GATORAMA 2009!!! (Part I)

Hello again, Blogging Pals!! I KNOW you have all been waiting anxiously for the post on Gatorama 2009!!! Well, here it is.

First of all, there was signage. You can see it below. It was placed on a street that had been blocked off so I'm not certain how much "reach" (advertising term... trying to use my Marketing degree!) it generated but it was a very lovely sign. Based on how GOOD the sign is, I'm willing to bet my high school buddy, Joey, (of "Goober Art" fame... see previous post http://louisianatown.blogspot.com/2008/12/goober-folk-art.html) might have done it. Don't know that. Just guessing.
Okay. I know you are all very intelligent adults. Here lies my confusion. The signage (previous photo) clearly indicated "cars, trucks, and motorcycles." Directly alongside the sign we found the following "vehicles", none of which appeared to match the indicated items. ??? Well, it IS Louisiana! :)

While we were strolling the street, the spousal-unit (who had joined me for the festivities!) said I should take a picture of the folks across the street from us. I was too far to get a good photo that would give you people detail so I decided to include the building as the focus. You can't read it in the photo but the top area in white has "1920" and the one below it says "First National Bank" which it remains to this day. Some VERY nice old buildings in this town.
This car was a hoot! The small Louisiana on the front fender reads:
Cajun
Seeking
Intoxication
CSI! Get it? And it continues. The FBI reads:
Federal Bureau of Intoxication
There clearly was a sense of humor during the restoration of this vehicle. Ya' gotta' love those Cajuns!!
I don't even know what to tell you about this one except it was a pink truck... more like a Pepto Bismol truck... and I just couldn't believe it! So... took a photo so you could all share the queasy moment with me. You're welcome.

Again, my interest in the little truck below was due to the beautifully lettered "name" on the door which is "One Ugly Truck." I couldn't argue that, could I? We all discussed it when we returned home and shared the photos with my aunt. It was determined the truck had all the charm of a snorting Pekingnese or a drooling Persian. After all, it has the same nose!!

Finally, I gotta' tell you that we simply could not pass this one up. This is a 1971 Mercury Comet (same as a Ford Maverick for those who remember!) that has been purchased by a young man who hopes, some day, to be able to restore it. We're wondering if he plans to keep the paint job?!?!?

I have a few more photos that I will try to get to you tomorrow. Right now, I've probably overextended my welcome and I want you to come back!!

Until next time!!

KNOCK, KNOCK! WHO'S THERE? AZALEA!!!

Hello again, Blogging Pals!

I am sorry for the delay in a new post. Things have been interesting and somewhat busy. I'll catch you all up on that later.

In the meantime, let's talk about Spring in Louisiana and how gorgeous it can be here. I know we have visited the first blooms of the azaleas but I wanted to give you a bit more of a feel for how showy they are!

The picture below was taken standing in my aunt's driveway, facing the intersection that is one house down. There are azaleas on all four corners. I hope you can see the colors! The three oak trees in the left of the picture are in the front yard of my childhood home.

The photo below is of a fully-blooming dogwood tree standing behind a row of azaleas. I know the photo does not do justice to the colors but I hope you all will indulge me in my desire to share the beauty.

Okay. Last azalea photo. Promise... for this post anyway. :)

Alrighty. Thanks for bearing with me. Now, to show you the excitement generated by the felling of pine trees and the freedom-feeling one gets when able to "cut loose" in the yard without pine cones or pine needles in the way, I offer our dog-rescuing bud next door, Susan L.!!! (She saw me with the camera and made some sort of gesture before I snapped this, but I'm sure she was just waving.)

And finally, I'm thinking the local Coldwell-Banker company is going to have a little bit of trouble selling this lot based on what is offered directly across the street!!!! (Just could NOT pass this one up. I apologize to any who are offended.)

Thanks for playing!! Hope you are all well and enjoying a little spring of your own!

Until next time...

A REAL LOSS TO THE COMMUNITY

Hello, Blogger Pals!

Well, suffice it to say that it began raining here about 2 days ago... and it continues. The temperature is a bit cool, in the mid-40s, which makes it less-than-comfortable... but the rain is needed even here. It strikes me as funny that there has been discussion here about how DRY it is even though we had about 3 inches of rain just a number of days ago. The Austin gang knows what DRY really is!!! Can you say "drought?" Oh yes. I understand there has been rain there, too, and am hopeful it is helping relieve the dry spell!

Now then... the loss I refer to in the title is the death of a real gentleman and long-time member of law enforcement here in small town Louisiana. This gentleman was elected Sheriff of Beauregard Parish back in 1971... was the youngest Sheriff ever elected in the state... and became the longest-serving Sheriff in the state of Louisiana before retiring in June of 2008. He was a very amazing guy. I remember him from the time I was a young'un. He knew my parents and most all of my friends' parents and always had a smile with a twinkle in his eye for everyone. Folks just plain enjoyed being around him. He made you feel good about who you were. He felt strongly about providing direction for youth to keep them moving forward in a productive way. He put many programs in place that helped do just that. Finally, even as he knew there wasn't a lot of time left, he requested that donations to a fund designed to provide scholarships to benefit area youth be made for those wishing to provide memoriam. What a great guy. You always wish there were many more like him and frequently wish you yourself could meet the standard he set.

I hope you don't find this post sad or depressing. It really isn't supposed to be so. It is actually meant to be uplifting as I think it is terrific to have known this gentleman and it is wonderful to see the outpouring of love from so many folks here. The obituary is a literary achievement in itself. The local news station which is in the "big city" 50 miles south of here arrived with cameras to film good friends remembering this gentleman. How nice to be so well-thought-of and remembered. We should all be so lucky!!

Until next time...

BYE-BYE PINE TREES!

Hello, Blogging Buddies!!

I returned to the east yesterday (Friday the 6th). It was an uneventful trip but I must mention the GIANT turtles (honestly... I thought they were Galapagos Tortoises!) crossing the highways. There were only two but they were pretty far apart (well over a 100 mile gap between them) so something must be going on in Turtleland on a national level. These guys were BIG!! Of course, while I had the incredible urge to stop and move them off the road, their size prevented me from doing so. I'm guessing those guys weighed at least 25-30 pounds each. That could cause some lower back issues that I don't want while on the road!! I hope they had success with their crossings.

Okay. So... I return to find the pine trees next door GONE! There is barely a sign they were ever here. I revisit a photo scene or two from the "TIM... BER...!!" blog earlier.






Now then... another little botany lesson for those of you who are interested. :) You will recall the Camellias we visited in a prior post. Very lovely. They are, however, beginning to wane. They are evergreen shrubs, which is great, but the flowering is nearly over. No problem. That's why folks over here plant Azalea bushes!! Heck, there is even an Azalea Society of America!! I am providing a couple of shots for you but check out the links for tons of incredibly gorgeous photos!

So, it's back east of the Sabine. I will be watching for items of interest to report on for you. I believe I heard something about a "Gatorama 2009" coming up but I think it's car-related. Sorry to disappoint those of you who would like to see Gators.

Until next time...