HAVE A SIMPLY SOUTHERN VALENTINE'S DAY!

I extend a warm Southern welcome to everyone on the 

~ Eat My Valentine Southern Blog Tour ~
I am thrilled to be kicking off the tour with a super SIMPLE version of 

a traditional southern dessert .
As I always say: 

"Life is short .... have dessert first" !
Enjoy the tour!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching!

Although, I am not a cook, myself, I know that many of you will be serving up some 
scrumptuos meals for your loved ones. Of course, you will want to have something sweet for your sweetie, to top it all off. 

Why not try something Simply Southern?
I have a recipe that is VERY Simple and VERY Southern.
It is even simple enough for a totally (Un)Domestic Diva like me!
I got it from a blogger friend several years ago when she added it to a post/review about my "little book of southern poems”, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia.
I really was AMAZED at how simple it was!
I even added it as a permanent fixture on my website!
Check it out at http://patricianeelydorsey.webs.com/poemsouthernlife.htm    .
*You will find it midway down the page* .......
It goes though each step of the recipe one by one.


DUMP PEACH COBBLER

1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1 large can Peaches DO NOT drain
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix flour and milk, in 9x9 square Pyrex dish,
add sugar, dump can of peaches and juice into it mixture.
Cut butter into patties and put on top.
Bake for 1 hr

Enjoy!

DUMP PEACH COBBLER

February 9:  Sally Whitney – Pecan pie,  Scalloped oysters
www.sally-whitney.com/category/news

February 10: NancyKay Wessman – Ratatouille
www.mizrizbaboo.wordpress.com

February 11: Amy Neftzger – “Broken” Rice Krispie Hearts
http://neftzger.blogspot.com

February 12: Trisha Faye -  Dr. Pepper Pork Chops and Pecan Broccoli.
http://www.trishafaye.wordpress.com

  ♥             WIN THE “GRAND TOUR” PRIZE ♥
♥                                          
One person will be picked at random from all the comments left during the tour to be eligible to win the “Grand Tour” prize donated by author/editor Zetta Brown.
With every comment you leave during the tour you increase your chances!
Zetta will be offering a food-inspired “surprise” prize to one person who leaves a “thought-felt” comment during the tour. This means the comment needs to have some “meat” to it. It cannot be just a one word comment like “Great” or “Yum” or “Thanks” or “Great! Thanks for the yummy recipe!”
In order to receive the prize, when chosen, the winner must provide their legal name and address. It will NOT be shared with anyone or put on any mailing list. It’s only to facilitate shipping the prize.
The prize drawing is limited to U.S. participants only because availability and access cannot be guaranteed elsewhere.

Good luck , have fun, and have a

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Mississippi poet to speak at Calhoun City Library

In observance of Black History Month, the Calhoun City Public Library will host an evening with Patricia Neely-Dorsey Thursday, February 7, at 6:30 p.m.

The Library is at 113 East Burkitt Ave.

Neely-Dorsey is a 1982 graduate of Tupelo High School. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in Boston, Massachusetts.
After living for almost 20 years in Memphis, working in the mental health field, she returned to her hometown in August 2007.

Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Her first book of poetry, “Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems”, was published in February 2008.  Her second book, “My Magnolia Memories and Musings In Poems” was published in 2012. She calls both books “a celebration of the south and all things southern”.
Patricia currently lives in Tupelo with her husband, James, son, Henry, and Miniature Schnauzer, Happy.

Last February, Patricia delighted patrons with poetry from her first book, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems.  Since that time she has published her new book, “My Magnolia Memories and Musings-In Poems”.

This year’s program promises to be even better.  Following the program, Patricia will sign copies of her books, and everyone may enjoy some light refreshments, sponsored by the FRIENDS of the Calhoun City Public Library.


By Janice Vaughn
The Calhoun County Journal

TODAY is my birthday ! I'm SO Glad To Be Me !

Patricia Neely-Dorsey?
You mean that ...
Poem writing
Positive spouting
Mississippi Magnolia
Five dollar dress wearing
Diva on a Dime Chick?
Yeah...
That's her!
Yep ! That ME !

 

Some other famous February Birthdays

 
February 1st
Langston Hughes
Lisa Marie Presley
February 2
Farrah Fawcett 

February 3rd:
Norman Rockwell 

February 4th:
Rosa Parks 

February 5th:
Henry "Hank" Aaron 

February 6th:
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Bob Marley
Babe Ruth

February 7th:
Charles Dickens
Laura Ingalls Wilder

February 8th:
James Dean
Jules Verne

February 9th:
William Henry Harrison
Joe Pesci
February 11th:
Eva Gabor
Burt Reynolds

February 12th:
Charles Darwin
Abraham Lincoln

February 14th:
Jack Benny
Gregory Hines
Jimmy Hoffa

February 15th:
Susan B. Anthony

February 16th:
Ice-T
LeVar Burton

February 17th:
Paris Hilton
Michael Jordan

February 18th:
Rihanna
Yoko Ono

February 19th:

Smokey Robinson

February 20th:
Charles Barkley
Cindy Crawford

February 22nd:
Drew Barrymore
Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin
George Washington

February 23rd:
W.E.B. DuBois

February 26th:
Johnny Cash
William "Buffalo Bill" Cody
Jackie Gleason
February 27th:
John Steinbeck
Elizabeth Taylor
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Southern Writers “Eat My Valentine” Blog Tour

February 8: 
Patricia Neely-Dorsey – Peach cobbler

www.patricianeelydorsey.blogspot.com

February 9: 
Sally Whitney – Pecan pie,  Scalloped oysters

www.sally-whitney.com/category/news

February 10:
NancyKay Wessman – Ratatouille

www.mizrizbaboo.wordpress.com

February 11:
Amy Neftzger – “Broken” Rice Krispie Hearts

http://neftzger.blogspot.com

February 12:
Trisha Faye -  Dr. Pepper Pork Chops and Pecan Broccoli.

http://www.trishafaye.wordpress.com

WIN THE “GRAND TOUR” PRIZE

One person will be picked at random from all the comments left
during the tour to be eligible to win the “Grand Tour” prize donated by author/editor Zetta Brown.

With every comment you leave during the tour you increase your chances!

Zetta will be offering a food-inspired “surprise” prize to one person who leaves a “thought-felt” comment during the tour. This means the comment needs to have some “meat” to it.
It cannot be just a one word comment like “Great” or “Yum” or “Thanks” or “Great! Thanks for the yummy recipe!”

In order to receive the prize, when chosen, the winner must provide their legal name and address. It will NOT be shared with anyone or put on any mailing list.
It’s only to facilitate shipping the prize.

The prize drawing is limited to U.S. participants only because availability
and access cannot be guaranteed elsewhere.

Good luck , have fun, and have a

Happy Valentine’s Day!

~

A MUST HAVE MINDSET FOR THRIFT SHOP SHOPPING

To really get the most out of thrift shop/yard sale shopping, you must have a certain mind set, going in.  You must start to get used to practicing POSSIBILITY THINKING.
You must learn to see the present and future possibilities of almost anything.
Once you get into the habit of it, your brain will automatically start processing things in that manner.  By the way, the mind set of possibility thinking is not only great for shopping, it is a wonderful habit for almost every area of life.

In the shopping realm, possibility thinking means evaluating what can be done to make any item exactly what you want or need it to be.  Of course, everything won't, ultimately, fit into that category, but the challenge is to mentally give everything a fighting chance and not dismiss it too quickly.  Sometimes, just a few small adjustments can be made to make it absolutely perfect for you.  But, you must have the ability to look beyond what is, to what could be .

Sometimes, a person will disregard something and miss an absolutely fabulous find simply because it is not exactly the right fit, the size that the person usually wears, or has a few minor flaws, at that time.  There might be a button or two missing, a slight tear or other small flaw.  Not only can these things,usually,be easily and inexpensively fixed, when they are pointed out, you can often get an added discount on an already unbelievable deal.  If you came across a wonderful suit that you know normally retails in the $100 - $200 range and is offered for $1 - $5 but has a button or two missing or a small tear under the arm, why in the world would you NOT buy it?.  The tear can easily be sewn and buttons can very inexpensively be replaced.  The worst thing that could happen is that it won't work out exactly as you had hoped and you are out of $5 !  Boo Hoo !   You can always re-donate the item or pass it on to someone who would be glad to have it ...Like Me !!!   I can hook it up !!!   If you pass up an item like this in a thrift shop or at a yard sale, it just means that I will have made someone like me a very happy camper when they come across it !

 Once, I took a friend thrift shopping because she wanted to see how I do my Diva on a Dime style of purchasing.   We went to Thrift City on West Main Street in Tupelo on the 99 cent day, which is every Monday.  I was, of course, like a kid in a candy shop grabbing all kinds of things that I thought that she would like. She did like the style of almost everything that I pulled off the racks, but for so many of them, she had some reason that they were not QUITE right.  Most of the time, the reason that she gave for not getting an item was that it was too long, because she is petite.   An item being too short might sometimes be a problem, but too long should NEVER be a problem.!   I cannot even fathom turning down a new, very expensive designer dress with tags on it at a price of 99 cents, because it is TOO LONG !! WOW!!!
It is one of the mysteries of the universe.  Any item can be hemmed by yourself, a friend, or very inexpensively, by a seamstress.  All I can say about that is ....You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him (or her ) drink ! I am still shaking my head over that !
I came out of the store with several very large bags, as usual and she came out with 4 or five items . She was absolutely thrilled with all of her finds......but Oh, THE POSSIBILITIES (missed ) !!!

 I have a wonderful example of working with the possibilities.   Dear Hubby, found a beautiful ankle length evening dress with a lace overlay for me at the thrift shop on 99 cent day.  I absolutely loved it! It is one that I would have picked, if I had seen it.  But, after trying it on a few times, I kept thinking that something wasn't quite right . I felt that it could be more fabulous and more ME ! I decided to have the dress shortened to knee length while having the lace overlay remain long. It cost $10 to have altered, but it looked like a million bucks on me with the changes ! The dress was perfect and I rocked it ! I wore it to a black tie affair and got tons of compliments . The Diva was in full effect...on a Dime! You can be, too !

Well, that's all for now !
Until next time, Go Forth and Be Fabulous ! Be You ! DO You ! SHINE !

Mississippi Author Patricia Neely Dorsey to speak at Calhoun City Library

Calhoun City Public Library 

Link for directions and map

FEBRUARY IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME !

TODAY is the 1st day of February.

February has always been a very special month for to me ...

I was born on February 7th.
My one and only child, James Henry Dorsey, was born on February 28th.
Valentine's Day is February 14th.
February is Black History Month.
I wrote my very first poem on February 14, 2007
My first book of poetry, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, was published February 2008
I had my very first poetry reading at the Lee County Library in Tupelo -February 2008.
I had my very first Book signing at Reed's Gumtree Bookstore - February 2008.
My second book of poetry, My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems was published February 2012.
It's just always been a good month for me all around...except for the cold !

MY VERY FIRST POEM
  Written February 14, 2007

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems  - Link to Amazon

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems is a true celebration of the south and things southern. The author states, "There are so many negative connotations associated with Mississippi and the south in general. In my book, using childhood memories, personal thoughts and dreams, I attempt to give a positive glimpse into the southern way of life." The book has been called, among other things, a poetic love letter to the south and a poetic autobiography. The author invites readers to Meet Mississippi Through Poetry Prose and The Written Word.

 

My Magnolia Memories and Musings- In Poems -  Link to Amazon

In Magnolia Memories and Musings, Patricia Neely-Dorsey continues to "Celebrate the South and Things Southern". Her first collection of poems, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia was called by one reviewer, a "love letter to the South". With Magnolia Memories and Musings, the love affair continues. Using personal thoughts, observations, and childhood memories, the author attempts to give a up-close and positive view into the southern way of life.

(Steel) Magnolia by Patricia Neely-Dorsey

Water Effect

(Steel) Magnolia

Breathtaking,

Delicate beauty

Of Creamy Perfection

With Roots Running Deep

In Southern Soil,

A history almost

As old as time,

And endurance

As tough as

Steel:

She defies description

And explanation

But...

Beauty is its own excuse.

~

Patricia Neely-Dorsey

My Magnolia Memories and Musings - In Poems

©2012 

If you are called a "Steel Magnolia" by someone, take it as a compliment. It is a Southern term that means a woman who is tough, strong, yet sweet and feminine. She has the toughness and strength of steel when it comes to family, hard times, and sad times. However, she has the loving tenderness and inner beauty that shines through.

In the book "The Road to Gandolfo" by Robert Ludlum (originally published in 1975 under an assumed name), in chapter 18, he writes..... 

"There was a will of steel beneath the soft magnolia exterior..." 

Welcome Guest Blogger ~ Sarah Gordon Weathersby

Thanks so much, Patricia, for the opportunity to guest blog at your place. I’m currently in the midst of a 10-day blog tour to promote my new novel TELL THEM I DIED. Amazon has paperback copies listed for $8.99 and an Amazon Kindle version for $3.99. You can find it also on BarnesandNoble.com in NOOK version for $3.99. I need reviews to help generate word-of-mouth buzz and interest in the book.


Amazon link - TELL THEM I DIED 

Barnes & Noble link - TELL THEM I DIED


TELL THEM I DIED is a romantic adventure that doesn't conform to the usual romance novel genre in that the protagonists are all over fifty years of age, retired, and with discretionary time and funds to enjoy life, and online friends to share every minute.  And unlike other romances, much of the action takes place on the internet on social networking sites. The story was inspired by the many people I came to know and love over many years on social networking sites.  People who are not online a lot don't realize how real those long-distance relationships can be.  Over all those years, my online friends have married,  had children, divorced, and some have died.  And then there is the travel element.  My husband and I travel a lot, and we share our travel photos with our friends online.  Several friends have suggested that I write a book about my travels.  I think travelogs can be rather boring, but I decided to weave some of our adventures into the story. 

The main characters of TELL THEM I DIED are Laura (Screen name: A1QTEE), owner/operator of Blaq-Kawfee.com, and the men in her life who come in an out of the social networking scene.  There is Laura's number one confidante and forum moderator, Angela (Screen name: Angelplaits), and her husband "Bodine." The men in Laura's life, ex-fiance', Jackson (JackDaniels), Lester (TheGuy), Laura's son, Carlton, and her some-time boyfriend Harman all present challenges for Angela as she tries to find out what happened to her dear friend when she gets the news that Laura has died.

I hope you’ll take the time to check out TELL THEM I DIED and write a review at Amazon.com or on your blog. It's a light-hearted page-turner of a story, that my early reviewers have said they hated to end.

My tag line: When it comes to long-distance internet romances, sixty is the new seventeen.

Here is an excerpt:
 
Jackson hardly knew what day it was. He had been awake over twenty-four hours, and although he was tired, he knew he still would not sleep soundly. He showered and dressed so he would be ready for his morning trip to find Carlton. He set the clock for six a.m. and lay down on the bed fully clothed. At least he’d had a good meal at Bonita’s house. Now he could laugh at how ridiculous that scene had been.

Internet hoochie-mamas. Those girls were so tame online. I never would have guessed. And Stacey was married. Laura probably had them all figured out, but Angela was so naïve. What a set-up.


He slept for a few hours before the alarm rang. This time he drove his rental car and picked up a cup of black coffee on his way. The built-in GPS took him to Carlton’s place in a short time. Carlton lived in a small bungalow on a quiet street. Jackson parked down the block where he could see Carlton whenever he left. After Angela told him how he lied, he didn’t want to take a chance on being dodged.


The front door opened after Jackson had been waiting close to an hour. A young woman with a toddler emerged. Jackson recognized them as Carlton’s wife and baby. He had never met them, but had seen photos Laura had posted on the web. Jackson headed them off before they reached their car.


“Good Morning, Keisha. I’m so glad I caught you before you got away for the day.”


Keisha didn’t know this man, but she smiled and stopped since he called her name. “Good Morning.”


“We’ve never met, but I’m Jackson Gooding. I was Laura’s friend. I met Carlton, but I never met you. I would like to talk to Carlton, if you don’t mind. Is he in?”


“He goes to work around ten, so he’s not up yet. Why don’t you call him later?”


“I don’t have his number. Can you give it to me?” Jackson knew how to turn on the charm. He hoped Keisha would trust him enough to give him the number. She did. She gave him Carlton’s mobile number and work number.


“Thanks, Keisha. I know you working moms have to get going in the morning. I don’t want to make you late.” He helped her with getting the baby into his car seat, and held her car door while they said goodbye. He didn’t want her to know he wouldn’t leave until he saw Carlton.


Jackson settled into his car again. This time he allowed himself to nap until about nine. He thought by then Carlton would be up and getting dressed. When he rang the doorbell, he listened for movement inside the bungalow. He could hear a television and someone approaching the door. Jackson stepped back, expecting the door to open. He knew Carlton had to be on the other side of the door watching him through the peephole. When the door didn’t open, Jackson knocked, and said, “Carlton, it’s me. I know you’re in there.”


Carlton opened the door, looking down at his feet.


Jackson extended his hand to shake it. “Hey, man. I’m so sorry about your mom. When Angela told me, I took the first flight I could get.”


Carlton still stood in the doorway, not motioning for Jackson to come in.


“Can I come in? I know you have to go to work, so I won’t take too much of your time.” Carlton let him in, and led him into the kitchen, where Carlton had been eating a bowl of cereal.


“Tell me what happened. How did she die?” Jackson asked.



GOODREADS GIVEAWAY - January 2013
I am giving away four (4) autographed copies of TELL THEM I DIED through a giveaway administered by Goodreads.com.
If you're not already a member of Goodreads, it's easy to join.
Go here for the giveaway:

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/40065-tell-them-i-died

~ Sarah Gordon Weathersby ~

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Gordon Weathersby is the youngest of seven siblings, and the first to migrate back to the South after living in DC, New Jersey and New York. She is a retired Information Technology professional who lives in Raleigh with her husband, and their imaginary dog, Dusty. Sarah is the author of a memoir, Motherless Child - stories from a life, and publisher of a family saga, The Gordons of Tallahassee, written by her sister LaVerne Gordon Goodridge. Tell Them I Died is her first work of fiction.

You can contact her online at www.sarahweathersby.com
 http://blogspot.sarahweathersby.com
 http://www.facebook.com/saraphen
And Twitter @saraphen

I appreciate your time and consideration, and I hope you’ll enjoy my novel. Thanks so much, Patricia and friends.

THANK YOU DR. KING by Patricia Neely-Dorsey

TODAY is Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King . Jr . It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15. King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)

 

President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King.

The White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983.

Happy Birthday" is a 1981 single written, produced, and performed by Stevie Wonder for the Motown label. Wonder, a social activist, was one of the main figures in the campaign to have the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. become a national holiday, and created this single to make the cause known.
The song, one of many of Wonder's songs to feature the use of a keyboard synthesizer, features Wonder lamenting the fact that anyone would oppose the idea of a Dr. King holiday, where "peace is celebrated throughout the world" and singing to King in the chorus, "Happy birthday to you". Wonder used the song to popularize the campaign, and continued his fight for the holiday, holding the Rally for Peace Press Conference in 1981.

Originally written for Itawamba County MS 12th Annual King Celebration- 2011

MY LITTLE SOUTHERN POEMS KEEP MAKING THEIR ROUNDS

I am so proud to say that the audience for the poems from my books Reflections of s Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems and My Magnolia Memories- In Poems keeps growing day by day ..
The poems seem to strike a familiar cord with so many people.

I am very passionate about Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi.
I love that the poems are being used by others to Celebrate the South, in their own way.

THIS SUMMER, I RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL:

Dear Patricia Neely-Dorsey,
A friend of mine found your site and referred me to it so I could read some of your poetry. Your poetry is surely the best I have ever read. As a retired teacher-librarian-media specialist, I have read a few. I moved to Mississippi in the middle of my senior year in high school but went on to college at the "W" and later to MS Southern, East Carolina, Purdue and Samford, for an advanced degrees. I am retired from the Pascagoula School System.
I am president of a Mobile Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The Alabama Division is having a state convention the middle of this September. We would like to reprint two of your lovely poems from the "Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia." We know it isn't a Mississippi organization but our theme for the formal dinner is magnolias and history of the south. We would like to copy the poems on Southern Life and the one on Magnolias on pastel paper, roll the paper with one poem on it, tie it with ribbon, and place it by the place setting as a gift to each participant of the convention. Your name would be placed underneath as author/poet with reference to your book. The poems are lovely and I think everyone would appreciate them. The centerpieces for each table will be silk magnolia blossoms.
Please consider this sincere request for the use of two of your poems.
With highest regards.

I wrote back that I would be glad to have the poems used at the event.
She was thrilled !

After the event in September , I received conformation that the poems had, indeed,been used.
She wrote :
We used your poems. The lady that was helping me, printed them out . Each one was on a separate and different pastel color paper. The tables for the formal dinner sat eight people at each one. A different poem was placed by each place setting. After the meal and the program, we had a number of ladies that waited around and went table by table to collect the different poems that they didn't get. That should give you an idea of well they were received. They liked them so much they wanted all that was available!
I have praised your work to all who will listen. Thank you again for your help.


SHE SENT ME A PICTURE OF ONE OF THE DECORATED TABLES
with the explanation:
My daughter-in-law did the magnolia arrangements for the centerpieces. She is from Biloxi, a career Air Force child. who used to do arrangements for the furniture stores in Biloxi. Her parents are buried right next to the road in the cemetery on Hwy 90 facing beach. Her father immigrated alone to U.S. from Germany when he was 17. He had escaped from a prison work camp. He was with U.S. Air Force in the Berlin Air Lift during WWII. 

Patricia Neely-Dorsey - (Unofficial) International Mississippi Ambassador

OMG!!! IT'S A SMALL, SMALL WORLD !

Recently, a Facebook friend posted  this comment on her wall :
"I've been reading 'My Magnolia Memories and Musings In Poems' written by Patricia Neely-Dorsey. What a lovely book of poetry that truly captures the beauty of The Deep South!"

This Facebook friend is from Mississippi but, now lives in TEXAS
One of her friends (from SPAIN) replied:
"Thanks for sharing, have been looking for Southern literature."
I suggested that my Facebook friend's friend check out my website for more information and to read a few poems.
She replied: to me saying:
"I visited your state two years ago, and found it to be the most welcoming and warm state! Many greetings from Spain! Xx"

AFTER VISITING THE WEBSITE, SHE WROTE:
I just read that you are from Tupelo, which is where we visited. I read your Magnolia Tree poem, and it brought back childhood memories of a Magnolia Tree in our garden. Sadly we had to leave it behind when we moved to Spain, and I have pined for it since.

A LITTLE LATER , SHE WROTE:
"The Southern Man poem is exactly why we love the South, and why it will be in our heart forever more. We feel southern in our hearts, even if we are a mixed breed Thank you for sharing your beautiful words with us."
"I'm half Serbian half Burmese, but was born in Germany "

SHE SENT A FRIEND REQUEST, I ACCEPTED.
She responded::
"Thanks for adding me! I just realized you’re a fellow BU alumni, I attended BU in '91!"

PND: OMG!!!!
I Now I have a new Facebook friend in Spain ..
who loves my poetry and the South ....especially Mississippi...
AND loves the ways of our southern men...
AND loves magnolias...
AND HAS VISITED TUPELO...
AND WENT TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY, My alma mater !!!
Did I say .."It's a small world " ???!!!
Yes, I think I did !!!! 

I am so proud of my two book babies, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia -A Life in Poems and My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems.
Because of the many negatives so commonly associated with Mississippi and the South, I have taken on a personal campaign of "Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi." I want to show that there is absolutely MUCH to love about my state and region. I have used my poems to help convey my platform and they have been very well received from people all over the United States ..and now , I see , beyond our borders! I am very encouraged to continue what I am doing:

"Always' Always,Celebrating the South and Promoting a Positive Mississippi"
PND -INTERNATIONAL MISSISSIPPI AMBASSADOR Signing off!
Woo Hoo !!!