We're here in Leland MS at the Blues Festival!

September 29th...Leland MS...We left Cornersville  on the 27th and made it as far as Tupelo on the that day..great night at the Super8 in Tupelo and then got up the next morning headed across the way and ate at the truck stop for breakfast...hardest thing about that was they had fried bologna as a meat with breakfast..I didn't do it though because I wanted to be good. Had a veggie omelet and grits which was delicious..Ken had a bacon omelette and thought it was yummy!

We made it to Leland MS at around 1330 after a beautiful drive through the cotton fields of MS...We really enjoyed that!  

Checked into America's best Value in Greenville, MS..very dated, pool yukky, but bed is a king and very comfy and in a safe area..probably wouldn't stay here again..but it works..

Al and Irene texted and they were here so we ran out and got our hugs and saw their new car.  It's been over a year since we saw them but feels like yesterday.  We had a few drinks in the room and thought well, no driving, let's go across the street to Shoneys...bad idea.  I swear I think every Shoneys sucks..food not bad but service is ridiculous!!! 

Got up this am and met for the continental breakfast in the motel..that was not impressive either. Anyway had enough to get us started and headed out with a little drive over to Arkansas just because..then some gas and a drive through Leland.  Today was the Kermit the Frog celebration in Leland along with our Blues Festival. We walked the Kermit event and then headed over to the Blues event. We saw the blues murals and then went to the Blues Museum! Loved it! While we were there, blues player Pat Thomas showed up, saw us and ran outside and got his guitar! He played songs, gave us dominoes (autographed) and then each of us got an autographed picture!  The museum has a section dedicated to him and his dad! So cool!! 

Music was incredible!!! There were 2 acts that stood out above all the others. 
L.C. Lumer..he was this little old man with his band.  He played guitar, he had a woman with him, Mississippi Millie McLaine. They were incredible!! She played an instrument that looked like a silver necktie that she played with metal things on her fingers...she danced..and they got the whole place rocking!! Ken talked to her later, thinking she was part of the band and this was the first time that they had played together..."It's a Delta thing"...she told him..they looked like they had been playing together forever!! Incredible!! 

Later a young woman named Eden Brent played outside and she was just incredible!! I don't even have words for her because she was sooooo good!! It was raining but we didn't care, Al and Irene had an umbrella so we went out and bopped to her music!!! She had us soo wrapped up in what she was doing! Gosh can that girl play the keyboard!!! And she is from Greenville!  

Leland MS home of Kermit the Frog!

Leland MS home of the blues!!

Leland MS Blues mural..

One of the first instruments kids played back in the day!

Pat Thomas..blues...he saw us in the museum and ran out and got his guitar!

                                                                              Incredible!

Ken and Al picking cotton!

Pat Thomas opening act for the Blues Festival!

Me and Jimmy"Duck" Holmes...he was great and just too cute!!

L.C. Ulmer and Miss Mississippi Millie!! This was something to see!!

Eden Brent, she was incredible!! Singing and the keyboard! Wow!!!

Al, Irene and Ken under the umbrella watching Eden!

Playing the guitar behind his back, L.C. Ulmer

Al, Irene and Ken enjoying the music!

We are already making plans to come back next year and extend a few days as there are other events going on in the area. 

Came back to our room and talked awhile, and we are heading for Gulfport MS tomorrow...such an incredible time we are having, and are so glad to be spending it with Al and Irene!!!