MY LITTLE BOOKS OF SOUTHERN POEMS HAVE A BIG NORTHERN FAN!

I always call my books Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia - A Life In Poems and My Magnolia Memories and Musings-In Poems, "a celebration of the south and things southern". Through my poems, I attempt to give a positive glimpse into the southern way of life, rather than all the negatives usually portrayed.

It might come as a surprise for people to know that some of the biggest fans and supporters of my books are NOT from Mississippi....or even from the south!.
Yes, I do write exclusively and extensively about my love for the South, but I never try to bash the North or any other region.

I have a dear Facebook friend Debra Estep from Ohio, whom I became acquainted with, through a mutual Facebook friend and fellow Mississippian, Cyrus Webb.

She read the poems and the books and loved them.
She liked the messages that I was trying to convey.

Now, very frequently, and totally out of the goodness of her heart and her generous spirit, she makes graphics to go with my poems to enhance increase my ability to attractively share them and to increase the likelihood that others will share them.
The beautiful water color magnolias on many of the poem graphics that I post on Facebook are her original artistry!
She did a beautiful watercolor bottle tree painting for my Bottle Tree poem ...and later told me that she had never even HEARD of a bottle tree, before !
She also did an absolutely amazing painting of Elvis' birthplace home . 
(You can see some of these pictures below.)
I tease Debra all of the time about being Undercover Southern ! LOL!
I want to send a big Thank You to her and to all of my non-southern Facebook friends and book supporters !

You're wonderful ...and very much appreciated ! 

This is the BEAUTIFUL watercolor in process for my Bottle Tree poem, 
lovingly done by dear friend Debra Estep in Ohio !

THIS MISSISSIPPI GIRL LOVES MAGNOLIAS...ESPECIALLY MY SON'S !

I absolutely love magnolias. They are truly breathtakingly beautiful flowers.
The magnolia is the state flower of Mississippi and the magnolia tree is the state tree...thus the name "The Magnolia State".
When choosing a name for my books of poetry, all about my love for Mississippi and the south, I could not help but use magnolias in the titles and for the covers..
After all, I am a very proud Mississippi Magnolia Girl !

For months, I've been begging my son Henry to draw a magnolia flower for me to use for promotional cards and ads for my books!
He FINALLY did .... in his own sweet teenage time !!! LOL!!! (age 14)
Recently, I woke up with a beautiful magnolia picture on my computer.
I was taken aback and so thrilled !
I love /loved it !!!
Very soon, I plan to use it on some of my business cards and eventually print some note cards.
It is perfect for both!
Henry is a wonderful little budding artist !
Well I guess I shouldn't say little ,..because he's 6 feet tall .
And, I guess, I should say James .....because that is the name he calls himself, now.. LOL!!
Anyway...Here's to the new JHD Designs ...James Henry Dorsey Designs !
I am looking forward to great things from this young man ! 

James Henry Dorsey - Artist

There are many varieties of the magnolia throughout Asia and the Americas. Although it is one of the oldest plants in existence, it wasn't called the magnolia until the 18th century. Long used for medicinal as well as ornamental purposes, the magnolia is now one of the most popular plants in the world
The magnolia is one of the oldest plant species, with fossil remains dating back 36 to 58 million years ago. The magnolia developed long before bees did, so beetles pollinated the flowers. Therefore, the carpels of the magnolia flower are relatively sturdy, to protect against damage from crawling and eating beetles.
Magnolias have been cultivated in Asia since the 7th century and used for medicinal reasons since 1083. To the ancient Chinese, the flowers of the "Yu-lan" variety (Magnolia denudata), also called the Jade Orchid, were considered a symbol of purity, and they were grown in temple gardens since the 7th century (Wikepedia)

 







































 

Mississippi's state flower, the magnolia, was chosen by school children of the state in November 1900.
It is recorded that 23,278 children voted and that the magnolia blossom
received over half of these votes.
The cotton blossom, promoted by the Mississippi Federation of Women's Clubs,
placed second and the cape jasmine placed third.
Magnolia blossom - 12,745 votes. Cotton blossom - 4,171 votes.
Cape jasmine - 2,484 votes  

 


BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:
http://tinyurl.com/reflections-pnd
http://tinyurl.com/magnolia-mem-pnd

Poetry Reading - Mississippi Through and Through

MY CONNECTION WITH MISSISSIPPI BLUES MAN, LITTLE MILTON

"Little Milton" (September 7, 1934 – August 4, 2005) was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi Delta town of Inverness and raised in Greenville . By age twelve he had learned the guitar and was a street musician, chiefly influenced by T-Bone Walker and his blues and rock and roll contemporaries. He became an electric blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and guitarist, best known for his hit records "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "We're Gonna Make It."

 


Though I never met Little Milton personally, I am very close friends with his youngest brother, John Campbell, who I met when I was in high school. (early 80's).
We have a long history. John was very instrumental in encouraging and helping me to get my first book, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia, published. (2008) .
In the foreword of of the book, in describing how the published book finally came about...
I wrote: In my late teens. in the early 80's John Campbell came on the scene in my life , in the form of a coach and teacher with john Campbell Productions, a modeling troupe and sort of finishing school. John influenced and affected how I saw myself as far as the talent that I had inside , my potential and the heights to which I could soar. John saw greatness inside of me and encouraged me dream big ...really big and to go after those dreams . He even had his own dreams for me and would often convey them in long heartfelt rap sessions on his couch . He would tell me about his life growing up in the Delta, about ideas for inventions that he had, and about traveling on the road being the personal valet for his big brother Little Milton, a famous blues singer.
When John left Tupelo, many years elapsed and we lost contact. Fate saw fit that our paths should cross, again. After living in Memphis for almost 20 years , I moved back to Tupelo in August 2007. By chance, I saw a familiar face on a book signing announcement in the newspaper. It was my old friend John ! John and I reconnected at a book signing for his first book "Daydreaming On My Cotton Sack" at Reed's Gumtree Bookstore in Historic Downtown Tupelo. (December 2007) After the signing, I talked to John about my writings and showed him my folder full of poems the next day. He said that we should definitely do something with them . Only two months after that fateful meeting, I had a published book of my own! Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life In Poems was published in February 2008, exactly one year from the time that I wrote my first poem.
Here's a copy of Reflections displayed on the shelf after my first book signing signing at Reed's Gumtree Bookstore in Tupelo.

Reed's Gumtree Bookstore in Tupelo

Reflections and my second book, My Magnolia Memories and Musings In Poems are available at Reed's Gumtree Bookstore and Barnes and Noble in Tupelo.
They are also available online from Amazon and Barnes and Noble .
Of course, any local bookstore can order them for you !  

HERE ARE THE LINKS ON AMAZON:
http://tinyurl.com/reflections-pnd
http://tinyurl.com/magnolia-mem-pnd


FIND OUT A LITTLE MORE ABOUT JOHN AND HIS BOOK HERE:
http://www.shaverschoice.com/Day_Dreaming_Cottonsack.htm

SOUTHERNERS LOVE CHICKEN FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER AND SUPPER

Today is National Fried Chicken Day !

It is a day set aside to celebrate /appreciate the wonderful taste of fried chicken.
Fried chicken, often referred to as Southern Fried Chicken in the United States is the meat of the chicken dipped in a breading/batter mixture and then deep fried.
The breading/batter seals in the juices and absorbs the fat for flavor. 

For southerners, fried chicken is a favorite anytime dish !
We love fried chicken ! From a big country breakfast to a special meal dinner for invited, guests to a fun picnic in the park, fried chicken fits the bill .

Southern fried chicken is historically an African -American dish. The preparation of fowl using frying was relatively unknown among Europeans settlers of the United States , but was common in West Africa . Africans who were enslaved and brought to the Americas brought this method of food preparation with them . (Wikipedia)


Enjoy more southern poems:
BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:
http://tinyurl.com/reflections-pnd
http://tinyurl.com/magnolia-mem-pnd
 

Reflections Of A Mississippi Magnolia Reading 2- "If Mississippi's In You "

Celebrate the South with Patricia Neely-Dorsey

SOUTHERN IS (Not) A COLOR !

These days, it seems as though people try to make almost everything in life a black or white issue.
It simply is not the case. 

Recently, I received a message in my Facebook message box which said :
Ms Dorsey you post many folk life photos but I have yet to see you post any of Black Folk Life in Mississippi?????

One of my first thoughts was: "You must have missed a whole lot of my posts/pictures."
I posted a response on my page which included some of the following statements:
EVERY single thing that I post has something to do with some some aspect of MY own life experiences. Many of my posts are pictures to go along with poems from my books, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia : A Life In Poems (MY Life..the life I know about ! ) and My Magnolia Memories and Musings- In Poems (emphasis on MY)

If I am not mistaken,.,and I don't think that I am..I do qualify as :Black Folk" LOL!!!
If I don't qualify, my parents will be VERY disappointed !!! Please don't tell them !!!LOL!

Most of the pictures that I post are of southern scenes and scenery ...fields, landscapes, old buildings, barns, farm life, farm animals , front porches, ect.
Those type of pictures are certainly not a black or white thing "
They are a "southern thing".
Southern is NOT a color.

When I am posting, I am never thinking of reflecting or appealing to black or white..
It never entered my mind to categorize the type of things that I post in terms of color.
I don't know if the roosters or the cows or pigs are supposed to be black or white folk life pictures but they are what I know about my country life upbringing.
From all of the feedback that I receive, it seems, that a lot of people, both black and white had the very same upbringing .

I post a goo gob of down-home , country style food pictures !!!
I really didn't know how obsessed I was/am with food until I started reading my own poems! Almost every other one of them has something to do with food!! LOL!!!
I don't think of the food items that I post in terms of a black or white thing.
Anyone should be able to see that it's a very Southern thing!

And, I must repeat, Southern is NOT a color !

Judging from all of the requests that I get to repost so many of the food recipes and pictures, it seems that a whole lot of people, both black an white love the same kinds of food that I love to eat and grew up on.

In general, I post a whole, whole lot about loving and the South.
Is that a white folk thing or a black folk thing ???
No , it's a Southern thing !
We LOVE our South.   We love our "southern" !
Southern is NOT a color !

I received so many positive responses from Facebook friends on that initial post saying that one of the reasons that they love my posts is because I don't make them into a black or white thing.
Of course, I will continue doing just what I do ...
Always, Always....Celebrating the South and things Southern
Until Next Time..  Love, Peace...and Chicken Grease ! 

Join in on the celebration !
Enjoy more southern poems:
BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:
http://tinyurl.com/reflections-pnd
http://tinyurl.com/magnolia-mem-pnd

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE SUMMER IN THE SOUTH! !

Woopee!!!   Woo Hoo!!!

I love summer...and there is nothing like

 summer in the south!
It's time for bare feet and cold ice tea!

Summer in the south is a time 

for serious front porch 

sitting and rocking.
These two southern gems 

are the perfect addition...

  LINKS TO BOOKS ON AMAZON:

Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia-A Life in Poems


My Magnolia Memories and Musings- In Poems

There's nothing like growing up in Mississippi with a "Southern Man" Dad !

Today is Father's Day!

I feel like I have been blessed with the most wonderful Dad in he world (for me).
Of course, as a southern girl, he has always been and always will be "Daddy".
I always joke that I didn't even know that I had a mother until I was 15 years old.
The truth of the matter is that I had and still have a more -than- fabulous, truly southern belle mother who is the hostess -with -the mostest ! Martha Stewart has nothing on her!  It's just that, until I was in my teens, my whole world absolutely revolved around my Daddy! He was my world ..and I absolutely just KNEW that he hung the moon !
My Dad has shaped so much of who I am ...and what I do!
I love my Daddy ! You can see that in SO many of my poems!
Happy Father's Day, Daddy! 

   

Dr. James H. Neely received his Bachelor's degree in 1955 from Kentucky State University, formerly Kentucky State College with a major in chemistry and a minor in math and French. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Meharry Medical College (Nashville, TN) in 1960


You can find these poems and many more in my "little books of southern poems"
 

BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: 
http://tinyurl.com/reflections-pnd
http://tinyurl.com/magnolia-mem-pnd

ONE OF MY "MISSISSIPPI" POEMS WILL BE PROUDLY "REPRESENTING" IN A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE

Last week, the wife of one of Mississippi's U.S. Congressional Representative's saw my poem, "Meet My Mississippi" posted on Facebook.  She contacted me to say that she really LOVED the poem and wanted to get a print of it to put on her husband's office wall.

WOO HOO!!! HOW EXCITING!!!

I thanked her immensely for her interest and support and directed her to a site where framed and unframed prints of many of my poems can be purchased.
I must say, framed prints of the poems make excellent gifts! 

CHECK IT OUT HERE:
Fine Art America - Patricia Neely-Dorsey
http://patricia-neelydorsey.fineartamerica.com

She selected the poem to be framed on canvas.
I am hoping that she will send me a picture of the poem on the wall ...with the Congressman of course!
I will keep you posted!

As Always...Celebrating the South and Promoting A Positive Mississippi! 

BOOKS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON: 
http://tinyurl.com/reflections-pnd
http://tinyurl.com/magnolia-mem-pnd

CELEBRATING ELVIS IN HIS (MY) HOMETOWN

Tupelo is all is abuzz with excitement about the upcoming Elvis Festival. It is one of the most anticipated events in the city each year.  People come from all over the world to enjoy the festivities.  The festival is a musical celebration designed to honor Elvis Presley, Tupelo’s native son, and the impact that his music has on the world. In addition to all of the great music, the festival features a number of local food vendors, a carnival midway, pet parade, beauty pageant, 5k run, disc golf, movie poster exhibit, an Elvis Tribute Artist Contest and much more.             Elvis Festival Schedule:   Thursday, June 6th - 3 pm Elvis Driving Tour Marker Unveiling Music Bend Nature Trail - 99 North Veterans Boulevard Tupelo's Elvis Presley Driving Tour marks significant sites in the life of Elvis Presley while he lived in Tupelo. This event marks the addition of a 11th site on the trail. 7 pm Concert with: Sonny Burgess and The Pacers with DJ Fontana Victor Trevino, Jr. Bill Cherry With The EAS Band (Lyric Theatre) Sold Out - Call 662-841-6598 for Simulcast Tickets Late Night: Elvis Tribute Artist Open Mic FREE Broadway Outdoor Stage Friday, June 7th-   9:30 am Round 1 of UETA Preliminary Competition with The EAS Band (Lyric Theatre) Sold Out 6:00 pm Gates open @ Fairpark - Get Tickets Here or buy at the Gate for $10 6:30 pm Elvis Tribute Artist Brandon Bennett 7:15 pm Kirk Chism and The Lost Highway 8:30 pm The Cadillac Three 10:00 pm Headliner - Cowboy Mouth (Fairpark Outdoor Music Festival) 7 pm Concert with: Kevin Mills Brandon Bennett with The EAS Band (Lyric Theatre) Sold Out - Call 662-841-6598 for Simulcast Tickets Late Night: Big Jim and Argo Dance Party FREE Broadway Outdoor Stage   Saturday, June 8th - 7:30 am Running with the King 5K Veteran's Park 9:00 am Pet Parade and Pageant Onsite Registration 8:00 - 8:45 am Broadway Outdoor Stage 10 am Conversations on The Ultimate with Tom Brown Brandon Bennett, Ultimate 2008 Bill Cherry, Ultimate 2009 Cody Slaughter, Ultimate 2011 Sold Out 1 pm Round 2 of UETA Preliminary Competition with The EAS Band (Lyric Theatre) Sold Out   6:00 pm Gates open @ Fairpark - Get Tickets Here or buy at the Gate for $20 6:30 pm Elvis Tribute Artist Cody Slaughter 7:15 pm Surviving Allison 8:30 pm Skylar Laine 10:00 pm Headliner - Montgomery Gentry (Fairpark Outdoor Music Festival) 7 pm Concert with: Finals of UETA Preliminary Competition Tyler Hunter David Lee Cody Slaughter with The EAS Band (Lyric Theatre) Sold Out - Call 662-841-6598 for Simulcast Tickets      Sunday, June 9th - 10 am "Ultimate Gospel for the Soul" Brunch Elvis Presley Enterprises "First Ever" UETA, Shawn Klush The Blackwood Quartet Joe Moscheo of The Imperials The Landmarks Tupelo Unity Choir with The EAS Band (Lyric Theatre) Get Tickets Here or buy at the Lyric for $25 *Each Event Requires a Separate Ticket* for more information check out the Elvis Festival website : http://tupeloelvisfestival.com/                                                                                                                                                                             Poems found in My Magnolia Memories and Musings -In Poems                                                                                                 (CLICK LINK TO AMAZON.COM)