Report from Louisiana: The Pre-Christmas Roundup

Posted: December 20, 2021 by Pat Austin in Uncategorized
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SHREVEPORT – Some random observations from around the Web:

  • Perhaps I am a luddite, but the New York Times list of the best books of 2021 is bizarre to me. I would be hard pressed to find one or two that I would read.
  • Speaking of books, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has a curious reading list to occupy his time over the Christmas break.
  • I love Christmas time in Louisiana! The levee bonfires, cancelled because of Covid last year, are back! The tradition serves to light the way for Papa Noel on Christmas Eve.
  • I went to see Spider-Man No Way Home this weekend; loved it. It was the first time I’ve been to a movie theater in a couple of years, but I’m glad I went. Great movie!
  • In the saddest news I’ve heard in a long time, this couple from Iowa died this past week within hours of each other from Covid. They ran a beautiful bed and breakfast called The Peppermill out of their lovingly restored Victorian home. Belle was an excellent cook, a DIY queen, creative, fun, and such a warm person. Her husband Dan was equally welcoming. This is devastating news to the community and of course to their daughter.
  • I loved Adrienne’s post on decluttering. The struggle is real.
  • The Democrats are coming after your gas stoves. Now let me tell you, one thing I CAN do is cook, and I refuse to cook on an electric stove. I know, you have one, you love it. Fine. That’s your choice. But when I’m making a gumbo, when I am cooking the roux, I want to see exactly how high that flame is. It’s an art. And no electric stove is going to do that for me. Besides, the key word there was CHOICE. I have a 1940s Chambers range in my kitchen, and it runs on gas. I’m keeping it.
  • Our church held the annual Nativity Pageant last night, and y’all, it was so dang cute. Little mice crawling up the aisle, at one point one of the sheep abandoned the stable and fled to his mother in the congregation, and little tiny angels. It was precious. Take a look!
  • I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! Eat as much fruitcake as you like, enjoy your families, read a good book, and remember the reason for the season. Merry Christmas from Shreveport.

Pat Austin blogs at And So it Goes in Shreveport and at Medium. She is the author of Cane River Bohemia: Cammie Henry and her Circle at Melrose Plantation (LSU Press).

Comments
  1. Pod Hamp says:
    December 20, 2021 at 4:55 pm

    I have never had the desire to follow the latest fashions in literature by reading NY Times bestsellers (although from time to time I read a book on the list that interests me). So, since I refuse to click on a link that goes to the NYT, I’ll just have to live without knowing what I’m missing. So Pod, What do you like to read? Well, I’m glad you asked. I just started reading “The Harvard Classics” on my Kindle, https://infogalactic.com/info/Harvard_Classics It will likely take me years to finish it, and as a bonus, it it ridiculously cheap on Kindle, much less than just one of those bestsellers on the NYT bestseller list.

  2. Bill Heffner says:
    December 21, 2021 at 10:38 am

    I share your disdain for the electric range. I have only once tried to make a dark roux on one, and managed to ruin a cast iron skillet in the process. Actually, cast iron on an electric burner is a recipe for making garbage.