Louisiana Crab Cakes

I walked down the street to the house with the sign,

"Crab Meat For Sale"

and bought two pounds of crab meat. 

 I found a recipe on line and we had

yummy, yummy crab cakes for dinner.  

I am so in trouble with the great food here. 

In the words of our North Dakota friend, Doretta,

from the Courthouse Cafe,

"the Norskies up here are pretty bland",

so, yes, I am ready for some tasty food. 

Cypress Lake

Cypress Lake - at the RV Park. 

Not a bad picture for a phone camera!

Rumor has it that a few friendly alligators live there.....

So while I toodled around in capri pants and short sleeves today,

 my friends back in North Dakota were watching it snow. 

I miss the friendly folks there,

 but will not miss the winter we would have had.

Life is Good.

Grocery Shopping

We just went to an amazing grocery store.  It's the HEB of Texas (Hill Country Fare) and the EconoMart of North Dakota (Pride of Dakota).  However, Rouse's is over the top cajun.  Every thing is Zatarains, Tony Chachere's, Louisiana Hot Sauce, and Tabasco.  Also, fresh shrimp, crab and crawfish in season.  There's a mix for everything: etoufee, jambala, crawfish pie, beignts, red beans and rice - everything.  It makes me think I can do it all!  I can hardly wait to buy some fresh crab from the guy down the street and get to cooking.  Mmmmmm.

RV Park

Here's the scenery from our RV Park in Berwick, Louisiana:

Before & After House Pics

Some of you have been asking to see before and after pictures of our little house in Alexander. 

Here is what we had finished when we passed it on
to Lonnie and Vickie:

 Front Door: Before

  Front Door: After

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Living Room: Before

Living Room: After

Kitchen: Before

Kitchen: After

Kitchen:  After

Bedroom:  Before

Bedroom: After

Bedroom: Before

Bedroom: After (Closet Removed)

The furnishings were all with the house, donated, or rummage sale finds.

All were discards - cracked, faded, chipped and broken.

We took them just like God takes us - just as we are.

He patches, repairs, and lovingly fixes our brokenness.

Then He puts us together as the body of Christ

- and somehow it works.

Seasons of our Lives

"I am with you and will watch over you

where ever you go.

I will meet all your needs

according to MY glorious riches.

Nothing in all creation will be able

to separate you from MY love."

...from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

page 324 November 5

...where ever I go...

Lord, I thank you that you meet my needs where ever I go.

This week we've traveled about 2,000 miles

going from Alexander, ND to Berwick, LA. via Snyder, TX.

We got to love on Holly and the kids for a day,

unpack, reload and take off again. 

We've gone from border to border in 5 days. 

Whew!

We left snowy winter in North Dakota.

and passed through colors of fall beginning in Nebraska.

Louisiana is cool, but still beautifully green.

We passed through 3 seasons in less than a week.

Sometimes the seasons of our lives feel like that.

We just barely leave one season, when there's another one. 

I'm not finished processing the season of North Dakota yet -

and here I am beginning another one!

In North Dakota we said hasty goodbyes -

goodbyes aren't easy any way you do them.

I had left gifts and an email for the sweet gals in the

Jonah Bible Study,

but there just wasn't enough time for everyone. 

Some got a phone call and some just a note.

We left Lonnie and Vickie working on the house.

J.O. helped Ted hook onto the RV.

Alan and Diana came by for a hug just as we were pulling out.

And Dave stood on his porch and waved as we passed by.

My tears were flowing, until I noticed the

'for sale' signs flying off the RV.

  It was a funny sight.

Just like us, they tried to hang on,

but finally let go and spun away.

We have loved North Dakota

and will always hold our new friends in our hearts.

I bet we'll be back.

Passin' Thru Texas

Short post today - we are "Passin' Thru"  Texas on our way to Houma, Louisiana, where Ted has accepted a  job offer.  Good career move, warmer weather, and closer to grandkids.

We rented our little house to Lonnie and Vickie,

who are gladly finishing the projects we started.   

I think it's a blessing for all of us!   

 

I'm not quiet finished with my thoughts on North Dakota, so I'll revisit those thoughts soon.  

The 36 hour drive has caught up with me tonight!