The Big Easy

Our first weekend in Louisiana, we decided to take a trip to the Big Easy.  Home of my favorites, Louis Armstrong and Harry Connick Jr.  And getting there was NOT easy.  We were stuck in horrible traffic on a two-lane causeway.  But we finally made it!  We maneuvered our way into the French Quarter (think tiny one-way streets with cars parked on both sides.  Eeeek!) and had ourselves a great time.  We sat and watched a street performance of some great breakdancers.  We got pralines.  We almost got bignets, but the line was 2 blocks long.  We'll go back for them another time.  We heard jazz bands.  We saw more fortune tellers in one place than I have ever seen in my life.  We took a carriage ride.  We saw the famous Bourbon Street.  We ate yummy Cajun food at the cutest little restraunt ever.  I think we'll be going back for more adventures to the Big Easy.

In front of a Jazz Band

With a mime.  Brielle wasn't sure about him.

On our carriage ride

After our yummy dinner.  The building across the street was "Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co."  (no, we did not eat there, but I'm all for going back to try it out).

Baton Rouge, We Have Arrived!

Here's a glimpse into our new home:

 Kitchen

Eating Area

 Family Room

 Built In a.k.a. the bane of our existence.  It was made to put a TV in, but ours doesn't fit.  Therefore, we have a bit empty cabinet, and I'm at a loss as to what to put on the shelves.  Any suggestions?

The Dining Area, converted into our TV area because of afore-mentioned problem.

Another view of the TV room

 

Bathroom

Playroom

Office/Guest Bedroom.  The dark blue color came from this source of inspiration:

Believe it or not, the colors in the two pictures are the same.  For some reason, it's not working for me.  Maybe a lack of pictures on the walls?  Once again, and suggestions are much appreciated.

 

Goodbye Houston

My house looks like this:

In a few hours we will be heading to a new life in a new city with new friends to meet.  And while I'm excited, I'm also very sad.  I'm sad to leave our first house.  I'm sad to leave such wonderful people; neighbors who let us use their freezer to store our freezer jam because I can't bear to throw it away.  Neighbors who knock on the door and offer to take Brielle for a walk around the block because we're packing and she's pulling all the inventory stickers off the boxes.  Neighbors who not only have us over for dinner because we have no food, but go the extra mile and make my husband a birthday cake because all my cake pans are in boxes.  Amazing visiting teachers who organize an army of women to help clean my house because all of my cleaning supplies are at the new house.  Friends who plan a going-away party for us and give us a Louisiana care package to help us feel at home in our new home.

I don't know how we got so lucky to find a neighborhood and ward full of such wonderful people.  I don't think it was luck at all.  The Lord has definitely blessed us beyond measure.  To all of our wonderful friends and neighbors, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  We have treasured our association and friendship with all of you.  You are the salt of the earth and we will miss you dearly.

Love, the Herbsts

Christmas Menagerie

Mark's parents came to spend Christmas in Houston with us.  We had fun

Playing at the park,

Black Light Miniature Golfing,

Riding a car ride,

Eating yummy Mexican food,

and trying on Grandma's shoes

 We had a fun Christmas morning.  Brielle LOVED opening her presents and digging in her stocking to see what Santa brought.

Brielle in her new chair

 Look at my new Cowboy boots!

On the rocking horse that Pop made for her.

I included this video for the reaction I got to the Care Bears video.  Girl after my own heart.

You can hear her say "color" in this video.  It's by far my favorite word that she says.

We wrapped up the new year in Dallas with Mark's sister and her family.  Sadly, no pictures because Brielle and I were super sick, but we had fun nevertheless.  We're excited to see what 2011 has in store for us!

Since My Last Post

Since my last post...

1.  We had Thanksgiving.  My family came down and we did it up right - Turkey, all the trimmings, and five (yes, 5) pies.  All  homemade.  By yours truly.  May never happen again.  I'm still recovering.  But they were sure good to eat!

A picture of the Feasting Table.  Unfortunately we were too busy digging in to get any more pictures.

2.  We played in the snow.  In shorts and t-shirts.  No, we're not crazy, it was just 80 degrees outside.  Did I mention that I LOVE where we live?

Brielle and her friend Megan in the snow.

4.  We went house hunting.  Come January, we'll be packing up and settling down in Baton Rouge for a few years.  It was a little unexpected, but Mark got transferred to be the field engineer for the Exxon Baton Rouge area.  The downsides:  We're leaving our friends, our ward, and our house - all of which we love.  And we're downsizing our house.  The pluses:  We get to see some old friends again, make new ones, and Mark only has a 6 minute commute to work.  Score!

After we spent all week looking at houses to live in, we took a break to...  look at MORE houses!  We visited Nottoway, a for real live southern plantation (no longer operating, of course) that has been turned into a bed and breakfast.  They also offer tours of the home, and it was awesome!  I'm a big Gone With the Wind fan, so this was a dream come true for me.  Luckily we have many more to visit while we live in Baton Rouge.  If you look closely at the picture, you can see Brielle and me waving from the porch.

5.  We saw Santa Clause.  He was the special guest at the ward party, and Brielle got a kick out of the Jolly Old Man in Red.  It made for one stinkin' cute picture:

Yes, I realize that the pants hiked up around the knees is classy.  Besides rubbing shoulders with one famous dude, Brielle's favorite part of the ward Christmas party was the band that played Christmas carols.  She's headbanging at an early age!  We had a blast.

And now,  bring on

CHRISTMAS!!!!

The Closet Under the Stairs

While we were cleaning out the hall closet yesterday, Brielle came across our bag of winter hats and gloves.  She took a shine to one of the hats and insisted that I put it on.  She then proceeded to dance around with her new hat for the next 1/2 hour.

At least we can have some idea as to what she'll look like when her hair finally grows out.  Although multi-colored braids aren't really what I had in mind...

You Don't Have to Be Old To Make Great Pie

The title of this post comes from a comment that Mark made to me:  "I thought you had to be old to make great pies."  He made the comment after I made this:

One super delicious homemade apple rhubarb pie.  See, I'm hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year, and really wanted to make the pies from scratch.  I found an easy-looking pie crust recipe and decided to give it a shot.  I love to cook, but was worried that a pie may be just a bit more than I could handle.  It turned out great!  The crust was flaky and yummy, and it really was easy.  Here's the recipe:

Basic Pie Pastry
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup plus 3 Tbsp. shortening
6 to 7 Tbsp. lemon-lime soda, chilled

In a food processor, combine flour and salt.  Add shortening; cover and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  While processing, gradually add soda until dough forms a ball.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.

For two single crust pies, on a slightly damp surface, lay down some plastic wrap.  Roll out half of the pastry to fit a 9-in. pie plate (be sure to lightly flour your rolling pin).  Transfer pastry to pie plate (I just pick up the saran wrap and flip it upside down into the pie plate).  Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond edge of plate; flute edges.  Repeat with remining pastry.  Fill or bake according to recipe directions.

For a double crust pie, divide dough in half so that one portion is slightly larger than the other.   On the plastic wrap, roll out the larger portion to fit a 9-in. pie plate.  Transfer pastry to pie plate.  Trim pastry to 1 in. beyond the edge of plate.  Add filling.

Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over filling.  Trim, seal and flute edges.  Cut slits in pastry.  Bake according to recipe directions.

The food processor made this recipe a cinch!  If y'all ever try this, be sure to let me know how you liked it.