Joyeaux Noel!

Bayou Christmas Card

I’m sharing my favorite Christmas Card with you to wish you a very Merry Christmas from the bayou.  The family is all here (except for oldest son who is stuck on a big tug boat) and we are about to have our traditional brunch of sausage balls and cinnamon rolls, spiced tea, and coffee.  And then we are going to open gifts.  

We are expecting tornadic weather, so that might curtail our trip over to Bayou Grand Caillou to visit our Houma Indian family, including Elder MawMaw, 96!

I’d sure like to know what you’re doing today.  So, I’ll be back here this afternoon or this evening checking on y’all!

BW

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62 Comments

  1. Same to to you Bayou Woman! My older sister and her husband came up from Delcambre. My little sister and her husband came up from Breaux Bridge. One brother came down with his wife and two boys from Pineville. We all met up in Evangeline. Rain came in spurts. Soaked everything but not too bad. Un Bon Chrismisse to you and your family.:-)

    1. We had a marvelous time. Two sons did an early-morning duck hunt and killed two limits. We ate, we opened gifts, laughed a lot, and then we plucked ducks!!! Then we drove over to see Billiot family down in Dulac! I hope everyone else had as great a day as we did!

  2. I HAD ALL OF MY FAMILY EXCEPT MY OLDEST AND HIS FAMILY ON CHRISTMAS EVE. WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR CHRISTMAS ON CHRISTMAS EVE AT MY HOUSE. WE ONLY HAD TWO CHILDREN PRESENT AND THEY OPENED THIER GIFTS FROM MAMMAW AND PAPPAW. ARMY HELMETS ,VESTS, AND A TENT. THEY WERE DOING STELTH TACTICS THE REST OF THE DAY.TOO MUCH FOOD AND DID I MENTION MY SINK STOPPED UP? STUFF HAPPENS ,DOESN’T IT?
    I

  3. Greetings from near Akron, Ohio! Having a white Christmas, though not as much snow as we would like! Ate at the IHOP today, as Our Main Christmas Celebration is on hold until January 5th, due to work schedules. We will then celebrate not only Christmas, but 2 Birthdays, as well (my Middle Sister’s B-Day is on Christmas Eve, and mine is on January 4th). Thank you for Your Fun and Interesting Posts! Blessings, Kimberly O’Connor.

    1. Welcome to the bayou, Kimberly! We don’t get much snow down here, so enjoy it for us! We have SW winds, rain, and TORNADO warnings!!! Everyone is safe back at their own homes, though! Enjoy your Jan. 5th get together!

  4. Merry Christmas from Toledo Bend Lake!

    My wife and I lived almost across the street from the “Voisin Compound” where I think you are located.
    I lived “Down the Bayou” for 9 years, deciding to leave for Toledo Bend in 2005 when Rita put 2 feet of water in my home. As you cross the bridge over Bayou Dularge, I owned the place immediately on your right hand side. I traded the place for a camp at Toledo bend. Aaron Hebert and Carl Primeaux own the place now. They own Acadiana Valve and Fittings in Houma.
    I miss “The Bayou” so much but after the 3rd Hurricane finally got into my house, I decided to head for higher ground. I moved from 3 ft. avbove sea level to 172 ft. above sea level. Much safer if Tornados don’t get me. LOL

    Enjoying your communications, Keep it up… Raoul Langlinais

    My neighbor across the bayou was Kirvy Brunet and his sister in law Carolyn Brunet lived directly across from my driveway. The marina parking lot was directly across from my place. I think my friend Bill Lake still has a sign in the corner of my yard.

    1. Okay, let’s see if I have this right. Are we crossing off the main highway over the little “Theriot Voisin” Bridge onto Dr. Beatrous Road? There is a white house “camp” immediately on the right. Was that your place? That would be across from Mrs. Carolyn on the adjacent corner? Well, heck I know right where you were!!!! Surely we crossed paths at the marina more than once? I’m so glad you found this blog, and we have something else in common, check this out: My daddy taught me how to fish bream when I was growing up. We fished, guess where? Toledo Bend!!! Since I loved to fish so much, that just translated over into saltwater fishing when I moved down here in 1978! I’ve only lived on Bayou Dularge for the past 16 of those years, though! Toledo Bend is lovely if you have a place where there is still water and not just salvinia, right? And you say you “traded”? That’s pretty cool!!!

  5. You can find my “doings” in “My Incredible Unremarkable Life.” I can’t recall the exact URL but the bottomless pit of computerdom can find it.

  6. It’s nice to hear from “Newbies”. I’ll also say welcome (hope you don’t mind, BW). You’ll just have to edit if you do! LOL.
    We had a house full today. 20 in all. It got rather noisy when it was time to open gifts. (9 grandchildren…ages 3 months-11 yrs old)
    We all ate too much, as usual. I bought some retro toys as “extras” this year that will stay here. The kids were disappointed that they were unable to use them because of the weather. I purchased some Potato guns (not the pvc/whole potato type) These you stick the barrel into a potato and break off a plug/bullet. I also bought good old fashion wooden tops. They had never seen one. I can’t wait to show them how to throw one! On second thought, maybe I didn’t buy them for the kids!

    1. I love your idea of retro toys—makes you the coolest grandma around! Where did you find potato guns? I’d like to have one around here! I haven’t seen a wooden top in years, so did Google help you find those? : )

    1. No harm done by the weather, other than speeding up the duck-plucking process when the rain began to fall! I know duck hunting is a touchy subject with you, so I’ll spare you the details! But you didn’t say what you did. I’m very behind on my blog reading, so I hope I get to catch up on that today, including yours! I hope you had a wonderful day, Linda.

  7. Ok been waiting for this post.

    Well got up and ate some light breakfast then got my new Lodge L410 grill out on the cement drive edging fired up some lump charcoal in the chimney starter. Test cooked some cheese brats. Neighbor caught me so had to take her one. They were dirt cheap deep discount brats so weren’t much if went bad.

    Then after a bit I fired up some more charcoal reloaded the grill.
    Lamb brats that time…. Getting a half a deer in brats and summer sausage so practice practice practice…..

    Yep this weather thing is probably going to be just enough of an issue to mess up my plans for first ice fishing trip. Listening to some odd Texas radio sounds bad in Dallas now. Hope your doing better.

    I think Santa left me a RC helicopter so I can play oil rig pilot if it ever warms up.

    How long til Mardis Gras?

    MC n HNY.

    1. Blu and brats. Hope the practice paid off. Me doing better? I guess it’s relative. Could always be way worse. Did you play oil rig pilot yet? I’m not even sure about Mardi Gras? And still can’t figure out what MC in HNY is. I’m sure it’s something very simple, but the brain is, well, dull.

    2. 12 drummers drumming, 12th night, 3 Kings Day, or the start of Lent is Jan. 6., (Actually when the king cakes should start).

      Seems they shut down Mardi Gras now for a week for the Super Bowl if its in NO this year.

      Mardi Gras Day is early this year, it is Feb. 12.

  8. AS Blu remarked, it is bad in Dallas and east of there. We started getting rain about midnight and it turned to snow this afternoon and the yard is solid white. Had the kids and grandkids here for dinner and gifts. One is coming down with what seems to be the flu and the other was hurting all over and running a bit of fever.

    I spent about 6 hours in the kitchen today and have enough leftovers to last several days. Right now, I am trying to get the laundry done before the water freezes up.

    1. Oh, I hate frozen pipes. After all that cooking, company, and laundry, I hope you get a chance to just stay warm and rest today. And thank the good Lord for leftovers, right?

    1. Hi Monica. This was sent to me by a good friend who has a knack for finding the best south Louisiana cards ever! On the back of the card is a recipe for Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya! The company is The Routh Collection. The artist is Craig Routh, and the Website is http://www.routhcollection.com. I hope this helps! BW

      1. Thank you. I’ll check it out. Maybe they have an after Xmas sale. I bought the last of his cards from Hank Holland thanks to your column. What a delightfulan he is!

  9. I went early and brought Shelly home for the day,cooked almost the entire Christmas dinner for the family including sourghdough bread and yeast rolls and your cornbread dressing,made it with turkey stock from Thanksgiving instead of chicken broth, XOXOXO thank you again for that recipe.

    1. Ohhhhh, I’m so glad you made the dressing. How was it with turkey stock? I bet it was delicious!! Sourdough bread and yeast rolls? What a man!!!! Happy New Year, Ronnie! May the Lord bless you and keep you and Shelly in loving arms.

  10. Hope y’all missed out on the tornadic weather! We didn’t get snow or tornadoes so I expect a plague of locusts anytime, lol. We didn’t do a whole lot this year, Kassi, Chance and babies have all been sick so we didn’t go over there Christmas Eve. The guys went out to OK Panhandle to hunt and didn’t go as well as usual. They didn’t get any pheasants and just a few ducks. The oil well drilling out there has really decreased the bird population.

    1. Hooray for oil. Oil is king! Sorry, I went insane there for a moment, but I’m back. Seems like everywhere we turn, man’s greed is destroying the world around us, little bit by little bit. So thankful my boys had a good hunt Christmas day, but guess what? The duck gizzards were full of lead shot, which is illegal. So, somebody up country from here is shooting something around the duck ponds using lead BB’s. Oh well, not all humans can be such good stewards. Heck I say if you don’t want to do it right, then do it right so there’ll be something left for your kids and grandkids. Off soapbox now, Mrs. Coach. Tell Kassi I’m sorry they’ve been ill and get well soon! Maybe before the New Year begins!

      1. But don’t forget the effects of the drought. It’s still really bad. We’re so dry here there’s not a bird to be found. If it weren’t for rice farmers flooding fields just east of here, there wouldn’t be any water birds at all. At the wildlife refuges, the ponds are drying up and some of the sloughs are completely dry. It’s bad.

        1. The drought did take effect on the birds out there too. The deer are still doing ok, that’s where Bryce has got his one and only deer this year. They said they saw about 90 deer on the refuge as they were leaving. Usually you have to take care to avoid the pheasants out there, they saw one this year. Sad.

  11. Howdee all! Blue and the Brats, sounds like a honky tonk band. “Put your drinks down, put your hands together and welcome Blu and the brats!”

    Here we had a beautiful evening for the bonfires on the levee. The neighbors on each side built on, although one far exceeded the norm. He had a circus tent up in his front yard, a band, 6 burners boiling, he even brought in pot-a-pottys. Needless to say between the fireworks, the bonfires on the levee, the band trying to outdo the others neighbor’s stereo; it was noisy ‘round here till midnight.

    Did not matter though ‘cause I had already over indulged in the nectar of the gods, no not booze, Smoked Turkey Gumbo (from the left over Thanksgiving bird). Your mom ever tell you the story about the soldiers and the rock soup? That’s what happened!

    Niece shows up with little shrimp and oysters for the freezer, you know we had to add some to the pot. Baby sister found a road peddler with fresh huge green onions. Nephew was returning from New Orleans stopped in Lutcher and picked up some of the “real” Vernon’s sausage, Andouille, and Tasso. ROFLMAO, I had to change to a bigger pot twice!! Good thing the Nephew and the Niece’s husband are both cops I made them stand guard over the pot (the foxes guarding the chicken coup). I was all smiles; I was ready now for the freeze to set in, I could eat till the spring thaw! Dang sister brought those durn big Tupperware go containers. So yesterday I had potato salad for lunch, it just ain’t right! I had it planned!

    BTW I love Routh’s Cards! That is too too cool with a recipe on the back too! Sister is the fancy smancy hoity toity party person in the family. I am going to have to show the site to her.

    Enough already, Seems everyone enjoyed Christmas, (even with no arrests, I mean that used to be a requirement for a good party). Now on to the bowl games and New Years!!

    1. Loved your post!! Wish I was one of your kinfolk because you sure made me hungry reading it. Smoked turkey….love it and it is what we had along with a hickory smoked ham. I had potato salad for lunch too. And after tonights meal of left over turkey, ham, potato salad, pintos and all the condiments, I called the neighbor over and handed her gallon bags of everything along with cookies and candy canes for her little one. I did save the ham bone for some bean soup and some of the turkey for some enchiladas or soup or turkey salad. One thing I had that we didn’t ‘even taste was a Whiskey Barrel Bourbon Cake. Those things are so good. I plan to slice it up and freeze it.

      1. All that was left here was potato salad, I never stood a chance and they were carrying guns (they are cops)! Never let a couple of just graduated college boys guard your food. They laughed all the way to their cars with my GUMBO!

        Your sweets reminded me, I have the best sour cream praline recipe from an old girl friend. I do other sweets, Pop like Brittle, Sis likes divinity, etc., but I enjoy the pralines cause I experiment with the flavors. I always make three or four batches during the holiday week playing with different flavors like Vanilla, Maple, Rum, Chocolate, etc. This year I tryed making butter pecan pralines. Why has no one done this before, I can’t tell you, but I imagine if I don’t make some again next year, they will not even leave me any potato salad.

        Butter Pecan Pralines are, on a scale of 1 to 10, level 157 3/4!!

        Whiskey Barrel Bourbon cake, I am envious of your cake! That sounds good, I used to do rum cakes but like my cherry bounce, it has to be done months ahead of time to get that “proof” up. LOL

    2. Seeing the bonfires on the levee is on my list, Foamheart. (Maybe you saw that in a previous comment?) Sounds like y’all had a blast, and I do love the Stone Soup Turkey, etc. Gumbo story! That’s that best way! Maybe I’ll tell the kids next year to each bring something and we’ll throw it all in a big pot!!
      Thanks for sharing your story! Entertaining, as always.

      1. I have to agree with my Pop, he always wanted to come down the river on Christmas Eve and see the bonfires without all the bumper to bumper tourists rubber necking. Now there is some stories for another day.

        I know the river is a danger place even when the sun’s up, but it sure would be the way to see ’em.

  12. Just stopping by to see how your Christmas was. It sounded good.

    Lots of folks here have that early morning Christmas hunt tradition. Or Thanksgiving, depending on the season,

    Love the Cajun Christmas card!

    I wish I could find something like that which would epitomize the Lowcountry. Maybe I’m not looking in the right places. I’m sure someone sells something like that. I have a friend in FL that always sends me something with Santa on the beach or palm trees.

    Our Christmas was nice. Just the two of us, as the most of various family members were going out of town. The ones who weren’t were a bit far for a one day drive for us. We exchanged gifts, lounged around, ate, watched Christmas movies on TV.

    1. Peaceful, quiet, and lazy is a really good way to spend Christmas, Gue`. About the low country cards–I’m sure there’s something out there you could find. Speaking of low country, I’ve read that shrimp and grits originated as a low country recipe. Do you know if that’s true? If so, do you know of an original recipe for that dish? I’d love to see it! Happy New Year!

      1. Oh, yes, it is one of our signature dishes! I don’t make it, as Hubby doesn’t care for grits and I don’t eat seafood. (Yeah, I know; I’m certifiable!)

        Let me check around and see what I can find. There are a lot of variations, depending on personal taste.

        I’ve seen it served, I know most of the ingredients, and I know people that do make it. My supervisor, for one. The grits she prepares for shrimp and grits are divine. I might have to wring the receipt out of her when I get back to work!

          1. I see some emails from you that I’m about to go read, but just so you know, I’ve eaten shrimp and grits from several famous New Orleans recipes, and once something is served in New Orleans, everyone assumes it’s Cajun and I’ve had a hard time convincing folks this recipe did not originate with the Big Easy. I’ve not attempted my own Bayou version, although I’ve read quite a few recipes online. My favorite one is from Cafe` Amalie in New Orleans and has a creamy corn sauce on it. I don’t think that’s original, though. I hope to do a step-by-step recipe post about it when I finally decide which recipe to use (or combination of several) so thanks for your help with this!

            1. I saw an old TV show of Chef K.D. (Kevin Diez) making Shrimp and Grits just a few weeks ago. He substitutes milk for the water when cooking grits. Makes them creamier. Maybe he has the recipe on his website. I’d Google it for you, but I’ve GOT to get going. It may be Chefkdoutdoorsandmore.com.

              1. I went looking for the answer to that question. Anson Mills, in Columbia, SC, has a very informative website and they explain the difference between grits and polenta. It’s the type of corn used.

              2. Thank you, I had never heard of flint corn before.

                Guess that means I didn’t get older today, long as you learn one new thing a day you don’t age. Its why it took us so long to grow up and now the time flies! Or so I have heard.

              3. I was wrong about just everything I wrote! The recipe is not on his website AND what I thought was the website is also incorrect. Chef KD’s Outdoors and More is the name of his fishing show (it has the cooking segment).

            2. Oh, I was sure you’d had S&G before. It has spread WAY beyond Charleston and could easily have reached NOLA long ago, as folks visited or families moved there from Charleston.

              One of the recipes I sent was published in the 1930 issue of “Two Hundred Years of Charleston Cooking’ . It states that they got the recipe from a 78 year old man who’d been eating it all his life. So, that puts it back to the 1860’s.

              I think it’s fair to say that one is pretty original!

    1. I hope all is well up there in your neck of the woods. I’ve been so remiss in keeping up with my cyber friends. Real life takes up so much time, LOL! Happy New Year, Granny Sue. It’s great hearing from you again.

  13. BW, can you talk Foamheart into sharing her butter pecan pralines? And of course those shrimp and grits from the low country. I do love a good bowl of grits.

    1. Cammy, I will communicate with Foamheart via email and get that recipe! And by the way, “she” is a “he” and male Cajun cooks are the BEST!!! He’s a real character and he’s got some stories with him, LOL!!! I think maybe you and he should share Christmas goodies next year! He can send you some pralines and you can send him some of your Whiskey Barrel Bourbon Cake.

  14. Cammy, as I was prowling the internet last night, looking for S&G recipes for BW, I also tried to find out exactly where the dish originated. Most of what I found seemed to be copy/paste from one blog or website to another. The exact same wording. There didn’t seem to be any conclusive evidence really.

    I’d like to claim that it was ‘invented’ in Charleston but I think the origin was more regional. All along the coastal areas of Georgia and the Carolinas.

    Grits were easy to fix and cheap. They were served frequently, esp among the poorer white lower classes, as well as among the slave populations. Fishermen would head to the nearest creek, cast their nets, come home with their catch, fry up a few and toss them on the grits.

    As Shore often says, “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

    1. So…BW, after you get the recipe, cook it and eat it, and if it gets a passing grade, will you post it for the rest of us?