Attorney General Lynn Fitch today warned Mississippians to be aware of unsolicited “missed delivery” notification scams as they increase this holiday season. “Sadly, the holiday season is a prime-time opportunity for scammers,” said General Fitch. “Knowing consumers are eagerly anticipating the arrival of packages before the holiday, bad actors send unsolicited texts and emails urging you to click on a link to locate a missed or delayed delivery. Beware: this is likely a scam and you should not click on these links or provide any personal or financial information. One bad click could lead to malware, fraud and identity theft. Familiarize yourself with these common tactics to avoid these scams.” Delivery scams start with a text message or an email about delivering a package to your address. These messages often include a "tracking link" that you are urged to click in order to update your delivery or payment preferences. You might also get a voicemail message with a call-back number, or a "missed delivery" tag on your door with a number to call. How to spot and avoid fraudulent notifications: Unexpected requests for money in return for delivery of a package, often with a sense of urgency. Requests for personal and/or financial information. Links to misspelled or slightly altered website addresses, such as "fedx.com" or "fed-ex.com" Spelling and grammatical errors or excessive use of capitalization and exclamation points. Certificate errors or lack of online security protocols for sensitive activities. If you receive suspicious emails or texts, do not click on the link. Go to the delivery carrier's website directly or use the retailer's tracking tools to verify the sender's identity and avoid these scams. The U.S. Postal Service has warned against any "unsolicited mobile text messages indicating that a USPS delivery is awaiting your action" and link to a non-Postal Service website. In addition, both FedEx and UPS have reminded customers that they do not seek payment or personal information through unsolicited texts and email. To report fraud, scams, or deceptive business practices, contact the Attorney General’s Office at consumer@ago.ms.gov or click here to complete an online complaint form. These tips are part of a series on consumer education General Fitch has shared through social media, including tips to avoid seasonal job scams and tips to recognize charitable giving scams. ​

The Town of Bolton will host its annual Christmas parade on Saturday, December 9, 2023. The parade will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. This year's theme iş: “Christmas on Madison Street." The Grand Marshall will be James Anderson, Fine Arts Director at St. Mary's Episcopal Church. We are encouraging all our local elected officials, business owners, churches, local schools, civic and social organizations to participate. The entry fee for the parade is $10. The Christmas Committee is waiving the entry fee for area bands participating in the parade. ​

United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $299,868 grant through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Program to Mississippi Association of Cooperatives (MAC). The project seeks to provide outreach to MAC farmers and coordinate the services of university extensions, Federal Drug Administration, consultants, and youth to provide classroom training in local communities that have not been addressed; develop a marketing plan for fruit and vegetable farmers involved with MAC; provide technical assistance to farmers on the process of becoming certified and assist farmers with the costs of certification; and develop a peer training program to reduce the need for external trainers and keep expertise in the community.

In celebration of the upcoming winter holidays, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum will host the annual Homestead for the Holidays event on Thursday, December 7, and Friday, December 8, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Admission is $8 per person for ages 3 and up. Enjoy breakfast for supper, story time with Mrs. Claus and get your picture made with Santa and Rudolph. Take a stroll through Small Town to see various agricultural demonstrations and visit the Fortenberry-Parkman Farmstead to experience Christmas during the early 1920s. The carousel, train rides and hayrides will be available, as well as live music throughout the grounds. Visitors will have the opportunity to write letters to Santa on limited-edition postcards, printed in the Small-Town Print Shop, and browse the General Store for an old-fashioned glass bottle drink and unique Mississippi-made products that make great gifts and stocking stuffers. Homestead for the Holidays is sponsored in part by the Mississippi Egg Marketing Board, the Mississippi Beef Council, Cal-Maine Foods Inc., Mississippi Poultry Association and The Dairy Alliance. The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, located at 1150 Lakeland Drive in Jackson, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information about the Museum, call 601-432-4500 or 1-800-844-8687, visit www.msagmuseum.org or visit the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Facebook. The Ag Museum is a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

By Bob Garver Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” did rather well for itself over Thanksgiving weekend, opening in the #2 position at the domestic box office behind the second weekend of the new “Hunger Games.” A debut at #2 behind a not-particularly-beloved returning champion may not sound impressive, but my prediction was that it wouldn’t even finish in the top three. The film is a three-hour, R-rated historical epic that isn’t getting great reviews or generating much Oscars buzz outside of the technical categories. I thought for sure its performance would pale in comparison to family-friendly fare like “Wish” or “Trolls Band Together.” Yet the film pulled what I would consider a major upset over those seemingly surefire hits. Something tells me that Napoleon himself would have a hard time hiding a smirk over how badly I underestimated his biopic. The movie follows Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) from his days as a gunnery officer watching the execution of Marie Antoinette to his rise in the military to General to his participation in a coup that sees him become Emperor of France to his eventual downfall, exile, and worst of all, defeat. We never see him as a child or any version of him that can’t plausibly be played by Joaquin Phoenix. Again, if the real Napoleon was anything like the way Phoenix plays him, I bet he’d agree with that decision – skip the humble beginnings and start from one of the most important events in history and go from there. As with most biopics, half the movie is a love story. He woos a widow named Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), who does not initially believe he is who he says he is. I suppose he’s attracted to the challenge. The two have a rocky relationship fraught with obstacles, such as long stretches apart, infertility, affairs on both their parts, and his megalomaniacal nutjob personality. The real Napoleon might begrudgingly concede some wrongdoing in the relationship, though I’m sure he would vehemently object to his portrayal in the couple’s intimacy scenes. Right or wrong, it’s the sort of thing one invariably denies. Director Scott wants the audience to care about the relationship, and especially Josephine as a character. As with “The Last Duel,” the film chides history buffs that ignore the female perspective. But people aren’t coming to this movie for the relationship, they’re coming for the battle scenes, and there are plenty of them. There’s no shortage of shootings and skewerings, but it’s the cannons that do the most damage, especially when the venue is a frozen lake and the cannons can shatter the entire battlefield. And the less said about what a cannonball does to a horse in one scene, the better. The real Napoleon would probably nitpick some details, but overall approve of the grand scale of these scenes. There are so many battle scenes in “Napoleon” that I was actually tired of them by the movie’s end. I found myself nodding off during the Battle of Waterloo, and then I had no problem making it through a scene of Napoleon eating breakfast the next morning. The relationship stuff drags too, and the film keeps introducing new characters and can’t make any of them interesting or memorable to save its life. It can’t even make Napoleon himself that interesting, though Phoenix plays the character with some endearingly insecure touches. Basically, there’s too much of too much here. The real Napoleon would probably approve of all the excess, though even he might think the movie wastes an excessive amount of time. Grade: C- “Napoleon” is rated R for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and brief language. Its running time is 158 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

By Mika Hartman During this Christmas season, we all get overwhelmed with all the “things to do” to have the most “perfect” Christmas. “Perfect" is subjective, isn’t it? My perfect is likely both similar and different to yours. One of the biggest differences is that my little guy won’t be sharing his biggest desires for the holidays. Nonverbal is tricky; not wrong or bad, just tricky. Guessing what he needs or what might be wrong is an art. You start with the basics and you overthink everything all day long. It’s not that this is hard, you just desire to bring the needs of your child in the fastest way possible to them; sometimes that feels unachievable and sometimes its like a hole in one. However, even with the unachievable, you never stop trying. There will even be times that you’ll never know what was wrong and you’ll never have fixed it. Seeking peace over the known and unknown is a constant prayer of mine. This is why the perfect Christmas is a big desire for families like mine. We spend every day hoping we have it right. While we have some communication, it’s all what we program for Hudson to be available to him. All communication is good and I am prayerful that is just the start of more doors opening. Just think about needing a simple hug after a rough day, you ask. I bet you get it, too. I hug Hudson all the time because he can’t ask… and honestly, these hugs are just as much for me. Because I can’t buy every toy on the shelf, I really rely heavily on Hudson’s team of therapists. They guide me on toys they have at the centers that we don’t have at home. If you have met Hudson, you know his iPad is his true “blanket of comfort”. I want him to enjoy more than a screen and for him to have motivation outside of electronics. It’s a struggle. He loves his movies; so much so, that three iPads have taken baths with him. True story. So one great Christmas present idea is iPad insurance! Hudson smiles and laughs more than anyone I know. This is the best communication and completely universal. I know he is happy, I know he feels loved. Hudson makes every day feel like Christmas. Even before Hudson was born, I sang “Silent Night” as a normal part of my mommy-singing playlist. It was right in there with “Rock-a-bye Baby” and “You are my Sunshine”. It always felt right for me to sing this. As I reflected on the words, it’s always been important that my children have these lyrics known by heart. Silent Night, Holy Night All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace Silent night, holy night Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing alleluia Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born Silent night, holy night Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus Lord, at Thy birth Jesus Lord, at Thy birth This song has been sung a thousand times on my lips. And with my two older children, the sweetest memories of cuddles and rocking and kisses fill my head and my heart. But, when Hudson was born, the lyrics had a new take for me. I love all my children equally, but singing this song to Hudson in the NICU made the words even more needed. The whole song. Especially words “love’s pure light”, “Thy holy face”. When we remember whose children we are, we ALL are, we can sing with the Heavenly hosts, “Alleluia”. Hudson was my tender and mild infant that had to fight to live. God made him. God knew he would have an extra chromosome long before I did. God makes no mistakes. Mary did you know? Mary got to kiss the face of God. Wow. Beautiful. Perfect. And that is how I felt kissing Hudson.. my gift with radiant beams, from God. Hudson was born with medical challenges, with intellectual challenges and with both seen and unseen challenges… and he loves life. Our children who were born with disabilities aren’t affected by the challenges they face in a negative way. Why does the world seem so clueless to the beautiful within my child? Hudson was born with a great responsibility to be bigger and stronger than his disabilities. He is better and kinder in the life he was given than many who will never face most of what he faces. To be loud and bold isn’t an option, but rather a must. He has to be heard; nonverbal is not unable to communicate. You have to take time to see what he is saying. It’s a joyful sound, music to your ears, when you hear him. While I desperately pray for nights of conversations and lists a mile long of Christmas wishes, I am so very grateful for my silent nights. Hudson is here, he’s alive. He has dreams and hopes and I get the privilege of watching him work hard to get where he can communicate this to the world… however he can. With the dawn of redeeming grace, our EXTRA silent nights are perfect.

Here’s what happens so often. A person becomes an adult, marries, has children, grows ill or old, and dies. Then the family of the deceased comes together to grieve, and to then plan the funeral. The flower shop gets notified to send flowers, and they all attend the service where the bouquets are usually on display. Afterwards, they often follow the casket to the burial site and watch attentively as the flowers they ordered are placed on the grave. Then the family slowly and mournfully walks away, to grieve and attempt to somehow get on with their lives again. Putting the pieces back together somehow, so they can begin living day to day. But without the one they lost. A life over, body buried, love expressed by the beautiful bouquets of flowers that were laid on the fresh grave. This is a repeated heart-wrenching scenario in this country when we lose a loved one. Flowers ordered and placed on the grave. And honestly, because it has happened with such regular frequency throughout time, it is accepted as the normal way to honor those we lose to death. But I would love to see a different scenario. One that isn’t dependent just upon flowers placed on a lonely grave to express our love and grief for the person we lost. We need to acknowledge something…our loved one who died can’t see those flowers! They are incapable of inhaling the gorgeous scent, nor are they able to feel the heartbreaking sadness in our spirit as we gaze down at the flowers placed on their grave. They have no way of looking into our eyes and seeing the love that those flowers represent. It is too late to tell them, to hug them, to express our love and appreciation for what they have meant to us. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Don’t wait and send beautiful flowers to be placed on the grave. Send the flowers now, while they can still see the vibrant colors, while they can bury their nose in them to catch the fragrance. Go to their side and whisper ‘I love you so much,” while they are still living and can smile into your eyes, hug you tightly and say, “I love you too.” We are missing out on a chance to possibly mend a splintered relationship, or express our deep tender feelings, or to show our appreciation for a life that intersected with ours - by waiting to simply send flowers that get placed on a silent grave. I’m not saying to quit sending flowers to honor the loss of someone you loved and respected - not at all. But I am saying this. Give verbal flowers and warm hugs now, while that individual is still breathing, alert and alive. While they can hear and feel your love surrounding them. We are missing out on so much, by just sending flowers to be placed on a grave.kkprco@yahoo.com.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Child Nutrition is seeking sponsors to operate the 2024 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in counties across the state of Mississippi. The federally funded program provides nutritious meals to children during school vacation periods, though the program operates from June through August in most areas of Mississippi. Meals and snacks are served to children in places such as schools, churches, playgrounds, libraries and parks. Public or private nonprofit schools; units of local, municipal, county or state government; residential summer camps; and public or private nonprofit organizations may qualify as sponsors of the program. To be eligible, potential sponsors must: Be currently licensed through the State Department of Health Possess a current food permit Show you are financially and administratively capable of operating the program Provide continuing services to the community Serve meals on a regular schedule to children or provide meals as part of an organized program for enrolled children at camps New and returning sponsors are encouraged to attend a virtual training session set for Thursday, Jan. 11. For additional training information, contact SFSP Outreach Coordinator April D. Catchings at acatchings@mdek12.org or call (601) 576-5000. More information about the SFSP may be accessed through the USDA website at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Full nondiscrimination statement: https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights/usda-nondiscrimination-statement-other-fns-programs. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

By Kara Kimbrough It’s time for my annual “Please stop sending all your hard-earned money to large out-of-state conglomerates with no interest in Mississippi” plea. On a more positive note, I'm also asking you to at least consider baking some of your Christmas gifts. But first, the shopping dilemma. I don’t consider shopping at large supermarket and specialty chains located throughout our state a bad thing. They employ local residents, pay local and state taxes, support local causes and keep the economy strong. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: If we stop shopping with our local stores, we’ll be reduced to a nation of 18-wheelers (try traveling on crowded highways now for a preview) and empty cardboard box landfills. Last, for no other reason, shopping locally can be fun, invigorating (it’s free therapy!) and you actually get to see and touch firsthand the items you’re buying. With that out of the way, I’d also like to encourage everyone with a working oven to at least consider making homemade Christmas treats for friends, family, teachers, co-workers and bosses and others who deserve a pat on the back during the spirit of giving. Nothing says you care more than a bag filled with Christmas tins containing a few sweet treats you made yourself. This Christmas, I’m feeling nostalgic for a bygone era, so I began searching for tried-and-true Christmas treats that have withstood the test of time. Here are four of my favorites; I’ll share more as we get closer to Christmas. Last, don’t forget…do your part to keep your community viable and healthy...shop local! Rocky Road Fudge 12 ounces chocolate chips 1 cup butter 4 cups sugar 1-1/2 cups evaporated milk (not sweetened condensed milk) 1 teaspoon vanilla 20 large marshmallows, left whole 2 cups chopped nuts 10-15 large marshmallows cut into pieces (then freeze them) In large bowl, cut the chocolate chips into the butter. Set aside. Next, combine the sugar, milk and the 20 marshmallows to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour this mixture over the chocolate chips and butter mixture. Stir until thick. Add the nuts and the vanilla and the frozen marshmallows. Pour into buttered 9-inch by 13-inch pan. Chill until firm. Cut into squares. Candied Pecans ½ cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup light brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 large egg white 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 pound pecan halves (about 4 cups) Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugars, cinnamon and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla extract until very foamy, about 1 minute. Add the pecans and stir until well coated. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the pecans and toss until fully coated. Spread pecans into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Stir and spread out evenly again. Bake for another 20 minutes or until the nuts are very fragrant and are starting to darken in color. Let the pecans fully cool in the pan on a wire rack (the sugar will harden as it cools). Break into individual pieces. Store in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 2 weeks. Old-Fashioned M & M Sugar Cookies 2¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup unsalted butter, softened just to room temp ⅔ cups sugar 1 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding (dry powder) 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup white chocolate chips Shaker of red and green Christmas sprinkles or sugar Cup of red and green M&M's, divided In a large bowl, add flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together well and set aside. In bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar on medium high, until light and fluffy. Add pudding mix and beat until incorporated. Add eggs and vanilla extract, blending well. Slowly add in the flour mixture. Using rubber spatula, fold dry and wet ingredients together just until fully incorporated. Add the white chips and 1/2 cup M&Ms and mix into the dough. (If it gets too hard to mix, use clean hands) Gently work in 3 TB sprinkles, taking care not to manipulate the dough too much, which may result in the bleeding of sprinkle colors. Dough will be a bit sticky. Cover tightly and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Form 1 inch balls of dough and lightly press down on dough balls to form 1/2 inch rounds. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Sprinkle on more of the colored sprinkles on top (or lightly roll cookie tops in a bowl of sprinkles.) Press on the remaining 1/2 cup of M&M's on top of each dough round. Bake about 8 minutes or just until edges look golden brown. Cookies may seem slightly underdone, but they will firm up upon cooling. Don't over bake. Cool on baking sheet about 10 minutes, and remove to wire rack to finish cooling. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

By Bob Garver I’ve been referring to this movie as “Hunger Game of Thrones.” It’s a prequel to “The Hunger Games,” but the influence of a certain HBO fantasy series is pretty apparent with the casting of Peter Dinklage and the “Song of Ice and Fire”-like subheading. I’ve seen it as little more than an attempt to combine two franchises that were wildly popular in their 2010’s heyday, but audiences have since left behind, frankly with a bad taste in their mouths after underwhelming finales. Watching the whole movie as opposed to gleaming the advertising does make it feel like less of an ill-advised cash grab, but still not great. We follow young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), the son of a former President of Panem (formerly North America), as he struggles to restore his family’s name in a government that has barely rebuilt itself after the rebellion that killed his father. The rebellion ultimately failed, and every year each of the twelve remaining “Districts” have to send two child “Tributes” to the “Hunger Games” where they’ll battle to the “Death.” Sorry, I used quotes on that last one out of habit, they’ll battle to the death. The good news is that Snow lives in the Capitol, which doesn’t have the problems of the Districts, and he has the highest grades in his class, so he’s looking at a promising career. The bad news is that he and his remaining family are on the verge of financial ruin, and the school’s dean Casca Highbottom (Dinklage) has declared that lucrative grants are no longer given just for good grades. The only way to get a grant now is to mentor a Tribute into becoming the biggest spectacle of the Hunger Games – not necessarily the winner, but the biggest generator of public interest. Snow is randomly (or perhaps not – Highbottom hates him) assigned Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) from District 12, the district with the lowest chance of winning. There’s no way she’ll last long in the Games, so Snow has to focus on making her popular in the media while she’s still alive. Lucy Gray has a nice singing voice, maybe Snow can exploit that. The Hunger Games have been going on for ten years at this point, yet somehow Snow’s idea of turning the Tributes into likeable characters is considered revolutionary, so much that it impresses Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis), the Games’ sadistic overseer. She has a nasty surprise in store for the Tributes this year. It’s there in the movie’s title, and it’s not a ballad. Snow strives to make Panem fall in love with Lucy Gray, and in the process he falls in love with her. The film is divided into three chapters: Snow preparing Lucy Gray for The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games themselves, and… the events following The Hunger Games. I won’t get into spoilers, except to say that the third act is lengthy. I expected the movie to wrap up maybe ten minutes after the Hunger Games, which are its selling point, but it kept going. I suppose I should be grateful that this “Hunger Games” movie even contains the actual Hunger Games – both the third and fourth movies went without them – but the movie plods along afterward for an unnecessarily long time, especially considering that we know certain things will and won’t happen. The prequel aspect takes a lot of the suspense out of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” We know Snow will be alive 64 years in the future, and he’ll be President, so things will work out there. We can be less optimistic about the fates of his cousin Tigris (Hunter Schafer), his District-sympathizing friend Sejanus (Josh Andres Rivera), or Lucy Gray. Some of the action scenes work, some of the scenery-chewing from pros like Dinklage and Davis and Jason Schwartzman as the Games’ host is enjoyable, but mostly this movie is the unwelcome slog that I expected. Grade: C- “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is rated PG-13 for strong violent content and disturbing material. Its running time is 157 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.

Seems like I am noticing a trend – and not a healthy one. As a whole, our nation is losing the ability to pronounce some words. In fact, people seem to have forgotten some words exist in the English language. Phrases like, “Thank you,” “Thanks so much,” “I appreciate that,” seem to have slid into a dark hole somewhere and vanished. And if you do hear those magic words spoken, it is more of an auto-reply rather than a sincere response. Today people seem to feel so entitled to services and products that there is very little appreciation shown to the worker who delivers it. Or maybe, folks have gotten so trapped by their personal worries, fear and woes that they don’t even realize they are not really connecting with others anymore. After all, when your most of your focus is all about you, it can be difficult to remember to look into the eyes of another and genuinely care about their feelings. Either way, it means we are seeing our United States citizens evolve into people who are acting like they are the only ones living and breathing. Think about it. When was the last time you sat down with someone who was a positive part of your childhood and thanked them? And when was the last time you really noticed the depressed-acting young teller at your bank, or the older lady who slowly and painfully works her job at WalMart? Has anyone ever heard a sincere word of appreciation come from your lips? Or is your attitude more “Hey, that’s their job, deal with it. After all, I have to.” Yes, absolutely, it is an employee’s job, and they certainly should earn their pay by doing good work. But here is my point: Everyone needs and thrives on being appreciated. All of us need to know that we are seen and that what we do matters to someone. (Yes, if you’re being honest, you would agree that includes you.) Gratitude is very important in a healthy society. Whether it is expressing thankfulness to your pouting teenager who obeyed your request that their bedroom be vacuumed and fumigated, your local car mechanic getting your car back to you by closing time, or the waitress who isn’t snarling in your face as she takes your order. We all need to play nice-nice with each other. Because when we don’t bother making that effort for the other person’s sake, then we start to become self-centered, and blind to everyone else. And that begins a downward spiral of me-centeredness, where ME and mine is all that matters. That attitude is viral and infectious, eventually descending into a broken society. And that is the beginning of the end. This can also refer to the world’s end of time, where the Bible says in II Timothy 3:2, “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.” Gratitude is important.

By Kara Kimbrough For the first time in six months, give or take a few pleasant days, it’s finally cool enough to venture outdoors and enjoy the best of Mississippi’s wide open spaces, natural beauty and colorful fall foliage. There’s no way I can narrow down each and every category into a “best of” list. I’ll just say, here are a “few” of the best places and pastimes to enjoy fun fall activities before winter’s chilly weather arrives. Feel free to email me your top pics in each of these areas and I’ll include them in future columns. 1. Enjoy an Outdoor Picnic – From Oxford’s Rowan Oak to scenic state parks in almost every county to beachfront spots on the Gulf Coast, picnic grounds abound. If I had to recommend just one, I’d list Natchez’ Bluff Park. Overlooking the Mighty Mississippi, the park is the best vantage point from which to take in the beauty and splendor of the river. The best time to be on the bluff is at sunset, because, weather permitting, sunsets on the river are, well, a spectacular sight. Spread a blanket in one of the spacious picnic areas or under the gazebo and bask in cool breezes and magnificent vistas near the water’s edge. 2. Go Outdoors for Leaf-Peeping and Photographing Fall Foliage –Many are surprised to learn Mississippi boasts a number of areas filled with varying shades of red, orange, yellow, brown and bronze leaves and foliage. The Natchez Trace Parkway, which begins in Natchez and winds through Ridgeland and through northeast Mississippi enroute to Nashville is, hands-down, the best road on which to travel to view fall's splendor. If you want to stop and stay awhile, Tishomingo State Park, also in the northeast part of the state, offers breathtaking scenery in a myriad of vibrant colors. 3. Hiking Season is Here – Mississippi is packed with hundreds of state parks, national forests and off-the-beaten path wooded areas highlighted by hiking trails for all ages and skill levels. One of the best (notice I said “one of”) destinations is Clark Creek Natural Area in Woodville. Three separate trails, including one leading to the majestic waterfall, are found in this southwest Mississippi oasis. 4. Sit Down to Comforting Fall Soup -I’ve often lamented the lack of good homemade soup in today’s restaurants. Luckily, there are still a few locally and family-owned eateries that serve their own versions of my favorite fall comfort food. One of the best bowls can be enjoyed at Madison’s Strawberry Café. A rotating soup of the day is always a good choice, but the best of the best is cream of crab soup. 5. Al Fresco Coffee with a View – I’m a major coffee lover, but sitting outdoors while sipping on a hot cup of java isn’t recommended for most of the year. Take advantage of cool fall days and grab a cup of coffee at Cat Island Coffee House located inside Pass Books in Pass Christian. Outdoor seating offers a breathtaking view of the Pass’s harbor and shimmering gulf waters. In addition to several coffee drinks, Cat Island serves breakfast and lunch items. Last, readers have asked for help in planning an affordable, yet enjoyable fall trip to New York City. I’ve visited the city at Christmas and in the fall and while both seasons are amazing, I preferred the latter’s milder temperatures and vibrant colors. New York City Tourism + Conventions, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for NYC’s five boroughs, shared a selection of free and affordable ($10-and-under) experiences for visitors this autumn. Here’s a small sample; email me if you'd like the complete list: Go leaf-peeping: NYC is home to more than 29,000 acres of parks and open spaces across all five boroughs where visitors can view breathtaking fall foliage. Central Park is one of the world’s most iconic parks. Spanning 843 acres, the park features open fields, woodlands, a zoo, ice-skating, ponds and more. It's one of my favorite places to visit in NYC. Walk the High Line: Built on a former elevated rail line, the High Line offers unparalleled views of Manhattan’s far west side. The park has several different gardens and green spaces along with free wellness programs and artwork. Arts & Culture: There are literally hundreds of museums in New York City, many offering year-round free (or sometimes free) admission. Two with no admission fee include the American Folk Art Museum and The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. For a complete list of all there is to do and see in New York City, including hundreds of upcoming holiday events, visit nyctourism.com. Whichever fall activity you choose, you’ll likely have less time to cook elaborate desserts. Here’s a solution: use your Crockpot to make dinner – and dessert -while you experience fall’s fleeting days. This recipe is easy to prepare, cooks quickly and due to the addition of oatmeal, is healthier than most traditional desserts, affording the opportunity to add a scoop of ice cream, guilt-free! Crockpot Apple Dessert with Oatmeal Crust 6 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced 2/3 cup old-fashioned oatmeal (not quick oats) 2/3 cup flour 2/3 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon Few grates of fresh nutmeg 1 stick of butter Add and arrange the sliced apples in the bottom of the Crockpot. Mix together the oatmeal, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cut in the butter to make crumbs using a pastry blender or your fingers. Crumble the oatmeal mixture over the apples. Place a double layer of paper towels over the top of the Crockpot to absorb any condensation, then top with the lid. Cook on low for 4 hours. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream if desired. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.