Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
2008 Bayou Classic
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Cafe' Des Amis
Although partying is a way of life in Acadiana as witnessed by that international slang, "lesse les bon temp roule".....Our faith is as strong as our desire to "let the good times roll."
That includes breakfast and dancing at Cafe' Des Amis in Breaux Bridge, La.
Cafe' Des Amis
Breakfast and Dancing Breaux Bridge, La. Although the price of entry is only $4.00, the cost is refunded as a discount toward the purchase of your meal. Isn't that a great cost saving measure for food and entertainment? Only in Acadiana. I love the lifestyle.
Cafe' Des Amis
The gentleman dancing in the white T-shirt is David Welcome. He moved to Acadiana after a career with the federal service. He is also a Viet-Nam veteran. His is a native of Iowa that has relocated to Acadiana as a result of the lifestyle. He is retired and living in the area. He visits Cafe' Des Amis every Saturday morning for breakfast and dancing. He shared the breakfast table with me this morning and we had a great visit.
Cafe' Des Amis
The lady in the black T-shirt is "Hogie." She is an artist from upstate New York that has relocated to Acadiana because of her passion for the lifestyle. In this image she is selling "rubbing board ties". The rub board was a clothes washing implement in days go by. It became a musical instrument for Zydeco musicians. It makes a distinct sound when properly applied by a skilled artist. It is used throughout Acadiana by Zydeco musicians as an instrument organic to this areas unique musical sound.
Cafe' Des Amis
People come from many different areas to enjoy Zydeco dancing and breakfast at Cafe' Des Amis on Saturday morning. This is a family restaurant that demonstrates the culture of Acadiana in grand style.
Dancing in the morning is great for the soul according to Brodie Romero, head waiter at Cafe' Des Amis.
Cafe' Des Amis
Lil Nathan and The Zydeco Cha-Cha's was the featured band this morning for breakfast. The strongest marketing tool for this restaurant is the Saturday morning Zydeco dancing along with breakfast. What a novel idea. I can not think of any other restaurant that markets itself this way. People line up at 7:00 AM every Saturday morning for breakfast and dancing at Cafe' Des Amis in Breaux Bridge, La. Only in Acadiana will you encounter such a wonderful lifestyle that demonstrates the culture in this fashion.
Cafe' Des Amis
The bartenders and crowd inside Cafe' Des Amis. There is an image of the Blessed Mother and Baby Jesus to the left of the mirror above the bar. In Acadiana, our faith is always demonstrated in everthing we do. That includes socializing and we have no problems with that interfering with the sanctity of our faith.
Cafe' Des Amis
The large gear mechanism noted in this image represents an elevator lift used during another era in the function of the building that is Cafe' Des Amis. During the early part of the 20th century, the first floor of this building was a general merchandizing facility. The upstairs area was a workshop that manufactured caskets for the local funeral parlor. The elevator was necessary for the lowering of the caskets for delivery to the funeral parlor.
This elevator gear assembly and the booth below it is now a waitress station for Cafe' Des Amis.
Cafe' Des Amis
This is the drawbridge on the Bayou Teche. Breaux Bridge, La. is also the Crawfish Capital of the world. As a result, we see the giant crawfish sign above the bridge. The Cafe' Des Amis is about 100 meters beyond the bridge to the left. on Rue Domingue in Breaux Bridge, La.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Victorian Family Reunion
Scootie is very aggrevated at this point of the celebration. The bugs are giving him a tough time and he is unhappy.
Victorian Family Reunion
Annie V., Roy, and Ajese Frank coming through the chow line. Annie, Roy and Ajese are the oldest children of Edora-Victorian/Frank.
Victorian Family Reunion
How can you distinguish a true Louisiana Creole from any other? It's the animated method of speech that distinguishes a true Louisiana Creole from another Creole.
Victorian Family Reunion
Wilmer and Theresa Ledet. Wilmer is the oldest of the Ledet family. He and his wife, Theresa have two children, Tammy and Dub.
Victorian Family Reunion
This is my family. Batiron Victorian was my father. He was the oldest son of Victor Victorian. This image illustrates his descendents. Included are my wife, Countess; our grandson Langston (Scootie), my daughter, Santilla and her boyfriend Glenn Amadee; Mickey, my youngest sister; Tinye and Alfred with their children, Torie, Lydia, and her son Lorenzo.
My brother, Charles is on assignment in Kuwait. His family was in attendance, Irene; his wife, and Charles-Etta their daughter. Of course I can be seen somewhere on the back row.
Victorian Family Reunion
Irene Ledet is the youngest daughter of Lillian Victorian -Ledet/Cooper. Chris Meeks is her son and these images include her family in attendance.
Victorian Family Reunion
Aunt Lillian was the Second oldest daughter of Victor Victorian. This image illustrates her family that was in attendance today.
Victorian Family Reunion
On Saturday morning, 9/20/2008, we traveled to Oberlin, La. for the 1st. annual Victorian Family Reunion. This event became reality at the request of the last living direct descendent of Victor Victorian. Victor Victorian was my paternal grandfather. His youngest daughter, Silleman Victorian-Thomas requested this gathering in order that she may get to meet the younger family members while she is still alive.
This was a wonderful gathering and the commitment was made to gather at two year intervals. I was extremely impressed with the organizational effort displayed by a young man by the name of Chris Meeks. He and his wife organized this affair and they are to be commended for the effort. Chris Meeks is the son of Irene Ledet. Irene Ledet is the youngest daughter of Lillian Victorian-Ledet/Cooper.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Hurricane Gustov and It's Effect on Our Home
We didn't encounter much physical damage to our home as a result of the storm. We experienced a bit of trash and debris from the trees in the yard as we have a number of large oaks in our yard.
Fortunately, since we bought a home in Baton Rouge after Katrina evacuation is not an issue for us to consider. We can remain in our home and endure the rain and wind without much concern for our safety. Evacuation is a reality for individuals that live in the Greater New Orleans area and it will always be a consideration for storm preparations of this magnitude. We are now a safe haven for our relatives that have moved back to New Orleans after Katrina. The only discomfort we encountered was the fact that electrical power was lost for 24 hours after the storm. We are fortunate compared to many families in Louisiana. Many households are still without power and will not have power restored for another 2 - 3 weeks.
As a result of lost electrical power, we are now planning to purchase a backup electrical generator that will provide service for our home when the power failure is upon us. One thing is certain, power will always fail as long as the electrical utility continues to install transmission lines above the ground and in competition with the trees. We have to study the power requirements for a home of this size with it's current and planned electrical requirements in mind.
When we lived in the New Orleans area, the decision for us would always be our evacuation destination. We monitored the storm 36 hours prior to it's arrival. Dependent upon it's direction of travel, we evacuated in the opposite direction of it's planned impact. For our family that included travel to Pensacola, Florida or Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Dancing At The Zydeco
This couple obviously dance together often. They danced for the three hours Santilla and I were at the festival. They are very good dancers and it was obvious how much they love to dance.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
A Break From The Heat of The Day
It's with much appreciation that festival fans get the opportunity to find shade while cooling off after dancing at the Zydeco.
Festivals Aren't Immune From Political Opportunity
This year is one of election campaigning, the local politicos buy advertisements from the promoters as well.
Zydeco Band Performance
This band is also local, from Plaisance in fact. They kept the beat moving and there was always someone willing to brave the heat of the day to dance The Zydeco.
Zydeco Band Performance
The Lost Bayou Ramblers is a local band from Lafayette, La. Lafayette is 22 miles south of the festival down I-49. This is known as the heart of Acadiana.
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