Minute Magazine MARCH / APRIL 2011 by The Minute Magazine

from the

editor

Way before you opened the pages

of this issue, I had goosebumps. I knew more than six months ago that this issue would be special. But even I couldn’t have predicted just how special it would be. It all began last summer, when I learned that I would be able to interview Fannie Flagg, the author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. But what I didn’t know was that Fannie Flagg would be one of the most amazing, inspiring women that I had ever met. And I never predicted that by the end of my interview with her, I would be fighting to hold in the tears that wanted to stream down my face. This interview changed me. Fannie Flagg taught us all a very powerful lesson, and I feel very blessed that I was able to learn it myself. But the very touching article on Fannie Flagg isn’t the only feature story in this issue. For several years now, we have wanted to include a brief history of The Louisiana Chautauqua. The Chautauqua is something that we should know about, yet few of us have heard of it. I hope that our feature on The Chautauqua changes things-- that you will read about this magnificent piece of our local history and be inspired. I certainly was! We at The Minute Magazine truly hope you enjoy this issue. We intend for our articles to enlighten, encourage, and inspire you. If we achieve our goal, please give us a call and let us know. We’d love to hear from you!

Jacquelyn Lewis

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issue The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, DeSoto, Ouachita, Red River, Natchitoches, Webster, Lincoln & Orleans Parishes in Louisiana. They are FREE for you to enjoy. Take a few to your friends, relatives or anyone else that you think might need a refreshing, enlightening “minute.” For a list of locations near you, viwit www.theminutemag.com today!

JACKIE LEWIS & TIFFANY BYRAM Owners/Publishers Regional Editors Graphics/Layout

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Enid Harvey Laura Horton Marlene U. LaRoe Jackie Lewis Megan Lord Jason McReynolds Elizabeth S. Pickett

For Good Memories by Margaret Timmons Blueprint for Preservation by Megan Lord Life’s Blessings by Vicki Caskey

How Do You Spell Fried Green Tomatoes? by J. Lewis Living with Dyslexia by Elizabeth Simpson Pickett White Elephant by Galen White Simply Cooking, Cooking Simply by Melissa Teoulet Weeder’s Digest by Anita Goodson Frugal Friend by Elizabeth Simpson Pickett Life Stories with Lynette by Lynette Carter Sheets Louisiana Girl Revelations by April Warford Timmons Antique Junkie by Donna Arender The Journey by Jason McReynolds Hormonal Woman by Elizabeth Drewett On the Spectrum by Lela Robichaux Ruston Chautauqua by Wesley Harris Copyright 2011. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permission. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials. The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted.

contributors Donna Arender Lisa Best Tiffany Byram Vicki Caskey Elizabeth Drewett Anita Goodson Wesley Harris

10 12 16 18 20 25 26 28 30 32 36 39 41 45 56 58

Lela Robichaux Lynette Sheets April W. Timmons Margaret Timmons Melissa Teoulet Phillip J. Volentine Galen White

cover Our beautiful cover model for this issue is Ruby Richie, the daughter of Vicki Caskey, The Minute Magazine’s Sales Manager. It was taken by Vicki in downtown Minden, Louisiana. Ruby’s make-up is by Pavunae from Pretty Please Cosmetic Company.

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Vanity, Vanity! All is Vanity! ====================

inda was always more concerned with her appearance than the rest of us. She wanted to look

her very best and ALMOST always succeeded. Linda never scuffed her shoes. She was careful not to kick rocks or tin cans, or slide her feet through the red clay dust in the lane. If she found a scratch on her shoes, she went immediately for the shoe polish. She ironed her blouses and skirts to perfection. She’d carefully pin each pleat to the ironing board before she’d iron her skirts so the pleats would

come out in perfect lines. She made sure the collars of her blouses and dresses were nice and stiff so they’d stand up just so. She would hang her freshly laundered clothes in the closet where they would be ready for her to wear. Needless to say, she became thoroughly irritated when she discovered someone else had beat her to them! Linda also convinced Mama to let her comb her own hair. So,

instead of the long assembly line, ordinary ringlets like the rest of us, she had a neat little unbroken roll around her head. Linda loved the little nylon sweaters with the tiny white ‘pearls’ sewn on the front. And she would give almost anything for a big hat to wear to church on Easter. To top it all off, white gloves and a pair of new nylon socks with lace around the top would be Heaven! Good grooming was a regular part of Linda’s routine. She always cleaned the dirt from under her fingernails after making mudpies. And she did it with a nail file, no less, and not with her teeth like some of us. It was only natural, I guess, that she began to want to ‘fix up’ in other ways too. She had noticed that some of the girls at school had begun to wear lipstick, and some of them were doing something to their eyebrows. There was such a drastic change in some of her friends. Almost overnight, with a ‘pluck’ here and a ‘pluck’ there, they had changed from having eyebrows of a sheep dog to those of Lady Godiva. The temptation was too much for Linda. She went home, found some tweezers, and began her transformation. Now

Linda was not only neat, but she was smart too. Knowing how strict Mama was, and remembering that Daddy had a big belt, she decided to go at it slow and easy. After all, Mama might not notice if she only ‘plucked’ a few hairs from her eyebrows at a time. She was right: Mama didn’t seem to notice that Linda’s eyebrows were suddenly thinner and shapelier. But there had to be a better way than pulling one hair out at a time. That was too time consuming. Besides, Linda was not very fond of the pain rendered from the plucking. “Maybe I could use Daddy’s razor,” she thought. She tiptoed down the hall, entered Daddy’s bathroom, and quietly closed the door. Once inside, she turned on the light

and climbed up on the lid of the commode. She then reached inside the medicine cabinet and retrieved the razor. She looked into the mirror and slowly and carefully began to shave the first eyebrow into the desired shape. So far, so good. “Ok. Now for the other side,” she thought to herself as she ran the razor over the first few hairs. “Uh oh, too much! Now I’ll have to fix the other side again,” she thought as she turned again to the first side and repeated the process. “Oh no, not again!” she said to herself as she shifted to the second side to try to ‘even things up’ a bit. Before long, she had two long hairs and one short one over her right eye, and four medium length ones over her left eye… and that was all that

remained of her eyebrows. “Maybe I can just cut them all off and draw me some on with a brown color crayon,” she thought in a moment of panic. I don’t know how it happened, but somehow Mama was alerted to the situation at hand and headed for the bathroom. “Linda Sue Tripp!” exclaimed Mama as she burst into the bathroom. “What do you think you are doing?” At that very moment, Linda knew exactly what she was doing. Her eyes crossed, the room began to spin, her knees buckles, and she fainted. She fell off the commode and lay in a heap on the bathroom floor. Mama, seeing Linda lying on the floor and convinced she had just scared her to death, stopped yelling and began to bathe

Linda’s face with a cold rag. Have you ever seen anyone without any eyebrows? Well, you should. They all have the most totally expressionless look you’ve ever seen. You can’t tell if they are happy or sad, angry or pleased, concerned or indifferent. Come to think of it, wouldn’t this be a nice pre-requisite for everyone? We would be able to maintain at least a ‘neutral look’ on decisive issues. Such a lack of expression in our faces would probably cause a lot less trouble and misunderstanding between husbands and wives, ministers and parishioners, teachers and parents, and etc. Hey! Maybe this would work for all of us today. Get out those tweezers and razors, ladies, and forget vanity.

to date the bricks in your house. Limewash, rather than latex or oil paint, is an appropriate coating for bricks fired prior to the turn-of-the-century. Latex paint seals moisture into a historic masonry wall, causing paint to blister and the brick to decompose as the water tries to escape. Latex paint is only appropriate for harder, modern brick fired after the turn-of-thecentury and pointed with cement-based mortar. Oil paint is never appropriate for brick.

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Calling all Questions! Have a question about preservation or old house repairs? email at minutemagazine@gmail.com.

Send me an

Each month Megan will feature a

brief Q&A with real-world problems and practical solutions appropriate for your old house. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

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Fast Facts for Fixer-Uppers

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A s the weather warms and spring nears,

Louisianians know there are only a few precious weeks to take advantage of low humidity levels and comfortable temperatures before the blazing sun and buzzing mosquitoes drive us back inside. If you’ve been postponing your home’s paint job, springtime in Louisiana is the ideal time to tackle this task.

choosing the perfect color can be quite overwhelming, owners of historic houses are wise to research more than color trends. Knowledge of your home’s historic materials and previous paint types will help you choose the most compatible type of paint for your home. Many modern paints are not suitable for use on historic materials. An inappropriate paint type applied to historic materials may look pretty for a brief while, but it can cause major damage behind a freshly painted façade.

Wood siding is a common exterior covering for old houses. Wood is very vulnerable to water damage, so maintaining the exterior paint finish is an important first step in protecting the structural stability of your home. Historically, wood siding and fences were A new paint job is an often “whitewashed” (or investment in both time limewashed) with a mixture and money. While of lime, water and natural

pigments. This annual and tedious method allowed moisture to move freely in and out of the wood, slowing deterioration. Homeowners today can choose either exterior latex or oil paint for their historic, wood-clad homes. These modern paint types are both vapor permeable and flexible (oil less so than latex). This flexibility allows wood clapboards and architectural elements to expand and contract in our humid climate while protecting them from damaging UV rays.

Traditionally stucco, or exterior plaster, received its coloring from pigment inserted directly into the mix. No painting was needed, however stucco walls were often coated in limewash for added protection and a broader color palette. Homes with stucco-ed exteriors constructed prior to 1900 should be coated in limewash. During the early twentieth century, cement was introduced into the traditional stucco mix, making oil and latex paints appropriate for use on modern stuccos that include a cement-based mix.

Prior to painting your house, consider the existing paint type on your exterior walls. All paint types are not compatible, so it is vital that you choose the appropriate paint type to avoid paint failure and structural damage. This can be easily accomplished by Historic brick has a range remembering this simple of porosity depending rule: Always apply the upon its age and source. weaker paint over the paint, i.e., N i n e t e e n t h - c e n t u r y stronger latex (weaker) over oil firing methods reached lower temperatures than (stronger). For example, modern firing methods, if latex paint currently so in general, the older covers your wood siding the brick, the softer the and you are not planning brick. It’s a good idea to to strip off the existing research brick foundries paint layer, the new paint in your area if you need you pick should be latexto replace bricks prior to based. An oil-based paint painting or if you’re trying will not adhere well to the

existing latex and cracks will appear soon after application causing the new paint to quickly fail. Be weary of ceramic paint, a relatively new paint type. Developed for use on space shuttles and most successful on metal substrates, it has only recently entered the house-paint market. Also called insulating paint, ceramic paint is often promoted on the basis that you never have to paint again. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen. Ceramic house paint simply hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been on the market long enough to truly evaluate its performance on wood siding. One thing is for certain; this elastomeric waterproof paint should definitely not be used on historic masonry or stucco. It will trap water within the wall, which will cause cracks and spalling in brick and stucco.

Be smart when you paint! Your home is one of your biggest investments. Take the time to research and plan paint colors AND paint types for a paint job that will not only look fabulous, but also protect your investment.

Megan Lord holds an M.F.A in Historic Preservation and is finalizing an M.A. in Architectural History from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She lives and works in Alexandria and thoroughly enjoys exploring the city with her husband and son.

ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF

MINDEN ORIGINALS ART SHOW

exhibit classes studios ��

Minden City Art Works announces the opening of the art show, MINDEN ORIGINALS, on Friday, February 18th. The show will feature the works of over 25 Minden artists. “Minden is abundant with talented artists who express many different media,” says Bill Cook, executive assistant for Art Works. “The show will include everything from sculpture to stained glass and oils to water color,” adds Cook. Each artist is

expected to show three to four works of art. The “Minden Originals” art show will run for six weeks. The public is invited to the show opening and reception from ﬁve until 7 oʼclock in the evening on Friday, February 18th at City Art Works, 701 Main Street. The Art Works exhibit gallery is open every Thursday and Friday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Minden City Art Works is the hub of the City of Minden Cultural Arts programming. The Art Works building will offer art exhibits, a variety of art lessons and cultural activities for the city. The cultural programming is a part of the Minden Recreation Department, under the direction of Minden Main Street. For more information call Bill Cook at 377-4357 or Pattie Odom, Minden Main Street at 371-4258.

GALLERY OPEN THURSDAY AND FRIDAY 1 - 6 PM AND SATURDAY 11 AM - 2 PM 7 0 1 M A I N S T R E E T • M I N D E N , L O U I S I A N A • 3 1 8 - 3 7 7 - 4 315 57

young brides and soon to be husbands to pen that love letter. It is so important. Mrs. Faye has been a bride for over 50 years and when she shared her love letter with me her eyes sparkled and I could only imagine that they must shine today even brighter than they did when she first received that letter all those years ago.

ecently I sat down with some friends, a couple who have been married for over 50 years, Rodney & Faye Cook. I had stopped by to drop off something to Mrs. Faye and as always she told me to sit down and let’s visit a minute. So I did just that. The funny thing is when I sit down at Mrs. Faye’s our conversations bounce from one subject to the next so quickly I often wonder if I do not visit her enough because we sure do our best at cramming a lot of “visiting” into a few short minutes! On this particular afternoon Mr. Rodney decided to come in and join us. Well, somewhere in the middle of me complaining about how messy my house is and Mrs. Faye telling me to enjoy life that the house would still be there tomorrow, my Ruby’s latest basketball stories to the leftover frosting from all the cupcakes I made for Valentine’s day Mrs. Faye jumps up and says that she has something she wants me to read. Off she scurries to the back and a few seconds later comes out with a letter. I knew it must be a special letter because it was tucked in a

nice protective clear pocket to keep it from harm. So I settled back in the comfy chair and began to read. Within the first few words I could tell it was a letter to her from Mr. Rodney. As I read this letter, with Mr. Rodney only a few feet away in another comfy chair, I felt as though I were reading a romantic novel. By the end of the letter I had tears in my eyes. Never have I read a more beautiful expression from a man to a woman he loves. It was written well before they were married and it is no surprise to me after reading the letter that Mrs. Faye married the man. I would love to share it here with you but I dare not ask. Mr. Rodney is a writer as well (much better than I and has been published all over the country). I was honored she shared it with me. But ladies I will tell you, we should all be so lucky to receive even one love letter in our lifetime that reads like this one. While reading this letter Mrs. Faye jumps up again and scurries back with another treat for me. Still breathless after reading such beautiful words Mrs. Faye hands me a newspaper clipping. I looked down and it was a clipping from January 1991. There looking back at me were my husbands grandparents, Mr. &

Mrs. Bertis Caskey. It was in honor of them celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Faye gave the clipping to me and I felt honored to have such a piece of my husband as I never met his grandparents as they were long since gone to heaven when Wayne & I met. As I left the comfort of The Cook home that day I felt as though I had been taught a life lesson. We live in a fast pace world, we take no time for the little things, we dare not reveal our most intimate thoughts with those dearest to us. I immediately wished this had happened earlier so I could have written this in time for Valentines Day but then I realized we are fast approaching wedding season and what a most appropriate time to remind

Just so you know, Mr. Rodney just chuckled at the fuss we made over the letter. Such a humble man he is. I also know that Wayne’s grandparents, if they were still with us, would have many words of wisdom as well. Mrs. Faye is a nurse and took care of Mr. & Mrs. Caskey in their later years. She said she never heard them call each other by their names only baby or darling. We should all learn to be a little more endearing to our loved ones. I can promise you, if ever I receive a letter even close to this I will be one proud lady. I too will find a protective clear pocket and share it with everyone I can. And to be married over 50 or 70 years is an accomplishment most of us can’t even imagine. Thank you Mr. Rodney & Mrs. Faye, you made my day when I dropped in and you didn’t even know it! So get out your finest paper and pen and get to writing, it will be appreciated!

written by Jackie Lewis

here are authors that possess the ability to capture our hearts using the written word. And every self-respecting Southern Woman that I know will place Fannie Flagg in that category. The award winning author of FRIED GREEN TOMATOES AT THE WHISTLE STOP CAFE knows exactly how to create a story, how to create memorable characters using the english language as her paintbrush, and how to polish her novels with the quick-witted style that makes us all giggle hysterically. But until I met her in person, I would never have imagined that Fannie Flagg’s writing career is a miracle. A real, praise-worthy, inspirationfilled miracle. I knew that I would meet Fannie more than six months in advance. I had our interview already planned out in my imagination, and in anticipation of meeting her I built the famous author up to mythical proportions. The Fannie Flag that I had prepared for was going to be one way, and the Fannie Flagg that I met was completely different. She was even more amazing that I could have imagined--- she was endearing, honest, and vunerable. In a word, she was human. Just like the rest of us. “So, Ms. Fannie,” I said nervously as our interview began. I had just heard her speak at GIRLFRIEND WEEKEND in Jefferson, Texas, and

during her talk I picked up on something that my research about Ms. Flagg had not uncovered. My little journalist’s notebook was filled with the handwritten questions I had prepared in the months before, but in that moment, something beautiful happened. I put the notebook down and looked into her sincere eyes. “Would you mind talking with me about your Dyslexia?” Ms. Fannie smiled, grabbed my arm, and motioned to an empty room. “Let’s go in here. It will be more private,” she said. A few minutes later, we were nestled away in an empty room, with our chairs pulled so closely together that our arms were touching. And then she told me a story that forever changed the way I think about her. “They didn’t know about Dyslexia when I was a child. I can remember trying to do my homework, and how frustrated I was when my teachers thought I was being lazy. Even my mother didn’t know what to do with me. When I was a little girl, I just felt so, well, so stupid. I still do sometimes. No matter what I do, part of me will always be the little girl that felt stupid.” I couldn’t believe it. These words were coming from a woman that was nominated for an Academy Award, for goodness sake. She’s been a Broadway actress, a comedien, written New York Times best-selling novels, and for a while she even co-hosted Candid Camera. Oh, and did I mention that she was in the movie Grease? This woman is about as far-removed

from stupidity as a person can possibly be. Yet there she was, not even a foot in front of me, with tears in her eyes. “I barely graduated high school,” she said. “Nobody thought I would make it through because my grades were terrible. But I did it.” Fannie Flagg was opening up about a painful part of her life. And her words were going straight to my heart. Sitting beside her, I had to work hard to keep the tears from streaming down my own face. “Is it hard for you to write novels?” I asked. “Does Dyslexia still affect you?” By this point, our time together felt much more like a conversation between friends than an interview. Fannie Flagg wasn’t in polished mode, ready to give a public appearance and autograph novels. She had become Patricia Neal, the woman behind her pen name. “It’s very hard for me to write,” she confessed. “I found out years ago that I have both Dyslexia and ADD. It’s difficult for me to concentrate, and even when I can concentrate, I can’t spell.” “You can’t spell?” I asked. “No, not at all. My editor has to do a lot of work. It takes years for me to write a novel, and sometimes it feels like I will never finish.” “Are you okay with me sharing your story?” I asked nervously. Fannie Flagg was giving away a big piece of herself, and I was a little afraid she had forgotten that I was a journalist. “Yes, yes, yes,” she said, laughing. “I decided

to tell people about my disability. I hope it will inspire others to realize they can achieve anything they want to, as long as they are determined.” I had fully expected Fannie Flagg to be tall, well-spoken, confident and poised. But I had not expected her to become one of my greatest heroes, which she did a few minutes later. While signing a copy of her latest novel for my friend Lisa, Fannie Flagg asked how me to spell Dyslexia. The disability that had almost prevented her professional writing career wasn’t something she could check at the door. Suddenly I realized how much of a task it was for Fannie to autograph one of her novels. As she struggled with writing the words, I caught a glimpse of what it must be like for her on a daily basis. With determined eyes, she penned: “For Lisa, thanks for all your work for Dyslexia. Fannie Flagg.” The Lisa that Fannie Flagg was writing to in that moment was none other than the Lisa Best that has written about her personal experiences with Dyslexia in this issue. Be sure to read her article, and the other features about Dyslexia in this edition, where you will learn more about this disability. In one afternoon, Fannie Flagg taught me that determination is the key to success in life. She turned her disability inside out and transformed it into a beautiful strength. But truth be known, we should expect nothing less from the woman that created Idgie and Ruth!

MEET

LISA

s a parent of a child with a diagnosis of dyslexia or other reading-related disabilities, you would do anything to help your child. Parents usually have that â&#x20AC;&#x153;gut feelingâ&#x20AC;? that things are not right before the school recognizes a problem. At other times schools will see characteristics of a learning disability before a parent recognizes a problem. My journey with dyslexia began when my son was in the third grade. My son had met all childhood milestones according to schedule, but school had become a disaster by the time my child reached age eight. He was frustrated, and so was I. He had repeated kindergarten and first grade, but the school was not willing to test him because they thought he was catching up. I had him privately tested by Dr. Alfred Hawthorn in Shreveport who diagnosed him with dyslexia. He also received vision therapy in

Monroe, and reading remediation at LearningTech. I enrolled him in Quest School, and at the same time ran for the Lincoln Parish School Board. I also became a board member for the Louisiana Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. I wanted to be able to help other children and parents who were in the same situation as we were. Over the next few years, I educated myself about dyslexia. Most people think of reversed letters and numbers, however, dyslexia is difficulty with language. For people with dyslexia, intelligence is not the problem. They may have difficulty with reading, spelling, understanding language they hear, or expressing themselves clearly in speaking or in writing. An unexpected gap exists between potential for learning and school achievement. No two dyslexics are alike. Each has individual strengths and weaknesses. As an example, some dyslexics may have difficulty with reading and spelling. Some may have difficulty speaking clearly or have problems with handwriting. Others may have difficulty knowing right from left or before from after. Some dyslexics have additional problems, such as attentional deficits. The exact cause of dyslexia is not known. Dyslexia results from differences within the organization of the brain. It is not a vision problem. Research has indicated that dyslexia is hereditary. People are born with dyslexia and there are often other members of the family who have had difficulty learning to read, write and spell. Research also shows that dyslexia is neurologically-based and that the brain of the dyslexic develops and functions differently from other brains. Not better, not worse, just differently. Dyslexia occurs in

5-15% of the population. It varies in terms of severity. Dyslexia affects as many females as males. Dyslexics have a wide range of talents, for example, in art, drama, math and sports, yet they may have problems remembering things or organizing themselves. Tom Cruise, Cher, Kiera Knightly and Bruce Willis have all been diagnosed with dyslexia, but have led very successful lives. People identified as being dyslexic learn differently. They can be taught to read, write, and spell if they are taught in the way that they learn best. Some will need small group instruction. Others will need help in specific subjects or skill areas. Many will require individual, intensive reading therapy with instruction that begins with the basics and builds learning step by step. It is important that the teacher or tutor be well trained in the theory, development and teaching of reading and the treatment of reading disabilities. There is no one curriculum that is appropriate for all students. An effective method is

reading instruction that is researchbased, systematic, direct, structured, and multisensory. It is often referred to as the Orton-Gillingham approach.

(contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on bottom of next page)

MEET MARLENE

A Forever Disease:

Dyslexia written by Marlene Underwood LaRoe

Now I am eighty, I know I will not outgrow my childhood disease, dyslexia. Each person has a different effect from this disease. I could not read until I was 11 and I reversed numbers or they looked backwards so math was impossible too. Now I have with perseverance learned to write because I feel the need to share my knowledge with people. I wrote a book which was published in 1980 by Follett and in 1982 by Bantam. It was called, “How Not to Ruin a Perfectly Good Marriage.” Now I am half way finished with my second book, “I Did Not Mean to Grow Old.” It may or may not be worth publishing, but at least my grandchildren will enjoy it. A disease like dyslexia is something you have to learn to

(cont’d from previous page)

programs.

The state of Louisiana has six mandated programs that can be used for language instruction. Most schools use LANGUAGE! or Project Read. All programs include phonology and phonological awareness, sound-symbol association (phonics), syllable instruction, morphology, syntax and semantics. At Quest School (now in Monroe), my son had the opportunity to learn how to read using the above mentioned

The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) has a wealth of information available.

IDA focuses their resources in four essential areas: information & referral services, research, advocacy & public policy, and professional development. IDA publishes a quarterly publication with topics on teacher training, legal issues, parent issues, etc. Fact sheets about dyslexia

compensate for. I learned to read by teaching myself at age 11. Until then, my sister, Billie, read to me but then at 13 she was more into seeing boys than reading to her sister. I have always loved stories to be read to me. At age 6, my older sister, Natalie, read to Billie and I Edgar Allen Poe books and I have been hooked on good literature ever since. Then, when Billie stopped reading to me I sat under a big oak tree in the backyard and read a children’s book for the first time. I had to read slowly out loud so I read silently to myself by speed reading. I still speed read as much as possible. But when I read a book like Pat Conroy’s “Beach Music”, I want to at least read the first pages word for word for he writes so beautifully. Many other authors affect me the same way, but then I want to know the story and so I speed read until I stop and read every word for pleasure. I thought I was stupid because I

can be obtained from the web-site www.interdys.org. Each state has a Branch organization to accommodate members in a more local area. The Louisiana Branch (LaBIDA) also covers Mississippi, therefore, LaBIDA’s 16 board members hale from both states. The purpose of the state branch is to provide information and resources to parents, educators, students and the community in a way that creates a clear and positive understanding of dyslexia and related

could not spell, read or do math; my mother and dad always said,”no, you are very bright, you just have some learning problems.” So I thought the older I grow the better I will be able to speed read and do math – but it wasn’t true. I had to accept my handicap; but, I was given the gift of expressing myself verbally as encouraged by my parents. My saving grace was the confidence that I was a special person with other gifts. Until this day I cannot spell and I take phone numbers down incorrectly and have to have them repeated until I can write them down. Doing my checkbook is a disaster so I still have help with that and this manuscript is being typed and edited by a friend. I tried to hide my defects from everyone. My sister Natalie became an English teacher and corrected most of my papers and even my Master’s thesis. In college my professor and mentor, Rupert

disorders. Education is a priority of LaBIDA’s. Conferences are held periodically throughout the state, and a dyslexia simulation, “Walk in the Shoes of a Dyslexic”, is presented to groups at no charge upon request. For more information or questions about the resources in our area for dyslexic individuals, call the LaBIDA phone number (985) 414-2575, or Alice Higginbotham, (318)2553431.

Koeninger, believed in me even though he saw my problems. With his and my parents faith in me I applied to Smith College School for Social Work because I wanted to help other people. I was accepted on full scholarship and completed my degree from the best school in the nation. This young, naive, poorly educated Texas southern girl worked hard to catch up with her peers and cried when I had to take written tests. Smith was surprised at the extreme difference in my verbal and written skills; they had me tested by a psychologist whose understanding was that I had a poor educational background. They did not understand or know about dyslexia back in the 50’s. Finally, after I was 33, the University of Houston offered testing for people who had problems with reading and math in the school of optometry . Dazzled, I was accepted and heard the word dyslexia for the first time. On the I.Q. test,

I tested at 105; but on their test they saw that I read from left to right and my speed reading had saved me. Numbers are the same and that is why they are so mixed up for me. I was so relieved. I was told nothing could be done about my problem because I was too old for the retraining program they had developed at the school. My son did not inherit my problem but my grandson has. His road has been hard but he is now in his second year of college and math is his strong point; so his dyslexia is different than mine. He also was affirmed by his parents and sent to a special school in the first and second grades for dyslexia. This helped a lot but he hates to read which is a shame because reading opens up all kinds of knowledge he might never enjoy. I can hope he will reach the time when he has the courage to keep on trying like in the children’s book, “The Little Engine That Could.” I became a psycho-therapist in my

early 30’s and to this day see people with all types of problems. I love the work because it is my gift to find the health in each person and help them have the courage to help themselves become people who can recognize and use their unique gifts. One patient said I give hope to people that their lives can have meaning; if they have the courage which I loan them until they can find their own in their journey of life. It was such a pleasure to hear Fannie Flagg, the wonderful author of so many great stories, say that she had dyslexia at the 11th Anniversary of the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend’s Weekend in Jefferson, Texas. This weekend was a gift from my friends for my birthday. The three of us are all avid readers and we had been excited as school girls since we made our reservations in October. I said after the weekend that if I had known my 80th birthday would have been this exciting, I wouldn’t have dreaded

the date. We heard from so many wonderful authors (many of which we got to meet) and visit with other avid readers, we were truly delighted and inspired by the entire event. The entire group singing me “Happy Birthday” is a memory I will always treasure. All of us have some type of disability; some are obvious like being physically disabled, where mine I have hidden most of my life. But now I know it is what keeps me humble; otherwise, I would be crowing over the many accomplishments and healings I have had in my life. I hope to finish my book, “I Did Not Mean To Grow Old” and you read the story of what happened in my life as I lived it. I also hope it will encourage you to live each moment you have to the fullest and not be afraid or discouraged by your dyslexia or what ever challenges you face in your “thorn in your flesh”. I enjoyed sharing with you.

Did you know? sound * Slow to learn the sounds of letters and letter combinations * Difficulty recalling the Here are a few warning sounds of letters and letter signs, courtesy of PBS: combinations rapidly * Trouble learning to rec* Late to recognize letters ognize words * Trouble rhyming * Difficulty learning to * Difficulty listing words decode unknown words that begin with the same * Reads slowly and/or in a There are many indications that you or someone you know may have Dyslexia.

word-by-word manner * Reluctant to read * Weak spelling * Writes far less than other children The impact of Dyslexia upon individuals reaches well beyond the classroom. According to the Interna-

tional Dyslexia Society, Dyslexia often creates problems with spoken language. And as with many disabilities, Dyslexia often affects self-confidence. Studies suggest that 95% of people with Dyslexia are never diagnosed. It’s up to you to prevent yourself or your loved ones from falling victim to this statistic.

==================== SITTIN’ UP WITH THE DEAD

====================

any of you good folks will remember the days when it was customary for someone to spend the night with the dead. That’s right, when someone passed away, a friend or family member would spend the night sittin’ up with the dearly departed. This would occur at the funeral home, a church, or at the home of the deceased. Now, I ain’t ‘xactly sure why folks did this, after all, it didn’t seem likely to me the dead was gonna walk off durin’ the night and not show up for his or her funeral the next day. I’ve read that one of the reasons may have been due to poor medical knowledge. While a doctor may not find a pulse and all practical indications were that the individual had passed on, a few hours later he or she might move or sit up. I ain’t no doctor, but I would assume doin’ so would be an obvious indication that

to help pass the time. Now, the following is a true story. While I certainly mean no disrespect to anyone involved, this particular night proved to hold a couple of hours that I’ll never forget. All concerned had earned my highest respect and admiration, and all have been gone a number of years now. An acquaintance and I had been asked to sit with a dearly departed gentleman, to which we both readily agreed. My acquaintance happened to be a very stately and intelligent gentleman with whom I’d had a few the individual in question were given, just like the conversations. It seemed to had escaped the grasp of ones mentioned above. me he would be someone I the grim reaper. Of course, Finally one guy said, “I had I been one sittin’ up hope someone lookin’ over could carry on a interesting with the dead when such me will shout out, ‘Hey! conversation with, which would make my 2 to 4 AM an event occurred, there He’s movin’!’” ain’t no doubt whatsoever I’ve also heard shift seem shorter. That’s, that folks would be attendin’ there are folks who believe 2 to 4 in the morning, folks. my funeral the next day! in puttin’ money in the Not a lot of things happenin’ Another reason casket with the deceased. at that time of day. The morning after could be theft. As bad as I’ve made up my mind that we believe things are today, if I ever encounter such and at work, a friend asked it could have been just as an event, I’ll gladly do my me, “Well, how did it go last bad or worse back then. part to contribute, too. night?” I replied that it was An individual might have For example, if three folks the first time I had ever sat wanted to be buried with are each gonna put in a up with two dead folks at their favorite jewelry, and hundred dollar bill, I’ll do the same time! My acquaintance it was quite possible if no my part. Of course, I don’t brought a book and, one was sittin’ up watchin’, usually carry that much a thief could sneak in and money on me…., in fact, literally, read the entire steal the deceased’s ring or I don’t usually have that two hours even though I watch. Here again, I don’t much money period…, tried a few times to spark quite believe anyone who’s but I’ll come up with it a conversation. I’d almost gone across the river is somehow. I’d be happy bet good money that I had gonna be flashin’ that big to write a check for $400 a better conversation and diamond ring at anyone, for all four of us and take got more of a response and I can’t see what is time the three $100 bills as my from the deceased than I gonna mean to ‘em either. change. Hey! It adds up to did from the one sittin’ up with me! On the other hand, we do the $400, don’t it? You know, I’m like to provide for the last Anyway and back wishes of our loved ones. to the actual sittin’ up with actually glad we don’t do I’m reminded of the dead, if you were the things like that today. Like the folks who were standin’ one to do the sittin’, you I said, it ain’t that I mean ‘round talkin’ one day about figured there wouldn’t be any disrespect, it’s just one one of their dearly departed much conversation goin’ of those things that time friends. They went on and on since the one you were has proven no need for. on about how good a life sittin’ up for had done gone Besides, it was bad enough he lived, how much folks on to the hereafter and havin’ to sit up with a dead admired him, and that he wasn’t likely to talk much. person; sittin’ up with a looked good and at peace. That’s why most folks dead person and a dead The conversation drew would bring something live person was agony! forth the question, “what do along to occupy their time; you want folks to say about you know, a book to read, ==================== you when you are gone?” or some game or crossword The usual answers puzzles to work, anything

fans. On a side note, a recipe for butterbeer, which is some kind of warm ==================== nonalcoholic butterscotch drink, can be found on the Fried Green internet. Just type “Harry Potter butterbeer recipe” Tomatoes at into any internet search The Minute engine and the recipe should pop up. It’s a great Mag Cafe! ==================== idea for a children’s Harry Potter themed party. But back to the tomatoes. It’s not so much a recipe as it is a technique. There’s nothing to measure, adies, this one is it’s one of those recipes for you. Have you ever you sort of make up as you watched the classic movie go along. Fried Green Tomatoes and thought, “I could go for Ingredients: 3 Firm Green some fried green tomatoes Tomatoes right about now?” It Italian-style occurred to me recently Breadcrumbs that I have never done Panko such a thing, so I made a Breadcrumbs plan for this weekend to do Flour just that. The movie Fried 2 Eggs Green Tomatoes is one of Milk those special chick-flicks Oil about southern women. Salt & Pepper The kind of movie that Creole Seasoning makes you want to buy a wide-brimmed sun-hat, sit on a rocking chair, and sip a nice cool glass of iced Directions: First things first, something or other. I’m slice your tomatoes about always game for spending a nice relaxing afternoon 1/2-inch thick. Place them watching movies like in a single layer on a couple Steel Magnolias, The of paper towels to drain a Divine Secrets of the Ya- little of that excess liquid Ya Sisterhood, or Fried off and sprinkle salt on Green Tomatoes. But this the tomatoes. The salt will time, there’s going to be a help pull moisture out of plate full of crispy crunchy the tomatoes. Let them sit for about 15-20 minutes or deliciousness in my lap. It’ll be like watching so. While you’re waiting, go Harry Potter and drinking ahead and grab 3 medium butterbeer for all you HP size bowls and set a cookie

rack inside a baking pan lined with paper towels. In the first bowl, pour some flour. Season the flour with salt, pepper and any other seasoning you choose. In the second bowl, whisk 2 eggs with a little bit of milk. Season the egg mixture with your chosen seasoning blend. In the third bowl, pour a good amount of breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs. Season the breadcrumbs and mix well to combine. Seasoning all three steps will insure that you will not have a bland tomato while the panko breadcrumbs will give a bit more crunch. If you cannot find panko breadcrumbs, the regular Italian-style breadcrumbs will be just fine. I have also noticed that the grocery store now carries Italianstyle panko breadcrumbs; feel free to use these instead. Now that your

bowls are ready, place them in this order; flour, eggs, breadcrumbs. Left handed people may want to reverse this order. The easiest way to do this is to designate your left hand to be the wet hand and your right hand to be the dry hand. Grab a tomato with your left hand and place it in the flour bowl. Using your right hand, thoroughly coat the tomato with flour and place in the egg mixture. Use your left hand to dunk the tomato in the liquid and place in the breadcrumbs. Use your right hand to coat with breadcrumbs and place on a plate. Repeat until all the tomato slices are breaded. Once you wash all the breading off of your hands, pour enough oil into a frying pan to come about halfway up the sides of the tomatoes. When the oil is nice and hot, about 350° degrees, place the tomatoes in the oil and fry till the bottom is a nice golden brown color. Flip the tomato over and fry the other side to the same golden brown. Remove the tomato to the cooling rack you set up and repeat until all of your tomatoes are fried up. I plan on using my fried green tomatoes to make a BLT sandwich but they are just as delicious eaten by themselves or with a nice creole remoulade sauce. Now go prop your feet up on the coffee table and enjoy this relaxing afternoon, perhaps while watching FANNIE FLAGG’s Fried Green Tomatoes.

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=====================

Goin’ Green!

=====================

W ith regard to seedssome look like snuff, others

like very light blond nits, or shiny and blackish bloodred fleas without legs; some are flat like seals, others inflated like balls, others thin like needles; they are winged, prickly, down, naked and hairy; big like cockroaches, and tiny like specks of dust. I tell you that every kind is different, and each is strange, life is complex. ~ Karel Capek, The Gardener’s Year, 1931 We are living in times of worry. People do not have jobs, they are few and far between. More and more people are turning toward gardening in their own backyards. Long ago, every family gardened for most of the food consumed in their household. Now days times are so hard we are turning back the clock, producing food for our own kitchen. If you wish, the organic method could be for you, or you may modify it to your needs. To know what has contributed to the production can give you the trust of knowing what is in your fruits and vegetables on the table. This is truly

raised beds. Soil is a critical factor. It doesn’t need to be perfect. Vegetables don’t require perfect soil. The ideal garden soil is rich sandy loam. Soil can be made rich by adding manure and compost. Use the organic kind. Sandy means the soil contains enough particles of sand so the water will drain through it without leaving it pasty and sticky a few days after rain. Even a garden with mediocre exposure and less than perfect soil can yield a decent crop of vegetables for your dinning table. I hope you and your family enjoy the challenges of gardening. Start learning the trials and another great reason to good reason to grow with tribulations of a vegetable produce your own food. heirloom seed!!! Another garden. It’s a growing Have you noticed whole story on this later. experience for both young the two sections of fruits After reading this and old. Hope you find some and veggies in your store, you will want to choose a of this information new and one is the mass production spot for your home vegetable useful for your gardening. method of big business; the garden. It is easy. There isn’t Plant at least one other type of farming is that much to choosing a spot. fruit tree a year, in just a of the small farm, where Look around your property. few years the fruit will start organic farm animals live Decide where you want it; producing and continue for better lives with chickens nearby so it is easy to water, many years. Try figs, blue or that run free-- the same with and close to the house for black berries, strawberries, turkeys, cows in pastures convenience. This may help peaches, and with some instead of feed lots-- the in keeping the varmints like mild protection an orange same with pigs, and the lack deer, raccoons, possums, tree, lemon , grapefruit, of steroids and antibiotics armadillo, or others away. or lime. These can all to stimulate fast growth or You need a place with good be grown on one tree if higher weight per pound of sunlight and reasonably you investigate graphing. feed. Organic animals have good soil. The most Our herb of the a higher nutrient levels than important consideration is month is mint. Mint comes in their feed lot cousins. The the sun. Pick a spot that many varieties and is found small farm can produce catches the sunshine early all over the world. It was fresh herbs by season, then and holds it later in the day. found by early American you dry them for the winter. If growing tomatoes you settlers, when they arrived, The next year those fresh need at least six hours of growing wild. They even herbs will remind you that sunlight per day. Protection brought their own varieties last years are beginning to from the north and northeast which have naturalized, loose their flavor. Visits to winds from a hedge row of sometimes becoming a the farmers market, in the low growing shrubs. A shed, nuisance but fragrant-weed. spring, may be a source to maybe even a fence, can Mint is very easy to grow. buy organics. If you look provide protection from The Pharisees around, organic beef can be early season strong winds. (An ancient Jewish group) found locally to purchase. Be sure to place taller items, paid their tithes (A tax or Have you okra or corn, on the side of contribution to the church noticed Organic Dog your garden furthest from or clergy) in mint, anise, Food? How about the sun. They may cast or cumin in ancient Egypt. Organic Heirloom Seeds? shadows on shorter species. These like to be grown in Have you heard of GM Plant corn in square clumps, loose well drained fertile soil. foods? GM is Genetically instead of rows. Corn needs Life cycle is perennial, prefer Modified Foods. Many this to pollinate easier. An full sun to partial shade. books are written on the option could be raised beds. Mint has many uses, one subject and you may just In shopping this winter I have being in tea. It is very want to check one out at the seen raised bed garden kits aromatic, has medicinal local library. This is an eye for sale in the home and uses, and is used in opener. Did you know that garden stores. This would some cosmetics. Crafters most seed is hybridized and be a reasonable size for use it in potpourris. Tips: after the crop you grow this the elderly, children, or first Rodents dislike fresh mints. year the seed from it is sterile time gardeners. Raised Until we meet again, and will not germinate? bed gardening is a viable be sure and check us out Big business even owns option for the handicapped, on Facebook. And Happy patents on the seed. Another allowing easy access to the Gardening this spring!

used to dread grocery shopping. It was the worst part of the week for me. I would go to the local supercenter, spend $200, and get home only to find that we had nothing to eat! All of that has changed for me. I love it now! I love when the cashier gets her little pen out and circles how much I saved. I love the look on her face as she says, “You saved 72% today. Wow!” And by using just a few of the following techniques, YOU can learn to save this way too. My average savings at the grocery store weekly is around 50 to 75%. Want to learn? Here are a few tips! Shop at stores that double and triple coupons. Most grocery stores will do this, but always call and see what the policy is before you go. In the Shreveport area, Kroger, Albertson’s, and Brookshire’s participate in this. Most manufacturer coupons 39 cents and under will triple in value. For example, if you have a 35 cent coupon, you will actually get $1.05 off that product. In the same way, coupons 40 to 50 cents will double in value. So, if you have a 50 cent coupon, it will double to $1.00. The computer does this automatically, so you don’t

have to do anything special to receive the additional savings. Kroger has a unique program called e-coupons. You can go to www.kroger.com, www. cellfire.com, www.shortcuts. com, and www.pgesaver. com and download coupons that go straight to your loyalty card. Whenever you buy a particular item and swipe your card at the store, the discount is taken off automatically. No coupons to clip! You can also create an account on Kroger.com and print a master list of all your digital coupons from the various sites. E-coupons (or digital coupons) do not double or triple. However, you can couple them with a “paper” coupon (one you clipped from the newspaper/ magazine or printed out online). This can make for huge savings. For example, let’s say Toaster Strudels are on sale for $1.50. If you have a 50 cent coupon that you clipped from the paper (which will double to $1.00) and you have a 50 cent coupon that you loaded to your loyalty card, you would get it FREE! I can’t even begin to count the items that I’ve gotten free this way. Cellfire and Shortcuts put out new coupons every two weeks, while PGEsaver puts out new coupons each month. Each coupon has a different expiration date, and the coupon will be removed from your card as it expires. Brookshire’s is

trying to get into the digital coupon game, so look for that to grow soon. I’ve been asked many times how to save on fresh fruits and vegetables. This is how I do it. I look for grocery items in the store that are participating in “catalina” promotions. A catalina is that little machine by the register that spits out

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coupons. Many times, the store will be running a deal where you buy a certain amount of products and get a catalina (good on your next purchase of anything in the store). For example, at the time I’m writing this article, there is a great catalina deal at Kroger. When you buy 10 participating items, you get a $3 catalina. It would be similar to a gift certificate. I can use it on just about anything in the store. What I would do, is separate my buggy into 2 orders leaving the fruits, vegetables, milk, and other items I don’t have coupons for until the last order. If I bought 30 participating products, I would receive a $9 catalina. I would then buy my “non-coupon” items with that $9. Using just a few of these tips will save you big bucks at the store. Now, get going! When you come home, take a picture of your major savings and share it with us on the Frugal Friend Facebook page!

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out those same windows and suddenly realize the view has changed. God’s awesome beauty beckons us outside to rejoice in the lush green of the new blades of grass, the fragrance of the many flowers stealing across the warming air and the magnificent wonder of

the fruit bursting with renewing life. Knowing spring is just around the corner allows us to survive the cold, barren winter months. There is really nothing to compare to God’s works of art--sharp, clear, azure skies, rolling hills with their green mantles of grass, brightly colored hummingbirds making reconnaissance flights over the sweet-smelling, bouquets of colorful flowers. As beautiful as it all is, we can still help make his artwork a little more wonderful by creating and cultivating a flower garden. The beauty and peace of a flower garden can soothe our souls and untangle our frayed nerves. When spring arrives the beauty of the landscape calls me outside, away from the

confinement of the four walls imprisoning me all winter; where I celebrate life by digging in the rich, fertile soil. As I plant my tiny seeds, a feeling of being one with God engulfs me. I think of how much the seeds are like the human spirit; trying to burst free--- straining to reach upward, to touch God’s light. A friend once remarked that my yard looked like a park, with all the flowerbeds, patios (six to date) tables, and arbors. My problem is when I start a new bed I can visualize a bench sitting inside it and that calls for a patio of some size. A patio needs a table and chairs, and a statue or maybe a fountain. Then I think how good it would look with an arbor acting as a doorway. It is very calming to sit or lie back and

watch soft pillow-like clouds float across the horizon. I have found it also refreshes me and restores my energy to soak up the glorious outdoors, but like everyone in today’s world, I am always rushing to do one more thing. I think of the words to an old song, that says something like, “Yesterday when I was young, I ran so fast.” If we would just take the time to enjoy of God’ splendid gifts, we would all be happier. I know as I gaze around at God’s handiwork mixed with my own endeavors, I will never grow tired of each spring’s renewed promise, of the miracle of spring time exploding all around me, whispering, this is God’s plan. ====================

M y mother is one of those people that takes

pride in her automobiles. One vehicle in particular comes to mind. It was brand new and off the showroom floor. It was a 1980-something Chevrolet Blazer. It was black with shiny rims and in its day, it was nice to look at. She was proud of it. She took care of it. She washed it often. She loved that Blazer. With this new car came the “Mom’s new car laws” as I like to call them. We held our right hands up and swore to obey these laws. I seem to remember signing a contract in blood, but I could be wrong. These laws were ruled with an iron fist. They were not to be broken nor bent. There was no mercy if you dared to defy these laws. No eating or drinking was allowed within a 200 feet radius of the vehicle. The seats weren’t allowed to be sat on unless a towel was underneath you even if you just had a bath. Dirty shoes were to be kicked off and put into a bag outside of the vehicle. Touching of the vehicle wasn’t permitted unless it was to enter and you must touch the door handle for no longer than 45 seconds. Noses, mouths, and tongues weren’t allowed anywhere near the windows. I heard a rumor that

the windows had some sort of a shocking mechanism if touched, but I never tried it. Pens and pencils weren’t allowed inside the Blazer but air drawing with your finger was allowed. To say the least -she was particular. The Blazer was always parked under the garage. The house that we lived in at the time had a detached garage and did not have the modern convenience of a concrete floor. The floor was made of good old fashioned dirt and sand. I was going through my “I want a cat” stage and this sandy garage floor served as the perfect litter box. It started out like any other trip. My brother and I walked through the garage and got into the Blazer with all the laws. Unfortunately, I had unknowingly unearthed the cat’s little surprise. As my mother put the key into the ignition, she stopped and sniffed. Then the smell hit us all. She screamed “CHECK YOUR SHOES!” I slowly pulled my little white Ked up towards my nose and took a big whiff. My brother started to gag loudly and my mother somehow pulled him from the back seat and threw him out of the car but not before the vomit hit her shirt. She screamed at me to hold still or die. I sat frozen, but the smells were getting to me and I began to gag. Now, there is a reason that cat’s bury their

own “mess”. It’s vile and it stinks worse than any other “mess” known to man. My mother jerked my door wide open. She gave me a look that told me if I threw up and made this situation any worse I may not see the light of another day. Then she picked me up by one arm and drug me out of the garage. My brother, sobbing and gagging, was still laying in the yard. I, fearing for my own life, stood shaking, and still trying to figure out how it had gotten on my shoe. I must have wondered out loud, because Mom proceeded to tell me. It wasn’t nice. Finally the flames left her eyes and she instructed us to go into the house, take baths, and put on clean clothes while she cleaned up the Blazer. She must have scrubbed for 30 minutes solid. We, of course,

did as we were told and got busy getting cleaned up. Clean and fresh we started out the door again. Thankfully by this time she wasn’t quite as mad even though her fingers were slightly bleeding from the vigorous scrubbing. Again she cranked up the Blazer. Just as she put it in reverse, we caught a whiff of something familiar and rancid. NOOO! It couldn’t be. The blood drained from my face. My mother turned slowly and pinned me to the seat with her icy stare. Again, I pulled my little foot towards my face to get a better look, and sure enough, I was the culprit. We never made it to our destination that day. The wrath that was rained down was like no other. It wasn’t pretty. I know you are wondering - how can a person step in the foulest smelling “mess”, smear it all over the carpet of the Blazer with laws TWICE in one hour and live to tell about it? I’ll never know. I only know I am lucky. Life’s best teacher is experience. There is no better way to learn than by trial and error. Everyone makes mistakes in their lives. If you make a mistake, learn from it. Life’s messes can be cleaned up. Just remember- when you get in a mess but finally get it cleaned up, don’t step back in it! Follow April’s blog at www. lagirlrevelations.blogspot.com

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G oing green & recycling is becoming more

and more popular. We all need to be aware of ways we can help. My husband recently pointed out that we have been doing this for years now, before all of the “save the earth” campaigns. “How do you figure that?” I asked. He said, “We recycle furniture.” I never really thought about it like that, but I guess its true. I refinish furniture because I enjoy it. But it is also a way of recycling – physically and spiritually. Here’s my story… I believe that God gives each of us certain talents. It took me a while to discover one of mine, but my life hasn’t been the same since. Almost 10 years ago I stumbled into the antique business. I wasn’t really looking to go in to any kind of business; it just kind of fell in my lap. (Hindsight – it was obviously a “God thing”) I’ve always loved antiques, and I love refinishing furniture. Because of the talent that the good Lord gave me, I was able to turn these two things that I love into a source of income. It was not a “get rich quick” kind of thing and there

were times I ended up in the negative. But I was able to make a sufficient amount for the extra income we needed. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into refinishing furniture, especially the pieces that I end up with. For some reason, I tend to take on projects that no one else would even consider. In fact, several of my favorite pieces have almost ended up in the landfill or the burn pile, instead of my workshop. I have often wondered “why?” Why would I spend so much time and effort to take something so old and falling apart and try to make into something that people would actually want? I have to admit, I’ve almost given up on several pieces before. But then, deep down inside, I feel a connection to the old ragged pieces. They remind me of myself. I feel tattered and torn from all the hurt and pain that I’ve endured in my life here on earth. But God doesn’t just throw me away. He sees what I can become. He knows that with enough refinishing, I’ll someday be complete and worth all the hard work He has poured into me. And so it is with my special projects. The more I sand, scrape, paint and polish, the more I know that they will one day be worth all the sweat and labor that I put into them. The finished

piece gets to be placed proudly next to the other fine antiques in the store. And while the other more expensive pieces may look more elegant and come from well-known makers, they don’t have near the character of one that was given new life by a labor of love. Once I had an old chifferobe that someone had given me. It was in poor condition, but it was FREE, so I couldn’t pass it up. It sat in the shed for a long time, before I decided it had to go. I asked Mike to help me load it up and haul it off. But the more I looked at it, the more I felt sorry for it. The poor pitiful thing was literally falling apart. But I could see the beauty beneath the layers of dust and cobwebs and despite the broken mirror and missing door. Something in me just had to give it a chance. Several weeks later, it became a new kitchen cabinet. The broken mirror was removed and chalkboard paint was used to make a message board. The missing door provided a cute cubbyhole to display accessories and the drawers were used for storing kitchen items. A new twist on an old piece and a one-of-a-kind treasure! Another desperate piece was found at an estate

sale. My friend and I went digging in a shed and found an old dresser. The owners wanted $5.00 for it. Sounded like a bargain, but something just kept telling me, “it’s not worth it”. But being the thrifty shopper that she is, my friend said, “would you take any less?” And much to my surprise (and my horror) the owner said “2 bucks”. Seriously? I remember thinking as we loaded it into the truck that they just got the real bargain. I just paid the $2.00 to haul off there their junk! I kicked myself for wagging it home, knowing it wasn’t worth the effort. Somehow, I just didn’t have the heart to throw it away. The drawers literally fell apart. I had to cut thin pieces of wood and place inside of the dresser. And to make it functional, I used different sized baskets in place of the drawers. I painted it a neutral color so it could be used in any décor. I was overwhelmed with compliments when I took it over to the store. Everyone admired my creative approach to replacing the drawers and it sold a short time later. There are several things that I have learned from these experiences, besides doing my part to recycle. #1 Always look past the imperfections to see the beauty. If God can take me with all my flaws and use me in His service, then He can use anyone. #2 Never give up! If I can use the talent God gave me to turn old pieces of junk into something useful and give them new life, then think of how much more God can do with us! I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will keep right on helping you grow in His grace. Until His task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns. Philippians 1:6 (Living Bible)

L eaders are funny. Most of the time you can’t

identify what it is you like about them. But you know you like them. And when you meet them you want to follow them in some way. You may attribute it to their personality or their work ethic or their charisma but when it comes right down to it you can’t quite put your finger on what “it” is that they have that you don’t. They just make you feel good about yourself or they make you smile or they make you want to be a better person. You talk about this person because they have “it”, whatever “it” is. A pastor of a megachurch in Oklahoma wrote a book about “it” called It. I haven’t read it. One of you should read it and tell me what it says. I did watch a talk where he talked about how if you have “it” you had better keep it. Perhaps I zoned out... but I don’t believe that he knew what “it” was either. He alluded to the Spirit of God moving in people but he didn’t know. He just knew that when he saw it there it was. Are you following? Keep reading anyway. Well, this aggravated me. I wanted to know what “it” was... or is... or can be. I believe that if we can harness that “it” factor then we could do great things. So I’ve been working hard

lately to investigate the “it” factor and how God gives it and uses it. Here’s what I’ve found so far. Note to my congregation - I’ve been off the clock when I did this but I bet it’ll help all of us if I find out! My first experience with “it” was a guy named Jonathan. He was the pastor of a local church that I was on staff at. The church was mostly singles and young married couples and had a really cool vibe. Everyone was amazed by Jonathan. My wife even thought he was cool. But I didn’t really understand why. Don’t get me wrong, he was a great guy, great pastor, and a decent speaker but I wouldn’t jump off a cliff for the guy. Even today, he still has that “it” factor. He has a large church now. I’m not saying that church size makes him successful. People meet him and want to follow him. He doesn’t like that. He wants you to follow Jesus. His “it” causes an extra step sometimes. I loved the fact that he always had the right heart. Here are two interesting understandings on leadership that I learned from observing Jonathan: 1. Some people are followers and that is ok. We all have some kind of leadership qualities and we all have people following us in some way. The reality is, however, that there are a lot more followers than there are leaders. This

is just common sense. Leaders have an ability to see through the fog and lead people out. You’ve got one of these in your office don’t you? He’s the guy that people will follow, whether secretly behind your boss’ back or just blatantly. 2. There are different levels of leadership. I was never a “follower” of Jonathan. He didn’t impress me like he did with others. I worked with him and I loved the guy like a brother but I also saw his faults and mistakes. This didn’t disappoint me because we all have sin in our lives. It wasn’t like I was devastated because one of my heroes had let me down. I knew this about him when I met him. Others, for whatever reason, didn’t see his faults. No one viewed him as God but they definitely held him in higher esteem than others. This is actually the way God designed us. It is part of who we are. We will naturally follow those who are better leaders than we are. Now, I’m not saying I think I’m a better leader than Jonathan by any means. But on a scale of 1-10, we’re probably both 5’s or 6’s. Here’s what I do know. I’ve met guys that I would consider leaders that are definitely above me on the leadership scale. Andy Stanley, Bill Hybels, even a few guys here in New Orleans. They’re probably 7s or 8s. I’ve only met one

person who was a 10. This guy is amazing. He has all the qualities that I can think of that contribute to “it”. He is accepting, which gives Him incredible influence with everyone. He genuinely cares, which allows people to trust Him. He is definitely the most courageous guy I’ve ever met, which gives me courage as well. I’ve read a lot about Him and never found a fault with Him. Now, just for full disclosure, He has offended people but they were the right people. They deserved to be offended. They needed to be offended. But I think the characteristic that most contributes to His influence in my life, the “it” factor, is the fact that He is selfless. Perfectly selfless. I learn so much from Him every day when we talk it is incredible! Seriously, how many people do you know that would hang out with you one minute and die for you the next? Jesus would make you feel like a million bucks but at the same time you understood that you had a long way to go and it would challenge you to be more like Him (or more correctly, allow Him to make you more like Him). I should have died for Him but He beat me to it. Oh, and I talk about Him in the present tense because He was raised back to life and is still alive today sitting next to His Father on a throne in Heaven. That’s His other amazing “it” quality. Power. Everyone respects real power.

Jason McReynolds is the pastor of New Orleans Community Church. He and his wife, Liev, have three children. To learn more about him, or NOCC, visit: www.neworleans community church.com

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I’m 26. I know that a

woman is never supposed to reveal her true age but I only bring it up to say that in the last 26 years I have never had the flu… until this week. Nor have I ever had a flu shot. Why? Because the thought of willingly receiving an injection that I may or may not need makes me cringe. You see I come from a long line of fainters. I can

stare down a rabid dog, sing in front of a thousand people or kill a cockroach with my bare hands, but the sight of blood, needles, and bandaids makes me queasy. What’s even more embarrassing is that if the needle comes within six inches of my body I have the tendancy to pass out. It runs in the family. Please understand, this is not a controllable response. I don’t go to the doctor with the intention of faint-

ing and I don’t psych myself into it either. I can be in the middle of a perfectly normal conversation with you and will stop mid-sentence and start snorting like a pig that’s just hit the slop motherload. Yes. I said snorting. My husband says it’s very attractive, but I know he’s lying. Now I’m not saying that being rendered completely incapacitated by the flu is high on my list of things to do. This particular bout with Influenza A left me laid up in the bed for close to a week and I whined and moaned the whole time. But at least I was concious the whole time. Before you make any rash judgements and label me a wimp, I will say that I am the least girly girl I know. I love ultimate fighting and find special joy in hitting a bulls-eye with my airsoft

gun. There’s just something about a needle that I cannot handle. My doctors call it a “Fight or Flight” reflex. I just call it annoying. So, the moral of this story should be simple. Get a flu shot. However, when next year rolls around and the needles start flying I’m still not sure I’ll get in line. I guess it boils down to which evil is lesser. Passing out in my bed, or passing out in my Doctor’s office!

==================== Tiffany lives her life to the fullest as the co-owner of The Minute Magazine. Her alter-ego Fefe Byram is a fledgling singer/songwriter and painter. She lives, plays, and sings in the city of New Orleans with her husband Josh and their adorable French Bulldog.

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Making Peace and Making A Plan =====================

ging is a fact of life. From the time we are born, we’re aging. In our younger years, aging is manifested as growth. But it’s official. I have arrived at the point in life where growth has ended. Well, at least the kind of growth that is good. Now we’re in the area of bad growth...growth of the gluteus maximus. But that’s a story for another day. Let’s just say...I’m at the turning point...the crossroads...it’s time to make peace and make a plan. Isn’t this what middle age is all about? It’s saying goodbye to your youth. It’s an acceptance of where you are. If you don’t make peace with life at this stage of the game, you are headed for a MID-LIFE crisis. You’ve seen it before. It’s usually an impractical two-seater sports car. Or maybe an infidelity that wrecks your life forever. No thanks. I’m all about making peace and making a plan. Grow old gracefully. My mantra has always been

to grow old gracefully. And I still subscribe to that. There’s nothing more beautiful than a mature woman who has grayed naturally and looks comfortable in her own skin. Cindy McCain, wife of Arizona Senator John McCain is a great example of that. She’s just lovely. I’m pretty sure she’s made peace and made a plan. My goals for growing old gracefully are these: 1. To have the energy to do what I want when I want. 2. To live my life to the fullest without a lifetime of poor health and disease. 3. To look younger than I am, but not so young I look foolish. Make peace with the present. I’m a practical girl by nature. I’ve learned to push up my sleeves and solve the problem. And making peace with the present is best done with action. Guess what? There’s no way you’re going to avoid aging. And guess what else? There are advantages to being older. 1. Wisdom. You’ve heard the expression, “If I knew then what I know now.” The wisdom I’ve gained in my life is a precious commodity. And honestly, I wouldn’t go back to my youth because I had too much to learn. I like knowing a lot about life and sharing that with my kids. They love my stories. And I love telling them. If you’re not sharing what you’ve learned with someone, it’s just knowledge. Knowledge

becomes wisdom when you start to help others live a better life and learn from your life lessons. 2. Warmth of heart. I remember one thing about my great-grandmother in particular. My Mee-Maw, Lula Leonard Haynes, was always good for a hug. She poured unconditional love straight from her heart into mine. Her hugs were so memorable that I still vividly recall them after 3 decades. Having a warm heart, not a cold one hardened by the trials of this world, is what I want people to see in me. It’s what I want to give to my children...and one day...my grandchildren. 3. Priorities. The great thing about having years of life behind you is you gain a clear vision of what isn’t important, which helps you determine what IS important. The peculiar thing about high school reunions is this: at the 10-year reunion everyone returns to impress with worldly accomplishments; at the 20-year reunion everyone returns happy to see each other and visit like the old friends that they are. My dad, organizer of an annual high school reunion at Shongaloo High School, told me the later reunions were so much sweeter than the earlier ones. I think people lose sight of the materialistic goals they might have embraced at a younger age, thank goodness. Over time, we learn the real value of relationships...and we learn the lack of value in possessions.

There’s no doubt that growing older has substantial benefits. I can think of several things that I am happy to give up. Changing diapers is one. Cleaning up my then-4-year-old’s vomit because the concept of throwing up IN the trash can was not yet mastered. I’m happy to move past that one. Dating...my husband and I regularly look at each other and express thanks that we don’t have to be in the dating world anymore. Leaving the past where it belongs is an important part of making peace with the present. My desire is to embrace the life I have now and enjoy the positives at this stage, not looking back longingly at a past that will not return. Make a wellness plan for the future. Prevention is one of my favorite words. Why in the world would you sit back and allow something bad to happen if prevention is possible. When it comes to healthcare, this is where our priorities should lie. Instead, our entire healthcare system is based on a DISEASE model. We go to the doctor when we’re sick. We get a quick fix. We go home and run ourselves into the ground until the next round of getting sick and then head back. It’s an agonizing treadmill we’re on that leads to a poor quality of life. What if we spent our time pursuing wellness instead of just stopping the sickness? How would we go about doing that? Are we relegated to the genetics that we are born with? While genetics plays a role in our health, it’s probably only 20% of the deciding factor according to Dr. Nathan Goodyear, a board certified and fellowship trained Metabolic Specialist. Our environment contributes the other 80% of influence in determining our health status. We can’t change the genetics. But we can improve our body’s environment. How? There are five areas that need to be part of our wellness plan: nutrition, exercise, hormone balance, reducing inflammation and

detoxification. quick rundown.

Here’s a

1. Nutrition. You are what you eat. But are you really eating healthy? Eat foods rich in nutrients. Choose organic and eliminate your exposure to toxins. If you read the label and can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t eat it. Yes...that includes giving up soda. Have you read that label? 2. Exercise. There’s no way around it. You will feel better every time you invest your time in exercise. You don’t have to run a marathon. You can just run a couple of miles. Or maybe just walk around the block a few times. As Nike so eloquently says: “Just do it.” 3. Hormone Balance. Hormones are the communication system of the body. And when hormones become imbalanced due to stress, poor nutrition, or even genetics, they need to be rebalanced. Keeping a healthy hormone balance requires proper testing and follow-up. Bioidentical hormones can help rebalance a body that has been tilted out of balance by the world. 4. Inflammation. Cited as the source of all disease in much of the latest research, reducing internal inflammation is key. But how? Avoiding foods that cause silent inflammation and increasing the ones that d e c r e a s e inflammation is a great beginning. A diet rich in Omega-3s is key.

5. Detoxification. There’s no denying it, we live in a toxic world. Getting the toxins out of the body and reducing your exposure to toxins is an important lifestyle choice that will pay dividends in your longterm health. Using natural cleaners and avoiding chemicals is a great start. Detoxify your body with exercise (sweating is good for you) and infrared sauna, too. Again, buy organic and reduce your exposure to more toxins. We plan for our retirement. We plan our vacations. But when was the last time you sat down to plan your wellness routine? You can’t enjoy the retirement or the vacation if you feel bad or suffer from chronic disease. Here’s what I want. I want a healthy living plan that

actively returns my body to optimal wellness. I want to feel good from the inside out. And by feeling good on the inside, the outside will look better, too. I’m doing my retirement planning...it’s just not financial planning, it’s wellness planning! I’ve got to be healthy to enjoy my future grandbabies.

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Elizabeth Haynes Drewett: a hormonal woman rumored to be somewhere between the age of 30 and 50. Her job: Operations Manager and Marketing Director for Seasons Wellness Clinic and Seasons The Spa in Ruston. Her training: bachelor of arts in journalism from LSU and a bachelor of fine arts in piano performance from

LA Tech University. Her life: wife of Ruston architect C.P. Drewett, Jr. and doting mother to Langdon, age 12, and Reagan, age 6. Her passions: the state of Louisiana - as Miss Louisiana 1992 she devoted her year of service to breast cancer education and the importance of early detection; lover of music - invested 10 years as a piano teacher into the lives of the most wonderful kids in the world; lover of a good game. Job experiences include: PING Golf Equipment and the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Her favorite things: an underdog who overachieves, a good laugh, a good book, a good word, and a good hair day. You can follow her at twitter.com/ edrewett. To read more of her columns “Confessions of a Hormonal Woman” or to comment on this one, visit seasonswc.com.

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again. Well, Pam was right about it being in the attic and I slowly pull the stairwell down and then things started flying at me from all directions, an avalanche of brightly colored objects pouring down on me. I run backwards into Pam’s car before I realize it’s a canister of Christmas wrapping paper that I had left at the top of the stairwell right before going to bed. I’m still stumbling around scratching my head and trying to figure out what in the world is going on. your home late at night. When that bump-in-thedark occurs at our house Go See my wife, who can hear an ant walking across the =================== driveway responds with a little nudge in the ribs with her elbow and announces, ’m sure from time to “Go see.” About a month time every one has heard ago as we were sleeping, a mysterious noise outside I had just dozed off when Pam mumbles, “I heard ===================

something.” I said “I didn’t hear anything.” Pam said “I’m sure I heard something, go see.” “Go see what? That is just the wind.” She says, “No, I heard something.” “I’m sure it is the wind blowing something around in the yard.”

As I begin to put the wrapping paper back into the box I heard a faint sound, meow, meow. That’s when I looked up and saw our old tom cat Two Spot stick his head over the side of the opening and look to see if the coast was clear.

Sometimes that works, most times NOT. A moment of silence then “go see.” I don’t want to “go see,” I just want to go back to sleep. “Go see, it’s in the attic,” now she has narrowed it down to a specific area. She has hold of my arm and shaking me vigorously, “go see.” Before I can get to the other end of the house I heard a loud noise that activated the alarm, but everything was fine inside.

He must have climbed in the attic when I had the stairwell down storing things. When he saw an opening in the paper he made a run for it. When he passed by me, I kicked at him, missed him but I kicked the side of Pam’s car. Now I’m doing a dance. Two Spot stuck his head out from under the car and Pam comes out of the house to watch the show.

I turn the carport light on and look through the peep hole, nothing, nothing but Pam’s car. That’s strange. Now I’m thinking this is weird. I was sure I would find a stray animal scurrying around. But how would an animal set off the alarm?

When I was finally able to walk again I stumbled back in the house. Pam followed me asking “How did you hurt your foot?” I said, “I kicked at your stupid cat and hit the side of your car.” She replied “My car, did you kick my car?” “Yes, I kicked your car.” She replied “Did you dent my car?” I said “I don’t know, but I’m going back to bed, why don’t you ‘go see?’”

I go onto the carport to look around, nothing. Then bump right above me in the attic, near I guess sometimes it just the pull down stairwell. doesn’t pay to get out of Bump, there it goes bed…

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#1 CHOICE OF THE PRO’S 51

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Either way, having a plan for retirement is important. You owe it to yourself to make the best plan as soon as possible.

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watched my son sink into his world of computers as he sat on the floor of his room, papers surrounding him. He drew nonstop, singing to himself as he did. An hour later, he comes to me, stack of papers in hand. “Mom, you need to see the

operating system I created,” he tells me, and hands over the ream of paper, each sheet covered in drawings, marks, notes and explanations. So, my twelve-year-old aspires to be the next Bill Gates and I encourage it every chance I get. Kids with Asperger Syndrome tend to have a focus; that one thing they obsess over. They will absorb any and all information on the subject and then take that knowledge and miraculously commit every bit of it to memory. Our kids have an advantage in this. They will

be our next computer geniuses, video game designers, engineers, r e searchers, doctors, and lawmakers. They will posses one thing that will give them the advantage over others: unwavering diligence. For a solid hour, my son sat, mapping out page after page of the intricate system that would run a computer program to rival Windows. I seriously need to look into patenting his ideas! Then he patiently explained each step to me. Of course, after a time, my ajaw went slack. He lost me right after, “You need this code to run the DOS-based program…” Don’t ask me what happens next. I couldn’t even begin to guess. It’s all over my head. The thing is, these are the kids who will be so dedicated that they will eventually find

cures for cancer, drugs that will obliterate diseases, scientific discoveries that will change the face of our world. And, most of the time, they are treated like second-class citizens with no right to exist next to someone with no differences. They are passed over in schools, brushed aside as “behavior problems” because they can’t handle the social structure of school, made fun of by peers who are never taught to understand their daily struggles. If there is one thing I could teach the upcoming generation, it would be tolerance. Accept that there are people in this world that see it completely different. People that don’t quite fit the mold society says they should fit. Accept, still, that it is okay to be different. It is okay that someone is overly sensitive to their handshake or they prefer to stare at the ground when they talk to them. These kids are destined to be the leaders in the world that the rest of us will be working for or relying on increasingly to take care of us as we age. We owe them the respect they deserve.

by Wesley Harris

Photos, clockwise from top: 54 Chautauqua Taken from Pierian Springs looking toward auditorium; Chautauqua L.S.C. Membership book 1892-1893; Chautauqua Hotel c.1900

Ruston’s Chautauqua

SPECIAL THANKS TO WESLEY HARRIS AS TO THE LOUISIANA TECH ARCHIVES’ Peggy Carter for sharing their collecition on the Ruston Chautauqua

Louisiana’s Cultural Epicenter

T oma Lodge in Ruston is a quiet upscale

neighborhood of fine homes, towering pine trees, and well manicured lawns. Right away, visitors note the subdivision is unlike most contemporary growth in which lots are razed to facilitate construction and then replanted with spindly trees and shabby shrubs, giving the landscape an artificial look. In Toma Lodge, it is clear the homes were planted carefully around century-old trees in a park-like setting. Toma Lodge looks like a park because it served as a semi-private natural sanctuary for decades.

Community Church lay on land with a history that would surprise most of the neighborhood’s residents and the church’s members. Around the turn of the 20th Century, thousands gathered each summer on the grounds now occupied by expensive homes and a beautiful house of worship for sessions of the Louisiana Chautauqua. Among them were the most prominent politicians, religious leaders and public speakers in the nation.

The Chautauqua Society was founded in New York in 1874 with the goal of providing educational enrichment and inspiration in a picturesque natural setting. It was much like a summer camp offering a mixture of education, religion and recreation. The Chautauqua movement Toma Lodge Estates spread quickly across and the adjacent Christ the United States as 45

states established Circuit Chautauquas that offered lectures, music, speeches and plays in rural and small-town America. In 1889, the Louisiana Educational Association voted to establish a Louisiana Chautauqua on a 15-acre tract just north of the outskirts of the fledging railroad town of Ruston. Ruston was selected for the state’s Chautauqua because of its gently rolling hills, forest scenery and peaceful setting as well as enthusiastic local support for the endeavor. In a report of its 1889 decision, the leaders of the Louisiana Educational Association noted the “refined culture of [Ruston’s] people, their public spirit, their hospitality, their intense interest in all forms of thought and learning showed that they would give generous, united and

untiring support to such an institution.” When Ruston was founded in 1884 with the coming of the railroad, it had attracted some of the best educated community leaders from regional towns bypassed by the new line. By the time the Chautauqua was created, Ruston already boasted a small college— Ruston College—an opera house, and other cultural endeavors. Thomas. D. Boyd, President of the Louisiana Educational Association, wrote in a circular letter in April 1891 that Northern

Louisiana was renowned for its “healthfulness and pleasing rural scenery.” Since the Chautauqua programs were held during the summer, the region also offered an escape from the oppressive southern Louisiana heat. The Ruston site encompassed a number of “mineral springs,” offering visitors what were purported to be “healing waters.” A large two-story hotel, named the Chautauqua Springs, was erected along with cottages and an outdoor auditorium with a capacity of 2,000. The popularity of the Louisiana Chautauqua as a place for retreat and renewal quickly spread and people from outside the state attended its annual programs. Those arriving from points east and west on the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific Railroad were transferred the two miles from the Ruston depot by carriage. Many participants were said to have loved the “tonic effect of the pure pine air” while they gathered under the mature trees covering the Chautauqua property. For families who wished to remain all summer, cottages were available with discounted accommodations for servants and attending nurses. A single room for an adult in the hotel went for $25 a month. Teachers paid $15 a month.

Railway laid its line along the property in 1900, a small depot was built for travelers arriving from the north and south. The project flourished for about fifteen years before it closed in 1905 in bankruptcy and the property of the Chautauqua was sold. The grounds and buildings fell into disrepair. In 1906 a similar project for African Americans started at Grambling with the creation of the Louisiana Colored Chautauqua but it lacked the financial backing and statewide support of the earlier effort. In 1922, Thomas L. and Maggie Hodges James acquired the Chautauqua property as well as adjoining tracts for a total of about 90 acres. James was a prominent Ruston businessman responsible for constructing some of the major highways across America. His wife Maggie came from a prominent Louisiana family with a love for nature. Maggie’s brother, A.J. Hodges, a pioneering conservationist, established Hodges Gardens near Many, a 4,700-acre natural haven. Hodges Gardens was recently refurbished as a Louisiana state park. Maggie inherited her family’s passion for the outdoors, conservation and gardening. Together with her husband, she created a family botanical garden and extensive arboretum, calling it Toma Lodge, an integration of the names Tom and Maggie. Maggie designed sweeping gardens and arbors and oversaw the construction of barns, greenhouses and a henhouse. A staff of seven full-time gardeners maintained the family retreat, including a magnificent rose garden, fountains and a swimming pool.

Offerings at the Chautauqua ranged from sermons by nationallyknown ministers to theatrical productions. Lecture subjects included poetry, art and languages. William Jennings Bryan, three-time Democratic Presidential candidate, was one of the most popular of all Louisiana Chautauqua speakers. As the program increased in variety and magnitude, a building was constructed for music classes and another for the Following the deaths science curriculum. When of Maggie Tom, the Arkansas Southern T.L. James &and Company

assumed management and maintenance of the estate in 1964. James family members continued to spend summer afternoons enjoying the pool and the grounds were open to public viewing. The gardens maintained their popularity as a backdrop for photography sessions for school groups and brides-to-be. Motorists routinely cut through Toma Lodge to enjoy a short drive among blooming azaleas, daylilies and roses. Over the years, many Ruston teens were guilty of sneaking into Toma Lodge at night to enjoy the pool and a police officer was installed in a small cottage on the property to watch over the grounds. But the sanctuary slowly assumed an unkempt appearance without Maggie James to preside over its upkeep. Trott Hunt, great grandson of James, bought Toma Lodge in 2000 and initiated a development plan for the property. Hunt’s plan for restricted development in conjunction with tree preservation struck a balance between perpetuation of an urban forest and new construction. Trees were selectively cut and dilapidated buildings removed. Large azaleas and other large planted by Maggie James was preserved or moved to new locations. The swimming pool was refurbished, tennis courts added and the original James Lodge retained as a community center. Christ Community Church relocated to the property in 2004. Church members were drawn to the appealing natural sanctuary with its convenient and visible location just minutes from downtown Ruston. Construction priorities included saving as many trees as possible and giving the impression that the church had always existed in the forest. Curving driveways and

strategically-designed parking lots circumvent mature trees. To further integrate the church into the setting, harvested oaks were transformed into exposed ceiling beams, a pulpit, and a 15-foot cross. The influence of the Chautauqua persists in the form of Louisiana Tech University, an institution that continues to grow in stature and prestige. Hallie Townsend, a longtime principal at Ruston High School, noted in his 1929 college thesis that Ruston’s support for the Chautauqua was instrumental in Tech’s creation in 1894. The Chautauqua was then at the height of its popularity and, according to Townsend, the notoriety it brought to Ruston among the powerbrokers in Baton Rouge aided in bringing Tech into existence. The neighborhood still displays the handiwork of Maggie James and her staff. Although all remnants of the Chautauqua are long gone, ancient azaleas and camellias from James’s gardens dot the landscape. Sequoias and an impenetrable tangle of bamboo grow incongruously among the southern pines and white oaks. Gnarled crepe myrtles and magnificent magnolias stand out from newly planted ones. A sense of solitude remains despite the stately homes that somehow refuse to intrude on the majesty of nature. ==================== Ruston native Wesley Harris recently published GREETINGS FROM RUSTON: A Post Card History of Ruston, Louisiana, available from amazon.com or by contacting him at campruston@gmail. com. Check out his Louisiana history blog at http://diggingthepast. blogspot.com.

designed window treatment can actually be a clever cover-up to any window problem. Because there are so many fabulous window treatment design options available today, it’s wise to start doing your homework early. Visit model homes, read magazines…start developing your own Window Design Idea File! And remember, by working with a professional decorator, you’re window treatments are guaranteed to be the perfect design and function solution!

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what your window treatment will do, consider the theme or style of the room…casual, contemporary, traditional, or trendy. Once you’ve defined your style, think “out of the box” for hardware needs. For example, in a family room with a casual sports theme, consider using golf clubs or even pool cues as window treatment hardware. In a trendy or contemporary room, perhaps a high-tech, quasi-industrial look of cable wires for drapery hardware will dramatically enhance your design. In some instances, you may even choose to create a window where one doesn’t currently exist, such as an underground basement room. By installing shutters or a closed fabric window treatment, you can immediately create the feeling of being connected to the outdoors! So here is a quick checklist to help you determine the best possible window treatments for your home. Function. How is the window being used? Do you need to block outdoor light? Is privacy your priority? Or, do you have a beautiful view that needs capturing? Focal points. Are your windows a natural dramatic architectural feature of your room? If so, you have a built-in focal point, and should plan your treatments accordingly. If not, then consider working with a professional decorator to make your window treatments true show

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