I made the bi annual trip to LaFayette yesterday to see the Electro Cardio Dr. While in  the waiting room, there was about 10 folks, no young folks, we all were way over 55+, three of them were on their cell phones.  Two of the three were playing a games, one was texting.  So, basically 30 percent of those gather, waiting to see the good Doctor, were consumed by the cell phone.  I've been noticing lately, how many people are glued to that device.  When I went out biking the other day, almost everyone I passed on the bike path had a cellular device held in a hand, stuck in an ear, on their arm band, ya ya da.  

Can we not take in the beauty of the Day, listen to the birds, hear the geese, watch in amazement the sun rise or sun set.  Without having some electronic device attached.

Even the homeless downtown, now have cell phones, I wonder who they talk to.

And btw, I was told no more bi annual visits, my progress has been very successful, the weight loss, lower BP, has gained me an annual visit, yep one time a year now.  !!!!

Honking of the Geese.... Fall is Coming I really Hope Its Here.

Today, as I was reading the papers and having coffee, I heard the honking of the Geese... I ran outside in my boxers, but I couldn't see them... the > formation had already passed.

So I thought it was time to begin the preparation of the First Pork Belly of the 2015 Fall Season.  I heard the Geese, but didn't see them...

So, I went down to the local meat market. Picked me a small pork belly out of the freezer and brought it home.  You have to brine them for 3 days and then cold smoke (thats low heat on The Egg) for seven hours.

The recipe is as follows for the Brine:  use a good quality salt (not iodine), I use Pink Himalayan, with a mixture of Norris Cane Syrup(From Monroe, La), Local Honey(From Inglewood Organic Farms) , Coriander seeds crushed, Mustard Seeds crushed, all crushed by hand with mortar and pestle, Bay Leaves, White Pepper/Black Peppercorns(all spices are from Penzey's). Refrigerate for three days, turning every 12 hours, then comes The Egg on Sunday.

The Smoking:  Low Heat (185 to 225) , with Cherry Wood that has been soaked in rainwater for a year, 7 hours on The Egg. It comes out caramelized, juicy and full of flavor.  As you know, Pork Belly is where the Bacon comes from.

So, I missed the sightings of the Geese, I'll be faster next time, but the Fall Season is here..hopefully maybe not in the cooler temps, but Its Fall in Louisiana...I know.

Choice for the Night

As told in yesterday's post, I went to John/Bob's last night for supper.  Their boy friday was there also, J-Man.  J-Man prepared the meal, Grilled Salmon, on a bed of cauliflower rice, topped with sautéed spinach.  Great Paleo Meal.  and and and bottles of wine.  I arrived around 730pm, being a lil bit late, the other guests, all neighborhood folks had already arrived.  They were sipping pure pure chilled martinis..... hmmm

I was determined to wake up refreshed this morning, so I set my limit to wine only.  I brought with me,  a Domaine La Croix Saint Laurent Sancerre, I had just received 6 bottles in.

By the time I left,  at a decent hour, 1015pm, I could tell that the dinner party was about to be in full party  mode.

Now, let me say, neighborhood dinner parties do go on after the desert, mine sometimes do, but I have been trying ever so hard to lead a semi monk's life, not rebel rousing that is attributed to my ways before I slowed down here recently.

The text from John this morning indicated the guests had left around 3am. .....  Glad I took a hiatus on staying out ... semi monk's life was a good choice for the night.

Saturday Rounds

Most Saturdays, there is a routine here on the Red Bricks.  Arise,  hopefully from a quiet night, off to the organic farm south of town about 5 miles, pick up the cream for the coffee for the week, look over the veggie selection, say hello to Stephen the cute farm manager, then back to the house.

After coming back to the house, its coffee with organic cream, no half and half here, French Press, fresh ground by me, etc.

After the first look see of the local paper, then a quick thumb's through of the WSJ, its off to make the other rounds on a Saturday.

First to the local hardware store, been in business since 1931 same family, just four generations later, small talk, city talk, etc etc.  then its off to the local liquor store,  Hokus Pokus, to pick up the essentials for a liberating Saturday and the rest of the coming week... check out the new stock guys there.... not chit chat tho.

Next stop is the local meat market... real meat... corn fed, great meat counter, where everybody knows your name... look over the ribeyes, new york strips, filets, pass the hand cut pork chops, to the boudin, and then last but not lest, the homemade sausage and cracklins in the grease behind the counter.... say hello to DarNell, get checked out by Randy the owner... lil chit chat but mostly all business.

Home to put up the meat, chill the beer, and make another pot of French Press....

Put something on the Sonos. to listen to........ its Saturday Afternoon in the Garden District here on the Red Bricks.

After Mass on Saturdays ... I usually get a call to bring a drink at the stroke of 5, to see  Joe Betty and Dick.... its been a standing invitation on Saturday at 5pm for the last 17 years... neighborhood gossip, politics on a local and regional scene... they just happen to be 78 and 85 respectively.

Tonight its no cooking for me... I am headed down the street to Bob/John's for supper.  They moved here about 18 months ago, we have become friends, around my age, they have been together for 30 years. They say that the Red Bricks is will be the new gay baby boomer town... climate, good hospitals, surrounded by National Forest, hiking, biking, good lakes... they say we have what it takes to be the new destination... for the retired gay baby boomer.

Tonight, they are gathering all of us up, who have entertained them, extended that right hand of Southern Friendship over the last many months... and we will sup from the cup and break a lil bread....

All on Saturday......... Making the rounds

Times a Changing .... a Lil' Bit... Old Ways are Fading... is it for The Better ????

Its Ministers Night down at the local Police Station, its only a few blocks from where I live. They are having supper, supplied by a Sheriff from the neighboring Parish.  You know, Louisiana doesn't have counties, we have Parishes.  Its part of the uniqueness that Louisiana has.  Louisiana Hospitality is even far more than the Southern Hospitality that is known throughout the South.

Somehow, we are loosing that uniqueness in some ways, a lot of Parishes are leaving the Police Jury type government, going to Home Rule Charters.  We are building bridges across the Missisippi River and taking the Ferries away.  A lot of us don't eat Red Beans and Rice on Mondays, doing our washin' day.  You always washed on Monday, clothes that is, and cooked Red Beans and Rice.

The DWI laws are becoming tougher, our local bars are drying up... no customers, everybody is drink in' at the house.  No getting a six pack and riding down the road anymore....to a local cafe for supper...we all are encouraged to have a DD.

The Law of the Land is changing, I know, everything is  suppose to be safer, quieter, better.  Louisiana Folks like a lil hell raising, we like our politicians to be a lil bit on the Loud side, to hedge a lil bit on certain subjects..... just makes it a lil more fun to talk about.

So, tonight, I will stroll down to the street, eat a lil catfish, drink a lil ice tea and chit chat with the Baptist, Catholic, and Pentecostals.... if it was just the Catholics.. we could step to the parking lot and have a cold beer..!!!

Giving Back

I was reading in the WSJ  (Wednesday 9.16.15,  D1), today about a Lady named Luzie Hatch.  Ms. Hatch in her will, endowed a scholarship fund to benefit college students who "without such aid, would not be able to pursue their education".  Ms. Hatch named the fund in honor of her father, not herself.

So, many times, I believe, we don't give back as we should.  We are concerned with our lives, ourselves, close family, etc.  Which is not a bad thing, but sometimes we should just stop, think, and Give Back in some small way to each other.

Ms. Hatch did.

Post Note: Ms. Hatch is the subject of a book written by Charolette Bonelli "Exit Berlin".

Ramblings Again on a Wednesday Night

Ah.... almost 10pm on a Wednesday night in the lil city by the Red River.

I'm slowing down a bit now, its been a very hectic ten or so days for me.  I left last Tuesday to make the trek home to the Mother Land, heart of All Southern Traditions, where time stands really still for the most part.  Nothing has changed but the passing of folks and the sand in the creeks.

I found my sister thriving as she builds her "forever home" on the family place, also, my son is doing the same.

They will have my brother to contend with, all within a scant one mile radius of each other.

While I was there, I rode and drove a combine, (belongs to my brother, one of several big green machines in his fleet), visited the now abandoned home of my Grandmother, actually the home I grew up in.  Walked around the home, dropped a tear or two as the sun set on the tree line to the West.

Dined, at all the "in" places in Baton Rouge.  Stayed at one of the renovated downtown hotels in BR.  I visited with old college friends, we counted the years, gee... it makes me realize how long I have been  up here in the Red River Valley... most of my working adult life now.

And more back to the family........ my brother and I (I'm the oldest of three) has had a contentious relationship off and on. He is the middle child, my sister is the baby. He had the looks of my father, I had the looks of my mother.  He was always the athlete, the valedictorian of his class.  He opted upon graduation from college to go to work for a major oil company, I on the other hand, sort a career path in public administration. All three of us "chaps" as my Momma would call us,  completed college, actually the same state university. My brother, always, to this day, must be the best, have the prettiest wife, the biggest equipment, etc. etc. etc....  but over the last few years our relationship has become less of a sibling rivalry.  He was always the pusher, trying to best the older brother.  I could never best him, actually, I wasn't the athlete, didn't make beaucoup la jean.  I believe, he has come to realize that I will not return to my roots to live, he can enjoy that. No threat of the older brother's return, just now and then an occasional visit.  I would like to someday, renovate my grandmother's home, before they store hay in it, so I could have a weekend home to come to on occasion.  Bring all of my friends!!!

My sister, oh my baby sister, has returned to the family place, after years of wandering the world.  She retired as a Lt. Colonel from the Air Force. Her duty stations, took her to the Pacific Rim and around the world.  She is a very accomplished professional, decorated officer, and my lil sister.  She lives with her two Labs, she has always had dogs.  She is building her "forever home" on the family place, across the road from my brother.  I am sure in her social worker way, she has set the boundaries for brother and her.  Her take on the comings and goings back home has interest for me.  She has offered for me to build a "camp" in the back of her section of the home place, to come on weekends and bring my friends.  It was a nice gesture, but I declined, there is something about family togetherness that I haven't experienced in such a long time, not sure if I am up for all of that.

I have lead a very independent life here on the banks of the Red River. In counting years, its sometimes has been 2 or 3 before I would make the trek, back there.  Oh, I maintain contact through telephone, telegraph, and the tacky birthday card.  But making a regular trip there,  on a regular basis, naw...I haven't. Which, I think is a Good Thing.

However, all in all, I enjoyed my lil trek back to the land of my birth, back to where time stands still, back to old friends, son, sister, brother, and assorted other family members.  The most memorable time was  watching the sun set on the tree line, behind my Grandmother's home, that home, raised my father, saw him married my Momma, and begin his family...... Us Three Chaps.

Home is where the Heart Is

I made it home... to the Red Bricks of my lil street.

I am glad to be back......

I had a very pleasant visit with all the kin folks.....

As I begin to think about the journey back across the two rivers, to the land of my birth, I will write more.

The distance back home is nominal, but the separation is as wide as an ocean.