New Orleans Snoball Treat

     I've had snow CONES. But until I heard the advertisement on the radio, I didn't even know about SNOBALLS. There's a SnoBall truck parked near my office. I was curious about them. What's a SnoBall, and how is it different from a snow cone?

     Apparently, it's all about the ice. A snow cone is crushed ice, and when you eat it, it's crunchy. But a snowBall is shaved ice, and it melts in your mouth. I got one today to try it out. The flavor was "wedding cake" - kind of almond and sweet. It's really good. And I guess you can get it made with soft serve ice cream in the center, or with condensed sweetened milk dribbled on the top. If you ever get a chance, be sure to try one out.
     So I learned another new thing about central Louisiana culture. Have any of you heard about New Orleans SnoBalls??

Pre-Summer Planning and Planting

Driving into town in the early mornings, I really look forward to the days getting longer. Every day since December 21, the sun has come up a little earlier, and gone down a little later. Even though I think of June as mid-summer, by the time June 21 comes along, the days are beginning to shorten again, going toward the fall and the beginnings of winter.


This year there hasn't been much of a winter, although I'm told that it can snow here as late as April. Many people garden year-round here. That's something I'm going to have to learn, I'm used to letting the garden go dormant in December until it is awakened in April or May. My neighbor told me she has sweet peas blooming already in her garden. 

Many people think that Louisiana doesn't have colorful trees in the fall, but you'd be surprised how bright the leaves get before they drop to the ground. The difference may be that the leaves don't drop until much later than they do in other places. 


Oddly, the plants I put in last summer, in boxes at the sidewalk in front of the house, are trying to bloom now. In February. Why not, I guess, since it's 70+ degrees F today. I mean, the plants must be a little confused, since it drops down into the mid-40's F at night, and goes back up into the 70's F during the day.


I am apparently allergic to something that grows here, that I've never been exposed to before in all the different places I've lived. I've heard that it's fairly common to develop new allergies after moving to Louisiana, that there are unusual plants here. So I am experimenting with taking an anti-histimine every day. I have a mini-pharmacy in my car.


My daughter loaned me her small camera, so I can carry it around in my handbag and take snapshots here and there. I downloaded an editing tool, too, so I can have some fun with the color and cropping. I'm not as good with the camera or the editing as she is, but I'm having fun with it, playing with the images.


I've ordered the Burpee gardening calendar to inspire me with spring gardening ideas!

Sitting Pretty

Wrought iron chairs on a brick walkway.

Fleur de lys designs.

Southern charm, with a Central Louisiana accent added.

The word "President" in wrought iron tracery.

Inspiring and historic.

Just up the road...

Riding Around

My hubby has been mowing the lawns at the house, the new lot we added, and the yard at the studio.

So we did some research, and added this little mower to our stable.

It is a Weedeater One Riding Mower. It fits through the gates in the fence we just put up. And it can turn corners like the best of them.

He says it's like mowing on a go-cart.

Whatever makes it easier, I say.

VROOMM.

Cold Drink, Deer

I'm still getting used to living in Central Louisiana.

Over a week ago, I watched live crawfish being dumped into a plastic swimming pool full of salt water.  Then, I got down into a tray of hot boiled crawfish and learned how to break them open and eat 'em. YUM!

Last week, I ate something at a restaurant (I'm still not sure exactly what it might have been) that made my neck swell up alarmingly, and my face get all red. I went to the pharmacy to ask the pharmacist what to do. He took one look at me and told me to take an antihistimine tablet. He came out from behind the counter to pick it out for me.

"Take one! Take one! Take one now! Take one RIGHT now!" 

he said very loudly ...

So, before I had even paid for the package he handed me, I opened it up and swallowed a tablet while he watched me. Satisfied, this pharmacist, who didn't know my name, said, 

"There you go, baby, that'll take care of it," and returned to his counter.

This is a place where folks call you "sweetie," "honey" and "baby" even though they don't know you.

And call me "Miss Lynn" when they do.

The swelling in my neck went down, most likely because I "took one RIGHT now!" like the pharmacist said. 

IF Mama Ain't Happy-Feed Her Seafood

Oh, No! Has MAMA got the blues?

Buy MAMA a Cold Brewed Beverage at MAMA's Blues Room!

If that doesn't work, just down the sidewalk is MAMA'S OYSTERS.

That should put a grin on Mama's face.

If you're not close enough to Nachitoches, Louisiana to hit these two Mama's places, I'm sure there's a Mama's Place near you!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, EVERYONE!

family, fun, friends... none better.