INTO THE WOODS

By:

Gypsy Rhapsody

 

After hearing about

A trip to Tunica Hills/Clark Creek Hiking Area

near St. Francisville, LA

and

Palmetto State Park

near Abbeville, LA, I was inspired to

recreate the words to the musical

INTO THE WOODS

by Stephen Sondheim

 



Tunica Hills

Ashley and Cooper

 

Into the woods

The way is straight,

The light is soft,

The is air is clear...

 

Mushrooms growing on an old dead tree

 

Into the woods

The discoveries are vast,

The sights are abundant,

Don't be afraid,

Just keep the pace...

Ashley and Cooper discover a waterfall.

 

Into the woods

Hike up a hill

and down again,

Into the woods

The sounds are there...

Cinquapin Oak

 

Into the woods

The sights are there.

Forgotten species

Everywhere...

 

Mystery Tree...Help V discover the name of this one.

 

Into the woods

Mysteries abound,

Artist's palette

All around...

Picnic by the waterfall...

 

Into the woods

Picnics are people,

People are picnics,

Share your food,

and make some memories...

Selfie...Dave, Coop, Ash, Diane, Vannie

 

Into the woods,

Without delay,

The family goes

and makes their way...

Diane and Ashley

 

Into the woods

Stay on the path,

Hurry along

Don't be afraid...

 

 

Into the woods

Find what you may,

Each turn

Lights the way...

Dave...

 

Into the woods

The paths are steep.

The steps are hard.

Patterns in life,

and Patterns in strife...

 

 

Palmetto State Park

Palmettos

 

Into the woods

Lots of green,

and brown,

Soft and hard,

Sharp and round...

 

 

Cooper

 

Into the woods

A boy can be free,

He is alive,

No phones,

No computers,

No TV...

 

Armadillo

 

Into the woods

Creatures can rustle,

Like the boy,

It is free and alive,

Under trees and leaves...

Birds

 

Into the woods,

Birds can

Soar, Fly, Float

Free from worry

and

Hurry...

Vermillion River

 

Into the woods,

The river runs

Lazy and Crazy,

It hums its song

of complete contentment...

 

Into the woods

Reflections are found,

In the water and

In your thoughts...

 

Into the woods

Minds are clear..

Clouds of life are gone...

Only peace, perfect peace.

Into the woods,

The day is done,

The sun is low,

The night is coming,

The journey's over.

 

 

 

 

 



 



SUCH A FINE BEGINNING TO 2015

By

Gypsy Rhapsody

 

I find the new year a wonderful time.

...a time of new beginnings

...a time of renewing old friends

...a time of making new friends

...a time of loving

...a time of reflecting

...and time of feeling thankful



Here I am...feeling thankful for my great spot in Youngsville, LA

It is just a perfect place...and it is compliments of Kathy and Howard Mott, Airstream buddies.

Thank you, Kathy and Howard

 

Vannie and Dave are close to ...

 Charlie's Grocery Store

Michael's Laundromat

...a precious little daycare.  It used to be a filling station, but has

been given a new life as a daycare.

 

The daycare was cleaning all the rugs and hanging them on the fence to dry.

It made me smile all day.

...a beauty shop

...a church (St. Ann's)

...and  Morvant's Restaurant...look what they are serving.  YUM.

 

Check this out...Vannie decided the new year meant eating healthy.

This is kale and sweet potato soup...recipe from cousin Kathryn Brady.

Dave said it was not only beautiful, but delicious.

Vannie said I must  share this recipe...

1 T olive oil, 1 onion, healthy slug of chopped garlic, a bunch of kale, 3 sweet potatoes, 1 1/2 qts. low-sodium broth, salt, 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk, (recipe calls for a jalapeno. V left it out, but if you like a kick, put it in)  Saute onion in oil...add garlic...stir in kale, potatoes, broth, salt...boil...simmer about 20 mins.  Add milk and heat and eat.  To serve, add a little cooked rice to each bowl. 

Is this healthy?  I don't think so...but oh, so delicious.

V and D's friend, Beck McKee, shared this recipe.

Mini Pecan Tarts

...and what a tart Dave was when he consumed about 10 in a row.

Yikes.!

 

Vannie has been subbing in the school system in-between visiting, playing with Cooper, cooking...and whatever else meets her fancy.

She has been a second grade teacher, a PE coach, a PE assistant, a Special Ed Resource teacher, a Special Ed assistant, and a Kindergarten teacher...once a teacher, always a teacher.

 

Here they are...buds.!

I REALLY love it when Cooper comes over.

He brings a new life to me.

I want you to meet Kathy and Howard.

They were at the Airstream luncheon at Riverside Inn in Lafayette.

Thank you again, K and H...You're the best.!

V and D looking good...they are thinking about that stuff catfish dinner they are about to consume.

No, Cousin Janet didn't come to Lafayette/Youngsville.

She's in Flower Mound celebrating her 70th birthday...and

V and D were there helping here celebrate.  They left me just for the

weekend and celebrated with her.

 

 

...Madeline was there

...and Vincent.

V and D had picked them up in Austin (along with their mom).

On the way back to Austin, the Dallas Zoo was in order.

...and here is Madeline obviously giving orders.  lol

Emilie and Vincent playing with Leppy.

 

Friends...Dwight and Carla Nelson

They had all just eaten at Pat's Seafood Restaurant in Henderson, LA

Friend...Gordon Bilello

Gordon had come out to see me...and V and D.

Good visit.

 

Our time in Louisiana is not over...

so I'll have more adventures to share.

An Airstream always has so much to tell...

and

I love spreading the joy.

 

Oops...almost forgot.

I need to squeeze in these two pictures that happened

on December 30 and 31, 2014.

 

 

 Dec. 30, 2014

Orville and Claudia Steen

...eating lunch at the Sweet Pea Café in Winnfield, LA.

V and D and O and C share the same anniversary (July 1).

They get their anniversary meal in whenever they can, so

Dec. 30 was as good as any time. 

 

December 31, 2014

Happy New Year

These 6 friends have been getting together for the past 15 years.

Nancy and Jim Underwood

Jan and Chester Baudoin

and V and D.

They never quite make it to midnight, but, as Dave always says,

 "It's midnight somewhere in the world."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



CHRISTMAS 2014...CHECK

By:

Gypsy Rhapsody

 

Christmas 2014...Check

I'm not trying to be glib...just stating the facts.

Christmas 2014 was filled to overflowing with love and joy and children happy and children screaming and parents happy and parents screaming. 

...and every minute was perfect.

Dave and Vannie are trying to get off to Lafayette today, and

they need to pack up the computer...so I've got to be quick.

Don't want 2015 to get here, and I'm still on 2014...you know what I mean butterbean...!!!

Here goes...Enjoy.

Our first visitor in Bernice...Pearl, Dave's mom.

96...and still lovin' life!!!

 

One of V and D's favorite parties in December...

Minor Patton (BHS grad) has a big shindig in Farmerville at Oakwood Plantation.

V's niece and hubby (Amy and John Pesnell) always pick them up for the party.

Road from Farmerville to Bernice.

V and D kept it hot going back and forth to see Pearl.

Just one little hiccup...

Dave had to go back to Dallas for a little procedure.

All turned out good.

They stayed with Cousin Janet while in Dallas, and

helped her put up her Christmas tree.

They really enjoyed the visit.

They got back from Dallas just in time to for Dave to sing with Vannie's cousin's choir

at the New Chapel Hill Baptist Church in West Monroe.

Cousin Greg Green...

Dave is peeking out just behind the podium on the first row.

Another Pearl excursion

Jonesboro, LA to see the lights

This was the Methodist Church.  

Don't you just love this picture.

Those big old store windows...awesome.

 

My place was smellin' good.

Aunt Aunean's Christmas nut loaf bread

Vannie put Dave to work gluing sequins on a stocking.

While she was baking, he was gluing.

Vannie had a few sewing projects...hats and scarves for

Cooper, Vincent, Madeline, Hailey, and Ben.

Whew...made we tired just watching her.

Pearl's Christmas Tea

Specialty food/drinks include her

famous spiced tea

and

Christmas Trash...V said it was delish.!!!

 

Sweet Felicia

Felicia is Pearl's sitter, friend, and bottle washer.

She has truly been a blessing to the family.

Tea Guests...

They were singing Christmas Carols.

 

The Pianist

Watch out, Dave...

He is trying to get the mistletoe out of that tree to take to the cabin.

Task complete!!!!

Another Pearl excursion

Eldorado, AR to the more lights

The is the courthouse. 

Wow...the old Mobile Oil flying horse.

V and D remembered this as kids many moons ago.

Another Pearl excursion...

Fellowship Church outside of Dubach, LA

Met up with old friends...Fran and Richard Roberson (formerly from Lafayette)

and Linda Kay Albritton Smith

 

Another great smell...

Vannie is cooking fudge.

I think there was enough fudge to feed the whole town of Bernice.

Lots of calories...!!! Just saying...

The Austin Group arrives.

Sweet Madeline visiting me while waiting for the cabin to open.

Notice that cool Christmas cookie in her hand.

V and D made those...swirls and all!!!

Emilie, Roy and Vincent cracking nuts sent to V and D from Roy's parents.

 

THE CABIN

Always an exciting time in the Harris' family.

Renting a cabin on Lake Darbonne

for the Christmas celebrations has been a tradition for many years...

 

The Lafayette Group arrives.

Ashley, Diane, Cooper

 

 

First Celebration

The Farmerville Group

This is scary...The 96 year old talking on her cell phone during the party.

T-Pop and Vincent making gingerbread houses.

Emilie gets in the action.

How many cars does a little guy need?

Oh my goodness...Dave's brother, Roger.

He created a gingerbread outhouse.

LOL

 

Second Celebration...The Bernice Group

Vincent, Madeline, Cooper, Hailey, Ben, Lacy

 

Third Celebration...Christmas Morning

Santa brought the princess all kinds of "princess stuff" AND

a basketball goal.

Cooper got an electric hotwheel.

 

Vincent...more cars, trucks, etc.

 

Sweet little ones

Then it gets REAL...!!!!

Cooper also got a phone.

V said he could do more stuff on his phone than she could.

Bye...Bye...cabin..until next year.

Last visitors.

Brad and Julie Honeycutt

Brad is Vannie's great nephew.

They live in Missouri. 

Their daughter, Hailey.

Last project of 2014

Teaching Stephanie (David's niece) how to knit Granny Dishrags

 

...and away they go...

First stop in Winnfield, LA to have  an anniversary lunch with

friends, Claudia and Orville Steen.

Both their anniversaries are July 1.

They do the celebrations whenever they can get together.

 

Happy New Year, Folks...