The Rural Life

The St. Gabriel, LA area (actually Sunshine) is where my maternal grandparents lived and where I spent many of my formative years. It's located about 15 miles south of Baton Rouge. Whenever I'm feeling lonely or melancholy, I often take long drives there, sometimes remembering days of my youth, or simply to clear my head.

Below are photos from one of my drives on 3/31/13. First stop is usually St. Gabriel Cemetery to visit my mom, sister, and grandparents.

I took two different versions of this statue and couldn't decide which one to post.
So you get both. :)

Following along River Road I make frequent stops. As I'm driving, the levee is on the driver's side, and opposite are homes and pastures. Since Hurricane Katrina, Baton Rouge has become a little too crowded, and with the increase in crime, many are building very nice homes in rural areas such as St. Gabriel; however, I prefer the more rural structures. The unassuming, unpretentious life is how I was raised, and I hope that never changes.

I so wanted to get on the other side of this barn, but I was relegated to one view.

An enormous ditch and a barbed wire fence kept me from crossing over to get more shots.

As a youngster I ate meat from my grandparents' cattle and vegetables from their garden.
Maybe that's why I was so healthy.

Levee with an unusually large patch of grass below.

A unique live oak tree that looks like it's been knocked down by a hurricane or two.
Despite its challenges, it's still growing and thriving. Kind of like me!

I have updated my About Me page; the last paragraph in particular. Check it out if you have time.

Fall Cleaning - Photo Style

For whatever reason, some of my images never made it to my blog. I went through all my photos from the first three months of this year and had a big ol' Delete Party. It feels good to lighten the load and make more room on my hard drive. I'll be doing more of that as time allows.

Bald Eagle landing - 2/3/13. Looks like he's wearing a white skirt.

iPhone shot of levee where eagles were observed - 2/5/13

A pod of pelicans - LSU Lakes - 2/13/13

Green heron - LSU Lakes - 2/24/13

Lilacs Wisteria- Avery Island - 3/16/13
Thanks for the correction, Anni! I always get lilacs and wisteria confused. :/

Nesting egrets - Avery Island - 3/26/13

Egrets in breeding plumage - Avery Island - 3/26/13

iPhone shot of breeding platforms - Avery Island - 3/26/13
The green area is algae

iPhone shot of Trees and Trails nature area at Burden Center - 3/19/13
Carrying heavy camera equipment over this narrow boardwalk sans railings was a bit scary.
I was more worried about damaging my camera equipment then getting devoured by alligators.

iPhone shot of azaleas - same location as above - 3/19/13

Izzy wanted to say "HI!"
Basking in the sunshine - 3/29/13

Linking to Skywatch Friday. Thanks, hosts!

Behind The Levee

Some time ago I googled "birding Baton Rouge" and found a place about 20 minutes from my house behind the levee. The write-up said this was private property, a working sand and silt pit, but that the owners were fine with birders as long as permission was obtained. So I emailed the Baton Rouge Audubon Society for the contact information of the property owner and finally called him on Sunday. Turns out he is my 3rd or 4th cousin on my mother's side! He was very nice (of course!) and said to explore to my heart's content. So I did!

One of my first shots was a yellow-billed cuckoo! According to allaboutbirds.org, this is a very secretive bird.
Most people only hear them, so I was elated to get this one and only image.
They eat large insects and some berries and seeds.
They work a caterpillar back and forth between the bill, possibly to remove hairs, before swallowing.
They develop very quickly—17 days from egg laying until fledging.
Both parents build the nest, incubate the eggs, and brood equally during the day. The male takes the night shift.
These birds like open woodlands with clearings, and dense, scrubby vegetation near water.
Listed as endangered in California where development is disrupting the areas in which it likes to live.

A pair of eastern bluebirds

Crimson clover

Red-winged blackbird, female

Great egret

Top of levee

Behind the levee

Peek-a-boo view

Eagle Update

The brain fog persists, but I'm persevering. Some good news: my daughter signed closing papers yesterday on her first home in Portland, OR! When I visit in May I will have a place to stay, but most importantly, I am extremely proud of my girl. She's waited a very long time for this, so we are all rejoicing with her. Love you, sweet girl!

Yesterday was also my session with Sister Cynthia. As I pulled into the parking space it was announced that the new pope had been selected. When I entered the building, everyone was filled with excitement. Too bad I felt left out, but I was happy for those celebrating.

Afterwards, I went to the levee to check on the eaglets. They are growing so fast! One of the eaglets took a test flight with a parent which I photographed, not realizing it at the time. The other eaglet pointed his booty at me and squirted a big poop in my direction! Thank goodness they are several hundred feet away. Looks like they will be leaving the nest soon.

I'm fairly certain this is the parent in the back and baby in the front.

How am I doin' mama?

You're going great, Junior! Now look ahead so you don't run into a tree!

The little song sparrow paid me a visit while I was watching the eagles. He's quite a ham.

A few backyard shots:

Female brown-headed cowbird. 

Male brown-headed cowbird

Male house finch

Sister Cynthia picked my blessing from her special book:

May God, the PHYSICIAN bless you, bringing you to wholeness and health. When you become aware of rupture or fracture in your life, may you experience the healing hand of God laid upon you and the curative power of God's love and forgiveness coursing through your veins. With and through the same touch, may you become healer for the brokenness of our world. May God the PHYSICIAN bless you.

Today and tomorrow I am working for my old boss from home, so I'll catch up when possible. Y'all have a great day and weekend!

I am linking up for the first time to Skywatch Friday! Thank you to the hosts!!!

St. Gabriel

I can't believe I'm posting three days in a row, but here I am! Today I went out to the cemetery to put autumn flowers on my mother's and sister's graves. It was a glorious day, with temps in the upper 70s, blue skies, and a slight breeze. Along the way I stopped and photographed some things I've wanted to shoot for some time.

This is the road where my grandparents' old house now resides. I love the funky lettering on the sign. Looks like they lost an O, two U's and a P and did the best they could. No pretense out here in the country!

This is my grandparents' home, relocated to its new position on Bayou Paul Rd. Although never in pristine shape it looked a lot better than this. It makes me sad to see it here, away from its original birthplace. There used to be a glass louvered door where that ugly white one is now. I got locked out once when I was home alone and broke one of the glass panes trying to get back in. Boy, did my paw paw fuss at me! The house also originally had a tin roof, but in later years they put on a more traditional roof. Looks like it's never been replaced.

This is how I like to remember the old house, with my grandmother beside it, and the levee out in front.
These are my two oldest kids with my grandmother, Celina, in 1985. Autumn looks upset and Greg looks like the cat that ate the canary. I can only guess what mischief that boy was up to. He looks mighty proud of himself.

St. Gabriel Catholic Church
This historic church is where my mother was christened, had her first communion, and was confirmed.
I think she married my dad here, but he doesn't really remember. :/
Built between 1774 and 1776, it is the oldest church in the Louisiana Purchase Territory.

This old store dating back to 1880 sits on the corner of Bayou Paul Rd. and Hwy. 75 (River Rd.)

The levee, across the street from Barthel's store.

Hope you enjoyed meandering along the River Rd. with me today. Sharing with Nancy's Rural Thursday.