I will start with the last first. Angela Jean-Baptiste in Scott, LA who runs Begnaud House or La Maison de Begnaud which is the towns tourist and heritage center. Besides housing a great selection of cds and dvds about Louisiana and mostly local music and musicians there are books about the area, tourist pamphlets, t-shirts from Scott's Boudin Festival which happens to be this weekend as well as lots of fun gift items.
Music and Videos for sale at La Maison de Begnaud in Scott, LA
Angela also writes for a local paper The Scott Connection and is working on a new Farmers Market that will take place once a month in Scott. I happened to be at La Maison de Begnaud on a very busy day and witnessed Angela coordinate a luncheon for a large group that will happen in the garden at La Maison this weekend. She is a powerhouse of energy and has great knowledge of the community.
Before leaving Lafayette I walked around Elaine Bourque's garden and listened to her stories about gardening, creating new Louisiana iris hybrids and learning how to weave traditional Cajun blankets with brown cotton the way her ancestors did. Besides weaving the blankets Elaine has traveled giving demonstrations on the process of carding, spinning and weaving. She is also working on a book that documents antique Cajun blankets and the women who made them. Many of these women are gone but Elaine talks to the families and records their stories. She also tries to get a copy of a photograph of each woman. This is a huge undertaking of great importance to the preservation of not only the Cajun heritage but the talent and creativity of these women who would otherwise have gone unnoticed outside of their communities. I am anxious to see the book in print as I know many other people will be.
A sample of Elaine's tradition Cajun weaving with brown cotton
One of Elaine's Irises (I think Lady Regina?)
At the Louisiana Iris Farms run by Jim Leonard and Bob Cole I was able to visit with Jim and Kathy Leonard and Jack and Carolyn Deshotels and Ben Rougeou.
All wonderful people with great stories about Lafayette, heritage and their pursuits in farming, cooking and the Supper Club.
Organic Satsumas
Jack Deshotels pot of Peppered Blueberry Jam
Jim and Cathy allowed me to wander around the Louisiana irises and Satsuma orange grove taking photos. Jack and Carolyn let me sit in the kitchen and listen to their stories while they made blueberry pepper jam. I visited with Ben as he was getting the grill ready for the Men's Supper Club night for the wives. A yearly tradition that takes place when the irises are blooming.
Talking to these wonderful people reminds me of growing up in Baton Rouge on Essen Lane near the woods and fields before I-10 was built. The families in our neighborhood shared crawfish and invited everyone to their fish fries. Communities full of creative people who enjoy life and are open and generous to everyone they meet.
Before leaving the area I had to stop in Scott and get some sausage. There are a variety of places to buy sausage and boudin in Scott. This trip I went to Best Stop and got three sausages and turkey tasso. It is an amazing little store with a lot of traffic.
Sausages at Best Stop Supermarket in Scott, LA
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