A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-17-03...Louisiana - "Come as you are, leave different."

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine, FreeTheHostages ~

It's FRiday and we hope you will join us as we take a cyber-tour of another great state in this Union of ours. As we discover and spotlight each of our 50 states we also salute the proud FReepers who call their state 'home'.

Over the past few months the "Finest" hostesses have each profiled their home states (Dutchess will be spotlighting Michigan soon), and I will be presenting the other states in random order. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your state. I would love to have your input on what you would like to see highlighted.

These are the states we have presented to date:

05-23-03 Alabama 06-27-03 Maryland 07-11-03 Vermont 07-25-03 Utah 08-05-03 Texas 08-22-03 Nevada

08-26-03 Washington DC 09-05-03 Tennessee 09-17-03 Florida 09-19-03 Minnesota 10-03-03 New Mexico 10-14-03 Georgia

Come along with us today as we head down south and tour the "Pelican State".

Jambalaya
Possum Rag
LeDance De Mardi Gras
House of the Rising Sun

How Louisiana came to be...

The Louisiana region was settled by Indians in prehistoric times, at least as early as 6,000 years ago. At the time of European exploration in the 16th century, there were more than 10,000 Indians in Louisiana. However, authentic recorded history of this area doesn't actually begin until 1682. It was then that Sierra de La Salle, the French explorer, reached the mouth of the Mississippi, claimed all its drainage basin for France, and named the area Louisiana to honor Louis XIV.

Many flags have flown over what
is now the state of Louisiana....

No other state has a more varied or colorful past than Louisiana. The state has been governed under 10 different flags beginning with Hernando de Soto's claim of the region for Spain. La Salle later claimed it for Bourbon France and over the years Louisiana was at one time or another subject to the Union Jack of Great Britain, the Tricolor of Napoleon, the Lone Star flag of the Republic of West Florida and the fifteen stars and stripes of the United States. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Louisiana became an independent republic for six weeks before joining the Confederacy.

Earlier, in 1803, Louisiana had become a part of the United States because of the region's importance to the trade and security of the American mid-west. New Orleans and the surrounding territory controlled the mouth of the Mississippi River down which much of the produce of the mid-west traveled to reach market. To get the vital region in American hands, President Thomas Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase with Napoleon.

With the acquisition of Louisiana, Jefferson nearly doubled the size of the fledgling U.S. and made it a world power. Later, 13 states or parts of states were carved out of the Louisiana Purchase territory.

The state flag of Louisiana... The design consists of the pelican group from the state seal, in white and gold, and a white ribbon bearing the state motto, "Union, Justice, and Confidence", on a field of a solid blue. This flag was adopted in 1912.

Baton Rouge became the capitol of Louisiana in 1846 and remained so until 1862 and the onset of the Civil War. The capitol changed locations several times and Baton Rouge was designated the permanent capitol in 1879. A bit of trivia.....the capitol building is the tallest of any state capitol - it is 450 feet tall with 34 floors.

What comes to mind when you think of Louisiana? Southern Belles and beautiful plantations? Bayous, alligators and crawfish? Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street? Mint juleps, shrimp boats and Jambalaya? Because I love food, especially spicy hot food, when I think of Louisiana, my thoughts turn to Cajun cookin'- or, is it Creole cookin'? And, what's the difference anyway?

Well, according to this website, "ABOUT LOUISIANA CUISINE"......"Most Louisiana chroniclers claim the answer is simple. Many Creoles were rich planters and their kitchens aspired to grande cuisine. Their recipes came from France or Spain as did their chefs. By using classic French techniques with local foodstuffs, they created a whole new cuisine, Creole cooking."


"On the other hand, the Acadians, pronounced (uh-CADE-ee-uns), later contracted to "Cajun", were a tough people used to living under strenuous conditions. They tended to serve strong country food prepared from locally available ingredients. It was pungent, peppery and practical since it was all cooked in a single pot. Thus Cajun cuisine was born.

There is one rule that both the Creoles and Cajuns agree upon and that is that there is no one rule and no one recipe when it comes to matters of food. There are hundreds of different recipes for gumbo, jambalaya, turtle soup and they are all right because no one is wrong. Privately, they know that everything they cook is original, because their kitchens are kitchens of "ad lib". They are experimenting, creating, changing, always trying to make it taste better."

"When the taste
changes with every
bite and the last
bite tastes as good
as the first,
....that's Cajun."
- Paul Prudhomme




So, there you have it, that's the difference between Cajun and Creole cuisine. :-)

Famous Louisianians
Louis Armstrong musician, New Orleans
Geoffrey Beene fashion designer, Haynesville
Truman Capote writer, New Orleans
Kitty Carlisle singer, actress, New Orleans
Van Cliburn concert pianist, Shreveport
Fats Domino musician, New Orleans
Bryant Gumbel TV newscaster, New Orleans
Lillian Hellman playwright, New Orleans
Al Hirt trumpeter, New Orleans
Mahalia Jackson gospel singer, New Orleans
Dorothy Lamour actress, New Orleans
Jerry Lee Lewis singer, Ferriday
Huey P. Long politician, Winnfield
Wynton Marsalis musician, New Orleans
Jelly Roll Morton jazz musician, composer, New Orleans
Huey Newton black activist, New Orleans
Paul Prudhomme chef, Opelousas
Cokie Roberts journalist, New Orleans
Kordell Stewart football player, Marrero

"Laissez les bons temps rouler"
(lay-say lay bawn tawn roulay)
"Let the good times roll,"
(the motto of many Louisianians)

Finally, this profile on Louisiana
would not be complete without at
least a brief mention of Mardi Gras.
Click here for the history of "Carnival".

See you there!

The following websites provided
historical information and graphics....

"The 50 States - Louisiana"
"The History of Louisiana"






Have a nice FRiday
and a relaxing weekend!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-13-03...Military Monday 10-14-03...Relax - You're in Georgia Now 10-15-03...Junk Mail Blues 10-16-03...John's Two Cents

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

Click on the photo to view the album. To
submit your photo, please contact dansangel or .45MAN danbh59@yahoo.com
and include Freeper Photo Album in subject line.

[MEG33]

I read somewhere that the singing is last to go.Mother was the same.

[LadyX]

Another Mama_Bear Special State Feature, immersing us in facts and bringing fantasies of 'being there.'
You do such wonderful coverage of them all, Lori!

Afraid I've only been through there once, spending a day and a night in Shreveport on our way from Alaska to Florida and on to South Carolina.
We then scooted across Louisiana and the South, stopping next at Vicksburg Battlefield in Mississippi.

[WVNan]

There you are my lady. How's it going?

[Mama_Bear]

Hi LadyX. You do such wonderful coverage of them all, Lori!

Thank you so much. I learned from the best. :-)

So happy you are here. I've been thinking about you all day.

Some phlowers 4 U....

[Mama_Bear]

Hi lonestar! I am convinced I would love New Orleans.

I came across this question in my information search for Louisiana....

What are the four seasons of New Orleans?

Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, Christmas.

LOL! Sounds like my kind of place. I am not a winter bear.

[Graybeard58]

"What's Sarong with this Picture"


...I don't know what's sarong with it but I'll tell you what's WRONG with it----She has entirely too many clothes on!

[The Mayor]

He's not going to be paralyzed is he?

We don't know yet, only time will tell.

Our daughter is paraplegic, but she doesn't know it.

I think I understand, has she been a paraplegic all her life?

I will continue prayers.

Thankyou so much..

[Mama_Bear]

Got it fixed Billie. :-)

Thank you Jim, SO much. (I should probably up my monthly donation, considering what a nuisance I am.)

[WVNan]

I answered your mail Lori. Aren't we glad that our Lady has checked in?

[Jim Robinson]

No problem and Thank You!

By the way, you have yet another email.

[Aquamarine]

So sorry to hear about that (((Meg))).

[MEG33]

Ya Hoo!It's the Lady checking in!It's good to hear from you.Hope all goes well.

[Mama_Bear]

Got it.

Absolutely! It will be done....on next Monday's Finest thread, for sure. :-)

[Libertina]

LadyX - So glad all went well!

Hi everyone :) I was reading yesterday's posting and saw that LadyX got right back on line! LOL what a woman :) Now I need to catch up with today's festivities. Take care friends and have a wonderful evening!

[Aquamarine]

What are the four seasons of New Orleans? Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, Christmas.

That's why they call it the Big Easy.

I went there with my family back when I was a teen ager. It's an unusual place, if you ever go be sure to visit the French Quarter...during the daytime (so as not to be corrupted). :)

[LadyX]

It is amazing to feel the power of prayers from friends, and see the results.
My absence today was merely because my daughter and her family were here, not seeing them often, and I did sneak in a two-hour nap after they left..:))
That was more from the fact we seesawed up and down all night, gathering in the kitchen to catch up some more, rather than because of my surgery

Still absolutely no discomfort so long as I do not cough or move suddenly, and there is no pain whatsoever. Didn't even fill the prescription for pain.
Must be the training I received 'way back then;' when 1,900 years ago in the Roman empire when a great teacher named Epictetus (pronounced eh-pick-TEE-tuss) established a school to teach Stoicism. I was one of the first pupils..:))

There is no way to adequately thank all of you for your thoughtfulness...

[MEG33]

It was automatic and impossible NOT to pray for you!You bring this kind of thing on with your personal stories,sweet personality,thoughtfulness,and sense of fun! I am so glad you got to visit with family.

[deadhead]

Maggie, sounds like everything is going well. You crack me up, the day of the surgery you are here posting and then the next day too. God Bless You. I am so glad that your daughter was there with you and spent time with you :-)

Families are the best!

[WVNan]

has she been a paraplegic all her life?

No, she was almost killed in an auto accident in 91. But she has been heroic. She has a van equipped with remote control entry and lift. She has raised her two girls, kept her house, cooks, etc. And she is a spokeperson for the handicapped, as well as a peer counselor for others who become paralized. She offers them no quarter, but challenges them to get on with their life.

[WVNan]

Aha! Secret communication going on here. Can we guess, or is it a surprise?