Canton - A Texas Adventure If you haven't had the opportunity to take a drive over to historic Canton, Texas, you now have a perfect reason to explore this gem of a town. Mill Creek Ranch RV & Cottage Resort is wowing visitors from near and far with the serene, nature inspired setting and gracious hospitality that defines a first class vacation experience. This Resort and RV Park is set apart from the pack; one that believes that preservation of our natural resources is vital to a visitor enjoyment. There's always something to do in Canton! To learn more, call 877-GO-2SHOP (877-462-7467), visit www.visitcantontx.com, look for CANTON TX BIG SHOPPING on Facebook, or download the free smart phone App: Canton First Monday Trade Days. Have fun, relax and let the stress of your week float away at Mill Creek Ranch Resort, 2102 N. Trade Days Blvd., Canton, Texas 75103 - 866-488-6020 toll free or 903567-6020 local www.millcreekranchresort/LA.com.
Customer service, an abundance of amenities, and facilities mesh to create a perfect camping experience. Each one of the 100 FHU sites has a lit pedestal with 20, 30, and 50 amp service, two water connection, picnic table, and a fire ring. Each site has a grass yard, concrete leveled pad and additional gravel parking for vehicles. Each site can accommodate small campers to big rigs with multiple slide-outs. If you're traveling light and come to Mill Creek Ranch Resort minus the recreational vehicle, the adorable Mill Creek cabins and cottages are a great place to hang your hat. These upscale park model homes are not your grandpa's camping cabin. They are completely furnished and stocked with all of your household needs. Southern style covered porches with ceiling fans overlook views of the Mill Creek water features or park lands surrounding the resort. Whether you choose to visit as a preferred guest in your own RV or rent one of
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the resort's charming cottages or cabins, you will soon understand why Mill Creek Ranch Resort has won multiple awards and earned top rating from the industry standards such as Trailer Life/ Good Sam and Woodall's. With over 200 tranquil acres to explore, stocked fishing ponds for your catch and release pleasure, nature trails, 2 designer swimming pools, hot tub, playground and rental equipment such as bicycles, paddleboats, and fishing poles there is plenty to do for all ages. If it's relaxation that you prefer, our trees, landscape, and abundance of wildlife add to the serenity of the resort. Most of the morning of solitary Blue Heron wades on the shoreline of the camping area's Walden Pond looking for a snack. Water features throughout the resort add to the feeling of serenity and peace that makes Mill Creek Ranch Resort such a special place. The RV Lodge is perfect for guests with its RV registration desk, camp and gift store, big screen TV, games, and library. Enjoy free coffee and mingling with other resort guests. The RV Lodge is adjacent to one of the pools and gated playground. The RV Park also has clean and climate controlled
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with First Class Accommodations bathhouses and laundry facilities in each of the three sections of the park. Our Grand Lodge houses Cottage registration, meeting rooms, a banquet room, games, library, and a business center and access to the second pool and hot tub. This facility along with an Outdoor Pavilion is available for RV Rallies, Weddings, Reunions, Corporate events, retreats, parities and more. Located just south of Interstate 20, Mill Creek Ranch Resort offers easy access to all East Texas attractions, including the World Famous First Monday Trades Day. To truly appreciate the history you'll be experiencing, you much know that over the last 150 years, shoppers all over Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma and beyond, have been coming to what is now a four day smorgasbord of shopping and exploring on almost 500 acres with space for 7,000 vendors!
According to folks at the City of Canton, “In the early days, they traveled to Canton to trade horses, livestock, dogs, tools and farm equipment, and to sell homemade items and produce.” More than a century later, antiques, collectible, home décor, jewelry, and one kind of treasures are the more soughtafter items. Corn dogs, roasted corn on a cob and lemonade stands are around every corner. From the concession trailers, to food courts, you will find just about any kind of food that you desire. Guests of the resort can enjoy the complimentary shuttle bus that goes back and forth from the resort to the trade grounds. Canton is packed with fun attractions. How about spending time at one of the two spectacular golf courses, (Twin Lakes Golf Course or Van Zandt Country Club) or take the kids over to Splash Kingdom Water Park
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for frolicking good times. For the adventure lover, try the Zipline Adventure Park down the street, or come eye to eye with a reptile at the Alligator and Wildlife Farm. If none of these activities seem appealing, grab a book, some sun block and park nest to one of the two beautiful pools. Resort guests can also choose to enjoy our disc golf course, life size battle of Mill Creek game or a game of basketball, volleyball or horseshoes. Then evening rolls around, enjoy a campfire at your site or country style star gazing.
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BEDS & BEIGNETS
By Mary White
PUBLISHER LRT Publications
Heralding the Holidays in Natchitoches Thousands of twinkling lights adorn the streets and holiday displays line the downtown riverbank for the annual Festival of Lights celebrations in Natchitoches, now in its 85th year. Each weekend of the festival, beginning on November 19 and running through January 6, 2012, the city hosts a flurry of events filled with joyous festivities and entertainment to celebrate the Samuel Guy House season such as music shows, carriage rides, parades, crafts markets, a 5k run and thrilling fireworks displays. But that's not all. Merry revelers can take a step back in time to experience life as it once was during a few historical events and tours. The Ghost of Christmas Past would feel right at home in Natchitoches. The 18th century is revisited throughout The Cajun Christmas Weekend held December 10-11. From reenactments of daily life to merchants selling period arts and crafts, the Fête de Hiver at Fort St. Jean Baptiste SHS will transport visitors to a simpler time with historians on hand telling stories. The Cane River Creole Christmas at Badin-Roque House will be held during
The Rocking Christmas Weekend that runs December 17-18. Presented by the St. Augustine Historical Society, guests can tour the Badin-Roque House, a private residence built circa 1770. It was converted into the first convent and school of the St. Augustine Catholic Church and came into the possession of the Badin family after the Civil War. Visitors to the house also will be treated to Creole holiday stories. Speaking of house tours, one of the most popular events during the entire Festival of Lights is the Christmas by Candlelight Holiday Tour of Homes hosted by the Natchitoches Historic Foundation. The event is comprised of three separate tours featuring homes dating back as far as 300 years ago. Samuel Guy House, (www.BnBFinder.com/SamuelGuy), built in 1850 and featured on the tour, remained remaining vacant for a number of years. The two story Greek revival was moved 50 miles from its original location of Mansfield to its current home in Natchitoches, undergoing a major restoration in 2002. Payne Williams, innkeeper and owner of the Samuel Guy House, has had bookings since May from visitors looking to toast the holiday season in Natchitoches. According to Williams, the town of population 17,865 will see close to 150,000 visitors come through to experience the festival. “People really enjoy coming to Natchitoches for the holidays and The Festival of Lights,” said Williams. “They love it so much they actually re-book while they're here for the following year.” Sounds like the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come isn't too far behind. Mary White is the author of “Running a Bed & Breakfast For Dummies” and an avid B&B goer. She has stayed at bed and breakfasts all over the world and particularly loves the inns of Louisiana. In 1998, Mary founded BnBFinder.com, a top on-line bed and breakfast directory that lists thousands of B&Bs, inns, and boutique hotels worldwide.
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______________________
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Mona L. Hayden
monalh@bellsouth.net (318) 547-1221
OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL Debbie Hamilton Pope June 14, 1952-August 24, 2008
SALES Mona L. Hayden (318) 547-1221 Robert Lemoine (318) 381-9449 Sunny Meriwether (318) 547-8126 Cheryl Yates (318) 235-6493
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Website www.laroadtrips.com Louisiana Road Trips magazine is published monthly to promote, inform, and entertain the residents of Louisiana. It is distributed FREE; however, home delivery is available. This magazine will reach approximately 56,000 individuals. Submission of articles and photos are always welcome but may be limited to availability of space and edited for content. Copyright 2011 with all rights reserved. Reproduction of any material appearing within this publication is prohibited without written permission of the Publishers. The opinions expressed in Louisiana Road Trips magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. “Louisiana Road Trips” magazine retains the right to refuse any advertisement.
ROAD TRIPS
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P. O. Box 2452 West Monroe, LA 71294 (318) 547-1221
Talkin’ It Up! Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself... ~ "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976
I'm betting we could all enjoy a little magic in our lives, especially at Christmas time. Like most blessings in life, it's never too far away. All we have to do is open our minds and graciously receive these heavenly gifts. As our hearts grow tender with the true reason of the season, the birth of Jesus, let the real magic begin… My holiday wish for you is a blissful Christmas season filled with love, peace, and joy and a most promising New Year! We at LRT are humbled by your loyalty and support and look forward to sharing even more Louisiana road trips in 2012. Have a Merry Christmas and let's keep in touch.
Mona Mona L. Hayden, Editor/Publisher monalh@bellsouth.net (318) 547-1221
Merry Christimas and Happy New Year to our readers, advertisers and contributors!
ROAD TRIPS "Celebrating country living and city happenings!"
december BUSINESS REVIEW 9
MONTHLY TIDBITS
Thermography (Temperature Gradient Studies)
27
A Safe Christmas Tree
DELTA OUTDOORS 11
In the Crosshairs by Sonny Harrington Skin ‘er Done
20
My Favorite Fishing Hole by Joe Joslin Winter Fishing & Chores
24
Our Time of the Year by Johnny Wink
FESTIVALS & ENTERTAINMENT 2-3 7 14 15 21
contents
Canton – A Texas Adventure with First Class Accommodations
5 6 8 10 12 12 16 17 19 23 25
Talkin’ It Up! Learn a Lot at Your Library by Carolyn Files A Louisiana Christmas Journey Premiers in December on LPB Louisiana Lagniappe – Remember When Going Native by Larry Brock The Allure of Winter Landscapes Backtalk This is NOT a Dress Rehearsal By Su Stella Riding the Shuttle with Charlene! by Mary Logan Martin Louisiana Lagniappe Answers December Calendar of Events On the Scene – by Deborah Burst A Christmas Wish List
RECIPES
Hit the Road – by Deborah Burst Christmas New Orleans Style
18
Moon Pie Over Mobile Christmas at Rip Van Winkle Gardens Celebrate Christmas Traditions Around the Globe – Rail of Lights Christmas & New Year’s Train-Jefferson, Texas
HISTORICAL 17
Officer Down Part Three: The Death of Deputy James W. Wood by Lora Peppers
19
Louisiana in the Civil War: Dember 1861: A Heartrendering Scene by Terry L. Jones
22
The Disappearing Landmarks! by Lee Estes
Recipes by Stacy Thornton
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Beds & Beignets by Mary White Heralding the Holidays in Natchitoches
6
Travel Adventure by Dianne Newcomer The Gift of Travel
16 24
Star Gazing on Mauna Kea by Terry L. Jones New Orleans News by Cheré Coen
HUMOR 10
Runnin’ the Roads by Barbara Sharik Sit-down Comedy Replaces Standup Comedy
13
A Life of Trial…and Error by Dennis Stewart The Perils of Pre-Deer Hunting
20
All Things Southern by Shellie Tomlinson “Man Girdles for Christmas!”
INSPIRATIONAL 13
Tortured Child by Robert Lemoine Louisiana Road Trips
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TRAVEL ADVENTURE
By Dianne Newcomer
The Gift of Travel Around the coffee pot Tuscany, Ride the Canadian rails, Relax experience of travel. Yet, I will tell you that several weeks ago, one of at a Caribbean beach resort, Fish the long after the bags are stored in the attic our travel agents very Amazon, Walk on ice in Antarctica, and the clothes all washed and put away, a proudly announced she had Stand in a field of tulips in Holland, trip continues. My baby is 32 years old and finished her Christmas Learn the lessons of war at Normandy, I often replay a beautiful day in France shopping over the weekend. Tour the USA, Europe or Asia, Cruise to when she danced in sunflower fields at the Her words shook me up! someplace new… age of 10. Special moments like these are Wait! Has the game already started and I'm not Just go some place, but stress to Santa forever tucked away in the quiet corners of even in the line-up? What happened to that you don't want to just go sightmy mind, waiting for me to enjoy Thanksgiving? The ghosts and goblins were still on seeing. You need to experience the whenever I wish. the shelves when the holiday open houses and ads moments where no worries of yesterday Wrap up some Mickey Mouse ears, a started. Would you believe my neighbors have not or tomorrow exist. Forget the kids, the history book for a trip to Williamsburg, only decorated their yards and houses, but turned job, the daily demands. That's the beauty snorkel fins for a Caribbean cruise, them on every night since November 1? I confess, I of traveling: it gives you permission to do binoculars for a trip to Alaska… and give love them but that means the ball is in on our that. After all, you have planned and paid the special people on your list a trip they yardline. We need to be huddling. for vacation time so why not vacate your will never forget. Let the professionals at real life and make the moment all about Even if the rules are a little blurred, the game is MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE help. We you, if only for a few days? on! We must accept the fact that holiday kickoff is no have the perfect one-size-fits-all present: a We live in such a wonderful world. longer Black Friday. The clock is running… As your holiday gift certificate for the amount or Whether you travel Louisiana Roads or travel coach, I have a sure-fire way to make your gift destination of your choice. I can assure the river roads of Europe, there is no end giving a joy. you, travel is one gift that is never to the amazing adventures waiting to be Before we kick-off holiday buying season, returned. Make your holiday shopping enjoyed. Don't feel guilty about having a perhaps we need to face reality: most of us really do easy. little fun. Take the advice of Mark Twain not need another “thing" under the Christmas tree Like a hail Mary pass, the gift of who wrote: "Twenty years from now you this year so why not ask the jolly ole Elf to bring us travel is definitely a game changer. The 4th new experiences? At MONROE TRAVEL SERVICE will be more disappointed by the things you quarter comes way too soon and the clock 1908 Glenmar Street, Monroe - we have a world of didn't do than by the ones you did do. So is always running. Come by our office at mind-blowing experiences just waiting to be throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe 1908 Glenmar, right next door to the discovered. Here are a few ideas you might like to harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Muffin Tin, and let us wrap up an put on your wish list: Explore. Dream. Discover.” experience to remember! Happy Holidays Swim with the dolphins in Cozumel, Bike the As a travel agent, you expect me to from Monroe Travel Service. Canadian Rockies, Climb Kilimanjaro, Go visit a say there is no better gift than the friend or relative, Dive the Great Barrier Reef, Hike Denali National Park, Shop at Harrods in London, See the lights of Broadway, Whale watch in Maui, Visit Disneyworld, Snow Ski or By Carolyn Files Heli-ski, Take a safari, Enjoy a spa, Everyone knows that libraries are great places to do research and learn about any subject, such yoga, or health retreat, Surf the as the climate in Tibet or Florida's flora and fauna. But much more can be learned at the library. California coast, Learn to cook in Such as from the patron who recently came in dressed in a lace trimmed bustierre that taught us what NOT to wear in a library. Then there was a patron called to ask, "If I write a book, how do I spell the author's name?" Is this a trick question? Some patrons have said our dictionaries are incomplete because they can't find a particular word. I do realize it can be frustrating to use a dictionary to see how to spell a word but if you can't spell it, you can't find it. One local librarian had a request for The Book of Nouns. She explained there is no book by that title. The patron insisted she wanted this book so the librarian referred her to another library. Sometimes you have to pass the buck (or book). I once answered the phone at the library to hear a pre-recorded message, “This is your local library calling to let you know you have a book overdue.” Library Science 101 may not cover speeding tickets or water bills but if you work in a small town library like I do, you learn you can accept speeding ticket payments as well as water bill payments. Just keep a receipt book handy! Yes, libraries are truly full service. Stop in and visit one today.
Learn a Lot at Your Library
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Hit the Road
Christmas New Orleans Style Wrap up the holidays with a little Lagniappe By Deborah Burst
Ring in a monthlong celebration with more than 100 holiday events and activities for the entire family with parades, concerts, block parties, home tours, Reveillon dinners and discounted hotel rates. And shopping for the perfect event is a treat in itself with New Orleans own, Bryan Batt, hosting a string of videos on the special New Orleans holiday website, www.neworleansonline.com/holiday/ Decorations… Blaze a jolly trail of twinkling lights in the Roosevelt Hotel's Waldorf Wonderland Lobby dressed in a
canopy of white birch branches. Stroll through the Celebration in the Oaks light show in the Botanical Garden and Amusement Park or ride on the century-old carousel and miniature train. And Santa will have no problem finding the city of Mandeville (30 miles north) thanks to the Holiday of Lights main attraction, a 160 ft water tower draped with 40,000 twinkle lights. Family… Monte the Lion and Santa will host the Hotel Monteleone Christmas teas with games and savory treats. Mrs. Claus will read classic Christmas tales and each child will receive a Monte stuffed animal. Teddy Bear Tea returns to The Roosevelt Hotel where children enjoy holiday tea, stories from Mrs. Claus and a souvenir teddy bear.
For something a little more daring, why not attend Jingle Bugs at the Audubon Insectarium and spend the day with holiday themed programming including the Gum Drop Hunt, a buggy reading of Night Before Christmas while sampling Bug Nog and Fruit (Fly) Cake. On the first and second Friday of December, the Riverwalk's Spanish Plaza will feature a free holiday movie on a 26-foot movie screen under a starry night along the Mississippi River. What would New Orleans be without a parade? On the first Saturday of December don't miss the Krewe of Jingle Parade with floats, marching bands, stilt walkers and Christmas characters. Afterward join the Jingle Mingle Block Party in front of the Roosevelt Hotel in a wintry wonderland with music, games, food and much more. The following Saturday on December 10, kids will run wild on Canal Street at the Reindeer Run and Romp fun run. Participants will receive bells for their sneakers, antlers, a race t-shirt, and a bag of holiday goodies. After the race, “romp” around the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and enjoy yoga for kids and parents, music, games, crafts, and more. And the adult version of a fun run, Running of the Santas, is a debut festival/fun run with shades of the Red Dress Run held in August. Dressed in your favorite Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus or elf costume, festivities begin at the “South Pole” (Ernst Café) followed by the fun run crawling inside the Warehouse District. In a more civilized affair on December 10 and 11, the Preservation Resource Center Holiday Home Tour provides self guided tours of seven stunning Garden District homes plus a holiday boutique and café at Trinity Episcopal Church. Hotel and Food… Hotels in and out of the French Quarter offer “Papa Noel Rates.” starting at $79 a night. As Bryan Batt says, “You want a white Christmas, eat a beignet baby!” Break bread with family and friends in an old Creole dining tradition called Reveillon. From the casual Gumbo Shop to fine dining at Brennan's Restaurant, the special prix fixe menu typically offers three to five courses starting at $38. Music… Bebop to a new grove with gospel, jazz and R&B in free evening concerts at the St. Louis Cathedral, caroling in Jackson
Square, or rock the night away in clubs all across the Big Easy. While most cities shut down on Christmas Eve, New Orleans fires it up with teepeestructure bonfires along the Mississippi River levee from New Orleans to Baton Rouge to light the way for Papa Noel. Wrap it up… Just as the last cork is popped on New Years, another bottle is chilling for the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 3, and then barely a week later, the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) game crowns the national college champion on January 9. It's tailgating madness in a sea of team colors from Loyola Avenue to the Mississippi River. On the day of the game join suds-sipping fans in Champions Square just steps from the Superdome. Dance to the beat of homegrown music and savor a winning lineup of food from Drago's, Praline Connection and more serving red beans, jambalaya and crawfish cake sliders. Let's hope this year the Fan Jam will be filled with purple and gold with the LSU Tigers leading the charge to win the coveted BCS Championship title. For a complete list of all other Christmas New Orleans Style events or to request the official guidebook, call 504-522-5730, www.neworleansonline.com/holiday and take a look at their calendar of events or a detailed online brochure. Deb will be in that number all month long in New Orleans toasting the holidays with friends and family. Every year the Christmas music begins midNovember as a personal birthday gift. And she's ready for some big LSU and Saints games in January. Deb has trailed the countryside of Arkansas growing up visiting family in Hope and Fort Smith. She enjoys walks in the woods and sinking knee deep in her gardens in Mandeville, Louisiana.
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A Louisiana Christmas Journey Premieres in December on LPB Emmy-winning producer Charlie Whinham hits the road in December to spotlight some of the Bayou State's time-honored holiday events and traditions. A Louisiana Christmas Journey premieres Tuesday, December 6 at 7PM on the six channel Louisiana Public Broadcasting network. The program includes visits to the Festival of Lights celebration in Natchitoches, the Christmas Eve bonfires in St. James Parish, Christmas at the Acadian Village in Lafayette and the LSU Rural Life Museum in Baton Rouge and a stop at the American Rose Society's Roseland in Shreveport. Since the 1800's, the communities of Lutcher, Gramercy and Paulina light the way with large bonfires for Papa Noel traveling along the Mississippi River. Twenty-five foot high wooden structures are lovingly created each December and set ablaze on Christmas Eve night. Back in 1927, Natchitoches began their annual “Festival of Lights” along Front Street where visitors and townsfolk are offered a traditional horse drawn carriage ride to see over 300-thousand Christmas lights reflect off the banks of the Cane River. Acadian Village in Lafayette is a sparkling jewel that puts thousands of visitors in the Cajun Christmas spirit each year. This replica of a 19th century town is open all year long but shines brightest with over half-a-million lights during the holidays. In addition, carnival rides and Cajun Carols continue to entertain generation after generation. Nearly 40 years ago, the Burden Family donated their 25-acre family farm to LSU to create a rural life museum that is visited by over 60-thousand people annually. There is also a special holiday weekend that celebrates Christmas in the early 1800s. In the Ark-La-Tex region, an annual Christmas display blossoms at the national headquarters of the American Rose Society in Shreveport where the 100-acre rose garden welcomes visitors from around the world. For more information, contact Bob Neese or Charlie Whinham at 1-800-272-8161.
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Thermography (Temperature Gradient Studies) Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging is a non-invasive diagnostic system to detect problems in the body. Thermal Imaging can also provide information about a patient's response to treatment. It is the only accurate way to see inflammation in our body. Thermography can detect disease and injury by revealing thermal abnormalities in the body. No radiation - 100% safe. Medical DITI allows the examiner to visualize and quantify changes in skin surface temperature. An infrared scanning device is used to convert infrared radiation emitted from the skin surface into electrical impulses that are visualized in color on a monitor. This visual image graphically maps the body temperature and is referred to as a thermogram. The spectrum of colors indicate an increase or decrease in the amount of infrared radiation being emitted from the body surface. Since there is a high degree of thermal symmetry in the normal body, subtle abnormal temperature asymmetry's can be easily identified. It's highly sensitive to pathology in the vascular, muscular, neural and skeletal systems and as such can contribute to the pathogenesis and diagnosis made by the clinician. Clinical thermography is used as an aid for diagnosis and prognosis, as well as
monitoring therapy progress, for conditions and injuries, including arthritis/fibromyalgia, stroke screening, vascular disease, artery inflammation, and for early detection in breast screening. Thermal Imaging can also screen for auto-immune disease, deep vein thrombosis, carpal tunnel , TMJ, herniated disc, neuropathy, thyroid dysfunction, carotid occlusion and more. No radiation, non invasive, FDA registered, reliable and accurate scans taken by Certified Clinical Thermographers and read by medical doctors. Absolutely NO side effects. Thermal Imaging is a screening and not a replacement for mammograms. Thermal imaging can fill in the gap in a clinical diagnosis, as x-rays, ultrasounds,
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MRI's, etc. are test of anatomy while EMG is a test of motor physiology. DITI can show physiological change and metabolic processes. It is a very sensitive, non-invasive, and reliable means of graphically mapping and displaying skin surface temperature. With DITI you can evaluate, monitor and document a large number of injuries and conditions, including soft tissue injuries and sensory/autonomic nerve fiber dysfunction. Results obtained are totally objective and show excellent correlation with other diagnostic tests. Fees range from $175 - $375, depending on areas scanned or full body. Call Natural Wellness Center at (318) 387-3000 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
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RUNNIN’ THE ROADS
By Barbara Sharik
Sit-down Comedy Replaces Standup Comedy Some things bemuse me and some confuse me. But then, I am easily confused. Humor is the healthiest of all things in which a mind can engage. In the past, I have done some standup comedy at several venues. Okay, not on a Las Vegas stage but I performed at ULM's Brown Auditorium in Monroe and in Washington D.C. for the American Society of Notaries - plus at a couple club meetings and conventions. My love of humor remains but my method has changed from standup to sit-down. This column is most often sit-down comedy. Sit down, open this magazine, turn to my column and if you get a chuckle I have accomplished my goal. The positive aspect of doing sitdown comedy is that although my words may eventually wind up on the bottom of PollyWanna-Cracker's birdcage, at least nobody tosses rotten tomatoes at me. Humor is all around us once we learn to recognize it. Have you ever snapped at your children, “Shut your mouth and eat your supper”? Because of the impossibility, that is really funny. What started as an admonishment could turn into a family chuckle.
Humor is ever present if we open our minds and do not take ourselves seriously. There is wry humor, such as noting that the hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of bread or how an accidentally dropped slice of toast always falls jelly-side-down. Even taking road trips can be funny. Especially fictitious literary road trips. I have been in many places, but never in Cahoots simply because nobody can go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with somebody. I do not want to go to Conclusions because you have to jump there and I am no longer much of a jumper. Friend Dennis said on Occasion you will find a winner, but they are few and far between. Neither of us have been in Cognito, however, it does not matter because nobody recognizes you there anyway. However, I have been in Sane. There are no airports or seaports; you have to be driven there. I have taken that road trip. My BooCat sent a subliminal message to buy her mouse-flavored kitty-kibble instead of fishy stuff. Her logic being that she has never fished in her life and her ancestors did not either. They crouched on overhanging tree limbs on the Serendipity Plains 1. How did settlers know when to awaiting bring their cotton to Point Pleasant antelopes to for shipping to New Orleans? pass by. Every 2. What was Oak Ridge known as in time I see fishythe early 1800's? flavored cat treats, 3. Where was the first escalator I chuckle. built in northeast Louisiana? We know who 4. What is distinctive about ate the first apple, the State Capitol steps? but who figured 5. What was the Ouachita Valley known as? 6. How many stories high is the Superdome? 7. Name some of the most poisonous snakes in Louisiana. 8. The central mound at Poverty Point contains how many times the cubic volume of the Great Pyramid of Egypt? 9. How many pelicans are on the State Seal? 10. How many parishes in Louisiana? Answers on next page 19
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper”
ouisiana Remember When . . .
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out chicken eggs are eatable? BooCat said if I give her an egg she will sit on it and hatch her own chicken. My Rosie and TacoBelle wonder who test-tastes the new and improved dog chow - dogs or humans. They are not volunteering. They would rather eat pizza. They believe in pizzatherapy, which is sort of like pizza on earth and good will to everybody everywhere. This reminds me of the first pizza I ever ate. When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that too. Nevertheless, it is still the best pizza I ever had. A sign at a roadside veggie stand read, “All the corn-on-the-cob you want for a dollar.” What a bargain. The only thing I like better than buttered corn-on-the-cob is a sale. I thought it was Christmas and bought two dollars worth. All this talk about food brings to mind statistics pointing out that Japanese people eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than do British or Americans. On the other hand, Germans consume a great deal of beer and eat plenty of sausages and fats, and still suffer fewer heart attacks than British or Americans. Africans drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than British and Americans, while Italians drink large amounts of red wine. They too suffer fewer heart attacks than British or Americans. So what do these statistics tell us? Probably that we can eat, drink and be merry; eat whatever we want because apparently it is speaking English that is killing us. Barbara Sharik makes her home at Wit's End in Jones, Louisiana with a couple old dogs, young dogs and several stupid dogs, a cat, a talking cockatiel and a white dove. She's active in civic affairs, serves as a Justice of the Peace, a Notary Public, is the Clerk for the Village of Bonita and a columnist for the Bastrop Daily Enterprise. She has authored several books. You can e-mail Barbara at barbsharikvail@hotmail.com.
IN THE CR SSHAIRS
By Sonny Harrington
Skin 'er Done Ok, you've made your shot. Months of preparation of shooting, lane clearing, baiting up with corn, sighting in and practicing with your rifle, trail camera placement and plowing food plots just paid off. Or your new best friend gave you an invite and you just killed the buck he's been hunting for the past three years. No matter. The monster is on the ground and the work is just starting. If he's really nice, you'll want to preserve him for future generations to admire. Your spouse will probably not agree that a taxidermist fee was in the budget this month but you can equalize that expenditure with jewelry or furniture. Next step, place your knife behind the shoulder or let's just say cut him in the middle to give the taxidermist plenty of hide to pull. Do not split the belly up to his front legs and beyond. Nothing makes them madder than for you to bring one in cut all the way up to his Adam's apple. They'll usually require the cape of another deer if you're not careful. If you're good at caping one out, your taxidermist will sometimes trade for a horn mount or cut you a deal next time you get lucky. You could just split him down the back and the seam wouldn't show but the surest way is to let the taxidermist cut him. That way he can't complain and it'll be done right. Plan B: The deer was good but not B&C and you need the meat. It was 40 degrees this morning when you shot him but in a few hours it's going to be 70 degrees. Welcome to Louisiana and spoilage. Heat, moisture, and dirt can ruin your meat before you can take an 8 x 10 glossy. Not to mention flies laying eggs, ants, yellow jackets, buzzards…the list goes on. First and foremost, tag the deer. Then ASAP remove the entrails, field dress it, or for the sake of printer's ink - just 'gut it'. Make an incision from pelvis through the rib cage to allow the
body to cool but be careful because it can also pelvis or get a bigger saw. This allows easier allow dirt and insects easy access. This will access to remove the bladder or you can just also reduce the weight of the body if you go ahead and puncture it, say a few have to physically move him. You'll know explanatives and get that out of the way. who your friends are, or will find out soon. Wash it out after you've cussed it out. TIP: Never hunt with older friends who have Ring the neck or back legs and start bad backs. skinning the hide back. After about a foot or When gutting, remember not to puncture so, I like to place a small rock or piece of brick any digestive tracts or the bladder. If your about the size of a tennis ball under the hide bullet already did that, and tie a rope to it. Tie the other end to a 4wash it out with clean wheeler or truck and pull the hide off. Works water quickly. You did fast and no, I don't drink beer. If the weather bring gloves, didn't you? is cool, let him hang as chilled meat cuts up Field prices for gloves better than hot meat. If it's hot, you can take are extremely high. Did your knife and hull off the front shoulders you save the liver? Some from the rib cage. Fillet the backstraps and people like to eat that. It tenderloin out and cut the hams off. Place may have fasciola hepatica, or liver flukes. them in the ice chest with ice and process the This critter comes from a snail (I think he's rest later. This should take only a couple of left-handed). In other words, if the deer has hours. Yeah, right… But remember this, been around a swamp, don't eat the liver. I've HURRY to the processor! I'm within 25 miles seen 'em, not real appetizing. Hill deer of four different ones that I know of. Ten probably never get this. dollars to skin, ten dollars to gut, plus so At some point, there is a spectacular much a pound to process, cut and wrap for piece of nature you really need to see. the freezer. That's one hell of a deal. Carefully, make an incision on the eye and One more thing. If this is your first deer, or remove the lens. Easy to find; it's your son's or daughter's first deer, the hunter is encapsulated in a jelly-like substance. Lay it required to have their face blooded from the on a paper with print and note the deer they just killed. Of the 20 or so kids I've magnification. No wonder they see us first. put blood on, they wore it proudly until it dried So now you've got him hanging. If you and fell off. Except this one kid, he just threw shot him in the neck you might consider up and never hunted again. Oh well, guess he skinning from the other end. I've skinned didn't like the taste of fasciola hepatica. from both directions, it really doesn't matter Sonny Harrington is a Hunter Safety Instructor. He is to me. I like to remove the tarsal glands first. also an NRA (National Rifle Association) Rifle That's the dark spot of hair on the inside of & Pistol Instructor and the back legs. Bucks urinate over them and has hunted from Alaska scent up scraps and well, you just don't want to Mexico. to go there. Remove the patch of hair and stick your knife into the skin between the tendon and bone, For as this makes a good handle on that end. After skinning, you effective, can split the meat between the ribs, which makes another good low-cost handle. Back to skinning… I advertising, first remove the legs at the joints, front and call rear. Proper blade placement in the joint is imperative; otherwise, use a saw. Also, break the
The monster is on the ground and the work is just starting.
Mona L. Hayden
(318) 547-1221
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GOING NATIVE
By Larry Brock
The Allure of Winter Landscapes forest. Pecans and acorns were plentiful, persimmons too. Dogwoods, beauty berry, magnolias, creepers, cherry laurel, euonymus, coralberry and tulip poplar were all good producers. Many flowers and grasses too. Here in the subtropical South, winter landscapes never really die but they're often ignored. Look around for there's always something interesting for the astute observer. Foliage starts changing color in early October with the sourwood trees. Then the flaming leaves of Virginia creeper flare into the canopy, followed by the wildfire of sumacs, black gums and red maples. Bald cypresses rust in November. By then, catalpas, rain trees, tulip poplar, box elder and river birch are becoming gold and yellow. Sassafras and sweetgum transform into rainbows of red, orange, yellow or purple. Deciduous hardwoods ultimately drop their leaves though some red oaks retain their dead foliage through winter, shedding in spring just as new leaves emerge. The cooler temps and weekly showers sustained seasonal I wish I had known 'Enos' from blooms and prompted a Dukes of Hazzard (Sonny Shroyer, revival of some spring LRT, Nov 2011) was in Louisiana. blooming plants like He's one of my favorite TV clematis. Fritillaries characters ever and I sure would continued to feast on like to meet him. Let me know if he summer lantana, ever comes back to Louisiana. I live sulphurs on blooming in Mississippi but I get your paper salvia. While my at my house every month. ~Jackie F., Hattiesburg, MS buckeyes shed their leaves in September and “The Diary of Bart the Buck” (by Sonny Harrington, Nov 2011) was early October, one one of the best hunting stories I've ever read, and I've read plenty… capricious specimen learned a few things, too. Now that I know how they think, I may sprouted new leaves hunt more this year. ~Pete W., Gonzales and was in full bloom on Halloween, just like I love your magazine. Some of your writers are really funny and last year. Go figure. some are just crazy. My favorite is Dennis Stewart. His story about By the November anger management (Nov 2011) cracked me up. I saved it for some of 6th publication deadline, we'd had some patchy my friends and read it out loud to them. We're still laughing. frosts but no freeze yet. ~Bettie, via email 70d days and 50d nights. Summer and fall flowers Nice piece on Cody, Wyoming. I hunt in that area every year but were still colorful. have never been to the museum (Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Nov 2011). Didn't know they had all those firearms. I'll definitely make it there on my next trip out this winter. Thanks for sharing. It's good to see you write about places like this outside of Louisiana sometimes. ~Larry C., Bossier City
December is a time of transition in nature. Just after sunset this month, the evening star setting in the west will be Venus while the bright star rising on the eastern horizon will be the planet Jupiter (courtesy: jackstargazer.com). This is the season of the long nights. Beginning at the Summer Solstice last June, nights began growing longer. Here at the Winter Solstice in December we've reached the longest night of all. Now the cycle reverses and days begin growing longer. For ancient cultures, MidWinter was a time to celebrate for it meant the return of light and warmth and the prospect for a new crop year. In spite of the early chill, climatologists have forecast another mild winter and a continuation of the severe drought. Hope they're wrong. Even with 2011's record drought, nature produced a surprisingly abundant crop in field and
Here in the subtropical South, winter landscapes never really die but they're often ignored.
K C A B K TAL
Asters, cannas, cosmos, dianthus, gingers, hyacinth vine, lantana, petunia, sages, salvia, swamp sunflower, turk's cap and petunias were the principal bloomers here… fritillaries, sulphurs, skippers, bees and flies the familiar visitors. Anoles, toads and frogs were active around the potted plants as daytime temps warmed each day. A few dragonflies still flew over the meadow and migrating birds continued to arrive. For Christmas, consider using native plants to make outdoor decorations. Creeper vines make great wreaths. Use gloves to avoid poison ivy look-alikes. Add volume with evergreen boughs from cedars, magnolias or short-leaf pines. Secure with wire if necessary. Those boughs also make great swags and centerpieces. Embellish with red-berried cuttings from native yaupon and possum haw hollies. Highlight with cones, sweet gum fruit, sycamore balls, catalpa seed pods, grass seedheads or other ornaments. Adjust to incorporate components from your site. Add non-native elements to taste. Discard at the end of the season. Another native plant associated with Christmas is the Eastern mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum). European tradition holds that a man is entitled to kiss a woman under the mistletoe, after which he removes one berry. When all berries are gone, the kissing ends. In some traditions, a kiss under the mistletoe means the lovers will marry. In some, if a girl is not kissed under the mistletoe, it means she will not marry in the following year (taken from floridata.com). But the greatest Christmas tradition is recalling the Child of Bethlehem. As one hymnist wrote, We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! A life-long resident of Lake Providence, Larry Brock was inspired by his grandfather’s passion for gardening and his own desire to recover the horticultural uniqueness of this region. Larry is drawn to the relationships between plants, birds, insects and soil and can be found puttering outdoors in his yard most any time, weather permitting.
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A LIFE OF TRIAL…AND ERROR
By Dennis Stewart
The Perils of Pre-Deer Hunting Deer season is on the horizon! Finally, I can stop risking my life preparing for the hunts. All year long, I check my trail cams once a week to keep track of the deer that frequent my 20 acres near Rayville. I also build deer stands. Lots of deer stands. I have deer stands for every situation. Rain. Winds out of the south. Winds out of the east. Snow. No rain. No matter what happens, I'm prepared. The down side to this preparation is that I seem to be risking my life every time I put up a new one. For example, this summer I bought a tripod stand from a local sporting goods outlet. The stand came in a box that said it would support 300 pounds. Well, after two hot, sweaty, mosquito-bitten afternoons, I had the stand 90% assembled so I climbed up the leg with the ladder and started to bolt in the gun rail. All of a sudden, I feel the leg I'm standing on giving way. As I cling to the falling stand, I become bewildered because I only weigh 250 pounds. The stand and I both land in a briar thicket. My life flashes before my eyes. It ain't pretty.
So I get my cell phone and call the sporting goods outlet, asking the sweet teenager that answers the phone if I have to bring the whole stand in to get my $89 refund, or can I just bring in the ladder leg that is now bent in a 90 degree angle. After some consultations with higher management, she tells me to just bring in the bent leg. I drive back to the store with the bent leg in my hand. The first sales clerk calls the warehouse manager who says I have to bring in the whole stand to get a refund. As I stand there bleeding from the briars, my shirt and jeans soaked in sweat, I tell him no, I called and was told I could just bring in the bent leg. He goes to talk to higher management, comes back and says I have to bring in the whole stand. I ask him if he knew what a suit in redhibition is. He says no. I say neither did I 34 years ago before I graduated from LSU Law School, but what it means is he can return my $89 today, or Monday I will file suit against the store for the purchase price, plus the cost of gasoline to bring the stand back to the store, plus damages for the fear of losing my life that I sustained while slowly falling into the briar thicket, plus mental anguish and distress. He goes back to
All of a sudden, I feel the leg I'm standing on giving way.
speak again with higher management and returns with an $89 gift card. I take it. A few weeks ago, I decided to build another box stand from scratch, like my other two. So I have four 8-foot 4x4s for the legs and at the top I attach the legs to a platform built from 2x6s and a sheet of plywood. I then build a ladder from two 2x6's. So I lean the heavy ladder against the deer stand and climb up to the platform to nail the studs for the sides. As I get to the top, I remember that I forgot to nail the braces on the legs. The deer stand starts to fall over. I hang on to the top of the ladder. When it falls at warp velocity, I let go and fall backwards. I land on my right butt cheek, which fortunately is heavily padded with 250 pounds of fat. It still hurts though, kind of like when I was young and virile and had to get penicillin shots. Kind of an achy hurt. So, I'm really glad hunting season is finally here. It's much safer. Dennis Stewart grew up in northeast Louisiana, graduated from La Tech and LSU Law School. After having taught law at ULM and working as an Assistant District Attorney, Dennis is now a Hearing Officer in Rayville. He loves to hunt, fish, read, write, and shop on eBay.
Tortured Child By Robert Lemoine
You've probably heard that Jesus died for you on the cross. You've probably even heard that God sent His ONLY begotten son to die for you on that cross. And, even if you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you've heard that He died to forgive your sins. Now, here's the part that most people leave out. Jesus was tortured before going to die on that cross for you. He was beaten, whipped, spit upon, and ridiculed before being forced to carry His cross to the site of His impending death. I want you to think about something now…Would you be willing to die for somebody else? To some, the answer is an easy “yes”. These are the people who serve in our military, police forces, fire departments, and other such service related fields who face death on a daily basis. To others, the answer is a definite “no”. These are the people who are self absorbed, unsaved, and all too important to even consider how the world would continue without them. Others don't know and that's an honest answer.
Another thought for you to consider… Would you be willing to have your ONLY child murdered to save someone else? Even if you have twenty children, the answer is a resounding “NO!” There is not a person I know that I would sacrifice one of my children for. Much less, somebody I don't know and that hasn't even been born yet. Let's now take this a little further. Would you be willing to have your child tortured so people would understand? Of course not! There is no conceivable scenario where you would allow your child to be tortured. And to all of you who answered “yes” to the first question, would you be willing to be tortured for someone you don't even know? Death is one thing, but torture is something completely different. Death to the saved is just a stepping stone we all must step on. Torture, however, hurts. It brings you to the point of wishing for death just so it will be over with. I'm willing to say that nobody would agree to having themselves tortured the way Jesus was to make a point. This thought crossed my mind several times before I sat down to write. How much does God love us? How much does Jesus love us? How strong is their love for us that a father would submit his son to such agony and disgrace before having him murdered and a son
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agreeing to be tortured before being put to death? I can't begin to understand how great that love is…But, I'm thankful we were given such love. May God bless you and keep you safe in all that you do. Remember, the fastest way up is to kneel down. And, if you doubted it before, it's all right there…Jesus loves you!
Moon Pie Over Mobile To kick off the New Year and the 2012 Mardi Gras Festival Season in grand style, plan to spend New Year's Eve in Mobile, Alabama, where a 600-lb, 12-foot electronic MoonPie drops at the stroke of midnight. Synonymous with the city's Carnival season, MoonPies were first thrown from Mardi Gras floats in 1952. Mobile has partnered this year with Chattanooga Bakery Inc., the maker of the iconic MoonPie brand marshmallow sandwich, to enhance their New Year’s Eve celebration that lights up Mobile's skyline, similar to Times Square in NYC but a whole lot more fun! Legendary music group Three Dog Night will be headlining the event. Other entertainment includes a Mardi-Gras parade with floats, a laser light show, and spectacular fireworks. Downtown Mobile will transform into one giant street party lasting into the early hours of the New Year. Mardi Gras was first discovered in the New World in 1703 at Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff, the first settlement in Mobile. Today, Mobile consumes more than four million MoonPies annually, and has adopted the delicious treat as an informal emblem. The
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first masked parading society, the Cowbellion de Rakin society, was formed in 1830. Mobile currently has more than 50 parading and non-parading organizations. An estimated 850,000 people attend parades, parties and other organizations associated with the carnival festivities. This number will likely increase with the enhanced MoonPie Over Mobile celebration. Last year, over 40,000 people attended the celebration and more are expected this year. Make your reservations now to claim your spot at Moon Pie Over Mobile by visiting www.mobile.org. You'll want to stay at least several days as you discover Mobile has so much to offer!
Christmas at Rip Van Winkle Gardens No matter what season you visit Rip Van Winkle Gardens on Jefferson Island, you'll be transported back in time to a more genteel, gracious style of living. Christmas time is even more special as the home is decorated with tinsel and ornaments in Victorian Style. A ten foot Christmas tree stands in the large parlor surrounded by toys of an era gone by. This is just one of ten rooms with beautiful decorations sending you back to the 1800's, when the famous actor Joseph Jefferson and his family lived at Jefferson Island for the winter months for 36 years. While visiting Jefferson Island, stroll through the lovely gardens filled with the scents and colors of the season. Peacocks strutting showing off their beautiful feathers add a lovely highlight to the gardens. Having lunch at Café Jefferson or looking out over the lake, you will feel relaxed and refreshed. The Victorian tours begin November 27th through January 8th. Come and visit the gardens anytime from 9am to 5pm each day and take a tour of the home from 9am to 4pm. Café Jefferson is open from 11am to 2pm each weekday and from 11am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Rip Van Winkle Gardens are open 7 days a week but will be closed for Christmas and New Years Day.
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This is NOT a Star Gazing on Dress Rehearsal… Mauna Kea By Su Stella
By Terry L. Jones
It is your life! Most of us spend our lives in a sleepy fog, and most of the time we 'maintain' but when the balance tips - OUCH, a bad mess! When I was young I heard the wives tale, “If a bird flies inside your house someone you know will die”. The bird was a sparrow, we were minutes away from leaving for a long weekend and it was luck for the bird that I heard this weird noise in the house because this flighted creature was behind a bookcase. Puzzled, I listened and when it became airborne, helped free this home stowaway. We left for Hot Springs. About 20 minutes into our trip a small brown bird literally flew into the windshield. KAPOW! Inside, I was freaking out; outside, I held my big mouth shut. Old wives tales… belong to old wives. I was not old or a wife, so go away boogie man! Well, it happened that night, a friend passed away. That weekend another was diagnosed with cancer and given a very short time to live. There are a few lessons to be shared from this. My friend that passed didn't have life insurance, and his widow is now faced with all sorts of financial burdens. Aside from his lost income, there are medical bills, funeral costs, and his credit cards and basic living expenses, all while grieving his unexpected death. Thankfully, a group of us organized two fundraisers to help her have breathing space during this life changing transition. My other friend that was given a short time to live is planning ahead. Luckily, his family had bought a life insurance policy years ago so at least his family won't be burdened by debt after he goes. My friend also has a will and a living will, with all the details known to everyone so there is no fighting over trinkets. He and his son went to a funeral home to make the
arrangements together, select the music, attend to details, and now everything is set. He is having heart to heart talks with everyone in the family. Big dinners full of friends come to him... No one wants to die, and none of us knows when. If you haven't already attended to this, it's time to get our papers organized, wills written and maybe some life insurance. These papers are so important to safe guard your family, friends and pets. What if no one wants your pet and it is dumped at the pound? Eight years ago we had to 'pull the plug' when my Dad was in a coma. Having his living written with his heartfelt words made this easier. Having no life insurance has been a burden on all of the kids because my stepmom still lives in the family house and maintenance costs are high. At my Dad's funeral I learned so many things about him, like he was the Captain of the tennis team at school, and I had no idea that he played tennis. This tidbit, along with the fact that I don't know if he had a teddy bear, prompted me to write a question book called “I Wish I Had Asked”. With him and mom gone, I won't know the answers to so many fun, silly and important questions. The book is for you to fill out so future generations of your family will have important glimpses at the wonderful person that you are. You can order my book at www.lulu.com/product/paperback /i-wish-i-had-asked/16540421. Take a few minutes to look ahead and realize that there is no forever. If you don't know where to start finding the proper insurance, contact my friend Justin Nelson at 800-675-0862, or email him at jnelson@selectquote.com. With the New Year around the corner, it's time to make a bucket list and do everything on it…. Peace, health and prosperity for you and yours.
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/ i-wish-i-had-asked/16540421 Or email SuStella@live.com Su Stella 318-676-8010 For every book purchased between now and December 1I will donate $2 per to benefit W.E.L.L. (Women Empowered and Loving Life) Ships in 3-5 business days.
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Tourists to Hawaii's Big After finally reaching the Island flock to its famous summit, we stood among the Volcanoes National Park, but many huge telescopes and watched the people miss out on one of the sun slowly set into the Pacific. island's most awesome placesThe temperature hovered around 13,796 foot Mauna Kea (“MOANfreezing and the wind was about uh KAY-uh”). “White Mountain,” so named because of its snow cap, is Hawaii's tallest mountain and the atmosphere is so clear on its summit that thirteen powerful telescopes have been put there to study the heavens. When my wife Carol and I made our Terry and Carol Jones bundled up atop the mountin. first trip to the islands in July we 30 mph, but Blake said it was a booked a tour with Hawaii Forest good day-when the wind reaches & Trail to see Mauna Kea for about 70 mph, you have to be ourselves. Leaving Kona, we rode careful of the light volcanic rock about two hours and stopped at that is blown through the air like an abandoned cattle station at the shrapnel. The sunset was foot of the mountain. As we spectacular, and a bonus to the explored the old buildings, our evening was the bright full moon guide Blake set up tables beneath that rose behind us at the same a large canvass tent and we were time the sun set in the west. soon downing hot beef stew with After the show was over, sweet cornbread. everyone piled back into the bus After dinner, Blake handed and descended down the out heavy parkas and gloves and mountain to a ranger station. then gave a safety briefing. At Along the way, we could see lava nearly 14,000 feet, the mountain's glowing from volcanic vents far peak has only 40 percent of the away. At the station we sipped oxygen found at sea level. As a hot chocolate and ate cookies result, one can develop hypoxia while Blake set up a large (oxygen deprivation) and feel telescope. After a quick lightheaded, headachy, clumsy, astronomy lesson, we took turns and even downright silly. Blake looking at several stars, the warned us to breathe deeply, planet Saturn, and the brilliant move slowly, and drink lots of moon. Carol and I were amazed water. that we could actually see The drive up the mountain Saturn's famous rings. Icing on was absolutely breathtaking. It the cake was when I glanced up was overcast when we left the and saw a meteor streak across cattle station, but we soon drove the sky. Looking back on our through the clouds and broke out Hawaiian vacation, Carol and I into brilliant sunshine. The agreed that the Mauna Kea reddish barren landscape looked summit tour was a highlight of like Mars, and in fact, Blake the trip. pointed out a valley where NASA Mauna Kea Summit & tested the Mars and lunar land Stars Adventure: The entire trip rovers. from Kona takes about 8 _ hours Up and up we went on the and costs $189 (adult) plus tax. steep, windy-and very rough-dirt Hawaii Forest & Trail provides a road. Beautiful cloud banks wide variety of tours on the Big blanketed the landscape below, and at one spot Blake pulled over Island (http://www.hawaiiforest.com). to show us the giant shadow the mountain cast over the island.
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Officer Down Part Three:
The Death of Deputy James W. Wood
By Lora Peppers
Earlier this year (Officer Down Part Two, August, 2011) I told you about finding two “lost” Deputy Sheriffs who died in 1895, Deputies Edwards and Willis. Soon after, I sent off what I had found to the Officer Down Memorial Page with information also on Constable Fitzgerald of the town of Trenton. The site administrator did some further investigating and found a New Orleans newspaper article about the murder that gave Fitzgerald's initials as W.C. He now has most of his name again. The information on all three men was added to the memorial site and they now have their appropriate tributes. The week they were added, I went by the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Department and the West Monroe Police Department and gave them the information I had found, much to their delight. The next day, I happened to be browsing through the obituary index and a name jumped out at me: Deputy Sheriff James W. Wood. Here is that article from the Ouachita Telegraph newspaper, dated Wednesday, March 17, 1869: APPALLING MURDER AND SUICIDE. On Friday last about noon occurred, in the western portion of Ouachita parish, one of the most brutal murders and suicides on record. Mr. James W. Wood, Deputy Sheriff, was sent on Friday morning with a warrant to arrest
two brothers, Jack and Franklin Rogers, charged upon the affidavit of Huey Dickerson, with attempting to shoot and kill said Dickerson, Franklin Rogers being implicated as accessory. Mr. Wood proceeded to the house of Franklin Rogers, and the latter came to the gate to ascertain his business, having his gun in his hands at the time. While reading the warrant, both barrels of the gun were suddenly discharged by Franklin Rogers at Mr. Wood, the charges mutilating the left arm and hand and penetrating the breast. Immediately after discharging the gun, Rogers proceeded along the road about one hundred and fifty yards, and cut his own throat with his pocket knife. A neighbor came along shortly after and found Rogers lying dead by the road side with the knife firmly clutched in his hand. Wood after receiving the wound, proceeded to Rogers' house, lay down upon the bed, and calling for water and assistance, expired in about half an hour. Rogers has heretofore borne the character of a quiet, peaceable citizen. But after the difficulty which was the cause of his arrest, he seemed greatly excited, and his wife reports, threatened to poison himself. She became so alarmed, at his threats of selfdestruction and particularly after his asking her to give him some strychnine, that she hid that poison, his ammunition and other means of injury, but entirely forgot the loaded gun with which he perpetrated the deed. The victim and the slayer lay side by side in the same room dead. Those best acquainted with Rogers believe that the act was prompted by insanity. The body of Mr. Wood was buried at Monroe on Sunday last. Mr. Wood was quite a young man, well thought of by his acquaintances and friends, and
had been acting as Deputy Sheriff only about two weeks, when this fearful tragedy closed his career. Several years ago, I had transcribed that obituary for inclusion in my book of deaths reported in the Monroe newspapers, but it had never clicked in my head his significance. When I reread the article that day in August, I didn't remember any of it, which is unusual for me. How big of a coincidence was it that on the day I made the OPSD aware of his two brother Deputies that I would stumble across him? We have a saying in Genealogy: “Sometimes they want to be found.” It was as if he had reached out and said, “Don't forget about me!” The morning after I found Deputy Wood, I took his information to the Sheriff's Department and mailed a copy to the Officer Down Memorial Page. He has now been added to the online directory. Deputy Sheriff James W. Wood, who died a year before Sheriff John Wisner, is now the earliest known Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Department officer to die in the line of duty, bringing the total to five men. Let's hope he doesn't get lost to history again! Lora Peppers, a Monroe native, grew up in Bastrop and graduated from ULM. Her love of history dates back to childhood when one of her favorite activities was visiting local cemeteries to examine headstones. She also loves to travel, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park being her favorite place on Earth. Her job as a genealogist and historian has given her the opportunity to lead many lectures and author several books. She can be reached by e-mail at loradpeppers@hotmail.com.
Riding The Shuttle With Charlene! By Mary Logan Martin Our paths crossed for approximately 36 hours. I was in Treasure Island, Florida, for a weekend visit with my son, Alan, and his girlfriend, Vanessa. Charlene was Vanessa's good friend as well as her former mother-in-law. It was about noon on Saturday, May 14, 2011, when Alan, Vanessa and I boarded the shuttle bus on our way to nearby John's Pass where the annual Pirates' Fest was in progress. At a stop a few blocks up the street, Charlene boarded. At first glance I knew she had been sent to rescue me from my fear of fun. Blonde spikes adorned her tanned pixie face. Her eyes twinkled with the devilish promise of adventure. The bus let us off amid the costumed Blackbeards and eyeletbusted barmaids that crowded the boardwalk. Beaded trinkets sparkled from vendors' carts brought in for the occasion. Folding tables stacked with t-shirts and sea shells stood outside shops. A chained Macaw sat on its perch providing atmosphere for the festivities. Charlene and Vanessa walked side by side chatting happily of everything and nothing. Then the Universe took notice of Charlene and said 'hello' with an unexpected squall. As the wind picked up speed and dark clouds threatened rain, we took shelter in Hooters. Over baskets of spicy wings and tall glass mugs of amber beer, I listened to Charlene's New England Louisiana Road Trips
accent recount stories of growing up with her twin sister in Rhode Island. She and Alan shared an easy banter. His deep throaty chuckle telegraphed his contentment in their friendship. For that I felt grateful. Sunday found us at my hotel's patio bar. Charlene took a chair in the full sun while I sought the shade provided by the giant umbrella that centered our table. She shared some news concerning the previous day's storm that interrupted the Pirates' Fest. She had heard about shopkeepers and tourists joining forces with the street vendors to protect their wares from the wind and rain. “Everybody helped,” Charlene reported, seemingly pleased with her fellow humans at that moment. Later our party progressed to Ricky-T's courtyard. Again the Universe took notice of Charlene. Two women who remembered seeing her uniqueness on a previous visit to the area asked her to pose for a photograph. Although an aneurism ended Charlene's earthly sojourn early in October, somewhere her eyes still twinkle her love of life through that captured image. I rode life's shuttle with Charlene very briefly, but we traversed a great distance. She took me to a deeper understanding of my son. With her as my guide, I glimpsed wisdom and sensitivity in him that I had missed. Thanks Charlene
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RECIPES
by Stacy Thornton
Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la la. December 25th is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, Christ Mass. December also celebrates Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and New Years Eve. The month brings family celebrations to continue holiday traditions and make lifetime memories. It's also full of predictions/superstitions such as snow on Christmas means Easter will be warm and green (an almanac prediction) and many people believe wearing new shoes on Christmas day will bring a person bad luck. A main attraction of the month is food. This month, I dedicate my column to my late mother in law, Barbara Thornton. I hope you enjoy some of her tried and true holiday favorites (sweet treats) that my family has grown to love and expect during the holidays. Try them and share with those you love. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Pralines 1 cup evaportaed milk 1/2 stick of butter 1 cups chopped pecans
Peanut Brittle
Mix sugar, cornstarch, flour, cocoa, and salt. Beat eggs and add remaining ingredients. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients and mix well. Pour into pie shells. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. Makes 3 pies.
Millionaires 3 tbsp milk bag of chocolate chips
Coconut Pie 1 3/4 cups sugar 4 tbsp cornstarch 3 tbsp flour 4 1/4 cups milk 5 egg yolks - reserve egg whites for meringue 1 tbsp vanilla 3 tbsp butter, melted 1 1/4 cup coconut pie shell - pre bake until almost done sprinkle of salt (I am assuming this is a pinch of salt) Meringue:
1/4 cup water pinch of salt 3 tsp baking soda
Mix sugar, water, karo, and salt in a saucepan and bring to boil. Add peanuts and cook to 300 degrees (hard crack on candy thermometer). Remove from heat and stir in baking soda. Pour onto buttered cookie sheet and spread. Cool and break into pieces. Enjoy!
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3 tbsp flour 1/2 cup cocoa 6 eggs 7 oz coconut 1 stick butter, melted 3 pie shells
Melt caramels and milk in double boiler. Add pecans and mix well. Drop onto wax paper and cool. Melt chocolate chips and wax. Dip caramel balls into chocolate. Place on waxed paper to dry.
Combine sugar, evaporated milk and salt in pan and cook, stirring constantly, until small amount dropped in water forms a medium hard (firm) ball. Add butter and scant 1/8 tsp of maple flavoring. Beat until it thickens. Add chopped pecans. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and cool. Hint: my mother in law did not measure the maple flavoring. She depended on the coloring.
2 cups sugar 3/4 cup white karo 3 cups raw peanuts
4 cups sugar 1 tbsp cornstarch dash salt 1 large can evaporated milk 1 tbsp vanilla 1 cup chopped nuts
14 oz pkg caramels 3 cups chopped pecans 1/3 bar of gulf wax
These pralines quickly disappear at family gatherings. 2 cups sugar small pinch of salt maple flavoring
Chocolate Pecan Coconut Pie
3 egg whites
6 tbsp sugar
In a saucepan, combine flour, sugar, and cornstarch; add salt, milk and egg yolks. Mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla and 1 cup coconut. Pour hot filling into pie shell. For meringue, beat egg whites in a mixing bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar until mixture forms stiff glossy peaks and sugar dissolves. Spread meringue over hot filling. Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until golden. Cool. Store in the refrigerator.
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Louisiana In The Civil War
December 1861: A Heartrendering Scene By Terry L.Jones
General Richard Taylor approved the sentence because he felt strict discipline had to be established to bring the Tigers under control. A few days before their execution, Corcoran and O'Brien published a farewell letter in a local newspaper in which they blamed their criminal behavior on liquor and pleaded for others not to fall victim to the same vice. The two Tigers also forgave everyone who was involved in their execution. This forgiveness even extended to their twelve comrades in the Tiger Rifles who were chosen by Taylor to make up the firing squad. Many of the soldiers who were forced to watch the execution recalled this touching farewell and felt sympathy for the two condemned men. The silent division watched as a band approached playing the mournful “Death March.” Then a covered wagon, escorted by two companies with fixed bayonets, slowly drove to the open side of the square. One witness described what happened next: Then six men get out of the wagon-two “Tigers,” a catholic priest . . . and three officers. These step forward a little when the Colonel rides up to them and, speaking to the “Tigers,” reads to them the charges of which they have been found guilty and the sentence of the court condemning them to death. 1. When the steamboat The two “Tigers” have their arrived, a cannon was hands tied behind them with fired several times. rope. They are then led backward 2. Prairie Jefferson 3. Pecanland Mall in a short distance and made to Monroe kneel with their backs resting 4. Each step bears against two strong posts driven the name of each into the ground. state and the Their hands are date they were admitted to the Union also tied tightly 5. “Land of the Sacred Silver Waters” behind them to the 6. Twenty-seven posts. The priest 7. Cottonmouth, Coral, is seen going Canebrake Rattler, Copperhead constantly from 8. Thirty-five times as much 9. Four one to the other 10. Sixty-four of the two criminals,
At 11:30 a.m. on the morning of December 9, 1861, several thousand Confederate soldiers formed a threesided square outside their camp near Centreville, Virginia. The men were quiet and the mood was somber, for this was no ordinary muster. A military court had convicted two of their comrades for attacking an officer and trying to free some prisoners from a guard house. The sentence was death by firing squad. The condemned men were Privates Dennis Corcoran and Michael O'Brien of the Louisiana Tiger Rifles. Outfitted in colorful Zouave uniforms, the Tiger Rifles was a company in Major Roberdeau Wheat's 1st Special Battalion. The battalion had gained considerable fame for its bravery at First Bull Run, but it was the men's behavior off the battlefield that garnered the most attention. Since its arrival in Virginia, Wheat's Battalion had engaged in drunken brawls and other mayhem and became known as the Tiger Battalion. Despite the seriousness of the men's crimes, Major Wheat opposed the sentence. Wheat loved his Tigers and one of the condemned men had risked his own life to help carry the wounded Wheat from the Bull Run battlefield. Wheat pleaded for leniency, but brigade commander
ouisiana Answers …
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comforting them in preparing them for the awful death… He holds to their lips a crucifix, which they passionately kiss and over which they pray. In a few minutes the signal is given, the priest leaves them alone with an officer, who put a bandage over their eyes and retires.
the discharge of muskets. The execution of Corcoran and O'Brien was the first in what would become General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, but it would not be the last. Approximately 500 Union and Confederate soldiers were shot or hanged during the Civil War for various crimes. That is more military executions than in all of our other wars combined.
A Civil War firing squad (Harper's Weekly)
Once Corcoran and O'Brien were tied to their posts, the firing squad took up a position just twenty-five yards from the kneeling men. The Zouaves were not aware of it, but one company of Colonel Henry B. Kelly's 8th Louisiana was standing behind them with loaded muskets. Some of the officers were concerned that the Tigers might refuse to fire when ordered, so Colonel Kelly was prepared to execute the executioners if the need arose. The concern was unwarranted, however, for the company commander ordered, “Ready! Aim! Fire!” and a dozen muskets split the crisp December air with a thunderous volley. In the hushed silence that followed, a lone Tiger broke ranks, ran up to one body, and gently held and caressed it. “It was heartrendering,” a correspondent wrote, “to see the poor brother's agony.” Wheat, the only man in the division who was excused from attending the execution, broke down and cried in his tent at hearing
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Dr. Terry L. Jones is a professor of history at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and has published six books on the American Civil War..
MY FAVORITE FISHING HOLE
By Pro Angler, Joe Joslin
Winter Fishing & Chores Winterize That repair bill. Insurance policies do not cover such Boat - Hello, Anglers. damage as this is described as 'owner neglect'. New If you're like lower units range from $400-700 on small engines numerous to $3,000-4,000 on large models. Also, make sure boaters/fishermen in you check/change the oil in the lower unit before this neck of the woods, storage in case there is water in the crankcase you may not plan to fish or use your boat causes by a leaking seal. anymore until after hunting season. Unless Another major problem we have in this area you plan to fish through the winter, here are is mildew which can be very costly so go through some tips to make things a lot easier when you all boat compartments and check for moisture. If put your boat back you have a compartment prone to on the lake next moisture, remove any valuable items spring. I would first and store in a dry, protected area. suggest filling up These reminders are also applicable to your gas tanks and those who use our boats all winter. add an Winter Fishing Patterns - I have additive/fuel had some great fishing trips in stabilizer to fuel. December. This winter on Toledo could Many boaters are even be more productive than normal now using additives because of record-low water drought This is the proper down position I store anyway to counter conditions and lake is down 13 feet, my 21' Skeeter FX/SHO Yamaha during the impacts of hence, concentrating the fish winter months so gravity drains water ethanol but make population. As far as patterns, water out of lower unit. sure you use it this temperatures are in lower 60s/upper winter if you store your rig for several months. 50s and we are fishing a lot of crankbaits, TX rigs, Another reminder is to make sure all batteries slow-rolling spinnerbaits as well as Stanley are fully charged before storage as storing a Football (Bug-eye) jigs. In addition, on the mid and depleted battery cuts down on the life span. southern portions of Toledo, the water is normally very clear which lends itself beautifully to a lot of In addition, it is critical to store a boat motor tilted all the way down so the lower unit vertical presentations with jigging spoons and drop shot rigs. I have been a fan of jigging spoons is in a position allowing all water to run out of for 20-25 years and have used them on south unit preventing lower gear case from Toledo to catch thousands of bass in cold weather. freezing/expanding/cracking causing a major
ALL THINGS SOUTHERN
For most situations, I use a custom made spoon which is about 5/8 of an ounce and attach a #4 Daiichi's Death Trap treble hook. This is a very high carbon hook and is super sharp which is vital in jigging a spoon. A jigging spoon is nothing but a slab of lead with a treble hook attached. However, when this is lowered into the depths of a deep, clear lake and bounced off Big Spoon Bass - Author Joe the bottom, it Joslin with a 8.2 lb bass caught on the south end of can become a Toledo with a jigging spoon. very effective tool for catching fish. I catch most of my spoon fish in depths of 25- 40 feet. I have caught them as deep as 55 feet but 33-38 feet is where I fish most of them. Merry Christmas and God's Blessings on your friends and Family. Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist, tournament angler and pro guide on Toledo and Sam Rayburn. Contact him at 337-463-3848, joejoslinoutdoors@yahoo.com, or www.joejoslinoutdoors.com.
By Shellie Tomlinson
"Man Girdles for Christmas!" Hello folks! Welcome back to the porch. Someone slow the world down and let's all put our feet up a minute. We need to chat…~smile~ Here's a question for the ladies. Are you still looking for that perfect Christmas gift for your man? He has a watch. Ditto a phone. You know he hasn't used all of last year's cologne and he doesn't need anymore socks, ties, or calendars.
All Things Southern “Bringing you the charm and heritage of the South…” ph 318-559-0319 • cell 319-282-2508 tomtom@allthingssouthern.com
Maybe you're thinking about calling it quits and wrapping up all that new camo he bought himself before the season opened. I get it. I know it's not easy Christmas shopping for our men, but ladies, I've just heard about this season's newest thing in male apparel and I'm begging you, don't do it. I'm talking about the new body-shaping undergarments for men, very tight undershirts with compression technology that promises to visibly streamline the male torso. They're calling 'em “Spanx for men”. Yes… man girdles. Now put that Cabela catalog down, ladies, and pay attention. You're not gonna find 'em in there. I know. The idea of watching your man struggle into a Spanx may seem like poetic justice, but if you'd quit laughing long enough and think about it, you'd agree that seeing your man in a girdle would be disconcerting, distressing, and downright awkward. Note to Fashion World: Soon as the girls get control of themselves, they may purchase a few of
Louisiana Road Trips
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your man girdles for gag gifts, but don't reorder on our account. We all know pigs will fly before your idea catches on with our guys. As the host of All Things Southern, I've been told that we Southerners exaggerate our differences - that folks the world over are mostly the same. I beg to differ. For one thing, to wear a Spanx would require our men to realize they need a Spanx. Pardon my grammar, but it ain't happening. Thanks to our mamas, belles know about suffering for beauty. But our men, well, their idea of suffering for beauty is spending long cold hours in the woods waiting for that trophy buck while dreaming about their Sweet Thang keeping the home fires burning. You know, that ad did say those man girdles offered temperature control. Nah... ~Merry Christmas Hugs, Shellie
Come Celebrate Christmas Traditions Around the Globe
Rail of Lights Christmas & New Year's Train - Jefferson, Texas Tickets are now on sale for Rail of Lights Christmas and New Year's Train. Make this a Christmas to remember aboard the Rail of Lights Christmas Train in Jefferson, Texas. The unforgettable ride aboard an old-fashioned steam train departs each Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Thanksgiving through Dec 24. Passengers will enjoy lighted scenes along the Cypress Bayou River as they hear about the “Christmas Traditions Around the Globe”. Also, ring in the New Year with the Rail of Lights New Year's Train running on Dec 30 and 31st. This ride will feature the dropping of the ball in Times Square, complete with beverages, noisemakers and a fantastic fireworks show on every train ride. The excursions will take you by a life-size nativity scene, the German Markets, Jerusalem and the Angel Tree. Glimpse Christmas trees simply decorated reminiscent of the bare-limbed sourwood of the Appalachian Christmas Tree to the opulence of a re-created 1885 Christmas tree in the Smith-McDowell House in Asheville, North Carolina. View scenes representing Alaska, San Francisco, Australia and the Arizona Hopi Indian nation.
Enjoy an authentic life-sized 90-year old Christmas card as well as the post card sent by soldiers during World War II and other favorites: the aluminum tree, reminiscent of the 1960's; a whimsical Teddy Bear tree; and Charlie Brown's forlorn little Christmas tree. The decorated historic railroad depot, complete with Santa Claus, captures the holiday spirit. The wonderful narrated tour, accompanied by a local vocalist, will also give patrons an opportunity to sing some of their favorite Christmas Carols as they create unique Christmas memories riding along the river. Ticket Prices: First Class $21; Coach Class: $14.75 - $16.50. Lap children under 3 are free. First Class is offered in a beautiful historic, heated, enclosed coach. If you are riding Coach Class, be sure to dress warmly and bring a blanket, as you will be riding in open cars. Seating is limited so purchase your tickets early. The easiest way to get tickets is to order online at www.RailofLights.com. Jefferson is nestled deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. It seems frozen in time and is an elegant reminder of a bygone era. The downtown area will be aglow with lights and greenery during the holiday season. You will want to make Jefferson and the Christmas Train a tradition for your whole family.
Louisiana Road Trips
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The Disappearing Landmarks!
What Will Be Next? By Lee Estes
A recent trip up through the Mississippi Delta revealed the newest method of picking cotton, a machine which not only picks the cotton, but also packs it in a round module ready for ginning. In my lifetime I have witnessed the evolution of cotton harvesting from hand picking to two row pickers depositing their loads into wagons, bigger pickers transferring the cotton to module balers, then hauled to the gin in special built trucks. At the same time, small gins and compresses have disappeared in favor of mega gins capable of compressing the cotton bales to the maximum. This progress, leaves wagons, steam driven presses, and before long, module balers relegated to the weed filled back lots. Even huge six row pickers, state of the art until recently, will soon face a similar fate. Is it possible someone is already thinking of a machine that will gin the cotton, too? The above paragraph merely speaks the truth about machinery, but that is not the only thing that fades to obscurity with the passing of time. Grand homes succumb to excessive upkeep and disappear. Highways and bridges, once considered erected for posterity are abandoned or imploded. As a photographer, I take it as a responsibility to capture the disappearing landmarks and implements before it's too late. Fire towers, numbering in the hundreds, once dotted Louisiana forests, but have not been used for their intended purpose for more than three decades. Most have been demolished to eliminate possible liability should someone attempt to climb them and have an accident. A few remain. There is one at Woodworth, LA believed to be the tallest in the United States, towering more than 170 feet. Another, near Bentley, features a cab extending beyond the perimeter of the tower. Another stands at the Louisiana Forestry Museum at Longleaf. For someone interested in such things, you could make a "road trip" and visit at least four towers since all are within a radius of about forty miles and not very far from US Highway 165. Northernmost of those I'm familiar with is located at Olla, in LaSalle Parish. It is the one pictured with this article. In trying to find out as much as possible about this disappearing feature of the Louisiana landscape, I discovered most of them were built by a windmill manufacturer, Aermotor, which is still in business. I called them for information, but they hadn't manufactured fire towers for thirty years and nobody remembered anything about it. Next, I tried to locate someone who may have spent a lifetime high above the treetops watching for smoke rising among the trees. I finally located a person, who upon graduating with a degree in forestry and getting a job with the forest service, discovered the first thing he had to do was climb a tower and live there for a few weeks. During this time he learned how to determine the azimuth to a suspected fire and co-ordinate with other towers to pinpoint the location using triangulation. He also practiced using a primitive range finder. The Louisiana Road Trips
towers were placed approximately 18 miles apart. Most of the duty was boring and you carried food, water, binoculars, and reading material many flights of steps to your perch above the trees. A more exciting time would be when a thunderstorm with heavy lightning came along with your place of employment higher than anything around. For safety's sake each tower was equipped with a stool whose legs were fitted with an insulator not much different from those used on utility poles. When lightning was present, you got on that stool and stayed there until the storm was over. Another adventure I was told about occurred when a tower would be exposed above cut over forest and happened to be near an Air Force base and pilots would use the tower as a pylon to practice 720 degree turns. Apparently some pilots got their kicks buzzing the towers. The earliest towers were not steel, but more like a tree house, with a perch erected in the top of the tallest specimen in the forest. Access was somewhat more difficult than for the steel towers with staircases. Sometimes the towers were manned by man and wife, or in some cases an entire family, with living quarters for those off duty nearby. It was a way of life close to the land, much better for those with family involved. Most of the time passed without incident, but might be exciting during dry seasons with the risk of fire extremely high. It all ended in 1978 when fire patrolling was taken over by aircraft. Most of the towers were demolished shortly after. The forestry people I talked with all say most fires are started by humans, some just being careless, but mostly from arson.
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Lee Estes, a Kentucky native, migrated to Louisiana in 1956 with his wife, Lottie. He worked in aviation then with A&LM Railway. He began making photographs in Europe after WWII and ranked among the leading monochrome exhibition photographers in the U.S. during the 80’s. His extensive travels included leading tours across the globe. Lee has authored three photo/documentary books and is currently involved with the documentation of The Dixie Overland Highway (US80) in Louisiana, funded by a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
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Calendar of Events
December 2011 See “2011 LA Holiday Trail of Lights” schedule of events in this issue!
December 2-4 __________ Christmas Extravaganza Covington – 985-796-5853 Christmas in the Country St. Francisville – 225-635-4224 Orange Festival Belle Chase – 504-656-7599
December 3 ____________ Bonfire on the Levee Oak Alley, Vacherie – 800-44-ALLEY Bonfire & Gumbo Cookoff Jennings – 337-821-5532
December 10 ___________
December 22 ___________
Fete Hiver - Winter Celebration Natchitoches – 888-677-7853
Winter Begins
Mile Branch Pioneer Christmas Celebration Franklinton – 985-839-5228
Christmas Tree Farm Festival Grant – 800-987-NOEL
Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee Lutcher/Gramercy – 800-367-7852
December 3-4, 10-11 _____
Baton Rouge Christmas Parade 800-527-6843
A Rural Life Christmas Baton Rouge – 225-765-2437
December 3-4 __________
Renaissance Festival Hammond – 985-429-9992
December 9-11 _________ Festival of the Bonfires Gramercy/Lutcher – 800-367-7852 Fire and Water Celebration Arnaudville – 337-754-5316
Madewood Christmas Heritage Napoleonville – 985-369-7151
December 11 ___________
December 24 ___________ December 25 ___________ Christmas Kwanzaa
December 31 ___________ New Year's Eve
St. Lucy Festival of Lights St. Martinville – 337-394-6021 Carolling in Washington Square New Orleans – 888-312-0812 Christmas Celebration & Gumbo Cookoff Morganza – 225-694-3655 Creole Christmas Bonfire Magnolia Mound Plantation Baton Rouge – 225-343-4955
December 18 __________ Carolling in Jackson Square New Orleans – 504-523-7074
December 21-28 _______ Hanukkah
HOME SUBSCRIPTION Enjoy LOUISIANA ROAD TRIPS for only $20/year Name_____________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________ City______________________________________________________ State_________ Zip___________ Phone_________________________ To subscribe, send check or money order to Louisiana Road Trips at P O Box 2452, West Monroe, LA 71294 Louisiana Road Trips
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Our Time of the Year
New Orleans News By Cheré Coen New Orleans has plenty to sing about, with great events happening every day. Here are five new reasons to visit the Crescent City, especially this holiday season. The Hyatt Regency reopened in late October with much fanfare after a $275 million renovation. The new and improved hotel with its signature glass atrium now includes 1,193 modern guest rooms and 200,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including two 25,000-squarefoot ballrooms and a new 50,000square-foot exhibit hall. The hotel also moved its lobby and entrance to Loyola Avenue, where a new streetcar line is planned. The Louisiana Superdome has been renamed after the Saints signed a 10-year agreement with Mercedes-Benz USA. It was christened the “Mercedes-Benz Superdome” in October after an $85 million renovation which included an expansion of the Plaza Level concourse, additional concession booths on the Plaza Level, 3,100 additional Plaza Level seats, 186 digital concourse monitors and two new premium bunker club lounges. But what is really causing a stir are the dramatic light shows at night. Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas began sailing from New Orleans in November, offering sevennight cruises to the Western Caribbean. In other cruiseship news, The Carnival Ecstasy was replaced by
the newer Carnival Elation, with cruises year-round from New Orleans, and the addition of the Carnival Conquest. This month, The Saint Hotel in the historic Audubon Building on Canal Street is slated to open. The new hotel will feature modern guest rooms, the Burgundy Bar, the Halo Rooftop Bar and Sweet Olive, a restaurant by Chef Michael Stoltzfus. And next year the city will mark the return of paddlewheel steamboats! The American Queen returns after being refurbished and will accommodate guests for
overnight cruises. The Queen of the Mississippi will be a newcomer to the city. Cheré Coen is the author of “Exploring Cajun Country: A Tour Through Historic Acadiana” and the blog “Have Book, Will Travel, Let's Eat” at http://havebookswilltravelletseat.blog spot.com.
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By Johnny Wink The weather is cool and the wind is blowing out of the north. The leaves are falling and the geese are flying south. It is our time of the year. People from all over the good ole USA are what we live for at Megabucks. The rest of the year we gather and work to prepare. It's hunting season. For people with hunting camps, it's time to leave the city and get in the woods. Being with friends and family is just a bonus. We cook way too much and always have a lot of ice cold drinks. Sometime in the afternoon we take a nap to rest up for the big time at night around the fire pit. Or watching football and cooking a lot of something. But the big thing is just being with everybody. Being at camp is like going to a shrink. You can leave all your troubles at home along with all the traffic and noise of the city. And if you want, you can discuss anything and everything with your hunting buddies. Likely as not, they will for sure be able to solve all your problems… or at least tell you how to do it. By the way, the later you ask the better the answer will be for sure. Going to a hunting camp is more than just about hunting. It's also about seeing buddies you haven't seen in a while and catching up, staying up late and watching the fire and wearing our new camo hunting coats and solving all the world's problems, or at least our own. And then in the morning, we go out in the fields or woods and enjoy beautiful sunrises and colorful trees turning bright colors. We see squirrels running up and down the trees or deer feeding on acorns and we hear the sound of high flying geese. If that's not a place you want to be then something is wrong with you. Nowadays just as many females enjoy the outdoors and camp life as the men, which is just great. Now maybe our camps will be a lot
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cleaner and smell better. Being on a deer stand by yourself gives you time to think and rest in a very peaceful location. Well, goose season is underway and duck season will soon be here. It's very dry in north Louisiana and the ducks and geese are stacking in the flooded fields. We're getting limits everyday for our specks and getting tuned up for duck season as I write this. Soon, the sound of rifle shots will be heard, too. I can hardly wait! I hope everybody gets a chance to enjoy this time in the outdoors even if it's just for a short time. To some of us it's almost magical, a time where good things happen. So, if you know someone that doesn't hunt or doesn't have a place to hunt, ask them to come along. We need all the hunters we can get. This year the duck numbers are the highest ever recorded so buy your duck stamps and get in the rice fields and swamps and get after them. As I write this I think I can smell the deer steaks on the grill outside and see the fire pit glowing nicely. Remember to be safe with guns and let's have a hunting season to remember. I thank the Lord for letting me work at a hunting camp and make a living here, for this is our time of year. FYI… We have a new duck dog at Megabucks so everybody say hello to Blue Moon, my new golden retriever.
On The Scene
A Christmas Wish List By Deborah Burst
One of the great things about being a journalist is all the wonderful and talented people you meet. Listed below are some of my favorite artists and their latest work. Bryan Batt continues to woo his fan base with his latest book Big, Easy Style: Creating Rooms You Love to Live In. A New Orleans native, actor, author and designer, Bryan has had an affection for fine furnishings starting his collection in seventh grade. Bryan's whimsical writing invites readers to surrender their prude palettes with a fearless cocoon of color. He shares heartfelt stories on heirloom pieces and creating charming spaces that exude personality, boldness and a sense of humor. The book showcases homes he's personally designed and others that inspire him, from old-world charm to a luxurious Art Deco media room. Be sure to stop by Hazlenut, a fine accessories boutique on Magazine Street owned and managed by Bryan and his partner Tom Cianfichi. www.bryanbatt.com Get off Your Attitude is a self-help book with real-life advice in how to overcome life's obstacles and maintain a positive attitude. A tall order especially in today's economic climate but sometimes the best place to start is when you hit rock bottom. Ryan Lowe, local author and professional speaker, knows that first hand. Ryan has survived personal and professional tragedies giving him a unique perspective in mastering his motto Get off Your Attitude. The book takes readers through 12 chapters, each with a new approach in addressing negative mentality, poor decisionmaking skills, physical health, and overall destructive habits. www.getoffyourattitude.com Christian Serpas & Ghost Town is a local band with big-name talent playing Americana roots and revved-up country in bars and festivals across the south. Their fifth CD, “Open Road,” is their latest with eight original tunes recorded at Sound Landing in Covington and the Music Shed in New Orleans. The writing is pure Ghost Town, nothing forced and far from boring. Forget the “stoic, staring at your shoes” kind of band, each member, George Neyrey on guitar, Jeff Oteri on drums, and Brian Broussard on bass guitar, pour their heart and soul in every song. www.ghosttown.org St. Tammany author Bert Barlett has captured the pure essence of the love between a
city and a football team. In his first book, Tale of Two Seasons - Katrina and A Super Bowl, Bert contrasts Katrina vs. Pro Football: two seasons that took the city in wildly divergent directions! Bert's nostalgic style of sports writing explores the effects of a devastating hurricane and a Saints team emotionally tied to a city that stays true to their dream. Two Seasons offers insight and reflection in a unique odyssey that extends beyond the confines of a football field. Hank Holland has lived with Cerebral Palsy all his life, but today he finds salvation inside a canvas living with his family in the twilight landscapes of Lockport, Louisiana. Following his mother's footsteps, Hank is a self-taught artist and believes his art is a testament in overcoming obstacles and realizing your dreams. A student of nature, his work explores the innocence of color and light. It's a unique palette drawn from visualizing himself in every painting imagining what a Cajun cabin would look like or how it would feel in the shade of an old cypress tree on a hot Louisiana afternoon. In his Jazzedup Tree House collection, the paintings exhibit a special energy where Hank revisits his youth dancing and playing music with what he calls his imaginary friends. Local Abita Springs author, Lynda Deniger, has crafted a wonderful
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children's book about the plight of birds affected by the British Petroleum Oil Spill. Patti Pelican and The Gulf Oil Spill is Lynda's second book and part of the "Salty Seas Series." The book shares the inspiring story of how Patti Pelican and Sammy Seagull were rescued from this tragic environmental disaster. It details how dedicated men and women fought valiantly and tirelessly to rescue endangered wildlife trapped in oil along the coastal waterways. Children will delight in the colorful illustrations while learning a valuable lesson in preserving and protecting the environment. www.saltyseasandfriends.com And for a really special gift, why not the gift of food? In a city known for exceptional cuisine, Rare Cuts has answered New Orleans' call for consistently fresh and high quality meat. After finding success with its retail store in Uptown New Orleans, Rare Cuts is hitting the Web with the launch of its new online store. Gourmet food fanatics from across the country can now purchase high-end beef, pork, lamb and poultry. The website also includes recipes, tips and videos. www.rarecuts.com Save time and money shopping local and online in front of that nice warm fireplace. Happy Holidays!!
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A Safe Christmas Tree Christmas trees can pose a threat to your pets so use some precautions. First, choose the right spot for your tree that can't be easily knocked over. Secure it with small hooks in the wall or one in the ceiling above the tree. Use clear fishing line to hook the tree so it can't be tipped over. Hide any electrical cords so they can't be chewed on. Do not use hooks on ornaments but instead tie a loop of string in a knot to secure them to the tree, as ornaments often fall and a pet could swallow the hooks. Do not place bulbs on the lower limbs of a tree because broken glass is a disaster waiting to happen. Instead, bitter apple spray on the low branches can help deter persistent chewers. Also, use ribbon on your tree instead of shiny tinsel and garland because pets, especially cats, are attracted to shiny objects and if ingested may cause intestinal obstruction that could require surgery. Consider storing presents in a safe place until right before the holiday. Remember to sweep up pine needles and keep the tree watered but do not allow pets access to the tree water to drink. Most importantly, do not allow your pet unsupervised access to the tree to ensure a safe and happy holiday. Louisiana Road Trips
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