Woodridge Bed and Breakfast - Shootin' the Breeze

Traditions of the Choctaw Indians: Lighting of the Graves

2009-11-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

The summer has faded and the leaves are turning shades of gold and red while the cooler weather provides for lively fall festivals. While most of us find it quite fun this time of year following tradition of creating a festive sometime haunting costume, creating tasty yet very gruesome treats to take to our Halloween festivities, there is a small community in SE Louisiana who devote this time to prepare for the day of Saints, All Saints Day.

LaCombe, Louisiana, a small town lying on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain and surrounded by bayous is home to the descendants of the Choctaw Indians. Now a mixture of white, French, Creole and Choctaw they have continued in the tradition of their ancestors. For the weeks leading up to Nov. 1, you will find the cemeteries in LaCombe filled with people working on the graves and the grounds surrounding. Some whitewash the old stone markers and refresh the painted descriptions of their departed loved ones.

Then as the day turns in to evening on this holy day, they return to the site that holds the remains of their cherished loved ones. Most light candles and surround the burial sight with light and their they sit, paying their respects and holding ritual in honor of the dead, and as the evening turns dark the cemeteries are all a glow as more family join in the ritual. As they speak, they talk of their departed grandparents, mothers, fathers, sisters or brothers and the things they remember most about them. As time has passed, it has become a tradition for neighbors, friends and others to come experience the Lighting of the Graves.

My first experience was very spiritual. Some of the cemeteries are deeply embedded in the woods with the faint glow flickering with the breeze of the remaining leaves and as you approach, the glow is brighter and brighter until you reach the cemetery which has become alive with light and people. As I walked, I stopped to read each marker, some would have the traditional cross while others had the cross known as the Cross of the Choctaw. Family of the departed sit, making sure the candles stay lit and talk to those coming to pay their respects. I recall this one young man who told us all about his grandfather. He spoke with so much love and emotion, I knew the gentleman was greatly missed and I as I was leaving felt as though I had met the gentleman myself, and in a way I did as that young man carries his grandfather with him each and every day.

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When visiting SE Louisiana and Woodridge Bed and Breakfast, make plans to visit LaCombe, just 15 minutes west. It is filled with much charm and culture of its own. Visit the LaCombe Museum to get the flavor of the area. Visit the old Catholic Church where miracles have happened by touching the holy water as well as sightings of Mary.

And while there, take in a fabulous meal at John Besh’s La Province or at Sal and Judy’s.

For more information and to book your stay Contact Debbi at Woodridge B&B.

SE Louisiana - Fisherman's Paradise

2009-07-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Well I love her….but I love to fish! For many fishermen this song is not far from the truth. Well for all the Brad Paisley’s out there, we have a solution to all your worries. But first lets take care of the important stuff.
So you love to fish, well you have come to the right place, bring plenty of ice chests because the waters south Louisiana are abound with fish. Never mind your experience, the fish of saltwater lakes - Pontchartrain, Catherine and Borgne and the fresh fish in the waters of the Pearl River are just waiting for your pole to hit the water. The saltwater lakes are well known for Speckled Trout and Redfish year round.

The Rigolets Marina is a great place to launch and then during the summer head over to the Seabrook Bridge area, in the spring and winter just hover around the trestles near Slidell for Trout or near the marshy banks of the Pearl or Bayou Bonfouca for the reds. The marina will have plenty of live shrimp for bait through late fall, and during the winter you can rely on the Deadly Dudley’s to reel in the catch. If you want an expert guide, Capt. Dudley Vandenborre is the best around and fun to know as well. There are plenty of places to just drop a line off the banks or docks as well…great during the summer when the use of a sliding cork line will lure the trout when they are closer to the top of the water.

If fresh water is more your liking you will love the fishing in the Pearl River near Slidell as it breaks into numerous branches as it flows toward its mouth. Middle, eastern and western tributaries are areas with winding curves and lily pad flats where it is known to have large bass just waiting for you. The Pearl is also known for good river cat and perch. There are several landings up river to launch as well as the Rigolets at the base. For Bayou fishing, you can launch at Heritage park and ride along the banks of the Bonfouca.

No matter where you fish, you will not need to come up with a story of how the big one got away…it will be right there in your catch box.

Now that I have caught your attention and you have packed your rod and reel ready for your trip, lets get to the part of how to make this trip one of fun AND romance. Well I have never thought the words romance and fish belong in the same sentence much less the same weekend, but in South Louisiana anything can happen! Select the Woodridge B&B ‘I love to fish’ package when you book on line and we will arrange everything to keep the romance going while you enjoy the sport you love…
Arrive to a lovely dimly lit room with fresh flowers and a nice fruit and cheese tray. She will hardly budge when you slip out in the wee hours to catch the big one…but don’t forget the boxed goodies we have packed for your adventure. While you are out enjoying the water, she will rest in peace awaking to freshly made coffee on the balcony while listening to the morning bird songs, then joining other guests in conversation over a wonderful gourmet breakfast, followed by an hour massage to lift the stress from her shoulders. By the time you come back she will be welcoming you with a warm rested smile. A little time for you to rest then it is off to a scrumptious dinner at one of the areas best restaurants, arriving back to a nice bottle of bubbly before another wonderful night’s rest. By the time you are packing your bags to go home, she will be asking when you plan to go fishin’ again.

Thank you for Shootin’ the breeze with me - Debbi
http://www.woodridgebb.com
Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Inn Louisiana

Located just outside of the Honey Island Swamp and minutes to the area launches. Providing guests with the ultimate in relaxation and romance.

La Provence - Serves a flavorful mix of South Louisiana and Provence, France

2009-06-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

Award winning Chef John Besh makes his mark at home.

It has been said there is no place like home and for Chef John Besh, there is no better place to be. With many awards and recognitions such as: Food & Wine named him one of its Top 10 Best New Chefs in America. New Orleans Magazine ranked him Best New Chef of 1998, and Gourmet honored Restaurant August as one of its Top Restaurants of America.

Growing up in Slidell, John began his restaurant career under the local Chef Chris Kerageorgiou who was the previous owner of La Provence located in the quiet Creole town of Lacombe minutes east of Slidell. Chef Chris saw in him the makings of a great Chef and inspired him to study abroad in France where John was intrigued to bring back the tradition of the French cuisine and blend it with the wonderful flavors of south Louisiana products to establish his trademark menus.

The unique setting of La Provence provides its guests the feeling of being whisked away to the French countryside. The restaurant is surrounded by lovely gardens including a working farm, which many of the herbs, vegetables and other organic items are grown and served. Each chef under the direction of Executive Besh, works a few hours each week on the farm insuring the best of the best. Besh’s love of Louisiana is propionate by his selection of local grown meats and just caught seafood.

Settling down at your table, you will be further enchanted with the provincial antiques and art which fills the beautiful rooms from the richly oak-beamed ceilings to the rustic hardwood floors, a wonderful mixture of past and present, French and Louisiana. The elaborate menu selection alone will encourage a return visit with many dishes centered around Besh’s signature ingredient, jumbo blue crab. A starter of Chef Chirs’s Quail Gumbo or Blue Crab Bisque is sure to entice the palate for what lies ahead. The Lacquered Duckling with local Mayhaw, is a favorite as well as the Rabbit “Grand-mere” with potato Gnocchi which you will want to savor each bit, both which go well with one of the many selections of fine wine. And the evening would be incomplete without trying the succulent Crème Brulee with red wine stewed berries. It is not uncommon for the Chef to make his way to the dining room to chat with his patrons, which makes La Provence the experience it is.
Besh has several other restaurants in the New Orleans area including -Restaurant August, Besh Steak, and Lüke. Bon Appetite.

Thanks for joining me while I shoot the Breeze – Debbi
Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Inn Louisiana http://www.woodridgebb.com

Woodridge B&B is just minutes away from your evening out, making it the best choice for making it a Louisiana experience. From Woodridge, take I-12 to the Lacombe Hwy 434 exit, turn left and travel to Hwy 190 and turn right, La Provence is located about 2 ½ miles down on your left.

Wildlife Abounds in SE Louisiana

2009-05-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

If you love nature, you will be in hog heaven if you visit eastern St. Tammany parish. Southeast Louisiana is home to over a dozen state and federal wildlife management areas (WMA). Some of these areas provide sanctuaries for hundreds of species of birds, reptiles and mammals, while also providing controlled hunts to keep numbers within reason. My blog will concentrate on the areas in or surrounding eastern St. Tammany parish.

The Pearl River WMA, previously mentioned on this blog, covers over 35,000 acres with several boat ramps, nature trails birding and canoeing. The Bogue Chitto National WMA extends north of the Pearl River WMA and encompasses 36,000 acres of the Pearl River Basin. This area is considered a bottomland hardwood forest with areas containing sloughs and bayous to explore. The woods contain the bald cypress, water tupelo, the Mayhaw and other water loving hardwoods in the low-lying areas and live oak and pine on the higher grounds.

Given the name Bogue Chittio (or Large Stream) by the Choctaw Indians, the area is home to many endangered or threatened species including the ringed-sawback turtle, American alligator, gopher tortoise, inflated heel-splitter mussel, the Gulf sturgeon, bald eagles and the swallow-tailed kite. And is also home to deer, turkey, neo-tropical birds, rabbit, raccoon, a variety of snakes, mink, skunks, wading birds and waterfowl.

Trails have been made for those interested in eco-tourism. And there are several ramps for boating as well. There are several entry points north of Slidell near the town of Pearl River.

Thanks for joining me while I shoot the Breeze – Debbi
Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Inn Louisiana http://www.woodridgebb.com
" Located just south east of the Bogue Chitto NWR. Let us help plan your visit to nature's paradise.

The Bogue Chitto is located just north and northwest of Woodridge B&B. To reach the southern tip of the refuge travel 6 miles on I-59 to Pearl River Turnaround Exit 11. Heading east from this exit takes you to a fishing area, turning west will take you toward the Holmes Bayou Trail. The Refuge can also be accessed from Locks 1, 2, & 3 by taking Highway 41 north of Slidell. To reach the furthermost East side of the Refuge, take I-59 North to Picayune, MS (15 miles north of Woodridge B&B) Take HWY 43 to Walkiah Bluff Water Park or to Dumas Wise Road to access the Refuge.

The Honey Island Swamp in Louisiana; Nature’s Paradise!

2009-05-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

When people think of swamps they usually think of Louisiana as they go together like biscuits and butter. Southeast Louisiana is home to the two largest swamps in the state, the Atchafalaya the states largest is southwest of the city of New Orleans. The second, and in this writers opinion the best swamp to tour, is the Honey Island Swamp which is located on the East side of Slidell, running along the vast Pearl River.

Honey Island Swamp covers over 70 thousand acres of wetlands. Fed by the mighty Pearl River, Honey Island Swamp is sometimes flooded by the river running over it’s banks mostly occurring during spring. The Swamp is a State Wildlife Refuge protected by the State Wildlife Protection Agency, which provides a sanctuary for nature. Of course most do not think of a swamp without getting a vision of the prehistoric looking alligator, but the swamp is filled with so much wildlife that a true naturalist would love getting lost in this area.

Birders, too find the Honey Island a wonderful place to spend their mornings. Many students find this area an ideal place for school projects or thesis. One such student was studying the history of bird species and their territories. This student had studied intensely the history of birds in Illinois and found that many species that once made that area home hundreds of years ago, now reside in the Honey Island Swamp do to the ever changing climate. His visit to the swamp was to determine how many of those species he could encounter here.

Several reports have spiked world wide interest to the Honey Island Swamp. There is the legend of the Honey Island Swamp Monster that got SciFi fans rushing to the area to find him back in the 1970’s and the legend has resurfaced with the release of Mr. Ford's documentary put together by his granddaughter in 1999. Another stir was with the possible siting of the thought to be extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker. To this day, birders flock here in hopes to find this large bird which can be easily confused with the popular large Pileated Woodpecker found throughout the area.

I have not even touched the surface of the vast tree and plant life, from the bald cypress, tupelo and river birch to the swamp grasses, Spanish Moss, and the wild Iris which lies on the water banks and much, much more. I never thought of a swamp as a place of beauty but it is. Come to Louisiana, Experience Nature, Explore the Honey Island Swamp.

Thank you for Shootin’ the breeze with me - Debbi

Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Inn Louisiana http://www.woodridgebb.com
Located just outside of the Honey Island Swamp and minutes to the tours and boat launches, Woodridge B&B is the perfect place to enjoy nature. Guests of Woodridge receive special discounts at some area tours, when booked through the B&B.

The best way to tour the Honey Island Swamp is by boat. If you bring your own boat or canoe, there are several public launch sites making it easy to experience the area at your leisure. For those not coming in tow, a tour may be more up your ally. There are several tour companies in the Slidell area that do tours year round. Most have covered boats to protect you from the sun when you are not under the vast tree canopy, and from the occasional afternoon showers.

Honey Island Swamp: - http://www.honeyislandswamp.com/
Pearl River Eco Tours: - http://www.pearlriverecotours.com/index.html
Cajun Encounters: - http://www.cajunencounters.com/Swamp_Tour.html

For those wanting to explore on foot, permits can be obtained to wonder through paths created near the northern end of the refuge off I-59 near the town of Pearl River and other areas. See the State Wildlife and Fisheries site: http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/hunting/wmas/wmas/list.cfm?wmaid=35