At the Crossroads
Before leaving Clarksdale, we felt compelled to visit “the crossroads” – the intersection of routes 49 and 61 where, so the story goes, Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in return for exceptional guitar skills. While snapping photos we met a couple from St. Louis on a blues pilgrimage, basically doing a good portion of our trip, in reverse. We’re not on a pilgrimage but we sure do have an appreciation of the amazing music and the rough lifestyle that is at its core.
Shacking Up With Lucious
One last stop before leaving Clarksdale was at the “Shack Up Inn” https://www.shackupinn.com/ . It’s an old plantation with sharecropper shacks and grain silos that have been converted into rooms. We had hoped to be able to stay there overnight but since the “Deep Blues” festival was happening, we were out of luck. Happily, though, there was a live performance at the Shack and we were there to enjoy it. We are now devoted fans of Lucious Spiller – he’s fantastic!!!
Lucious Plays the Blues
Ole Miss
Home of Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner William Faulkner who was born in Oxford and lived here for 40 of his 64 years. He never graduated from high school but managed to attend 3 semesters at Ole Miss because his daddy worked there. He went on to write a bunch of novels and short stories and reach the highest level of literary success. Susan’s mother, the English major, remembers studying his work in college. She is 86 years old. Glenda and Susan do not remember anything.
Here is his house, Rowan Oak, http://www.rowanoak.com/ and grounds:
The square here in Oxford is lovely. Looks like a great college town. What better place to find the Mississippi staple we have been missing…fried chicken!! We found it! Some pretty good fried fare!!!! http://gusfriedchicken.com/oxford-mississippi-location/
Looking forward to a stroll around campus tomorrow!
Can we talk irons?!! First the GIANT one and now irons in St. Martinsville? I collect antique irons you know!?!!?? Definitely hitting the ZOOM button on the irons. Among other things. Well, pretty much everything. Especially food. And Bellue’s website. Pecan smoked turkeys AND we will process your deer all on the same page. Almost had me at Pecan…
I am assuming you are eating GRITS every day. GRITS everyday!
Hoping that Luscious visits northern Jersey soon. I bet he can get a seat on Southwest to your next Octoberfest. With GRITS. And your deer process.
Faulkner’s house looks like Forrest Gump’s house!!
Oh and the antique signs en route! I love everyone more than the last!!!
AND OMG ELVIS!! Girl Happy! Return to Sender!………
First of all, I have known you for over 30 years and never once have you mentioned any fascination with irons, let alone a collection!!! How did I miss that? Meanwhile, Bellue’s (and Bellue) – definitely highlights. Sue and I both had cheesy grits, scrambled eggs and bacon bits in a bowl for breakfast this morning. I’m sure there will be shrimp and grits in our future soon. Hoping that satisfies your grits requirement! 🙂 We already got the word that Luscious Lucious has played at “The Shrine” in NY and will likely be playing the NE again soon. We’ll be the first ones on line for tickets!!!
LOL! I’m texting you a picture to prompt your memory!!
Eat more grits!!
PS I do not know how you find these places!!
Hi Lee
Susan here. So glad to find a fellow iron enthusiast (although mine is a relatively newfound enthusiasm). I will keep my eyes peeled for other iron or laundry items of interest! Thanks for checking in!
Please do!!
And re bells–Definitely Bethlehem. Practice for the Christmas season? No one changed the tape from the last Christmas season?? Glad to see you eating more grits. Which perhaps explains the upside down panorama picture. OR was the rooftop bar to blame??
We thought perhaps it was a bell student, practicing having unwittingly hit the “broadcast” button. Guess it’s never to soon to prepare for the holidays!!!