LET'S JUMP INTO THE OCEAN AND WAVE TO MOM AND DAD

I look like a "peamite" between those 2 biggies.

 

My view

 

Can't go to Gulf Shores without going to Souvenir City

 

Got to love this character...reminds Vannie of her mom, Madge

 

Digging to China

 

Vincent with his spider tattoo

 

Vincent telling a story to his new girlfriend from Italy

So Cute!!! Even at an early age, the boys know how to capture the girls attention!

 

Sweet Madeline

 

A nap on the beach

 

Vannie made this outfit for Madi.

Cousins...but just like brothers!

The Whole Fam

Of course, I didn't get to jump into the ocean, but all my family got to.  It has been a wonderful week and a half at the beach in Gulf Shores.  I was parked at the Luxury RV Park right close to the "T" in Gulf Shores.  Vannie and Dave and Cooper stayed with me for the first four days.  Then Ashley, Diane, Emilie, Roy, Madeline, and Vincent arrived.  There was not enough room in me, so they all stayed in Vannie and Dave's timeshare...Shoreline Towers... except for Vannie and Dave.  They came back to sleep in me.  I think they enjoyed getting back to some peace and quite.  LOL  They've had that timeshare since the early 80's...I was only about 3 or 4 and had no idea that my life would coincide with theirs.  It is amazing the journey the Lord takes you on.  I've been so blessed to have become apart of this family.  And I think they have been blessed by me, too!!!

Vincent and Cooper had a sleepover in me one night.  It was hysterical.  I think they were playing musical beds.  Everyone slept in more than one bed that night.  I was sitting back and enjoying the fun.  I'm not sure Vannie and Dave thought it was so much fun, but they all lived through it and were happy as larks in the morning.  Vannie cooked eggs and biscuits, and the boys ate like pigs.

Fun in the Sun
Playing Ball at the Beach
Fishing with Finesse
Digging to China
Lots of Laughing
Family
Blessed 

ON DOWN THE BAYOU

Sarah and Howard Bourque

 



Lee Station Road in New Iberia  was my last stay in Louisiana for a while.  It was such a peaceful place.  I was parked next to a delightful Airstream buddy of mine.  Her owners, Sarah and Howard Bourque, were so nice to let me hang for a few weeks.  Vannie and Dave had a bunch of doctor's appointments to attend to and friends to see.  They were gone everyday from sunup to sundown, so that gave me a lot of time to reflect on special moments.

Every morning Howard would sit on his front porch and drink his coffee and wave to all his friends heading out to work.  I don't drink coffee, but I sure enjoyed those early mornings with Howard.  Quite...peaceful...happy...cool...

Louisiana was where my life started anew.  It will always have a special place in my heart.

A LITTLE DAB 'ILL DO YA

 

Oh my goodness...Got to love that guy!

 

Just a little more to the left, please!

 

 

Before

 

After...I simply adore that peaceful blue sky.

                                                                                 

Don't you love my striped walls...and those mattresses are soft and cushiony

You know what they say..."a little makeup goes a long way" or "a little dab 'ill do ya".  Us Girls have to stick together when it comes to sprucing ourselves up.   We want to always look our best, and sometimes as we age (can't believe I just said that word), we have to get a little make-over.

Vannie and Dave decided that I needed just a little perk-up inside.  They visited the Benjamin Moore Paint Store over on Kalise Saloome Road in Lafayette.  They had decided that yellow would be good for the lounge/kitchen area and maybe a little blue on my ceiling.  Of course, there were dozens of shades of each of these colors, but they finally chose the ones that would blend with my personality....sunny and bubbly!  Then they set to work.  Of course, perking up an old gal like me can be quite a task.  My sofa had to be removed...then the blinds and curtains..  Areas had to be covered.  Messy...messy...messy.

After that area was completed, Dave said..."NO MORE...NO MORE!"  Well, you remember what I said about "us girls" have to stick together.  Vannie stepped up for me and said, "Please, Dave, Gypsy really needs those walls behind our beds perked up."  I guess she batted those eyes just enough, because, before you could say "Jack Robinson", he created a wall with yellow and blue stripes behind each bed. Oh My, just beautiful.  Then Vannie talked him into some new mattresses.  She was on a rolled and wanted to "make hay while the sun was shining." 

 It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do.  I feel like a new woman!

MARSHMALLOWS, MOSQUITOES, AND MERRIMENT

Coop helping hook me up.

 

Rolling thourgh the swamp

 

Pass the oak trees

 

Boys hiking in the jungle. At times I thought lions and tigers and bears might jump out any minute.   Actually, snakes and spiders and skunks could make a real appearance. 

 

Splash Park

 

Vannie was enjoying watching the boys while drinking out of her cute thermal mug with Emilie and Madeline on the side.

Starting the fire...Be careful, Coop.  I was like a mother hen watching this procedure.  Don't burn your finger, watch out, don't drop the lighter in the fire.  He didn't pay one bit of attention to me.

 

Marshmallows, Mosquitoes, and Merriment

 

Do those three go together?  You betcha!  Actually, I don't think you can have one without the other.
Vannie, Dave, Cooper, and I headed out to Palmetto State Park six miles south of Abbeville, LA.
Now listen hear folks...six miles south of Abbeville is way down the bayou!  There's a bunch of water, oak trees, alligators, magnolia trees, boudin, crawfish, swamp, and "marshmallows, mosquitoes, and merriment."  I was sucking in my sides as Vannie pulled me down some of those roads.  Whoo-Whee...I was saying my prayers...for sure!
Cooper was a huge help for T-Pop (Dave).  He helped him hook me up and unhook me when we arrived at the park.  He had a birthday May 13.  He turned eight years old.  It is amazing what one more year can do.  That little tapper is strong, yeah!
The Duhon's (friends from Lafayette) met up with us.  Zack and Cooper teamed up and had a great time hiking the trails and getting wet at the Splash Park.  I was wishin' for some water to splash on me.  My silver skin can get really hot...you know!!!!
But guess what...when the sun went down...out came the "marshmallows, mosquitoes, and merriment.
You just can't have a campout with all three...those sticky roasted marshmallows and Cooper's sticky hot skin attracted those big pesky mosquitoes like crazy.  Buzzzzzz...Buzzzzzz...Get the spray, Vannie! 
No matter the mess....merriment abounded!
...Oh, My...I also forgot to tell you about the fireflies.  When it got dark, they were everywhere.  I haven't seen so many since I was just a little trailer back on the farm.  It was a like a Disney movie.
Vannie said she kept looking for Tinker Bell to land on her shoulder.  I kept listening for the music.
It was a sight to behold....and Vannie didn't take a picture.  Darn!  Guess that will just be an excuse to go back. 

THE SITES ON BOURQUE ROAD...LAFAYETTE, LA

Sitting pretty at Marilyn and Jay's on Bourque Road

 

Duck Dynasty

Old Grocery/Feed Store across the street...Shut

Sugar Cane Field

Old Whitey

Oops...Roadkill....some people around here would make a gumbo out of  this. (Just had to put this picture...hope it doesn't gross you out)

The vacant old red house on the corner

Rice Fields

Just a bunch of clover

 

Gosh, where has the time gone?  I just love looking out my window on Bourque Road and seeing the sites.  I'll be traveling to Palmetto State Park in Abbeville for the weekend.  Looking forward to camping with Vannie, Dave, and Cooper. 
Hope you enjoy what I have been looking at for the past 3 weeks.

FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE LOUISIANE

Vincent and his friend enjoying the festival

Look at that Dave...Cutie Pie

So these are the drums I've been hearing

Opening Ceremonies

Just a little music in front of the gelato shop

Friends, Tom and Sarah from MA

Cooper made this mask for his mom...so proud...they both loved it!

Mariachi Girls from San Antonio

Dave, Son Ashley, Friend Sean

Barber Shop Quartet...Friend Ted Jacques on Right

V and D's beautiful kids...Ashley and Emilie

Beat of the Drums
Voices of the People
Strum of the Guitars
Hum of the Crowds
Laughing, Singing, Dancing
Twirling, Running, Walking
Eating, Drinking, Tasting
Over and Over...Friends, Old and New
The Festival International De Louisiane
It's the One!!!

Vannie and Dave couldn't stop talking about the Festival...so I just had to put a few more
"Festival Moments" on my blog.  I could hear the fun happening all the way on Bourque Road.
I was swaying with the beat!