Baton Rouge 2014: Moss and Mystery at The Myrtles Plantation

One last day to explore the back country of Louisiana. I got my GPS set and headed up to St. Francisville, about a 35 minute drive to the northwest of Baton Rouge. 

The Myrtles Plantation prides itself as one of America's most haunted mansions, but is now a Bed and Breakfast complete with Spanish moss dripping from the trees like icicles and mystery tours. Like a good tourist, I paid my $10 and wandered through the remnants of times past.

We were told of Chloe, the servant that roams the halls of the main house and likes to take earrings from the guests as they pass through the halls (mine made it out without incident.) Mirrors, keyholes and room corners were the prime portals for ghosts to enter the house. It was quite interesting to learn of the pains the owners took to insure they were protected - upside down key holes with covers to confuse the ghosts and guardian angels on the light fixtures to guard the corners of the room.

After the plantation, I headed in to the village of St. Francisville and stumbled upon a couple of churches built in the early to late 1800s. The clean lines and simplicity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church were calming and serene. The Grace Episcopal Church had a stern stone exterior but opened up to a spacious chapel with vibrant stained glass windows.

I was happy to have the chance to see a little more of Louisiana, learn of its history and get a feel of its culture first hand.

I could feel the heat and humidity building up in the afternoon. That evening a brilliant lighting and thunderstorm rolled through. We went out to Sammy's Grill for dinner. I had some shrimp Po-Boy sandwiches and fried pickles. Definitely felt like Louisiana.

Baton Rouge 2014: Sunday Best and Reasons to Believe

Nothing like a bike ride with Dad. Even better for Brennan is a ride to church in his suit and tie like a police officer. Not to be out done by the  bike...we all did some posing after church in our pre-Easter best.

That evening, I finally got a chance to see my sister's musical production of "Believe" (which she did both the music, lyrics, and text for.) They had to postpone the actual performance for a couple of weeks, but it was great to see what a beautiful job she has done!

Baton Rouge 2014: Exploring the USS Kidd with the Kids

Saturday was my day with the kids and The Kidd. However, my adventure began long before we boarded the great war ship...

After narrowing down our choices, the children decided they wanted to visit the USS Kidd, a restored WWII destroyer. The catch, I had to drive Jim's monster truck with its grumbling diesel engine and 50 gears on the stick shift (OK, maybe only 5 or 6) downtown. With the aid of my phone's GPS mapping I found my way to the Mississippi River and even scored a parking space I wouldn't have to back out of.

Both Brennan and Kate loved the Veteran's Museum, but Brennan was in Seventh Heaven running from model ship to model ship like a kid in a candy store.

With our map in hand, we were set free to wander the ship from mess hall to radar room to the officer's state rooms. After our history lesson on The Kidd, we wandered around the downtown area a bit and admired the "castle"  which is the Louisiana Old State Capitol Building. I left my phone's GPS on all afternoon so my battery died. I had to "follow my nose" back home and luckily we all made it without a scratch. The dogs did get out once we were back, but came home hungry and tired in the evening. We ended the day at Mooyah's for some tasty burgers (turkey burger, that is, for me and Janel) and sweet potato fries.

Baton Rouge 2014: Lagniappe at Magnolia Mound

The next day, everyone in the Rabalais clan had plans, so I decided to explore one of the local historic plantations. Just past LSU's Tiger Stadium is a hidden gem called Magnolia Mound Plantation. Founded in the late 1700's, the plantation still has several of the original houses. I was first to arrive and so I had my own personal tour guide take me around the plantation house. She was trilled to have such a captive audience and treated me to a little historic "lagniappe" - just a little extra info and local folklore. 

It turns out Mark Twain even expounded on "lagniappe"' in his Life on the Mississippi (1883).

We picked up one excellent word — a word worth travelling to New Orleans to get; a nice limber, expressive, handy word — "lagniappe." They pronounce it lanny-yap. It is Spanish — so they said.

.... It has a restricted meaning, but I think the people spread it out a little when they choose. It is the equivalent of the thirteenth roll in a "baker's dozen." It is something thrown in, gratis, for good measure.

The plantations cash crops included indigo, cotton, a bit of tobacco, then eventually sugar cane. It also boasted a stand alone open-hearth kitchen complete with reflector ovens and a waffle iron.  I, of course, was distracted by the garden's pointy moss covered fence posts and the wrought iron shutter

latches.

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Baton Rouge 2014: Back in the Bayou

As soon as I flipped on the radio station - Voodoo 104 - and found myself driving along narrow roads with absolutely NO shoulder to speak of and green as far as the eye could see, I knew I had made it back to the heart of Cajun Country, Louisiana. As the sun sets, I even catch sight of the blue haired bicycle fairy...

Brennan is still very much into cars and all things public service. Throughout the day he gently tortured the mini "taco" dog, Penny and Kate was addicted to listening to, watching, and singing along with the movie "Frozen" (even in the buggy at Walmart.) Nothing like hanging out with family!


My first full day in Baton Rouge I hung out with my sister, Janel. We raided a few thrift stores and then went to Brennan's Cub Scout meeting. Brennan won first prize in the Pinewood Derby with his "limo" and he proudly related the tale of his car conception.