Friends Depart for San Antonio

Monday found Mike and I in Baton Rouge to look at an enclosed trailer while Janna and Gina went to find a quilt store in Baton Rouge. The trailer didn’t work out since the rear door was not tall enough for their Jeep.  On the other hand Gina was successful in that she bought some material for place mats so Janna can teach her about quilting on a very small scale.  We met up with the girls at the doctor’s office so mike could get some immunizations. Janna had called last week to make sure they had them. However, that was not the case because they didn’t have them. We left there heading back home for an early dinner of Janna’s homemade spaghetti and bread. Thanks Janna for another great meal. Later that evening my dad stopped by since he had been out of town for the past week. We all enjoyed a wonderful time before we said goodnight.

Tuesday morning we woke up early to tell Mike & Janna “see ya down the road” as they were leaving us this morning.

"See ya down the road Mike & Janna"

Mike pulling out of our driveway

They’re heading to San Antonio, Texas to meet up with Jim & Ellie. Janna had a made a beautiful quilt for her and she was delivering it to her. Mike called us at 4:30 to let us know they made it and Houston traffic wasn’t too bad. Gina spent the morning with Nicole at her house getting it ready to sale before she heads to New York for a little while. Once I picked her up around two o’clock we went home and grilled hamburgers and began our process of getting our house ready for our departure. We spent most of the evening in the garden cleaning it up. We received a phone call from Thomas to tell us about Ashley’s first sonogram and that he heard the baby’s heartbeat. He was so excited and we are so proud of them and glad everything is going well with her pregnancy. We ended our day at my sister’s house to watch the Sugar Bowl with Rickey, my BIL. We told them goodnight at halftime and went home.

We really enjoyed having Mike & Janna here and even though it was hard to see them go we know we’ll see them soon. The real highlight of the day came with hearing the excitement in our son’s voice over hearing their baby’s heartbeat. Our focus will shift into high gear now as we prepare for a departure from Louisiana. Gina still has one last doctor’s appointment on Monday and depending on that visit will determine our departure date. Stay tuned as the desert in Arizona is calling for us.

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Another Great Day With Friends

We woke up Sunday morning undecided on our day. However, around noon we had a plan. Gina and Janna was going shopping with Nicole and Ashley. On the other hand Mike and I decided we were going sightseeing. Even though there are a lot of plantation homes around where we live. I only love to show our guests two of them. Not that the others are bad, I just believe Oak Alley has the grounds and Nottoway Plantation has the best house. Well, Mike and I took off toward Vacherie Louisiana while the girls went their way.

I took Mike through all the back roads and past Houmas House Plantation for a drive by viewing. Then we drove down River Road toward the Sunshine Bridge and crossed over the Mississippi River. We arrived at Oak Alley Plantation and the Live Oak trees are still as breathtaking as they were the first time I saw them.  If you are ever down this way this is a must see.

Mike standing in front of the alley of Live Oaks

The view from the house looking toward the Mississippi River

Mike looking across the mighty Mississippi River

After we took a tour of the home we walked up on the levee of the Mississippi River.  We then continued our journey heading south and did another drive by viewing of Laura Plantation before we crossed back over the Mississippi River. We then went through Lutcher and Gramercy where on Christmas Eve they light hundreds of bon fires on the Mississippi River Levee directing Papa Noel to all the Cajun children. The structures were not standing but you could still see the remnants of the fires.  We then drove past Manresa House in Convent, Louisiana.  It was dusk by this time so we  started making our way back home taking more back roads. The main sights along the way are all the houses and camps located along the Diversion Canal and Amite River in the southern part of Livingston parish. Once we made it back home we waited for the girls to arrive to eat a dinner of leftovers.

We had a wonderful day and I really had a great time showing Mike all the sights near our house.  Gina said she had a great time with Janna and our daughters. 


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Happy New Year!!!

Gina and I hope everyone is enjoying 2011. We spent New Year’s Eve with Dana & Rickey (my sister and BIL), Mike & Janna and Nicole, our daughter. Dana & Rickey fried catfish and cooked stuffed potatoes with shrimp & corn bisque (it’s a soup). Everything was superb and tasted great. We enjoyed a wonderful evening with family and friends to bring in 2011.

Mike & Janna, Gina & myself, Dana & Rickey

Earlier in the day Gina went with Nicole to run some errands while I took Mike & Janna to the Bass Pro Shop by our house. It’s a really fascinating store. The store has done a great job of capturing the essence of South Louisiana. From there I took them by to see a distant relative and very close friend, Mr. Homer.

Mr. Homer with a lot of sweet potatoes in the back

He grows a very large garden and sells a lot of vegetables throughout the year along with a lot of other stuff. He and his wife, Mrs. Lee have a lot of stories to tell like most Cajuns. It was Mr. Homer who first told me about the big tent in Quartzsite, Arizona. He used to go every year and sell alligator heads to RV'ers.

We slept in New Year’s Day morning and when we walked outside we noticed this tree with about 13 vultures on it. I sure hope that's not a sign. LOL

A tree full of vultures

Around noontime Mike and myself helped Nicole move some items into her storage unit. While we were gone Janna was making her delicious homemade bread for me (Maybe I’ll share some of it).  Gina on the other hand was cooking all the traditional New Year's Day meal for dinner. Janna spent the afternoon hand sewing Ellie’s quilt.  Ellie is another RV'ing friend of ours. Since Mike had never been to Louisiana and as such had never eaten a King Cake. We went and bought two of them so he could experience yet another Louisiana tradition.  Gina and I sure are enjoying watching Mike experience Louisiana.

A King Cake

A very big cabbage from Uncle Jim's garden

For our New Year’s Day dinner we enjoyed grilled pork tenderloins (thanks to Janna), homemade bread, black eyed peas & cornbread, cabbage, mac & cheese casserole.  We ate dinner with Mike & Janna, Dana & Rickey, Ashley & Parker, and Nicole. A wonderful New Year’s Day spent with family & friends.  I sure am glad Gina can cook so good as the food tasted excellent and as Janna stated in her blog we will definitely need to diet after all of this eating we have been doing.

Happy New Year and we wish everyone the very best in 2011.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.