It’s often referred to as a working vacation.

Taking a brief respite from the sports journalism business, thisscribe found more things to do at home than hours would permit. Thehoney-do list had reached six feet before I quit measuring.

Yes, take it one chore at a time. I often have wished there werethree of me to go around. The first me would work every day andbring home the bacon or better yet, low carb ham. The second mewould deal with all the home work. The third me would be reservedfor rest and relaxation and having a good time.

Certainly, my golf game needs many hours of work. Laurie usesour riding mower and has a passion for keeping the lawn and flowerbeds well manicured. My job is to keep the blades sharpened and themower filled with gas and oil. I also haul manure, top soil andfertilizer.

My priority is running the weedeater. Folks, if you don’t weargoggles, you better put them on. It sure beats losing an eye whenone of those projectiles stirred up by that spinning cord hurtlestoward your face with frightening speed.

Sun bother you?

Apply sunscreen to all exposed areas of your body and for goshsake, wear a wide-brimmed hat. You’ll never regret it. Too manyfolks have developed skin cancer by prolonged exposure to thesun.

Beware of dehydration.

Drink plenty of water. Hydrate to you pop or…….

Watch out for the fire ants!

You can spend a small fortune on a variety of ant poisons. Itseems like fire ants just multiply and build another mound when youapply the stinky stuff.

A candidate for the state legislature could win an election byvowing to “Get rid of those fire ants.” The late Ellis Bodron ofVicksburg achieved election but he still couldn’t rid the MagnoliaState of fire ants.

Rain makes the garden grow

The Good Lord has blessed us with another beautiful garden. Thebutter bean vines have reached the top of the poles and thetomatoes are looking pretty good, despite all the rain. The okraand cucumbers are green and blooming, too. The blueberry bushes andfig trees are loaded again, just a few weeks away from being ripeenough to pick.

While we enjoy the great outdoors, insects like ticks, chiggers,mosquitoes, wasps and bees are competing for air time, too. Deerflies, those delta-winged devils, are my worst enemy. Bycomparison, horse flies bite in slow motion. Deer flies attack ingroups, often distracting the victim while the others go for thekill.

My yellow lab, Benton, is hotly pursued by deer and horse fliesin the late afternoons when we head for the woods on our HondaATV.

All-Star baseball games rehashed

Taking a dip in Hurricane Creek or our pond is his only relieffrom the blood-thirsty varmints.

Obviously, caps and long-sleeve cotton shirts are goodprotection. Insect repellent, with a high concentration of deet,also works effectively, at least most of the time.

The Crossroads Diamond Club did another fine job hosting theHigh School All-Star Baseball Games. In case you missed it, theNorth won the Class 4A-5A game 9-2 while the South took the Class1A-2A-3A game 7-4. Attendance for the two games was a mere 750.

Brookhaven’s Randy Spring, South co-coach in the Class 4A-5Agame was impressed by the North’s pitching. The Yanks used fivepitchers and they only allowed four hits while striking out 10 inthe 9-inning game.

Brookhaven’s Xavier Qualls started in right field for the South.He went hitless in 2 plate appearances.

Louisville’s Brandon Dotson was North MVP, going 2-for-2 with 4RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Vicksburg southpaw James Jackson struckout 7 batters in 3 1/3 innings and was earned South MVP honors.

In the Class 1A-2A-3A game, Loyd Star catcher Matthew Delaughterstarted behind the plate and got a single in the first inning.Greene County catcher Tommy Lott smashed a 3-run double and earnedthe Randy Makamson Award which is given to the most inspirationalplayer on and off the field. Lott was slowed by an injury but waswilling to play anywhere South co-coach Eddie Lofton of Seminaryneeded him.

Greene County teammate and pitcher Anthony Kimble was thewinning pitcher in three innings of work and chosen DefensivePlayer of the game. Kimble is the son of former BHS boys basketballcoach Dale Kimble.

Derrek Norris of Seminary earned Offensive Player honors, going2-for-3. North Forrest’s Ben Wade was named South MVP, throwing 3innings of relief. North MVP honors went to St. Andrew’s pitcherWilliam Craig.

Besides Qualls and Delaughter, Co-Lin baseball coach Keith Casehad two other signees playing in the games. Te Riley of Cathedralpitched well and Magee’s Josh Logan started in center field andstole 4 bases.