Oxford, Mississippi

Posted by Melissa
We were so happy to arrive in Oxford and get a chance to visit with our friends Linda and Don. They moved to Oxford,MS from Auburn,CA almost a year ago. After they returned from a two year cross country trip that included several months of volunteer work in Biloxi to repair Katrina damage, they decided to make a major change in their life. They came to love The South, the wonderful people there, and the slower pace of life. They even like the HEAT!

I think Thane and I are more suited for the colder climes of the Pacific Northwest. We did however love the green green green. Everywhere you look it is green - the wonderful forests, mowed grass clear up to the edge of the road- plus lakes, rivers, ponds. Seems like heat and humidity is the best way to grow just about anything.

Typical street in the area.

Tidbits about Oxford:

• Oxford has a great downtown with an old courthouse in the middle square. It is surrounded by a flourishing downtown district with upscale shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Square Books, a local bookstore, is ranked among the best independent bookstores in the country.
• Oxford has been named by USA Today as one of the top six college towns in the nation and it is included in The Best 100 Small Towns in America.
• Bob Dylan wrote a song called "Oxford Town," which was about events surrounding the admission of James Meredith into the University of Mississippi in 1961.
• William Faulkner and John Grisham are both from Oxford.
  

It is so great seeing a town with a local guide. Linda drove us all around Oxford, where we saw beautiful churches,

houses,

and Ole Miss.

Of course, they knew great places to eat. We headed out to a little crossroads outside of town to Taylors Grocery & Restaurant. This is a popular little hideaway. If you don't get here before about 6:00 the wait is an hour or more!

Here we are, adding to the ambiance of the place!

Linda and Mum ...........................Thane modeling his cool new hat,

Don and his new blond friend (look up)

This place is known for its catfish so of course that was the order of the day. Most of us had the standard fried catfish and Thane had the blackened catfish. We all enjoyed the peach cobbler for dessert. It was all absolutely delicious. (note to self - cannot eat like this everyday!!)










We also met several of Linda and Don's new friends including Kate who has recently opened her shop, Purple Haze. Kate is one of the reasons that Linda and Don chose Oxford. They met in Kitty Hawk where Kate and her daughter were vacationing. Kate and Don were both enrolled in a hang gliding class. They all became good friends (which is really easy with Linda and Don).
We had a great time catching up with good friends and getting to know a new town. Thank you so much for your hospitality and friendship Miss Linda, Mister Don, and Jackson Mississippi (he is the little furry guy).