Taste of Home Tuesday ~~ White Linen Night

Shakin' things up a bit today. Instead of a Tasty Tuesday recipe, I thought y'all might enjoy a glimpse of Louisiana life for a change. It seems like only the bad stuff about our beloved state is featured in national news [think Hurricane Katrina -- we just observed the five-year anniversary of that terrible storm -- and the BP oil spill], so here's a peek at some of the awesomeness that is Louisiana.

If you want more info/photos like the lovely one here, there's loads of info. on every state at http://awesomeamerica.com/louisiana/ to soak up. 

I had the pleasure of attending the third annual White Linen Night in St. Francisville, LA this past weekend. It was a wonderful event full of offerings from area artists, artisans, musicians, chefs, antique sellers, etc. Citizens turned out in the cool afternoon and night to enjoy their neighbors' company and displayed wares up and down the main streets. There were even trolleys for those whose feet got tired of walking along the cobblestones!

Heck, why am I trying to explain the event when I have photos available?

Tell me, does your city, town, village, neighborhood host community events to bring people together? What's it like?

Lynn Wood's Birdman Cafe'. (A great place for soft serve ice cream, breakfasts, dreamy coffee conconctions, homemade pastries and goodies, book-browsing, art lessons & displays...) birdmancoffee@bellsouth.net

The side porch at Birdman Cafe. Doesn't it just whisper, "Come, sit a while and relax?"

Suzanne Holland's "Tuttie Lou Designs" specializing in vintage fabric creations. Check out her blog, etsy shop & site! I lurve the lavender-filled vintage linen sachets.

Artist Starline Kershaw (starline.kershaw@cox.net) [I had to have one of her custom fleur de lis paintings!]

Friend Les Ann Kirkland of Black Branch Beading. (Oh, she's gonna hurt me for this picture!) Lovely handmade jewelry of the finest materials. She's also a poet and artist. 

Airhouse Pottery by Michael Miller. (airhous@demco.net)

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DON'T MISS ST. FRANCISVILLE'S 8TH ANNUAL YELLOW LEAF ARTS FESTIVAL - October 30-31 at Parker Park from 10am - 5pm. Over 50 artists. Same day/time -- Mag Music Festival at the 3-V Tourist Court. {A renovated motor court of old where Bonnie & Clyde once hid out. Great place to stay, as is friends Patrick & Laurie Walsh's St. Francisville Inn.} Shout out to the.best.soul.food.ever by the owners of Eight Sisters Restaurant.

Week Ahead: Sunshine with a Slight Chance of Rain

What's your week ahead looking like? If you were a meteorologist, what kind of weather would you forecast for yourself? (You can see my prediction in the title heading.)

We're creeping toward the end of September, and in Louisiana that means we're still in the Hot Zone. But instead of enjoying summer at the beach, lake, park, or even in some swank vacation spot (Ha), now we're sweating in the sauna-like conditions while watching and/or tailgating for school, college and professional football on weekends. [Please excuse the PSA, but...GEAUXXXX TIGERS! -- That's for LSU fans the world over.]

So, here's the coming week's breakdown, in case you want to feel better about your own life and schedule *grin*. Note: Calendar items are not all-inclusive, and are subject to multiple changes, rerouting, and crises:

• Monday: Write Year of Gratitude blog entry; clean up the pigsty from daughter's LSU football party; grocery shop; do editing work; make a dentist appointment (chipped a piece off a molar *shiver*); grocery shop; cook ahead for the week; spend the night at parents (Mondays and Thursdays are my nights to help out, and I enjoy it.)
• Tuesday: Possible lunch with a school mom friend; my new semester of poetry class may resume tonight if the professor is able to reoccupy her house since Gustav wrecked her neighborhood, if not, a cousin may be having a family prayer group meeting launch; pay bill for youngest son's trombone lessons; edit; work on weekly writing goals; housework junk.
• Wednesday: Errand day; wash clothes (not that I don't do that pretty much every day...but midweek, I have to make sure kids have enough school uniforms to get through Friday); attend middle child's Senior Parent Picnic; edit, watch Project Runway with Mom.
• Thursday: What? Nothing on my calendar? Now, that's spooky. Spend the night at parents.
• Friday: YOG blog entry post; send out submissions; edit. It's TGIF...whoopie. LOL. Oh, check and see if there's a school football game tonight. If so, sell raffle tickets.
• Saturday: Run away and get in some R&R. Remember, Moms -- the last one out of the house on the weekend loses!

I'll leave you with this thought: If you don't write your own forecast, you might be depending on someone like this to do it for you -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHq03UqJhNE