We took the rest of our spring break this past week and traveled to Baton Rouge (where we lived for many years) to visit my father in law. We were surprised that much of the deep south still takes their spring break centered around Easter, since no one in this area of the country has done that in all the years we've lived up here. I guess it made for a pleasant drive for us because the roads were not much traveled. I think everyone had already left for their trip before we drove down - and we left before they came back!
The last time we were able to go down to Baton Rouge was a year after Katrina, and the city was somewhat chaotic due to the influx of such a large number of people from New Orleans all at once. The roads just couldn't handle all that traffic. Now things seem to have settled down and the city has grown out into areas where we don't have need of going too often, so the roads we typically use were not too busy. Driving in town was much more pleasant this time!
We enjoyed looking around at the old and new, returning to favorite restaurants and just hanging out with my husband's father. He can't get around too well now, so we really couldn't do any major sightseeing. Here are some shots of our wanderings while there:
At a crawfish boil for Krewe Mystique....
Of course, every good crawfish eater must learn to peel the tails and suck the heads, 'cause you just ain't gonna get enough to eat from those claws....
Even though the guys running Alligator Bayou tours have been run out of business, their gators are still hanging 'round....
And the Live Oaks were still ever-present and beautiful, although we did see one huge tree on LSU's campus had completely died. Don't know what that was all about....
Of course, Mike the Tiger still reclines in his luxury enclosure on campus....
Although why he chooses the most cramped corner of a spacious enclosure for a nap is sort of beyond me, LOL. I guess he likes the snuggly feeling....
The turkeys were strutting their stuff at the Rural Life Museum....
And while it was fun to see all the traditional buildings, it was also fun to poke every fire ant nest that came our way and chase the skinks who were sunning themselves on every step....
Even though the water levels were rather low while we were there, some water was in Bluebonnet Swamp and there were a few critters about besides the fire ants....
In addition to the many skinks and dragonflies, we saw a diamond-backed water snake and a broad-banded water snake. Can you see them?
We did take a break from gorging ourselves on seafood a couple of times so that we could eat at other old favorite haunts, like Pinetta's (the epitome of hole in the wall restaurants, I think)....
And we did drive up to St. Francisville one day and visit the Myrtles. There were no ghosts about, but there were plenty of big frogs in the pond. The river was up across the road on the way out to Cat Island, so we couldn't go see the biggest Cypress trees in the world, but we did end the day wandering around the beautiful old St. Francisville cemetery. It was a nice trip....
While we didn't set out to specifically do much school work this week, he did finish up a section of geometry in Russian Math 6 that we had gotten behind on. He did also watch a Bible related video: Testament, The Bible and History: Gospel Truth. It's from this series:
http://www.amazon.com/Testament-Bible-History-7-tape-Humanities/dp/B000M5Q016/ref=sr_1_2?s=video&ie=UTF8&qid=1303575527&sr=1-2
On the long car trips back and forth, he finished up some reading or listened to books I'd put on tape for the occasion. Here's the hodge-podge of books that were used, finishing up various topics we've looked at lately (I don't think I have mentioned any of these yet):
Regarding South America: This Place is High, Vicki Cobb (Bolivia)
I LOVE this series for geography studies! Ms. Cobb also has written many excellent science experiment books....
Regarding Mexico and Mexican independence from Spain: Pinatas and Smiling Skeletons, Zoe Harris and Suzanne Williams; The Pinata Maker, George Ancona; Mexico, Gina DeAngelis; and Charro, The Mexican Cowboy, George Ancona.
Ancona's book on the pinata maker is written both in Spanish and English, so if you are studying Spanish it makes good practice reading! The book on the cowboy also includes a lot of good vocabulary....
Regarding the War of 1812 time period and the opening of the American West: The Glorious Fourth at Prairietown, Joan Anderson; The National Anthem, Patricia Quiri; Washington Ablaze: The War of 1812, Randy Schultz.
Photography in The Glorious Fourth is also by George Ancona, who wrote the two books on Mexico previously mentioned....
Regarding the time period near the end of slavery: A Good Night for Freedom, Barbara Morrow; Sojourner Truth, Margo McLoone; Talking Eggs, Robert San Souci (a folk tale that came into the Creole slave culture from other cultures); President of the Underground Railroad, A Story about Levi Coffin, Gwenyth Swain:
We came home Thursday night so he did go to his Friday afternoon Chemistry lab. They were working more with gases this week and the various laws associated with those.
We sent in his literature writing assignment via email while we were there; I hope his teacher got it okay. I believe he only has one more week of that class.
I think we're ready to get our last few weeks of school finished up!
Regena
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