And So It Begins.....

Thanks to all of you all that have called us and written personal e-mails to me today and that have left sweet and thoughtful comments on my site today.

My family totally appreciates your prayers and the thoughts and the support that has been shown... NOT JUST for us.....but for ALL Louisianians right now.
And many are spread all over 7 States right now. Can you imagine that?
It's amazing to see how everyone in the Nation is once again coming to the aid of our State.

And for that we say "Thank you" in advance.

The winds have begun.

And we are currently under a Tornado Warning...and will be for probably the next day or so.

I think we are ready.

Well as ready as a person can be.

The men got the windows on the house boarded up.......

*We've checked on our friends and neighbors to make sure they are going to be okay.*
Then they got the vehicles all into position....


Stripped off all the patio cushions and pillows off the furniture and moved the patio bistro set.
Moved all the plants in tight.....and brought in all the "yard art." So they don't become "PROJECTILES".....
We've stocked up on all the "hurricane supplies" that you might need.....believe me...we know what happens AFTER the storm.
Some of the hardest items to find are..bread, milk, ice and water of course.


Today I made a HUGE "Chicken and Sausage" Gumbo so that we could share it with my friend Nora and her husband......oh yeah and we have a lovely potato salad with that....and French Bread.


Where we used to live before in very South Louisiana.....I learned from the people there to "make a Gumbo and potato salad" for hurricanes.....and to "boil a dozen eggs."
Not sure what the "egg reasoning" was but they put boiled eggs in their Gumbo there so ....maybe that's it. HA!
A good friend of mine and I agreed tonight that "this is so surreal."

It feels like when you get on a roller coaster....you KNOW it's going to be scary...you know there will be ups and downs and turns and wind in your hair.

And at some point you just want it to END.......that's how I feel right now. I just want it to be over......and we haven't gotten far into the ride yet. Ugh....

Our neighborhood seems to loose power very easily. We lost power a few weeks ago in fact for several hours in the night from Hurricane Dolly that just hit Florida.
Sooo.....we have our generator we bought right before Katrina ready to fire up.

So you all probably won't be hearing from me right away although I will will try to post something and let you all know how things are going....as soon as I can.

Obviously when the power is out.....you have to run the most important things on the generator like the freezer and fridge, and FANS!!!

I'm exhausted....so is my family. I think we will sleep well tonight.....
For a little while at least.

To everyone that can read this in Louisiana and other affected States......
Hang in there!

Overwhelmed

I'm absolutely overwhelmed tonight for the people of my State.

I got into my truck tonight after closing the store I work at....I turned on the radio and got in on New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's news conference tonight and was absolutely shocked.

I guess I had been out of the "loop" for several hours and didn't know what was going on....and I sure didn't expect to hear what was being said.

When I heard The Mayor say, "This is going to be the 'Mother of ALL Storms'...this storm will be worse than Katrina"....I just broke down and cried.

I was so grieved.

The news tonight has been grim and it's like a nightmare that won't go away.

Many of us.....are still in pain and didn't even realize it. I didn't....until tonight.
But the emotions are still there....and you start to relive the days you already lived three years ago.....and you start to review the images and the devastation of what happened to people that live not even an hour away from you. And people you know and people you love and those you don't. And believe me.....my family did not suffer like others did.

We lost power for 5 days...we had a bit of damage....we went through some drama.....but nothing like the suffering that many others went through during those days and the days afterwards....some are still suffering.

A thousand people killed......and devasation like we have never experienced especially in America. People stranded on Interstates, people on top of their rooftops, people and animals being rescued.....
And worst of all people acting like animals...murdering, raping, robbing, looting.

Everything that took place touched our city and rocked our lives in various ways.

Even to this day...we are still touched by these hurricanes and to think there is something WORSE coming....I just can't fathom it.

It's late and I should get to sleep...we have people coming to stay with us and we will all ride this out. But you can't sleep.

You watch and listen to the news over and over.....it's like 9/11.
You just can't grasp it and you keep watching....and thinking.....
"maybe their wrong." And "this can't be happening."
And you obsesse over dumb things.

Can you just imagine "watching" havoc and ruination coming right at you for 5 days.
We've known this thing was coming for that long......and can do nothing really but prepare the best we can.

It's like the people in California "knowing" there's an earthquake coming....it's going to be bad, it's going to cause major devastation...it may kill people..and it could get bigger possibly or it could be worse than what it already....while it's on it's way...yet, you don't know forsure where it's going to happen...but you have a bit of an ideal...and you don't know what time it will happen....but you have a bit of an ideal.

There are so many "what ifs."

At least we have time to prepare in some ways.....if you can really prepare. I mean you can physically somewhat and especially spiritually.....but emotionally......
It's still hard.

Thankfully many have had time and oppertunity to get out of harms way.

I feel especially bad for coastal Louisianians.
They have been through so much already with Katrina and Rita. And now this.
I guess that is a risk one takes when they live on the coast......but is there anywhere that is safe from disasters?

I don't think so.

We need mercy.

Things I'm Excited About Today

Today I am excited about a few things....

***Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
I'm liking what I am reading and hearing about this WOMAN today....

Our son lived and worked in Wasilla Alaska and LOVED it up there...that was when Palin was Mayor of that town...so I feel a weird "Mom connection" in that way. HA! HA!

Excited about....
***Lunch with my friend Lori at 12:30 at one of our favorite places to eat.

***Excited that we have our hurricane supplies all purchased.....

***Excited that it's a BEAUTIFUL day outside today....very hot though.

NOT excited that I took a sinus pill this morning and literally passed out on the couch watching the news and hurricane reports and missed my swim group! Ughhghghgh!

And last of all.....I'm NOT EXCITED about this....

With TODAY being the THIRD anniversary of Hurricane "Katrina"....
hitting the Louisiana and Mississipi coastline.....ALL the bad images of what happened during those days during and after once she came have been stirred up in our hearts and memories.

We sure hope we do not have a repeat event with this hurricane....ummmm or the one behind it.....like three years ago as well....hence "Katrina and Rita."
This is just crazy.

New Friends......

Don't you like to meet and make new friends?
I know I do.

This week I was an award from some one I've never met, online or in person! HA~
That's happened before but I never usually post the awards because I feel "bad" for others out there that never get any.
So I hate to flaunt mine when they come to me.

But I will today just to be a "good girl."

I always appreciate the gifts and efforts from others that are given to me. And it does make one feel good I have to say.

It was VERY sweet to be thought of by my new friend at.....
Thru Pink Curtains check out her site and see what she's up to and WHY her spot is called....."Thru Pink Curtains."

This was me the past few days. Well.....not exactly but it's a very good example.
We had TONS of rain from "Fay"...thank goodness she's passed.

But now we have this thing to wonder about......ugh!
Our local weather forcasters are already "talking to us" about this hurricane. Because it's going to get bigger they are expecting it to build to at least a Catagory 3 is what I just heard on the news.

I wonder when this thing is coming into the Gulf.
I don't even want to THINK about it.

But when you live in Louisiana......you have to.
We don't mess around with hurricanes.
My family doesn't anyway.
BELIEVE ME.....
we have HAD our share of bad experiences with those things.
So we have to prepare.

Besides.....my husband is the
"BIG DADDY" of preparation for most anything that is especially a potential crisis....so that's a good thing. HA!

I think this time though if that thing is coming......I want to flee north.
Maybe to Hot Springs and hang out there..that would be nice.

Yikes!!!!....I just remembered.....we have that major trip planned to
New York City at the end of September.

I hope this isn't going to interfere with it.
I guess I will have to keep my eye on it. And especially PRAY!

Wedding Story

What to wear?
Hopefully something that makes me look better than I do in these photos.
Ugh! I hate that. (I am so not photogenic so view with caution. HA~!)


Were going to a nice Wedding Reception tonight for our good friend's daughter who just was married two weeks ago in Mexico.

Kenzie and Daniel


Last month (July) a group of who love our mutual friends, held a shower for Kenzie and had a great time doing so. It was an honor and a pleasure to do this.

Blanche, Joanie, Julie, Kenzie, Joyce, Daurie

Kenzie opening gifts....Miss Priss beside her.
Alot of us have daughters the same age as Kenzie or there abouts so they joined us.

Here is my friend Julie and her daughter "O."

Three Amiga's

Joyce and Julie
Miss Priss and Kenzie



Kenzie has really been the very first of all our friends children to get married....so this makes us feel old. I'm ready to give Miss Priss up yet though...plus she isn't finished with High School yet so....that's good. HA! HA!
We have some time yet......years in fact I think.

Kenzie met her husband while doing Missions work in Mexico. His parents Pastor a church waaaaaay down there.

Most of us couldn't make it to the Wedding because it was so far....but we will all join together tonight and give the happy couple our blessings!

IF you would......

Please pray with us.....
My friend Diane called me this morning......asking for prayer for her Mother in Michigan.
Last night her Mother had fallen on her way to the bathroom and was taken to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning where they found she has not only "broken her leg" up very high to her hip...they also discovered she has a "mass" and "kidney disease."

Her "Mama" as we say in the South....has been "homesick for heaven" the past few years....which I always thought was great.
Now Diane asks that we just pray "That the Lord be Merciful to her Mother and let her go home."
Today I am praying the "prayer that never fails" for her Mother.....

"Your Kingdom Come.....Your WILL be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven."
You can't go wrong with this prayer ever.

Here I am.....

Today I met my good friend Diane for lunch.

She had "found" this new place to eat at and wanted me to go with her because she said "you'll love it..because it would make a GREAT Tea house." We both think alike in that manner because we miss our local Tea Room that we used to go to and hang out in.

I picked her up today and off we headed to "Central" which is a little ways outside (but not too far) of Baton Rouge.....it used to be Baton Rouge but they have annexed themselves from the Big Ol'Red Stick.....so I want to honor them that way.

The restaurant is located on Joor Road....(for any of you that are interested in going) in a big old house.
It's called "Coopers Catering".....the food was excellent. Their service and prices were great too. I'm sure we will be going out there again sometime.
My Good Friend Diane

This month was Diane's birthday and last month was mine and since she spent the greater portion of July in Michigan visiting family and I had my niece and nephew here for two weeks in July once she got back...we haven't had a chance to get together and celebrate so we were able to do just that today.

I've been "wandering" away from my computer the past few weeks with minimal output from me onto this site. Guess I will work on that some......like when it gets colder here and I'm not outside so much. HA!

Ummm......by the way as far as that "cooler Louisiana weather thing"....that could be in late December or January here.
One never knows forsure.
But what I DO know....is rain.
It's rained here EVERY single day. Our yards are a mess. But I heard on the news tonight we may have a bit of dry weather this weekend.
Right.

Sunday

"What dreadful hot weather we have!
It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance."
- Jane Austen -


"In August, the large masses of berries, which,
when in flower, had attracted many wild bees,
gradually assumed their bright velvety crimson hue,
and by their weight again bent down and broke their tender limbs."
--Henry David Thoreau--

"Baby E's" Birthday and our "Artistic Adventure"

While the "Twins" were still here with us...we were invited to go to a "One Year Birthday Party" for the Cajun Princess....who I will call "Baby E" on here.
She is the daughter of our good friend Chantelle who just moved back here from Alabama.

So Miss Priss, KJ and myself went and it was fun although I was a tad bit crabby because I was in a TON of pain that day. Ugh.
It's hard to be artistic when you feel so bad but I was able to endure it and we celebrated and made some cool things.

Chantelle and Joyce


The "Cajun Princess" Baby E.......waiting to open her presents.

The "Party" was at the "Pottery Works" and we all were to choose a piece of ceramic green ware and to "paint it." Ugh......

Chantelle making a "work of art."


We gave "Baby E" some cute rain boots, a Tutu, a Tiara and some books for her birthday.

Chantelle and Baby E with the special "Hand print and Birthday Plate" that was made for E's one year birthday.
We just got our items we made back.....and here they are!!! HA!


Miss Priss made a "plaque" that depicts her and "Italian Boy." HA! HA!

It's a bit "Picassioish."

KJ made this very cool little soy dish with a snail in the middle of it.
Very cute!

Last but not least......
Moi.
I'm not proud of this okay.
I tried to do a cool "Fleur Des Leis" in the middle of mine and the emblem turned out good but the green back ground was waaay TOO DARK.

I LOVE Art...all types of it but sadly, a "Painter".....I am not. HA!

However, I am lots of other great things! :~)

Do you have the "Fever?"

I didn't think I would......but I must confess that
"Yes, I have caught the Fever".......

It's been pretty exciting so far......
And just NOW.....
Our American Men's relay team JUST WON the Gold in the "400 Meter Freestyle" overthrowing the French swimmers......whewwwww!! It was pretty edgy.
Just seconds between the Gold and the Silver......

They just showed the awards ceremony and it is always AWESOME to see the American Flag raised and hear our National Anthem played. I Love that.
Always a proud moment.

I'm not into China's "politics" but I am into the Olympics right now.

"Time for Tea with Father Ted"

If you've never seen the show "Father Ted" before, here's a tiny clip of the infamous "Mrs Doyle" the housekeeper trying to coax Father Ted into a nice "cuppa tea and a cake."



"Father Ted" was a weekly show that used to come on PBS a few years back. It was a BBC production of course about three Irish Priests and their mad housekeeper who live on "Craggy Island" off the coast of Ireland somewhere. It's all fictional of course. I think. HA!
We had a boy from Ireland staying with us one summer and he was watching this show one night at our house. We had never even heard of it before.
He told us that "it was one of the most "favored" shows in Ireland" at the time...so we watched it.

My sister Jerri who lives in Iowa and I got pretty hooked on this show because "if you love sarcasm and you love the Irish"....well.....it's all of that.
Plus I had just gotten back from Ireland so I was into all things Irish at the time.

Then our local PBS never put it back on. I couldn't blame them though. I suppose they got complaints about it.

It is a bit "sacrilegious".....especially for South Louisiana so I was surprised that they even showed it down here. But then again...it is pretty sacrilegious for Ireland too actually.

I have to warn you because some of the episodes can get a bit "crass" so you have to use discretion.

They are posting lots of short clips from the show on U-Tube and I found this "tea clip" that I thought you might enjoy today.

It's rainy as Ireland here today in Baton Rouge.

When I went to Ireland....it rained every day I was there....10 straight days of rain. Not all day long mind you. But every day still.

Interestingly enough......it also rains EVERY single day in South Louisiana in the summertime.....did you know that???

But it's hot and humid here...pretty much ALWAYS.....and their accents are way cooler in Ireland.

"Time For Tea?" Not even.....

Exhausted.
Now there's a word. We are all tired. But we have to still keep "running" for now.

The "Twins/Cousins" made it safely back to Iowa...."K" threw up in the truck at the New Orleans airport...poor thing.

"K and KJ getting ready to catch their flight to Memphis"

"The Cousins and Caleb"
"All the Cousins.....except Miss Priss hanging out on the back patio"

The "Twins" at the LSU Student Union Steps.


(note: I put those "closed eye" photos on here anyway because those boys did it on PURPOSE....BRATS!!!)

Miss Priss starts school in TWO days....what's up with that??
Luke starts College in about 2 weeks. I think. HA!

We have errands galore today.....I can't even stop for tea.

I hate that.

Next week.....back to "house" things around here. It's time to finish up.
"Fall's a coming."

Well.....not anytime soon in Louisiana.
But it's a nice thought.