Rosedown Plantation

I've been researching a travel book, "Romantic Getaways of the South" for a looooooong time. Well, maybe it is actually going to get finished. One of the destinations included in the book is St. Francisville, LA. It is near to where I live, but it is a very romantic, southern destination.

Rosedown Plantation is one of the places that holds so mamy memories for me. I first wrote about it when I was 13 years old and won a Louisiana History award for the project and research. My mother took me to the home and we walked around the gardens and the building taking in the history. I remember the statues in the gardens were missing a finger or a nose, yet no one knew how it happened.

Many years later, I married the grandson of a local doctor. My father in law told me stories of how when he was a little boy, Rosedown was a run down mansion where two elderly sisters lived. When they took ill, my husband's grandfather was the doctor who took care of them. My FIL would go along with his slingshot and run rampant through the overgrown gardens, using the statues for target practice.
A few years ago, the State of Louisiana purchased Rosedown from its current owner. Many things had disappeared, including those statues and most of the furnishings. When it reopened to the public, volunteers were needed for decorating. My mother studied Interior Decorating, so we helped during the Christmas season that year.

Mom and I decorated in the old style, by using natural objects found on the property for Christmas decorations. We also decorated the Butler's Pantry, printing out recipes on parchment paper and aging them.

I went for a tour a few weeks ago, and the tour guide told the visitors about how all the furnishings are original to the home and that these recipes were found in the attic. I just laughed all the way home that day.

Battle of Port Hudson

In 1863, one of the longest sieges in American history took place on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The Siege of Port Hudson took place the same week as the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg.

What was once a Mississippi River town is now a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can take part in living history events that reenact different aspects of the American Civil War.




Reenactors from all over the US convene on the field of battle to recreate scenes from history. They recreate camp life, battles, social life, and many other aspects of the times. Suttlers set up their wares offering Sassafras drinks, hand rolled cigars, hard tack, and clothing of the era.

Volunteers perform music of the times and teach visitors dance steps. The onsite Interpretor Center gives visitors a chance to look up ancestors who served in the war. Canon demostrations and various battles that occurred during the siege are scheduled throughout the reenactment weekends.
To learn more about Port Hudson and its history, visit the official site.

A Trip to Simpson, LA

The house where my grandmother lived with her five brothers and sisters.

My grandmother(Mimi) and aunt(Robbi) came in for a visit. They live in Alabama. Mimi hasn't been back to Louisiana since my wedding eleven years ago. We took her to see her sister, Aunt Bonnie. They all grew up in Simpson, Louisiana and a few relatives still live there.

My mom, Robbi (aunt), Stacey (Ruth's daughter), Mimi, and Ruth (cousin)

We visited Aunt Bonnie and all the cousins stopped by for a chat. I remember spending the night at Aunt Bonnie's house. All the men would get up early to go hunting. Aunt Bonnie would make the best black iron skillet buisuts and fried backstrap for breakfast. Mmmm!

We made a pit stop on our way out of Simpson at Ruth's house. She just got home from having bypass surgery. Ruth's mother, Sadie, is Mimi's sister. Aunt Sadie lives in Tennessee near Mimi.

My Mom, Mimi, and Robbi

Halfway back to Baton Rouge, we stopped at Lea's for a piece of pie. Of course, my mother had to bring home an entire pie for my dad. It is good pie, though.

Chocolate Meringue Pie at Lea's

And we all wonder in our family why we're overweight. Must be genetics. ;)