That Christmas Spirit

Robyn and I ran around all day yesterday buying things to decorate our house. We both just love the holidays and feel that that next to giving and spreading love, there isn't anything quite as cheerful as a warm, cozy, festive home. I'll just be really sad when it's time to take it all down....although I did present the idea to Robyn of keeping the tree up after Christmas and turning it into a Mardi Gras tree. I don't think she was sold on that, but we'll see.












Of course we had to add our own special touch. We both don't really care much for trees with random ornaments, but we did need something that was each our own personal flavor. Robyn's room is done in that vintage red Moulin Rouge theme and mine is just simple green. When looking at decorations, we found this red satin dress ornament and figured it was Robyn's perfect touch. Then I had to find one that was well-fitting for me, and it didn't even take long to find that sparkly green alligator. Needless to say, these two objects didn't get any prime visibile location, but we know they're there.


I wish all of you and your families a delightful holiday season.

LSU Boogaloo with Loup Garou II

Early Wednesday morning, we headed to southern Louisiana for our second Thanksgiving in the swamp. The Martini Tour board members and families (a group of dad's old high school/college buddies still get together and have formed the Semi-Annual Martini Tour)gathered to spend 3 days in Henderson Swamp off of Cypress Cove.

For those who haven't heard of this adventurous holiday vacation before, a tugboat pulls 4 houseboats 2 miles into the swamp, ties their front porches all together and then ties each boat to a cypress stump, so we don't float off. The only way to get back to the dock or to even leave the houseboat at all is by a small 6 ft. bateau or the party barge.

We had quite the group attending and knew it would be a fabulous time. Mom, Dad, Mae Mae, Mark, Curt, Scott & Abby, Bratton & me all stayed on the Hospitality Ship Colinda. Hanemann and his son Spencer teamed up with Cottontop, Sharon and lil Jack across the way. Newfield, Gail, John Paul and Sydney resided beside us, and finally the Dobson and Wanda had their own boat.

Please don't be fooled when you see land around us, it's not stable land, it's just marshy, gator-infested land. We were also amongst many Loup Garou's, which are equally dangerous. All you non-coonasses might need a little insider's secret to the Loup Garou...he is the swamp ware wolf.

By late Wednesday night, all parties were accounted for and it was time for the festivities to begin. Okay, well actually they had begun when we first arrived - we didn't even think twice about waiting for the brothers before starting the cocktails. We all gathered on our porches and offered up our best bullshit stories and were laughing until we couldn't laugh anymore. We also were privileged enough to feed on Dobson's wonderful Seafood Gumbo, Bratton's amazing Hog's Head Cheese & Cracklin.


After many many frosty beverages, taking countless boat rides in the freezing rain and staying up after my bedtime, one would think it would be tough to get up early the following morning. Quite contraire my friends! It is very hard to sleep in on a houseboat when you hear constant cross fire between duck hunters, and not to mention the occasional banging and shaking of an alligator trapped under the boats. So up and at 'em we were as Mae Mae and I headed for a nice 5 mile run on the levee. Man, was it cold!!!

Lucky for us, breakfast was ready to be served by the time we made it back to the houseboats. MMMMM, was it delicious!!! We ate 'Swamp Omelettes' which is basically Shrimp, Crab, Trilogy (sauteed onions, celery & bell peppers) Eggs, Crawfish Grits, Smoked Boudin (pronounced boo-DAHN,) and French Bread Toast. I was in HEAVEN!


After a short nap, cleaning up, and a few more cocktails, it was time to start preparing our feast.

Hanemann, Newf & Cottontop peeling shrimp

Dobbs starting to make dat 'Eggplant Gawd-Damn!'

Daddy and me making Doc's infamous Oyster Dressing.

Dad making sure that Turducken is dead. And I mean all of them.

So Newfield took a little break from cooking to show off his beloved LSU bowling shoes.

Abby and me making her ever-popular Pumpkin Crunch Cake.

Bratton carving up the turducken. That means it's almost time to eat!

This is what a carved turducken looks like. Originally was a turkey stuffed with a duck that was stuffed with a chicken that was stuffed with jambalaya.

Now, every Thanksgiving meal has its staples and we did have some of the traditional dishes, but those were few and far between the fine cajun cuisine we were blessed with this holiday. We had turducken, cajun fried turkey, rolls, crabmeat au gratin, au gratin potatoes, oyster dressing, snapped green beans, corn mache choux, crawfish pie, shrimp remoulaude, sweet potatoes, 'Eggplant Gawd-Damn' with crab and also 'Eggplant Gawd-Damn' with oysters. Don't forget the traditional pumpkin, pecan and apple pies.




We had consumed so much food and plenty of wine and drinks, it didn't take us too long to hit the sack, but not before the traditional game of Bouree. Mae Mae was my trusted advisor. I think I even walked away from the bank with $1.25!

Friday morning we were up again, this time with excitement for the LSU/Arkansas game ... and of course the tailgating. It proved to be a very sad day for us Tiger fans, but we still had fun none the less.





After a long and devastating day, we headed back to the swamp. Saturday morning we woke up early to clear off the boats and head home. Although I was ready to get home and rest, it was sad to leave this place my family loves so much. Most people think we're crazy when we tell them we spend Thanksgiving on the swamp, but really, it's so nice.

Gospel Song

I'm working on getting my pictures loaded for a new blog about my Thanksgiving holiday on the swamp: LSU Boogaloo with Loup Garou II.

Until then, please visit www.myspace.com/misswilliebrown and listen to Gospel Song. Our dear family friend Kasey wrote this song for her father and if you know their family, it will give you chills. We're so proud of you Kasey!!! Great job!

Happy 28th Birthday Marty!!!

Today, Mr. Miller turns one year older. He doesn't know it yet, but I snuck over to his house this morning after he left for work to leave him his present and his cake. He LOVES chocolate chip cookie cake and said he would buy himself one for his birthday, but I went ahead and made him one.

Well it turns out, one of his homeowners gave him a cake with a deer head on it and he's all excited about - which makes me sad. :( Then his former coworkers had ordered a cookie cake to be sent to him, which he is also excited about. So all day long he's thinking about how cool these two cakes are and just is probably thinking that I made him a stupid cookie cake - nothing fancy. I played the role of being upset (which I partially am because I wanted mine to be real original,)but hopefully he'll be really surprised when he gets home.

Robyn and I decided last night we'd play with the fondant when decorating his cake, so this outrageous project came about. After battling that crap for 3 hours, and it not looking quite like we envisioned, we completed his cake. Ace of Cakes, I don't know how you do it! So for those who don't have any imagination and can't make out our absolutely ridiculous attempt at mastering fondant - it's a tree and deer stand(which had to be recreated many times and was just left at that ugly thing) and massive, over-sized 10pt buck, bullet wound and all.

PS - Pooch - if you read this today - DO NOT TELL HIM! I can post it without him knowing yet because lord knows he doesn't read this thing!



Also, special shout out to my girlfriend Jen on her 25th birthday today! :) Love you girl!

Finally...

I have been waiting for this moment. Although most of my friends already know, I've had to keep a big secret until every immediate family member on both sides was in the know. Well, it's official - I can only enjoy being the Stanga Train Caboose for about 6 more months. I can't wait to be an aunt!!!

Rattlesnake Roundup

I headed back out to the ranch this weekend, determined to hunt something. Marty and I were on our way to the crop fields to plant some oats when we spotted it. He told me I had to keep very quiet and still, and then he gave me the pistol. I fired three rounds to the head, and my worries of being eaten were then over. I'm such the outdoors man.

He even cut off the rattle as my trophy.

Silly Things

First of all, I must include in here that y'all need to check out Chris & Danette's blog, This Is Getting Serious. There is a link to their blog on this page. Please see the newest entry about Blayne, titled Big Boobies. It is so flippin' funny and cute.

Now for the first grade scoop. I only say that because Robyn calls Marty and me 1st graders since we love to eat silly little kid food for dinner all the time. Last night, and for the 2nd time this week, we enjoyed an elegant selection of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. Monday night we paired it with some delicious Tyson chicken nuggets but last night we made Crescent Dogs, which is something most of you aren't special enough to even know about. We topped off our meal with a few squares of Break N Bake cookie dough for dessert.

He had to do some work on the computer, so I was completely tuned into the TV to watch my high school football team duke it out with a local rival. It is such a role reversal when it comes to who plays on the computer and who relaxes on the couch watching Fox Sports. I was interrupted when he asked me to proofread his work, so while I was playing teacher, he was going to serenade me. I wasn't looking until I heard him start strumming his guitar and singing Pat Green's If I Had A Million. I love that song and think it's super sweet, so I turned to give him a smile, only to find him being completely retarded in his Arthur glasses.

Hmmm, so maybe we really are 1st graders?