Out My Back Door

Cajun Chicken

2010-01-09T09:54:00.006-06:00

We received a stuffed chicken for Christmas. A deboned, jambalya-stuffed chicken to be precise. I thought my 2.6 readers not from around here might want to see what it's all about, and even if you don't...I needed something new to post!

As you can see, it came with some extra spice all over it. We haven't fully adjusted to cajun seasoning yet, so I did wash off a bit (most) of the red stuff I thought might set us on fire.

You place the chicken string side down (where it was cut open to debone and stuff) and bake it for 75 minutes at 350*. It sure smelled good baking!

I sliced it open and SURPRISE! There is the jambalya!

You can get stuffed chickens here at the poultry market (or is it poultry store). We have had them stuffed with crawfish, rice dressing, and with pork. They have all been very, very tasty!

By the way~ it's still FREEZING here in the south South.

Out My Back Door....It's FREEZING!

2010-01-05T08:16:00.004-06:00

Louisiana is a southern state. It is, without argument, in the south. When we describe where we live in Louisiana, we often say "south Louisiana".

Basically, we live in the south South.

So how does this happen?

I know there are people north of here that are even colder with more wind, more snow, more need for fireplaces. I'm not trying to say we are colder than they are. Just keep in mind~ this is the south South....and it's FREEZING!

(looking around....trying to find the guy that keeps talking about global warming.....)

Raising Readers

2010-01-01T16:10:00.004-06:00

Last year I posted the pictures and stats of my kids' reading for 2008. It has become a yearly tradition that our kids look forward to....how many pages (completed books) did they read in the year. These are books the kids choose to read in their free time. Not school assigned books or required reading for anything. They have until December 31st at midnight to complete their books and record them. This year my daughter's eyes lit up about October when she realized with hard work and determination (and more free time than her brother) she might actually surpass his number of pages read.

His report for 2009~

12,342 pages read. Stack is 34 1/4 inches tall.
29 books total (Street Lawyer by John Grisham is not pictured).

Some of the titles included are~ Mere Christianity by CS Lewis, several Ted Dekker books, Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Louise De La Valliere and The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexander Dumas, Trivialization of God by Donald McCullough, and many others!

Her report for 2009~
13,120 pages read. Stack is 36 1/2 inches tall.
47 books total (Mighty Boy by Carol Sonenklar not pictured).

Some of the titles included are~ Several Nancy Drew books not read last year, Lily books by Nancy Rue, the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini, 17 books in the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, and many others!

I have noticed....no one is picking up any books and reading today. I think it's a well-deserved reading break!

Eunice Louisiana, Boomtown

2009-12-31T11:59:00.004-06:00

Population: 12,000
Large Fireworks Tents: 6
New Year's Eve: Sleepless

Home For The Holidays

2009-12-28T21:14:00.003-06:00

As our family traveled to New Orleans to meet up with family for Christmas Day, I looked up in the sky and saw tons of white lines streaking through the atmosphere. Often you can see one or two white streaks from airplanes in the sky, but at 10 AM on Christmas morning the sky was FULL of airplanes with people busy going, going, going.

It sort of caught my breath as I thought of all the people on all those planes with somewhere to go. Someone to meet. Someone to hug. Someone to give gifts to. Someone to sit down at the table with and eat a special meal with. Someone to visit.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and were in just the spot you wanted to be for Christmas Day!

The Church Family

2009-12-08T21:33:00.007-06:00

Last night I had the privilege to sit in the congregation while our church choir performed the annual Christmas music program. I enjoyed the music. I enjoyed the Christmas sounds. I enjoyed seeing the children particpate and be adorable. I enjoyed seeing my son sing in the choir (and be so grown up).

BUT, mostly I just looked at a group of people that are dear to my heart. God continues to knit our lives together in this place, and that is so good. I prayed for each person on the stage last night. I thanked God for the blessing of knowing them all....my church family....a gift from God.

(I apologize for the quality of the pictures. It's hard to take a decent shot with dim lighting and spot lights in the middle of the performance.)

Sneaux Again!

2009-12-06T17:14:00.003-06:00

Last year on December 1st I posted a blog about our Lousiana snow. Who could have guessed that I'd be able to post pictures of this year's Louisiana snow!?!

Sure enough, on Friday evening about 6 PM it started to snow here. The snowing lasted until about 10 PM, and the night stayed cold enough that there was snow covering the ground and roofs when we got up Saturday morning. On our way to church this morning there were still patches of snow to be seen on roofs and in shady, cool corners of yards!

This might be my favorite picture from the snow. It's our neighbor's house early in the morning as the sun was coming up. It is a rare sight to see the smoke coming from the chimney while the roof, trees, and yard are covered with a white blanket of snow.

Thanksgiving Update

2009-12-03T18:45:00.005-06:00

The holiday season has begun! The blog posts will be slow coming as we head through the month of December and into the New Year, but check back when you can. You never know when a post will be up!

Before we get too far into December, I wanted to post our Thanksgiving pictures. You may be thinking you'll see a big turkey, a gravy boat, and the canned shaped cranberry sauce...well, not this year! On Thanksgiving Thursday we (my parents joined us) loaded up in the van and headed out on an adventure to visit places in Louisiana we haven't seen before. We ended up in Pecan Island, where we found a spot on the side of the road to pull over and eat our turkey sandwiches.

I hope your Thanksgiving was an enjoyable as ours!

Goodbye Global Wildlife

2009-11-14T19:55:00.004-06:00

It's been a good week looking back at our visit to Global Wildlife. Who knew I would be able to make a WEEK's worth of blog posts out of a 1 1/2 hour trip on an animal feeding wagon!? Those of you that know me well, know I have a tendency to perseverate on something for a while, so you aren't surprised. (You also know that perseverate is one of my favorite and frequently-used words.)

Here are a pictures I have left from the visit.

Hope you have enjoyed the week here at Out My Back Door.

One of my favorite pictures from the day~

One Hump...Or Two?

2009-11-13T21:31:00.001-06:00

Long Necks, Part II

2009-11-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

Isn't this crazy!? All the animals just waiting for us to show up. In January our family made the trip to Animal Kingdom at Disney World. The safari ride there was alright, but my children declared that the trip to Global Wildlife was BETTER than Disney's safari. You KNOW it has to be good for them say that!

Long Necks, Part I

2009-11-12T08:42:00.005-06:00

I have so many great pictures (in my opinion...plus they are my favorite animal to see) of the giraffes at Global Wildlife, I've decided to separate them into 2 blog posts...one today, one tomorrow. As I said while the giraffe was standing RIGHT in front of me eating out of my cup, "It seems all is right with the world when a giant giraffe is eating out of your hand." They are magnificently odd creatures with such stature.

Check out the giraffes gathering for some food~

(I called the bison a 'buffalo' in the video. Sorry Mr. Bison.)

Long Necks, Part II coming tomorrow!

Don't Eat With Your Mouth Open...

2009-11-11T08:30:00.005-06:00

or with your tongue hanging out!

Having been to Global Wildlife once before, we knew what to expect when we got to the 'big cows'. (That is what we call them. We understand it isn't their proper name or scientific classification.) Even when you know what to expect, it's still hilarious to see the big cows come up to your cart, stretch their mouths out wide, and then stick those big tongues out. Evidently we are charmed enough by these strange antics that we fill our cups with feed and POUR it into their mouths.

Watch the pattern here...

Open mouth, stick out tongue.

Someone dumps food in the mouth.

Open mouth, stick out tongue.

Someone dumps food in the mouth.

If you don't have a very large tongue and 4 hooves, I don't think you should try this method of getting fed.

White With Black Stripes?

2009-11-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Or black with white stripes? You tell me!

We were told not to feed the zebras at Global Wildlife. Evidently they bite....hard. So we couldn't pet them or feed them by hand or by cup, but we threw the food down to the ground for them to eat 2 feet away from us. They are unreal creatures. So odd looking and fascinating.

Tomorrow....the 'big cows' are coming with their nasty, long tongues! Stay tuned.

A Louisiana Must-Do

2009-11-09T16:36:00.005-06:00

http://globalwildlife.com/

Our family enjoyed a visit to the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, Louisiana this past Saturday. The rest of this week I will post daily pictures from our animal trek. If you are in the area....it's a must-do!

Passengers ride on these long, open-windowed carts.

The animals KNOW that the passengers bring the food. You can buy a bucket full of food (enough for the 6 of us) to feed all the critters during your ride. Most of them eat out of the cups provided.

We just lean over and find just the animal to feed.

The picture below is from out the back of our carriage. We were in the last one, so the animals all followed as we went. I wonder if this is what Noah must've felt like as the animals began coming 2 by 2 to the ark...

Louisiana Lemons

2009-10-30T11:45:00.005-05:00

You know Texans say, "Everything is bigger in Texas"?

Well, they must've never seen a Louisiana lemon.

My husband was given one of these ginormous lemons and told that it can make a gallon of lemonade by itself!

I believe it.

Here is the lemon next to a store-bought, lime-shaped container.

Here is the lemon next to an average tomato and my 11 year old daughter's fist.

Wow.

The Old State Capitol

2009-10-26T10:16:00.004-05:00

On our day of adventure in Baton Rouge, we also saw the Old State Capitol. The building just doesn't look like it belongs in Louisiana...Europe maybe, but not Louisiana. Now for a bit of history...

In 1847, Baton Rouge lured Louisiana's capital away from the city of New Orleans with the donation of a plot of land high on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi. Architect James Harrison Dakin (1806-1852), a New York native with a thriving practice in New Orleans, was retained to design the new capitol building.

Dakin described the building as "Castellated Gothic" because of the cast-iron decoration of its crenellated battlements and turrets. The building's construction started in 1847 and ended in 1852, the same year as Dakin's death. The statehouse featured heavy masonry walls covered with lime mortar plaster scored to resemble stone blocks.

The statehouse served as the seat of Louisiana government until 1862 when Union troops captured Baton Rouge. Fleeing Union troops, Louisiana legislators abandoned the building in which they had voted to secede from the Union in 1861. The building was used as a Union prison and garrison until December 28, 1862 when the interior of the building was destroyed due to an accidental fire started by Union soldiers.
The ruined interior was completely reconstructed in 1882 by architect and engineer William A. Freret who installed the signature grand staircase. Since older legislators remembered the darkness from the 1850 period, Freret added the magnificent stained glass "lantern," or dome, in an effort to emit more light. A single ornate central pier was included to support the dome, the whole resembling a grand umbrella of painted glass.

On March 1, 1882, Governor McEnery and other state officials arrived in Baton Rouge to officially take possession of the newly restored statehouse and the new life of the capitol began.

In 1932, construction of the new State Capitol was completed and the Legislature officially transferred the seat of Louisiana government to the new building. The abandoned statehouse became the headquarters of the Works Progress Administration in 1936.

In 1991, after decades of neglect, a group of dedicated, concerned citizens and politicians saved the Old State Capitol from demolition and began a massive reconstruction to restore the historic building.

Information from the Louisiana Secretary of State's Official Website.

Sorry the photos are from the backside of the building as we walked to the Mississippi River. It was too rainy to take the long walk around the front. That will have to be saved for another day, another blogpost.

The Mighty Mississippi

2009-10-24T18:13:00.003-05:00

Thursday afternoon, as we were trying to outrun a pretty good storm, our family arrived in Baton Rouge a few hours earlier than we had planned. We took the opportunity to walk along the Mississippi River.

There's something about that river. I could sit and watch it for a while. Maybe that's because my parents and grandparents would take my sister and me to the Mississippi River (in New Orleans) when we were children. We would eat beignets at Cafe du Monde, and then walk over the levee and sit on the steps of the river. We sat on those steps on sunny days, rainy days, cold windy days, and hot summer days.

I remember seeing a variety of countries listed on the sides of the barges. These enormous boats come around a turn in the river carrying anything and everything, and so often the mass of the boat can't even be seen as it lies flat, just barely sticking out of the water.

I have heard stories that as a teenager/young man, my grandfather would swim across the Mississippi River. Were those stories true? Maybe someone in my family can verify that...

The River. I think it's in my blood.

The Weekend Barbeque

2009-10-18T13:20:00.004-05:00

We have been fortunate that the local Jr. High had a bbq dinner last weekend, and the Methodist church had a bbq dinner this weekend. We buy the tickets, then wait for the pick-up day and hour to arrive. It seems the cajun barbeque dinner comes with all the same basic stuff, no matter where you get it, no matter who cooks it.

Last weekend in each styrofoam box there was 1/4 chicken, rice dressing, bbq beans, and a slice of white bread. (Sorry, I forgot to get a picture!)

This weekend in each styrofoam box there was a delicious pork steak, rice dressing, bbq beans, and a slice of white bread.

See the theme here? These are cajun staples. Don't move here unless you like meat and rice. Or rice and meat. Fortunately, we like it ALL.

(I was thinking about a special 'facebook friend' in England yesterday as we ate. Sure wish I could have shared it with you so you weren't so homesick!)

When It Rains In Louisiana....

2009-10-16T12:06:00.004-05:00

you need to do some roof repair and patching.

Prairie Pictures

2009-10-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Cajun Prairie

2009-10-05T20:50:00.004-05:00

Our family was invited to a hunting camp/grounds this past week. We weren't invited to hunt, which is fine with me, but we were invited to take a ride through the Cajun prairie. The man that owns the land has been working at restoring the land back to its original prairie state before folks came in and settled/farmed/crawfished it.

(The men rode up front while the kids and I rode in the "wagon" that was pulled behind.)

Mr. Fuselier has been burning back his fields several years now because they do return fuller and stronger than before. This also keeps the prairie flowers and grasses from getting as tall as they could be if left to grow for several years. When the prairie was just getting settled, it wasn't uncommon for a man's head to barely be seen above the grasses WHILE he was sitting on his horse.

I'm not that brave. I'm sure that if my family/wagon/horses had come up to a prairie that tall, where that's all I could see for miles and miles and miles, I likely would have turned around!

(Every once in a while, Mr. Fuselier would hop out and pick some of the plants to show us. Some smelled like licorice, some like spearmint, some of the leaves were used to make shoes.)

The whole experience gave me even more respect and appreciation for the folks that first came to this area and settled here.

More pictures in the next blog post of the actual grasses and flowers that are native to the Cajun prairie.

"Crystal Tayle"

2009-10-03T13:00:00.003-05:00

...or a horse that is enjoying having the top down.

Some Homeschool Advice

2009-09-30T20:40:00.003-05:00

Well, this advice is really good for any parent of a school-aged child whether homeschooled or not....

When creating the poster map of a country which includes major landforms, natural resources, and large cities, go ahead and spend the $7 at Walmart and buy the whole coffee beans to glue on to represent the coffee resource of that country.

Do NOT try to use the instant coffee grains you already have at home. When mixed with glue, they just make little puddles of sticky coffee instead of actually looking and smelling like coffee. You may end up with little brown wet splotches that make the countries look like they are mining miniature cow ploppers. (Am I allowed to say cow ploppers on a family blog?!)

Trust me. This is good advice.

A Little Something Extra

2009-09-27T13:44:00.003-05:00

I took my son to the doctor this week. We were finished with the checkup and walking out of the medical center, when I glanced up and saw a sign that caught my attention.

Now, a definition.

Lagniappe (lan-yap) is a great Louisiana expression meaning a little something extra, such as a baker’s dozen. (datscajun.com)

So what is a Langiappe Room? Is it a place where I would like to have an appointment? How much does it cost for this lagniappe? What happens behind closed doors?

Anyone? Anyone??

His Great Love Changes Us

2009-09-18T14:17:00.004-05:00

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane,
I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

(Baptisms in our church in August and September. I'm missing 2 other pictures, which I hope to add soon. Song~ David Crowder Band, Church Music cd)

Favorite Florida Sights

2009-09-13T15:01:00.006-05:00

Guess where we've been!?!?

Florida Sights

2009-09-09T05:59:00.008-05:00

I started the blog back up and recommitted myself to finding blog subjects and photos, then I left town. I don't have anything from Louisiana to share with you loyal blog-readers, but I can find a picture to take just about anywhere I go. These photos are from Florida, where we are currently visiting the in-laws.

They live about 20 miles from the beach, so I suppose it's normal for them to have the little seabirds on their roofs. I'd never seen it before, even when I lived in Florida.

Then there are the manatees. They are like the crawfish in South Louisiana...except they are grey in color and about a billion times larger than a crawfish...and you don't actually eat them either. I'm not sure they would fit in the pot to boil...

Anyhow, they are everywhere, and people really like them.

For All My Urbanite Readers

2009-09-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

I grew up in Hialeah, Florida. It was all city. It was all Miami.

I also grew up in Clearwater, Florida. It was still city, especially when we visited Tampa.

I lived in New Orleans, Louisiana for three years while my husband was in seminary. We rode that interstate ALL the time.

I also lived in Fort Lauderdale, in the middle of 12 lane interstate. We would drive back and forth from West Palm Beach south an hour every weekend for a while too.

Busy, big, full, rushing roads were a part of life. We knew them. We were even comfortable on them.

I thought all my friends still living in those thriving metropolises would appreciate a view of my commute home from work now.

Occasionally I have to wait for another car at this intersection to make my left-hand turn.

Not this day~

I drive down the road between the soybean fields on either side.

When I get to the 5 horses, I know I'm close to home. (My kids have named all 5 horses~ Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, and....Brown. Guess what color they all are?)

Ah, at last. We made to the neighborhood. Home.

So there isn't a difficult or trying commute. It's a pretty quiet, scenic little drive. Of course, there's no Starbucks...

The Gateway (and a mural to match)

2009-09-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Forget the Beltway. Forget about Broadway. You can hit the Highway because I live at the Gateway! It's the Gateway to the Great Southwest Prairie.

Painted by internationally recognized muralist, Robert Dafford, the design of this mural is reminiscent of old theatrical stage curtains where merchants would place advertisements around a focal scene. Dafford's "architectural Illusion" is realistic enough to make one think that the wildflowers are there for the picking.

(excerpt from http://www.crt.state.la.us/hp/mainstreet/oldweb/euwalk.html )

It is a really nice painting, isn't it? If you go walk through the fields, some of them still look the same as they are depicted here.

Transplants

2009-08-31T19:14:00.005-05:00

I'm a "transplant" to cajun country. Our family was sitting in a restaurant yesterday when the manager came over and asked the table next to ours how the food was. The lady looked at him and said, "Oh, you're not from around here!? So you are a transplant!"

Guess that's what we are...transplants.

Sorry about the blog sluggishness. I suppose it happens to most blogs at some point....but I ran out of time and energy to express any coherent thought for a while. Don't worry now~ I'm back!

Family Resemblance

2009-07-23T20:39:00.003-05:00

Moving to Louisiana means that we are that much closer to my family. I was born in Louisiana, and my grandparents still live in the same town where I was born. Just last Saturday we met up with my parents and grandparents for lunch at the new Mexican restaurant around the corner from my grandparent's house. The food was decent, but the scenery was even better!

I'm not talking about things being authentically from Mexico. I'm talking about the family scenery. It's amazing the things you notice when you are with family. The little things that show a connectedness. A relationship. A resemblance.

Like Mother (my grandmother).

Like Daughter (my mother).

Maybe one day there will be a picture of me with the infamous "napkin bib" on....hmmm. It might be genetic!?

Mississippi Penguins

2009-07-19T14:42:00.004-05:00

Ocean Springs Get-Away, Part II

2009-07-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

A few random thoughts and pictures.

Good pizza. Yum. Wish we had one closer.

Wow. It could take a while to wait at this crossing. Besides, they must have GIGANTIC turtles in Mississippi!

Don't you think we should have taken a bicycle/beach excursion on our anniversary!? Is there any better way to recognize momentous celebrations!? We just couldn't do it without all the great peddlers that have biked with us before, so we skipped it this trip.

Ocean Springs Get-Away, Part I

2009-07-15T07:00:00.002-05:00

My hubby and I celebrated 17 years of marriage on July11 so we took an opportunity with grandparents nearby and a free hotel room (thanks again to those same grandparents) to get away for a few days.

We landed in the thriving metropolis of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Ok, it's not so thriving or so metropolis, but it was a nice little town on the Gulf of Mexico. We enjoyed some good food, walking through a new mall, some time in the hotel pool, and a few visits to the beach for sunrise, sunset, and in between.

I took enough pictures to fill blogs for the month, but I'll spare you all of them and just post a few of my favorites. We may even end up with a "caption contest" in a few days for one!

Enjoy the pics~

Summer Sunday Evening

2009-07-14T13:14:00.004-05:00

The heat index is averaging 105 degrees. We live in south Louisiana~ the home of heat and humidity. It's the middle of July. What should we do for fun?

Go outside in large numbers and hang out!

I'm still adjusting to all the outdoor activity that happens around here all year long. In Florida people did do things outside, but there came a point in the heat of summer where we all decided to either go to the mall or stay home. We didn't have picnics and ballgames mid-summer.

This past Sunday evening we had a church softball game. Odds vs. Evens (by birth years.)

Everyone enjoyed hamburgers and hotdogs after the game was over.

The kids enjoyed a big bounce house/fun jump and came out the sticky, sweatiest of all!

Even in the heat and humidity, a good time was had by all~ myself included!

Where Did All The Fontenots Come From?

2009-07-07T08:46:00.002-05:00

From the Fontenot's Hatchery, of course!

If you aren't looking for Fontenots, then you could buy a giant, proud rooster instead.

Or a large, patriotic gorilla.

Freedom

2009-07-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy 4th of July!

We Interrupt The Regularly Scheduled Program...

2009-07-01T10:37:00.004-05:00

I was coming to post something very similiar to this.

Our summer has just been so busy that the blog has suffered. This is a sample of our schedule:

Flu
Camp
Flu
Camp
Flu

See a pattern here folks? If you haven't sent your kids to camp yet this year...think twice!! Call and find out if previous groups have had the flu, then proceed with caution.

We'll be back up and running when there is more routine to life.

A Morning Walk

2009-06-19T20:03:00.008-05:00

It was a warm, humid Louisiana morning.

Out my front door, 2 blocks east, I can see rice fields. The morning sounds of the rice fields are fantastic. I'm not sure what all those bugs or birds are that make noise, but in the silence it's really wonderful. This morning I saw a turtle slip down into the water too!

One block further and I can see the new horses that moved into the neighborhood. My kids have named the four horses Brownie, Brownie, Brownie, and Brown. Can you guess what color they are!??

Wait...what's that speedy little thing coming towards me so early in the morning?!?

Oh, that's my girl. I'm so proud.

This is a great place to walk, to run, to work, and to live.

Mornings In The Doorway

2009-06-13T07:59:00.005-05:00

Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God. ~Oswald Chambers

Picture taken from one of the old buildings at

The Academy of the Sacred Heart

A Little More Grand Coteau

2009-06-10T08:12:00.005-05:00

I've saved the most beautiful place for last to share with you from Grand Coteau. Back through a narrow 2 lane road, underneath a line of trees we came upon the Academy of the Sacred Heart.

The grounds of the school were amazing with old, original buildings and newer stately buildings. The horse barns and fields for horses were grand. As soon as we drove onto the property you could just sense this is a place of history and order. (Check out the old water cistern in the picture below.)

From Wikipedia~

The Academy of the Sacred Heart, founded in 1821 in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, is an independent, Catholic school for girls in Pre-Kindergarten-3 through grade twelve, with residential accommodations for students in grades seven through twelve. It is operated independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette. It was established in 1821 and as such is the second oldest institution of learning west of the Mississippi. It is the oldest, continually running member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the world. It is also the oldest independent school in the Acadiana region.

Founded under the direction of Saint Philippine Duchesne, the Academy has remained in continuous operation through fire, epidemics, and war.

The Academy has an equestrian program with a barn available for students wishing to bring their own horses. The Academy is home to over twenty school-owned and privately owned horses. Sacred Heart Stables, center for the ASH equestrian studies division, features a fourteen stall barn in addition to the unique six stall barn that was built in 1886. The facility also includes two cement wash racks, two lighted, locking tack rooms, over 20 acres (81,000 m2) of fenced turn out, a round pen, and two fully enclosed riding arenas.

After Hurricane Katrina, it graciously hosted the satellite location for Academy of the Sacred Heart of the Rosary in New Orleans, and its students housed many of the dislocated students from New Orleans.

In 2006, it opened a boys division, St. John Berchmans School, for boys in grades PK3-2nd grade. In the 2007-2008 school year, grades 3-5 will be added. One grade will be added each year thereafter.

Also in 2006, the administration decided to rename the institution that runs both the Academy of the Sacred Heart and St. John Berchmans School. The new name is Schools of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau.

More Grand Coteau

2009-06-08T06:33:00.006-05:00

Since 1922, St. Charles College in Grand Coteau has been the site of the Jesuit Novitiate for the New Orleans Province. Before becoming the Novitiate and Jesuit Spirituality Center that it is today, it opened in 1837 as a boarding school for Catholic boys offering elementary, secondary, and higher education. The town of Grand Coteau itself is steeped in history, being the site of an 1863 Civil War battle. More significantly for a Jesuit, then-Blessed John Berchmans appeared at the Sacred Heart convent down the road from the College curing one of the sisters in 1866. This was the miracle required for the canonization of Berchmans who had died as a Jesuit scholastic.

In this historical environment, and surrounded by 775 acres of pasture, the novices do the 30-day retreat of St. Ignatius and study the Constitutions in order to learn about the Society of Jesus and to discern whether to follow Christ poor, chaste and obedient as vowed Jesuits.
(From http://norprov.org/news/novicebios2008.pdf )

Grand Coteau

2009-06-06T15:31:00.003-05:00

We took a drive last night and visited the little town of Grand Coteau. Interesting place. The next few blogs will post various things we saw there.

(Information from http://www.cajuntravel.com/ )

The Grand Coteau Historic District is one of the few primarily rural districts on the National Register of Historic Places. Grand Coteau is noted for its magnificent trees that form alleys, groves, and gardens. Within the district there are over 70 structures designated as architecturally significant. Creole, French, Acadian, Anglo-American, and Victorian styles are reflected in the houses, stores, and religious institutions. Of special significance is this last category, Grand Coteau and Catholicism have been deeply connected for over 175 years. The church and retreat centers continue to provide extensive spiritual and educational guidance for the community and visitors from afar.

In the early 1800s, Grand Coteau served as a stopping point for travelers between Washington in St. Landry Parish and St. Martinville in St. Martin Parish. The thriving community had two bakeries, a cobbler, millinery, and blacksmith shop, a post office, and an inn where stagecoaches changed horses.

The Jesuits arrived in 1837 when St. Charles College, a Jesuit boarding school, was built. The settlement that grew up around the schools was called St. Charles Town before it was changed to Grand Coteau.

Wow. That Stunk.

2009-06-03T20:09:00.004-05:00

I'm not talking about the Tiger Toilets either. I'm talking about the lack of participation in the most recent contest here at the Louisiana blog. So...by default of being the only participant outside of my house...a canister of Slap Ya Mama will be headed to my Mom (next time I see her). She did have a decent entry!

I know some of you out there could have thought of some good names for your favorite team's port-a-potty. Here are some we thought of~

Commodore Commode
Toilet Roll Tide
Razorback Restroom
Jayhawk John
Hurricane Head
Bruin Bathroom
Florida State Facilities
Nittany Lion Lavatory
Wolverine Water Closet
Purdue Potty
The Flushing Irish
Privateer Privy
Mountaineer Mens' Room
Cardinal Can

I'm sure some of y'all could have done better!

Potty Talk Contest...Go Team!

2009-06-01T20:01:00.004-05:00

It's not just a place to relieve yourself...

It's a statement of state pride! (Geaux Tigers!) Yes, this is a "Tiger Toilet", colored in the famous LSU purple and gold. I keep saying it, and it's true~ folks around here are serious about their LSU Tigers.

So the question is~ What porta-potty might you find in your state?

Perhaps it's the Gator-Go-Box, the Buckeye Bidet, or the Longhorn Loo.

Leave your favorite team outhouse name in the comment section. You can post as many team outhouse names as you want to. My family will pick a winner by Wednesday at 6 PM. The winner will receive a gift set of cajun seasonings and spices!

Remember~ my children will be reading this.

The Morganza Spillway

2009-05-28T07:16:00.005-05:00

On Monday, Memorial Day, we took a drive to parts of Louisiana we hadn't visited before. We came across the Morganza Spillway. As we approached it, the swolleness of the spillway was obvious.

The Morganza Spillway is a floodway used in connection with the Old River Control Structure and the Atchafalaya River located in northeast Central Louisiana. The use of the spillway would be used in case of a flood from the Mississippi River. It would ultimately divert water from the river into the Morganza Spillway and into the Atchafalaya Basin. It was used in 1973 to relieve pressure from the Old River Control Structure. U.S. Highway 190 has a 4-mile bridge that travels over the spillway. The old 2-lane bridge is used by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. (Yep, that's from Wikipedia.)

Low Carb, High Cajun

2009-05-25T08:28:00.009-05:00

We had an errand to run last week that took us to the town of Broussard. (You make THINK you know how to pronounce that, but I can guarantee you that if you aren't from around here you'll get the syllable emphasis wrong.)

While driving through Broussard we stumbled across Tiny Prudhomme's House of Meat. We didn't stop and eat at the House Of Meat, but evidently if you like meat...it's a place to go.

Check out the sign hanging out front~

I'm not familiar with all the cajun colloquialisms, but "getcha sum N go" is one I haven't heard yet.

Also, anyone else concerned that Tiny isn't HOLDING any meat, but it looks as though he might think about chopping off his hand!? At least he's happy about it!

No Training Wheels

2009-05-22T09:23:00.005-05:00

My husband was invited to go for a bike ride this morning.

So?

No big deal, right?

Well, we aren't talking your little brother's red Schwinn here. We are talking motorcycle bike...big, engine, 2 wheels, rev-rev, full-helmet kind of bike.

A few questions came to mind as they drove down the block, out of sight:

Are these guys going to fall off the bike in a horrendous accident this morning? (I hope not since we've already had one accident this week which totaled our car.)

Is my husband going to return from the motorcycle experience and immediately enter a mid-life crisis which requires him buying a motorcycle?

Will my children, upon admiring their father on the bike, begin to dream of the day they can ride a motorcycle?

Does my husband have enough balance to stay on the bike?

But most importantly~ Is my husband going to come home and want to kiss me before he picks all the bugs out of his teeth??

I've Been Feeling Crabby

2009-05-19T20:39:00.003-05:00

We love boiled crabs. When they are seasoned just right, boiled just right, they can't be beat...except by a great bowl of seafood gumbo.

Nothing goes better with boiled crabs than Barq's rootbeer...in the glass, of course!

Observations From Today

2009-05-13T15:51:00.003-05:00

Three of them:
1. Don't plan a meal requiring pitas in this town. There's a pretty strong chance you won't be able to find any pitas. It's like they don't even exist.

2. Once the 3 o'clock school bell rings, do NOT try to buy a snowball. You will have melted by the time you finally get to the front of the line just to place your order.

3. Camouflage pants go with anything. A N Y T H I N G. Who knew!?

There aren't any pictures for today's blog post because:
1. Like I said...I couldn't find any pitas. Can't take a picture of something that doesn't exist.

2. We didn't even slow down in front of the snowball stand to get a picture once I saw how long the line was. No need to create a further back-up in traffic.

3. The guy in the camouflage pants could have been related to someone reading this blog. Besides, I was really just taking in the whole outfit.

Snow In Summer

2009-05-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Oh yes! Nothing beats a Louisiana snowball (on the sign below spelled sno ball) in the heat of the day. If you haven't tried one, you should!

You can't imagine the delectable treats that come out of the little metal shed set up on the side of the road. This place is sort of fancy though with the two-window service~ one for orders and one for pick ups. Check out the little bell to ring for service, plus all the flavors are listed and neatly printed out on the big yellow sign. This is really a highclass snowball stand!

AND, they stick gummy bears on the top of your snowball!

Grape and rootbeer. Two of my family's favorite flavors. Someone usually gets cotton candy too! (Pink, of course)

So if you are looking for me during June, July, or August...check the parking lot in front of this little snowball shack. (I'll be there during May too since they are already open!) Aren't we glad summer has arrived!?!

A Perfect Finish For Pork Week

2009-05-09T14:13:00.004-05:00

A sign posted in our grocery store the last few weeks~

Anyone besides me thinking you might want to take that sign down until this swine flu (excuse me, I mean H1N1) passes!?

(Aw, come on folks. I know that pigs don't cause the swine flu. It's just funny. Isn't it!? A little bit?!)

And The Winner Is....

2009-05-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

MEALS ON WHEELS

Congratulations to MIGirlsMom!

However, there was one entry that made me bust out with a laugh as soon as I read it. Then when my husband came home, I read it to him and he gave a chuckle. Anyone that can make us both laugh like that deserves to be the winner too! So congratulations to Angela Stephens-Owens for her entry~

Hey lady over there...you...behind the camera...

yea you....can you kindly turn me around?

Curly over here has digestive issues.

Both MIGirlsMom and Angela will be receiving $5 gift certificate to either Sonic or Wal-Mart. (Send me a regular email or facebook email with your mailing addresses and choice of gift cert!)

Unfortunately, I can't hand out prizes to every person that entered, but there were a few honorable mentions that made picking a winner tough.

1. Butt Head. Seriously fantastic entry. Perhaps it's because we don't say that around the house or in conversation, so it just seemed like that silly/funny entry. Makes you giggle...like when the ketchup farts. (You know what I'm talking about. Admit it.)

2. Heads or Tails? Love it. Totally works with the picture. Very clever.

3. Peek-a-FLU! I'll tell you...this was so close to being the winner. I think if my husband had the final vote, it would have won. The whole concept was fantastic. The little pig peeking out, the timely reference to the swine flu, combined together. Genius!

I can't believe no one came up with "Ham Sandwich"!?! That's what my daughter wanted to post this morning...she's a thinker.

Thank you all for participating. It was fun! I hope to find another thought-provoking picture for next month as well. Stay tuned. You never know when it will pop up!

OH, and now I can change the music back to something not-so-annoying!!

Photo Caption Contest

2009-05-04T19:56:00.004-05:00

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Get your caption in by tomorrow morning. The winner will be posted at 11 AM CST. I had to make a quick change since we need to be somewhere at noon. Stay tuned...the clock is ticking!

Driving back into town today from a doctor's appointment in the big city, we came across this trailer of pigs traveling down the road. They were CUTE!

We pulled up alongside the trailer full of little piggies and I snapped a clearer picture. (The front window of the car is covered in bugs from the country driving!)

Then I closed in for a cozy shot, which is the picture up for this week's caption contest.

Check it out~

YOUR TITLE HERE!

So here's the deal~ post your title for this picture. You can post as many titles as you want to. My family will pick a winner by Friday at noon and post the title and winner. The winner will receive a $5 Sonic gift card or a $5 Walmart gift card...your choice!

Remember~ my children will be reading this.

Parlez-Vous Francais?

2009-05-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

My daughter (a first year piano student) was asked to play a hymn she had been practicing for the senior adult gathering at our church this month. The program singer was going to sing the first stanza of the hymn in English and then repeat it in French. He asked the group that had gathered how many of them spoke French, and at least 85% of the people raised their hands. I think our family table was the only one without a hand raised!

I do not share this video to be a bragging mother, although that totally works for me as well, but to show that the French language is still a part of daily life around here. Often I will head into the local grocery store and here 2 or 3 men standing around speaking in cajun French to each other.

Although I couldn't understand what was being sung in French, I could have listened to it a while longer. Enjoy!

Overheard Overhead

2009-04-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

At the stop sign out in the middle of the fields I could hear the buzz of the little engine. It was a unique sound I'm not used to hearing. So I looked up.

This little yellow plane kept swooping down over the field, then heading back up into the clouds to circle back and head over the field again just to turn around and do it all once more.

Then my husband pointed out the big puff of something coming out of the back of the plane and land over the field. Seeds. The seeds were being sown. Of course the farmer who purchased the seeds had every intent and plan for those seeds to all land in the soil, take root, and grow (likely into rice).

However, when a breeze would pick up those seeds could blow over onto the road or in the ditch or into the next field. You know that must deeply concern the farmer, who spent his own money on that seed.

Mark 3:2-8

He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times."

Mark 3:14-20
The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."

The seed is the word that has been sown for everyone. Don't allow Satan to get his grasp on it, don't allow trouble or persecution stand in the way, don't let worries choke it out. Instead hear the word, accept it, and produce fruit. The seed has been sown.

The Intersection

2009-04-27T21:21:00.005-05:00

Saturday was a big day. It was time for a trip to the city. With great anticipation we got our chores done around the house, cleaned up a bit, and headed out. It takes just under an hour to get to the city, and we pass a lot of crawfish land, rice land, cow land, and empty land between here and there.

Heading through some fields, we came upon a lone stop sign and all of these vehicles doing whatever their specific task in the field is:

Doesn't the above machine remind you of something from a Star Wars movie!?

Talk about a 'wide load'!

I'm curious to know what this machine does. The little sphere that it carries in the top seems like a really, really big hamster ball.

I know, this is an airplane! I recognize it. I've seen one before. This airplane was different than any other plane I've seen. You'll hear more about it on Wednesday!

Come On In, The Water's Fine

2009-04-26T17:30:00.003-05:00

No picture to post today, just an interesting invitation.

When my daughter got in the car after visiting/playing with some of her friends the other day, she informed me that she had been invited to go swimming.

Hmm....I didn't know that family had a pool!?

Here's my daughter's response~
"Oh, they don't have a pool. They said they go swimming in the cow trough."

HA. Huh? Really? Hahahaaaha. Wait...what?

The weather is getting warmer by the hour down here. If you don't have a pool, evidently hopping in the nearest cow trough works pretty well! Isn't that fantastic? I love it.

(I did find out through further inquiry that this is NOT the cow trough that is actually used by the cows. This is an extra one that can be used for swimming!)

Italy And Louisiana...

2009-04-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

both shaped like a boot! And evidently they are both famous for their spaghetti sauces...who knew!?

Apparently this is VERY famous sauce. Check out that price!

(Cajun spaghetti sauce must be recession-proof.)

Interesting Tidbit

2009-04-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

Just in case you had been wondering.

Spring Break

2009-04-15T15:09:00.001-05:00

That's what we are taking this week...a spring break from the blog.

Check back Monday, bright and early!

He Is Not Here!

2009-04-12T06:01:00.001-05:00

Matthew 28:5-7

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

One Of These Things...

2009-04-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

is not like the others.

If you don't like to eat crawfish at a crawfish boil, you'd better pack your own pb&j sandwich or hope someone orders pizza. I have to claim him....that's my son's pizza plate. He's new to this crawfish thing so while he was a bit hesitant this time, he said that he will be eating with the crowd at the next crawfish boil.

He did comment that he "left the shells", just like the crawfish eaters...

What Goes With Crawfish?

2009-04-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Well potatoes and corn, of course!

As you can see, the same cooking method and supplies are used for the side items as for the crawfish...a rig that can boil water, a basket, and a large piece of wood to lift that basket out of the boiling water. Dump the good food into a cooler, throw some butter and Tony's on the top and shake it up.

I have heard that some folks boil the crawfish, potatoes, and corn all together in one pot and then dump it out together. Not sure why these guys did things separately, but I trust them.

A Little Cajun Ambiance

2009-04-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Each day this week I've been adding a piece to the 'crawfish boil experience' in my blog. I suppose there may not be music every time there is a crawfish boil, but the music here sure makes it authentically cajun. Don't you love it?!

I sure do!

That happens to be my Nonc David on the Cajun accordion. You can check out his blog here.

Here's a short clip of the music~ (Remember to turn down or pause the music in the sidebar player.)

Spice It Up Wednesday! Crawfish Boil

2009-04-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

So what kind of spices do you need for a crawfish boil?

Tony Chachere's, of course!

Lots of it.

Zatarain's Crab Boil (This is SACK sized for those BIG sacks of crawfish.)

Did you know there was a special sauce mixture you can eat with your crawfish? This was new to me! You can choose from the basic ketchup with a bit (lot) of Tony's sprinkled on it~

Or, you can go for the 'secret recipe' sauce which starts with a LARGE lump of mayonnaise.

Sprinkle Tony's all over the top of that mayo.

Add in some ketchup and stir.

Then peel those crawfish and dredge them through the tasty, spicy sauce.

Friends and Family

2009-04-07T06:00:00.003-05:00

Crawfish boils aren't a one-man (or woman) thing. They are large events for family, friends, and neighbors to all gather together and enjoy!

The Right Equipment and Process

2009-04-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

These guys that boil the crawfish know what they are doing. You can see that they have been doing this for a while, and they learned from their dads who learned from their dads, etc. In cajun culture, it seems the men do the barbeque-ing and the crawfish boiling and a lot of the other cooking.

I can't tell you how to boil crawfish, we can just look at the pictures and summarize what's happening together!

Dump the live crawfish in a big pot, hooked up to gas to make the water boil. All sorts of stuff goes in that water (but we will save that for Spice It Up Wednesday, Crawfish Boil edition).

When the little mudbugs are done boiling (no idea how you know when they are done), then you will need a LARGE piece of wood and some heat resistant gloves to pull that bucket out of the boiling water. (Nothing should be moving in the pot anymore. If things are moving, I know they haven't boiled long enough.)

Let the water drip out of the 'basket'.

Dump the crawfish into a large cooler. (Those are onions, I think, that were boiled with the crawfish.)

Shake a little Tony's (Who am I kidding? He's holding 2 cans in 2 hands.) Shake a LOT of Tony's in with the crawfish, and then shake the cooler up well.

Then all you need is a tray to hold your crawfish while you dig in!

Crawfish Boil Week

2009-04-05T08:18:00.005-05:00

Our church had a crawfish boil yesterday afternoon for all the choir, drama, and technical workers that are making our Easter musical happen. This week my posts will be about this event and the details of what a crawfish boil is all about.

The main thing needed for a crawfish boil is...crawfish!

No shortage here~ 250 pounds of crawfish!

So stay tuned this week, as each day will have a new post about a different part of the cajun crawfish boil!

What Is Tasso?

2009-04-02T07:51:00.005-05:00

I went to Merriam Webster online this morning, but the only entry for tasso was referring to an Italian poet from the 16th century. That's not exactly what I was looking for.

So I headed to the often-unreliable wikipedia and found this description for tasso~

Tasso ham is a specialty of Cajun cuisine. It is a version of smoked pork made from the shoulder butt. In this case, "ham" is a misnomer, since tasso is not made from the hind leg of a pig. This cut is typically fatty, though leaner cuts are often used and have a great deal of flavor. The butt, which will weigh 7 to 8 pounds, is sliced across the grain into pieces about 3 in / 7.5 cm thick. These are dredged in a salt cure, which usually includes nitrates and sugar. The meat is left to cure briefly, only three or four hours, then rinsed, rubbed with a spice mixture containing Cayenne pepper and garlic, and hot-smoked until cooked through.

Tasso is not typically eaten on its own. It is used in dishes ranging from pasta to crab cakes, soup to gravy. Appropriate to its roots, tasso is most often found in recipes of southern or Cajun/Creole origin, such as jambalaya.

And now I get to find out all about tasso for myself since a great friend gave me some that she made herself! It smells delicious. I think I'll start with a pot of red beans....

Spice It Up Wednesday!

2009-04-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Anyone ever tried this one? I can't judge all these spices as good or bad...I just point out the unique spices I find on the shelf. Somehow this one feels like a mixture of a photo gallery at Olan Mills and a milk carton...I'm not so sure....

Florida Welcomes You

2009-03-31T14:01:00.004-05:00

Congratulations Clark! You hit a funnybone with that one. As soon as I saw it I chuckled, which is always a good thing. Besides, my husband really liked your 'stooped over' entry a lot. Having lived on the east and west coast of Florida for most of my life...I know exactly what that entry means! Loved it. (Now contact me and let me know which gift cert you want and where to send it.)

Now for some honorable mentions~

Becky G for the lyrics to the Hokey Pokey. Singing the lyrics while actually looking at the picture was pretty good. (Although Traveling Mercies Ministry did put the title entry in first.)

Steve nearly won with his entry of~ Criminals beware. We have dentures and are not afraid to use them! I liked how it included both the signs...very good! And really....SO close to winning, nearly a tie.

The last entry by Ashley~ 'She'll be comin' round the nursing home' was one of my favorites as well, but mostly because it belonged to my daughter. (Don't tell her she wasn't actually eligible to win since she lives in our house), but I have to give her some credit for a witty entry.

I hope everyone enjoyed the contest, even a little bit. I think I might make it a once a month event...what do you, my loyal readers, think of that?!

Time's Up!

2009-03-31T12:01:00.000-05:00

The winner will be posted later this afternoon! Thanks for all the entries and actual comments left on the blog. I knew there were readers out there, but sometimes you all stay hidden!

Check back later!

My First Ever "Caption Contest"

2009-03-28T21:13:00.002-05:00

My husband and I sat around trying to think of a creative name for this picture. A catchy phrase. Something witty for a title. We came up with a few, but thought this picture would be perfect for this blog's first ever caption contest!

This picture is posted in front of one of our town's nursing homes. I've never seen anything like it.

So here's the deal~ post your title for this picture. You can post as many titles as you want to. My family will pick a winner by Tuesday at noon and post the title here. The winner will receive a $5 Sonic gift card or a $5 Walmart gift card...your choice!

Remember~ my children will be reading this.

Spring Has Sprung!

2009-03-27T08:05:00.005-05:00

Note~ none of these trees/shrubs are in my yard. I have my wonderful neighbors (across the street and on both sides of me) to thank for my lovely springtime view!

I can identify the wisteria and azaleas...anyone know what the other 2 flowers (the white ones) are?

Spice It Up Wednesday!

2009-03-25T10:19:00.004-05:00

Here's an interesting one for those not from around here.

Yes, you read that correctly. You are to "Slap Ya Mama". How offensive can that be!?!

The creators of Slap Ya Mama give this explanation for the name of their cajun spice on their website~

The name of "SLAP YA MAMA" came about when the creator of the seasoning jokingly said, "When you use this seasoning, the food taste so good that it will make you want to go home and slap ya mama because she could never make something taste that great."

Slap Ya Mama is made just up the road from here in Ville Platte. They even bring their van and deliver the spice to our local Walmart. The shelves are FULL of it, and everyone has heard of it...so there's nothing offensive in writing "Slap Ya Mama" on the grocery list!

A Post of Praise!

2009-03-23T11:29:00.006-05:00

Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
The earth is filled with His glory

It's rising up, all around

It's the anthem of the Lord's renown

And together we sing

Everyone sing!

If you have something to Praise the Lord about, post it as a comment! This can be a post full of praise to Him. (And you can read some of the lyrics and sing along with the newly added song....you can't hear that song and not PRAISE HIM!)

Oooooh. It's been a long week.

2009-03-21T22:15:00.002-05:00

This weekend we had our annual women's conference at church, with guest speaker Carol Kent. She was fantastic! But in the midst of all of that...no blog posting is getting done.

I hate for y'all not to have a place to read, so check out my husband's blog of activities going on in our fair state. It's out his backyard!

http://musingaboutministry.blogspot.com/2009/03/ministers-at-mansion.html

Spice It Up Wednesday!

2009-03-17T22:08:00.005-05:00

Remember the old song~
One of these things is not like the other,
One of these things just doesn't belong...

Do you see what doesn't seem to belong!?

Specialty Meat Salesman

2009-03-17T07:23:00.002-05:00

Small Town Influence

2009-03-14T10:16:00.003-05:00

I didn't realize when I posted this that I would have such an impact on our little town. The 'powers that be' must be checking in on my blog and being informed of changes that need to happen. Ends up the day after I posted about the sad condition of Louisiana roads, this came rolling down our street~

Sure enough, many of the roads in town have gotten complete makeovers! We aren't talking the fill and smack down kind of "fixing". This is serious resurfacing! If you haven't been out on the roads lately, you'll hardly recognize them. You might even be able to put off your alignment job another 6 months!

Spice It Up Wednesday!

2009-03-11T05:30:00.000-05:00

I remember my Mom boiling shrimp and crabs in Zatarains when I was growing up. It was a smell so strong that you could hardly breathe if you got a big whiff of it. It made for some tasty sea treats! I suppose folks around here use it in crawfish boils, but I'm not really sure. I just know it comes in BULK packages in our local stores!

Jazz It Up With Zatarains! (Info from http://www.zatarains.com/ )

No conversation about the vibrant city of New Orleans would be complete without talking about the succulent seafood dishes and distinctive flavor of New Orleans–style cuisine. At the heart of all this delicious discussion would surely be the name Zatarain's. That's because Zatarain's has been an important part of New Orleans–style cooking for more than 100 years and a key ingredient in the city's rich cultural heritage.

Today, families everywhere have fallen in love with the delicious flavor of these zesty seasoned products and recipes. The reason for the popularity of Zatarain's is that it truly captures the flavor and rich texture of New Orleans–style cooking.

The tradition for making such amazing food was started well before the turn of the century by a man named Emile A. Zatarain, Sr. In 1889, he obtained the company's first product trademark and started to market root beer.

Shortly after, he began to produce mustards, pickled vegetables, and extracts. As the business grew, so did the demand for a broader range of products. Through their expertise in blending spices, the company established a reputation for making only the most authentic New Orleans–style food. In 1963, the Zatarain family sold the business and it was relocated to Gretna, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.

Today, Zatarain's is the nation's leading maker of New Orleans–style foods, priding itself on great taste, high quality and a devotion to the city’s cuisine. Since 1889, Zatarain's has been the authority on the fun and flavor of New Orleans. Interestingly, Zatarain's is as much a tradition at backyard barbeques as it is at formal dinners. It's amazing to think that, from such humble beginnings, the company has grown to make over 200 food products from Rice Dinner Mixes, Pasta Dinner Mixed, Breadings, Seasonings and Spices to Seafood Boils, Stuffing Mixes and other products based on authentic New Orleans–style foods and seafood preparation.

Contrasted Concrete

2009-03-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

"You know why I like Texas?" my 10 year-old asked as we drove along on the busy, full roads of Houston.

Why?
"Because the roads are so wide...

and smooth....

and white."

Flag Fanatics

2009-03-08T21:32:00.003-05:00

You know that whole 'everything is bigger in Texas' phrase?

Texas Trip

2009-03-07T21:41:00.002-06:00

I made a weekend visit to Houston for a terrific women's conference. That meant leaving the fine state of Louisiana, traveling through unfamiliar areas to a huge city. Out in the middle of Texas flatland this popped up~

Did you know they grow rice in Texas?? Hmph. I bet it doesn't even taste good. Well, at least not nearly as good as Louisiana rice....

Look! It's A Cow!

2009-03-05T21:40:00.004-06:00

Will I ever tire of saying that?!

My family might get tired of hearing it. This picture was taken at the end of my street. I don't mean a few blocks away, a mile or so down yonder. I mean...back out of the driveway and go to the stop sign....there is a field of cows.

I loved the idea of a cow being within camera viewfinder of the stop sign at the end of my block, so I got my baby girl all hurrying and scurrying to get the picture. I even stopped short of the sign and told her to stand outside the car to take it. Fortunately, she gets just as excited about picture taking as I do so she was an easy sell.

So thanks to my baby girl for snapping this shot, and a shout-out to all my city friends who can't believe I live in such a rural place!

I think I'll name the cow and adopt it as my 'pretend pet'.....hmmm.....

Spice It Up Wednesday!

2009-03-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

For this first installment of 'Spice It Up Wednesday' I knew I had to begin with the grandfather of all spices. This is the backbone of cajun cooking in almost every house.

Tony Chachere's

Recently when a friend was explaining how to cook a crawfish pasta dish, she told me to boil the pasta in the "Tony's water". Of course I had to ask...what is Tony's water? Around here instead of boiling something in salted water it gets boiled in Tony's water. It adds a bit more kick to everything. Tony's really does go on EVERYTHING.

Tony Chachere's isn't just found in our little corner of Louisiana. This stuff is everywhere! I have seen it in stores from Michigan to South Florida, but those places can't make the claim we can...it's produced within 25 miles of my house. It is truly a Louisiana thing!

To show the fame that our local spice has, here are some places you can find Tony Chachere's~

Facebook has a fanclub you can join here.

Tony has his own little dance on YouTube.

Tony and Jared have joined up to sell Subway sandwiches too!

Stay Tuned...

2009-03-03T07:31:00.002-06:00

With the questions following a recent post on some cajun spices/ herbs/ flavorings, I've decided to begin a series on Wednesdays called "Spice It Up Wednesdays". Maybe it will help hump day become more flavorful and exciting!

The first installment will be posted tomorrow.

Time Flies

2009-03-01T15:59:00.004-06:00

Whatcha Haulin'?

2009-02-28T16:27:00.003-06:00

We pulled up next to this animal trailer. You might expect to see a horse or a cow, maybe even some goats. Nope.

Take a closer look.

This time of year the trailer turns into a crawfish trap transporter.

Pledge of Allegiances

2009-02-26T21:31:00.001-06:00

Fat Tuesday, Carnival, Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday

2009-02-24T13:46:00.002-06:00

The Boucherie

2009-02-23T10:31:00.005-06:00

While we were in church yesterday morning, a block down the road our town was in the midst of Mardi Gras celebration. It was the day for the boucherie.

About the Boucherie
A traditional old time Boucherie (hog butchering) and cochon de lait (a suckling pig, now often used to refer in general to a pig roast) is held downtown. It begins in front of City Hall at 10 a.m. the Sunday before Mardi Gras. Visitors can see and enjoy the products of a Cajun tradition that is still common at many family gatherings. A hog is slaughtered and then made into a variety of dishes such as backbone stew, boudin, gratins (cracklings - pork skin with fat and some meat deep fried), and other delicacies. By 11:30, the first dishes are ready for tasting. Music and fun for the family all day long.

http://www.eunice-la.com/mardigras09sch.html

I tried to take some pictures as we drove by on our way home, but I couldn't quite capture the event from the comfort of my car. You'll have to take my word for it....there are big happenings these days surrounding Mardi Gras.

Merry Mardi Gras (Again)

2009-02-22T11:00:00.000-06:00

Hit and Rum

2009-02-21T12:58:00.003-06:00

This picture was taken at the Shell station north of town~

With cross-marketing like this, gun control seems highly unlikely in these parts.

King Cakes

2009-02-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

The custom of the King Cakes, which has gained tremendous popularity in the last thirty years, has its roots in pre-Medieval Europe. In European countries, the coming of the wisemen bearing gifts to the Christ Child is celebrated twelve days after Christmas. The celebration called the Epiphany calls for a celebration of exchanging gifts and feastings. Early French settlers are said to have baked the first King cake in Louisiana with the city of New Orleans having first offered it to the masses.

Thousands of King Cakes are consumed at parties, office gatherings, family get-togethers, school class parties, boy or girl scout meetings and sometimes simply for breakfast or as a quick and easy dessert. In many Christian Churches The Epiphany, the Twelfth Night or Little Christmas is observed on January 06. This day has come to be known as "KING'S DAY". This is also the day King Cakes become available from your local baker or supermarket and continues until Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday", its' English translation.

While the story of King Cakes is open to many interpretations, the simplest form of the tradition consists of someone finding a tiny object hidden inside the cake. That person, the "King", is then responsible for buying the next cake or throwing the next party. The Europeans hide a bean inside their cake and the person receiving the bean portrayed one of the "Three Kings". Latin American people put a small figure inside the cake representing the "Christ Child". It is said that a year of good fortune awaits the lucky person who gets the figure. Over the years the items tucked in a King Cake included coins, beans, peas and pecans. Since many of these items were being swallowed, a tiny baby enamel doll took the place of the items. They too were hidden within the cakes. The person receiving a piece of the cake would use his fork and press down into his slice making sure the baby was not in his piece of cake. Contrary to popular belief, these dolls were not originally intended to represent the infant Jesus. Later on the enamel dolls were replaced with plastic dolls. Unfortunately because of the possible choking hazards, the plastic dolls are no longer hidden by the bakers but placed in the center of the cake where it can easily be seen. The person serving the cake would then be the one to hide the doll and ultimately accept the liability should someone unfortunately swallow the hidden doll.

Traditionally, King Cakes are oval shaped and braided to show the unity of all Christians. Its' taste which is rather rich and unique would be compared to a giant cinnamon doughnut. It is generally deep fat fried as a doughnut would be. The cakes are either plain or filled with such fillings as Bavarian cream, cream cheese, strawberry or any other various fillings of choice. They are topped with sugar granules in the official Carnival colors of purple, green and gold. The colors are symbolic to many Christians. The purple represents the passion of Christ, the green represents hope and the gold the rewards of leading a Christian life. Some bakers also decorate the cakes in red to symbolize the life of Christ.

(Article copied from http://www.realcajunrecipes.com/articles/kingCakes.asp )

The above King Cake was given to us by my Tante Sarah this past week. It was TASTY! Here you can see the plastic baby, and below you can see the warning that was on the side of the box.

I guess this is as opposed to the edible baby figures that so many cakes come with these days!?

Mardi Gras Merchandise

2009-02-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

Small Business

2009-02-15T06:35:00.002-06:00

This guy was set up across the road from the cows/barn I posted last week. I haven't seen too many shrimp salesmen set up like this around town. My first experience with a shrimp salesman came only a few weeks after moving here. A man with a very thick cajun accent knocked on my door and held up a little container with 3-4 shrimp in it. "You wanna buy some shrimp, chere?" he said. WHAT? Totally caught me off guard.

I passed on that opportunity and then made some phone calls and found out that the door to door shrimp salesman is a real, valid (in most cases) thing. Unfortunately, I've never cooked shrimp myself so it doesn't do a whole lot of good for me to buy it....from a store, from a tent, or from the door to door salesman.

Bumper Sticker Beliefs

2009-02-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

Evidently, if you have something you believe, you put it on a bumper sticker.

Like this and this too!