Tough getting online here

Vinton, LA

I have not been able to blog or even catch up with my blogging friends.   Our Internet connection is really SLOOOOWWWWWW.   It was all I could do yesterday to sign Leonard up for Social Security and continue his unemployment claim!  (2 very important connections of course).

While I am on today I want to welcome   "Our Fiver Adventures" to our blog.   Glad to see you here.

Since my last entry we flew back to Alabama from Baltimore, picked up our fiver and drove down to Louisiana.  We had planned to stay at Sam Houston Jones State Park but when we got there on Saturday there were no sites available that could accommodate us.   We were also disappointed to learn they no longer accept the Golden Age Pass for 50% off fees except for Louisiana residents.  Leonard being a FORMER resident is not good enough. 

So here we are back at the Texas Pelican in Vinton until December 30.

Meanwhile - this is what we've been up to.   While up in NJ we attended our home church.   We took both girls with us Sunday morning.  That night they had a Christmas Hymn sing and we only took Charlotte, leaving Abby with her Aunt T.    Pastor Tom would ask people to raise their hands for the Christmas hymn we would sing.  After a few carols, Charlotte raised her hand.    She want to sing Old McDonald had a farm.  Sure enough, our organist knew the tune.   Charlotte joined Tom up front to sing.

On Monday we drove back to Maryland and stayed until Thursday.

Daughter Amy with her baby Abby

Amy and Charlotte

Back in Louisiana on Sunday we went to Leonard's Breaux family reunion.  It was held at his cousin Dwayne's home.   His home is a castle.  In addition to living there, he has a banquet hall they rent out for weddings and other events.  Check it out by Googling "Castle Sulphur Louisiana"  The name is Chateau de Bon Reve. 

There were about 160 at the reunion.  Len is one of 10.  His mother was the oldest of 9.  As Len's mother passed away just a few months ago, there is just one sister surviving.   However, Len has more cousins and 2nd cousins than I can count!   Some of them he has not seen since a child.  

Horse and Buggy rides around the approximately 140 acre property

Fireplace in Banquet Room

I took many pictures of their residence that I wanted to publish but it is taking much too long to upload each picture.  I give up.   I was told there are 31 rooms in the castle, including 7 bathrooms, a brides dressing room, an exercise room, a huge game room, their personal formal dining room seating about 24 people, an industrial kitchen and their personal kitchen, three very large bedrooms, an office, the living room, a sitting room, and another dining room adjacent to their kitchen.    It is a beautiful home and quite the area showplace.

Tomorrow we will drive over to Houston (about 140 miles) to visit Len's daughter D'Juana and her family.  We return on Saturday as Len's family is having their annual Christmas Party at his niece's house.