T-Mamou Courir de Mardi Gras

I had an ABSOLUTE BLAST running the Courir de Mardi Gras with the T-Mamou ladies Krewe!  In spite of some horrible, threatening weather, we enjoyed the music and revelry at several homes, a fabulous gumbo at the Fruge Farm barn, and then the final Mardi Gras at DI's restaurant in Evangeline, LA.  Still a few days of celebration left!

Typical Cajun Mardi Gras mask ~ all hand made

My sister, my best friend and myself ~ dressed and ready for the Courir de Mardi Gras

Making mischief - about to squirt a gentleman with ketchup!

A typical hand made Cajun Mardi Gras mask

It's Mardi Gras!!!

And in SPITE of the Monsoon we are headed to Fred's in Mamou ~ a Louisiana tradition! They produce a Cajun music show every Saturday morning and on Mardi Gras Day ~ so this morning we're headed that way - I'm bringing my very own Mardi Gras with me in his mask that I made with my own little hands!! Let the FUN begin!!

Don't Eat The Dead Ones!

Don't eat the dead one!!

You may have heard a crawfish lover use that expression ~ but do you know what it means?? 

See that crawfish on the LEFT - see how his tail is straight out?  That means that he was DEAD before he was boiled! 

See the crawfish on the RIGHT - see how his tail is curled up?  That means that he was ALIVE when he was boiled!!

This is your way of knowing that your crawfish will be fresh and great tasting when you eat it - never eat a straight crawfish as it will be mushy and not great tasting ~ but enjoy the heck out of those curled tails!!

We prefer crawfish more than a little spicy and with a "dip" made of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, Tabasco sauce, and any other seasoning that you might want to add - YUMMY!!

Crawfish season runs from early January to Mother's Day weekend - get you some!!

Louisiana Sunset

Somewhere across this amazing state, I hope that two sweethearts shared a glass of wine over this beautiful Valentine's Day sunset.  As for me, I was driving through Mamou, just 45 minutes from my beloved Cottage in Maxie, coming into town to enjoy Mardi Gras.  My sweetheart will join me on Friday evening for a few days of merriment, so for tonight ~ cheers ~ and Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Louisiana sunsets don't get prettier than this!

Crawfish traps in the rice field - beautiful sunset!

I SPY ~ NOLA Style

I love to walk around the Big Easy and just take in the sights ~ It always amazes me how unique South Louisiana is, and how much I love it more each time that I am fortunate enough to visit.  My dream ~ to own a simple townhouse there so that I can go as often as I like, stay as long as I would like, people watch til my heart's content, eat all of the yumminess of NOLA, and most importantly listen ~ to the sounds, the music, the language - it all makes my heart go pitter patter. 

While there over New Years, I spied:

The River Bank while enjoying my 50th Birthday Celebration on a Dinner Jazz Cruise with my Honey Husband and my sister and Hubby!

Crawfish Boulettes - for breakfast, of course!

Beautifully hand woven rugs

Beads and a garter belt - overlooked, I'm sure, since last years' Mardi Gras

A protege perhaps?

The symbol of the city that I love

A BUMPER crop of satsumas this year - NOPE they are not kumquats although they look like it!

Beads, of course!

Fried green tomatoes - again, yes, for breakfast if you please!

The beautiful Cajun French language

A bit of VooDoo

Plenty of Mirlitons at the Farmers Market

And of course an alligator eating a burrito!! 

The Joy of Life ~

Just a Cajun Girl ~ living "the joy of life ~ "

The Cajun Cottage

Life for a displaced Cajun means going home ~ to Southern Louisiana ~ as often as humanly possible.  It means friends ~ not just casual friends ~ but llifelong FRIENDS.  It means food ~ music ~ celebration ~ and sometimes it means having all of that in Texas ~ when the Cajun girl cannot get home.

But, when she CAN get home, she gets to go HOME ~ to a sweet, sweet little Cajun Cottage way down South, on about 3.5 acres.  Nothing much.  Nothing fancy.  Oh, but does it make this Cajun Girl's heart go pitter patter.

The Cajun Cottage ~ or The Cottage as it's affectionately known as. 

 My "Home" away from Home.

Sha ~ my little sweet cottage ~ I just ADORE this place!

A Cajun Favorite - Crawfish - One of the first things that I go
in search of when I go Home!

Yummo fried alligator!

My poor sweet "Texan" friend gave fried frog legs her best shot ~ she just couldn't do it!!

Treasured Friendships

A few more pictures of my beloved CAJUN COTTAGE