M, dotted letter, crooked letter, crooked letter, dotted letter, crooked letter, crooked letter, dotted letter, hump back, hump back, dotted letter.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned in my blog that I’d hidden a clue in the post regarding my new home. The clue was this picture:
The Magnolia State, home of the Rebels and the Bulldogs, birthplace of Elvis Aaron Presley (Tupelo, January 8, 1935), famous for the Natchez Trace and the Great River Road (Blues Highway), former home of Jefferson Davis, first and only president of the Southern Confederate States during the War Between the States (who, incidentally, despised war).
Why Mississippi you ask? Because my friends, after we decided that owing a bed & breakfast held a certain appeal to us, we started researching and Mississippi proved to be the state that afforded us the most bang for our buck. We visited, explored, researched some more, and voila, we found the perfect place. Contracts were signed, paperwork flew across the internet, deals were made, and now it’s about to happen. Just a couple more weeks and it’ll be official – I’ll be a resident of Mississippi!
In the meantime, while you’re all planning your trips to visit me (you are right?), here are 10 lesser known yet fun facts about Mississippi:
1 – It is approximately 725 miles from Disney World;
2 – It is approximately 1,780 miles from Disneyland;
3 – Shoes were first offered in boxed pairs (1 left, 1 right) around 1884 at Phil Gilbert’s Shoe Parlor on Washington Street in Vicksburg;
4 – It is the home of the International Hall of Checkers and the Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum;
5 – The Vicksburg National Cemetery is the second largest in the country, the first being Arlington;
6 – The world’s largest pecan nursery is located in Mississippi;
7 – Vicksburg is home to the world’s largest hydraulic research laboratory and is operated by the US Army Corp of Engineers;
8 – John B. Stetson, honed the craft of hat-making at Dunn’s Falls, near Meridian, after the Civil War, forever changing the look of western headgear.
9 – S.B. Sam Vick, of Batesville, was the only man to ever pinch hit for Babe Ruth. He played for both the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
10 – Most importantly, it is where you’ll find the Baer House Inn, circa 1870, my new home! (Almost.)
I hope you’ll all come and visit (but not all at the same time because I don’t have that much room) and enjoy some Southern hospitality and home cooked vittles.
Question: What is your favorite Southern dish? Ever been to Mississippi? Got a cool Mississippi fun fact? If you stay overnight, what would you like to eat for breakfast?
Word of the Day: Taboret
Fun Fact About Me: I’ve only been to Mississippi twice. And no, that awesome car does not come with the house. (Dang it!)
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, June 2015. Photos courtesy Baer House Inn and Google Images
I’m so very excited for you!!! What a huge leap of faith. Love it!!
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Thanks Ginger. It is a huge leap and a little scary, but we’re going for it.
So good to see you my friend.
Patricia
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I’ve driven the Natchez Trace Parkway, but my husband hasn’t, so, one of these days, I’ll persuade him to travel it with me, and we’ll stop at your fabulous inn. You and your husband will be wonderful innkeepers. I’m so pleased for you. Oh, and I like cheese grits.
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Cheese grits it is for you my dear. Just let me know when you’ll be there and I’ll have it all ready. I’ve not been on the Natchez Trace, but it is close to the top of my list of new places to explore.
I’m looking forward to having you visit.
Patricia
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You’re a braver woman than I am. Could’t take the heat. I’m whining at the minor amount of humidity we’ve been experiencing, but I’d love to visit when it’s not hot!
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Hey Kathy, I hope you’ll find your way to Vicksburg some day soon. I can’t say with any amount of certainty, but there has to be a month or two when humidity won’t be too bad. I hope anyway. Of course, the inn is fully air conditioned so I have that to look forward too.
Thanks for your continued support and re-blogging love. It is much appreciated.
Patricia
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Reblogged this on kacoatney.
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Thank you.
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The closest I’ve ever been to Mississippi is flying over that big ol’ river…and I think it might have been a roundabout flight on the way to Disney World. When I think if Mississippi, it’s always with Mark Twain nearby. 🙂 Your inn looks AMAZING and I’m sure you’ll make a fine innkeeper. And I’m all about omelettes for breakfast with lots of veggies and turkey bacon.
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Omelettes and turkey bacon, coming right up. We aim to please at the Baer House.
I’m hoping to see many friends and meet new ones through the years, so please keep me in mind for your future travels. I’ve been experimenting with gluten free menus so I’ll be all ready for you.
Patricia
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Adding Baer House to my travel bucket list now… 🙂
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You’re the best.
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That is so exciting, Patricia! I’ve been to Louisiana many times (I’ve got family there), but never to Mississippi. Now I have a reason! I’m so excited for your new Southern adventure. Be sure to add hush puppies to the menu!!!
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Oh – hush puppies! I’ll have to try making those. Thanks for the reminder.
And, I hope to see you in Vicksburg sometime soon. It’ll give us both excellent blog fodder – not to mention the fun we’d have cooking together!! Or just hanging out and drinking wine. Or exploring the town. Or . . . or . . .
Thanks for stopping by. Stay in touch.
Patricia
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Huge congrats on following your dreams! The house is beautiful, and I’m so excited to hear more in the upcoming months. 😉
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Thanks Cyndi. The inn is indeed quite grand. We’ve got a list of improvements we’re hoping to make in the future, but it is very impressive and the architecture is so unique to the area. Stay tuned on my blog for updates and more history and such.
Thanks for stopping by and for your support.
Patricia
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Thanks Cyndi. The inn is indeed grand and we are very fortunate to be able to call it home. We’ve got a list of improvements we’re hoping to make in the future, but the architecture is quite unique. We’re looking forward to making it ours.
Stay tuned for more posts about the home, its history, whether or not its haunted (oooooo), etc. More fun stuff on the way.
Thanks for stopping by and for your support.
Patricia
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Holy flapjacks, woman! That’s such a long way away! But oh, my, that house is bee-you-tiful. Now just remember, when in the South, you pronounce pecan as pee-can. Not pecahn, dahling! BTW, my favorite pie is pecan. 🙂 I hope to come see you sometime!
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One pee-can pie coming up for the Pitner party of two. Perhaps I’ll throw in some pralines as well. And, I’ll have to remember if it’s crawfish or crayfish (I never can), because one is right and one is definitely wrong.
It’ll be fun learning the lingo. And adjusting to the culture shock, climate shock, self-employment shock, shock, shock, shock. I’m sure it’ll be quite challenging and rewarding.
I hope you and the Mr. can get to Mississippi some day because Vicksburg has so much to offer.
Patricia
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That house looks gorgeous! And looks like a fantastic road trip destination, too. I’m half-Kentuckian (that’s as Southern as I get) so I hope you’ll have biscuits and gravy on the menu. 🙂 Good luck with the move and your new venture!
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Biscuits and gravy – another breakfast staple. It’s already on the list because that’s one of my favorites (much to the dismay of my waistline).
I hope you’ll get down my way for a weekend stay. I’m sure you’ll love the drive and Vicksburg is a great tourist stop. And – bonus – biscuits and gravy!
Thanks for visiting virtually today. Next time, make it an in-person visit.
Patricia
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My mother and I spent a wonderful week during the Natchez spring pilgrimage when the residents open up their houses and we spent a night in Vicksburg too. I’m ready for a road trip to meet all of my new online author friends so I’ll definitely head your way.
PS – The snakes aren’t just on the ground there though!
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Cindy, I’d love to have you stay at our inn. I’m looking forward to the pilgrimage. It’ll by my first experience with that and the Civil War reenactments are going to be interesting, too.
Yes, the snakes – well, they’re pretty much everywhere. If it’s not the copperheads, it’s the rattlers. Always something.
I hope to see you soon.
Patricia
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Does this mean that you now need my very amazing pecan pie recipe? 🙂
Congratulations, my friend!
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Why yes it most certainly does. Send it my way.
Thanks for the support. We’re really looking forward to the change.
Patricia
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I am thrilled for you and your wonderful husband, and can’t wait to hear about your adventures in bed-and-breakfast hosting! If/when RWA plans a conference in NOLA or Orlando, you’re going to be completely booked on each side from all your writer friends! I, on the other hand, will plan to visit in (relatively) non-humid winter! Blessings and love, my dear friend!
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Thanks so much for the kind words Madeline. Corey and I are very much excited about the move and the new adventure. Only 1 more week now in California. Getting close.
I’m looking forward to seeing some familiar faces in the future. Hopefully you’ll be one of them.
Take care and stay tuned for more info about the move and the new house.
Patricia
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Patricia – congratulations. I grew up in Texas and my dad and step-mom moved to Oxford when he retired in 2000. They did their research and came to the same conclusion it was a great place to retire and he enjoyed his time there. My step mom still lives there and I get down occasionally – not as often as I need to or should – but when I can. I would live to visit Vicksburg, can’t wait to roll into town. Congratulations!
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Oh Clay, it would be so awesome to meet you. I know you’re into educational stuff, so you definitely have to spend some time at the Military Park. I can hook you up with a docent for a personalized guided trip. It’s well worth the money to enjoy this “behind the scenes,” experience.
Please keep me in mind if you ever find yourself in my neck of the woods. Vicksburg is a pretty cool town.
Patricia
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Super cool, Patricia! I’ve been to the Biloxi beaches–when we used to live in New Orleans. And later, when we lived in Memphis, we took a drive down to Tunica. But that’s been years. So obviously I’ve got to make another trip! 😉 Very excited to hear more about your brand new adventure! Will there be a taboret in your new place? I could use a taboret, I love when my stuff is organized!
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Ha – not sure yet on the taboret, but one never knows. I hope you’ll get down my way soon. Vicksburg has a lot to offer for the above average tourist. I’ll even fix you up something delicious for breakfast based on your special needs – it’s gluten free right?
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you soon!
Patricia
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I’ve been following the posts leading up to this one, Patricia, and just want to say how excited I am for you and your husband. Wow, what an adventure you’re about to embark on! And what a gorgeous inn! Let’s see, the closest I’ve been is St. Louis, which is still quite a distance away, isn’t it? I’m going to need a map to find you all. 🙂 Looking forward to hearing more about your exciting journey!
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Sheila, if you’re headed my way, I’ll chart your journey. I hope you’ll at least think about coming this far south. You’re in Canada right? Perhaps if RWA does another conference at New Orleans you’ll be able to make it. I’m just a couple of hours north of the Big Easy.
Thanks for your kind words and support. I’m excited and scared at the same time. I’m so ready for a change so this is just want Dr. Patricia ordered. Stay tuned for more excitement.
Patricia
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I’ve been meaning to pop back in here to send you my congratulations and best wishes! HOW EXCITING! Your new abode looks charming and inviting and I can’t wait for a complete virtual tour … you must promise! Congratulations on being a possibilitarian … I think you will be a wonderful hostess and if I’m ever in Mississippi, I’ll be booking a room. Onward!
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Oh Pat, I hope you do look me up. I’d love to see you. I’m actually working on putting together a writing retreat here some time, maybe next summer. If it turns out to be cost effective, I’ll be sending out a notice, probably on Facebook, or personal e-mails. I think that would be a blast.
Thanks for your support and kind words. It means a lot.
Patricia
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