talented students. SLUFY (No, not fluffy), or Summer Laureate University For Youth, has been offered for over 25 years at UALR. It was a GREAT experience, but I'm glad to be home and apply some of my excitement to the Delta. I wish I could just pack up all the enthusiasm for learning and share a suitcase full with all my students here. Maybe one day...

Many thanks to Jo and Marty (and Emily and Erin) for giving us a home away from home. Brian can attest to the fact that I am rather difficult to live with. We felt like family. Hi and thanks also go to Jo's friends, who I now count as my friends. Long live Chile's!!!

About Me

My friend Jo is pushing me into the current century because I'm so technically challenged. She is making me do this so...... Here goes.