Last Tuesday, we took a trip to Eunice, Louisiana, to enjoy an authentic Cajun Mardi Gras celebration. Parade participants don't throw much candy at Mardi Gras parades; they throw beads. Here are H, R and L sporting their loot.
At Camp Bucca, the hospital pharmacy handed out their stack of beads on Tuesday morning. Here's Mark celebrating in his time zone . . .
Back in Eunice, the celebration's highlight is the group of rider/revelers who set out early Tuesday morning and go from farm to farm. Years ago, they would beg for chickens destined for the giant pot of community gumbo. Donated chickens no longer make it into the gumbo, but the chicken remains a key feature of Eunice festivities.
Cool local yard art . . .
Funny parade participant . . .
Here's a Cliff's Notes version of the parade. Combined running time of all seven video clips is 22 seconds.
One of the rider/revelers let the kids pet a chicken. Brave kids. I was happy to have the camera as an excuse not to have a free hand. Surely, chickens have cooties. :)
Lily wishes you a "Happy Mardi Gras." Isn't her smile the sweetest thing you've ever seen?
Since we were in Southern Louisiana anyway, we couldn't not go to the temple. Mom said that since she'll soon be home and close to a temple, she would happily watch the kids so I could go. So instead of attending Ash Wednesday mass, I was able to attend a more-so-than-normal spiritually strengthening endowment session. Thanks, Mom!
Over the past couple of weeks, we've prepared the paperwork to perform temple ordinances for a dozen+ people on her side of the family. We were able to print most of the paperwork while in Baton Rouge, on Wedenesday. The temple was, by far, the highlight of the trip.
