Bayou Babe

Lake Fosse Point Park-Lakeside Cabins

Hi Ladies and Gents,

Tomorrow I head back to the Henderson Bayou for an Americorps retreat for three days. I have mentioned Lake Fosse Point before. It's a beautiful place in the middle of no where without cell reception. I cannot wait to be off the grid for a bit and to do some hiking. It has been glorious in Louisanne the last two days, with temperatures in the 70s. So, I hope I get brave enough to face the monster gators, hop in a kayak, and see this little slice of heaven for myself. I hope I will be able to get some good pictures of some gators to show ya'll. This place has got some monsters! Last time I was there, I had a run in with an armadillo. I will be playing tunes with some friends, lying back, and doing a service project to better the park. Gonna be a great one.

I want to bring to my friends attention the budget cuts being made right now. I am an Americorps member and that is the program that brought me to this wonderful state. This is one of the most amazing programs offered. However, because of the budget crisis, it may be cut. The Americorps Program encompasses many things, NCCC, Vista, Teach for America, all these programs do great good for our great nation. We are people who care enough that we basically work for free and are willing to do jobs others are not. Other great programs are up to possibly be cut as well, including Planned Parenthood, NPR, and PBS. Please give your Representative a holler and help me save this program and any of the others. I really care about what I do and want to be able to keep helping others.

Spanish Town Ball and the IFC

Hiya Folks,

Been a busy week, lotsa workin'. However, I did find time to fit in some major adventures. Last Tuesday, I went to the Blue Moon Saloon, http://bluemoonpresents.com/site/, to watch my friends' band Ryan Brunet and the Malfecteurs, http://www.malfecteurs.com/ get filmed by the IFC for a new reality show. This show is supposed to be about weird, bizarre places off the beaten path. So I got off work, got all dolled up, put on a purple 50s style dream, and headed to Lafayette. This girl knew to pick a good dancin' dress that would twirl nicely. So keep an eye out for your favorite Kentucky Wildcat because I am pretty sure my two-steppin' got some time!

Friday, I just took it easy. My favorite Red Stick people and I went to try out a new bar I have not ever been too, the Spanish Moon, http://thespanishmoon.com/ . This place was great, it is a two story restored fire station. Everyone knows I like my bars dark, just like I like my men! We got out of the unusual Louisanne cold and went to see the Lost Bayou Ramblers, http://www.lostbayouramblers.com/ . If you want to hear a great spin on Cajun music unlike any other, check this band out. At first, my friends and I were a little skeptical about this place because we did not think there would be a lot of dancin'. BOY! Was I wrong! The band started and the dance floor filled up immediately. I was sheddin' my coat after about 10 minutes of dancing!

Saturday, I attended my first Mardis Gras Ball. It was the Spanish Town Ball and it is not one of the formal, fancy balls like the others, but a costume ball. This year's theme was the oil spill and WikiLinks. My friends got dressed up as octopi, squids, starfish, birds, etc. There was a lot of pink, booze, dancing, live bands, and food. Here's a picture of me from it:

Overall, I had a great time. Til next time folks! Keep warm all my friends in the North!

Mamou Honey Bee

Picture of the Legendary Fred's in Mamou, La.



Hey Ya'll!
The last two weekends I have been as free as a bird from work. So, I took a chance and ventured out to the birthplace of Cajun music and went to Fred's Lounge in Mamou, La. This place has been open from 1962 and is only open on Saturdays from 9 until 1:30.

Sign outside the bar.

 I have been there the last two Saturdays. The first Saturday was a legendary one. Fred's wife, Tante Sue retired. She's been running the place since Fred died. The place was slam packed. I met some locals who filled the Kentucky girl with some praire knowlege, like who's single, how to get a husband, and to drink my beer with a straw and a twist of lemon.  I tried to dance, but there was little room for it. We stayed til the band quit and then rambled down the street to the Hotel Cazan, another local legend in Mamou, where a friend of mine was playing. This past Saturday I went back out to the "Mammoth Prairie" (what Mamou means) and tried my luck again. I brought some more buddies out and we went to see an accordian great, Jason Frey, play. Here's a video of him playing for KRVS (local radio): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu990gNMOJQ

After a few Bud heavies, stuck in my new Mamou coozie, I took to the dance floor, even though the fine morning started with a man coming up and flat out pickin' on me. First, he pulls my buddy and I aside to call me ugly, then starts dancing with me to quit and say I'm too tall! Hot Damn!  I was lucky that I got to dance with all the fine men that dragged me out to Fred's. Also, I brought another Kentuckian who learned his way around a two-step due to the fine ladies of Mamou. Another one of my favorite Cajun musicians was playing, Courtney Granger from the Pine Leaf Boys, on vocals and fiddle. Wanna check em' out: http://pineleafboys.com/

We closed down Fred's around 1:30 and headed across the street to Frenchies for some po-boys. After one oyster po-boy, I hopped in my friend's ride and we headed out to Eunice. We all then went to one of my favorite places, Lakeview Park & Beach, stopping for cracklin on the way. After catchin' up and playin' some tunes, we went to a friend's for a music jam. Check out Lakeview, it's great: http://lvpark.com/

After a pickin', grinnin', and a drinkin', we all went home to regroup. However, after the Louisanne sunset, we heading back out to a Grammy send-off party at the Blue Moon Saloon. Once again, the youngens in Feufollet have been nominated for a Grammy. The whole dagum day was a hoot and a holler.

Accordian Adventures

                                  Above is the official Festivals Acadiens et Cr'eoles Poster for 2010                                             http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/index1.html

This is day one of my week with a loaned accordian. A friend of mine is fostering my love of Cajun music and has lent me his accordian. It's in D and she's a beaut. I swear I may love instruments more than I love either men or shoes. Right now, I know the difference between pushing and pulling (if you just push in an accordian, it's automatically a D, the complicated part is the other.) The accordian and the harmonica are a lot alike, they both come and keys, like D or C. However, the accordian is like the harmonica's prettier, more complicated big sister. I really want to learn at least one song on the accordian, especially "Jolie Blon," which is like the national anthem of Southwest La. If the banjo is Kentucky's state instrument, then the accordian is Louisiana's. Yet, I cannot help but think this accordian and I are a lot like the odd couple. Lord help, what will the world do with a backwoods Kentuckian that can play "Jolie Blon" on the accordian?

I am posting a couple of links to videos of my favorite accordian players. Pay attention to all their faces. I firmly believe all accordian players make an "accordian-look-at-me face" when they play. The first one is the accordian king Steve Riley with the Mamou Playboys playing "Bon Reve."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RbNfH_R7Is&feature=related

Next, is the band the Pine Leaf Boys with Wilson Savoy on accordian.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GudVz-GsQHA&feature=related

Last, but not least, another one of my favorite Louisanne bands, The Malfecteurs, with Ryan Brunet on accordian playing the "French Blues."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-AHaIVui8Q&feature=related

Long Live the Accordian, ya'll!

R.I.P. Charlie Louvin

                            (A GREAT ALBUM BY THE LOUVIN BROTHERS, CHECK IT OUT!)

You are one of the few men I believe I have ever loved. Something about listening to you and Ira's singin' just broke my heart in two---plum apart. Everytime I hear "Knoxville Girl" I feel like I am singing hymns at church, it leaves you in a spiritual aftermath. You are full of tunes about heartbreak. To have never met you, I feel as though I lost a very old friend. 

Some of my favorite Charlie Louvin Songs:
1. Kentucky
2. I Don't Love You Anymore
3. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby
4. I Can't Keep You in Love with Me
5. Knoxville Girl

HIIIIDDDDDEEEE! (Minnie Pearl Style)

Well folks, I have had the best weekend ever! I braved the cold and frigid temperature to venture out to the Blue Moon Saloon to attend the Pine Leaf Boys' Grammy send off Party! Armed with my faux rabbit fur coat and a pair of combat boots, I listened to one of my favorite Cajun bands make some music genius Friday night. I don't care if you have never set foot in Louisiana, don't know a stinkin' word of French, and could care less about accordians, you will STILL LOVE this band. The venue they played at was outside and still the place was packed with the cold setting new records of 29 degrees here in Lafayette. People started listening to the tunes, getting their Cajun bounce on, and throwing off jackets to two-step to this band. I believe this Kentuckian may finally have learned to waltz and Cajun two step (bout dagum time.)

Saturday night I took over the cajun praire. I went out to Iota, La. to hang out with some new buddies. We sat around a fire, looked up at the stars, drank a few Bud-heavies, and I may had to fight a few people to prove I wasn't a Yankee (those are fighting words in Kentucky.) I supplied baked goods (my famous chocolate chip recipe and homemade chocolate cupcakes with buttercream icing) and ate myself silly on some duck gumbo and homemade sausage.

Sunday afternoon I attended a fish fry. LORD HELP. I tell you, I ain't ever leavin' Louisiana. All the men cook for you, dance, and seem to all know how to sweet talk you in French. This may have been the best fish I have ever had. We had fried mushrooms, fried cucumbers, fried pickles, and a homemade pizza.

Well, I hope you all had a good weekend too! I got to dance, eat, and play tunes, so I am a happy camper. Here's a list of my essentials for a good Friday night.
1. Cowboy boots
2. Red lipstick
3. Hairband (in case you get hot while dancing)
4. Flask to fit in your left boot (fill it with what you please!)
5. Gum (you may end up finding someone to kiss on.)

Forgive Me

I have been a terrible blogger. I have abandoned my creative child that is my blog. I ask for forgiveness. I am going to come back better than ever! This time I will have pictures documenting my Cajun adventures. Since blogging last this list of things have happened:
1. Stepped on a snake and survived.
2. Found Lakeview Resort and Beach in Eunice, La. Best place on Earth.
3. Have improved my Cajun two-step and waltz, but still not that great.
4. Learned to make a rue, kind of.
5. Joined a beard club.
6. Was the Miller High Life Girl in the Moon for Halloween.
7. Attended my first NBA game.
8. Witnessed one of the best poetry slams ever at the M Bar in Baton Rouge, La.
9. Discovered Honey Moon Bungalow Vintage shop in Baton Rouge, La.
10. Mastered baked mac'n'cheese.

Promise I will be back with more adventures very soon!