It's Up!

My cotton seeds have popped their little heads through the soil.  Looks like I may have to fill in some places, but over all I still say I am going to have a bumper crop.  I will have to check with my farm manager.

L & DK Farms

Last summer when I drove by the Blue Biscuit in Indinaola I would always check on the progress of Trish's cotton she had planted on the south side of the restaurant.  I cleaned out a flower bed and decided that I would plant cotton this summer.  So, L & DK Farms was born.  Lance is a great farm manager, and I predict I will have a bumper cotton crop this fall.

 Two rows tilled and ready for the seed

 The seed goes into the ground

My state-of-the-art pivot, aka a watering can

Premier fertilizer, aka fish guts

I plan on applying for my farm subsidy as soon as I talk with my nephew Walter so he can give me advice on how to get the most for my labor.

Yes, i am Still Alive--A Special Visit

Yes, the Baria's are still alive and well in Inverness.  It's just that our life has been sort of mundane yet busy.  A lot has happend these past six months, and I might get around to posting about them.  But, today I want to share a few pictures from my grands' summer visit.

Chase often tells Laura she is a redneck, and she wears the lable with pride.  Well, William and Wes got back to their roots this week while they stayed with us.  They played and ran and jumped and chased bubbles and went to the garden and check out Inverness each evening with a ride on the golf cart and played on the CDA playground and climbed on the cannon at the bayou park.  Each night they have had no problem going to sleep only to wake up and start all over again.

I am going to miss them but I am ready for some REST!!!!!

 Sampling one of Popps's watermelons

 Watching WALL E for the millionth time

 Playing at CDA--I know the school is gone, but the place will always be CDA to me.

 Part of the tradition of visiting Kakki and Poppa's--eating Hometown shrimp

 Visiting the train museum in Cleveland-  If you have not been, you should go.  Great place for the kiddos

Eating blueberry cupcakes at Crave in Cleveland.  What I said about the museum, ditto for Crave.  Great cupcakes

What better place to climb than on the cannons?

Don't Forget Us

The time is here for sending and receiving Christmas cards. Gone is the time of sending out a few cards to our family and close friends; the time of writing a quick note inside a card with a printed Christmas greeting and maybe enclosing a photo of the kids; the time of addressing the envelopes by hand; and the time of an affordable stamp to send the card on its way.  Taking the place of the old fashion cards are family newsletters with the happenings and accomplishments of each family member or the slick photo cards of beautiful children or entire families.  I am in the stationary business and I know how much some of these cards cost.  With postage included, some have quite an investment in sending their Christmas greetings.

I know many of you reading this are saying, "I know what you mean.  Sending cards is just another step in the commercializing of Christmas and spending too much money." You may be right.  But, I just have to say I so enjoy receiving these cards.  Someone thought enough of us to take time to send a card even though our address is on a label that was printed from a data file and even though there is not an original signature.  The subjects captured in the pictures are happy for that one moment in time, even though behind the scenes was a most disconcerting time of trying to get that one perfect picture.  I know families who can recall all the times they gathered to take Christmas pictures and the hassle they endured, but as they remember those times they laugh lovingly and speak reverently of those who are no longer in the family pictures.

So, if we are on your Christmas card list, "Thank you."  I look forward to receiving your card.  I am still on the fence if I am going to send cards this year.  I think I have waited too late and so again may send out New Year's greetings in 2011.  If not, then I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

More Than the Regular Stuff

Laura keeps up with a blog that I have started visiting through her blog.  The writer gave a list of things for which she was thankful so thought I would "copy" her idea.  Obviously,  it is that time of year when we reflect on our blessings and take time to stop and actually say thanks.  We tend to get a bit mushy, and there is nothing wrong with that.  I am thankful for my family and my friends, and my church and the grace and mercy that God has seen fit to extend to all of us.  With that being said, here are some other things I am thankful for. I am thankful

* for people who are willing to give me a pedicure.  Granted I pay for the service, but I would be hard pressed to work on a person's feet that I don't know and love, even if it is for money.

* for remote controls, TV, DVR, gas fireplace logs, garages doors, car starters; need I go on?

* for baby wipes and disposable diapers.  For some reason my daughter enjoys placing #3 grandson in my arms when he needs a major diaper change.

*to be able to travel.  My husband can't figure out why I don't want to stay at home.

*for my swing.  There is not a better place to spend a Sunday afternoon napping and reading, reading and napping, napping and reading.  You get the picture.

*for HGTV.  My house ain't looking too bad because of projects I have seen created by Candace Olsen, et.al.

*for blogs.  I enjoy keeping up with the young folks and seeing their children grow and change and do all the silly things kids are suppose to do when they have parents who love them and have their best interest at heart.

*for Lady Gaga.  Now, I know truly that in the words of my Mamaw, "The world is going to hell in a hand basket."

*for the ABC program "What Would You Do?"  There are some folks out there who know the difference between right and wrong and are willing to take a stand.

*for the American Congress.  As sad as the situation is, we have had some goods laughs at the expense of, literally, the American taxpayers.

*for wigs.  Those who know me know why.

*for the color red.  It truly brightens my outlook on life.

*sticky notes.  The best for keeping my life organized; i do love to be organized.

*for Pepsi.  It's what gets me going in the mornings.

*for night time.  That's when I do my best work.

*for caramel and chocolate, the best of two sweet flavors when combined.

*for hot Krispy Cream donuts.  Again, need I say more?!

*for the two-day work week ( I am semi-retired) and an entire week vacation for Thanksgiving.  Hope yours is a good one.

I love NOLA

I can't explain why I enjoy the occasional visit to New Orleans, but I do.  The place is dirty, there are some strange folks running around, and I have seen just about all there is to see except for the Aquarium and the WWII Museum.  Usually when I do get there, I try to eat at one well known place to test the cuisine that is considered to be some of the best in town. For my birthday one time, the Lalis took me to Commander's Palace for the Saturday Brunch.  Yummy.  I have eaten breakfast at Brennen's and watched Lance eat oysters at Acme.  I still have a long way to go to make it around to all the eating establishments, and at this point I haven't tired of my visits to NOLA.

Over the Labor Day week-end, we attend the wedding of Brad Dickerson and Bridget Ory.  We had a great time with great friends, and we ate our way though NOLA.   Friday night we attended the rehearsal dinner and the went to a cocktail party at The Columns, a beautiful antebellum home that has been turned into a bed and breakfast and a downstairs bar that caters to the locals and rents out for private parties.

 Beautifully appointed tables at the rehearsal dinner

Saturday morning, Lance and I awoke and ate a nice breakfast at tour hotel.  The French toast was quite tasty.  We then met our friends Shirley and Jay and started our morning stroll around the French Quarter.  At 10:30 we stopped for the obligatory beignets at Cafe du Monde.

Love those beignets

 After filing our tummies, we walked through the art district and did some window shopping.

Gate at the Corn House

 We stopped at the Jackson Brewery for an afternoon beer and snack of red beans and rice and gumbo; then, we headed to meet our group for a late afternoon lunch.  We ate at Mulate's.  I had seen the place on Alton Brown's Eating on Asphalt tour on the Food Network. Jay could vouch that the place was a good choice so we all headed for what turned out to be a great meal.

Jay, Shirley, Sandra, Jerry, Lance, Lannis, John

Our choices included boudin, gumbo, po-boys, onion rings, crab claws, shrimp, and zydeco bread.  But the coup de gras was the bread pudding.  I am a taster of bread pudding.  It is one of my favorite desserts, and the bread pudding at Mulate's was the best I have ever had.  I mean the best!!!  There was not a bad morsel in the entire order, and we just missed the live zydeco music by a few hours. 

We left to get ready for the wedding.  It was a beautiful wedding in a beautiful church on the Loyola campus.  Next, we headed to the reception at the Board of Trade Building.  Lot's of food there.  The crab dip was to die for and the bride's cake was delicious.  After eating, dancing, and the second line, we turned in for much needed rest.

Sunday morning, we met the gang again to eat breakfast, which believe it or not, I passed on.  Lance and I said our good byes and headed for the Mississippi Delta.  All the time I have been to NOLA, I have never eaten at Middendorf's in Manchac.  Why not?!  We stopped to eat a lunch of the most wonderful fried catfish I have ever eaten.  I won't pass that place again.

We are home; we are satiated; and I am already looking forward to my next trip to NOLA and where I am going to eat.  Wonder if I can talk anyone into going to the Aquarium with me?

Another One

Something that bothers me a lot are people who do not have their payment ready when they are in the checkout line.  It is as if it is news to the person that she owes money for her purchases when the cashier tells her the amount.  After the BIG surprise, she then proceeds to dig in her purse, pocket or bosom for the money that she owes.  Anyway, it looks as if this fact also bothers the management at the new McDonald's in Indianola.  More power to ya Mickey D's.  Now come on down to Wal Mart and put up a sign for them.