Cajun Country, Louisiana

Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana

A farewell visit with Dawn, Danny, and Lisa in Louisiana.

Since moving to Houston I drive Louisiana regularly to help Dawn with the data input at The Harrington Gallery. Last summer I experienced a hair disaster from a salon in Houston. Dawn made arrangements with the stylists at her regular salon to correct the problem. Now I get to visit my friend every six weeks, work for her and have my hair done. What a great way to see old friends. I bring goodies from Houston that are not available in Sulphur and get to feast on Danny's Cajun cooking, yum!

It was to Dawn and Danny's that we (Kees, Andrée, and me) went to escape the wrath of Hurricane Ike in September, 2008. Well, that did not save us from the Category 3 storm as we were in the outer band.  However, it did teach me what we need to do when preparing for a hurricane watching Danny prepare their home by boarding windows and moving all possible flying objects outside. Friends in Houston could not believe that we hightailed it to Sulphur stating that Beaumont, Texas, and Sulphur, Louisiana (TX/LA border towns) are usually within a Gulf of Mexico hurricane path. Sulphur took a direct hit from Hurricane Rita in 2005 three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.  Just two weeks ago Dawn drove to Georgetown, Texas, a 12 hour drive for her that night running for Hurricane Gustav. Yes, we live in a hurricane zone.

Thankfully, we all came through Ike with minor damage to our properties (only garden debris and fence damage).  When it was all over Andrée, Kees, and I, had experienced our first hurricane and tornado watch.  We returned to Houston two days later to a home with no electricity and the power outage lasted for fourteen more days.

Today the weather is beautiful.  It is the first day of Spring.  The azaelas and blossom trees are flowering and the town of Sulphur looks very pretty.

I have had my first "hug or kiss the Saint for me" request, something that I am very happy to do for those folks who request it.  Many times while walking the Camino Francés a Spaniard has offered me fruit or candy and then asked me to kiss or hug the Saint for them.