Craft Shows, Festivals, Fair....do you go to them?

Oak Alley Plantation


I haven't really gone to Craft Shows in several years.....it seems like I went to them for years and never missed them, even traveling with friends to other towns and states even to attend them. Then I just lost interest in them somewhere along the way as life became busy.

Two weekends ago.....Miss Priss and I decided at the "spur of the moment" on a Sunday afternoon to go to a Craft event at a Plantation just about
in-between our city of Baton Rouge and the city of New Orleans.
We had heard about the show going on but hadn't really planned on going. She and I haven't really gone to Craft Shows because I always went with my friends.

But now she's getting older. Sigh. And it's time to "Teach the ways" of Craft Shows and such. HA!
So we jumped in my truck and headed towards New Orleans.

The area is called "River Road" because it runs along the Mississippi River and it is known it's wonderful and beautiful old Plantation homes.

We went to "Oak Alley" Plantation in Vacherie, LA. which has held a Craft Show for the past few years.

Vendors Tents everywhere....

Even Tents under big sprawling Oak limbs....

The day was the MOST perfect day for doing this.......very clear and sunny and just a tad bit cool.

After looking around at all the things offered...I talked Miss Priss into "Touring" the Plantation with me as well.....I love History and she's not a huge fan....YET. Just give me a bit more time.....HA!

You aren't allowed of course to take photos inside the house...cameras and their flashes aren't healthy to the presevation of antique paintings and such....so these photos are from the front doorway below and the upstairs balconies.

Views from the front door area and the balconies.



The Plantation and it's grounds are wonderful if you ever want to visit it.



Another view.....

Have you ever taken a photo of yourself? You know how you hold the camera out with your own arm...they usually aren't pretty are they? HA!

This photo is better but still no "work of art."

Finally it was time to go......they were packing up the tents and their goods.

We ended up buying a pair of "LSU Tiger earrings" for Miss Priss and "three Silver Charms for my Charm bracelet".....an "Aligator (of course) and two different styles of "Crowns" (of course) from a vendor from New Orleans.

Then it was time to go......so we headed to the FOOD BOOTHS.....which when you go to Craft Shows or Festivals in Louisiana.....believe me when I say.....
"It's all about the FOOD!!!"

There was soooo much good food to choose from.....the smells the entire time were incredible. Finally we decided on what to eat and headed out the gates to leave.

Miss Priss with the "Shrimp and Onion" on a stick.....and "Kettle Corn" for the Daddy.....and fresh Lemonaide.


We were parked WAY OUT in a big ol'field....in the middle of Cane fields. So we had a good little walk ahead of us again. UGH!


Have you even seen a "Sugar Cane" field?? Sugar Cane is a huge crop in Louisiana.

Sugar Cane


It looks tall and similar to corn in some ways because it's a stalk plant with those long leaves....but it's different.

Going back out the long drive to Oak Alley.

Louisiana is known for it's "Festivals".....many small towns hold them. There are nearly "400" Festivals held in Louisiana annually during the year. A
mazing isn't it? They are all different too....

I had NEVER gone to anything like these "Festivals" until we moved to a small town in South Louisiana for several years. The food, the culture, everything involved is interesting and something to see.....at least once. HA!


Crowley has the "Rice Festival"....Rayne has the "Frog Festival"....Delcambre the "Shrimp Festival".....Abbeville has the "Giant Omelete Festival AND the Cattle Festival"....New Iberia has the "Sugar Cane Festival" and on and on the list goes.

How about your "Neck of the woods"....does your city do something special in the Fall or Spring regarding Festivals or Fairs?

Stay tuned.....
I am going to show you photos later from a "Festival" that my Cousin Sara's town does in Missouri.

Tea Time.....

Me in front of "The Russian Tea Room" in New York City.....Miss Priss on the side having a Latte along the way.
On our last day in New York, we were walking to 5th Ave to shop and just "happened" upon "The Russian Tea Room"....which made me mad because I WANTED to go to Tea while I was in the city.
But on trips we don't always get to do everything we want to do sometimes..bummer.
Especially in that city because there is SO much to do and see.
Oh well...I know where it is now.....so maybe next time. HA!

However......on another day recently, here in my own city of Baton Rouge...I went to a Tea with some very special people.

Marsha my good friend and Tea Hostess

Last week, or was it last week? I think I've lost a week somewhere in here.
It's been a busy life lately. That's normal for this family though. HA!

Anyhow.....my good friend Marsha sent invites out to a few of us for Tea the other day.

The table was set when we arrived and it was GRAND!


It's always so heartwarming when someone goes to such effort for your enjoyment...especially since they didn't "have to do it."



Each place setting reminded us of how she used to set up at her Tea Room
"The Hope Chest" when it was still open.
Many of you who know me or know her story, may remember that Marsha who had ran her Tea Room for 10 years here in Baton Rouge, closed it after her husband passed away.

Antique Christmas ornaments hang from her crystal Chandelier above the table...it looks SO pretty in person.


Two of the "Honored Guests"...Marsha's Daughter-In-Law, Christy with her baby and Marsha's Grand Daughter, "Baby Avery" who Marsha now takes care of nearly daily while Christy works.

Marsha is known for her fabulous "Tea Foods" and this was just "one" of our dessert.
She pays CAREFUL attention to detail....just look at this Bread Pudding.

She made them like Autumn Leaves!!!
So fun!

One of the "displays" in the room. Cute!

We other ladies had some items to discuss....for a while now we have had a "Burden" to start something to help women...especially the younger ones....but we are seeking direction.

Tricia, Joyce, Marsha,and Diane who is seated.


Whoops.....lets try it again but this way.

Sometimes it's all about "positioning around obstacles"......

We all know that when the "timing is right" that everything will all fall in to "position" and will work out.

Oh.....and also that a "Cup of Tea" will have a HUGE part in it all.

Tuesday at Bravo's

Last Tuesday, "The Pool Group" met for lunch at a new wonderful Italian restaurant here in Baton Rouge, called "Bravo's."Sarah, Ms. Sandi, Ann

The atmosphere inside the dining the building was FABULOUS......we were all very impressed with that AND the food. It was soooo good and very reasonable. Maybe because we were eating at lunch time. Rates may be higher at night.


Phyllis, and Irma

Ms. Phyllis is always so funny!

Joan, Norma, and me.

When I first arrived......the ladies didn't recognize me because my hair was fixed up! HA!

I joked that "it was hard to recognize people because we didn't have bathing suits on.....we had REAL clothes on!"Scary. HA!

I miss swiming with my friends three times a week......but we are all going to Ms. Sandi's for a "Cookie Exchange" the first of December.....right.

"Packing on pounds, like bears for hibernation" so we can exercise it all off in the Spring! HA!!!
Oh well.

We win......

There is something in October sets the gypsy blood astir: We must rise and follow her, When from every hill of flame She calls, and calls each vagabond by name.
~ William Bliss Carman ~

I just heard from my "Gypsy, Vagabond,son," and he's doing great up North.
We've been talking all night via cell phone and computer off and on about the football games being played, and other things.

But he just sent me a text message that said this........

"We win YAY."

Little does he realize how how meaningful his words are.

A very good friend of ours, Mother, used to send us notes and cards in the mail and occasionally call us sometimes to encourage our family.

She's gone from the planet now, having made her her appearance in heaven last summer.

At the end of her notes and phone calls she would say to me.......
"Remember Joyce, 'WE WIN.'"

She's so right.
And it's bigger than football and it's bigger than politics and it's bigger than life.
I saved those notes in a special drawer in my dresser.
I cherish things like that.

"Vagabond, Gypsy son" will be home to visit next weekend.
Silly boy. He's always searching...and still hasn't found "what he's looking for."

I have ALWAYS loved the Gypsies...and Vagabonds, Pilgrims, Sojourners, Wanderers and other such peoples.
It's all about terminology sometimes isn't it?.

And yet....."of such are some of us."

Great Pearls, Good Friends....."Project Pearl Persuasion"

My good friend Nora and myself.Nora hated this photo of herself because she looked so thin and I didn't like this photo much either because I looked
SO HUGE beside her! HA!

My good friend Nora and I have both been so busy that we haven't had time to go do anything together in forever it seems.
So we decided to go to lunch last week.

I told her......that we "could not go...unless we WORE our Pearls."
Because what is the USE of all of us having all this stuff if we can't enjoy it???
Jewelry especially.

She agreed to wear hers.

And I wore mine.



Okay...hers are REAL and are also "antique" Pearls that she inherited from her Aunt.

Mine are "fakes" but they are "nice fakes" that I just happened to "pick up" while while Miss Priss and I were having a "shopping day" without the men at "Macy's" in New York. HA!

GREAT STORE that Macy's by the way.
We have a Macy's here......but it's nothing like theirs believe me.

It's NINE floors!
We found several MAJOR discounts on things we purchased AND we received an overall discount on everything because of those crazy "tour bus passes" we held. That was an unexpected BLESSING as well.



We HAD to go up to the "Christmas" department because my sister Jenny in Iowa asked me to look for "Elf" up there. That's her most favorite movie of all so she wanted me to check out where he worked. Because he worked in the Macy's Store in the movie.
WEll I think they called it "Gimble's" but it's been out of business since the 80's so they really were using Macy's.

Anyway......they were JUST putting out the Christmas merchandise.
I couldn't find Elf anywhere...and I didn't want to "ask for him."

"Attention:......crazy, hick, woman from Louisiana on the 9th Floor"...so we just looked around and bought a few things up there too.
A gift for one of my good friends.
Umm....and one tiny gift for me......an "ornament" for our tree this year. :~)

Miss Priss even bought her "Homecoming" dress there at Macy's too and you should SEE it.
It is Fabulous!!! We got such a great deal on it too...I HATE to even tell you what we spent on it because I think they goofed...big time.

I double checked my bill yesterday when it came in the mail.....and yes....the check out price was correct.
WE thought it ended up being cheaper than the tag price when we bought it.
And it was.....then we recieved another discount on the bill. Cool. I paid the entire balance off tonight and didn't even wince. HA!

I will show you photos later when that night comes for her in November. And I might tell you the price. HA!

I loved this necklace when I saw it so I bought it and the earrings and that was my "one SPLURGE" on my trip and my "momento" for the trip.....

Well..not counting that second Broadway show we hadn't planned on seeing.....yikes! HA!
It was SOOO worth it though...Miss Priss and I LOVED that "Mary Poppins! HA!
I mean HOW many times do you get to go to New York and see Mary Poppins???

Anyhow......don't worry though, as if you would. HA!

I DO have some "real" pearls as well that my husband gave me one year for Christmas...... but they are locked up in our safety deposit box.
I tucked them safely away before the hurricanes..... I need to go and get them so I can start wearing them.

This new "ideal" of mine....is a little something I'm going to call
"Pearl Project Persuasion" and if you have some....why not join us? I say real or fake...lets have some fun right??

Get those babies out and WEAR THEM. What good are then in a BOX.....jewelry box or otherwise.
Such a waste really.

Besides.....in light of the economy.....we may need to pawn these things at some point.

So come on let's enjoy them now girls.

I'm wearing mine all the time now....join me on my "Project Pearl Persuasion" if you wish to.

I say we have a bit of fun and laughter because the news "seems" to be all bad right now.



***Note:
I'm trying to keep things cheerful.
However I did receive an e-mail from an old dear friend of mine in Iowa, whose husband lost his job today.
This is the THIRD person...and second good friend of mine to suffer this in the past two weeks.
Things are getting very tough for many.

Tuesday......Looking Back to New York

Two weeks ago today ...which was a Tuesday.....I was in New York.
I still haven't finished telling you that story yet or showing you my photos. HA~!

View From The Top...
We are on a "Bus Tour" of "Upper Manhattan"...."Central Park" is on the right side of the bus.
It's HUGE and very lush.


The American Museum of Natural History

"The Dakota"...

Can't remember what this building was but neat awnings ...I think I have a THING for awnings apparently. I have tons of photos of buildings with them. HA!

"Miss Priss at the '3 Story' DISNEY STORE"......yikes!
That place was SOOO neat....we could hardly get Miss Priss out of there.
"Ground Zero"
EVERYBODY ALWAYS asks me "if we went to Ground Zero"...this photo is as close as we got to it and that was close enough.

It's still a BIG HOLE in the ground which after 8 years since America was ATTACKED by Terrorist....is sad to me.
I wish they would get something done there....as do probably do the thousands of family members of those killed.

I can't remember what this building is either. HA!
But HEY....there's our "Insurance Company" behind this old building.

Very cool looking "Staples" store....can you imagine? LOVE those "candy stripe" awnings.

While in New York we took TWO "Bus Tours" on two different days...which I think is the BEST way to get around a big ol' city that size, in the least amount of time.
Without walking your brains out which we did anyway.

Miss Priss and Gabe.....on top the "open topped Double Decker bus" we rode on.


This was near our hotel on 57th street....I take it that it is some kind of "day spa"...but I loved the sign...and I think I would want to PAY BIG BUCKS to do what is says......NOT!
Can you see the painted sign on the window.....it says:
"Reflexology and......NAPPING!!!"

I nap all the time and never pay for it. What are those New Yorkers thinking??
Maybe I should start a "napping business"....hummmm.


"The Cathedral of St. John The Divine"


Very nice remodeled "Tenements" in Harlem.


The inside of "St. Patrick's Cathedral"....
St. Patrick's is such a well known church world wide...so I just HAD to get in there and see what it was all about.
It's lovely inside....if you like history and craftsmanship.....you'll love this church building.

"Gabe's head"....and looking over into Central Park....HA!


I've been waiting on "Miss Priss" actually because she has a LOT of great photos that she won't surrender over to me. Ughhghgh!
I've been threatening her with a beating....but she still forgets to send them to me.

So sorry you all will have to settle for mine which aren't too terrible....:~)
Are they?