Saturday, November 13
After a cup of coffee, a bagel and a shower, I said good-bye to Maybee and slipped out quietly. Melanie was ready for breakfast when I arrived. We enjoyed our coffee and sister-talk until it was time for me to head north to Wolf Lake and the NEW Taylor Place.
My drive took me along a stretch of the Natchez Trace which skirts the northern edge of metro Jackson. Then I headed north along State Hwy 49 to Yazoo City, then took old 49 past grand old dilapidated houses and a downtown that has seen better days. Less than 10 minutes north of town, I turned off the old highway and was soon at 160 Lakeside Drive - the NEW Taylor Place. Park greeted me before I was even out of the car. I was so delighted to be there with Park and Cindy and their family. The house is enough like the old Taylor Place to feel immediately comfortable.
Mississippi State vs Auburn was on TV and that occupied the next couple of hours. I visited with Elizabeth and Rand, watched football, snacked and sat on the back gallery looking the lake. During some low points in the game, Cindy joined me outside. Off the gallery is a large paved patio with a hot tub on one en, a big fire pit in the center, and a small ornamental koi pool on the other end. Park will add an outdoor kitchen off the end of the gallery behind the garage. Across the lake is farmland. Houses on either side a spaced far apart, so that from the gallery, no other houses are in view. The setting is beautiful and serene, a perfect to come home to after a busy day or week.
Fortunately State made an historic comeback and won the game! Park grilled steaks for everyone and we enjoyed a delightful evening.
 |
| Front Entrance - improvements to be made over time |
 |
| The back gallery and patio - where Taylor life will be centered |
 |
| Park Sandling and John Wallace |
 |
| Sandling and Cindy enjoy the hot tub after supper |
 |
| I spent most of my time here! |
 |
| I can't wait to see what it look like next summer |
 |
| Long pier |
 |
| Lots of space to enjoy |
Sunday, November 14
Park made waffles for breakfast which, of course, were delicious. Sandling and John Wallace had spent the night on the couches while I had the front guest room. The other guest room, taken by Rand and Bill, opens onto the back gallery, as does the master bedroom.
Bill, Rand and JW left late morning. Park, Cindy, Sandling and I went to a wildlife preserve outside Belzoni that incorporates an old cypress swamp. It features a long boardwalk through enormous, old growth cypress trees, some more that 1000 years old and 12 ft in diameter at the bases. We had the space to ourselves this Sunday morning and the peaceful beauty matched any grand cathedral. No worship experience could be more Holy.
Back at the Taylor Place, Cindy finished a crawfish etouffee she had started earlier. We enjoyed a late, gourmet lunch. Sandling was in no hurry to go home and helped "Pop" all afternoon. He was comfortably at home playing with the new dog Dottie, a Jack Russell terrier who was left behind by the previous owners. Cindy napped and I just soaked it all it.
Left-over steak and crawfish etouffee made an easy and delicious supper. We spent another evening around the "fire table" on the gallery. We were comfortable, despite the chill in the air. From sunrise to sunset, the view is fantastic.
 |
| Just after sunrise |
 |
| Sandling posing in a hollow cypress log |
Back at the Taylor Place, Cindy finished a crawfish etouffee she had started earlier. We enjoyed a late, gourmet lunch. Sandling was in no hurry to go home and helped "Pop" all afternoon. He was comfortably at home playing with the new dog Dottie, a Jack Russell terrier who was left behind by the previous owners. Cindy napped and I just soaked it all it.
Left-over steak and crawfish etouffee made an easy and delicious supper. We spent another evening around the "fire table" on the gallery. We were comfortable, despite the chill in the air. From sunrise to sunset, the view is fantastic.
 |
| Sunset over Wolf Lake |
No comments:
Post a Comment