Surreal Blessings

I'm often overwhelmed with the blessing that I get to live in a place like this.

Boudin is a way of life.

I had heard of boudin (boo-dan) before moving here, but I didn't really have an understanding of what it was OR who ever thought to eat it. Folks like it here. I have to be honest (keepin' it real) and tell you that I haven't actually tasted the stuff myself, BUT I have had conversations about the ways to eat boudin. Depending on the casing, you can just munch right into the stuff, tear off a bite and eat it. You can also tear off an end and sort of squeeze it up the casing and into your mouth by the biteful. (I'm sort of imagining those frozen icee pop things kids love to eat outside in the summer.) At some point, I will take the brave step and eat some boudin. Oh, first I have to learn how to buy it...by the link? the pound? the foot? the "serving"? I'm sure someone here can tell me.

Now, the whole idea of a LIFE-SIZE picture of boudin doesn't particularly interest me, but I suppose it must make some folks begin to drool when they drive past this little boudin shack....otherwise the picture wouldn't be there, right??

(Note the size of the front door compared to the sign!)

Need Some Culture?

Coming and Going

On my morning walk with the dog, I came across these two runners.

Yes, they happen to belong to me! I just figure~ not everything in this blog has to be of cajun culture or tradition or even Louisiana-different. It's just stuff 'out my back door'!

The pictures make me think 2 things~

1. What a proud Mom/Wife I am!

2. Homeschool PE is fantastic!

Creeping, Crawling Things

I know...this entire blog can't be about insects. Or can it?
Louisiana has some BIG, different, scary bugs.

Today I went outside to sit on the bench and pet the dog while finishing up a conversation on the phone. Eventually this little creature crawled up next to me. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

I just knew our good, faithful protector dog would step in and save me from the horrible creature. He didn't.

If anyone can identify that caterpillar, I'd sure like to know what it is!

Easy Directions

If you ever come to Louisiana, you'll know just how to find our house. Just turn here~

We were thinking folks might have put that sign there, so we would remember directions to our house when we first moved. It's actually come in quite handy to just tell folks "turn at the Turning Point!" A bit redundant?!?

The Slaughterhouse

We passed this place on our first tour of the town~ nearly a year ago. I remember thinking...that is the funniest thing ever. I never lived by a real slaughterhouse before. Then we had some pork steaks from this same slaughterhouse, and we were hooked! Evidently on Saturday mornings there's a line of folks buying up boudin for breakfast and meat to bbq later in the day. I haven't actually made it there myself on a Saturday morning (or any other time). I think I might need someone familiar with how it all works to show me the ropes the first time or two. The best thing about the Superette Slaughter House is hearing the folks talk about it~ with the cajun accent. I love that!

Oh, and is that a really short cow? Or a pig with a big cow-like body? Or a mutant cow-pig animal that grows here in Louisiana?

Parlez-Vous Francais?

Seems natural for my kids to be learning French as their foreign language here.

Pride and Joy (Sometimes)

This...

is a big deal around here.

Crawfish Trap #1

I'm not sure how many crawfish traps exist in this Louisiana parish, but I know that I could take a picture of each one for this blog and it would go on for YEARS and YEARS.

This picture is for those who haven't ever seen a crawfish trap set up in the crawfish pond. I hadn't ever seen this site until our first visit to the area. I think it's fascinating to see ponds of water with these contraptions sticking out.

Oh yeah~ this is 2 blocks from my house. Never imagined I'd live so close to crawfish....

Car Sales

This picture isn't taken directly from my town, but in greater Acadiana. Seems the best way to sell a car around here is to advertise with a giant, blow-up crawfish. Now, those of you that aren't crawfish savvy may have thought it was a giant lobster, or an odd looking shrimp. Nope, this is a crawfish. I promise there will be more crawfish pictures to come. It's a way of life around here. We don't need giant blow-up gorillas or snowmen. It's all about the crawfish.

Sorry the picture is blurry, it was taken while driving with the camera phone. I think you still get the idea.

A Plague Upon Your House

Seems that between March and November these little green frogs show up everywhere, every night. They are on the front porch, on the back porch, on the carport, and on the doors and windows. Folks around here say that everytime they jump and land~ they pee where they land. So when they jump and land on your arm or your head or your shoulder, you are gifted with a little bit of froggy pee. Welcome to Louisiana!

The Inspiration

This weed started it all. I had thought about a blog, but when I happened upon this weed (and so many more like it around our neighborhood and town) I knew that I wanted to begin a photo blog.

I've never seen this weed before in my life. I've never seen a weed grow this tall in my life. The trunk (yes, it has a trunk) is thick, and the entire plant is as high as my waist.

Something new and different!