The Search for Miss Direction: Beads!

I have said before and will repeat here again, I do not pray for patience because I then believe God will bring things into your life to test it just to show you He's heard and answered your prayer. So if someone is out there praying for my patience - knock it off! I was supremely tested this morning (and was glad to find an untapped well of patience at my disposal) when I spent the morning in Noah's class helping 25 of his nearest and dearest learn how to sew. That's right folks, five and six year olds on the loose with needles and embroidery floss. It was quite the morning! They did stellar, I'm still standing (and smiling even!) so it's all good. I really have enjoyed the time I have gotten to spend in Noah's class this year as I wasn't able to do that with him in pre-school since I had the Bean. It made me appreciate teachers even more, let me tell you. Which is ironic since it just so happens to be National Teacher Appreciation Week. Here's an extra 'hip hip hooray' for all the educators out there - God Bless You!

The rest of the day before Noah got home paled in comparison but it was filled with Beach Day for the Bean, laundry, errands and work. And aromas that made my stomach growl all day long. Shortly before we headed off to the bus stop this morning I cranked the knob of the crock pot and got to cooking the Louisiana Red Beans and Rice that constituted dinner tonight. It was the perfect meal for today, as I learned from my awesome Taste of Home, Recipes Across America cookbook that "A classic Monday-night dinner in Louisiana is Red Beans and Rice. Historically, the meat used for this dish was left over from Sunday's dinner - either pork or ham. The beans would simmer unattended on stovetops, while housewives did their Monday laundry." Well, I employed my crock pot, and its Tuesday, but I was doing laundry! Anyway, it smelled incredible and tasted just as good at dinner tonight.

If you've been with us on our little state adventure since the beginning you may remember that while New Orleans may be known for its Mardi Gras celebrations, the true origins of Mardi Gras in the United States can be traced to Mobile, Alabama. But let's face it, you say 'mardi gras' you think New Orleans. And we couldn't really 'celebrate' Louisiana this week and not do something mardi gras related. So since we'd already made masks for this weeks project I decided we needed to make our own mardi gras beads!

Mardi Gras parades began in New Orleans in the 1830's. The floats in the parades are manned by krewes who toss 'throws' to the parade goers, consisting of items such as doubloons, plastic cups, inexpensive toys and the most well known - strings of beads! During some of the first parades inexpensive necklaces made of glass beads were tossed by the krewes. The beads were an instance hit with the residents of New Orleans and tourists and became a fixture of the mardi gras experience. And just so you know, the need to 'flash' to get beads - totally a myth. Not to say it doesn't happen but if you avoid the French Quarter (where no actual parades run anyway) Mardi Gras is considered a Family Friendly experience by the locals. (If you're still a little concerned, consider checking out Family Gras!) Beads are commonly seen in the three official colors of mardi gras; purple for justice, green for faith and gold for power.

Anyway, tonight while we listened to some fabulous Dixieland Jazz tunes we strung our own sets of mardi gras beads and talked about the whole mardi gras experience; what it means, why its celebrated, how its celebrated in different parts of the world - there was no end to the questions from the kiddos tonight. Like pretty much every state we've talked about before they've now decided we should move to Louisiana. I've told them that a visit certainly may be in order (I was in New Orleans in 2001, pre-Katrina and fell in love with the state. They probably wouldn't have to work too hard to convince we to take a trip back...) but that I was otherwise pretty satisfied staying in Michigan.

Tomorrow night is our Louisiana mail call and I can't wait! One of my MOPS friends, Julie, actually lived in Louisiana for a few months after she was married (shortly after Katrina. The stories she shared with me a few weeks ago were terrifying!) and she still has friends there that kindly hooked us up with Louisiana mail! Can't wait to share it with the kiddos tomorrow night! And the Bean has been excited since we went to the grocery store on Monday when she found out that crab was on the menu this week (wait til she hears that the next three weeks are Maine, Maryland and Massachusetts - no end of seafood in sight around here) and I'm going to try to light things up by making Bananas Foster! So until then...

Louisiana Fun Fact of the Day: In 1718 The French found New Orleans and marked "Cannes Brulee" on maps upriver in the area known today as the City of Kenner. French for "Burnt Canes", Cannes Brulee was a name given by explorers who observed natives burning cane to drive out wild game.