Louisiana Road Trips January 2012 Edition

Louisiana Road Trips – 2 – www.laroadtrips.com

Celebrate in Natchitoches!New water feature and garden provides perfect venue

Beau Jardin is a brand new water featureand garden area located on the downtownriverbank in Virginia Baker Park, locatedwithin the heart the Natchitoches NationalHistoric Landmark District.

Beau Jardin, French for “beautifulgarden,” is a formal garden specificallydesigned to host weddings and receptions ofall sizes. The highlight of Beau Jardin is anexquisite waterfall beginning at the top ofFront Street and cascading down theriverbank to flow into Cane River Lake. Largestones frame the waterfall as it flowsthroughout the garden that is surrounded byterraced flagstone plazas, native Louisianaplants and other landscaping.

Beau Jardin is the perfect venue forweddings, rehearsal dinners or setting for anyoutdoor special event such as concerts, wineand cheese receptions, bridal or baby showersand much more. Beau Jardin makes astunning backdrop for wedding, engagement,senior or family portraits.

The venue will help compliment thegrowing wedding industry in Natchitoches.The Natchitoches area is rapidly becoming a

popular wedding destination not just for thosein Louisiana but people from around thecountry. Named in 2011 as one of the MostRomantic Main Streets in the United Statesby the National Trust for HistoricPreservation, Natchitoches is a romanticgetaway for those seeking to become engaged,married or take a romantic getaway.

Beau Jardin will be showcased at twoevents this March – the annual NatchitochesBridal Extravaganzaon Sunday, March 11,2012 and Bloomin’ onthe Bricks onSaturday, March 24,2012. The calendar isfilling up rapidly in2012 for weddingsand events in BeauJardin and adjoiningRoque House gardens.

For moreinformation aboutBeau Jardin or theRoque House gardens,call the Natchitoches

Main Street office at (318) 352-2746 or emailLisa Cooley at [email protected].

Information and photographs about BeauJardin can be found online at:www.natchitochesweddings.net orwww.theknot.com

Like us on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ Beau-Jardin/199633846722339.

ROAD TRIPS"Celebrating country living and city happenings!"

j a n u a r y c o n t e n t sBOOK REVIEW16 Get Off Your Attitude by Deborah Burst

BUSINESS REVIEW9 Medicating Your Cat

18 Cane River Kitchenware

DELTA OUTDOORS4 My Favorite Fishing Hole by Joe Joslin

Fishing News

10 In the Crosshairs by Sonny HarringtonAfter the Shot

18 Real Cajun Food and Fun! by Johnny Wink

HISTORICAL13 In Search of Unique & Interesting Places

by Lee Estes

14 Louisiana in the Civil War: January 1862: The Trent Affairby Terry L. Jones

17 A Husband’s Farewell: The Story of MollieE. Dansby Dunston by Lora Peppers

HUMOR5 Runnin’ the Roads by Barbara Sharik

Advice you won’t find in a Bride’sHandbook

8 A Life of Trial…and Error by Dennis Stewart

November in Wyoming...Again

Talkin’It Up!

This last year has brought melove and disappointment, joy andheartache, opportunity andchallenges, healing and personalgrowth, and a deeperunderstanding of the love of God.It’s also brought me a lot of newfriends as I said goodbye to oldones.

I’ve seensome ground,too – from thebreathtakingvistas ofsouthwesternMontana(several times)and Wyoming to Austin and theTexas hill country, Chattanooga,Branson, Mobile, Birmingham,Hattiesburg and most ofMississippi, to Arkansas, NewOrleans, and my beloved Louisiana.We live in such a beautiful countrythat I sometimes wonder whypeople travel elsewhere. But thenagain, northern Italy is on mybucket list…

In 2011, I got a great deal on anew car in Dallas, put my home upfor sale in West Monroe, wrote andsold several articles, took manygreat photographs, read a fewexceptional books, and had somememorable conversations withsome fascinating people. Nowthat’s living – the good and bad,the ups and downs, the blessingsand the trials. By the grace of God,I made it through another year andinto a new one. And so did you.My Montana friend says it best,“As long as you’re this side of dirt,anything’s possible!”

My wish for you is that 2012brings you love, joy, peace,adventure, and everything yourheart desires. Make it your best yetand let’s keep in touch.

MonaMona L. Hayden, Editor/[email protected](318) 547-1221

17 All Things Southern by Shellie Tomlinson“Jerry Don’s in Paulette’s Crosshairs”

INSPIRATIONAL15 Wise Inscription by Robert Lemoine

MONTHLY TIDBITS3 Talkin’ It Up!5 Louisiana Lagniappe – Remember When

7 Going Native by Larry BrockThe Charm & Value of Trees

7 Backtalk14 Louisiana Lagniappe Answers14 End of a Landmark by Carolyn Files15 We Are 2012 . . . By Su Stella

RECIPES9 Recipes by Stacy Thornton

ROAD TRIPS2 Celebrate in Natchitoches!

6 Travel Adventure by Dianne NewcomerNew Beginnings!

11 Beds & Beignets by Mary WhiteCelebrating Greek Revival Design in Darrow

12 Hit the Road – by Deborah BurstForgotten Soldiers


Foreffective,low-cost

advertising,call

Mona L. Hayden(318) 547-1221

Fishing NewsBy Pro Angler, Joe Joslin

Major sponsor…The Association ofCollegiate Anglers hasjust announced thathuge lure

manufacture, Pure Fishing, will continuesupport of the 2012 BoatUS Collegiate BassFishing Championship Series. The CollegiateBass Fishing Series is one of the fastestgrowing fishing circuits in the country ascolleges/universities are fielding teams.Louisiana schools had some of the earliestteams to compete in this series during its fiveyears. McNeese State is organizing a team andwill also compete this year. Louisiana Tech,LSU Monroe, LSU Shreveport, Northwesternand LSU have been competing for severalseasons and have been some of the highestranked teams in the country and look forwardto other joining. With the caliber of younganglers in our state,it’s no surprise thatwe are verycompetitive.

As a seriessponsor, PureFishing will enjoyextensivepromotion andproduct exposurewith collegiateanglers throughout the nation and studentswill have the opportunity to win bonuses aswell as save on Pure Fishing products. PureFishing is a world-wide company of qualityfishing products including well-known brandssuch as Berkley, Abu Garcia, Spiderwire, Stren,Penn, Pflueger, Fenwick, and Sebile, and wasone of the earliest companies to supportcollegiate bass fishing. In my opinion, therewill be multiple collegiate bass anglers movinginto the professional ranks of bass fishing.Other student anglers after graduation couldmove into job positions in the fishing industrythrough relationships started in ACA. This is awin-win situation for student anglers and thefishing/boating industry as it opens up jobopportunities for graduates while providingthe industry a pool of bright, educated youngemployees who love the outdoors and fishing.

Wade Middleton, Tournament Directorfor the Association of Collegiate Anglers,explains another perk. “We've touchedcountless anglers and allowed them tocompete with premium products, whichwould be difficult for many of them withoutthe support of the purchase and contingencyprograms we've designed in conjunction withPure Fishing.”

Lake conditions and boat rampupdate… The lake remains at very lowlevels but recent rains have helped bringit up slightly from its lowest ever level of159.4' with thefull pool level at172' mean sealevel. Watertemps are in the50s and therecontinues to be nogenerating at thedam due to lowlevels. The IndianMounds mainnorth rampextension projectby SRA Texas hasbeen completedand is in use.Indian Mounds is

a popularfishingarea for numerous Toledo anglersand is located on the Texas side ofthe lake just above Housen Bay orapproximately 15 miles north of thedam on the west side of the lake.Work continues on severallaunches on both the LA and TXsides of the lake. Also, Louisiana

SRA continues its boat lane stump-clearing project from San Miguel areasouth to Pleasure Point Resort area. Atpress time they had cleared about 20miles of boat lanes.

Fishing license issues… Toledo is aborder lake with the east side inLouisiana and the west side in Texas.Either licenses, TX or LA, allow you tofish anywhere on the lake. You can evenlaunch on the Texas side with Louisianalicenses and be legal. Both licenses arereciprocal so simply purchase the licensethat is cheapest. And finally, there iscomplete agreement for creellimit/regulations from both states. As faras largemouth bass, the limit is 8 per dayof fish being a minimum of 14 inches longwhile crappie/white perch the creel limitis 25 per day with no minimum length.

Fishing for both bass and crappiecontinues to be good-to-excellent. For anupdated full report, go to our websitewww.joejoslinoutdoors.com.

Joe Joslin is a syndicated outdoor columnist,tournament angler and pro guide on Toledoand Sam Rayburn. Contact him at 337-463-3848, [email protected], orwww.joejoslinoutdoors.com.

MY FAVORITE FISHING HOLE

Toledo Angler, CoyWalters, with anotherbig Toledo largemouthcaught on a StanleyVibrasgaft spinnerbait. The Collegiate

Bass FishingSeries is one of the

fastest growingfishing circuits in

the country.

PUBLISHERLRT Publications

______________________

EDITORIAL DIRECTORMona L. Hayden

[email protected](318) 547-1221

OUR GUARDIAN ANGELDebbie Hamilton Pope

June 14, 1952-August 24, 2008

SALESMona L. Hayden

(318) 547-1221Robert Lemoine(318) 381-9449

Sunny Meriwether(318) 547-8126Cheryl Yates

(318) 235-6493

Websitewww.laroadtrips.com

Louisiana Road Trips magazine is publishedmonthly to promote, inform, and entertain theresidents of Louisiana. It is distributed FREE;however, home delivery is available. This magazinewill reach approximately 61,000 individuals.

Submission of articles and photos are alwayswelcome but may be limited to availability of spaceand edited for content.

Copyright 2012 with all rights reserved. Reproductionof any material appearing within this publication isprohibited without written permission of the Publishers.The opinions expressed in Louisiana Road Tripsmagazine are those of the authors or columnists anddo not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,nor do they constitute an endorsement of products orservices herein. “Louisiana Road Trips” magazineretains the right to refuse any advertisement.

P. O. Box 2452West Monroe, LA 71294

(318) 547-1221

ROAD TRIPS

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When TammyWynette sang “DIVORCE”,she didn’t touch on one

single problem encountered within every familyexperiencing this event. It’s far more profoundthan a trip to an attorney followed by a trip toDivorce Court where fighting over money, kidsand stuff begins, but rarely ends.

No one enters marriage planning it to end indivorce, therefore, there are some things that nevercross the minds of newlyweds. This isn’t “DearAbby” but what I’m about to discuss is in factmore important than any advice she might offer. Itinvolves a bona fide dilemma that must be dealtwith when a marriage ends indivorce.

In two words: Family Photos.Okay, we know wedding photosbecome rubbish upon divorce, butwhat about family group shotstaken during holidays? Christmasis right around the corner. I’m sorryI didn’t get this info out beforeThanksgiving.

Picture this (no pun intended). Here’s thissuper family photo featuring the parents, childrenand their spouses and grandchildren, perhaps

even the family dog and everybody -- including thedog -- is smiling for the camera. However,somewhere between last Christmas and thisThanksgiving, a divorce was decreed.

Because Mom had the photograph of thehappy family gathering enlarged and professionallyframed and hung on dining room wall, every timeDaughter Dear visits her parents, she sees her ex’sridiculously obnoxious leering face peering down ather. And, she is not smiling. The photo is terrific –except for her ex’s ridiculously obnoxious leeringface in the middle of it. So she does what any exwould do, of course. She takes the professionallyframed photo down from the wall, breaks in and

with a razor blade, neatly slices out hisridiculously obnoxious leering face,leaving a conspicuous hole in the centerof the once perfect picture. Better a hole,she contends, than that ridiculouslyobnoxious leering face. Afterward, she re-hangs the doctored family photo, dustsher hands and grins with pleasure for ajob well done. But it’s not really well

done. There’s the conspicuous hole in the center ofthe group portrait.

Actually, rather than creating obvious holes incountless family photos, there are better ways toresolve the problem. Considering statistics, merelyplan ahead. For group shots of the family, alwaysput spouses on one end or the other; never slap-dabin the middle. This way cutting out an ex-spouse’sface, even the whole body, is simpler. Less obviousalso.

Please add this info into the Bride’s Handbookfor future references. On the other hand, for those ofyou already married but who made the mistake ofletting the spouse stand in the center of the familygroup photo, there’s another option. In most varietystores, over on the aisle that sells birthday napkins,plates, balloons and an assortment of party favors,

are generally packages of stickers. Irecommend selecting a package ofSmiley Face stickers. Merely stick

a Smiley Face over an ex’sridiculously obnoxious

leering face. And, since allexes have ridiculously

obnoxious leering facessometimes you just have to

ask, “What was I thinkingwhen I tied that stringy

knot?” Sticking on Smiley

Faces is much better than cuttingholes in family group photos.

All joking aside, ifunpleasant break-ups could beavoided the photograph wouldsimply be a part of family historyand not a reminder of badfeelings. The couple, for the mostpart, once loved each other andthat love produced children andthe children grew to love bothparents. Then the break-up beginswith two adults bent upondestroying each other, ruiningChristmas and confusing thechildren. Sadly, all the HappyFaces in the world won’t help.

Barbara Sharik makes her home at Wit'sEnd in Jones, Louisiana with a couple olddogs, young dogs and several stupiddogs, a cat, a talking cockatiel and awhite dove. She's active in civic affairs,serves as a Justice of the Peace, a NotaryPublic, is the Clerk for the Village ofBonita and a columnist for the BastropDaily Enterprise. She has authoredseveral books. You can e-mail Barbara [email protected].

There’s theconspicuous

hole in thecenter of the

group portrait.

Advice you won’t find in aBride’s Handbook

RUNNIN’ THE ROADS By Barbara Sharik

ouisianaRemember When . . .

1. Where does the Ouachita Riverbegin?

2. How was Coca-Cola created?3. In antebellum homes, what was the

‘garconniere’?4. What ingredient in Budweiser

Beer is grown in Louisiana?5. What was the first parish

seat of West CarrollParish?

6. Tallulah graduateHarold Jenkins hasmany hit songs to his credit? What is his recordingname?

7. What was the original name of St.Joseph?

8. What does the baby represent in a MardiGras King cake?

9. What was the original name of Jonesboro?10. What does Boscobel mean?

Answers on next page 14



New Beginnings!and Progresso, Mexico.

According to the bride, the formerRandi Spence, theirwedding/honeymoon was "the mostperfect day a girl could dream of,followed by a great cruise filled withridiculously wonderful memories! Itwas the most perfect beginning.... "

A new year ishere and 2012 is theperfect time for anew beginning! Asyour travel agent, Iwould like tochallenge you. Whynot make it yournew year resolutionto add a little sparkleinto your days...maybe a newadventure, a new

experience, a new place to visit? Be likea young newlywed again, dare to defythe everyday and claim life as yourown again. Step out. Do somethingfun. Go enjoy our world!

An old Irish proverb says"making the beginning is one third ofthe work" but lucky for you, MONROETRAVEL SERVICE is here to help you"begin." We sell the world – from atrip to the top of Kilimanjaro to anAlaskan cruise, it can all be arrangedat our travel agency at 1908 GlenmarStreet in Monroe, right next door tothe Muffin Tin. We’ve been inbusiness for over 40 years so we havesolid contacts all over the world. Letus be the first step to an unforgettablejourney in 2012!

Come see us at MONROETRAVEL SERVICE or email me [email protected]. Let's worktogether on beginning. Do it nowsimply because you can. Start

TRAVEL ADVENTURE By Dianne Newcomer

I love weddings.Everyone always looks sohappy and even if somethinggoes awry, we still smile.Weddings symbolize newbeginnings as two peopledare to take the first step of a

journey together. Filled with hope and love, theyvow to start rightwhere they are.Together, they standbefore family andfriends and claim timeas their own from thismoment forward. Newroles start with samepeople, only different.Their optimism defiesthe world to interferewith their happiness.

As I looked at thegreat wedding photos sent to MONROE TRAVELSERVICE by newlyweds Randi and Cash Frazier, Ihad to smile. The excitement of new beginnings canbe seen in the smiling faces of this cute youngcouple who were recently married aboard thebeautiful little ship, TRIUMPH, in its newhometown port of Galveston. After celebrating withfamily and friends who joined them onboard thecruise ship for their special day, Mr. and Mrs. Frazierset sail on a 5-day honeymoon cruise to Cozumel


Welcome toTwenty Twelve. In aworld of mountingcrises, worry andstress can creep inlike so many weeds.

But look up! On New Year’s Eve, Sirius wasstill the brightest star in the midnight sky.On New Year’s Day, the sun rose as usual.Nature’s cycles have recurred year afteryear for millennia. Take comfort from thepromise of continuity inGenesis 8:22 – For as longas the earth exists…summer and winter andday and night will neverend.

When the pressureof life gets you down, gooutside and look around.Though frost has nipped the grass, summerflowers have faded, and trees are now bare,the spirit of life abounds. From bloomingsasanquas and sweet olive to colorfulviolets, pansies and snapdragons. Fromsquirrels and deer to songbirds and geese.From mushrooms and lichen to berries andseed. To paraphrase naturalist JohnBurroughs, “Nature is the place to be soothedand healed and have the senses put in order.”Landscapes of peace and harmony bid youwelcome.

In Louisiana, the third Friday inJanuary is Arbor Day. Check out our nativetrees. Here along the River, bottomlandhardwood forests and swamps were theoriginal landscape. Though millions ofacres were clearcut, trees still constitute thelargest body of native plants in thelandscape – from towering cottonwoodsand sycamores to oaks, hackberries andsweetgums. Lowlands are populated bybald cypresses and tupelo gums to swampred maples, elms and ashes. Upland realmscontain species like soaring tulip-poplarsand hickories to majestic red oaks andwhite oaks to black cherries and maples.Then there’re the evergreens like live oaks,magnolias, pines and red cedars … plus thenumerous small flowering trees likeredbuds, dogwoods, fringes, mayhaws andcrabapples. We’re all familiar with thesenative trees.

Appreciate the value of our trees. Theymodify climate by shading hot summer sunand blocking cold winter winds, thereby

reducing utility bills. Roots anchor soil and reduceerosion, resulting in cleaner water. Trees humidifythe air by taking in moisture through their rootsand releasing it as vapor into the atmospherethrough their leaves. Trees clean the air byaccumulating dust on their leaves and bark that thenext rain will wash onto the ground. Finally,during photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon fromthe atmosphere and release oxygen we need tobreathe. Wow! Our very existence depends upontrees. Makes you wonder why we’re cutting ‘em

down. For wildlife, trees offer

protection from predators,security during storms, refugewhen roosting, shelter whileparenting, and food such as sap,buds, nectar, pollen, fruit andseed. They supply humans withfood and

medicinal compounds. Leaves,blooms and fruit delight our sensesof sight and smell and taste. In life,trees provide structure to thelandscape, beautify the environment,increase property values and enrichthe soul. Even in death they’revaluable, supplying fuel for fire,cellulose for paper, material forartwork and lumber for construction.No wonder the poet Joyce Kilmercould rave, “I think thatI shall never see, A poemas lovely as a tree!”

Consider addingtrees to your landscape.Choose those that areadapted to your site.Protect them from tree-trimmers by plantingthem away from utilitylines. Set them backfrom homes, streets,drives, property linesand sidewalks too. Toprevent the spread ofrust diseases, avoidplanting cedar treesnear flowering crabs orhaws. Your local LSUAgCenters havebooklets describingtrees suitable forLouisiana soils andclimates. For moreadvice, consult your

local library, friends, nurseries and ofcourse, the Internet.

From townships to road trips, treesare our present companions. As we enterthe new year, resolve to care for theseelders of the plant world. And take time tonotice this amazing planet we live on – thecomplexity of the natural order, therelationship of its diverse elements, and theflowing simplicity as it functions.

Plan now to enrich your life inTwenty Twelve by Going Native.

A life-long resident of Lake Providence, Larry Brockwas inspired by his grandfather’s passion forgardening and his own desire to recover thehorticultural uniqueness of this region. Larry isdrawn to the relationships between plants, birds,insects and soil and can be found puttering outdoorsin his yard most any time, weather permitting.

The Charm & Value of TreesGOING NATIVE By Larry Brock

They modify climateby shading hot

summer sun andblocking cold winter

winds, therebyreducing utility bills.

I look so forward to each issue ofLouisiana Road Trips and have foryears now. I really like theupcoming events here in Louisianaand especially the in-depthpreservation articles. Extremelywell written.

~Steve Mintz, Monroe, LA

Canton, Texas is one of my favorite places on the planet! At FirstTrade Days, if you can’t find what you need, want, or wish for, thenthey probably don’t make it. Thanks for printing what I’ve beentelling everybody for years. ~Elizabeth S., Haughton, LA

My favorite column is Bed and Beignets [by Mary White]. Not onlydo I get a glimpse into a different bed and breakfast each month, Ialso learn about the local history and events in that area. Please tellMs. White how much I enjoy her articles and pictures.

~Jan W., Natchitoches, LA

Do you think Stacy Thornton [LRT Recipes]would come to myhouse and cook for me? Her recipes make my mouth water but Ican’t cook a lick! Lol ~A. G., via email

BACK

TALK

November in Wyoming...AgainThe temperature in

West Monroe was 37degrees when my huntingbuddy Chuck and I pulledout at 7am the secondThursday in November

2011, headed to Wyoming for our fifth year ofdeer hunting. When we arrived at our destinationin tiny Moorcroft late the next afternoon, thetemperature was 43 degrees – colder in Louisianathan in Wyoming!

It was wonderful to be back in Wyoming.The rut was definitely on; several times we hadto slam on the brakes to avoidmule deer bucks chasing doesacross the highway. Small herdsof pronghorn antelope grazedon the sage-filled prairies. Mostof the road side ponds hadsmall pockets of unfrozen waterfilled with ducks.

When we checked into ourrooms at the small mom and pop motel weusually stay at, we found that the televisionsdidn't work. The owner hadn't paid the cable billso we really were roughing it. To make up for it,he gave us a night free. We drove to our favoriterestaurant, The Wild Side, for chicken fried steaksbut were disappointed to see it had closed itsdoors. So we went to our second favoriterestaurant, The Hub, but discovered they wereserving only veterans, giving away free dinnersfor Veterans Day. As Hearing Officers, Chuck andI are both veterans of the divorce wars, and wehave the mental scars to show it, but alas, we arenot military veterans so we went to the lastrestaurant in town and ordered the special: hotturkey and cheese sandwiches with tomato soup.

Before daylight the next morning we metWayne at his ranch where we hunted theprevious four years. Wayne's full time job isoperating heavy equipment at the Gillette coalmine and his part time job is running his 3,000acre ranch. Wayne is a great friend. He isn't a big

game guide but lets people hunt on his ranch inexchange for a nominal trespass fee. He’s veryaccommodating such as three years ago, when Ihadn't taken my deer by the third day, he spent anentire day showing me new areas to hunt and I gotmy deer. Last year Chuck shot a big mule deer buckthat ran into a deep snow-filled canyon beforeexpiring. We were both in pending heart attackmode from dragging the deer through the snowwhen Wayne drove up in his 4 wheeler and hauledthe deer out for us.

Our agreement this year was for Chuck to havefirst choice on whitetail bucks, and for me to have

first choice on mule deer bucks. Like anidiot, I shot the first decent mule deerbuck I saw on the first day. My deer huntwas over and my buck rather small. Atleast I had a wild turkey tag. Unlike lastyear with snow on the ground every dayand temps dropped to zero, this year theweather was very mild for Wyoming.Nighttime lows in the 20's, daytime highs

in the 40's, and very little snow. Early on the third morning, however, the

temp was in the low teens and Chuck shot a verybig mule deer buck. It had 4 points on one side,and 3 points on the other side, plus the brow tines.

After taking pictures, I grabbed a Coke fromthe inside of the truck, and when I popped it open,it froze before I could take a sip. That's cold! Upuntil that time, we had seen only two turkeys, andI had missed one from 300 yards with my 270. Butas we arrived at the deer skinning tree, I saw asmall group of turkeys on a distant hillside.Leaving Chuck to skin his deer alone as best hecould, I began my stalk. I looked them all over andsettled on the biggest one. One shot from 80 yardsput it away and the 270 bullet left very littlecleaning to be done. My third Merriam wildturkey! I was surprised to see a small 8 pointwhitetail buck come nosing around the expiredturkey five minutes later.

As is our tradition, we took Wayne's fatherLoren out to dinner one night. Mr. Loren is 80 years

old and he has lived on the ranchhis entire life, except for a stint inthe military. He is a remarkablestory teller, with a great memoryfor detail. He gets around a littleslower these days, after a haybaler ran over him and broke hisleg, but he continues to drivehimself over the mountain roadsnear the ranch.

I returned to Louisiana alittle wiser. On the hunting TVshows, they say never to pass upon the first day a deer that youwould be happy with the lastday. That's baloney. From now

A LIFE OF TRIAL…AND ERROR By Dennis Stewart

The ownerhadn't paid thecable bill so we

really wereroughing it.


on, my rule is to never shoot on thefirst day an average deer for theterritory. You can always take anaverage deer on the last day. Or, asmy friend and hunting guide JimShell of Rough Country Outfittersonce told me when I was bearhunting, it's better to hold out forthe monster bear or deer and gohome empty handed than it is tosettle for an average animal. I thinkthe same rule holds true whenchasing women in bars. In anyevent, Chuck has now killed thebiggest deer three out of the fiveyears we have been going toWyoming so next year willdefinitely be my turn!Dennis Stewart grew up in northeastLouisiana, graduated from La Tech and LSULaw School. After having taught law atULM and working as an Assistant DistrictAttorney, Dennis is now a Hearing Officerin Rayville. He loves to hunt, fish, read,write, and shop on eBay.


MedicatingYour Cat

Applying medications to the skin can be relativelyeasy but always put health and safety first. It is alsoimportant to treat for the full length of time prescribed,even if the problem seems resolved. Your veterinarianwill recommend the best application technique forcream, ointment, lotion, or patch. When applying, beaware of the following issues:• Some medications should be allowed to dry before

people or other pets come in contact with them.Follow instructions on the package.

• If applying medication to inflamed or damaged skin,be careful not to further irritate with too much rubbing.

• If you are using a patch (e.g., for pain control), be verycareful that it does not come off and become stuck to aperson or another pet.

• If your cat licks the medication off, consider using anElizabethan collar—a cone-shaped collar that fits overyour cat’s head to prevent licking.

You may want to hold your cat on your lap on afolded towel to reduce the chance of being scratched.Cats can also be wrapped in a large towel and heldagainst your body, exposing only the head and area tobe treated.

Ringing in the New Year always has us reflectingon the past and looking to the future. 2011 will be ayear that I will always remember as many thingshappened and I realize just how blessed I am. Weshould remember that each and every day is ablessing so get out there and embrace it. Cheers togood health, happiness, and laughter. Happy NewYear to you all!!

by Stacy ThorntonRECIPESMocha Hot Fudge Brownie Cake… One last splurge

1 cup all purpose flour 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa1/2 cup milk, room temperature 2 tsp baking powder1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4 tsp salt1 1/2 cups boiling water or coffee 1 1/4 cups sugar, divided3 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tsp vanilla1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa whipped cream or ice cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour with cocoa, bakingpowder, salt, and 3/4 cup sugar. Stir in milk, oil, and vanilla. Spreadbatter in a lightly greased 8 x 8 inch baking dish. Combine brownsugar, remaining sugar, with 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa. Sprinkleover batter. Pour 1 1/2 cups water or coffee over cake. DO NOT STIR.Bake in preheated oven for about 30 to 35 minutes. Serve withwhipped topping or ice cream.

Creole Black Eyed Peas and Rice1 lb ground beef 2 small onions, chopped1 cup chopped bell pepper 1 cup long grain rice2 cups water 1 tbsp Creole seasoning1 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp garlic powder2 cans black eyed peas, drained

Brown beef with onion and bell pepper until no longer pink in a largeskillet. Drain if needed. Add rice, water, and seasonings to the skilletand bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, simmer for 15 minutesthen stir in black eyed peas. Continue cooking for an additional 15minutes or until water is absorbed and peas are heated through.Delicious!!

New Year's Eve Cakes1 small onion 1 tbsp olive oil2 (16oz) cans black eyed peas, drained 1 large egg8oz cream cheese, softened 1/2 tsp salt1 tbsp chopped green onions 1 tsp hot sauce1 tsp dried onion flakes 8oz pkg hush puppy mixGarnish with sour cream, pepper jelly, and salsa

Saute onion in olive oil until tender. Combine 1 can of peas in foodprocessor with cream cheese, onions, egg, hot sauce, onion flakes andsalt. Process until smooth. In a large bowl mix processed black eyedpea mixture with hush puppy mix and the remaining black eyed peas.Mix well. Cover baking sheet with waxed paper. Form 2 tablespoonsof mixture into small patties and place on baking sheet. Chill coveredfor about 1 hour. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Cookblack eyed pea cakes in olive oil for about 4 minutes on each side untilcrisp. Serve with sour cream, pepper jelly, and/or salsa.


You’ve workedreally hard on yourfood plots and set outsome mineral blocks forhorn growth. Beenwatching those trailcameras for months.

Now you wake up three hours before daylight todrive 97 miles to climb a tree in the middle of thewoods. Spent last Saturday shooting and sightingin your European scope on your Japanese maderifle with a Turkish walnut stock.Boy, I love this country! About anhour after daylight a doe comesby, looking back over hershoulder cause there is romancein the air. NOTE TO SELF: Thisstuff will get you killed. Then afew minutes behind her, out hecomes. Check the horns. That’sall you can see – horn out pasthis ears, and tall – perfect. Fastestgrowing bone in nature, no matter what anybodysays. These horns drop off just after winter andgrow til late September. Rub the velvet off andyou have symmetrically beautiful horns. Adornyour wall, make knife handles, decorate achandelier…let me get back to the story. Hewalks out on the trail of this deer so you knowwhat direction he is going. You pick out yourspot ahead of him, a small clearing with no brushand vine in the way to deflect the bullet. Heenters the opening and you stop him for the shot.Make a grunt, bleat, whistle, whatever. I usuallygo BLAAA with my mouth. Hey, it works!

Place your shot – heart, liver, lungs – certaindeath. He jumps, kicks and takes off like nothinghappened. If you did your homework right, you gothim. Now all you have to do is find him. If you’vegot access to a good tracking dog you can stopreading this and go read Johnny Wink’s article on“Trophy Wives”. If you want your deer, first takenote of exactly where he was when the shot wasmade. Take a few deep breaths if this is your firstrodeo. My son always says he’s got ‘the nerves’ andI look down and see his little legs bouncing all overthe place.Marking yourspot is primaryto begintracking. Thingslook differentwhen you walkover to whereyou thought thedeer wasstanding. While we’re at it, let’s wait 30 minutes orso. Give him time to lay down. Don’t rush it unlessit’s raining or almost dark.

Carefully enter the area. Let’s see, was it bythis tree or that palmetto? You may find where hedug out. How about hair, what kind? Longwhite? Shot low. Brown short? Blood? Aconfirmed hit. What kind of blood? Pink foam?Lungs. Dark red? Arteries, heart, liver. Now mark

it with flagging or toilet paper or somethingcause if you start this process over, it’s nice to seewhere you started. Your head is going to bedown and I hope you have a GPS because younever know if you’ll need it. Sometimes you findnothing – no hair, no blood, no track in the mud.What happened? This can’t be. Kinda like anAlfred Hitchcock movie. Don’t fret, it’s a crimescene. You can do it because you’ve watched CSI.Wish you had some Luminal, the spray thatmakes body fluids florescent, but you probably

don’t. Follow the trail placingmarkers and flags til you find thedeer. Notice things along the way.Did he lay down and you jumpedhim again? This is not good, givehim more time to bleed. Sometimesyou see blood along the side of atree or vine, up a few feet off theground. With no blood at the pointof impact, remember this: the deercould have been in mid-stride when

he was shot, then the hide slipped back coveringthe bullet holes in the abdomen and he may notleak out until his body cavity fills up. Maybe thebullet didn’t even go through and exit. I hopeyou’re not one of the unfortunate males that arecolor blind and can’t see red, although this givesus a good excuse to dress the way we do. Nowyou’re on your hands and knees whipping yourfingers together and tasting. That’s just yuk.Assuming you shot in the vitals and not too farback, if you lose your blood trail, start makingslow methodical circles until you pick it upagain. NEVER GIVE UP! We don’t want to wastegame for the coyotes and buzzards. On tracking,occasionally look up for deer laying next to a logor looking back at you in a thicket.

Hopefully, the deer won’t go but about 60yards but please do whatever it takes to retrieveit. When you see it, have your gun ready and beprepared and also careful of your friends helpingyou. So let’s say you see him curled up layingdown. Not a good sign. I like to see mine layingflat, head and legs straight out, eyes open. Didyou read that part about eyes open? That’s right,because if his eyes are closed, he’s still alive. Alsowatch for his rib cage to be moving, he’s stillbreathing. Approach all deer from a safe backside so you can’t be easily kicked or horned. Myfather spine shot a nice 6 pt and paralyzed him.He layed his rifle down and went to pull the deerby his horns at which point the deer becameunparalyzed and they proceeded to clear 40 acresof new ground before he could get his BuckModel 124 out and cut his throat. That was nasty!

Now once you’ve found him, tag himbefore you move him. Call it in and do the legalstuff by the numbers. That means you needsomething to attach the tag and write with onyou. Remember, mark your spot, give em time,take your time, careful on approach, and tag em.Most important… NEVER GIVE UP!

Sonny Harrington is a Hunter Safety Instructor. He isalso an NRA (National Rifle Association) Rifle & PistolInstructor and has hunted from Alaska to Mexico.

After the Shot

I hope you’renot one of the

unfortunatemales that are

color blind andcan’t see red.

IN THE CR SSHAIRS By Sonny Harrington


Darrow isn’t one of the larger communities inAscension Parish. Those areas would beDonaldsonville, Gonzales and Sorrento. But what itlacks in size it makes up with a rich history andspectacular architecture. Darrow is located on theeast bank of the Mississippi River along the famousOld River Road between Baton Rouge and New

Orleans. History buffs and architecture aficionados will know this historicstretch as the location where a number of magnificent plantation homes arenestled including Bocage Plantation, www.BnBFinder.com/Bocage, a bedand breakfast sitting on 110 acres of sprawling green. It’s one of mostcelebrated examples of American Greek Revival in the country.

The original structure on the site of Bocage Plantation was a Creolecottage built in 1801. It was presented as a wedding gift from Marius PonsBringier, a St. James Parish planter, to his daughter, Francoise “Fanny”Bringier. She and her husband, Christophe Colomb, lived in the cottage untiltheir deaths and left it to their son, Luis Arthur Colomb, and his wife,Mathilde de Lauzon Thibaut. After the cottage burnt down in 1837, thecouple hired famed architect James Harrison Dakin whose work includes theold Louisiana state capitol building, to design their new home which becameBocage Plantation. After decades of vacancy and neglect, it was purchasedby Dr. Anita Crozat Kohlsdorf in 1941 and restored into a private residence.The mansion was primarily used as a weekend home until it was sold to thecurrent proprietor, Dr. Marion M. Rundell, in January 2008.

A native of Louisiana, Rundell always had a fascination with historicalarchitecture. He was aware of Bocage Plantation (it was well known in socialcircles) and remained intrigued by the mansion. When he found out it was upfor auction in December of 2007, he knew it was the right moment to purchasethe architectural gem. Rundell and his team spent the rest of 2008 restoring the

structure from the “deplorable”condition he found it in to the home’soriginal glory. Upon completion of therenovations, the details of the bed andbreakfast were started. “It was ourintention from the beginning to openher to the public and a B&B setting isperfect for Bocage,” said Rundell. Themansion was opened for stays in 2009.

Bocage Plantation offers fourstunningly designed rooms:Ashland Gold, Bringier Red,Colomb Blue and The Venetian.Each one features 15’ ceilings, grandantique beds andsteam showersand opens up togrand doubleparlors withaccess to thefront gallery andrear loggia(open-airwalkway). Fineantiques,furniture andartwork,collected over thepast 20 years byRundell himself,adorn thespacious roomsand grand hallsof the inn. TheBocagePlantation has a

history to tell both on the inside and out. “She is a living museum to beenjoyed by all who visit her,” he said.

Bocage Plantation is one of three properties in Darrow listed on theU.S. National Register of Historic Places. It hosts public tours,weddings, luncheons, dinners and group events.Mary White is the authorof “Running a Bed &Breakfast For Dummies”and an avid B&B goer.She has stayed at bed andbreakfasts all over theworld and particularlyloves the inns ofLouisiana. In 1998,Mary foundedBnBFinder.com, a top on-line bed and breakfastdirectory that liststhousands of B&Bs, inns,and boutique hotelsworldwide.

Celebrating Greek Revival Design in DarrowBEDS & BEIGNETS By Mary White


Hit The Road

Forgotten SoldiersDocumentary on heroic battles of the elite Philippine Scouts of World War II By Deborah Burst

On January 18,2012, the National

World War II Museum in New Orleans willfeature Forgotten Soldiers in the SolomonVictory Theater.

At the beginning of World War II GeneralDouglas MacArthur’s Philippine Scouts, aspecial U.S. Army unit composed of Filipinosoldiers and American officers, surrendered tothe Japanese on Bataan. They were surroundedand starved out, then subjected to one of theworst atrocities of modern warfare--the BataanDeath March. In the film, Forgotten Soldiers, tenof the Scout survivors tell the story of Bataan,the Death March, and life under Japaneseoccupation.

A backdrop of photographs, reenactmentsand archive footage illuminate the horrors andsavagery of war camps and jungle diseases.These brave soldiers are credited for beingwidely responsible for the prolonged siege ofBataan. An action that drained so much timeand resources from Imperial Japan that itprevented the Japanese invasion of Australia.

Only a few survive today, half of themwere killed in action and in captivity. ManyAmericans will meet the brave soldiers for thefirst time and learn their sacrifices for the causeof freedom. The incomparable United StatesArmy Philippine Scouts known as America’sFORGOTTEN SOLDIERS.

Lou Diamond Phillips will narrate thefilm with a familiar voice and a specialconnection. He was born at Subic Bay in thePhilippines where his father was stationed inthe U.S. Navy. His mother is Filipino, andPhillips is an outspoken advocate of theFilipino Veterans Equity Act.

History Lesson on Bataan March courtesyof Chris Schaefer, author and film screenwriter:

Japan invaded China in 1937 and quicklycaptured the five provinces east of the YangtzeRiver slaughtering hundreds of thousands ofinnocent civilians in the capital city ofNanking. Widely publicized the United Statesand President Franklin Delano Rooseveltcontinued to pressure Japan to withdraw fromChina. President Roosevelt, joined by theBritish and Dutch governments, embargoed alltrade with Japan, an act that would cripple theJapanese Army and Navy due to lack of oil andsupplies. He began building up GeneralDouglas MacArthur's military forces in thePhilippines--a direct threat to Japanese interestsin the area. He sent an ultimatum to Japan: getout of China.

On December 7, 1941, the Japanesedelivered their answer--they attacked south,invading British Hong Kong, British Malaya,and the American Philippines, and theydestroyed the American Navy at Pearl Harbor--all on the same day.

Bataan. General Douglas MacArthurcommanded the United States Army Forces inthe Far East. His plan to defeat Japan at thebeaches of Luzon Island failed, so he retreatedto Bataan Peninsula and nearby CorregidorIsland where his troops, spearheaded by the

PhilippineScouts, held theJapanese forfour months.With limitedsupplies theAmerican andFilipino soldierssuccumbed tostarvation anddisease and inApril 1942,General EdwardP. King and histroopssurrendered andbecameprisoners of war.

The Death March. The Japanesecontempt for the defeated American andFilipino soldiers turned into one of the mosthorrible atrocities of modern wartime. Nearly12,000 hungry, sick and emaciated Americansand 55,000 equally sick and emaciated Filipinoswere forced to walk 65 miles in the blisteringtropical sun with very limited food and water.On their way to theCamp O’Donnell prisoncamp, soldiers werebeaten and executedfirst with bullets thenwith bayonets. It isestimated that 8,500 ofthem died or werekilled on the BataanDeath March.

Escapees andEvaders. Roughly 200American soldiersrefused to surrender,and it’s estimatedanother 200 escapedfrom the Death March.

These men slipped into the jungle to hide andawait the return of General MacArthur and hisarmy of reinforcements. Sympathetic Filipinosharbored them, fed them, and kept them alive.The Japanese hunted down the Americanfugitives and half of them were captured,killed, or died of tropical diseases in the firstfew months after their escape. Some of the menhelped organize Filipino guerrilla bands tohelp aid the war effort, and the Japaneseoffered handsome rewards for Americansoldiers. However, Filipino loyalty to theUnited States was widespread and manyFilipino guerrilla organizations adoptedfugitive American soldiers as their leaders.

The screenplay is written by ChrisSchaefer, author of Bataan Diary, An AmericanFamily in World War II 1941-1945. Schaefer iscurrently working on the book ForgottenSoldiers that will offer more details related tothe movie, “It will include additionalinterviews and background material that wecouldn’t fit into the limited time frame of themovie itself.”

For more information on the film, visithttp://www.ww2scouts.com/. Details relative tothe book, Bataan Diary, www.bataandiary.com.

Deb has trailed the countryside of Arkansas growing upvisiting family in Hope and Fort Smith. She enjoyswalks in the woods and sinking knee deep in her gardensin Mandeville, Louisiana.

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In Search of Unique & Interesting PlacesBy Lee Estes

On those occasions when I get the urge toexplore, I may find a village or settlement non-existent. For example, Quebec in MadisonParish once boasted a school, service stationand several enterprises. Now it’s onlyidentified by a sign along US80. Burlington,

once a sawmill community in LaSalle Parish, has no identifyinglandmarks. Other seldom visited or publicized villages may more thancompensate for the disappointment experienced when drivingconsiderable distances and finding nothing.

A recent journey along the Mississippi River in Concordia Parishrevealed a lifestyle and a riverside relic that was both unique andinteresting. The community of Deer Park is located across the levee fromLA15 about seventeen miles south of Ferriday. This highway it a ratherinteresting route as the road sometimes climbs atop the levee and othertimes follows just west of it with thousands of acres in cultivationvisible almost to the horizon. Few signs of habitation usuallyaccompanied by gaggles of farm machinery are seen occasionally. Muchof the acreage is planted in rice, making a beautiful green landscape inthe spring, followed by an amber visage prior to harvest.

There is little to announce your proximity to Deer Park so payattention to where the road crosses the levee as you descend into thecommunity. Less than a quarter mile to the right is the beachedremains of a steamboat, the Mamie S. Barrett. This vessel was built inJeffersonville, IN in 1921 and has been in Deer Park since 1993. It wasbuilt for the Barrett Barge line and served as the flagship for thatcompany for a couple year, then sold to U.S. Corps of Engineers whorenamed it U.S. Penniman. It served as a Corps Boat untildecommissioned in 1947. During that time, the ship was convertedfrom coal burning to oil-fired but the most memorable point was in1942 when a new bathroom and an elevator were installed toaccommodate President Franklin Roosevelt during an inspection tourof the Mississippi River.

The Corps of Engineers sold the boat to a firm in St. Louis whoresold it to a couple who renamed it Piasa and took it to a yacht clubin West Alton, MO where it remained for several years with occasionalcruises under sponsorship of the club. In the early 1960s the steamengines were removed and space converted to a dance floor. The maindeck served as a restaurant. In 1981, the Piasa was purchased byanother couple for $25,000 and towed to Eddyville, KY on LakeBarkley and given back the original name, Mamie S. Barrett. A coupleyears later it was placed on the National Register of Historic Placesand served as a lakeside restaurant. In 1987, the vessel was sold againand towed to Vicksburg, MS, operating as a restaurant until 1992, thentowed across the river to Vidalia, LA and put in storage. About thistime the ship’s builders considered moving it to Jeffersonville as acenterpiece for their steamboat museum. The 1993 Mississippi flood

resulted in the boat beingtowed to Deer Park andbeached until the floodwaters receded. There shelies forlorn and abandonedafter 18 years of totalneglect. She has weatheredmore floods, rising withthe river in 2008 and mostrecently in 2011. It’sremarkable that she stillfloats after almost twodecades and judging fromher appearance, even moreso. There have been effortsat preservation, change of

ownership, and wrangling over who is responsible for her presence atDeer Park. Meanwhile, there she sits, waiting for the next flood,tornado, or cutting torch.

The inhabitants of Deer Park are a hardy breed by necessity,contending with the occasional high water. At some point in time, theMississippi River flowed almost to Deer Park, then cut across the bendand left an ox-bow we call Deer Park Lake. The big river is more thanseven miles away today. Oddly enough, the land within the ox-bow ispart of Mississippi yet it’s west of the river. That being the case, DeerPark is several miles closer to the state of Mississippi than it is to theMississippi River. On the other hand, when the river goes on arampage, it covers everything within the ox-bow and beyond. Becauseof high water possibilities, all housing in Deer Park is elevated abouttwenty feet above ground and even that wasn’t enough during theextreme flooding in 2011. Although water didn’t top the levee, it didinvade nearly every home or summer camp in the community, withabout two feet in homes twenty feet above ground.

During a recent visit, I was invited into the home of Bob andCynthia Evans who had completed repairs following the flood but left

a door with a high watermark untouched. Theirhome is equipped withan elevator as mosthomes are in Deer Park,powered with a winchsimilar to those on apickup truck. Theyconsist of a frameworkof steel pipe with a

basket that raises and lowerswithin it. Of course, there arestairs in case of power failure.

The road through DeerPark is not paved and Isuspect it becomes prettymuddy during rainy weatherbut it’s a fun place to visit. The Deer Park Campground and RV Park isjust across the levee from Highway 15 if you want to stay a while.

Lee Estes, a Kentucky native, migrated to Louisiana in 1956 with his wife, Lottie. Heworked in aviation then with A&LM Railway. He began making photographs inEurope after WWII and ranked among the leading monochrome exhibitionphotographers in the U.S. during the 80’s. His extensive travels included leadingtours across the globe. Lee has authored three photo/documentary books and iscurrently involved with the documentation of The Dixie Overland Highway (US80) inLouisiana, funded by a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

One of the bigger elevated homes in DeerPark. A high water mark from the 2011 flood is barely visible on the end facing you.

Louisiana Road Trips – 13 – www.la-road-trips.com

Louisiana in the Civil WarJanuary 1862: The Trent AffairBy Terry Jones

On January 1,1862, the Civil War’smost dangerous

diplomatic crisis came to an end whenLouisianian John Slidell was released from U.S.custody at Fort Warren, Massachusetts. AYankee by birth, Slidellmoved to New Orleansas a young man andbecame one of the state’smost prominentpoliticians. Today, thecity of Slidell is hisnamesake. In late 1861,Confederate PresidentJefferson Davisappointed Slidell andVirginian James Masonenvoys to Great Britainand France, respectively.Their mission was to convince the Europeans toextend diplomatic recognition to the fledglingnation.

Learning that Mason and Slidell wereonboard the British mail packet Trent, CaptainCharles Wilkes, commander of the USS SanJacinto, decided to intercept the Rebeldiplomats. Described by one man as having “asuperabundance of self-esteem and a deficiencyof judgment,” Wilkes had gained some famebefore the war by discovering Antarctica. WhenHerman Melville learned of the captain’s harshtreatment of sailors during the cruise, he basedMoby Dick’s Captain Ahab partly on Wilkes’sabusive personality.

On November 8, Wilkes intercepted theTrent east of Cuba and forced it to stop by firingtwo shots across its bow. Trent’s Captain Moir

was outraged at the Yankee’s action and yelledat Wilkes, “What do you mean by heaving myvessel to in this manner?” Wilkes’s responsewas to send executive officer McNeil Fairfaxand a handful of sailors to board the Trent. Theboarding led to a tense few moments when themostly Southern passengers threatened tothrow Fairfax overboard after he revealed hisintention to remove Mason and Slidell.Fortunately, the San Jacinto’s intimidatingcannons prevented any violence, and Fairfaxsoon had Mason, Slidell, and their secretaries incustody and transferred to his own vessel.

Northerners initially praised CaptainWilkes, despite the fact that he had actedwithout orders and violated the long-heldAmerican principle of freedom of the seas.Wilkes justified his actions by claiminginternational law allowed belligerents to stopneutral vessels to search for contraband orenemy dispatches. With rather ingenious logic,he argued Mason and Slidell were dispatches byvirtue of their knowledge of Rebel plans.

British Prime Minister Lord Palmerstonwas outraged at the seizure, and he roared atthe cabinet, “You may stand for this butdamned if I will!” Palmerston rightfullycomplained that British neutral rights had beenviolated and demanded an apology and theenvoys’ release. Even if Mason and Slidell werecontraband, he pointed out, the Trent shouldhave been taken to a Union port and the seizurecarried out properly through a prize court.

The Trent Affair put President AbrahamLincoln in a difficult situation. Despite CaptainWilkes's arguments to the contrary, Lincoln andSecretary of State William Seward knew theseizures were indefensible and worried that theincident mightbring Great Britaininto the war onthe Confederates’side. Releasing thediplomats,however, wouldmake Lincolnappear weak andcould damage hisadministrationpolitically.

While the Union government ponderedwhat to do, the British prepared for action. In adangerous display of saber rattling, Palmerstonformed a War Committee, alerted the navy forpossible action, and shipped 11,000 troops toCanada while bands on the dock played“Dixie.” Conflict with Great Britain and theConfederates at the same time could havestretched Union resources to the limit andpossibly ensured Southern independence.

Ultimately, it was Seward who solved thecrisis. On Christmas Day, he convinced thecabinet to release the Confederates but withoutan apology. Seward pointed out that Wilkes’saction was essentially impressment, the sameBritish policy that started the War of 1812. Byreleasing the Rebels, he argued, the U.S. wassimply staying true to its long-standingcommitment to freedom of the seas. Lincoln putit succinctly when he stated, “We must stick toAmerican principles concerning the rights ofneutrals. We fought Great Britain [in 1812] for[its] insisting, by theory and practice, on theright to do precisely what Wilkes has done.”

Although he claimed it was “the bitterestpill” he ever had to swallow, Lincoln releasedMason and Slidell on January 1, 1862, and theywere transported to Europe. Once on thecontinent, they had no luck whatsoeverconvincing the Europeans to recognize theConfederacy. After all the trouble their capturehad caused, the Virginian and Louisianianturned out to be complete failures.

Dr. Terry L. Jones is a professor of history at theUniversity of Louisiana at Monroe and has published sixbooks on the American Civil War..

John Slidell (NorthwindPicture Archives)

ouisianaAnswers …

1. North of Mount Ida,Arkansas

2. By mistakenly mixingcarbonated water withthe syrup3. A separate apartment

where unmarriedmale members wereassured privacy inorder that theymight learn the ‘ways of the world’

4. Rice5. Floyd6. Conway Twitty

7. Lickskillet8. The Christ child

9. Macedonia10. Beautiful woods

End of a LandmarkBy Carolyn Files

Traffic was heavy on Saturday, December 17, in Bastrop, Louisiana.Parking lots filled up before 8:00am while donuts and coffee flew out of abakery near IP (International Paper).

The implosion of the Louisiana Mill boiler tower, a symbol of IP fordecades, drew a crowd to Bastrop for the historic event. Former employees,Morehouse Parish residents, passers-through who will no longer look forChristmas decorations on the boiler tower, a beacon in the community. Theskyline is emptier, reflecting the state of the economy and times changing.One large boom, then quiet, followed by two smaller booms. The vibrationwas felt all over town; the boom was heard in the neighboring communityof Log Cabin by someone wondering what was that noise. The tower satdown, leaning slightly to the west. A cloud of dust and memories driftedover Bastrop. I drove by again at lunch to see the pile of twisted, greyremains that wait to be hauled off.

Pictures and videos of the downfall were quickly posted on Facebook.Wes Helbling of the Bastrop Enterprise captured the history of the mill in arecent article, a concrete reference of what was once THE MILL in Bastrop.Only time will tell how the 'once was' will develop into 'what will be.'



Wise Inscription By Robert Lemoine

Back when I wasin high school, Imade a decision to besaved. At the time, Ithought I was givingmy life to Jesus. The

only problem is that I didn’t change, but Ihad “Fire Insurance”. Giving my life to Jesusactually came many years later. But that’sanother story.

When I got baptized in the water, I wasgiven a Bible. It was crisp and new just likemy new life in the Lord. In the front was aninscription written by the preacher that lit afire in me. It read, “This book will keep youfrom sin or sin will keep you from this book.”Some pretty simple, yet powerful words.

Years later I came across that bookpacked away still in mint condition without asingle crease in the binding or crinkle on apage. Yep, sin had kept me from that book.The devil planted a seed that grew for years.He told me I couldn’t understand the wordsin that book, so just be as good as I could beand it would be alright. He led me through

the path of greed, excessive drinking, lusting, andhatred. It was ok that I’d never read that book. I hadfriends that had never read it either tell me what itsaid. We were good. We were all going to Heaven.

That makes me think of a postcard I read onetime. It said, “When we drink, we get drunk. Whenwe get drunk, we go to sleep. When we sleep, wecommit no sin. So let’s all get drunk and go toHeaven!” I’m sure you can see the flaw in this theory.But let me tell you, once I decided to open that bookmy life changed. I was shown the error of my ways.Now granted, I’m still far from perfect but I’m alot better than I was. And by the blood of Jesus,I’ll appear perfect when I stand before the Lordon that Great Judgment Day.

And for those of you thinking like I usedto, just pick up the Bible and read. It won’tburn you. It will let you know how wrongyou’ve been, but you already know that deepdown. What’s really great about it is when youget towards the back and see all the wordswritten in red where Jesus tells us right therethat if we come to Him, He will make it allbetter. But get ready. When you decide to trulylet that book keep you from sin, your life will

never be the same again. And that’s anawesome, awesome thing. He will take youplaces you never thought you could go andhave you do things you never thought youcould do. May God bless you and keepyou safe in all that you do. Remember, thefastest way up is to kneel down.

We Are 2012...By Su Stella

“May you live in interesting times”…anancient Chinese curse. Welcome to it! My mostsacred article that I write every year is the NewYears article because try as I may, to think January1st is only a date, isn’t. This New Year is even morespecial if you have heard of the Mayan calendar or

Nostradamus or countless other prophesies stating that December 21,2012 will be the end of times. I used to write slightly sarcastic ‘tongue incheek’ articles about 2012 but if you don’t think anything is happening– think again! This isn’t about doom and gloom, it’s just some things tothink about and maybe even do over the next year, just in case…

First of all, we are witnessing some of the strangest global eventsunfold in ‘real time’. Unprecedented, you can talk to almost anyone onthe globe instantly by phone or internet. Scientists are creatingmachines smaller than a human hair, medical advancements areallowing us to live longer… yet so much is out of our control.

Last year I started a weather journal because I was amazed byclimate extremes and the shifting of the world. Anyone living in theArk-La-Tex can’t deny the crazy heat, lack of rain or rampant wildfires.Oklahoma is now having quakes. A quake and hurricane hitWashington DC within one week. We are watching global uprisingsand peaceful protests even in our country because everything is sointertwined. The May 2011 volcano in Iceland shut down air travel tothe US and Europe which included displacing people and products asdiverse and time sensitive as produce and flowers. Billions of dollarswere lost in a few short weeks.

It’s time to turn to each other, in the spirit of kindness, andgenerosity. Share the things you have. Instead of tossing thoseleftovers, bring them to an elderly neighbor or people with kids. Eatyour yard – plant edible flowers and food. Try new things. Find acouple new places, restaurants or festivals to enjoy (right here in LRT!).

Get off that couch and see the best of this state! Or take the trip of alifetime with help from Dianne at Monroe Travel Service! Take thatclass, learn that dance or practice that musical instrument! Or enjoydifferent ethnic foods. Take time to enjoy your family and friends! Calland talk or actually go visit them, not just FB, Tweet or text. Nanawants to see your face and stuff a cookie in your mouth! But continuesharing your photos on social media sites, and tell your friends thatyou love them.

Last but not least, take care of yourself. Good health, good teethand a great attitude are blessings that take work. We wander around inthese fragile envelopes called bodies so be kind to yours to keep itworking. Maybe get some life insurance and write up a quick will forthose left behind to make their loss easier.

Personally, I don’t think that on December 21, 2012 the world isgoing to go “kapow”, even if it did… oh well. I believe in magic, fairydust and intelligence. Everything is changing, and that is okay becauselife is always changing.

Hope to share with you my new insights in my January 2013article. Make the most of your life! Peace, Health and Prosperity…

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Or email [email protected] Stella 318-676-8010

For every book purchasedbetween now and December 1-

I will donate $2 per to benefit W.E.L.L.(Women Empowered and Loving Life)

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Get Off Your AttitudeRyan Lowe rallies a positive attitude with real-life advice By Deborah Burst

Often times the New Yearbrings a renewed vigor and a freshstart. Maybe it’s an aggressivebusiness plan, a healthier lifestyle,or just a more positive outlook onlife. But how do you harvest changeespecially in today’s economicclimate. Sometimes the best placeto start is when you hit rockbottom. Ryan Lowe, author andprofessional speaker, knows thatfirst hand.

In his book, “Get off YourAttitude,” Lowe shares hispersonal and professional

roadblocks with real-life solutions.In the span of a few years he losthis company, career, home, and hisfiancé.

He shelved his dream ofbeing a motivational speaker andfound himself in Baton Rougeworking as an entry-level sales repand renting a spare room from afriend. Then in the pre-dawnhours, he awoke with a panicattack struggling to breath. It wasthen staring hopelessly at theceiling four words popped into hishead, Get Off Your Attitude.

One of his mottos, “Soar withthe Eagles,” suggests yousurround yourself with mentorsand friends who are energetic,encouraging, caring andcompassionate. They think, talkand act in a positive manner alongwith helping others. Below aresome of the major points of thebook.

Dreams and goals--Say yourdreams out loud. Think aboutthem, talk about them, share themwith others, write them down andtape them to your bathroommirror. Patience, perseverance and

belief are keytools injumping thehurdles andgetting to thefinish line.Feed yourattitude withdaily portionsof positive

media like an internet successstory at breakfast, motivationalrecordings at lunch, and watch aninspirational biography in theevening.

Be careful in dwelling on thepast. Sometimes we let the painsof the past blind us from seeing abrighter future. Lowe suggestswriting down some of yourbiggest regrets, then a list of yourbiggest achievements. Challengeyourself to create newopportunities every day, post a to-do list on your calendar or journal.

Health--The firststart to a healthier life issmiling. Even at yourlowest point, justSMILE. It’s also anacronym for Stop andthink, Measure theproblem, Identifysolutions, Live andlearn, and Enjoy theoutcome.

In addition tosmiling, exercise is amajor player inmaintaining a morefocused and productiveoutlook. It lowers stresslevels, improves mood

and raises your energy levels, alongwith a better night’s sleep. Thenatural endorphins stimulate ahealthier body and mind.

Lowe reminds us thatmaintaining apositiveattitude isthe bestthing we cando for ourhealth. “Onaverage,people whoexerciseregularly havehigher self-esteem andhigher incomes,”he says. “You’llnever be healthyuntil you have ahealthy attitude.”

Money--Attract money ratherthan chasing it and lose the “justgetting by” mindset. Be more pro-active, solve more problems formore people, learn new skills toimprove your current skills, start abusiness or a non-profit and tacklebigger issues, contribute moretime and more energy, and besmarter and more informed.Volunteering or investing in thecommunity reaps huge rewardsadding value to your life andothers.

“You have to hunker downand change your focus,” saysLowe. “Restructure your thinkingin what you really need, live in asmaller house, drive a lessexpensive car, and enjoy vacationscloser to home.”

Miracles--When you find astory that inspires you, print it ormake a scrapbook and use it forinspiration. Instead of waiting on amiracle, why not create your own,remember just one sentence ofpraise can do wonders.

How to Start--Adopting apositive lifestyle doesn’t happenovernight. Stop the complainingand make an investment in yourself.Lowe recommends continuing youreducation with seminars and self-help CDs, books and publications.Even if it’s just one chapter or

article a day it’s a start. Stay awayfrom the negative press andtelevision shows, and watch moreinspirational and educational

programs.Ask yourself everyday,

what am I doing to makemy life better. “It takes 21days to form a new habit.”Lowe says. “We have achoice everyday tochange our attitude.”

Change is alwaysscary, no matter howbig or small. Breakdown your dreamsand goals in small butsignificant steps anddocumenteverything. Print that

dream list with a newcareer, car, or vacation and post iton the refrigerator. There will berough days along the way, but usethe setbacks to energize yourfuture. And above all believe inyourself.

After eight years as a public speaker and nearly500 seminars, Ryan Lowe has inspired hundreds ofpeople including Saints Roman Harper and DarrenSharper. Listen to his weekly radio show onTuesdays at 5 pm on WGSO 990AM where guestsshare inspirational stories of success. For moreinformation visit www.getoffyourattitude.com.1


Hello folks, andwelcome back to CoonCreek. Perhaps you feellike you've been run overby a truck, or maybe asleigh. Either way, you'vecome to the right place to

put your feet up and catch your breath. I'm hereand you're here, so come on friends, let’schat…~smile~

Personally, I've always loved the week afterChristmas. The mad rush is over but the NewYear hasn’t started. It’s like a bonus week, you

she grumbled. “What in the world wouldlead a man to think his wife wanted anelectric blanket for Christmas?"

For the life of me, I couldn’t think ofa thing. But that’s okay. Fortunately,Paulette has been able to retain herwonderful sense of humor about JerryDon’s gift-giving. I know this becausePaulette got a bit too quiet on the way tothe mall.

“Earth to Paulette,” I said. “What areyou thinking about now?”

“I was just thinking… Jerry Don’sbirthday is coming up. Maybe I’ll get hima nice gun."

I was more than happy to change thesubject, "That’s good. Has he told youwhat kind of gun he wants?"

"Nah,” Paulette said, “he doesn'tknow I'm gonna shoot him yet."

I’m pretty sure she was joking… ~Happy New Year Hugs, Shellie

"Jerry Don's in Paulette's Crosshairs" ALL THINGS SOUTHERN By Shellie Tomlinson

know like someone hit a great big pausebutton.

For most of us the pressure is off and itfeels good. I say most of us, because inevitablysomeone somewhere is in hot water over theirgift-giving, or lack thereof. In my circle, thatwould be Paulette’s husband, Jerry Don. Iimagine the men on the porch will come to hisdefense when I tell you that Jerry Don claimshe can’t win for losing. Paulette says he can’twin because he won’t try. I’ll let you decide.

Yesterday Paulette picked me up to rideto the mall with her and exchange a few gifts.Among them was a heavy plaid electricblanket. She said Jerry Don had presented it toher for Christmas as if it was the HopeDiamond. The girl was fit to be tied.

"When I think about how much time Ispent trying to come up with the perfectpresent for him, and how many hints I left himabout my Christmas, why, I want to take hisarm off and beat him over the head with it,”

All Things Southern“Bringing you the charm and heritage of the South…”ph 318-559-0319 • cell [email protected]

A Husband’s Farewell: The Story of Mollie E. Dansby DunstonBy Lora Peppers

“Death lies onher like an untimelyfrost, Upon thesweetest flower of all

the field.” So opens the obituary of MollieDunston of Homer, LA published in the1865 Weekly Telegraph newspaper inMonroe. Mollie was a simple housewifewith a loving husband but no livingchildren. Her life was filled with tragedy.Her mother had died in 1862 and had leftbehind a grieving widower with two littlegirls to raise. Mollie had stepped up andbecame a mother to her little sisters. Theirbrother had also died just a few monthsbefore at Petersburg, VA in the closing daysof the Civil War. William Dansby had beenRegimental Commander of the 9thLouisiana when he was shot through thehip. A few weeks later, he was gone. Hisbody was buried in a Richmond, VA gravefar from Louisiana soil. The previous year,Mollie had lost her newborn son JoshuaHenry. Death was an old friend of Mollie’s.Now he had come for her.

September 14, 1865 another son wasborn to Mollie and her husband WalkerDunston. They named the little boyWilliam Dansby Dunston, after hisdeceased uncle. The little family wasjoyous over the little boy. Unfortunately,

Mollie was not to live long. Over the next fewdays, she grew weaker and weaker. Her finaldays were described in the article: “She diedperfectly happy, saying she was going to Heaven,where she would meet her mother, and hoped also tomeet her brother William, who was wounded atPetersburg, and died shortly afterwards. Hergreatest desire was to get well, that she might raiseher infant son, William Dansby, and two motherlesssisters, for whom she had been acting the part ofmother, since the death of her mother…”

This was not to be. The cause of death islost to history. A reasonable assumption can bemade however. Back in the 1800’s germs wereunknown. It was quite common for a doctor tocome from working on someone, wipe hishands on a towel and help with the birth of achild. Infections were rampant and if themother was unlucky, she would becomeinfected and develop a fever. Having no cluewhat caused it, doctors simply labeled theailment “childbed fever”. This is probably whateventually took Mollie to her final reward. OnSeptember 24, 1865, at the age of 23, Molliepassed away.

Mollie was buried beside her infant sonJoshua in the Old Homer Cemetery. A few dayslater, her newborn son William would followhis mother to the grave, and was buried on herother side. Mollie’s widower Walker wasinconsolable. It was his desire to build a fitting

monument for hergrave. Walkerordered a twelve footmonument fromItaly. A year later, itarrived, but by thenWalker did not haveenough money to pay the shipping charges.The sympathetic community of Homer took upa collection and paid it for him. The markerstill stands today. On the top of it is a sculptureof Mollie holding her infant sons. Inscribed onone side are the words:

Farewell my husband, my life is past.My love for you through life did last,

Grieve not for me nor sorrow takeBut love my child for my sake.

Mollie, I knew earth's fairest thingsWere destined to decay

But never had I thought thouSo soon must pass away.By your devoted husband

Lora Peppers, a Monroe native, grew up in Bastrop andgraduated from ULM. Her love of history dates back tochildhood when one of her favorite activities was visitinglocal cemeteries to examine headstones. She also loves totravel, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park beingher favorite place on Earth. Her job as a genealogist andhistorian has given her the opportunity to lead manylectures and author several books. She can be reached bye-mail at [email protected].


Real Cajun Food and Fun!By Johnny Wink

Where does a persongo for real Cajun fun andfood? Try a town calledIota in south Louisiana ata place called Di’s CajunRestaurant.

On the first Saturday night in December Ivisited a female friend in Lafayette. Together, weheaded west on I-10, getting off at exit 65 andheaded north on Highway 97. About 13 milesfrom I-10 as the crow flies, on the left side of theroad surrounded by rice fields, we found Di’s.

Oyster shells filled the driveway and thesound of a Cajun band filled the air. The sunwas setting and a flock of specklebelly geesein vee formation was flying above. And Ismelled good ole Cajun cooking. Inside, wewere warmly greeted by Ms. Sherry Fruge, theowner. As we were being seated, I noticed allthese people dancing to the Cajun band. Somewere very young – maybe 3 or 4 years old – toolder couples that were maybe in their 70’s.They all were dancing with grace and charm,as this is how real Cajuns dance.

These people weren’t tourists but localfolks having a wonderful time at home. Theywould eat some of their meal, get up anddance a bit, then sit back down and eat somemore. Most people that come here usually eatand dance for a long time and not once did Isee a waiter try to hurry anyone out to seatsomeone else.

Di’s is a place you stay until you’re readyto go home and go to bed. These people are

real Cajuns out on the town to have good,clean fun and enjoy great food and drink. Ms.Sherry brought out some blackened oystersand let me tell you, they were yummy,yummy. Then came salads with homemadedressing followed by the seafood platter. Themountain of food was stacked high and Ithought it must be for two people but it wasall mine! The shrimp was so fresh and theoysters fried just right. In fact, everything wasjust good.

Then she brought out her dessert special,a big hunk of homemade bread pudding thatmelted in your mouth. The last offering washer famous pecan pie. I thought I was going toexplode. Everything was so good and I wasn’tgoing to let anything go to waste (don’t forgetthat I had a little help from my date).

That’s when we got upand danced to that greatCajun music. After a couplesongs I had to sit down andfinish my sweet tea. Then itwas time to pay and get onthe road back to Lafayette.I’m glad I wasn’t drivingbecause before we got backon I-10, I was fast asleep. So ifanybody ever wants a trulyspecial Cajun experience theyneed to go to this place inIota, LA(www.discajunrestaurant.biz).No matter how far you have

to drive to get there, this is what Louisiana isall about. Be sure to tell Ms. Sherry that youread this in Louisiana Road Trips.

Ok, I told you what I did during the splitof duck season, now let me tell you how wedid at Megabucks during the 1st split. It wasgreat limiting out most days and killing a lotof specklebelly geese with the ducks. We hadgreat weather – not too cold and not too hot.And lots and lots of birds. No bands but theymostly come after Christmas.

The deer this season so far have reallybeen on the acorns a long time because of thegreat acorn crop we had this year. Nowthey’re slowly moving to the food plots andcorn feeders. And the bucks are chasing doeslike crazy right now in Morehouse Parish (Dec8, 2011). We’re expecting a great second split

and with some coldweather, we shouldagain have lots of ducksand geese.

If anyone would liketo have the hunt of alifetime, please call me at318-669-5588. I still havea few good dates left.From all of us at theMegabucks Duck Guides,Happy New Year!

P.S. I am now on adiet and all I can eat isrocks.

Cane River KitchenwareBaby, it’s cold outside…. and January is a

great time to stay indoors near the fire andcook!

If you’re anywhere near Natchitoches,make it a point to stop in Cane River

Kitchenware onFront Street inhistoric downtownacross from theriver. Thischarming shop iswell stocked forevery cook,whether novice orgourmet, withmost anythingyou’d need tosatisfy anyappetite.

Owner KymHabig and herfamily came toNatchitoches fromCalifornia and

created the store after recognizing the need forfood and kitchen gadgets in the area. Sherecently celebrated her 5th year in businessand her enthusiasm and vision for the shopstill shines through.

A family owned and managed business,Cane River Kitchenware provides more thanjust well stocked shelves and gourmet foods.They offer samplings in their fully equippedkitchen every Saturday and scheduledcooking classes for adults and kids, andprivate ones by request. Kym brings chefs in(both local and afar) to teach 10-12 classeseach month. One interesting class included 3year olds making a gingerbread train!

The kitchenware shop is open 7 days aweek from 10am (sometimes earlier) until9pm. Drop in and enjoy a cup of coffee,cappuccino, or tea as you browse the isles anddream of culinary creations and deliciousmeals prepared at home. Coffees and teas areshipped in weekly to ensure freshness so besure to put these on your shopping list.Kitchen appliances and supplies

Kym and her staff are mostaccommodating. Where else are you greetedwith a nice warm drink, a sampling of theirproducts, a clean available restroom, andpleasant conversation with shopkeepers? It’sno wonder people seek them out and keepreturning.

Cane River Kitchenware is located at 732Front Street in Natchitoches, LA. Call (318)238-3600 or visitwww.CaneRiverKitchenware.com for moreinformation.

Kym and her daughter Danie

Louisiana Road Trips January 2012 Edition

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