Local Events

Friday, June 12, 2009

Starr Homeplace Community Days

If you are looking for something interesting to do in Northeast Louisiana this weekend, just a little out of the ordinary, you may be interested in Starr Homeplace Community Days.  The second weekend of each month from May through October, they are open to the public.  Volunteers come from near and far to demonstrate the crafts of yesteryear.  From milling and weaving to woodworking and smithing, there is sure to be something of interest to you.

Saturday and Sunday, June 13th and 14th, there will be an antique car and tractor show.  Saturday will be the main day for the car show, but it is so much more than a car show.  If you are interested in machines and motors of the past, you are sure to enjoy this event. 

Other points of interest this months will be the loom in operation, a gentleman will be building an Ox yoke and they plan to fire up the wood stove for bread baking. 

The old plantation home has been turned into a museum of sorts with working memorabelia from the past.  There is an herb garden, a blacksmith station, a grist mill, a printing press and a weaving loom just for starters.  If you really would like to see just how far we have come in the past century, this is a good place to start. 

Give your children a glimpse into the lives of your parents and your grandparents.  Make a weekend family outing of it, you can't go wrong here.  It costs $5 per person to get in, and you can tour the grounds all day.  They will be providing a light lunch for a small contribution. 

You will want to be sure and check out the book sale in the barn too.  Last year they received a large donation of books, some of which are new inventory from an old bookstore from the first mall in Monroe, Louisiana.  From cookbooks, old and new to history and fiction, it is a book lovers dream.  All proceeds go to fund the project, so you not only get a great deal on books, you are helping to keep history alive.

For more information or directions to Starr Homeplace, go to www.starrhomeplace.org

And while you are thinking about it, be sure to mark your calendars for the July event.  It is a driving tour of the Ancient Mounds of Northeast Louisiana.  Guest speakers Joe Saunders and Reca Jones, members of the Northeast Louisiana Archaeological Society will be be giving a talk and a tour of the mounds in the area.  They work together at ULM and have worked in the field for many years, and are both experts in their field. For more information or to sign up for the tour, email JCR@pandemonia.net

Lazy J Auction

Lazy J Auction, Hwy 165 South in Bastrop, LA starts at 6 p.m.  They say the building is full, they have antique furniture, books, tools and you don't want to miss it.  We plan to go, hope to see you there.

News-Star Headlines Recap

Top billing for Sunday, May 31,2009 issue:

"Budget cutting tough work"  by Mark Hasten 

With a loss of $1.4 billion in revenue, the state lawmakers are having to dig deep to cut the budget.  Since 61% of the budget is set aside for "untouchable", "non-discretionary" spending, it has proven to be a difficult task.  The article gives details of the state budget.  A list of some 648 accounts in the State Treasury that contain a reported $13.47 billion appear to some lawmakers a solution to health and higher education woes.

While the Jindal administration is aware of the funds, and apparently used $24 million or 5 percent in a midyear cut to balance the budget. 

GM awaits jolt of life in bankruptcy, Associated press release.

Will bankruptcy save GM?  Stay tuned for tomorrow's episode when we will follow the red tape and click our Amber slippers and sing altogether, "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar, come tomorrow.." or something like that.

"Change draws viewers' static" by Stephen Largen

Seems people are getting a little stirred up about the digital switch now that it is finally looming on the horizon.  And how long a notice were they given.  According to Nielsen Media Research, in the Monroe/ El Dorado area, 11.4 percent of the market, roughly 20,460 households are not prepared for this transition.  While some 80,000 people in the area have applied for the coupons for a discount on a converter box, only 36,632 coupons have been redeemed. And a large portion of those were not aware of the fact that they will still need a digital antenna to receive signal.

"Shreveport plant hangs in balance" Louisiana Gannett News

The news of GM bankruptcy is affecting the Shreveport GM plant.  With the bankruptcy, GM is to announce 14 plant closings.  

Local Headlines include:

Talullah prison, economy in limbo

Blue wildebeest zoo's newest

Faith-based film rolls out of local company

Local film company R-Squared Productions begins filming this week at Kilpatrick Funeral Home.  This second productions is a 40-minute short filf for local broadcast with a cast of 11 and 30 extras. 

Extra, Extra, Read all about it, you missed the call for extras, but maybe you could get in on the next shoot. With more and more movies being filmed in Louisiana, keep your eyes open and watch  craigslist.com for casting calls.  Shreveport seems to have quite a bit of filming going on, so keep your eyes and ears open for the next production, who knows, you may be the next Billy Bob Thornton. 

This is just a recap of news from Monroe, Louisiana "The News-Star".  

For more information, visit thenewsstar.com  

I Am Just Curious

I am just curious, if Social Security is broke, why are so many getting raises in Social Security Disability.  If the system is broke, I don't understand how they can be raising the base pay.

In Louisiana, all you have to do to get a Social Security check is be slow in school, a crack head, a habitual offender or an idiot.  You are immediately qualified for those conditions and can start getting a check within weeks.

However, if you are disabled from birth, white and poor, you have to fight the system for years.  Then by the time you are finally determined to be eligible, the government owes you a large amount of money.  You do not get your payment in one check any longer, it is broken down into payments usually sent at six month intervals.

People who have worked their whole lives get smaller checks than 22 year olds who have never worked a day in their lives.  I have several elderly friends (in their 80's) who are having to live on $600 a month social security.  They are not eligible for food stamps, welfare, medical (other than basic Medicaid), housing assistance, or utility assistance.

But people who have been drawing assistance their whole lives are now getting an increase in their Social Security checks.  I have a problem with this.  I am sick to death of hearing the woes of Social Security and then seeing the dregs of humanity living like kings.  I have a new name for them, Slaves of the System.  For that is exactly what they have become.

It is easier for them to stand in a welfare line for a couple of hours a month than to go look for a job.  Why aren't we all standing in line?  When will the working class American's get enough of this BS.  

And another thing I am curious about, I thought if you had a criminal record, you were not eligible for federal assistance.  So how is it that the jails are full of Social Security recipients?  How are they still eligible for food stamps and section 8 housing assistance?  If they are in jail, are they still maintaining a house?  Are they still eligible for food stamps?  Are they still receiving utility assistance?

Just one more thing I am curious about.  In Morehouse and Ouachita parish in Louisiana there is a new program that is providing two meals a day for "children of the system".  Their parents are already receiving food stamps.  For a family of three, that is roughly $374 per month.  These children are on the free lunch program during the school year, because they are food stamp recipients.  Now the state is providing two meals a day during the summer because without state provided meals these children would go hungry.  Why can't their parents provide their meals?  If they are already receiving food stamps, and their children are going hungry, isn't that neglect?  

So, I am just curious, where does it stop?  If you have an answer, I would be glad to hear it.  I vote for rations instead of stamps.  I vote for fingerprinting recipients.  I vote for supporting those that support our country by hard work and honest living.   I vote for supporting our military and their families.  I vote for turning our penal system into just that instead of a free ride.  I vote for clearing the welfare rolls of habitual offenders, drug users and dealers, and system leeches.  

But then, I am just one of the working class Americans footing the bill so what do I know.  Stay tuned for "Poverty in Louisiana, NOT".

New Plants from Old

Now is a great time to be ramping up your garden.  With spring in full swing, most plants are experiencing growth spurts.  Many plants thrive from a little tender pruning, and you can use your cuttings to extend your garden.

Rooting from cuttings is easy.  Camelias, roses, forsythia and azaleas are all excellent sources as are many others.  So, lets get busy.

If you have a plant that is loaded down with blooms, you will be doing it a favor by taking a few cuttings.  Take your time and find a few good canes or limbs that have overgrown their bounds.  With your pruning shears and a small container of water, cut a piece no less than 6 inches, no more than 10 inches and only keep two sets of leaves.  Cut off any dead blooms and excess leaves.  Place the stem in water immediately so that air doesn't get into the stem.

When I plant cuttings, I locate them close to a water source.  I also use a three part soil mixture, one part native soil, one part peat moss and one part potting soil with fertilizer (Miracle-Gro has a great product).  

Once I have my cuttings, I mix my soil.  If I am planting in a container, I put my soil in and then use a pencil to make room for the cutting.  If I am planting in the ground, I dig  a trench allowing adequate space for new growth.  Some people like to use root stimulant, but I don't.  Plant at least 4 inches deep into the soil.  If the plant is healthy, it will take off, and if not, it wasn't meant to be.  

When all cuttings are planted, I firm the soil to keep out excess air, but not enough to smother the plant.  Then I water thoroughly.  Now it is time to sit back and wait.  Keep the soil moist and in a short period of time, you will know if your cutting is going to take.  The time varies with individual plants so I will not specify a time.  But if your attempts are successful, you will begin to see new growth.

Allow the plant to grow throughout the summer in the temporary location.  In the fall, you can move it to it's permanent home.  I have done this many times and I must say that there is nothing more pleasurable to me than to step into my garden and cut a bunch of roses that came from a cutting in my great grandmother's garden.  

One rule of thumb that I forgot to mention is this; roses while easy to grow from cuttings, hybrids are not easily rooted.   I have rooted some, but have not had much success with them.