Rebirth

This time of year is so refreshing. Colors are singing along with the birds, buds are bursting forth in bloom and leaf. I love it. One day it looks like the whole earth is dying and within a few days it has new life again. A perfect illustration of the Easter season.

Along River Road in St. Gabriel, LA. last week.

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.

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.