Finally, Betty’s RV park

After a year of waiting we finally got to Betty’s RV park in Abbeville, LA. We will be here for a month, during which time the Mardi Gras parades and parties will be going on.

Betty asked us to arrive in a staggered time with Rich and Terri Deacon and us being the first in. Because the park is so small it is easier to park everyone in a certain order. The Deacons are a little away from us, but still in a crowded area.

Once we got parked Jim and Bobbi Chapman and Tom and Nancy Doyle came with the Doyle’s parking next to us and the Chapman’s next to them.

As you can see it is pretty close quarters. Betty met us with hugs when we arrived and she is a wonderful outgoing person. She gave us a ten page list of things going on this month and has an outdoor pavilion and an indoor area to hold happy hour, which starts at 4:30 every day.

Here are a couple shots of Betty.

The happy hour started at 4:30 and ended about 7:30 with everyone introducing themselves and Betty telling us her story about how her park got started.

Because of tree’s blocking the satellite signal we have started a satellite garden behind our trailer. It is the only spot to get a signal. I asked for this spot because  my satellite is rooftop mounted and automatic as I am not a very patient person and get really frustrated trying to get a signal.

Yesterday at happy hour Betty had a friend of hers ,who was one of 5 finalist’s for the Country music new female entertainer of the year in 1981. She sang and entertained us for about 3 hours, putting on a wonderful performance.

Her name is Judy Bailey, and she has invited all of us to her house today (Saturday) to watch and listen to her new band perform and work out some new stuff in front of a live audience. They are also providing hot dogs and hamburgers for us. We need to take chairs and beverages, and with this group that means beer and wine, or something stronger.

Her first song is one she wrote for Betty and one that will eventually be on Betty’s web site. Very fun song. We tried to get them to post the video to U-Tube but there are professional conflicts I guess.

So far everything is as we had hoped….a lot of fun and great company. We are looking forward to many more wonderful days in “Betty’s web”

http://www.bettysrvpark.com

Have a great day, and know that we love you

Jim and Linda

New Orleans, Abita brewery and shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp

We spent 4 days in the New Orleans area to do sightseeing, but the weather did not co operate, it was rainy and cold. So we did the next best things, drink and eat.

Our friends, John and Cathy Robnik, were in the area so we met them at the Abita brewery on Friday to take their tour. We drove across Lake Ponchitrain causeway, which is 25 miles long and met them for lunch at a little café and then went to the brewery. The tour itself was very minimal, but their welcome center had a big bar and we were all able to draw our own beer! We all sampled several of the beers and enjoyed the  company as usual. http://www.abita.com

 

Outside of Bayou Signette state park are the shrimp shacks. There are about 12-15 small stands that sell shrimp , crab and fish right off of the boats. The first day we bought 4 pounds of 21-25 count and boiled most of them and sautéed the rest.

Fresh shrimp has a taste much, much better than frozen and we all enjoyed it.

Jim and Terri pulling off the heads and getting them ready to cook. ready to eat, along with Bobbi’s pasta saladRich and Terri and Bobbi’s plate….happy campers here!

The next day we got 2 pounds of 15-17 count and 2 pounds of 21-25 count, plus all three of us bought 5 pounds each to freeze.

Our dear old fried Pete Reese gave me a recipe for coconut shrimp and a habanero pineapple chutney. The two pounds of larger shrimp were for the coconut and the smaller one to bread and fry….

Well let me tell you folks, after we cooked the coconut shrimp we took time out to eat them, and we all agreed to cook the other two pounds as coconut also!!!

Bobbi made coleslaw that was the best I have ever had and Terri make a yellow rice and we also had nice hot roll’s. All 4 pounds ended up in our tummy’s…..yum, yum, yum

note the heads are still on these bad boys.here they are beheaded and deshelled ready to cook.

 

the chutneyand some ready to eat.

 

A very special thank you to Pete for giving me this recipe several years ago. I never made it because Linda did not like coconut shrimp, but after trying this recipe she is hooked. And the chutney…….OMG it was superb.

 

We may be homeless people, but we sure do eat damn good. Oh, by the way….the shrimp cost from $2.25 to $5.50 a pound, fresh from the boat. Eat your hearts out.

You know we love you.

Jim and Linda

Bayou Segnette state park

Hi
Just a short update. We moved yesterday about 86 miles to New Orleans area. It is cold here, about 36 degrees. We had planned for three days of sightseeing, but the cold and rain predicted will put a damper on that.
Today we are driving across Lake Ponchitrain causeway to meet old friends for an early lunch and than a tour of the Abita brewry....rumor is they serve free beer before and after the tour.
We have been telling the other two couples about the Huey P. Long bridge and this morning we will drive over it....I hope the view is not affected too much by the construction to add two lanes on each side....both Bobbie and Terri have a fear of bridges, and this one will really scare you if you are not used to narrow high bridges....
Have a great day
Jim and Linda

Picnic on the Gulf

Today we all went on a picnic. Took some pop and water in the cooler and stopped at Subway for sandwiches. Than went to the state park on the gulf at Ocean Springs, MS.

way in the background you can see the bridge from Ocean Springs to Biloxi, MS. The old bridge was destroyed by Katrina and rebuilt.

After lunch we walked out on the pier into the gulf and enjoyed the sun and warm (68) temperature.

Here is a picture of a typical gulf coast house, built up on stilts to protect if from storm surge. Also a few shots of the live oak trees as they hang over the road and some shrimp boats

Hope you enjoy

The next few were taken along the road going into the campground….beautiful place,

Wednesday we move on the New Orleans area and our favorite state park in Louisiana, Bayou Signette. Will spend 4 nights here before moving on west towards Betty’s for mardi gras.

love to you, each and every one

Jim and Linda

Pizza, movie and pajama party

Sometime Thursday, or Thursday afternoon when we tried to make a fire for our happy hour the movie thing came up. And kind of grew….you know how those things go, one person says something, and that prompts another idea….and so on.

Thursday’s campfire was really crazy. It’s amazing how six people can laugh so much. We were very loud and everyone had tears in their eyes… the campground host came by twice and the ranger once…we thought we were going to get thrown out.

Anyway, I digress. The decision was made to have a movie night with popcorn, pizza and of course drinks. While they were shopping the three women decided it would also be a pajama party and they bought matching pj’s.

 

We have a blow up mattress for when we have sleep over company and we got that out and the ladies laid on that for the movies.

 

The first movie started about 3pm and after it was over everyone made a pizza and came back.

They were all good and everyone settled down for the second movie, Robin Hood with Russell Crowe. It was a good  movie and I understand historically correct as how Robin Hood’s legend started.

After the movie was over everyone but Linda got off of the blow up bed and we pulled the plug. Poor Linda had a great time trying to get off of the quickly deflating bed

It was another crazy moment….who says older people can’t have fun!!!!

We can only hope you are having as much fun as we are…..can’t wait to get to Betty’s rv park for Mardi Gras…….oh my, what fun we will have there.

love you guys

Jim and Linda