Author Archives: Mary Prater

Namesake by Joe Goodell

Katrina was a natural disaster that ravaged the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and a man-made disaster that devastated the historic city of New Orleans. It was an epic event, whose aftermath revealed the very best in human nature — and the … Continue reading

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IT’S ABOUT EARLY ELVIS, PART I Mona Sides-Smith

Banner at Graceland…Memphis, TN 2015 Here is the first of a probable series of short pieces offering you snippets of information and confidently presented checklists for those readers who have current collections of Elvis tunes and want to update the … Continue reading

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HOW TO MAKE GIARDINIERA (PICKLED VEGETABLES) by Southfacin’ Cook Patsy Brumfield

When I was a kid, our neighbor, Wilbur Pickett, made hot sauce on an open fire on the vacant elementary school-yard between our McComb, Mississippi, houses. I didn’t think too much about why until years later when I made my … Continue reading

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Summertime…

Summertime…..     An’ the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ An’ the cotton is high Oh yo’ daddy’s rich, And yo mamma’s goodlookin’, So hush little baby, Don’ you cry One of these mornins’ You’re goin’ to rise up … Continue reading

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Island Boy by Chip Burson

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FACING FREEDOM by Deborah Fagan Carpenter

Most of them were born in captivity, some third or fourth generation slaves — possessions of other human beings. Servitude was all they knew. Their skills were limited to what they had acquired while working on the farms or plantations … Continue reading

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Did She Really Say that? Collected and edited by Gary Wright

  The common good is often uncommonly bad In every section of the country, colloquialisms are born and then passed on through the generations. The South has produced an abundance of them. Many are more prevalent in rural areas, some … Continue reading

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WE ARE TODAY’S SOUTH by Deborah Fagan Carpenter

  As we celebrate our second year anniversary at PorchScene, we want to thank our loyal readers for continuing to support us as we’ve found our footing. We also want to thank the many contributors who have shared their unique … Continue reading

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Spring 2015

  The two Phlox photos were taken by Butch Boehm at Eads Pottery in Eads, Tennessee All other images were taken by Wolfgang Marquardt of Gardens Oy Vey in Arlington, Tennessee (See our 2013 post: Oy Vey! Paradise in a … Continue reading

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MY MAGIC YEAR by Sam Lawrence

  My Dad, Tom Lawrence, took me to my first Mississippi State football game in 1968. I was four years old, and I don’t remember much about it—only that State lost. Today, I know it was our season opener against … Continue reading

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