Mmmm, the food is what I miss most about Louisiana! With the superbowl coming up fast, a muffuletta makes a great party sandwich that can be shared by many. http://www.nolacuisine.com/2005/07/17/muffuletta-sandwich-recipe/ Of course Mondays are for red beans and rice (might be Creole). This recipe is most like the one I use: http://neworleanscuisine.blogspot.com/2005/04/new-orleans-cuisines-red-beans-rice.html For Mardi Gras day you really need some King Cake: http://www.mardigrasday.com/mardigras/kcrecip.php (wow, not til March 8 this year) A lesser known part of Mardi Gras is the traditional ride where the riders collect ingredients for gumbo. http://web.lsue.edu/acadgate/mardmain.htm My recipe doesn't include the traditional okra but it's otherwise very like the gumbo made so often by my best friend's mother, Ruby, who didn't even speak English until about third grade. http://www.stoneview.us/tag/gumbo-recipe/ It freezes very nicely btw- just freeze the rice separately or make fresh rice when you are ready to thaw. My favorite cookbooks are probably not very available at your local library but Amazon does have them. The Tabasco cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/Tabasco-Cookbook-Americas-Favorite-Pepper/dp/0517589656 and Pirate's Pantry: http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Pantry-Treasured-Southwest-Louisiana/dp/0882898655/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1296652748&sr=1-1

What a fun outing. I adore zinnias. Grandma always planted them and now I do too. When Daniel was little he used to say "lellow" but Chris being the firstborn almost never mispronounced anything and never more than once. The only thing I can remember Chris saying wrong even once was elbow which he pronounced "elbowbow" the first time he said it and then never again.

I can't wait to get back home and do some baking with my blueberries. Hopefully there will still be peaches so we can pick some for the freezer. Enjoy the recipe! Julie

Thanks! We are relieved to be here and already had some lovely BBQ.

So far so good!

Thanks! We made it to KC so the worst drive is past and we all survived.

Thanks! I'm just starting the gusset on the redesign and it's quite fun. I can't show pictures of the cuff at all now but once I get the foot done I can post B&Ws of that.

I think it's turning out nicely though that photo is two froggings ago so it looks nothing like that anymore. I can't actually show any of the cuff anymore since I put my pal's name on the cuff. I will be able to show B&W's of the foot though once I get that done but I don't think it'll happen before we leave in the morning so most likely no photos until September. How's your pair coming? Did you start something easier or stick with that fiddly one? Julie

If I could find a zone 5 fig tree I'd get one. Alas I think it is too chilly here for figs.

Yeah, especially with my middleaged apple shape. I need to find some elastic better than JoAnns has though, it only lasts about 6 mo and then needs replacing.

Thanks! Slowly slowly getting better.

He's so cute!

Thanks! Practice does help and I was even noticeably better on the second mitt.

Thanks! I love those 99cent sales, that's exactly how I came by this pattern.

Its always available on request! Just takes at least 8 hours notice for the brining.