Taking A Break - to stop doing something for a short period of time, to rest. This week Joe and I joined Jim and Debbie at Crown Resort Villas at Hickory Hills, in Gautier Mississippi. I so needed to take a break from our little ranch business and from work at Dorchester pool. Also, being away from home meant no need to feel like I had to do yard work, house work, jobs at the ranch, or even go to the gym. Pet and horse care were turned over to Patty, and I could truly take a break from it all.
We crossed the Alabama border about 5:15. We were making good time and the drive wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I had taken an Ibuprofen so had very little pain. Also, we listened to a book on tape, John Grisham - 'Sooley' : A basketball story that was captivating although a little slow.
We stopped at Subway for dinner around 6:30 and then pushed onward. A storm slowed us down for a brief period. 
The lightening was impressive but luckily was off in the distance much of the time. 
The sun was setting as we neared Birmingham.
And another storm blew through, but petered out while we were checking in to the Travel Lodge.
Sitting in the truck while Joe was getting us checked in, I got a kick out of watching cars hit this big puddle on the road we had just left, although it caused me to worry about them.
I shouldn't complain about the run-down, grungy condition of our $80.00 room, but I was rather grossed out. The bed however was clean and very comfortable.
Saturday 8/12 - We were on the road at 7:30, hit Mississippi at 9:30, and stopped for 'brunch' at another Subway at 11am. Our book on tape and the Ibuprofen were keeping me comfortable and entertained.
We reached the condo Jim and Debbie had rented for the week at Crown Resort Villas at Hickory Hills, in Gautier Mississippi. The heat was oppressive.
After chatting for a bit and catching up with one another, we decided to take a drive to check out some of the attractions nearby. We started at Shepard State Park, to hike.
We had troubles finding the trail head to the Marsh boardwalk, but eventually figured it out.
We were in search of wildlife, but think it was too hot for any animal, so we were the only wild things out and about.
A slight breeze helped, but we got too hot to even finish the boardwalk hike.
Back in the air conditioned car for a break from the heat, we then drove to and through the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge... with not one crane in sight.
We grabbed groceries on the way home, showered and dressed up a bit, and then headed to dinner at the Country Gentleman. I really like this picture on the wall. I also immensely enjoyed a beef/lamb combo gyros with a very flavorful tzatziki sauce.
We hit an ice-cream shop on the way home. Once back at the condo, we started in on an arousing game of bridge. Joe was getting bad cards and mine were even worse. And we were not able to give Jim and Debbie (who were having a good time) much competition.
Sunday 8/13 - The day started out nice and slow and relaxed. It wasn’t long though, and we made our way out to the pool because there’s really not much else you could do out in the oppressive heat they were currently experiencing in southern Mississippi.
The water was very warm, so not exactly refreshing, but so easy to get into and stay in as long as you wanted. Debbie was a good sport posing in this selfie with me.
Once finished at the pool, we got cleaned up, dressed up and then headed into Biloxi to check out some of the casinos.
We dropped Joe off at one casino, where they had tables of Texas Hold'em going, and then we proceeded on to the Palace Casino. Jim headed off one way to play some roulette, and I watched Debbie give her shot at various slot machines. 
Debbie and I took a break and went for a walk on the old road that’s now closed and goes out into the Biloxi bay. It was very hot, but there was a decent breeze off of the water, so just the airflow helped make it tolerable. We enjoyed watching these pelicans. 
Back in the casino, we had planned to get a beer to cool off, but in order to get free drinks, you have to be gambling. So I put my $20 in the slot machine but cashed out before hitting the play button. Then I sat and watched Debbie play some more, as if I was taking a break from the action. We were soon served beers. 
I really enjoyed watching two different people winning on a few different slot machines. One lady racked up over $667 on one push of the button, making her grand total over $700. →
I had the best time watching people at the Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory slot machine. It had so many 'bells and whistles' with a big screen TV to watch the fun video clips and songs. ↓
More milling around occurred and we watched Jim for a bit,
until he got the call from Joe who was ready to quit and come join us
for dinner. Jim went to get Joe and once the 'boys' were back, we had a huge feast at the buffet.
I way overate and felt kind of miserable, so walked around the casino while Joe played Black Jack, Jim hit the roulette machine, and Debbie hit the slots. I tried my luck at the Willy Wonka slot but quickly lost $10.00 so cashed out and resumed walking around.
While we were in Biloxi we toured the waterfront historical boardwalk area and really enjoyed some sights along there. 
This was a cool, huge old oak that had been carved into.
As the sun was dropping lower on the horizon, it gave off a pretty show of various colors in the sky.
We struck up some more bridge once we got back to the condo, and played past my usual bedtime until we completed two rubbers. This time I had some pretty good cards, but Joe was not getting many.
My phone was completely dead when I plugged it into the charger on my bedside table. It didn't even respond after a few minutes, but I was too tired to worry about it.
Monday 8/14- We were up very early and out the door at twenty till seven. My phone screen was black and we couldn't get it to work. I guess it was taking a break. After watching a video, we put it in the freezer for 15 minutes, took it out and did the button pressing sequence suggested, several times, and it finally 'woke up.' I wondered if it had over-heated? 
We went to the Hickory Hills golf course and got going before it got too hot (it was already in the mid 80's). Here is a photo of Joe hitting his driver.
The second hole had lots of water. Debbie's ball didn't quite go into the pond, but Jim took the opportunity to fish out a few other balls while he had his long handle ball retriever out. 
We spotted a fox on another hole. He/she wasn't too concerned about us, or in that big of a hurry to get out of our way (video), as we waited on it before we continued down the cart path.
We were a little worried about it limping and being out at this time of day. But what a beauty he/she was.
I had only planned to play nine holes because it was my first time golfing this summer, and I didn't want to over do it on my elbows. So I walked back to the condo and later took these photos from the balcony of Joe looking for a ball and both carts coming down the path on #15.
The golfers finished around 11:00 and it was up to 98°. We went to the pool after lunch. Joe and Jim didn't stay long, wanting to get back to the casino. Debbie did a few loads of laundry (which was right by the pool) while we laid out and swam.
Then we retreated to the cool air conditioned condo and the temperature made it up over 100°.
Tonight's dinner was at the lovely Brady's Steaks and Seafood restaurant in Pascagoula. It was great food and wonderful service.
We needed to walk off dinner so went to the Magnolia Birding Pier on the Pascagoula River. The water level was really low because the tide was out. 
We didn't see a single bird, only evidence of them with this osprey nest. We figured it was just too hot for all animals today. 
There was a nice breeze blowing in though.
Back at the condo, we resumed our bridge playing. Joe and I got our 'butts' kicked. We did not get any cards all night. Jim had one hand with ten diamonds (all five honors), a singleton ace, two medium cards of another suit, and was void in the suit Debbie had bid. UNBELIEVABLE!
Tuesday 8/15 - We were out on the golf course again, by 7am, in order to beat the heat. We had decided to play a 'best ball' scramble with the four of us. So I was in for 18 holes of golf but knew I didn't have to hit every shot if I didn't want to.
We were hoping to shoot par but didn't quite make it. It was fun to play as a team of four. My right elbow started bothering me on the back nine holes, so I only hit a few drives (everyone out drove me anyways).
This is part of the fairway of hole #15, with the back of 'our' condo seen in the background.
Can you see the four turtle heads in this photo?
Our golf was going downhill because we were so hot and sweaty. Joe couldn't grip his driver and none of us really cared that much by the very end.
Jim and Joe went for a swim when we got back to the condo and Debbie and I showered. We snacked for lunch and played a little more bridge before Joe and I hit the road at 3pm.
The Ibuprofen and book on tape continued to help the time and miles go by quickly, and without too much pain. We stopped at McDonnald's for dinner and an hour later got to our hotel, just north of Birmingham. Joe had paid under $100, but this place was so much nicer than the one on the way down. It even included a pool and breakfast.
Wednesday 8/16 - After our continental breakfast, I took an Ibuprofen and we were back on the road at 7:30. Our book on tape ended with two hours to go.
The story was disconcerting near the end because the star, Sooley who had never gotten side tracked by the wild parties, died of a drug overdose (one bad night) after getting drafted into the NBA as a college freshman. At least the story did have a heart warming ending. 
We started a new 'Joe Pickett' book on tape and continued our trek home. It was well before lunch time when we got home. After unloading everything, Joe went to pick up Maggie.
I had lunch and then spent the majority of the day working on this blog, since I hadn't gotten much done on it from the time we left home. The cats were craving attention, which they got.
I knew I should un-pack, start laundry, go to the gym and grocery, and try to get back into my routine, but I ended up lounging (and dozed off briefly) out on the deck listening to our book on tape with Joe. 79°s is so much easier to lay out in than 99°s.
Joe went to poker and I did get household chores done along with unpacking.
Thursday 8/17 - After my morning shift at the pool, I went directly to the ranch where Karen was going to meet me a little later. Our three horses came in shortly after I arrived, and immediately got a drink out of the pond. 
After mucking (which didn't amount to much) I worked at trimming fence line on the back side of the dam. The horses had taken a break in the shed (giving me a little more to clean up later) but then headed back out into the pasture. 
Wanda had been hanging around, trying to talk me into feeding her (which I already had). She got a drink from the pond and then enjoyed hunting on the other side of the fence, down in the woods.
Karen arrived and we set out on foot to go get Amiga and Zorro. When she called Zorro's name, all three horses came trotting over the horizon. I wished I had gotten a good video of them.
Just look at the pretty sky and our beautiful pasture.
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Zorro (like a dog with a good recall) will come right up to you when you call for him. I was just glad Amiga was willing to stand and let me halter her, without playing 'hard to get.'
We got our horses tacked and were out on the trail in no time. Amiga was a little sore on her front left leg. She hadn't had Previcox in over a week, so I gave her one once we got back. 
We had a lovely ride, not too hot, and both horses were very willing and well behaved.
I did feeding chores and then headed to the upper paddock to feed Mary and Jack's horses, but Mary had already started the process. We chatted a bit before I headed home. It was after 7:30, and my four cats were more than ready for dinner.
I worked the am shift at the pool. I came straight home and started a load of laundry and then went to the gym. Warmed up on the rowing machine and then did and arm and ab workout. I showered there. 
I threw laundry in the dryer when I got home, put on my cowgirl attire, feed the cats and dog, walked Maggie, picked Shirley up at Food City and then we headed to town for the fair.
We met several others there, enjoyed fair cuisine for dinner, and had fun watching the show. 
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