Max LaBranche is one of the movers and shakers in the Society for the Preservation of Lagniappe in Louisiana, which puts on the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade and ball. He’s also a lawyer, so you can believe what he says. Max says, “Did you think SPLL’s bad luck had changed when the second line … Continue reading →

Gov. Bobby Jindal successfully has replaced the “politics spicy as their gumbo” clichés favored by national media back in the day when they wrote about Louisiana’s quaint ways. Instead of quoting New Orleans cabbies and staffers at French Quarter hotels, giants of conservative journalism — Cal Thomas, Fred Barnes, for instance — appea to … Continue reading →

I am at that time in life when funerals come in bunches. Funerals are great reminders of what’s important and what is not. The occasion for the most recent church gathering was a memorial service for the mother of a friend. I’d met the mother once long ago. There was a small gathering … Continue reading →

Heavy rains, like the one Saturday, can produce divergent feelings. Waking to thunder draws from me a disgruntled grumble if I’d planned a great outdoor adventure. But the sound is the kettle drums of celestial music on mornings when I have nothing outside that I have to do; or to be more accurate, want … Continue reading →

I often read to learn something, but there are other times when I open a book, magazine or newspaper simply because I want to hear the voice of a writer I like. Sue Hubbell is that kind of writer for me. I read her regardless of her chosen subject, for no other reason than the chance … Continue reading →

Another Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Hearts and flowers, candy and dinner and even had a friend’s wife (his name will never be divulged here) Facebook-ed that he fixed dinner and watched a Katherine Hepburn movie (believe it was “Springtime”) with her and how much she adored her hubbie for taking … Continue reading →

How many times have I let my eyes get the better of me — I go to the farmers market or vegetable stand, see luscious-looking fruit and vegetables piled high, and walk out with more than I can possibly use before they begin to lose their luster. That was exactly the scenario I found … Continue reading →

• Side Dish recipe for Feb. 16, 2012

With Baton Rouge and surrounding area in the throes of Mardi Gras madness, you might think there was nothing else going on. You would be wrong. Dodging the Krewe of Orion’s Mardi Gras Parade proved easier than I thought as I quickly found a close parking … Continue reading →

It’s raining in Nashville, and Steven Curtis Chapman has just dropped off two daughters at school. For anyone who knows his story, this simple statement brings up lots of emotions. That number should have been three: the number of daughters he and his wife adopted from China. But about four … Continue reading →

Two handsful of pennies is a small contribution Larry Boudreaux hopes will help reach 1 billion souls for Christ. Boudreaux put pennies on the pews last week at Covenant Community Church in Central. The pennies were to remind fellow church members to spread the word about an upcoming event at the church featuring … Continue reading →

Recognizing the birthday of our first president on this date in 1732, we review weather-related excerpts from his diaries. As noted in a previous column, George Washington was not a scientific observer of the weather, as was Thomas Jefferson. His weather interests mirrored his agricultural interests and in writing to his farm manager, William Pearce, on … Continue reading →