95th Birthday!... no, not mine



Beignets and Cafe Aulait - Again!  This time in Baton Rouge.


DH and I just returned from another trip to Louisiana. This time to Ethel, La... a little town outside of Baton Rouge.  DH's mom had her 95th birthday this past week.  She is doing well, still lives in her house, and gets around fairly well with her walker (when she remembers to use it).  Her mind is sharp, but her body is failing... which I guess at 95 is expected.  But as she says, "it's frustrating" because the things she likes to do (gardening, cooking, walking, taking care of her cats and the outside birds) has become increasingly difficult. She can no longer drive and dislikes being dependent on others. And she's "tired".

What can you say? I know all this is true and I feel helpless. She has wonderful family nearby that keep close tabs on her and try to involve her in activities, but as she says, she doesn't enjoy needing all this help. She does feel grateful that she has lived this long, but she misses her friends who have all passed on. I can relate (on the friends' issue).  I have lost my mom, dad, and both siblings over the years. And this past summer I lost a very dear friend.  She was 86 and had lived a long happy (for the most part) life.  But I still miss her.

BTW, the photo at the top is beignets and cafe aulait at a place in Baton Rouge. The cafe aulait was good, but the smaller beignets just didn't do the ones in New Orleans justice. We're LSU graduates (class of '68 ) and try to visit our old haunts whenever we're in town. (Usually eat at Mike Anderson's, but this time tried Pairran's- cajun for godfather.  Had poboys and gumbo!) LSU's campus is covered with huge old oak trees.  Most of the limbs touch the ground these days (whether this is from age or hurricanes I'm not sure). But I have to say that even all these years later, the campus is still beautiful.

We stayed at DH's brother's house outside of Houston on our way home so we could watch the LSU-Idaho game (score was 62-14) Saturday night.  Wasn't much of a game...




DH's brother's cat



Happy 4th 2012!



Happy 4th of July!

Sitting here drinking my sweet tea... neighborhood parade just went by... and parade music is still ringing in my ears.  Everyone has their flags out.  This picture is an old one from a previous 4th.  We no longer have that flag pole.  It was taken down and never replaced when we had the wood painted.  But we did have 2 smaller flags out.  Guess we need to get around to replacing that pole.

Parade music reminds me of Mardi Gras at home (in New Orleans). I was never a big fan of the parades, but loved the music.  It made you feel happy... and carefree.  Unfortunately I've never liked crowds... and believe me, it gets crowded ! 

If I had to think of what I miss most not living at home (besides family, I mean), it would be the food.  I do love red beans and rice, po-boys, gumbo, and good seafood... like fried catfish and boiled crabs (I especially love soft shell crabs).  But we try to get our 'fix' when we go down for a visit. 

It should be a quiet day.  We don't have anything planned.  The kids may come over, but may not.  We never know.  I plan to bake a chocolate pie later this afternoon... just in case.  Besides, DH and I love dark chocolate cream pie!

Oh, just a tidbit of info here: Grand daughter called this morning at 7 am (we were still asleep) to tell us the exciting news...  the box turtle we gave her a few weeks ago just laid eggs in its pen!  So hopefully (with a lot of luck and nothing weird happening) we'll have baby turtles in about 50 weeks (I think?).

Again - HAPPY 4TH!