Laurel + Hattiesburg

Inspired by the HGTV show Home Town (filmed in Laurel - they just got the green light to film their first season after a pilot aired!), we decided to take a day trip to Laurel.

After breakfast with our friends, we headed south.

One of the things the Main Street Association (and Erin from Home Town) has done is the creation of vibrancy in their downtown through murals all around vacant buildings. And, to be honest, they have a ton of them. Paul and I kept saying, "This is the town that time forgot." There is so much opportunity and promise there. 

We kept lamenting that we should open a restaurant downtown that was open on the weekends because we walked and walked, only to find that a coffee shop and a butcher shop (with only raw meat) open. We did stop into a quaint antiques store called Southern Antiques, very reminiscent of Antique Mall of the South or Interiors Market in Fondren.

After walking around and driving through their beautiful homes, a late lunch was in order.

Phillips Drive-In popped up on the list. We didn't want to eat at a national fast food joint, so this seemed intriguing. Split between us was a chili cheese dog, Philly cheesesteak, potato wedges and corn nuggets in all their golden glory. The perfect greasy spoon. It's easy to see why people flock here.

Afterwards we headed to Hattiesburg. We had ordered Paul's new computer to be picked up at Best Buy there (they were out in the Jackson), then we made our way around the area, reminiscing of college days. It was a great little trip!

Early Spring

Has it been as lovely and mild where you are as it has been for us this week? I really think we are going to have an early spring this year.

This warm snap has made for patio lunches and new blooms around the yard.

Walker's, of course, is on the top of the patio list.

Morning light.

These are popping up everywhere in the yard!

Friday evening we had Natasha Trethewey on campus. She is the most eloquent and beautiful person (not to mention, writer).

Saturday mornings are the best.

Real Life

I got really excited last week when I found a clean eating lemon poppyseed scone recipe on Pinterest. I'm always hesitant that they might not be any good, but how do you know until you try? I took pictures and thought it might even be something fun to write about on the blog. 

Suffice to say, they weren't my favorite. Paul said he liked them, but I can't recommend making them, unless adding more sweetness to them. They tasted like paste. What a bummer!

Mamaw, this one is for you. We snipped roses from my yard last Sunday and used your milk glass vase. It's one of my favorite things!

I feel like I say this all the time, but our guest bathroom is finally, FINALLY, nearing completion. Our handyman fixed our shower so we can actually use it. Yesterday I painted the trim around the window and today we'll hang the blinds in the window.

Our friend Chris turned 38 this weekend, so we all got together for crawfish at Crawdad Hole. The admiration society for Eli, their son, was hilarious. (Here's our friend Garrad with him below)

Our friend Greg is from Louisiana and is the master of peeling crawfish. While Paul and I ate our shrimp, Greg went to town peeling pounds of them!

Hope you guys had a great week!

Crawfish Season

There is nothing more beautiful than the sight of bright red crawfish as soon as the season starts.

No one loves crawfish more than my sister and brother-in-law. No. one. 

To celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday this past weekend, we did just that - a crawfish boil. We had this early spring day and it couldn't have been more perfect.

It was so beautiful, we couldn't just go home afterwards. There's nothing like cruising around the Reservoir.

This weather has also made for some beautiful sunsets.

With warm days and a cold front coming through, we've been through it today with strong storms. I ready for a few days of calm again!