"Stay inside! The trucks are coming!"

Most days after work, Ronnie and I go for a walk or run. We both enjoy having company while we exercise. Usually, the sun is starting to set and the summer heat has subsided a bit. It is usually a pleasant time and one we look forward to. However, sometimes our walk is interrupted by an ominous sound that makes us quickly try to alter our course or shield our faces. Yes, it is the sound of the dreaded mosquito truck!

We often joke that they seem to follow us. Actually, our house happens to be on one of the busiest corners of our town. It links several streets, as well as the downtown to WalMart. The mosquito truck route apparently passes our house several times and they are quite diligent in their extermination. They spray about three times a week!

A few weeks ago we went over to a friend's house for supper. Afterwards we were sitting and talking when outside the front door we heard, "Mr. Aaron! Mr. Aaron come here!" Our friend opened the front door and revealed two barefoot little girls on bikes. Their faces were red and their hair was stringy after no doubt many hours spent playing hard. With wide eyes they warned, "Stay inside! The trucks are coming!" We thanked them for the warning and then encouraged them to get on home so as to avoid the spray. One panicked, "I don't know if we will make it home in time...ahhh!" And with that they furiously pedaled away. I'm sure it was a thrilling race home to beat the truck!

So if you happen to hear a loud buzz approaching, you have been warned, "Stay inside! The trucks are coming!"

Tomato Festival

Saturday we excitedly headed over to a neighboring town to the annual Tomato Festival that we had been hearing so much about recently. Apparently, this is the event of the summer for our county and we were eager to experience it first hand!


Having formerly been famed as the "Tomato Capital of the World" this town celebrates the last weekend of June with a festival that includes vendors of local crafts and produce, musical performances in the center of town, delicacies such as chicken on a stick and funnel cake, a 5k race, and the crowning of the tomato queen.

We were not disappointed by the festival! The center of the town was closed off from traffic and was a bustle with life and activity, which sadly is not a regular site in these dying southern towns.


We walked along the street and observed the great sense of pride that the town obviously holds for its history of great produce.


We enjoyed perusing the wares of local vendors and even came away with a few jars of pepper jelly!

Recently we were served pepper jelly poured over cream cheese and served with pita chips...Delicious! We purchased some peach pepper jelly to share with friends and family over the 4th and then some bright green pepper jelly to save for a Christmas treat!

It was a fun Saturday outing and I only wish the next one wasn't a year away!

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by my first venture into the world of blogging! My husband and I have been toying with the idea of a blog for several months now. Having both grown up in fairly cosmopolitan cities, we find ourselves living in a very small town in the heart of the Deep South, where he is a Youth Director at a local church. Needless to say, we are constantly amazed as we live here and observe the culture in which we live and work with all its beauty and decay.

So here goes...