December 2012 / January 2013 by Spencer Carter

Trés Bella FREE

Life is Beautiful!

DECEMBER 2012/JANUARY 2013

EVERY GIRL NEEDS A

L BD LET’S TALK

bringing

new life downtown MONROE

TRENTON

Pictured left to right: Matt Sanderson, owner of River and Rail Cantina James McCready owner of Rain Salon Chad Matrana, owner of Bacco

Home

For The

Holidays

Tres Bella Magazine 1493 Frenchman’s Bend Road Monroe, LA 71203

PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Permit #7 Caney, KS 67333

SPARKLE SPARKLE

Grassi’s Fine Jewelry Grassi’s Fine Jewelry

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From the

In Loving Memory of Our Daddy, HALL BRODNAX BARHAM November 12, 1959 - January 3, 2012 This winter on a cold night, do yourself and your family a favor by taking a walk outside. If you listen quietly you may be lucky enough to hear the sound of geese flying overhead in the moonlit sky. Our first geese experience was on such a night on the edge of a cotton field in Oak Ridge; a night still very vivid in our minds. Driving through Oak Ridge is a favorite memory we will always treasure. That night we were on our way back home with our mom and dad, when suddenly, daddy pulls the car over and tells us to all hurry and get out. He sat us on the hood of the car and told us to listen. As we listened we began to hear an unending sound of honking geese filling the night sky with such a beautiful melody. We sat there amazed as our daddy began to tell us this story about geese: He explained to us that Louisiana is one of the main routes or flyways the geese travel along each year on their flight south to find food . That they fly in a v-pattern because the birds up front do most of the work and the others float along, barely flapping their wings.They continue this pattern until the birds in front get tired and move to the back. He told us, “Everyone takes a turn being the leader, and when you hear them honking that is them reminding each other that they are all still there and to keep going.” He painted such an amazing picture with his words that even though the sky was dark we honestly thought we could see the geese flying across the sky. To this day, we make it a point to walk outside every winter and listen for the geese. The honking combined with the flapping of hundreds of wings is a truly beautiful sound. We are so glad our Daddy shared this special memory with us. It is an experience we will pass along for generations. Memories like this serve as a constant reminder that it really is the simple things in life that hold the most value and bring us pure happiness. So this winter, we ask you to please stop, slow down, and take time to enjoy the little things in life. These are the memories money can’t buy. You will forever be in our hearts Your daughters, Lily and Virginia

publisher

Carolyn Clampit Owner/Publisher

The most wonderful time of the year is upon us! The time of year to spend with family and friends, reflect back on memories, make new ones and anticipate what the New Year will bring.

I continue to be overwhelmed by the wonderful support we receive from our communities. Our advertisers make it possible and our readers make it rewarding! None of this would be possible without the hard work and effort of the “Tres’Bella” family. You know who you are and I want to thank each of you for all you do from the bottom of my heart. Our goal is to continue to strive to make Tres’Bella better with each issue, reach out to more readers and expand our territory in the upcoming year. Please support our local businesses during this shopping season. We want to see our communities prosper. It is my warmest and heartfelt wish that each of you have a Blessed Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Carolyn

I would also like to thank the writers who provide such timely and interesting articles

Angela Blake .............................................................. EDITOR

Carolyn Files .................................... More in Morehouse Parish chris woodall ............................................Let the Games Begin Linda Campbell .......................... A Non-traditional Christmas andi holifield ..................................................... Eat to Live Angie O’Pry ......................................................................... Ask Angie clarice fluitt ................................It’s Not Reindeer That I Hear BILL DYE ................................................................ Don’t Settle for Gray Trés Bella magazine is published Kay king ................................................... Bastrop A Story of Survival by and is the property of russ brantley ......................................... Dutch Oven Gathering donna underwood ....................................... Make A Difference Sasha Shestko ............................................................ Motts Stables Monroe, LA joyce M. Christian ............................................ Building a Dream Visit us at wade walley ............................................................ Event Planning www.tresbellamag.net amy tucker .............................................. Growing Up Italian Trés Bella Magazine makes every effort to provide accurate Buford Shively.................................................... The Great Basil Bust

Carolyn

CC Publishing

information in advertising and editorial content, however, does not make any claims as to accuracy of information provided by advertisers or editorial contributors and accepts no responsibility or liability for inaccurate information

For information on how to submit story ideas, concerns or information on how to advertise, please contact

Carolyn Clampit 318-372-2709 tresbellamag@yahoo.com

On the cover: Chad Matrana, owner of Bacco James McCready owner of Rain Salon Matt Sanderson, owner of River and Rail Cantina Cover Photographer - Lyn Rieger Publication Photography by Spencer Carter

Please Thank Our

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Without their continued commitment & support this publication would not be possible. A Bodyworks -61 A Wild Hair Salon - 23 Anytime Fitness - 25 Aron’s Pharmacy - 10 Bastrop, City of - 35 Bent Oaks Boutique - 58 Buck Commander -39 Carter Photography - 17 Cricket Beaux Bicket - 59 Couture Consignment - 59 Dana LeGuin - 55 DB Realty - 23 Debbie’s Hallmark - 21 Design House Florist - 59 Downstairs Gallery - 39 Dr. Clariec Fluitt - 76 Dr. John Cooksey - 18.19 Dr. John Snuggs - 21 Duck Commander - 39 Every Occasion - 65 Expert Mosquito Control - 61 Fiesta Nutrition - 22 Ghoul B Gone - 17 Glenwood Medical Center - 2 Grassi’s Fine Jewelry - 3 Herringstone’s Boutique - 7 Hideaway Self Storage -46 Hollis & Co. Jewelers - 23 Home Cinema & Hi-Fi - 44,45 Home Improvement Outlet - 43 Imperial Galleries - 57 Indian Village - 56 It Works - Lela Brown - 31 Just Like You - 22 Klean King - 33

Kristen Benton - 57 La Petite Maison - 51 Lefebvre Veterinary Center - 46 Malcombs - 59 Material Things - 49 Miletello’s Landscape - 65 Mulhearn Funeral Home - 22 Nadar’s Gallery - 51 North Monroe Baptist Church - 9 Oak Woods Center - 61 Painted Pony - 65 Pearl Pumphrey’s - 15 Premier Laboratory - 29 Premier Urgent Care - 30 Quality Sheet Metal - 61 Rain Salon - 9 Ray’s Sound Company - 65 Rayville Family Clinic - 61 Reeves, Coon & Funderburg - 33 Reily & Friends - 33 Richland State Bank - 31 Ron Alexander - 21 Seasonal Setups - 6 Serendipity - 5 Shades of Blue Media - 27 Something Borrowed - 59 Something Special II - 23 Southern Lady - 59 Spa Bella - 56 SpeeDee Oil Change - 61 St. Francis Musical Center - 21 Thomas Mobile Veterinary - 47 Traditions on Trenton - 55 Trenton Street Antiques - 59 Weight No More - 75

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Let the Games Begin 08 38 ASK BELLA by Chris Woodalll

Bella’s Advice Column

FASHION 11 40 MORE IN MOREHOUSE

Little Black Dress

by Carolyn Files

TRES FAVES 14 42 DON’T SETTLE FOR GRAY

Check out our Favorites

by Brother Bill Dye

ALL ABOUT PETS BEAUTY 16 46 Think Before Giving Pets as Gifts

Holiday Survival Tips

OUT EAT TO LOSE 20 48 STEPPIN’ With Amber Eppinette BY Andi Holyfield

OVEN GATHERING CHRISTMAS GIVING 26 50 DUTCH by Russ Brantley Making a Difference

FOR THE HOLIDAYS FIBROMYALGIA 27 52 HOME Preparing Your Home

Understanding the Symptoms

TALK TRENTON THE GREAT BASIL BUST 28 54 LET’S Discover a Local Treasure By Buford Shively

BUILDING A DREAM A NON-TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS 32 60 by Joyce M. Christian by Linda Campbell

EVENT PLANNING BASTROP 34 62 by Wade Walley

A Story of Survival

PINTEREST PICKS FACES OF CHANGE 35 63 We Share our Favorite Finds

Bringing Life to Downtown Monroe

62 GROWING UP ITALIAN by Amy Tucker Barefoot

66 RECIPES 72 CROSSWORD CORNER 74 HOROSCOPES

Seasonal Setups For your home o ccaSionS • Home Accessorizing entry ways, dining rooms, book cases, mantels

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by: Chris Woodall, T.P. Outdoors

One of my first memories of my developing love of duck hunting is from my pre-teen years. It was early December, and I was standing in the sporting goods aisle, at WalMart of all places, staring up at the duck calls as if they were made of gold. I had never hunted ducks before, so I wasn’t sure why I wanted a duck call. But something about being able to “talk” to the ducks and get up close and personal got my attention. I persistently begged and pleaded for an early Christmas present while my mom tried her best to drag me away. Well... persistence paid off. That first call was a Buck Gardner single reed and I had no idea how or when to blow it; I just knew I wanted to. There was a beaver pond in walking distance from my house that offered perfect testing grounds for me. After all, there were no repercussions for blowing too loud there. After school in the evenings, I would walk to the pond and call until dusk. Always about that time, wood ducks would come in by the droves. I figured surely it was because of my expert calling. I know better now. Because of my age, bringing a gun with me was out of the question. I didn’t yet have a passion for ducks or hunting for that matter, it was just something fun to do in the evenings. But I was ready to move to the next step. I knew I needed somebody older to take me. I wanted to HUNT.

the fog and waiting. Even though it was our first duck hunt and neither of us knew a thing about what we were doing, Robbie instructed me to call a few times to bring the ducks in to us. Not long after, two wood ducks came screaming through the cypress trees straight towards our setup. Two shots rang out and both ducks fell in the decoys. There was a brief moment of silence after the echo of the shots faded. I was shocked. I felt like the guys I watched religiously every Saturday mor ing on TV. I was a real duck hunter. I had no idea that I did not call those ducks in, and it was just coincidence that we sat up just right with the wind at our backs. The thing is, all of that doesn’t matter. It started a passion that has brought me all over the country. I’ve been allowed to meet so many people, hunters and non-hunters, that I now call friends. I could have easily slept late, played video games, or even watched TV all day. But, who knows where I’d be now, what kinds of friends I’d have, or even what my career would be if I hadn’t gone on that first hunt. My whole life now revolves around being in the outdoors and hunting. I owe all that to one duck call, and one unsure shot over a foggy beaver pond.

My older brother was the perfect choice for a chauffeur. The only problem was, his game was deer hunting. Breaking him away from hauling a shotgun loaded with buckshot to the woods would surely be a chore. Once again though, persistence paid off.

Working in retail now, I get to see the kids walk in the store with the same looks in their eyes that I had had. I see those sparks when a parent hands them their first gun or even gets them that duck call they were begging for. So, if you have the chance, take a kid hunting. That’s what it’s all about. All it takes is one hunt, just one shot. Pass it on...

One morning we made the long walk to the beaver pond and threw out a few rubber decoys we had borrowed the night before. We sat staring through

Chris Woodall T.P. Outdoors (318)614-5730

Find your smile again... Come join us at North Monroe. Sunday mornings at 8:30 and 11:00am. Lifegroups at 9:45.

northmonroe.com • (318) 343-4730 • 210 Finks Hideaway Rd., Monroe, La 71203

09 09

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LB D little

black

dress

There are myriad ways to do the classic LBD—from cocktail-ready sparklers to office-apropos sheaths.

A little black dress is an evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often quite short. Fashion historians ascribe the origins of the little black dress to the 1920s designs of Coco Chanel, intended to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral color. Its ubiquity is such that it is often simply referred to as the “LBD.” The “little black dress” is considered essential to a complete wardrobe by many women and fashion observers, who believe it a “rule of fashion” that every woman should own a simple, elegant black dress that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion: for example, worn with a jacket and pumps for daytime business wear or with more ornate jewelry and accessories for evening. Because it is meant to be a staple of the wardrobe for a number of years, the style of the little black dress ideally should be as simple as possible: a short black dress that is too clearly part of a trend would not qualify because it would soon appear dated.

Trim off the shoulder sheath Dress

One shoulder Matte Jersey Dress A single blouson sleeve leads into the asymmetrical bodice on a fitted, Empire-waisted dress, gently ruched for a more flattering fit.

Exquisitely beaded mesh trim accentuates the alluring off-the-shoulder neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves of a lithe, ponte-knit sheath.

• Side zip with hook-and-eye closure.

• Hidden side-zip closure. • Fully lined.

• Bodice and sleeve are lined, with rubber gripper top bodice.

• Rayon/nylon/spandex; spot clean.

• Polyester/spandex; dry clean. • By Maggy London; imported.

• By Alexia Admor; made in the USA of imported fabric.

Ruffle Sleeve Lace Dress Elbow-length bell sleeves, satin trim and sheer, floral lace lend quiet elegance to a cropped shift dress. • Exposed back zip with snap closure. • Silk lining. • Cotton/nylon/rayon; dry clean. • By Adrianna Papell; imported. • Dresses and Petite Focus.

Off the Shoulder Elegance

ruched Matte Jersey Dress Inset Empire waist heightens the figure-flattering silhouette of a fluid matte jersey dress with a ruched V-neck bodice and pleated skirt. • Back zip with hook-and-eye closure. • Ruched cap sleeves. • V-back. • Bodice is lined. • Polyester/spandex; dry clean. • By Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique; made in the USA or imported.

Perfect for the casual office party

Exude Confidence in this little Number

Full figure Women Rejoice!

Strapless Taffeta sheath Dress

one shoulder Jersey mini Dress

Gleaming taffeta shapes the strapless bodice and pencil skirt of a classic sheath with allover princess seams for a polished silhouette.

A single exaggerated sleeve falls from the bloused bodice of a dance-ready minidress cut from soft stretch jersey.

• Hidden side-zip closure. • Strapless straight neckline.

• Slips on over head.

• Optional, adjustable straps.

• Fully lined.

• Slim pencil skirt.

• Polyester/spandex; dry clean.

• Fully lined, with rubber gripper, boning and light padding in bodice.

• Jessica Simpson; imported.

Drape V-neck Jersey Dress Soft draping anchors the V-neckline of a stretch-jersey dress gently shaped with curved seaming and reverse pleats on the skirt. • Slips on over head. • Three-quarter-length sleeves. • Fully lined. • Polyester/spandex; hand wash.

Flirty Fun for Everyone

• Polyester taffeta; dry clean.

An illusion back and short sleeves lend allure to a square-neck sheath dress fashioned with horizontal pleats throughout the body for a modern tiered effect.

Sexy Little Number

Side zip closure. Approx. length from shoulder to hem: regular 38”; petite 36”. Lined. Polyester/spandex; dry clean. By Maggy London; imported. Dresses and Petite Focus.

• By Donna Ricco; imported.

Graceful Subdued Elegance

Form Fitting and Fabulous

Trés Faves Fabulous Fashion Ensemble

Bent Oaks Boutique 306 Trenton, West Monroe (318) 388-0078

Hello Kitty Signature Lace Chemise by Hanky Panky, $82 Just Like You 4900 Cypress St, #5, West Monroe 318-396-6789

The Little Black Dress for every occasion

Herringstone’s 1830 Forsythe Ave , Monroe 318-388-2680

Little Black Dress with elegance AND comfort

Pearl Pumphrey’s 800 Cypress St., West Monroe 318.807.3275

Flax All Around Gatsby in Volcano Raw Linen Rose 725 Louisa St., Rayville 318-728-6456

800 Cypress Street , West Monroe

(318) 807-3275

Holiday Beauty Survival Tips Holidays can take their toll on skin and hair, but you can lift your looks in minutes with these strategies and techniques.

Puffy Face Cause: Drinking and eating too much. Too many cocktails or salty hors d’oeuvres and you could wake up looking like a blowfish (and not in a good way). Often holiday foods are salty, and salt acts like a magnet causing your body to retain water and making you feel “puffy”. Dilute the salt by drinking lots of water or other caffeine-free fluids like peppermint tea, which can also ease any digestion issues you may have after overdoing it. Hint: To help keep fluids from pooling in your face overnight, sleep propped up on two or three pillows.

Stained Lips

Flushed Face

Cause: Drinking red wine or wearing dark lipstick. Last night’s Cabernet was delicious, but you don’t want to carry its memory on your lips, which may already be dry and flaky from cold winter winds.

CAUSE: Standing too long over a hot stove. When we are confronted with too much heat blood rushes to the surface of the skin to cool you off.

The red color will cling to the dry pieces of skin on lips, but you can remove it by exfoliating the outer layer of skin. Wet an extra-soft toothbrush with warm water, then gently rub the lips with a circular motion. Next, rinse your lips, pat dry, and apply a moisturizing lip balm with petroleum jelly . Another way to remove color from lips is by gently rubbing them with lemon juice. Afterward, rinse, dry, and apply lip balm.

Sore Hands

Acne Breakouts

Cause: Carrying shopping bags and writing cards. Your hands are one of your hardestworking body parts at any time of the year. During the run-up to the holidays, they’re pulling a double shift.

Cause: Stress. The too-much-to-do-in-toolittle-time holiday syndrome can leave your nerves frayed and your skin blemished.

To soothe hand muscles, try the following techniques. Stand over a table and place your palms flat on it; spread your fingers, then press against the table for 15 seconds. Turn your palms around so your fingertips are facing your legs and press again. Next, hold your right hand in front of you, palm down, and spread your fingers. Use your left thumb to firmly press each of the webs between the fingers, one by one, toward the wrist. Repeat with the opposite hand and thumb. This compressing and letting go increases circulation to the hands and relaxes them.

If you’re prone to breakouts and don’t have overly sensitive or dry skin, try preventing them with regular use of a face soap that contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. If an important event is coming up and you tend to break out when you’re run-down, starting a week before, use a 5 percent benzoyl peroxide cream every night on the area where blemishes usually occur. When a pimple does appear, place an ice pack on it for 5 to 10 minutes to reduce swelling, then pat the area dry and apply benzoyl peroxide cream or gel with a clean cotton swab. You can top it with concealer that also contains benzoyl peroxide.

To keep your face from heating up like a skillet while you’re cooking or madly cleaning up, lower your internal thermostat by chewing on ice chips or draping a slightly damp, cold towel around your neck. Another way to cool down: Fill a bowl with whole milk and ice cubes, dip a cloth in the solution, and pat your face with it. The lactic acid has an antiinflammatory effect. Too late to prevent redness? Brush on a yellow-based loose or pressed powder to neutralize and hide the red.

Red, Swollen, Tired Eyes

Cause: Staying up late. Celebrating into the wee hours, overindulging in food and drink, then haphazardly removing makeup (getting bits of it in your eyes), can leave your eyes with a hangover. Lie down and place cold cotton balls or a chilled gel eye mask over closed eyes for 10 minutes. This will drain accumulated fluids and reduce swelling. (To get ready for the morning after a big night, soak cotton balls in water, flatten them with your fingers, and keep them in the freezer on wax paper until needed.) Avoid drops that claim to take the red out because they work in the short term by contracting blood vessels but can backfire later on, making eyes redder than ever.

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Is Diabetes Hurting Your Eyesight? Diabetes is a leading cause of sight loss so having a yearly eye exam is extremely important even if your vision is OK. Finding problems early can be the key in preventing more serious problems later. If you are living with diabetes be sure to ask your eye care professional to check for signs of cataracts and glaucoma. During an exam the eye is dilated and this allows a clear picture of your entire eye including the blood vessels in the back called the retina. Retina damage happens slowly. The retina has tiny blood vessels that are easy to damage. These break and leak blood into the vitreous of the eye. The leaking blood keeps light from reaching the retina. Over the years, the swollen and weak blood vessels can form scar tissue and pull the retina away from the back of the eye. If the retina becomes detached, you may see floating spots or flashing lights. You may feel as if a curtain has been pulled over part of what you are looking at. A detached retina can cause loss of sight or blindness if you don’t take care of it right away. Call your eye care professional right away if you are having any vision problems or if you have had a sudden change in your vision. Diabetes also causes two other eye problems-cataracts and glaucoma. People without diabetes can get these eye problems, too. But people with diabetes get these problems more often and at a younger age. A cataract is a cloud over the lens of the eye, which is usually clear. The lens focuses light onto the retina. A cataract makes everything you look at seem cloudy. You need surgery to remove the cataract. During surgery your lens is taken out and a plastic lens, like a contact lens, is put in. The plastic lens stays in your eye all the time. Cataract surgery helps you see clearly again. Glaucoma starts from pressure building up in the eye. Over time, this pressure damages your eye’s main nerve-the optic nerve. The damage first causes you to lose sight from the sides of your eyes. Treating glaucoma is usually simple. Your eye care professional will give you special drops to use every day to lower the pressure in your eyes. Or your eye care professional may want you to have laser surgery.

How do I know if I have retina damage from diabetes? You may not have any signs of diabetes retina damage, or you may have one or more signs: • blurry or double vision • rings, flashing lights, or blank spots • dark or floating spots • pain or pressure in one or both of your eyes • trouble seeing things out of the corners of your eyes

The professionals at Cooksey Vision & Cosmetic Center know the importance of maintaining healthy eyesight while dealing with diabetes. Call today to schedule an appointment.

Cooksey Vision & CosmetiC Center “Vision is our Clear Focus”

1 3 1 0 N o r th 1 9 th Stre e t M o n ro e, L A 71201 | ( 318) 388- 2020 | co o ksey m d.co m

Cooksey Vision & CosmetiC Center Would like to welcome Dr. richard k. Apt to the family

k DOCTOR COOKSEY WELCOMES A NEW ASSOCIATE... Doctor John Cooksey announced that a long time colleague and friend will be joining his practice this September. Dr. Richard Apt is a Board Certified ophthalmologist who has practiced for 30plus years in exclusive areas of Century City & Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. He specializes in refractive surgery (LASIK) and cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids. During his time in Southern California he served as Assistant Clinical Professor and UCLA and USC Schools of Medicine. He has lectured at national and international meetings and authored chapters in ophthalmic textbooks. Over the years he has volunteered his services to the needy in third world countries. Dr. Apt has maintained an active private practice that included many high profile members of the entertainment industry. No stranger to Monroe, Dr Apt spent time here during his residency training at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans; it was there that our life long friendship began.

Richard K. Apt, M.D. is an expert refractive surgeon who has been providing up to date comprehensive eye care to the communities of Southern California since 1974. He is Board Certified in Ophthalmology and a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, the California Association of Ophthalmology, and the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgical Society. Raised and educated in greater Los Angeles, Dr. Apt graduated from Loyola University and completed medical school at UC Irvine. After finishing ophthalmology training at the Oschner Foundation in New Orleans, he was awarded two fellowships in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Albany Medical Center in New York, and the University of Toronto where he studied the delicate subspecialty of plastic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids. Dr Apt keeps up with the newest and latest technologies available, specializing in cataract and intraocular lens implantation, refractive (LASIK) surgery, as well as plastic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids. He is an Assistant Professor at the Jules Stein Eye Institute (UCLA) and the Doheny Eye Institute (USC), where he shares his knowledge with doctors in training. He has lectured nationally and internationally on eyelid reconstruction and refractive surgery. His offices are located in Century City, California. Dr Apt has volunteered his surgical expertise throughout Asia, Mexico, Africa, and the Republic of Georgia (in the former Soviet Union) restoring sight to the disadvantaged. When he is not helping people see the world better, he enjoys skiing, long distance bike riding, and studying oriental rugs with his wife and sons.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vision is our Clear Focusâ&#x20AC;?

131 0 N o r th 1 9 th Stre e t M o n ro e, L A 71201 | ( 318) 388- 2020 | co o ksey m d.co m

Ron and Vickie Gilbert

Diet Life Style changes

for Thanksgiving-Christmas-and 2013!

It’s a “photo finish” for Ron Gilbert. Only this time, he crossed the finish line with a whole new body image AND in record time! Most people require an entire year to lose a significant amount of weight. In half that time, Ron was able to shed a total of 25 lbs and 2 sizes! Thanks to Registered Dietitian and professional weightloss coach Andi Holyfield, it only took 6 weeks for Ron to go from a size 40+ to a size 36 without any type of medication or expensive surgery. After years of taking (metroprolol-ersuccinate) a blood pressure med, he was able to discontinue it with his physician’s permission. A healthier lifestyle and weight loss that would last— Ron’s objectives were clearly defined. With a busy personal life and retirement ahead, he needed a program that was uncomplicated, manageable, and tailored to his needs. Eat to Lose is a program that offers a way to control body weight and still satisfy authentic food cravings. Like many people hoping to lose extra weight, Ron tried Nutra-system before getting it right. Ron confidently chose Eat to Lose after Dr. Greg Sampognaro referred him to Andi. “Andi Holyfield is the only credentialed professional that has no hidden agenda to sell products- She instructs clients how to change the entire family’s diet. There is no doubt from a medical standpoint that Eat to Lose brings numerous health benefits,” explains Gregory Sampognaro M.D. Eat to Lose is a trusted method that educates patients and supplies them with a maintainable, healthful lifestyle plan.

“After the initial weight loss, I found the confidence to step back from the intense one-on-one guidance Andi provided. She taught me everything I needed to know about diet lifestyle changes to reach my personal goals.” Ron was an official “Eat to Lose GRADUATE,” and due

to Andi’s coaching, he will continue to lose more lbs on his own. Ron and his wife Viki were able to make constructive changes to celebrate Halloween. They plan on staying on track to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and ring in 2013! The holidays can take a toll on your waistline-unless you “Eat to Lose”! If you hope to have a flat belly in 2013, then you need to buckle down now. Try 3 holiday survival tips: 1. Carry snacks <300mg sodium, <10g sugar, > 2g Fiber, >3g Protein per serving. 2. Drink 1 calorie free beverage for every alcoholic drink you enjoy at parties. 3. Avoid holiday buffets by enjoying socializing with loved ones and taking photos. Eat to Lose is a six -week weight loss plan for children and adults that is personalized to suit your individual lifestyle and satisfy your genuine food cravings. Andi has over 17 years of experience in guiding adults and children to develop healthier eating habits. Couples receive $100 off of the total cost. Fire up your metabolism with your own customized diet today! Please visit http://eattoloseinc.com, or contact Andi Holyfield at (318) 348-3120 to lose weight, feel great, save money on meds, and get healthy! Enter 2013 on the path to a healthier, happier you! Couple and group discounts available! Eat to Lose Inc. is owned by Andi Holyfield LDN, R.D. and is located at the Monroe Athletic Club- by appointment only – (318) 348-3120

WWinter Smile For A

As bright as

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‘Tis the Season at ...

We provide pediatric dental services in a comfortable caring atmosphere Most Insurance Plans accePted eMergency servIces avaIlable

JOHN L. SNUGGS, DMD

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Debbie’s Hallmark

1854 Forsythe Avenue Monroe • (318) 651-9217

Responding to the spirit of God in our lives, we reach out in reverence and compassionate service to every person through our healing ministry. St. Francis wishes to extend a loving touch, and wish you and your loved ones a joyous Christmas and a healthy new year.

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All dressed up for a healthy twist on gift-giving & holiday foods! The lovely landmark building on N. 18th street in mid-town Monroe that has seen many holidays since 1965 as the Woman’s Shop is dressed up and ready for the season . Fiesta Nutrition Center puts a “healthy twist” on gift-giving and holiday foods by offering fair-trade and earth-friendly natural festive items. Bags, backpacks and totes by KAVU are the must-have accessories for the year. Look for Robin on this page modeling a cobalt-blue LOVCAPPELLA SCARF. These versatile scarves are available in an array of vibrant colors and premium fabrics that will complete an outfit with cozy comfort. Unique chocolates (the ultimate health-food vice), holiday –inspired flavored popcorn and snack mixes, clever cocktail condiments, gourmet cheeses , crackers and cookies, and herbal teas are part of our healthy supermarket-style grocery section. Treat yourself or the lucky ones on your list to the luxury of fragrant candles, soaps and bath crystals from Zum. The lavender-infused atmosphere of Fiesta’s popular body-care section is a fun place to shop for products made from pure essential oils, goat milk and other fine ingredients from around the world. Make your selection of goodies and the Fiesta staff will create a custom gift-basket. Gift certificates are sure to please the health enthusiast on your list. Quote from Angie: Happy , Healthy Holidays from our family and staff at Fiesta Nutrition Center. We are grateful for and appreciate our community’s support as we begin our 36th year. Watch for more good things to come in 2013! Love and peace, Angie

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The real spirit of Christmas is in Forgiveness, it is then that all the other glories of God will be known to you. Peace, Love, Happiness and Joy will be yours through eternity.” one day, while visiting my cardiologist in Dallas, I asked him,” if I would ever be able to heal myself again.” Being a very spiritual man, I knew he would know the answer. He replied, “when you forgive those who have harmed you, the gray cloud will be lifted from over your head and you will again be united with the white light of Gods purifying, loving and healing energy. Pope John Paul 11 went to the jail cell of his assassin and forgave him, the Pope said, he could feel Gods graces bestowed upon him immediately. Even though the Assassin was still held accountable, Pope John Paul was set free. May you forgive those who have trespassed against you, so you will know the true joy of Christmas

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It’s not Reindeer that I hear by Dr. Clarice Fluitt Certified Transformational Leadership Coach

It was Christmas Eve in 1946. I still vividly recall the pungent aromas of steaming hot chocolate, fresh pine Christmas trees, cinnamon rolls, apple cider and juicy chopped fruit floating in thick hand whipped cream and topped with red and green cherries. All was carefully prepared and destined to become our annual Christmas special “Heavenly Hash.” There was the sound of familiar Christmas carols and everyone talking at the same time while my dog King was barking expressing his excitement. The sights of brilliant lights and sparkling tinsel were on everything while fireworks randomly exploded. Best of all were the beautifully wrapped presents under the tree! I was only six years old and my dad had recently returned to the family after a four year tour of frontline duty during World War II. It seemed we were all trying to cram our lost time together into this festive season while trying to forget the horrors of war and our long time of separation. I was an only child. Mom and Dad were doing all they could to create an atmosphere of the traditional way to celebrate the “birth of Christ.” I was aware that this was Jesus’ birthday. I could even sing, “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” with a certain sense of authenticity until Daddy said, “Clarice, I hear Santa’s reindeer.” They will soon be here with more presents! Yes, very soon. My little heart was pounding. Daddy said, “You should be in bed and cover your head. If Santa finds you watching him, you will not get your presents.” I ran and jumped into my bed. To keep my hope and faith of what my parents had taught me, I was listening intently for the sound of bells jingling to let me know that the reindeer had landed. Santa was really coming soon. Daddy was home, and we would all live happily ever after. The war was over. Saint Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV)

We are Learning not to Waste our Sorrow During 2012 no one has fully escaped the process of being tossed and shaken. Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, economic distress, wars, famine, sickness, etc. have left multitudes stripped and distraught. We have experienced a worldwide desert of hardships. I believe we are about to experience a divine intervention and see the Lord demonstrate His faithfulness to those who acknowledge Him as faithful. I am reminded of the kings of olden days when they used camels as great beasts of burden to transport their precious cargo. Camels can take the heat, carry heavy loads, transport passengers, eat thorny desert plants, and survive on very little water. They have callouses that protect them from the scorching sand, long eyelashes to protect their sight, and an acute sense of smell to find water from the desert. I perceive the good provision of God is eminent. I believe His divine camels are crossing our desert, bringing our treasures, and that 2013 will be a year of breakthrough.

The Greater the Change, the Greater the Reward

2013, the Year for Great Change! You can count on having the opportunity to make some hard decisions concerning your family, finance, friends, and your faith. I want to share some positive thoughts on making hard decisions without feeling condemned or fearful. When we have to confront a difficult situation, we should have a plan before we decide to take action - haste makes waste. Without a decision, there will not be a change. Here are some helpful insights when you are confronted with a hard choice: A. Ask God for Wisdom - the ability to use knowledge skillfully and to make the right choice. B. Back Up - take a realistic picture of the situation and get clarity so you can see the benefits and consequences of your choice. C. Calculate - ask yourself what the worst is that could happen? Prepare yourself with all the information and resources available so you can make your deal going into your challenge. Do your homework, forgive everyone, and keep your faith strong in the Lord. D. Don’t Doubt Yourself - be courageous and stand up for truth, integrity, and all that you truly believe in. E. Enumerate Your Benefits - all decisions positive or negative will have far reaching effects. Believe for a win - win for all involved. Trust God for His purpose. F. Feel Good About Yourself - when you have done all you can do, simply avoid the temptation toward “analysis paralysis” over your decision. G. Gather Wise Advisors - do not make life-changing decisions in a vacuum. May these thoughts be added to your arsenal of acquired wisdom and help equip you in your decisions and choices.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Dr. Clarice Fluitt Certified Transformational Leadership Coach claricefluitt@aol.com 318.343.9789 www.claricefluitt.org

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My journey with the Thin and Healthy program started five months ago after a vacation to Virginia to visit our daughter and grandsons. I had my husband, Gary, take a picture of me, and although I knew I had gained some weight, I was shocked to see actually how much. I have always struggled with weight throughout my life and have tried every weight loss program imaginable, but I decided once I got home from Virginia I would get serious about losing weight and getting healthy. I work nights as a respiratory therapist, so my normal schedule is different from everyone else’s. I had gotten to the point where I would go to work, come home in the mornings, go to bed and wake up to sit in the recliner and not move the rest of the day. Gary would try to get me to go to the gym with him, and all I would say is, “NO! I don’t want to.” I knew I was gaining weight, but I had no initiative to do anything about it. While at Anytime Fitness in Ruston, where we are gym members, I saw advertisements about a program called Thin and Healthy’s Total Solution that was supposed to help you learn to eat healthy and to incorporate exercise into your weight loss efforts. I went in and talked to Ashley, and she explained that in the weight loss portion of the program all I had to do was count fat grams and work out at least 30 minutes a day and she promised the weight would come off. Doing the metabolism evaluation confirmed what I already knew: that my metabolism was a big fat zero. Now my metabolism has increased, and while I haven’t lost a ton of weight on the scale, I’ve lost inches and fat pounds. I’m learning that losing weight is not necessarily in that number we’ve all been trained to look at (which is still hard for me) but in the inches and body fat pounds. This is the best program that I’ve been a part of, and the love and encouragement that I’ve gotten from Dani, Ashley, and Lindsay has been great. There have been days when I’ve been discouraged, but they are like my own little cheering squad; they have been such a blessing. I’ve just started working out with my Personal Trainer, David Welch, and he has the great task of whipping the rest of me into shape. Weight loss is not a quick fix. You have to be willing to work and be committed, but if you are, it will work.

Dani Pendarvis- Gym Manager, Personal Trainer, and Thin & Healthy Membership Specialist, Coach and MRT instructor. i grew up in a small town, Jonesville, la, where athletics, hunting and fishing were a big part of my life. i graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science from UlM, i also acquired my aCSM Personal Training certification. i was a basketball coach and assistant softball coach for 3a Jena High School. i was there for a year, and then i married my best friend drew Pendarvis and soon after we got married, he was offered a full-time job in Monroe, la, so it was time for me to head back to my alma amateur. Soon afterwards, back in 2009, i was offered the manager position of anytime Fitness Ruston. i’ve been involved in changing lives ever since! Upon moving back to the Monroe area, i took the job as manager of the anytime Fitness facility in Ruston. i have been here for three years, and it amazes me how much we have grown in that time. We are doing some very Big things here! The best part of our growth has come in the amazing stories and lifestyle changes i have been able to be a part of and see. There are so many stories, but i remember one that sticks out in my mind as special. i was making phone calls to gym patrons about our new program, Thin & Healthy’s Total Solution. One of the ladies i spoke with told me that she had tried everything to lose weight and nothing had worked. Mrs. Kathy is in her late 50’s and has battled with her weight for years. after seven months on our program she is already down 40lbs and has lost over 20 inches. Many people are looking for a fast fix, but this program is real; there is nothing easy about it, but that is why we are here to “lOve Ya, HUg Ya, BUg Ya” to stick with it, to overcome objections, and to have many viCTORieS! Romans 12:2 says, “don’t be conformed to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you can figure out what god’s will is.” i believe with hard work, dedication, and heart anything is possible!

Ashley Butler - Assistant Manager & Thin and Healthy Director, Membership Specialist, Coach and MRT instructor. i graduated from louisiana Tech University in august of 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotions. during my journey at Tech i started to struggle in what field i wanted to go into with my degree. all i knew is that i am here to serve, help others, and make a difference in the world. With the prayers and support from my husband, family and friends, i received a call from the anytime Fitness owner with some great news that would change my life and give me the direction i had been praying for. He asked me to become the Thin & Healthy director. The fact that i am doing a job that is helping people achieve their goal is a tremendous blessing for my life. Brent Bernard went out on a limb to get me in his gym, and i could not be happier to be a part of such an excellent team. Our crew is dedicated to helping others, and it is truly an inspiration. i could not ask for a better support system of workers. Being the Thin & Healthy director comes with a lot of touching moments for me, because knowing that i am impacting lives is something that keeps me going. i get comments from clients telling me they have not been able to fit into a certain shirt or pair of pants in years and can now fit into them. These comments and success stories are such an encouragement for us to continue our mission in helping people reach their fitness goals. i have connected with the clients on an emotional level because i want them to achieve their goals just as much as they want it. For this reason, i not only consider them clients, but i also consider them friends. i am here for them to talk to about anything, and just knowing i am there for someone in that way makes me realize that i am making a difference, and that is more than i could ask for in a job.

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christmas

The Time to Make a Difference. By: Donna Underwood Director LearningTECH Quest School 2401 Oliver Road Monroe, LA 322-6000

When thinking about the quickly approaching Christmas holiday, people have different expectations about this eagerly anticipated season. Many families prepare for days or months to make Christmas perfect. After shopping, decorating, entertaining, attending religious services and school programs, dining with family and friends, and opening presents—many adults often feel that the perfect Christmas hasn’t become a reality. For other families, Christmas is a day no different from the one before; with little or no flare, they may be dealing with abuse, homelessness, job loss, or absence of loved ones. What a stark contrast to expectations! If adults must deal with the realities of the Christmas season versus the idealism that the holiday brings, one can only imagine what children experience during this time.

The Center for Children and Families (398-0945) helps children displaced due to abuse and neglect. Through its Christmas Project, the Center strives to provide nearly 700 children with one new clothing outfit and at least one age-appropriate toy. With its case load continuing to rise, the Center of Children and Families needs community involvement to help these children who deserve more.

As parents plan for this most anticipated holiday, one important question to ask is “What will my family do to make Christmas better for someone else?” If families make plans to help others, then the Christmas expectations will improve for not only families who have more but also for families who have less. Historically, this community gives abundantly. Parents and grandparents have the opportunity to create another generation of givers during the holiday season. Indeed, Northeast Louisiana has an abundance of opportunities for families to make a positive difference in others’ lives.

Families can prepare shoe boxes and fill with them with a variety of gifts—toys, school supplies, candy, hygiene items, or clothing—and personal notes to bring delight to children. This Samaritan’s Purse project has local drop off sites such as Fair Park, Woodlawn, and Cherry Ridge Baptist Churches. For more information, go to www.samaritanspurse.org.

The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana (322-3567) accepts food items daily and distributes 3,000,000 pounds of food annually through approximately 74 charitable agencies throughout Northeast Louisiana. About 7400 different people receive emergency food assistance in any given week including more than 16,000 children.

Also, Angel Ministries (325-8331) takes perishable and nonperishable food as well as clothing and shoes of all sizes to support needy families in our community. The Ronald McDonald House (387-7933) opens its doors to families who arrive under emergency situations. More often than not, these families don’t have time to pack items such as clothing, toiletries, and food. Contact the House for shopping list suggestions to benefit visiting families.

St. Joseph’s Nursing Home (323-3426) invites children and their parents to bring holiday baked goods and cards to its residents. Visits are welcomed; our community’s elderly need smiles and happiness. Call other elderly residential communities to determine their needs during this holiday season and throughout the coming New Year.

Annually, the Salvation Army (325-1755) needs bell ringers to collect much-needed funds to help the homeless. In addition, the Salvation Army needs clothing and household items; jackets/coats and blankets warm those who do not have these luxuries during the winter months. Serving in this organization’s Soup Kitchen is another important way to teach children volunteerism. Yes, the holiday season gives families the perfect chance to instill the holiday tradition of helping others. Who knows? By beginning this important life skill of making a positive difference in the lives of others at Christmas, those kindnesses may just propel throughout the year. May we hope for a community development in volunteerism through young people to ensue?

Fibromyalgia wwwww Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic syndrome that causes widespread pain in the muscles, tendons, connective and fibrous tissues resulting in chronic muscle pain. This disorder most commonly affects women 20 to 50 years old. Studies have indicated possible hereditary tendencies. Other symptoms related to fibromyalgia can include fatigue, sleep disturbances, body aches, headaches, morning stiffness, and joint pain. Not all fibromyalgia patients experience all associated symptoms. The soft tissue pain can range from milt to sever and increase with stress, anxiety, over-exertion, or cold damp weather. The symptoms may sometimes improve or worsen and can continue for years. The tender-point sites usually involve neck, shoulders, chest, lower back, buttocks, arms, and knees. Symptoms may be relieved by improved fitness through low-impact exercise, light massage, gentle stretching, well-balanced diet, avoiding caffeine, and reducing stress. Previous studies have shown that massage therapy can reduce the pain, stiffness, fatigue and sleeping difficulties associated with fibromyalgia. Researchers do not know a definite reason why, but it appears that massage can alter sleep patterns and therefor reduce the levels of chemical messengers for pain. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of fibromyalgia should consult their physician for diagnosis and proper treatment options.

The Great

Basil Bust by Buford Shively

Before I moved back to Louisiana, I owned a house in the small town of Desoto, Texas - one of the many suburban towns near Dallas. I did not sell live plants then, but I did have a small business selling dried herbs, dried herb mixes, and herbal vinegars. In preparation for my move, I had listed my house for sale. Since I had already moved most of my possessions, I had several empty rooms which I used to dry my herbs. My process was to pick the leaves and dry them on newspapers. I had quite a quantity of various herbs not quite yet dried as well as many that had already dried and were in zip lock bags. On the eventful Sunday, the realtor called and advised she had scheduled a showing of my house that afternoon, and it would be better if I were not there. So my son and I left during the time of the showing and went to a restaurant and grocery shopped. When we returned late that afternoon, my son left to go do things with his friends. I was watching TV and had fallen asleep on the couch when around 9 p.m. there was some loud knocking at my door. I got up and there were two Desoto police officers. They informed me that they had a tip from a reliable source that my son had marijuana and black tar heroin in his room and asked if they had permission to search. Now I knew this could not be true, but the allegation was just so preposterous that I was momentarily stunned. I recovered sufficiently to tell them they certainly did not have permission and could not search without a warrant. So we had a standoff. They detained me outside and stated they would obtain a warrant. I told them I did not think that was possible because if they had grounds to search, they would have come with a warrant and would not be asking permission. Of course, their response was that was not how it worked. The standoff continued for almost an hour. One officer stayed with me while the other made trips back and forth to his patrol vehicle supposedly arranging for a warrant. The one that stayed with me constantly asked me for permission to save everyone a lot of trouble. All this time their lights were on, and their communications device was loud with various advisories. Finally, the officer that stayed with me (the older one) advised that their tip

was that there was fresh cut marijuana along with some black tar heroin. I then realized what they were talking about. The prospective buyer had seen all those herbs in one of my vacant rooms and called the police. They then explained that the tipster was a Probation Officer with Dallas County. I asked the officer to accompany me to my back yard where I had him shine his flash light over my herb beds and see the stalks still standing where I had cut all my herbs. I described in detail my process and what they would find if they did get a warrant. The officer offered his hand in apology and told his partner they were leaving because all they had was basil. The younger officer still did not want to give up. He said if I had nothing to hide why would I not let them search. I asked the older officer if he had any idea what was about to happen if he did not leave now. I told him I was going to have the local TV stations come to my house in the morning and film what was there; and the Desoto Police Department would become a laughingstock. I further advised that if they wanted to be slick they should simply have waited until the next day and scheduled a showing with the realtor and would not have even needed a warrant. He told his younger partner to get in the car and not say anything else. One of the herbs I was drying was purple basil - which dries to a very dark color. Apparently those dried leaves were somehow confused with black tar heroin - only explaination I could come up with. The whole episode was quite stressful and not so funny at the time. But it has provided me a great story to tell! Buford Shively is retired from the Federal Government. He is one of the most knowledgeable and skilled herb experts throughout the southern states. There are few herbs ( if any) he can not propagate from seeds or cuttings. His beautiful specimens of plants are reveled and sought after by premier herb growers through out the country.

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Why not look and feel your best? Your options for weightloss success just got bette! Premier Urgent Care and Lap Band for Less are here to help you lose pounds! Here are some of the most frequently asked questions: Q. What is the recovery time with LAP-BAND surgery? A. LAP-BAND surgery is day surgery. Most patients return to normal activity within one week. A full surgical recovery usually occurs within two weeks. Q. What kind of trauma will my body incur during the LAP-BAND procedure? A. LAP-BAND surgery is the least invasive surgical option for weightloss. There is no intestional re-routing. You experience no cutting or stapling of the stomach wall or bowel. The procedure requires only small incidions and minimal scarring. Patients experience a reduced amount of pain, a shorter length of hospital stay and a quick recovery period. Q. What are the risks and side effects of having the LAP-BAND surgery? A. The risks and side effects are significantly lower with LAP-BAND compared to other weightloss surgeries. There is a low risk of nutritonal deficiencies associated with gastric bypass. There is also a reduced risk of hair loss. Q. Is it true you can adjust the tightness of the LAP BAND, controlling the amount of weight loss? A. The LAP-BAND allows for an individualized degree of restriction for the ideal rate of weight loss based on the patient’s needs. Adjustmets to the degree of tightness of the LAP-BAND can be performed without additional surgery. The LAPBAND supports pregnancy by allowing stomach outlet size to be opened to accommodate increased nutritional needs. The LAP-BAND is the only surgical option desighed to help maintain long-term weight loss. Q. Is the LAP-BAND procedure reversible? A. The LAP-BAND is removable at any time. The stomach and other anatomy are generally restored to their original forms and functions. Q. Is the LAP-BAND an effective form of longterm weight loss? A. More than 450,000 procedures have been performed worldwide. It has become the standard of care of surgeons around the world. Academic publications with up to ten years of follow-up have journaled the LAP-BAND .

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Q. Do insurance and health plans cover the LAPBAND procedure? A. Today many health plans cover the LAP-BAND procedure, which means most, if not all, the costs will be paid for. Each health plan will have certain criteria that need to be met before you can actually have the surgery. Lap Band For Less can provide financing or assistance with loans to meet the costs of the procedure. Credit cards can also be used to pay for the procedure.

The LAP-BAND OPerATiON:

The idea behind the LAP-BAND operation is to create a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach with a controlled and adjustable stoma, without stapling, thus limiting food intake. A gastric band device is introduced through tiny (1 cm) incisions in the abdomen and is placed around the upper part of the stomach. The resulting pouch (or the “new stomach”) dramatically reduces the functional capacity of the stomach. The band has a balloon from the inside that is adjustable and can reduce stoma size, thus prolonging the period of fullness. The operation is performed under general anesthesia and can last between 30 minutes and 1 hour. The LAP-BAND is fitted around the uppermost part of the stomach, forming a 15cc to 20cc small pouch. It is designed so that it can be inflated or deflated at any time after the operation. This helps the patient continually lose weight until they reach their goals. The restriction takes place in a radiology suite and normally takes 15 minutes. This simple procedure is painless. Saline is injected into a port placed under the skin in the wall of the stomach. The tube that comes off of the band leads to the port.

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once placed around the stomach, tubing connects the LAP-BAND to an access port fixed beneath the skin of the abdomen. This allows the surgeon to change the stoma size by adding or subtracting saline inside the inner balloon through the access port. This adjustment process helps determine the rate of weight loss. If the band is too loose and weight loss is inadequate, adding more saline can reduce the size

BEFORE

of the stoma to further restrict the amount of food that can move through. If the band is too tight, the surgeon will remove some saline to loosen the band and reduce the amount of restriction. The diameter of the band can be modified to meet individual needs, which changes as weight is lost. For example, pregnant patients can expand their band to accommodate a growing fetus, while patients who aren’t experiencing significant weight loss can have the bands tightened. The LAP-BAND System is also the only adjustable weight loss surgery available in the united States to help maintain restriction and keep the weight off long-term.

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Louis Bremer; Sr. Kathleen Cain; Cindy Rogers, Aimee Kane

A Franciscan Evening Over the Ouachita On Thursday, November 8, 2012 over 375 people gathered for a Franciscan Evening Over the Ouachita to benefit the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation. Everyone enjoyed the festivities by dancing to the music of “Code Blue and the Flatliners” and tasting the wonderful food prepared by Chef Eric Johnson. Thanks to our corporate sponsor, CenturyLink, and our business sponsor, EMS Electric, LLC, and the many donations from our local businesses, the event and live auction was a hit. With the support and help from the Foundation’s Board of Directors and the nearly 30 volunteers who worked tirelessly, the inaugural evening was a huge success. We are looking forward to next year and we hope to see you there!

t Holiday Gvaifilable! Packs A LELA BROWN (318)512-6499 www.wrapwithlela.myitworks.com

A Non-Traditional Christmas by Linda Campbell, Tres Bella Magazine

hen I was a little girl, every year, after Thanksgiving, things started to happen at our house. Some of these things were very familiar to my sister Diane and me (we had a younger sister and brother, but they didn’t count). Every year the tree arrived, a wreath was put on the door, and we decorated the tree. Then my daddy put the lights on the tree. He was tall and could reach all the way up. He could even reach high enough to put the star on top of tree. This was strange because my daddy never did anything at our house. Never—Anything. He just put the lights on the tree and oversaw the hanging of icicles. Each one had to be hung individually. You couldn’t just throw them on—you had to drape them carefully. We went very slowly because we knew he would get tired of watching, and then we would throw them on while yelling, “Merry Christmas”. I think he knew about this, but he never said anything. One year all this changed. Mother decided to have a different kind of tree. The tree that arrived at the house wasn’t green; it was white. It had huge globs of white stuff on it that was supposed to look like snow. It looked like huge globs of white stuff. It was a flocked tree. Diane and I just looked at it—and then at each other. What? So that night we waited for Daddy to put the lights on the tree, but he didn’t. Instead he put a spotlight outside the house which shined on the tree that was decorated with blue balls. No red—no green—no gold decorations! Just a red, green, and blue revolving spot light outside our picture window! Again, What? When Diane and I got through screaming, Mother and Daddy explained what was going on. We couldn’t have lights on the tree because it would catch on fire. We couldn’t have icicles on the tree because they would mess it up. Basically, they said this is our Christmas tree—live with it. We went outside to look at the tree. It looked like a bunch of different colored lights shining on white globs. Maybe there was a tree under there—maybe not. We told Mother in words to the effect that we were just not getting it. She said it looked better from farther away. We walked to the end of our 100 foot driveway and looked back through the window. Still not getting it. We walked over into the field across the street hoping that we wouldn’t step on anything that would bite or that was squishy. We turned and looked at the tree which looked about the same except smaller and farther away. Still not getting it.

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We went back to the house, and my mother asked how it looked. We answered that it looked better from farther away because we didn’t want to hurt her feelings. But, in truth, being farther away only made it look better because we couldn’t see it as well. But we still had not been as far away from the house as we could get and still see it. We called our mam-maw and pap-paw, and they came and got us. We went back around behind the field in front of our house to where we could see the house from the highway. This highway ran through a not very good part of town, and just beside the place where we could see our house was a bar. We didn’t know what a bar was, but we knew it wasn’t good. All we could see of our house was the spotlight turning—red, green, and blue lights reflecting. Then we looked as the bar, red, green, and blue lights blinking and reflecting off the windows. Now, Diane didn’t say much because of a speech impediment that went away when she was 6. I think she didn’t say much because I did, but that’s just me. Anyway when she spoke, I could totally understand her. And when she spoke it was important. Turning her head between the bar and our house, she said, “Santa Claus will think we live in a bar! No toys!” We drove home quiet and defeated. No, not defeated; we just had to come up with a different plan. We started writing letters to Santa explaining where our house was and what it looked like. We didn’t put stamps on them, but the postman took them anyway. We prayed a lot. And we never gave up trying to get Mother to change things just a little bit. Finally on Christmas Eve, we snuck outside and unplugged the light. We stuck a candle in the ground and lit it (we could always find a match if we absolutely had to have one). We said one more prayer and went to bed with not very high expectations. The next morning we woke up to find that Santa had come. No only that, but he had brought us nearly everything we wanted. We said a short prayer of thank you (you always had to remember to do that) and attacked the toys. The next year things got back to normal. The green tree arrived and Daddy put the lights on it; we threw the icicles. We felt like all was right with the world, and we did not have to worry about Santa not being able to find us. Traditions are important. They insure stability and comfort. If traditions are changed, be careful. You may end up with a tree with white globs on it.

You Are Invited

Carols of Gathering with

Reily & Friends First Church of God

585 East Madison, Bastrop, Louisiana Sunday, December 2, 2012, 6:00 PM

Mer Rouge United Methodist Church 309 West 11th Street, Mer Rouge, Louisiana Sunday, December 9, 2012, 4:00 PM

Reily Memorial United Methodist Church 4571 Keller Drive, Collinston, Louisiana Sunday, December 16, 2012, 8:30 AM

Bastrop

A story of survival and change By Kay King, CEO Morehouse Economic Development Corporation

Generations of Morehouse Parish residents worked at the International Paper Mill in Bastrop. The aroma from the billowing smoke stacks were unmistakable hallmarks of a mill town. The announcement that International Paper would close in November 2008 sent shock waves through the community. Economists forecasted that the financial impact would be dire. Many speculated that Bastrop would “roll up the sidewalks”. However, Bastrop has persevered even during an unprecedented economic recession. Against the odds, sales tax collection has shown increases since the mill closed and a number of new retail stores have been constructed. My theory is that studies only predict from existing data and cannot measure abstract qualities like dedication and determination. It is also difficult to predict how fast a community can convert freed-up assets and resources into new economic drivers. One example is the International Paper Warehouse which was originally built as a packaging plant. It was sold to DG Foods who now employs about 400 workers and invested millions to modify the facility. Another economic wild card is the large portion of the Morehouse Parish economy which is based on agriculture. The new Kennedy Rice Mill began operations this fall and is the first value-added grain processing facility for the parish. The transition to grain production has also encouraged new investment in grain handling and storage facilities.

Heath care also continues to be a significant employer with four nursing homes, several specialized hospitals and the Morehouse General Hospital. Healthcare contributes over 10 % of current jobs in Morehouse Parish. The daily traffic counts on East Madison (Hwy 165), which were taken after the paper mill closed, were 24,463 vehicles per day (Source-2009 DOTD). That is comparable with counts on Louisville Avenue in Monroe. We don’t have an Interstate highway but Bastrop is strategically located at the intersection of two major US highways which produces respectable traffic activity. We anticipate these counts to continue to increase with the newly completed four-lane expansion of US Highway 425. The truth is Bastrop was never “just a mill town” but thanks to the support of the State of Louisiana, the Jindal administration, and Louisiana Economic Development we are meeting challenges with a comprehensive plan. Elected officials, community leaders, and citizens are embracing change and working hard to improve our quality of life. That is a win-win by any measure. Kay King has been employed by the MEDC for the past eight years. She is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University and has a Master’s Degree in Community and Economic Development from the University of Central Arkansas. She has also completed the three year program at the Community Development Institute in Conway, Arkansas.

LOTS FOR SALE – UNITS 1 AND 2 Commercial and Industrial 2-5 acre lots Incentive programs may be available to qualified businesses. Restrictions may apply

BUILDING FOR LEASE 10,000 SQ. FT. – Remodeled in 2002 for medical product manufacturing 4 Offices and 2 Bathrooms, Sealed walls and drop celing, Truck level loading, Clean

COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY AVAILABLE Coulter Industrial Park – next to Morehouse Memorial Airport

City of Bastrop 202 East Jefferson P.O. Box 431 (318) 283-0250

Morehouse Economic Development Corp. 101 South Franklin St., Suite A Bastrop, LA 71220 (318) 283-4000

t h e

new

faces of Downtown Monroe

3Mission M E N on a

to revitalize

downtown

Monroe

james Mccready Owner of Rain Salon

It’s Raining Downtown!!! Big dreams and an incredible vision fueled the motivation for James and Holly McCready to open Rain the Salon eight years ago. The dream was to bring a ‘true experience’ to each guest. At the young age of 23, it was a bit difficult to bring those dreams to fruition in the beginning. However, “because of the incredible loyalty of our guests, we are now proud to say that our ‘dream location’ is in the works.” As fate would have it, James ‘fell’ upon the 407 DeSiard location by chance. A little over a year ago, while looking through antique furniture that had been secretly stowed away in a once abandoned space, James was invited to look at the building across the street. Michael Echols had just purchased these locations and upon cleaning them out, the incredible jewel was revealed. This was THE space James had dreamed about, this was THE location he had always imagined, the perfect spot for the dream of community, guest experience, and architectural character to come alive Walking in the doors of the ‘New Rain’, you will be greeted with an incredible team of professionals and be swept away into luxury during your experience. If the 21’ domed wood ceilings and (original) beautiful brick walls don’t excite you, the luxurious Spa Lounge and outside courtyard are sure to relax you. This new state-of-the-art space will allow us to serve our guests better than ever. Treat yourself…take a two hour vacation…we promise you will feel like you’ve escaped from reality. …relax with a massage...renew with a make-over…revive with a facial…refresh with a pedicure Because of the incredible hard work of the Downtown Renaissance Committee, James and Holly feel as though now is the time. “We believe in this revitalization, we believe in those beautiful memories of getting dressed up to go to The Palace and spend the day downtown, we believe that our community is craving for the heartbeat of Monroe to come back.” On January 3, 2013, Rain the Salon & Day Spa will open and join Bacco, River & Rail Cantina, (Matt Sanderson’s place), the art galleries, and all the other businesses downtown working hard to bring it back alive. Join us in this rehabilitation of downtown, it is the secret to our sense of community that can take the twin cities to the next level. Having a thriving downtown area makes all great cities what they are. It’s time for Monroe to be a place to visit, to be a place that there is ALWAYS something fun to do, to be a place where people come together. With continued passion and community support, the heartbeat of downtown Monroe WILL live again

CHAD MATRANA Owner of Bacco

This is going to be a good year for downtown Monroe, and one reason is the opening of a new restaurant in Washington Plaza, Bacco. Bacco is owned by Chad Matrana, a third generation New Orleans native who attended culinary school in Chicago. Upon completing his education there, Chad trained in Italy, spending most of his time in Florence. He then returned to New Orleans where he worked at Commanders Palace, Mike’s On The Avenue, and The Balcony. Chad wanted to open his first restaurant somewhere he could make a difference and feel a part of the community. His love for food goes along with his appreciation for the arts and entertaining. Chad saw an opportunity to combine his passions for food, art, and music by opening a restaurant in the Downtown Development Area. Integrating his knowledge of cooking specialty cuisines with his passion to provide his diners a positive eating experience, Chad brings to Monroe: Bacco, a Tuscan grill. Chad’s promise to Monroe is to bring the best ingredients to his dishes, making most of them from scratch while keeping the prices reasonable. Bacco serves a lunch menu priced under $10 dollars that features dishes like homemade pizzas and 25 cent Martinis. Freshness is stressed in all the foods and drinks. Foods include steaks, fish, and chops with all kinds of pasta—with a touch of Tuscan influence. You can even get handmade Cannolis. In addition to the delicious food, Bacco also has a great wine cellar and bar. Just visit with Chad Smith, the general manager and sommelier, about the best wine to compliment your meal. He will help you find the perfect one. The bar features a wide range of drinks including infused Vodka of all kinds. You may choose to order Limón cello, an Italian after-dinner specialty, which is made in house. To accompany the great food and drink, Bacco also hosts many special features and events. They offer Happy Hour from 4-7 which features 2 for 1 drinks and ½ price appetizer. Bacco provides live music on Fridays and Saturdays featuring local artists. Some very special events will be their “Wine Dinners” which consist of a 5 course meal with a different wine served with each course. A special Winery guest will be there to introduce you to the various wines. Chad Matrana worked for over 6 months remodeling the previous restaurant facilities in the Washington Plaza into Bacco. Bacco is open Monday thru Thursday from 11am to 10 pm, Friday from 11am til, and Saturday from 5pm til. Go by and enjoy this new addition to our Downtown Community.

matt sanderson Owner of River and Rail Cantina

All Aboard – The Train Has Left the Station... River and Rail Cantina is joining Bacco and Rain the Salon as the latest businesses to open in Downtown Monroe. The train has certainly left the station in terms of the revitalization of Downtown Monroe. There is a feeling of energy and excitement about shopping, dining and visiting the heart of our city. You can feel it on Saturday mornings strolling with the crowd at the River Market. You can feel it visiting the galleries at the Art Crawl or listening to the bands playing in Bry Park during Downtown River Jam. The addition of River and Rail Cantina and Bacco brings the number of restaurants to four including The Warehouse and Cotton. You can literally park and walk back and forth to any of these four locally owned culinary hotspots. River and Rail Cantina is located on Walnut Street just next to the railroad bridge on the riverfront in the old Swift Meat Packing building. The building was erected circa 1915 and is approaching its One-Hundred Year Birthday! Merian and Matt Sanderson purchased the building and began working with TB Architects to design the restaurant layout. The renovate4d building’s focal point is an indoor/outdoor reclaimed hundred year old heart-of pine bar that looks through the retractable windows onto the beautiful Ouachita River. The outdoor side of the bar is on a covered deck that leads to a vintage brick courtyard also overlooking the river. The bricks were salvaged from the old Howard Griffin building. Dining will be available on the deck, courtyard, bar area and a separate front dining room. River and Rail Cantina presents a menu that would fit into a Louisiana-TexMex border town if such a town existed. Burgers, sandwiches, gumbo, soups, salads, chips, salsa, guacamole and “oh, yes” Fajitas and Margaritas will be featured. Casual dining with great food and service in a fun and relaxed setting. Renovations are nearing completion and River and Rail Cantina plans to open the first week of January, 2013. The building is available for private parties for the month of December.

Ask Bella

Sometimes, a little sound advice can make life beautiful... Dear Bella, My family is very active in the community and in our church. Everyone thinks that we are a picture-perfect family, but they would never believe how many issues we deal with behind closed doors. My daughter-in-law is usually at the center of all of the drama that we have to endure, and her favorite time to stir things up is Christmas. Her family is quite different from ours, and we have always known that. When she first married my son, the two of them would join us for Christmas morning, then leave town to visit with her family for Christmas dinner and stay on for several days. Any vacation time that my son has is always spent with her family. When I asked them about spending more time with our family and extended family that would be in for Christmas, she immediately jumped in to inform me that they had already made plans with her family. Her excuse is always the same--they live in the same town with us and they have to travel to see her family. The fact is, they may live here, but we could go for months without seeing her or my grandchild. How do I communicate with my son that I feel that his father and I are viewed as a “necessary evil” in her book? She has gotten so bold in showing that she wants to get away from our family that last year she backed her car up to the door and loaded all their presents into the car while we were trying to serve dinner. Should I tell them that if she is going to act this way that I would rather that they not bother coming to our house during the holidays? First, let me say that there is no such thing as a picture-perfect family, especially during the holidays. It is natural that you would feel a little unappreciated when your daughter-in-law is making plans to spend the majority of their holiday schedule with her family. Even though she is planning her time and taking your son and grandchild away from your family, she can only ruin your Christmas plans if you let her. Make your plans for the holidays and clearly communicate your plans to your family members. Make it clear that you have taken everyone’s schedules into consideration and let them know when you will be opening gifts and when dinner will be served. Enjoy your time with your family and treat her like she is the most welcomed of all your guests. Make the holiday special for your family, especially for your grandchild, and wish them well on their way to her family’s home. If she acts ugly or leaves the dinner table to load the car, that’s her problem, not yours. I hope that you and your family have a lovely Christmas holiday and that everyone is very happy. Remember, don’t try to make your family perfect. Just try to make a loving, memorable holiday and it will seem perfect for everyone.

Dear Bella, Christmas vacation is coming up and again my ex-husband has our three children for the holiday from Christmas day through New Year’s Day. They will have Christmas Eve dinner and church with my family, then open presents and have breakfast with us on Christmas Day. Their father will pick them up after our breakfast and will keep them in a hotel with him on Christmas Day. He no longer lives in town and his family is spread out across the country, so he is planning Christmas Day with him at a hotel. They will then fly to Florida to meet his sister and her family on the day after Christmas. I’ve asked him to let the kids just stay at home until the 26th since he is just planning on staying at the hotel. I even said that he was welcome to come eat supper with us on Christmas evening. I realize that he is out of town and no longer gets to spend a lot of time with them, but he will have them for an entire week of fun and games in Orlando. He is a loving and supportive father, but he is also an absentee father. He shows up for a week at a time, has a great time with them, and leaves as the “cool parent.” I’m the one that deals with the everyday trials and tribulations and I have to be the bad guy way too much. I’m just asking to have Christmas with my children since they are getting a week long vacation anyway. Congratulations on being a hands-on Mom. It must be difficult to be the parent that has to deal with the good and the bad, the day to day life and then watch Dad show up for his visits with exciting plans. You have shared that your children’s father is supportive and loving, so I am assuming that he supports your children financially and has met all that is required of him by the terms of your custody agreement or arrangement. That being said, your ex deserves to spend the allotted time that he has been guaranteed by this agreement. It doesn’t matter if he plans on taking them on a fantastic trip, or hanging out watching movies at a hotel. As long as your children are safe and well taken care of, you have nothing to complain about and no reason to resent his keeping them on Christmas day. If you would like to offer to have their Dad join you for Christmas dinner, I think that is a fine idea, provided that you all get along, and that you do not have an ulterior motive for your gesture of good will. If he accepts your invitation to dinner, then let him offer if he wants to let the kids stay with you the rest of the evening. Do you know their flight schedule? The time of their flight may be the reason that he wants to have everyone packed and all together the night before. So enjoy your time with your children and your family, extend an invitation to your ex to come over on Christmas day and to join you for Christmas dinner if you wish. Just know that it is his time and his decision should stand.

Dear Bella, This is my first Christmas with my new husband. We married in April after dating for almost a year and I have only seen his parents at our wedding and at a family funeral earlier this year. I have a child from my previous marriage and he has two children from his first marriage. His children are grown and have plans of their own, so they just sort of come and go. My son is 8, so it is still important for me to make Christmas special for him. My new in-laws have invited us to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with them. There are no other grandchildren for my son to play with, and he really does not know his step-grandparents at all. My husband thinks it would be a great time for my son to get to know his parents and that he would really enjoy it. I just want Christmas to be special for him. He adores my parents and we normally spend Christmas with them. How do I stay in good graces with my in-laws and still make Christmas special for my son and my parents? Well, dear, being welcomed and wanted by multiple grandparents is never a bad thing--as long as you’re not having to choose! Your husband sounds very kind and seems sincere in wanting to spend time with your son and for giving his parents the opportunity to get to know their step-grandson. I understand your need to maintain the Christmas tradition of spending the holiday with your son and your parents, also. If both sets of parents are in the same time, I would work between the two of them to try to divide your time. Most families have set plans for their “main” meal and for the time for opening presents. If this is the case, hopefully the division of time will be easily made. If the two families are not in the same town, you should go to your Mom and ask her about their schedule. Let your husband know what the plans are at your parents’ house, and ask about his family’s plan. No one will get their feeling hurt if you keep everyone involved in the decision making process. One way or another, I urge you to write a note to your in-laws thanking them for their desire to include you and your son in their holiday plans and for making you both feel like a part of their family. Making your appreciation known will go a long way toward making the plans go smoothly. If you have a question for Ask Bella, please emaily her at TresBellaMag@ yahoo.com. Your question may be featured in our upcoming issues!

inter is here and there are some things you should know…bring in all tropicals and houseplants that you don’t want to replace. Give them a trim, a little water, lots of light and they will be just fine. For the Holidays, try forcing paper white bulbs, amaryllis bulbs and hyacinth bulbs. They are great for indoor color, fragrance and brightening up those dreary days. Christmas Poinsettias are also nice, but remember to keep them evenly moist and not allow them to dry out. Don’t forget fresh rosemary plants to bring that smell of spring. Fresh cut Christmas trees need to be trimmed 2” off the bottom and immediately placed into water to enable them to continue drawing up moisture for the holiday season. Never place live trees near fire places or A/C ducts as this will dry them out causing a potential hazard. If you notice your ornaments moving due to being close to a heating duct, close the vent. Fresh cut wreaths and garlands are made on site at our garden centers to your specifications. These will provide long lasting enjoyment to the entire holiday season. January is a great time for ornamental trees, fruit trees and large plantings. Plants have all winter to root in which is key to survival the first year. Our soil doesn’t get cold enough to stop roots from growing; this giving plants a big start for spring. It is also fertilizer time for trees, shrubs and fruit trees. We recommend Fertilome Tree and Shrub Food and Fertilome Fruit Tree Food to give them a helping hand. Please remember what’s important this Holiday Season…Friends and Family! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Mark Lindstrom Panzico’s Garden Mart P.S. Don’t sweat the little things…will work on it next month!

more in

The 805 square miles of Morehouse Parish include a lot of history, can be called home by some well known people: an agricultural parish that also offers a lot of outdoor recreational activities. Indians, the area’s earliest settlers, have left their mark in the region with their mounds. There may have been as many as sixteen mound sites. Today there are three. Caney Bayou Mound on Knox Ferry Road, believed to date back 4,000 years or more, was built when the Arkansas River still flowed through the channel in which Bayou Bartholomew flows today. Yes,this would make the mound older than the pyramids. Venable Mound, standing over twenty-two feet high, is the last remaining mound of a three mound complex known as the McTheney Mounds. This mound overlooks the Old Bonita Road. The Jordan Mounds north of Oak Ridge are on private property-Tristram Kidder of Tulalne as well as other archeologists have done research here. Records from the Netherlands show that the Baron de Bastrop was born Philip Henddrik Nering Bogel in Dutch Guiana in 1759. A shady background followed him to Louisiana where we know him as Baron de Bastrop. Corondolet granted the Baron a huge tract of land encompassing the area of the future Morehouse Parish and much of what is now West Carroll Parish. Having left his mark in this area, de Bastrop headed to Texas where there is also a Bastrop. Jesse and Frank James have been linked to hideouts in West Carroll, Richland, and Morehouse Parishes. Oral history, fact, and fiction have created an aura around the James brothers. One story states that a Mr.A.K. Watt was instrumental in obtaining an out of the way location now known as Modoc Bend on Bayou Bartholomew for the Jameses. The James boys did travel through Louisiana and gang member Cole Younger ran cattle in the area at different times.”Bartholomew’s Song: A Bayou History,” records oral histories of the gang visiting in Drew and Ashley counties in Arkansas, just above Morehouse Parish. The town of Bonita claims the tale that Jay Gould of railroad fame came to the area around 1890-91. The story states that

parish morehouse by Carolyn Files, Tres Bella Magazine

Gould,riding in his private car named the Atalanta (for the Greek goddess of speed), stopped here as he rode over his new tracks. Seeing the lush, green growth he named the stop Bonita, Spanish for beautiful. Today Gould’s private car can be seen in Jefferson, Texas.

Collinston owes a lot of its history to William B. Reily and family. If you drink Luzianne tea you can thank Mr. Reily, who actually started his career as a grocer in Bastrop. The Luzianne brand remains strong today, many years after its inception.Terry and Beth Erwin are the present overseers of Kalorama Nature Preserve on the Collinston hwy. This had been a summer home to the Reilys years ago. The Reily United Methodist Church can thank the Reily family for their support, finanacially and landwise. John Reily donated land for the original church in 1925 while William helped fund the second church in 1940. The original church then became the educational building. Reily United Methodist Church has quite Christmas reputation. They have held Christmas bake sales to raise funds for the Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston. A strong music group has Christmas singings at their church and has performed throughout Morehouse Parish during the holidays when time has permitted. Reily and Friends will be performing December 2 at the First Church of God in Bastrop at 6:00P.M. December 9 at the Mer Rouge Methodist Church at 4:00 P.M., and at home at Reily December 16 at 8:30 A.M. Mer Rouge is a thriving community with FSC, John Deere Equipment, and The Oak Woods nursing home as larger employers.Lawyer’s offices, pharmacies, dental offices, gas station/quick stop/fast food (a really good breakfast), and Bank of Mer Rouge make up a good tax base for folks in the area. Oak Ridge can claim the Clarke Williams family of CenturyLink fame. From an operator based phone company out of a home to a nationwide enterprise, connections are strong in Oak Ridge. Martha Ann Loughridge Gilchrist is known for her beautiful handmade jewelry, gold or silver worked into intricate patterns, stones placed for best viewing. Johnny Fitch has been known to saw his own lumber to be air dried and turned into attractive,sturdy pieces. Marsha Cabuk, Margaret Tullos, and Pat O’Neal can be found painting while Phillip Williams may be caught turning gourds into necklaces or earrings.

Hall of Fame lived here. Abner Wimberly played for LSU and the Green Bay Packers. Bill Dickey,born in Bastrop in 1907, played the position of catcher for the New York Yankees and later managed and coached the team. Ronnie Coleman, professional body builder (holds a record of eight straight wins as Mr. Olmpia) and cum laude graduate of Grambling in accounting, was born in Bastrop in 1964. Calvin and Kenny Natt and Jamie Mayo were a threesome to be reckoned with on the NLU basketball court. They, along with Coach Mike Vining, had been at Bastrop High School in the 1970s.

John Wesley Ryles,country singer and Mable John of Motown Records were born in Bastrop. Ryles’s best known hit was the 1968 single “Kay” while Mable sang songs written by Barry Gordy during his early years. She became a Raelette, one of the backup singers for Ray Charles. Chemin-A-Haut State Park, north of Bastrop offers camping, hiking, birding opportunities. Bayou Bartholomew, the longest bayou, offers kayaking and canoeing. Long term plans for Bussey and Wham Brakes are on the Louisiana Department of Wildlife’s table. Hunting is good as can be verified with deer being seen in backs of trucks this time of year. Johnny Wink of MegaBucks Duck Guides can line up a duck hunt, a goose hunt, or a deer hunt. He’s located in Jones and can be “googled” for more information. There are a lot of historic buildings and homes in the area. The Rose Theatre in Bastrop hosts wonderful plays with some great local talent. H.H. Land, architect, designed several buildings in the area. His stamp includes the Bastrop Courthouse, Bastrop High School, Hughes Chapel School, Johnson School and others in the area. The Cedars Plantation (Williams Home Place), Excelsior, and Walnut Grove are homes on the National Register. Columns are all that remain of the Rolfe-Cooper place near Oak Ridge. A headstone, lying in a tangled mass of growth heading toward the “North End” indicates the death of a child in the late 1800s. Lots of reminders of what had been in Morehouse Parish. 1955 found Elvis giving an early performance at Southside Elementary School in Bastrop. As with Elvis, some landmarks have “left the area.”

Morehouse Parish can boast of several well known sports figures. Lou Brock, American League baseball player and a member of the Baseball

Don’t Settle for Gray Michelangelo was primarily a sculptor not a painter. When the pope forced him to paint the Sistine Chapel he angrily complained, “I’ve grown goiter at this drudgery . . . This place is wrong for me, and I’m no painter.”

by Bill Dye, North Monroe Baptist Church

For centuries, art critics thought this might explain why the chapel ceiling was so bland. They assumed that color would be meaningless to a sculptor. One nineteenth century critic remarked, “Color would gravely damage this work. It would no longer be the mental image of a feat beyond human conception.” During the 1980’s, the Vatican commissioned a long overdue restoration on the chapel frescos. The Sistine Chapel did not get electric lights until around the turn of the century. Until that time it was lighted by rows of fat tallow candles. Over the years the candles deposited a layer of soot all on the paintings. Toward the end of the eighteenth century the Vatican commissioned a restorer to apply a coat of diluted animal glue to brighten them. This only made them darker than before. By the middle of the twentieth century they were a smoky shadow of their former radiance. A critic said that by the late 20th century “looking at the painting on the Sistine chapel was like listening to Beethoven through an inch of felt.” As the cleaning progressed, workers discovered something that both surprised and embarrassed the experts. When the years of dirt and grease were painstakingly removed brilliant color leaped from the drab frescos producing a vivid contrast to the dingy grays. One sage said, “It turned out Michelangelo’s ‘sublime grayness’ was only grease and soot.” In a way your life is like the Sistine chapel. God, the master artist has created you to live in brilliant color. But the dust and soot of living in this world has left you covered in a dim film of gray. Some say, “Keep it gray. That’s the way it was meant to be.” Don’t listen to them. God has so much more for your life and he wants to you live it in vibrant color. But to do that you will have to be who you are.

My friend Clarence died last week. For years, he owned a pipeline construction company. His partner was Leon Erik Brooks. Clarence always called him, “Mr. Brooks.”

One time Clarence and I were riding motorcycles on the back roads south of Start, Louisiana. We took several turns until we came to this old family cemetery. A small rot iron fence surrounded the tombstones. An ancient log house about two hundred yards to the left stood like a sentinel over the old family plot. I followed Clarence as he got off his bike and walked through the iron gate. He stooped over a gravestone and re-arranged some flowers. The marker read, “Leon Brooks.” Clarence stood up and said, “This is where my partner Mr. Brooks is buried.” Then his face lit up and Clarence told me his favorite story. He said that Mr. Brooks had a son they called Kix. Kix was one of those free spirits that refused to be painted into the gray of other people’s expectations. Mr. Brooks was worried about his boy who at the time was in his mid twenties and still bumming around playing his guitar and singing in honkey-tonks. Mr. Brooks called Clarence into his office and said, “Clarence, Kix is down at the hunting camp. Will you go down there and talk some sense into him?” Clarence said that when he opened the door to the camp Kicks was sitting with a guitar on his lap trying to write a song. Then he smiled at the thought. “I told him, ‘Kix, you are in your mid twenties and its time to make something of your life. Your daddy’s worried about you. You need to put down that guitar and get back to Louisiana Tech and make something of your life.’” Kix never followed Clarence’s advice. Instead he went to Nashville and hooked up with a singer songwriter named Ronnie Dunn. You’ve probably heard of them. Brooks and Dunn are living legends in the country music world. Clarence loved the memory of how he told Kix Brooks to quit singing and go to work. Man was he glad Kix didn’t listen to him that day. This morning when I walked into the office my secretary had a huge flower arrangement on her desk. “What’s up with the flowers?” I asked. She said those were the ones Kix Brooks sent to Clarence’s funeral.

It was a giant vase of vivid colors.

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Home Cinema shares answers for digital dilemmas... I’ve heard the terms LCD, LED and Plasma. What are the differences and which one is best? The three technologies are vastly different, particularly with respect to how each screen is lit. In plasma HDTVs, the phosphors that create the image on the screen light up themselves, and don’t require backlighting. For LCD HDTVs, however, the liquid crystal screen does not illuminate, requiring a separate light source. That’s where the difference between “regular” LCD screens (also known as CCFL-backlit LCD) and LED-backlit LCD screens (also known as LED-LCD, or just LED screens) come in. Traditional LCD HDTVs use cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) to illuminate the screen. CCFLs are similar to the fluorescent lights you might see in some lamps and overhead light fixtures. They use a charged gas to produce light. LED screens, like their name implies, use light emitting diodes (LEDs) to illuminate the display. LED backlighting has become much more common in the last few years, and CCFLs are now generally only seen on budget HDTVs. As far as which one is best? The best thing to do is go look at them. LED is bright and looks great on sports, but if you are a movie buff, you might prefer the Plasma as it keeps film looking film-like and less sterile.

My system is complicated. Is there a better remote? At Home Cinema, we have a couple of solutions we like. The one we use most is from Universal Remotes for $250 and we charge between $100 and $200 to program it, depending on complexity. It works infra-red, or line-of-sight. They offer a RF (radio frequency) kit that allows the remote to work through doors and from other rooms. This remote system allows the use of “macros” or multiple commands. By pressing one button, several things happen. On, for instance, will tell the TV to come on, then the audio/video receiver, then the cable box, then the Blu-ray and make sure the TV is watching cable and the remote will operate the cable box. That happens all from the press of one button.

What is streaming? Streaming means listening to music or watching video in ‘real time’, instead of downloading a file to your computer and watching it later. With internet videos and webcasts of live events, there is no file to download, just a continuous stream of data. Some broadcasters prefer streaming because it’s hard for most users to save the content and distribute it illegally. Streaming is a relatively recent development, because your broadband connection has to run fast enough to show the data in real time. Files encoded for streaming are often highly compressed to use as little bandwidth as possible. There a several ways to stream, Blu-Rays, Smart TVs, Computers, Apple and Google TV devices are some. If there is an interruption due to lack of bandwidth on the internet, the audio will drop out or the screen will go blank. To minimize the problem, the device stores a ’buffer’ of data that has already been received. If there’s a drop-out, the buffer goes down for a while but the video is not interrupted. If there is no more data in the buffer, it will usually stop and display a message - ’buffering’ - while it catches up. Streaming has become very common thanks to the popularity of internet radio stations and various audio and video on-demand services, including Spotify, Last.fm, YouTube, iTunes and Pandora. Some services offer different levels of quality for different internet connections. YouTube, for example, can stream low, medium and high-quality videos to both mobile phone users and broadband users. However, YouTube’s high-quality videos for phones (320 x 240 pixels) have less resolution than low-quality videos for PCs (400 x 226 pixels) because phones have smaller screens. Listening to music can consume about 0.5-1.0 megabytes per minute and watching ordinary YouTube videos can consume about 4-5 megabytes per minute. It can be more or less, depending on the quality.

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Blockbuster @Home (1 disc at a time): Only available with new qualifying DISH service activated between 8/01/12 and 1/16/13. For the first 3 months of your subscription, you will receive Blockbuster @Home free (regularly $10/mo). After 3 months, then-current regular price applies. Requires online DISH account for discs by mail; broadband Internet to stream content; HD DVR to stream to TV. Digital Home Advantage plan requires 24-month agreement and credit qualification. Cancellation fee of $17.50/month remaining applies if service is terminated before end of agreement. With qualifying packages, Online Bonus credit requires AutoPay with Paperless Billing, email opt-in for DISH E-Newsletter, and online redemption at www.mydish.com/getonlinebonus no later than 45 days from service activation. After applicable promotional period, then-current price will apply. $10/mo HD add-on fee waived for life of current account; requires continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. 3-month premium movie offer value is up to $132; after 3 months then-current price applies unless you downgrade. All equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Upfront fee, monthly fees, and limits on number and type of receivers will apply. HD programming requires HD television. All prices, packages, programming, features, functionality and offers subject to change without notice. Offer available for new and qualified former customers, and subject to terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer agreements. Additional restrictions may apply. Offer ends 1/16/13. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC.

SLICKS1970

think twice before giving a pet as a gift this holiday. Giving a pet as a present seems like a great idea, but shoppers might want to give it more consideration before giving a gift that is such a considerable responsibility. A puppy at Christmas may be given with good intentions, but that well-meaning sentiment can easily backfire, ending with the pet being given up for adoption when recipients don’t feel up to the task of raising a pet. In such instances, the companion animal pays the steepest price.

Furthermore, the holiday season is not one ideally suited for making careful decisions.The hectic nature of the holiday season can be a difficult time for a pet to grow acclimated to its new environment. He or she may be frightened to assimilate or take longer to settle down. Pets often need several weeks of quiet and constant care to become comfortable in their new environments. Here are some other reasons why the holidays are not a good time for new pets.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, most puppies and kittens born in the United States never reach their second birthdays.

• Holiday visitors may frighten the new pet and he or she may become weary of strangers at the outset.

Though it often is, buying a pet should not be an impulse purchase. You see sad eyes looking back at you from behind a cage door and want to give that animal a new home. However, introducing an animal into a family is not a decision to take lightly. You must factor how well the pet will fit in with the family dynamic. Do schedules allow for quality time spent with the animal? Is it a financially good time to care for an animal that will cost money? Making those big decisions for a person on the receiving end of your well-intentioned gift may be crossing a line.

ally

Ally is a cute little girl that was found by some people in the woods. She is a sweet thing that loves to be cuddled on. Unfortunately she is being help for a little while to be treated for ringworm.

• The activities in the household may pose safety hazards for the young animal. An abundance of rich foods and various decorations could be ingested, potentially causing illness. • New pets should be carefully supervised around children to see how they behave. A child may not be accustomed to handling a puppy or kitten and could injure the animal. Similarly, the pet may be skittish and lash out at the child. Adults busy with holiday obligations may be easily distracted and miss how their child is interacting with the new pet.

hank

lady

Lady has been with us for a very long time. She came to us in February 2006. She loves to come in the office and curl up on the rug in the air conditioning. She is well behaved when inside with us.

Hank loves his squeaky toys. He loves to fetch and run and play with his sister Kate. Hank and Kate where adopted but brought back when they did not bark at people when they came up.

• Once the glow of the holidays wear off, children may be disillusioned with the new responsibility that has fallen into their hands. They may not like the responsibility that comes with being a good pet owner. Reputable pet breeders and animal shelters often discourage individuals from adopting or purchasing pets as holiday gifts. Many organizations and animal businesses require a careful vetting of potential pet parents to ensure the animal will be placed with a family and in a home that is suitable. Animal welfare groups warn that an estimated 50 percent of pets adopted during the holidays end up right back at shelters. This can scar the pet. Avoid the temptation of giving a companion animal as a present. If it is your intention to gift an animal, talk to the gift recipient and discuss the pros and cons beforehand. Then you can work together and make the right decision for all parties involved, including the pet.

lizzy Lizzy is a super sweet girl. That loves attention. She also loves to fetch.

lola Lola is a very sweet playful girl. She loves to play with other dogs.

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A “Berry” Big Gator by Sasha Shestko Tres Bella Magazine

This past September, when gator season was in full swing, some local guys decided to go try their luck at “big time” gator hunting. You know these trips are as much about good eating, drinking and story telling as they are about sport. This being the case it sounded like the type of hunt Pipes Barham would enjoy so when his friends invited him to join them he gladly accepted. On the first day of their guided hunt the group couldn’t wait to get started. But Pipes, being Pipes, felt a little sluggish and gator hunting is not something you do if all your faculties aren’t sharp, if you get what I mean? Pipes wanted his buddies not to worry about him and promised a surprise when they returned. This suited them just fine. They suspected the surprise would be some kind of food since Pipes was the best cook there.

Pipes decided a berry pie would be just the thing. He got a little tin bucket and went to collect his berries. He had to go into the under brush and bend down low to reach his berries. What do you think was lying right next to the berry bush in the mud? Well it was the biggest old gator he had ever seen! The gator and Pipes saw each other about the same time. Before the gator could make Pipes his next meal Pipes swung the berry bucket and hit that old gator right between the eyes. Well, folks the ending to the story is best told by the picture. Editor’s note: A guided hunt can be a great gift for the hunter in your family.

Camron Parish. 80 year old alligator 12’ 2” 900 lb.

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Steppin’ Out with Amber Eppinette

material things

ne Friday evening a crowd of 6,000 stands at attention saluting the American flag. Drum roll begins and a 6 year old, snaggletooth girl boldly takes the microphone and sings the National Anthem. After the performance, the roar of applause was overwhelming but not to Amber Eppinette. She gracefully hands the microphone to the Shriner and exits the circus arena. It was at that moment her future as a vocalist, was clearly defined by all. Amber, born to Dara and Allan Eppinette of Sterlington, has been sharing her talent with audiences for an incredible 15 years. As an award winning singer, songwriter and musician, Amber has ministered and entertained gospel music fans across the United States. Her music has literally been heard around the world. The fact that Amber is such an accomplished singer is to be expected, considering she literally was singing before she could talk. At the age of two, she would walk through her home, flapping her chicken wings singing, “I feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonight.” This was Amber’s first full sentence…and song!

Mater i

in g s

Before reaching her 22nd birthday, Amber has accomplished more than most vocalists do in a lifetime. After having many successes in various talent searches held in multiple states, Amber had a desire to travel as a group instead of a soloist. In 2006, the trio 11th Hour was formed with Amber singing lead and playing piano. This soon began the net chapter in life.

From life experiences and walks from being in the ministry, Amber began to pen songs that have touched lives of many and given inspiration. In 2010, the production of Gather ‘Round began. They entered the studio to record their debut album that was produced by multi-award winning musician and recording artist, Gordon Mote. Two years and two albums later, the trio is off to a very strong start! In 2012 alone, performances have included the states of Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana and New York. Annually, a convention known as the National Quartet Convention is held in Louisville, KY attracting 50K+ fans over the coarse of a week. Each evening, the industries top named artists perform on what is known as “Main Stage”. By way of special invitation, the trio has been honored with performing on Main Stage both years attending. Not only have the performed at NQC, they recently added Silver Dollar City and Dollywood to their long list of venues. What’s more, they have been blessed with multiple top 40 hits in the Singing News radio airplay charts and a recent top 10 nomination for Horizon Artist Of The Year in the 2012 Singing News Fan Awards. This past August, Amber and 11th Hour entered into a 3 year recording contract with Crossroads Entertainment and Marketing. Their latest album, Steppin’ Out, was released this past September with the latest radio single debuting on the charts. With so much experience under her belt, it makes one wonder what the next 22 years could hold for Amber.

ial T h i n ater g

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When Amber isn’t traveling and performing, she can be found at home in Sterlington with her mom, dad and pet, Maggie. And should you ask here what’s for dinner, she still sings the same song…..”I feel like chicken tonight, chicken tonight!” www.11thhourgospelgroup.com facebook.com/11thhourgospelgroup 11th Hour is represented by Crossroads Music & Entertainment, Arden, NC. Booking agency, Adoration Agency, Nashville, TN

dutch oven gathering

Now is the time to get ready for the holidays. by Russ Brantley Park Manager of Chemin-a-haut State Park, Bastrop LA

Do you remember your grandmother’s favorite cast iron skillet? I remember my grandmother never washed that skillet and protected it from soap/water zealously. With that little unwashed skillet, she produced the best fried chicken I’ve ever tasted…ever. She would always say that it was the “seasoning” of the cast iron skillet and to wash it was to wash away the good taste and flavor. Chemin-a-haut State Park in Bastrop hosts a “Dutch Oven Gathering” on the first Saturday of every month. A dutch oven is an iron pot with little peg legs and a flat lid with a lip. The legs allow you to stuff charcoal/hot coals under and on top of the flat lid. Anything you cook normally you can adapt to a dutch oven. Often the by-product is a healthier and better tasting result than using stainless steel or non-stick pots and pans. At 9am, young and old gather in the picnic area to begin preparing everything from homemade breads and desserts to beautiful entrée’s such as spinach stuffed chicken breasts. The Bartholomew Dutch Oven Society celebrated its first birthday in October and has steadily grown in membership over the past year.

Guests are always welcome and it’s free

to join the club. Their motto is “good friends and good fellowship” and you can see why when you ask them “what’s cooking”. Everyone prepares something different and you can walk around and actually watch them prepare these meals. The best part though, is “pots on the table at noon”…that means at noon we get to taste all the great dishes the Society members have prepared. When I say the food is good…I really mean the food is wonderful and you must see it to believe it. Chemin-a-haut State Park is located 10 miles north of Bastrop, LA off US HWY 425. Turn onto Loop Park Road and the park will be on your right about half mile down the road. Amenities in-

clude 2 bedroom 1 bath vacation cabins with service for 8 people along with Dish Satellite HDTV and Free WIFI. 26 campsites with 30/50 amp hookups with water, 3 covered pavilions, group camp, meeting room and swimming pool. For more information log onto www. lastateparks.com

14656 State Park Road, Bastrop, LA 71220-7078 318-283-0812 or 888-677-2436 toll free For reservations, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA (877-226-7652) toll free. Email: cheminahaut@crt.la.gov

Mott’s Stable by Sasha Shestko Tres Bella Magazine

Every horse lover will tell you that those striking creatures have a gift for bringing out the best in people. This was certainly true for the late Amanda Morgan Mott. Amanda made her living as an interior designer, but her heart remained with her horses. Nothing exemplifies the combination of Amanda’s talent and passion better than the Mott Stable. The two story stable sits in a grove of pecan trees, facing fields of old farm land. The bottom floor is dedicated to the horses. It is comprised of an equipment room and sturdy wooden stables that are usually left open to allow the horses freedom to graze and frolic to their hearts content. On second floor, the old hay loft has been converted into a cozy apartment. Amanda’s touch on the loft can be felt in the rich wooden furniture and southwestern décor. The original hay loft doors have been left intact to serve as the focal point in the apartment’s living room. Looking out these doors, one can still feel Amanda’s touch on the world. No one expresses this better than Amanda’s daughter, Marlow: My mother was a beautiful woman with a great talent. She could put colors and patterns together and create a home. It’s like the sunset, beautiful colors designed by the Creator that no one can duplicate. Even though my mother is gone from this Earth, I still see her smile and feel her love while I sit in the beautiful barn she designed. Watching the sun set over the pecan orchard and the horses she loved so much, there is a feeling in my heart of peace, happiness, and gratitude that He let me be a part of her life. One thing no one can ever take from me is the sunset, with its stunning colors and my mom’s smile. So I smile back with happy tears.

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Home

For The

Holidays Before the holidays bring family celebrations and visiting friends to your home, give your home a new look and improve its comfort level. Check out our suggestions, make your project list, and buckle down to get the job done in time for the holidays. Put safety first. Before you begin your first project, make sure you have eye, ear and breathing protection available and then follow the manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s directions for all the tools and products you use. Have a firstaid kit and a phone handy, and enlist help for the heavy-duty work. 52

Kitchen & Dining Areas -- Apply stain or color to your kitchen cabinets and replace hinges and pulls or knobs to brighten your “home cafe.” If your cabinets have seen better days, install new ones -- either store-bought or ones you build. For a wood table and chairs, consider using a stain or topcoat to enhance the wood’s appearance or to match the color of your cabinets.

Entrance, Windows & Floors -- Give your entrance an easy update with a new door or add color and new hardware to your existing one. Install new windows that are attractive, reduce heating and cooling costs, and are easy to maintain. And consider installing a hardwood floor in at least one of your rooms -- possibly the entryway and/or the living/ family room.

Shelving & Lighting -- Adding shelving anywhere you have unused space (bedroom/bathroom closets) will help control clutter and provide display space for your favorite photos and collectibles in living room, family room, and kitchen. Enhance cabinets and furniture with new decorative LED lighting.

Living/Family Room -- Arranging furniture into “areas” will allow for varied activities simultaneously, such as conversation and watching events on television or playing games. Use plants, a bookcase or a divider to separate areas. Paint walls, hang pictures or stain wood furniture to add color.

Let’s Talk

T R E N T O N 54 46

Trenton’s Antique Aley... Antique Alley located on Trenton Street in the historic Cottonport District has a history dating back to 1859 when Cottonport was recognized by the Louisiana Legislature. The area continued to grow with the addition of a railroad bridge across the Ouachita River and the building of the Union Oil Mill which processed cotton seed oil until its closing. The mill is currently being converted into apartments, condos, and retail shopping. During the 1960s and the early 1970s, very few businesses were located in the original downtown area of West Monroe which is now designated the Cotton Port Historic District. City Hall had been moved out of an area leaving two banks, two jewelry stores, a flower shop, a tire store, a restaurant supply store, a cottonseed oil mill, a pool hall, two bars, a men’s clothing store, a ladies dress shop, a third-run movie theater, a cafe serving breakfast and lunch, a hardware store and many empty buildings being used for warehousing. Then in the late 70’s, an art gallery selling paintings and prints opened, followed by several boutiques going into business in an old warehouse. An antique shop featuring upscale collectibles opened followed by the renovation of an old building which became an antique store also. At this point several more antique shops began moving into the area along with a furniture store which specialized in unfinished furniture. Within a few years one of the antique shops became an antique mall followed by several others opening in the area. Antique Alley is primarily located in the historic downtown of West Monroe, Louisiana, on the banks of the Ouachita River. Most shops are open Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and some shops are open Monday and Sunday afternoons.

The largest dealer of fine English and French antiques in North Louisiana

6,000-square-foot showroom located on West Monroeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous Antique Alley 318-322-7728 | 313 Trenton St. | West Monroe | www.traditionsontrenton.com

Our St ory

By Sheron Hotard Owner & operator of Indian Village Specialties Inc. and Liz Lee, Owner & operator of Spa Bella

We met at an herb festival in 2007 and became fast friends. At that time Sheron was making natural soaps, lotion bars and lip balms at her home in Indian Village. Liz had opened a small day spa, Spa Bella, and was working as a massage therapist. For 4 years, Sheron supplied Liz with products, establishing signature scents, such as Sweet Orange Lavender and Rosemary Lemon. In 2011 we decided to become partners and expand. Combining our two endeavors only made sense! We have created 5 introductory scents to represent the essential aspects of nature as we see it: Sun, Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. We will be adding more scents and products as we grow. All of our products are made by hand, therefore, there may be a slight difference in shape or weight. All of our artisanal goods are detergent free and do not contain harsh chemical preservatives such as SLS (sodium laurel sulfate) and paraben. The oils we use are plant derived and do not contain petroleum byproducts such as mineral oil. We are so excited to provide a natural line of bath products and body treatments for our community. We look forward to providing our established, tried and true line as well as welcoming custom orders. As we further expand we will be offering new lines such as baby, men’s, as well as a variety of essential oils. Spa Bella and Indian Village Specialties are now located at 312 Wood Street in West Monroe. Our general store hours are Wednesday through Saturday 12 - 5 and we will be participating in the Antique Alley holiday hours Monday through Saturday 12 – 6 and Sunday 12 – 5.

Relax ... Release ... Restore

The Power of Touch

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Love t he Air You’re In! Available At

Imperial Galleries

Antiques • Fine Arts • Lampe Berger Specialists

317 Trenton St • West Monroe • 318-361-0091 www.imperialgalleries.com

Kristin Benton

Bent Oaks

Boutique 318-388-0078

306 Trenton • West Monroe Tue. – Fri. 10:30 – 5:00; Sat: 10:30 – 4:30 www.facebook.com/pages/Bent-Oaks-Boutique

A small town boutique where you will find BIG CITY STYLES at affordable prices.”

“ 58

Cricket Beaux Bicket

Embroidery and Unique Gift Shop Phone: 318-387-4318

115 Trenton Street, West Monroe Located in Antique Alley

Caldrea

Quality Vintage Pieces for Your Home. 318-998-0347 | 303 Trenton St. , West Monroe Tues - Sat • 10 - 5 | www.antique-alley.org

Paddywax Candles Pre de PrevenCe hand-Crafted items

This Cricket’s Got Game!

vintage furniture

318-998-2424 | 204 Trenton St. , West Monroe www.facebook.com/cricketbeauxbicket

vintage rentals & styling

1836 Forsythe Ave., Monroe, (318) 398-0036 www.facebook.com/BayouChocolate

Purses • Wallets • Jewelry • Gifts Tote bags • Woodcrafts • & More

Light A CANDLE FEED a Child

Trenton Street Antiques

CC onsignment outure

207 Trenton St West Monroe • 318-387-1933 www.antique-alley.org

What treasure will you discover?

MALCOMB’S

Design House Florist GifTS - HoMe Decor - AccenT furniTure

Now accepting Fall and Winter clothing We pay 50% of the selling price!

318-855-3207 | 310 Trenton St. , West Monroe www.DesignHouseWest.com

(318) 600-4466 | 2718 North 7th St., West Monroe www.facebook.com/coutureconsignmentwm

Woodcrafts & Treasures

318-322-7444 | 219 Trenton St. , West Monroe www.antique-alley.org

(318) 323-0026

2428 Sterlington Road Monroe, LA 71203 4759

building a dream by Joyce M. Christian

A dusty old barn, shoveling manure, hauling hay, and brushing out the manes and tails of seven horses may not sound like much of a dream to some, but it is very much one of mine. Ten years ago if you had told me one day I’d be living in Louisiana with my horses I would have questioned why. This simply was not on my grid. I was living in New York finishing out a thirty year career with the Department of Defense Schools at the United States Military Academy at West Point. I had spent twenty-three of those years overseas in Germany, now I was back home and contemplating retirement. Having grown up in Alabama, my plan did include returning to the south. While living in Europe I had encountered a rare, new breed of horse. I’ve loved horses all my life – I simply cannot recall a time when I didn’t. However, time and circumstance seemed to never allow me the pleasure of having a horse in my life – until one magical day at my daughter’s riding school in Germany. Four horses performed that day that were unlike any horse I had ever seen. Painted coats, long flowing manes and tails, accompanied by flashy feathered feet created a fairytale aura and completely pulled me in. After purchasing one of these delightful creatures for my daughter, I spent the next two years trying to find answers to all the questions that continued to increase over time. A horse created by the Romani horsemen in England and Ireland at least answered the “who” and “where”. The Romani are Gypsies – quiet, secluded, they prefer a life of separation from mainstream society. Sometime shortly after WWII a small group of these horsemen began a selective breeding program to create a horse colorful enough to pull their bow top caravans. Forty years into this process their vision had been achieved. These horses were considered a family’s treasure and were not sold to outsiders. That did not pose a problem as most outsiders were not at all interested in any horse bred by Gypsies. Why? Well, all Gypsies breed horses, it is in their blood. However, most are best known for their ordinary, common herds of horses that come from indiscriminate breeding. That means simply not breeding with a plan, but rather breeding for any kind of horse that ultimately will be sold to the European meat market. This has resulted in the general idea that any horse bred by Gypsies is simply a mongrel. Such a prejudicial attitude masked for years one of the world’s most beautiful and amazing equines. Finally discovered, understood, and named by an American couple, Dennis and Cindy Thompson, from Ocala, Florida, the horse became an overnight sensation when first introduced as a breed in 1996. I became acquainted with the Thompsons shortly after their website opened in 1998. Living in Germany at the time our communication was via email. At first neither could believe that I had the fortunate experience of actually owning Gypsy Vanner Horses (the name they had chosen for the breed). However, after sending photos and explaining my two year study of the many Gypsy bred horses that had come and gone through my daughter’s riding school, they recognized that, not only did I understand the complexity of this breed, but I had the very good fortune of owning two. I imported these two when I returned to the USA in 2001 and began my job at West Point. My gelding, Bandit, and my mare, Magic, proudly hold registration numbers 70 and 71 in a registry that today boasts 2500 plus horses. After working with these delightful horses for the last sixteen years, I have come to appreciate them not only for their beauty but for a broad spectrum of special traits. Among those are uncanny intelligence, calm manageability, and an innate desire to be close to the humans in their lives. While their conformation enables them to be very versatile and well suited for a variety of disciplines, my favorite job for them is in equine assisted education. Notice, I did not say therapy. I certainly admire and strongly support the equine therapy programs that have been growing in the last fifteen years by leaps and bounds. I am not an occupational or physical therapist. I believe the work of

those professionals is outstanding, however, I believe there is a social/emotional quadrant that has hardly been explored. While I certainly feel the Gypsy Vanner would be excellent in the physical and occupational therapy programs, I want to develop a social/emotional program using this horse as a facilitator. As a retired teacher and school administrator who supervised special education programs for many years, I believe my background, as well as other educators like me, paired with the talents of this breed have the potential for changing lives for the better. Arriving in Louisiana in the summer of 2009 I have finally found a lovely, small farm in Calhoun where I hope to be able to continue and build this work. The last decade of my life has not been an easy one. I have endured many setbacks and hardships. About a year ago, I hit rock bottom, was financially broke, and could not see how I would be able to keep my horses, let alone build a program. Rather than becoming discouraged, I began to diligently seek God’s plan for my life. I simply prayed for God’s guidance and if necessary I would give up the horses and find a new home for just me. However, God had a better plan. He always does. It is my belief that He planted the seed that grew into my love for horses and He had special work for us to do as a result. He brought my horses and me to our new home. During the last year I have been able to make repairs, and slowly, steadily the property is being made ready for the work the horses and I must do. All of my seven Vanners have come into my life through unusual and blessed circumstances. When number seven arrived in July 2012, I felt we had reached herd completion. In January 2008 Dennis Thompson appointed me to the Board of Directors for the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society. I served a three year term and in December 2011, I was re-elected to the Board for another three years. There is much work to do in helping to grow and protect this wonderful, new breed and I am pleased to be involved in those efforts. Therefore, I hope to follow the plans of those original breeders by breeding truly select lines and producing one or two foals a year. In early 2012 I was given another wonderful opportunity. I was named Chairperson for the Louisiana Equine Council’s Horse Expo in 2013. The Louisiana Horse Council is a wonderful organization whose primary purpose is to embrace all breeds and all disciplines while growing and showcasing Louisiana’s horse industry. A young organization their expos for the last couple of years have focused on the Western disciplines. As the newly named Chairperson I felt it was time to broaden our vision and follow after our mission of “embracing all breeds and all disciplines.” It has been the goal of my committee to do just that. We have been seeking out Louisiana’s top horsemen and horsewomen to help us truly share the magic and wonder that is the horse. We hope that many of you will join us in Crowley, LA at the Rice Arena on February 9 – 10, 2013 for this exciting display of Louisiana’s horses and the people who love them. `Working with the LEC and the upcoming Expo I feel I have been able to blend my educational background with my love for all things equine. If it is possible to continue to combine my educational knowledge with my love for the Gypsy Vanner Horse, building a farm program which supports students as well as this incredible, new breed; then my dream will become a reality and my farm slogan will be true – “Building a breed …..while changing lives.” Joyce M. Christian is a member of the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society’s Board of Directors. She also sits on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Equine Council and is the author of “Dreams… Promises… A Vanner Horse Journey.” Questions and comments can be sent to her at vannerlifestyle@yahoo.com

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event planning

By Wade Walley

There are two ways to plan an event: do it yourself or hire an event planner. Unfortunately, if you do it yourself, you will not get to enjoy the event as much. You may think hiring an event planner may be too expensive, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. Think about it, the planner has done this before; he/she knows where to go for better prices. The planner will know where to buy, rent or even borrow some items to save you money. Hiring a good event planner will take the pressure off you, so you can enjoy that special day.

Find out who is going to be in charge of ice. Does the venue have ice machines large enough to handle your size crowd or will you need to bring your own?

Here are some tips to help you get ready for a wedding. However, most events are planned the same way.

Now that the venues have been determined, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to pick the most beautiful dress the bride will ever wear. My thoughts are that the venue sets the tone on how formal the dress should be.

Date

Set the date. Keep in mind what the temperature is going to be like and if it is a rainy time of the year.

Venue

Think about the type of atmosphere you want for the wedding and the reception. Do you want indoor or outdoor? Formal or informal? If you are going outdoor, tents will be needed in case of rain. If you choose not to use tents, have a backup plan in case of rain.

Caterer

When comparing prices, be certain that you compare apples to apples. Most caterers prices include the cost of food, but make sure to ask if their rates include serving pieces, flatware, plates, glasses, napkins and chafing dishes.

Establish what to do with the leftovers while talking to caterer. Provide proper vessels to get them where they need to goâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Tupperware or ziplocs.

The Dress

When picking out bridesmaids dresses, consider you bridesmaids and what would look best on them. Remember, they are going to be in the pictures also.

Photographer

Speaking of pictures. You will need to find a photographer who you feel comfortable with. Get references. Make an appointment and decide which pictures that you require, then let him/her use their creative genius.

Invitations

This is very important! The invitations will set the mood of the entire event. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t skimp on the invitations ever, especially a fund raising event.

What about wait staff or bartenders? Some venues require that an officer attend if there is alcohol. Ask if the caterer includes this in his/ her charge or if the bride going to take on this expense. I do not like tip jars on the bar at receptions. Whoever is giving the party should take care of gratuity for the wait staff and bartenders.

Choose entertainment that is appropriate for the event. Remember, you will have guests from babies to great grandmas. Be considerate.

Also, who is going to clean up after the reception? You will need to arrange for a cleaning crew if the caterer does not provide this service. These people should also be cleaning during the entire event to keep everything tidy. 62

Keep these tips in mind and you will have an event that people talk about for years!

Entertainment

Please remember this, even if you do not remember another thing: Have plenty of ice and plenty of long lighters!

Winter Wonderland Fall is giving way to winter and it is a great time to connect with our creative side. Projects do not need to be expensive or complicated to leave a lasting impression. Whether you want to spruce things up for the holidays or just give your home a new look, inspiration is all around. We have collected some of our favorite inspirational ideas that we wanted to share. Try them out and let us know how it goes. We will post your results on Facebook to keep the inspirations going!

picks

Download cute gift tag designs free! Tie onto your loved ones’ gifts. www.Jonesdesigncompany.com

Bring some color inside with sprigs of Mistletoe and Winterberry Holly. www.meandalice.blogspot.com

Painted Wallpaper Winter is about to drive us back inside where we will spend many hours looking at the walls. Here is an inexpensive way to brigten your outlook for next to nothing. Painted wallpaper is not a new concept but we have found some motivating inspiration as well as a free template at www.jonesdesigncompany.com. If you have some leftover paint simply add some white and you can do this project for FREE! And, if you don’t have time to do this all at once it can be broken down into small “work shifts” without any problems. Just be sure to finish before Mom comes for the holidays.

Candy Cane Play Dough

Who knew a wire hanger and a 3” strip of burlap could be so cute. www.ittlenannygoat.blogspot.com

Here comes Santa What a fun Christmas decoration that would hold great memories! www.ucreatewithkids.com

Looking for an interactive gift idea? This one checks all the boxes. It’s easy and fun to make, inexpensive, and once given, encourages creative play. Step by step directions and an easy to follow recipe can be found at www.artfulparent.typepad.com

Here is a yummy project that will make you seem like Betty Crocker is in your family tree. Almost too cute to eat. Take some Nutterbutters and dip the top and bottom into white chocolate. Sprinkle red sugar on top before the chocolate dries to make the hat. Add a dot of white chocolate for the tassle and to adhere the mini chocolate chips for eyes and the red-hot for the nose and Santa has arrived! To give credit where due we found this idea at penguinstamper.blogspot.com

Simple yet elegant use for those pesky pinecones that are scattered in the yard. www.emmas.blogg.se

Growing Up Italian by Amy Tucker Barefoot

Let’s face it! I come from a long, proud line of beautiful, loving, loud, amazing Italians!! At least that’s how I see my Mom’s side of the family. My Italian heritage has always been a huge part of my identity.

As you entered my grandparents’ house, Grampa’s chair was right inside the door. No one, and I mean no one, passed that chair without stopping and giving him a hug and kiss.

When I was a child, we NEVER had ‘spaghetti and sauce’. What in the world would that be? We had ‘pasta and sugga’ with fried chicken garlic bread, pork roast, Italian salad and homemade banana pudding. Now, THAT’S a Sunday dinner! Not only did we feast, we feasted with the whole family.

There was a lot of hugging and kissing going on there. So much love to share, with so many special people. I have never felt more important or loved than I did in that little house, full of warmth and safety. Our gatherings, as loud and crowded as they were, reinforced the fact that family shapes who we are.

Gathering at my Nana’s house, we ate, laughed, played and talked over each other for hours on end. Of course, this was after mass; no eating before receiving Holy Communion!

I came to understand, later in my childhood, that I was lucky. Lucky to be a part of an incredible family; something many people never get to experience. Lucky to know that no matter what, I have amazing people in my life that I can depend on. People who always helped me understand that I have a soft place to land, even on the hardest of days. I hope that I have been able to pass this legacy on to my boys.

By all, I mean, my immediate family (Mom, Dad and all five girls) as well as my Nana, Grampa, my aunts, my uncles and 15 or so cousins. The adults would gather in the kitchen and the den and we, the kids, were banished outside or to the back room. No kids allowed around the adult conversations. That’s a rule that needs to make a come-back. 60 64

It’s too bad that not every child can grow up Italian!

Winnsboro

Welcome to

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Christmas Concoctions Delightful drinks sure to add a touch of taste to any holiday Event.

Candy Cane Martini 1 1/2 oz Vodka 1/2 oz triple sec 2-3 oz white cranberry Shaken into a cocktail glass with red/white sugar rim and candy cane garnish

Iletaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Class Margarita by Ileta Rutherford

6 ounces premium tequila (I use Silver Patron) 4 ounces Cointreau 1/4 ounce Grand Marnier (if you want it sweeter add a little more) 2 ounces fresh lime juice Shake, pour into a martini glass and enjoy Garnish as desired.

Got a favorite brand and style of tequila? Silver or gold? Do you like it straight up or on the rocks? (I recommend a few pieces of cracked ice)The choice is yours. Tasting is part of the fun!

Irish Creme Holiday Martini 59ml of Irish Cream liqueur 7ml of vodka 7ml of chocolate liqueur A few raspberry Add your Irish Cream, vodka and chocolate liqueur to a shaker filled with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with raspberrys (optional). Recipe from Rachel Ray.com

Gingerbread Man Martini 60ml of gingerbread flavoured liqueur 10ml of vodka 10ml of Kahlua 10ml of Irish Cream liqueur 2 gingerbread biscuits, crushed 1 gingerbread biscuit, to serve canned whipped cream (optional Dip a martini glass in water and then into the crushed gingerbread biscuits. Pour all the liqueurs into a shaker, and shake well. Pour into the martini glass and top with a squirt of whipped cream and the leftover gingerbread biscuit. (Adapted from Outback.com)

Seasonal Sensations Red Velvet Cake & Cream Cheese Icing

A Birthday Cake for Jesus...

A tradition in the Fontenot home, recipe courtesy Patra Fontenot, owner Vieux Carre Gourmet. Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 2 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder 2 cups sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 2 tsp vanilla extract 1-2 oz red food coloring 1 tsp of white distilled vinegar 1/2 cup prepared plain hot coffee (do nt skip this ingredient)

Preheat oven to 325. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa powder and salt. set aside. In a large bowl, combine the sugar and vegetable oil. Mix in the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and red food coloring until combined. Stir in the coffee and white vinegar. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients a little at a time, mixing after each addition, just until combined. Generously grease and flour two round cake pans with crisco and flour. Pour the batter evenly into each pan. Bake in the middle rack for 30-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool and slide a knife around the inside of the pas to loosen the cake from the pan. Remove the cakes from the pan and let them cool. Frost cake with cream cheese frosting when the cakes have cooled completely. Cream Cheese Icing 2 (8ounce) packages of cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup milk 1 stick butter, softened 2 tsp vanilla extract 4 cups powdered sugar Mix cream cheese, milk butter and vanilla extract until well combined. Pur in half of the powdered sugar and mix well. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth and fluffy. Ice the 2 layer red velvet cake.

Zucchini and Mushroom Casserole 2 TBLS butter 2 teaspoons parsley 2 Tablespoons onion, chopped ½ pound fresh mushrooms, sliced 3 medium zucchini thinly sliced 1 large ripe tomato, diced ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon garlic powder ½ cup cheddar cheese ½ cup seasoned bread crumbs

In a 3 quart casserole dish melt butter (in microwave). Add parsley and onion. Saute on high for 2 minutes. Add mushrooms. Saute on high for 2 minutes Add zucchini, tomato and seasonings. Cover with waxed paper. Cook on high for 5 minutes.

Stir in cheese. Top mixture with bread crumbs. Cook on high for 5 minutes. Assembly: Unmold polenta cups and place on a platter. Spoon 1 heaping tablespoon of topping mixture onto each polenta cup. Garnish with sprinkles of Manchego cheese.

Cornbread Dressing Saute onion, pepper, garlic and celery in butter. Crumble cornbread and bread. After crumbling cornbread and bread, add sauted veggies and seasonings. Add 1 can celery soup, 1 can chicken soup and 2 cans broth. If it doesn’t look wet enough add the other cans of soup. Bake at 350 until top browns…about an hour.

Yummy Cheese Grits 4 cups water 1 cup grits

Ingredients: Cornbread - 10 slices 3 eggs 1 stick butter 1 cup onion chopped 1 cup green pepper chopped 1 cup celery chopped 1 teasp garlic, minced 1 Tablespoon Tabasco 2 cans cream of celery soup 2 cans cream of chicken soup 2-3 cans Chicken broth ½ teaspoon thyme Dash sage

Pour water in saucepan. Add grits, Worcestershire and garlic powder. Cook about 20 minutes till the grits start to thicken. Add cheeses. Stir until blended. Pour into a casserole dish. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Sometimes the grits are runny. Sometimes they are thick. They are tasty either way.

1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce 2 cups grated sharp cheddar 2 cups Velveeta cheese cut in small cubes Paprika

Locals Share... Creole Shrimp Bread from Mark Sanders

4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup butter, softened 1 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese 2 green onions, chopped 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 1/2 cups chopped boiled shrimp 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 large loaf French bread, split lengthwise

At my house, the menu takes a turn on the classics. After a week of Christmas leftovers, I choose to offer a more casual approach to New Year’s by making self-serve appetizers including a spicy Black Eyed Pea Dip made with tomatoes with green chiles and cream cheese. I Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cream cheese, butter, cheese, onions and garlic also offer a classic from “Celebrations on the Bayou,” and make Hot Turnip Green Dip with Mini Corn Muffins. A new favorite is my Creole powder. Fold in shrimp and add seasoning. Spread on French bread and bake open faced for 15-20 minutes. Cut In strips and serve warm. Garnish with adShrimp Bread. I’ll share the recipe: ditional green onions. Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Christmas Must Haves..

Christmas Menu

1....Each other.. and a real Christmas Tree! A must have.. 2... Christmas Eve after Church. Conney Island hot Dogs and Hot Tamallies 2... Christmas Dinner... Milk Punch.. Oyster stew.. Fresh Pear Salad with candied peacons, Standing Rib Roast... Dirty Rice... Hot Curry Fruit ..A Lemon Spinach. and Satchie’s Coconut Cake! 3... We love to decorate with lots of , my favorite, Southern Smilex, fresh pine and pine cones holly. cranberries and such... It is so much fun and what wonderful memories putting out all our old decorations that we have collected for all these years... Love d

We have tenderloin with Marchand de vin sauce, spinach Madeline, Boursin potatoes, hot sherried fruit, beets w/ goat cheese salad and all of the wonderful things that others bring to share.

by Diane Cage

Chocolate Toffee Potato Chips 1 (13.5 ounce) bag of Ruffles Potato Chips 2 (4 ounce) bars semisweet chocolae, melted 1 (8 ounce) bag of Heath toffee bits Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place potato chips in a single layer on prepared pans. Drizzle with melted chocolate; sprinkle with toffee bits. Let stand until set. Store in airtight container up to 1 week.

at the home of Margaret and Jess Barr

Peach, Guacamole & Crawfish Tail Tower Makes 2-3 towers • Prep time: 20 min Special Equipment: a 2-3 inch tall PVC pipe (found at most hardware stores) Directions: 1. Prep Mango Salsa, Guacamole, and Crawfish Tails. 2. Place PVC pipe on a plate. Spoon in ¾ cup of guacamole. Spread around bottom of the pipe and up the sides just a bit. Add ¾ cup of the Mango Salsa. Top with about ½ cup of Crawfish tails. Place a sprig of Parsley, cilantro, or basil (kind of like a flag) on the very top as garnish. 3. Add Tortilla chips around the pipe. Right before service, pull up and remove the PVC pipe. Enjoy!

Recipes:

Peach Salsa (makes about ½ quart)

2 LA peaches, diced ¼ Red Onion, diced small 1 Roma Tomato, diced small ½ Jalapeño Pepper, minced ¼ pack of Kroger Italian Dressing mi ½ Tblsp Sugar ¼ cup Chopped Parsley Pinch of Black Pepper Few shakes of Louisiana Hot Sauce

Guacamole (Makes ½ quart)

3 Large Avocados ¼ Red Onion diced small ¼ Jalapeño Pepper minced 1 Roma Tomato diced small ½ Lemon Juiced ¼ pak of Krogers Italian Dressing Mix 2 Tblsp Chopped Cilantro Couple Shakes of LA Hot Sauce

Crawfish Tails 1 Pkg frozen Crawfish Tails, thawed & patted dry 1 Tblsp Olive Oil 1 Tblsp melted butter 2 minced Garlic Cloves ½ lemon, juiced Salt & Pepper 1 Tblsp chopped Parsley In a skillet, heat the butter, melt, and add the olive oil. Add the garlic and sauté for a minute. Add the crawfish tails. Sauté for 2 minutes, season with salt & pepper, take off heat, add parsley. Chill ½ hour before using as the topping of the Tower.

Cookies for Giving Courtesy of Patra Fontenot

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies 1 cup vey finely ground almonds 1 (16 ounce) container dark chocolate frosting 4 TBSP (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature

2 1/2 cup0s graham cracker crumbs 1/2 tsp pure almond extract 48 chocolate kiss candies (Hershey’s)

Pulse almonds in a food processor until very finely ground, like coarse sand. Pour ground almonds into a pie pan or other shallow bowl and set aside. Beat chocolate frosting and butter in large bowl with a hand mixer until well blended. Stir in graham cracker crumbs and almond extract. Shape chocolate mixture into 1-inch balls. Roll ach ball in almonds to coat. Place balls on a cookie sheet. Using your finger, make a deep indentation in the center of each ball. Fill the indentations with chocolate kiss candies. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until cold.

Sugar Cookies 1 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 2 eggs

2 3/4 cup sifted flour 3/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla

Cream shortening and sugar well. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually blend in dry ingredients which have been sifted together. Chill dough for at least 3 hours. Roll into 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut cookis with floured cookie cutters. Bake at 375 degrees on ungreased cooke sheets for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then frost. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen.

Royal Icing 1 1/2 TBSP meringue powder 1 TBSP fresh lemon juice

1 TBSP water 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

In a medium bow, whisk together meringue powder, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon water until frothy. Add confectioners’ sugar; whisk until smooth. Add more suar or water, if necessary, to reach desired consistency. Ice cookies.....

Peanut Butter Truffles 1 pound package Nutter Butter Peanut Butter sandwich cookies 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese 1 1/2 (16 ounce) packages chocolate candy 1 cup crunchy peanut butter 1 cup peanut butter flavored morsels 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 2TBSP heavy whipping cream Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a food processor, place ithe cookies, cream chees, peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar and pulse until combined. Shape mxture into 1-inch balls and place on prepared baking sheets. Cover and freeze for at least 4 hours. Melt candy coating according to package directions. Coat frozen truffles with the melted candy coating. Return to baking sheet, and let stand until coating is firm. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine peanut butter-flavored morsels and cream. Microwave on HIGH, in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until mixture is melted and smooth. Drizzle over truffles; let stand until set. Store truffles in airtight containers in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

CO R N E R R O S S W O R D

Answers on page 70

CLUES ACROSS

24. E. central English river

CLUES DOWN

19. Last decade of the 20th cent.

1. German rapper

25. Baked pastry-lined dish

1. Common detergent measure

20. A major division of geological time

4. Aries sign

26. Basics

2. Island in Venice

23. Causes to expand

7. Atmosphere

27. Manson murder book

3. Establish by law or with authority

24. Ed Murrow’s network

8. Send payment for

34. Actress May

4. Exuding a strong odor

25. Happening in quick succession

10. Digs

35. Dry white Italian wine from Verona

5. Walked leisurely

26. They __

12. Pathetically weak

36. Easily conversed

6. A unit of length equal to 1760 yards

27. Perceiver of sound

13. Give a thrashing to

38. Java pepper vine

8. Return to a useful condition

28. The last part of anything

15. How a witch laughed

39. Eagle nests

9. CNN’s Turner

29. Top left corner key

16. Being of use or service

40. Irish mother of gods

11. Young herring in Norway

30. Opposite of quiet

17. Lassie’s breed

41. Belongs to St. Paul’s architect

12. Disengagement

31. Knights’ outer tunic

18. XXX Olympic site

42. Soak flax

14. The lion zodiac sign

32. Made level

21. Tax collector

43. CGS work unit

15. Mt. Washington railroad

33. Refutes in a legal case

22. Above average in size

44. Tooth caregiver

17. The brain and spinal cord (abbr.)

36. Sound of a crow

23. It carries genetic information

37. In this place

Jane’s Journal

Circa 1970’s Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, we find Christmas staring us in the face. There is just not a better time in the whole year for a kid to take advantage of his parents than during the hurry-scurry days of early December. It’s a veritable paradise on earth for the preschooler with the unshakable faith that Santa Clause “IS” and a time of reprieve for the older brothers and sisters, as long as they keep their mouths shut. After all homework was completed (and you never saw kids add, subtract, multiply, and learn spelling so fast in your life) the first one who had his lessons done to Miss Maude’s satisfaction, got to pull the Sears Roebuck catalog out from under the table and sprawl down on the floor to pick out Christmas goodies. She might as well let us all look at it together; there was no way to make one’s poor brain click on school work when a smart alecky brother or sister was thumbing through the Sears wish book. Boy, many a night I gave the lucky fellow with the catalog hate-filled glares that would melt wax, I always did hate a smart aleck.

ADULT AGE APPROPRIATE BABY BATTERIES BLOCKS BROKEN

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Mildred was three years younger than me, and being so backward, held on to the Santa Claus fantasy longer than seemed necessary, or even decent. But Miss Maude and Mr. Burgess had laid the law down; we were not to break the truth to Mildred. During this time of weakness on their part we held the upper hand. Man, did we relish the role! As usual, on the least provocation, Miss Maude would grab the peach tree switch, and how delicious it was to smirk, “Miss Maude, I didn’t do it and if you whip me I’m going to tell Mildred about Santa!” No president, king, or dictator ever felt the surge of power I got when I was able to stay Miss Maude’s mighty arm with this simple statement. Come January, we lived to regret this blackmail, I can tell you. Miss Maude held some of the most ungodly notions about the things girls and boys should want for Christmas. She went along with Sam and Russell 100% but she could never figure out, when it came to my turn at the catalog, why I didn’t drool over those simpleton baby dolls and such junk. The fact of the matter was, I wanted some steel traps and a knife for Christmas. Now, Russell and Sam, and John Robert already had a pocket knife. They made me sick to my stomach, going around all day with their knives in their hands; everything they did had to be done with their knives. When we played in the orchard, they peeled peaches with their knives. When we played marbles, the game soon became mumbly-peg using their knives. When we made kites, they whittled kite sticks with their knives. When we went craw-fishing in the woods, they started the fire to cook the crawfish tails with kindling whittled with their knives. Sick, sick, sick to my stomach! “Jane look at this pretty doll with the trunk and her clothes,” Miss Maude pointed out. “Damn and double damn,” I thought darkly, “I don’t want any old stupid doll. Turn the pages to the knives!” She kept turning the pages slowly, trying to get an inkling of what I wanted, so she could tell Santa Clause. Finally, I blurted out, “Miss Maude, I don’t want a doll or a trunk or anything but a knife and some steel traps!”The pages quit turning abruptly. She felt my head to see if I was feverish. Going to the medicine cabinet, she shook me out a good doss of purgative. But it didn’t work out my desire for a knife. Christmas morning came and we all dashed in and snatched our bulging stockings down from the mantle piece. Emptying mine, after the fruit and nuts, out tumbled a harmonica for God’s sake! Out of the whole catalog, how Miss Maude ever figured out a stupid harmonica would be a reasonable facsimile of a knife, I’ll never know. How I hated Sam and Russell when they shook out their stockings. Out fell two gleaming, handsome knives. They literally twisted them into my vitals with the hateful little tunes they sang: “Buckhorn handle and a Barlow blade. Best little knife that ever was made.” “Damn and double damn. Wish I’d told Mildred! Wish I’d told Mildred!”

Shining Star c h i ldren of T h e z od i ac

ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, avoid taking on more than you can handle at work and home for now. When tackling tasks, don’t be afraid to ask for and accept help. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Family and romantic endeavors may have been put aside while work issues have been at the forefront, Taurus. It is time to shift priorities. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, there’s not much you can do to change the course of current events. You might want to consider swimming with the current instead of against it. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, overanalyzing your workload is not going to make it disappear any faster. Therefore, simply take your assignments at face value and just get started. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 New experiences can be scary at first, but many times you will find that they are opportunities to learn and grow, Leo. Take full advantage of all opportunities that present themselves. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, although it seems like you have most of your financial woes worked out, now is not the time to get too cocky with spending. Being conservative is the way to go.

LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, career developments have you riding high and you’re anxious to share your news with the world. This enthusiasm can be a good catalyst for change with others. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, success may not come easy with a project you’re working on. But rest easy and take solace knowing you have tried things outside of your comfort zone. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, avoid confrontations at all costs, as right now you will not come out victorious. Keep a low profile and don’t ruffle any feathers. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, if you think about things too long, there’s a good chance you won’t act at all. Instead, consider your options quickly and then get going on your plans. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Quality time spent at home or with the family has buoyed your spirits, Aquarius. The next step on your relaxation journey is to book a vacation to a warm area of the world. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Don’t underestimate your ability to garner quite a following, Pisces. There are many people just waiting to hear what you have to say next.