A Short Walk Down the Street: The tale of Two Homes

 The short tale of two homes on the same street, a few doors down from my home.

Home Number 1:

 Purchased by many, and left to ruin by one.   Hopefully, this home will find an owner soon and have the necessary funds invested in it for restoration.  It has solid brick construction; no brick veneer over plywood; an inground pool in the rear, a side deck, and a concrete wall around the property; it sits at the corner of my street and a cross street, both of which are red brick.

Home Number Two:

Purchased by a few, short-stayed by the last two couples, that didn't take well to life in the Lil' City by the Red.  Then out of the blue, a person who was born in the Lil' City by the Red came along, said, as MacArthur told the Filipinos, "I will return", and this person did. This person commissioned a nationally renowned landscape architect, saved the Live Oak, did brickwork, and brought a sense of Longevity to the home and property.  This home is located a few homes down from mine.

Saturday in Central Louisiana

 Well, here I am, Saturday in the Lil City by the Red. What does a typical Saturday in the Deep Deep South, Central Louisiana, the locale, look like? It's home to Pine Trees and Po' Folks.

I rose from a sleep, ground me some coffee beans, and made coffee. At the stroke of seven in the morning, I went out, mowed the front yard, hung the new Flag, then made my round of the hardware store, pharmacy, and the meat market. Picked up some pork tenderloins, crawfish boudin from Vron's, and some bacon-wrapped asparagus for supper with a friend tomorrow evening.

Then it was off to the voting booth at 3 in the afternoon; I always go at 3pm to see how many folks had voted in my precinct. Governor Landry (Rep.) has now brought us closed primary voting; it was working too well, so we went from open primaries to closed primaries, then to a single general election.  

Oh, Well. That's how the old ball bounces.

Here is the new flag hanging on the new flagpole, matching the new house color.

First Bloom

 Below is the first bloom of my newest plant, a Dinner-Size plate Dahila.

I am very proud, and it looks like the tuber is going to produce more Plants and Flowers.

Mississpi Sunsets

 As I travel the roads of Mississippi, I am in awe of the Sunsets; the hues are brilliant, then blended, and the colors are truly inspiring.   The middle photograph was taken in the hills outside of McComb, MS, at a friend's home.  The first photograph is on the road; the last photograph is in a field at one of the facilities.

Yep, Got the task at Hand Finished

 Yep, finally there was a break in the rain, so I took advantage of it.   After a deluge of heavy raindrops,  I got out and mowed the front yard.  Also, used the new EGo self-propelled bagging mower to make the task at hand easier.  Happy that Summer has arrived.

The Rain Continues

 "My My," said the old woman sitting on the porch, whose home was on a once dusty gravel road near Catahoula Lake.

Yep, it's raining again; it's been raining here off and on for three weeks. The ground is rotten, and the mildew is creeping into every crevice. The yellow squash in the garden is fading from bright green to dingy yellow.

Please let the Sun shine again.

Summer begins Tomorrow!

June 19th

 After many years, of non-recognition, We celebrate as A Nation:

June Teenth,

 May today be celebrated across this Land we call the United States of America.

Got Home. Its just a good day.

 Got Home.  It is nice to be here.  Hope all are ok.

Let Me Make one Statement Here:

It's Hot Here in the Lil' City by The Red.    Just  HOT!!!!

Wimpy from Popeye the Sailor Man Cartoon Said:

 Wimpy from Popeye the Sailor Man Cartoon Said:

I'll gladly pay you on Tuesday for that hamburger.

So it's going to be that kind of Tuesday,  I suspect.   I sent the Truck to the dealership yesterday to get the suspension re-torqued.  I didn't want to get on the road next week and have anything go wrong.  Preventive maintenance for sure.  Josh at the dealership does a great job with customer care and with the care of what they sell.   I've been doing business with this dealership for 30+ years.

Behind Those Garden Gates

 So many of our homes here have Garden Gates, either on the side of the home or on the property line.  I have always had the privilege of knowing what's behind some of those Garden Gates.  Some I don't due to new owners or new Garden Gates.  

Here are two Garden Gates Close to where I live:

Its Saturday Morning .

 It's Saturday Morning. I am waiting for the Shrimp Man to call. He goes to Baytown, Texas, meets the shrimp boats at 4 a.m., and comes back to the Lil City by the Red with fresh shrimp, taken in the early hours from the coastal waters near Holly Beach, LA.  Most of Calcasieu Parish has been washed away over the years by hurricanes and other storms.  So the Gulf of Mexico knocks on the door, so to speak.

I've been buying fresh shrimp from this man for the last 15 years. He delivers heads-on shrimp, and the count is called U10, meaning there are about 10 to 15 shrimp per pound. Nice and plump, with good fat in the heads.  Great for etoufee making.

The top photograph is raw U10 shrimp; the next photograph is the boiled shrimp in an ice bath of Zatarains Crab Boil to soak up the spice and bay leaf flavors in the body of the shrimp and heads.  

 I usually boil some of the first shrimp I get to make a spicier shrimp and grits.  Since the shrimp are U10 (a Louisiana term for extra-extra-large shrimp), the flavor is concentrated in the fat of the shrimp's head; break off the head and enjoy... suck it clean.  It's akin to suckin' heads of the crawfish.  You always eat the tail.

Another Walk Around the Garden District

 Today's Walk Around will center on renovations, properties to be renovated, streetscape, and alleyways. 

To better bring into perspective the entire story of my dear beloved Garden District.   Just to be Fair and UpFront  

Another Walk around the Neighborhood

 Here is some more photographs from my walk today in the neighborhood.  These photographs were taken wihin three blocks of my house. 

A Morning Walk in the Lil City By the Red

 I finally broke down and got myself a new Canon camera (mirrorless) this time.  My last camera was stole bout a year ago, and I have been taking photos with my iPhone ever since.  Now I am back to taking photos with a decent camera.  I am just learning the camera etc.