down and dirty with jamie

last october, m, s, and i had the opportunity to meet, greet, and taste jamie oliver's wonderful food. jamie and his crew were so friendly. he even signed our cookbooks. we felt like were in high school again, asking the popular guy to sign our yearbook!

oliver visited louisiana’s cajun country as part of an eight-part documentary series he is filming about cuisine in the united states. each part of the series will feature a different state and he chose louisiana as his first stop. oliver and his production crew planned a trip to the acadiana region to pay a visit to mcgee's landing in henderson. after hurricane gustav ravaged the area oliver and his crew helped the restaurant get back on its feet. oliver teamed up with restaurateur david allemond and hosted a benefit to help the restaurant reopen. mcgee's landing, a rustic restaurant nestled inside the boundary of the west atchafalaya protection levee, is also a bona fide cajun boat landing and was one of the first to offer guided swamp tours. allemond was forced to shut down his restaurant for more than a month after high winds from hurricane gustav which caused serious damage to the building.the roof was completely torn off. the canopy, deck and the east wing of the restaurant were completely destroyed. oliver decided to come and help out. oliver offered to help him reopen. more than 150 attended the gala event which was highlighted by the special menu prepared by oliver and allemond. the menu included a sumptuous lump crabmeat salad, followed by the main course of pork loin, sweet potatoes laced with rosemary sprigs, green beans (that's haricot verts enFrancais), rice dressing and for dessert, a sinfully delicious chocolate bread pudding topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh berries.

louisiana department of agriculture and forestry - october 2008 volume 91 no. 22

yet another blog break

wow...between family, work, planning my high school reunion and my newfound addiction to facebook and twitter, blogging has taken a backseat to everything else. I'll be back soon... just like our spring flowers in our garden.

Where Y'at?

As I stated in my last post “its been awhile” well it has been a “long while”. I need to get back into my blogging mojo and I can’t seem to come up with any reasonable explanation for this long hiatus.

On that note, look what has bloomed, a Pink Plumeria! Look at the Lovebugs that decided to mate… A little “Aloha” I brought back from Hawaii to Louisiana.

Yat refers to a unique collection of dialects of English spoken in New Orleans, Louisiana. The term also refers to those people who speak with a Yat accent. The name comes from the common use amongst said people of the greeting, "Where y'at?" (Where you at?), which is a way of asking, "How are you?" - Wikepedia

It's been awhile...

I'll be posting soon...for now a picture of the Water Lilies at work.

Heart of the Midwest

Leaving for Omaha, Nebraska for a week-long Sports Event Symposium. Everyday and evening is jam-packed with breakout sessions and appointments, but I will find time to devour in a steak!

Busy with...

Organizing...



Tea from Teavana

Spices from Penzeys

Knitting...

Entrelac Scarf for J

Prayer Shawl for K

Shrug for Moi!

I "heart" Heart Day!

Strawberry Cupcakes with Almond Buttercream Frosting

I've always enjoyed this day even when I didn't have a special someone. I think it's the red, pink, hearts, doilies, sweets, and all the giddiness! Happy Valentines Day to You and Yours and especially to my forever Valentine, R!

Mad Hatter

I'm in this hat phase. So far I've knitted seven beanies in the last month. Hopefully I'll be in a shrug phase soon cause I absolutely "heart" shrugs!

Mardi Gras in Cajun Country

Just as the Cajuns and Creoles are known for their fabulous, spicy food, Cajun Country is known for the fabulous spice it adds to the Mardi Gras celebration. Here in Lafayette, you'll find the mystery of Mardi Gras blended with Cajun magic to cook up one of the most colorful and unique pre-Lenten celebrations in the world. Lafayette, Louisiana is home to the state's second largest Mardi Gras celebration, which includes eight parades of floats and bands during the Carnival season. The first parade, ten days before Mardi Gras, is the celebrity-led Krewe of Carnivale en Rio Parada, featuring over 600 riders. My friends C and J are members of the Krewe and R and I got to ride on a float this year. It was soooo much fun and we had such a great time. We threw a total of 5000+ beads and toys. R and I are thinking about joining this Krewe.

Check it out, here I am with the “Duquesa du Parada” (Parade Marshal) Ali Landry, TV and film actress and Miss USA 1996. Ali grew up here in Cajun country, Breaux Bridge, LA.

Got my knitting mojo on...

Grey Shrug I knitted in Hawaii

Entrelac Scarf

Fingerless Gloves

I'm a little "Neti Pot" short and stout...

I’m home and back to the grind, but when I got back from Hawaii I was down with a sinus infection. When I first moved to Louisiana everyone would tell me that I would eventually start having allergies and sinus headaches. Sure enough it happened. I started a morning routine of nasal irrigation using a Neti pot. Neti pots are a common feature of traditional Asian medicine. It resembles a tea pot and is made in ceramic, plastic or metal with a long spout. Through the gravity method it allows you to pour warm saline solution into your sinuses, which helps to cleanse them of mucus, pollen, dust, pollution or whatever else you happen to have lurking up there. It also helps with the common cold. My husband R has been doing this for awhile for his sinuses. I’m a gagger and when I watched him do it I knew that there was no way I could do this. Well, after doing it a couple of times I got used to it and feel so much better. R just reminds me every now and then how I cringed when he suggested the Neti pot and now I swear by it!

Mele Kalikimaka

Off to Hawaii for the Holidays to spend with my brother and sil.  Mele Kalikimaka me ka Hau'oli Makaheki Hou to you and yours!

My "heart" is skipping a beat...

As I mentioned here, now you know why my "heart" is happy!!! Perkins Rowe is a place where everything needed in daily life is within walking distance of home or office. We are heading up to Baton Rouge for the day and I am quite excited!

Forever New Orleans

I will be in New Orleans for work. We will be delivering our meeting planners a holiday gift. We will also be hosting a reception in their honor at the famous Arnaud's. Arnaud's has been a family business since 1918. I'm staying at a boutique hotel the Bienville House which is in the French Quarter. If you plan to visit during the Holiday Season I highly recommend the Reveillon Dinners in restaurants throughout the city. Three of their Reveillon restaurants - Commander's Palace, Galatoire's, and Tujague's are more than 100 years old! It's the authentic taste of Christmas New Orleans Style. This is my favorite time to be in the Crescent City.

The cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that define the New Orleans experience continue to flourish, as they have for centuries. With all of its facets, a New Orleans experience is never anything but completely authentic. The city’s marvelous eccentricities are born from a rich heritage, respectfully and indelibly woven into the fabric of everyday life here. New Orleans doesn’t act a part for its visitors; it simply welcomes everyone with open arms to a world all its own. The city is full of complexities and contradictions, but its multifaceted personality somehow blends into an offbeat harmony that defines the city’s unmistakable charm. Like the most gracious Southern hostess, New Orleans welcomes visitors with a genuine hospitality and singular flair. The city’s intricate mélange of cultures creates a chameleon destination; with so many aspects to its character, the city can fulfill every agenda with equal enthusiasm. ~ New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau

On Holiday...

The Hodge crew will be on Holiday for a week in Hot Springs, Arkansas. We'll be staying in a rustic cabin at Lake Catherine State Park. I'm just so thrilled that this time I'm leaving for pleasure with my family and not business. We'll be hiking, biking, and fly fishing to keep us, Buddy & Bruneaux busy. Bathhouse Row, in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, is the largest collection of bathhouses in the United States, and what remains of the only federally-run spa. I'll be here treating myself after a hike or bike ride. Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours!

Knitted Stamp

I'm so excited about this years Holiday stamps. They are a set of four stamps by Illustrator and NYC Knitter Nancy Stahl. All the stamps are illustrated as knitted items in stockinette stitch. These knitting stamps will be perfect for all those holiday packages shipped with knitted gifts during the holidays!

Geaux Tigers!

Off to Baton Rouge for work. R is also on business travel. I will be visiting LSU and will be cheering for the Tigers this Saturday...and so will Buddy!

On the road again...

I'll be attending a week-long Sports Conference in Louisville, Kentucky home to the Kentucky Derby, Louisville Slugger, and Muhammad Ali Center. What's real cool is that there will be educational seminars at all three of these locations. I'll be traveling with three other colleagues/friends and are planning to explore this trail as well.

I "heart" Anthropologie

When I do travel to Metropolitan areas I look forward to shop at stores that I can only visit through the internet here in Lafayette, LA. When I did work in the hotel industry I often wondered why guests would flock to the mall. Now I understand. While I was in Chicago I shopped at the 9th largest mall in the US. Anthropologie is my absolute favorite store. I always get this warm-fuzzy feeling just being in the store. If I ever decide to make a career change to retail, I would definately work there. Today I received their Stitch catalog and just looking through it made me feel cozy! They feature a few sweaters from Twinkle Big City Knits by Wenlan Chia. I purchased this book and now I'm really excited to knit a sweater.

I'm off to the "Windy City"

I will be in Chicago for a week-long Sports Convention to hopefully be awarded a tournament for 2009. There will be some leisure time to explore the city and to hopefully feast on Chicago-style Pizza at Giordano's, Lou MalNati's, or Gino's East of Chicago to name a few.

...and the crazy-busy season begins...

It's that time of year when my job and the fall/Holiday Season collide. I honestly have to say I "heart" my job to pieces. I have the Best Boss ever and I actually enjoy going to work everyday! I know that sounds "too good to be true", but this is the best job I've ever had and I plan to retire there!

I'm leaving today for Atlanta, GA for an educational seminar. Too bad it's not peach season, I would've loved enjoying this.

Gumbo Ya Ya

We are getting ready to plan our fall and winter garden. We are still getting a couple of bell peppers, crowder and purple hull peas. R planted okra the beginning of summer. I'll freeze the okra and use it for gumbo this winter. When it starts getting nippy here in South Louisiana we call it “gumbo weather.” Hopefully that will be soon...

On the needles...

Entrelac Scarf

C's Blue Scarf

Grey Mohair Lace Scarf

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Not the American Alternative Rock Band, but our red hot chili peppers from the Hodge-Crop. R and I enjoy fresh sliced peppers with anything and everything. We've been getting a chock full of peppers and recently I've chopped them up in the food processor, placed them in a jar with sugar and vinegar and it's quite tasty.

Sorry for the lack of posting but I've been very busy, both with work and at home. The southern summer heat is brutal and makes me tired and sleepy and worthless when I do get home. Thank goodness I have R in my life, our house and yard would be a train wreck!

"Buy me some Peanuts and Cracker Jack..."

Well, we don't have to buy some roasted peanuts thanks to M planting them this past Spring.

This is what M pulled up...

and R roasted them last night!

Speaking of peanuts, look at what I spotted the other day... Reese's Elvis Cups!

I'm a big fan of Elvis and was excited when I saw this! This “limited edition” candy is being made in honor of the 30th Anniversary of The King’s passing, which is August 16th. I need to get my hands on the King Size version get it…”The King”! The packaging for this features Hawaiian Elvis, sporting sideburns and a purple lei at the 1973 concert taped at the Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. This was the first program to ever be beamed around the world by satellite. Oh and they are also including an instant win contest for a trip for two to Graceland…in that case I need to buy a truck load of Elvis Cups!

Short and Stumpy but are they yummy???

We pulled up the carrots yesterday and look what we came up with.

The close-up is the strangest ones out of the bunch. R called them Nuclear Carrots and insisted on tossing them out.

Although Bruneaux disagrees and is proud of our carrots!

Smart Yarn

One of my WIP's is my first pair of socks. I'm using Fortissima Socka yarn in Veracruz. What amazes me and makes me wonder is how does the yarn know when to stripe and line up perfectly? My knitting pals and I are using a pattern that D gave us which has no relation to the brand of yarn I'm using. Hopefully when I start the second sock the colorway will be the same.

Flower Power

Here's what's blooming in our yard...

Crazy for Blueberries...

My friend F here at work told me about a place in Lewisburg where you can pick fresh Blueberries. I'm all about fresh fruits and veggies from a farm. You should've seen all the blueberries. We ended up picking five and a half pounds. Not bad for $1.50 a pound.

My knitting friend A and I celebrated our birthdays this past Saturday with our other knitting pals and had a Blueberry Martini which I may mention was quite tasty.

Nothing like biting into a blueberry muffin made with fresh blueberries. I love the sweet-tart flavor. Looks like I'll be baking a lot of Blueberry Mochi unless I use them all up for Blueberry Martini's!