Grandma and Grandpa's Visit to Louisiana

Hola! I've had a great week hanging out with my grandparents...It was a dark and stormy day when Grandma and Grandpa flew into Baton Rouge. They got to my apartment by 4:30 last Sat-It was so good to see them!

I took them to the library and showed them where I work. Then, we went to Duffy's Diner for dinner. Grandma and Grandpa had Po Boys and I got Gumbo and Rice. We also feasted on deep fried corn on the cob and sweet potato fries-Yummy! Grandma and Grandpa had been up since 2 o'clock in the morning, so we didn't stay out late. We just went back to my apartment and worked on a puzzle together.

After thundering and lightening all night, Sunday dawned cloudy and cool. We went to church and afterwards we went to the Symphony in the Park. It was nice, but we only stayed for the first half. Then, we took a walk around the park (half of the trails were under water from the storm!) and saw ducks and squirrels.

Monday, April 20th, was the 10 Year Anniversary of the shooting at Columbine. I'm glad I had the day off. I thought about everybody, wondering how people were doing. Daddy texted me, and I called and talked to him during lunch. I can't believe it's been 10 years...

So, Monday, we drove to Avery Island. Avery Island is actually a salt dome that extends some eight miles beneath the earth's surface and there are salt mines there. It is also were Tabasco was invented, so it's where salt and pepper meet (get it? :-) We went and took a tour of the Tabasco Factory. As soon as you step out of the car, you can smell the vinegar! The history is fascinating. The first year Edward Mcllhenny made 680 bottles of Tabasco. Today, they make 700,000 a day! Isn't that crazy?! We tried all these samples and I really like their Sweet and Spicy Ice Cream (they even have Tabasco Sodo Pop!).

We then drove through the Jungle Gardens. It's so green and beautiful with the old Live Oaks (We missed the azaleas-they were in bloom last month) We saw alligators, snowy egrets at Bird City, and stopped to see Buddha's Temple.

After lunch we went and toured Shadows-om-the Teche. (The old plantation house next to my work). Ms. Elaine was our tour guide (I work with her at the library. She's in charge of our Martin Photo Collection). The Shadows on-the-Teche was built by the sugarcane planter, David Weeks, in 1834 and four generations of his family lived there. Shadows is a fascinating house. It's two rooms deep and 3 rooms long. There are no hallways, so to get to another room, you have to go outside and through another door. There are doors at the back and at the front of the house, and during the summer, these were left opened, so air could circulate through the house. Even the stairs to the second floor are outside. There is a 3rd floor, and even a cellar (the house is built high enough). The Bayou Teche runs behind the house (hence the name). It's beautiful. Elyse, Walt Disney visited the house and signed a door that includes the signatures of all the famous people that stayed there.

Afterwards, we wandered down New Iberia's Historic Main Street. I showed Grandma and Grandpa the old Evangeline Theatre and even dragged them into Books Along the Teche (I've never been in there).

Tues, Grandma wanted to drive down the Bayou Teche Scenic Byway. We drove passed the Port of Iberia and tried going down to Cypermort Pointe, but the bridge was out (from the hurricane). So we drove back up toward Jeanerette and meandered along Highway 182. Grandma and Grandpa saw their first sugar mill. We stopped at Gail's so I could show them her yard and the Bayou and we got a little mini history lesson on it from her husband Donovan. Then, we drove to Franklin and had lunch at The Forest Restaurant: Fine Cajun Dinning. Grandma had her first taste of crawfish (mine too). She got Crawfish Ettouffee and Fried Crawfish. I tried some of it. Not bad, a lot like shrimp. I had Sausage and Red Beans and Rice, and Grandpa had Talapia. It was was nice. We meandered down Franklin Historic District and looked at some of the houses. Then, we decided to turn back, instead of driving on to Morgan City.

Wed. I had to go back to work, so Grandma and Grandpa were on their own. They drove up to St. Martinville and toured the Historic Square, saw the Evangeline Oak, and the famous statue of Evangeline (from Longfellow). They wandered around some museums and then drove up to Breaux Bridge and looked in some antique shops. When I got home from work, we ate dinner and then went out for ice cream at Freez-O (it was OK)

Grandma and Grandpa left Thursday morning. Thursday night I went to Duffy's again (a friend invited me) I had The Wipe Out and a Chocolate Malt (I really do love this place!)

I've posted some more pictures I on Facebook (it takes too long to upload them to my blog). So, if you want to see any, you'll have to go there.

I got to run!

Lonnie