OLDTIMER'S BERNICE QUIZ

Ok...If you were around Bernice, LA during the 40's,50's,60's, or maybe longer ago than that...anyway, this is your time to shine.  Dave and Vannie have been parked behind the Bernice Clubhouse for a month.  They have been busy with Christmas, family, and friends...but there was some downtime.  What to do in Bernice??? Early in the morning they would say, "See you later, Gypsy..and off they would go...walking.  Down the road...pass Mrs. Ruth Hollis' house, pass where Aunt Aunean used to live, pass Mama Blanche's house, pass the warehouses..and on and on and on.  Vannie would have the timer on her phone ticking away...about 40 minutes.  Sometimes they would go the other way...pass the St. John House, pass Lucille Porter's house, pass more warehouses, pass the water tower, pass the Baptist Church...and on and on and on. They did this over and over...day after day...and they would always come back with one story after another about what was still there and what wasn't...what was about to fall down and what was still in good shape.

There was a story about when Vannie's niece, Amy Pesnell, set off the fire alarm at the Mayor's Office...and the time Vannie got hit by a car in the middle of Hwy 167...and lived to tell about it!

 

I could go on and on forever, but I have to get back to my original plan...The Oldtimer's Bernice Quiz.  The following photographs are places or small parts of places in Bernice that Vannie took on their walks.  The winner will receive one free night in ME...and...V and D will get to stay in your house and sleep in your big bed and take a bath in your big tub.  SO...be quick...who's going to be the first to get them all correct. 

 

1

2

3

4

5

6

 

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

 

Get Ready...Get Set...Go



CHRISTMAS 2013

V and D's kids and their families

Back row...Diane, Ashley

Front Row...Cooper, Dave, Vannie, Madeline, Emilie, Roy, Vincent

Harris Side

Back Row...Richard, Michael, Brooke, Vannie, Ashley

Middle Row...Rusty, Stephanie, Roger, Dave, Diane, Roy, Madeline

Front Row, Judy, Pearl, Cooper, Sue Ellen, Emilie, Vincent

 

Madge Green Burns' Side

Back Row...John, Amy, Lisa, Richard, Lacy, Ben, Roy, Madeline, Diane, Cooper, Ashley

Front Row, Vannie, Dave, Emilie, Vincent

Vannie enjoying the cabin at Lake D'Arbonne

Cooper...Zumer

Vincent and his favorite "toy"

Madeline wondering what happened!!!

"I wish I had a puppy like this!"

Dave being Dave

Ashley showing Cooper something special.

 

Christmas 2013...Check

 

...and I know you know what I mean!

 

(Obviously, you don't see me anywhere in these pics.  I was just down the road a bit relaxing.  Just not enough room in me to hold this bunch of folks.  I heard all about it...

Highlights...

Pearl's Chocolate Pies

Sue Ellen's "relish" trays

Brooke's Boyfriend

Family Bingo

Diane's Crockpot Blueberry French Toast

Ashley's Bonfire, Driftwood, Hikes in the Woods

Roy's use of child psychology (bribe) to get the kids to go to the candle light service at the Methodist Church with V and D...it was inspired

Vannie's Handmade Stockings

Dave's Naps

Cooper's Zumer

Vincent's Trucks

Madeline's Elmo

Ben's Alligators

Roger Showed Up

 

 

 

 

 

AUNT AUNEAN'S NUT LOAF BREAD (hic)

The ingredients

The recipe

The dough

 

The finished product

 

Aunt Aunean...Madge's (V's mom) older sister.  Aunt Aunean was married to Uncle Alymer Hollis.  According to Vannie, she was a fabulous cook.  She and Uncle Alymer lived in Bernice in a big old house at the end of a dirt road.  It was two-story and had a wonderful banister that Vannie said that she loved to slide down.  Uncle Alymer had a dairy farm with lots of cows.  He and Aunt Aunean had a big garden with peas, corn, potatoes, okra, green beans, squash, watermelons, and more.

 

Vannie said that she never saw Aunt Aunean take a drink of  "spirits".  She was a devout Baptist.  Not the same for Uncle Alymer.  But as you see in this recipe, a cup of whiskey is one of the ingredients. 

 

So.....when Vannie decided she wanted to try this recipe out of the old Green Cookbook, she had to find the whiskey.  (Green was Aunean's and Madge's maiden name)  She went to Super One in Ruston and walked all over the store.  In Lafayette, the whiskey is right up front, next to the checkout.  Finally, she asked the checkout lady, and she said, "No honey, only beer and wine are in the grocery stores.  You'll have to go west on the service road on the south side of I20.  Devine's will be on your left.  They have a drive-thru."

 

So....V headed to Devine's, hoping no one she knew would see her drive up to the liquor store.  This was getting more and more complicated.  The checkout lady was right...Devine's had a drivethru.  She told the man at the window, "I'm making my Aunt Aunean's cake and the recipe calls for a cup of whiskey.  Can I only buy a cup?"  The man probably was saying to himself..."Sure lady, that's what they all say."  Anyway, he sold her a VERY small bottle.

 

As the little red hen would say..."Now, it's time to make the bread."  All the ingredients went in the mixing bowl...the dough was put in the pans...the mixing bowl was licked and licked and licked (hic).

 

I bet you a dollar to a donut, Aunt Aunean didn't have to go to all that trouble to find a cup of whiskey.  Uncle Alymer made sure of that. 

 

 

ENJOYING THE TIME OF YEAR

All spruced up

Vannie with 2 Louisiana authors, Nancy Rust and Carole Stubbs

These ladies were at the Farmerville Library introducing their books...A Louisiana Christmas and What's Watching Me?  Vannie taught 2 of Carole's kids in Lafayette and Dave was in a play with the youngest.  Nancy taught in the gifted program in New Iberia.

V and D enjoying visiting with their old friend, Fran Robertson.

Fran lived in Lafayette and went to the same church as V and D.  She now lives in Dubach and is blessing the area with her pottery skills.

Cousins...Richard and Sue Elle Hobart...Sue is on Pearl's side of the family.

They live in Eldorado, AR

Amy and John Pesnell

Emmaus Party in Hico

 

V and D

Waiting for the Christmas Cantata at the Douglas Methodist Church...

Jimmy and Pat Miller, Stan and Patsy Bacle,  Lyn Baughman and Pearl

Dave is leading the way in...

Food  and More Food at the Choir Christmas Party

Sweets for the Sweet!

 

In and Out...In and Out...That's about what I'm seeing of Vannie and Dave.  Lots of friends to see and visit with...Lots of fun to indulge in...Lots of "in and out"

 Enjoying the Time of Year