There was a breakfast buffet here, too. I tried to be healthy and eat Special K and a bowl of fruit, but there was a biscuit that just had to be eaten, too!
I finally headed out at 10:15 and what should have taken only 11 minutes took much longer. That is because as I came off the interstate, I did not see the smallish sign setback from the road. All I noticed was the construction work, where my GPS claimed was my destination. I drove further down the street and pulled into a McDonalds. This time, I pulled out the iPhone and pulled up Google maps. From that, I could get a cross street and see that the LSU Rural Life Museum had to be where the construction was. Once I got down there, I found there was an awful lot on the grounds. I drove for a while and doubled back to a Visitor's Center. This, too, was not my destination, but looking at a map of all that was there, I figured out where to go. Thus, I didn't park at my destination until 10:54.
I arrived just after a grandmother and two boys, so the clerk turned on the intro video for the three of us. It was a nice overview of what we were going to see and how it got there. The beginning exhibits were all inside, which was great. There was a giant cotton bale near a display of quilts. There were various hearses (!) and their caskets, most of which were made out of metal. There was even the device used to measure the length of the sarcophagus to determine the size of the vault. There were so many things to look at, but I was on a schedule.
When I stepped outside, I wished, I hadn't. It was hot and partly cloudy. I was grateful for the breeze that came up at times, as I roamed amongst the buildings. However, it wasn't long before I was absolutley dripping!
They have a very nice collection of buildings, including the oldest Acadian house in the state. The church on display has painted windows, which was the poor man's version of stained glass. Since sugar cane was so important here, there was a caning house, as well as grinders. The shotgun house really was cool between the two rooms as intended. There were slave houses and a sick house. The overseer's house was interesting and as a teacher, I found the schoolhouse depressing. So small and so uncomfortable!
I learned that keeping pigeons was a status symbol back in the day. I also found out that some plantations made their own tokens to be used to pay for items in the comissary. (In that building, there was a display case that still had thread in it.)
I'd paid an extra $3 to be able to go into the Windrush Gardens. They were very formal gardens, but also had woods. I spent a lot of time trying to find the various statues listed on the map. I did like the Windrush House's view of the garden.
As I headed back for the gift shop, a few raindrops fell, but that was all the rain I saw today. I was disappointed to not be able to get postcards. However, I did find a really lovely small egg basket for only $20. The large square-based basket that really caught my eye was $50 and too rich for my blood.
It was just after 1, when I left and I knew I had time for lunch. I'd seen a sign at the exit and had noted the location of Times Grill on my way to McDonalds earlier. I was up for something different, so I went there. They specialize in burgers, but the lunch special was red beans and rice with 2 pieces of sausage and a side salad for only $7.95. It was really delicious. I've had black beans and rice before, but not red. It nicely contrasted with the spiciness of the sausage. When the waitress offered me another Coke Zero, she said, she'd put it in a to-go cup, which was very thoughtful.
It took a little maneuvering to get gas at the Racetrac near the interstate, but the price of $3.619 was good.
My next destination was BREC's Magnolia Mound Plantation. I arrived at 2:24 and the last tour was at 3. I decided to shop right away, in case the gift shop was closed when the tour finished. One of the clerks was kind enough to give me the comment card and its 3 free postcards then, so that I would not miss out.
I had about 20 minutes to look at the grounds, including the kitchen garden and the garden with sugar cane. I rushed to be on the front porch by 3, but needn't have, as the guide was late. No one else had come, so I had a private tour of the interior. It is a Creole, Colonial plantation house, not an antebellum one. Creole back then, just meant you were born here in French or Spanish territory. Lots of French furnishings inside. They had wallpaper in the parlor that not only matched the original, but was made by the same company in France, which had the original stencils! I learned how the mosquito netting worked on the beds. I also learned that the large board that was meant to be a fan over the dining table, just swatted flies and didn't really cool the room. Women wore gingham in the summer, but men wore wool year round! It was a terrific tour!
On the way back to the hotel, I stopped at CVS. I was lucky-my 30% off coupon for the weekend was still good and I could use it on an LSU pin and stickers, as well as other items I needed. I went across the parking lot to the Pita Pit to get a hummus pita for dinner.
When I got here, I put the pita in the fridge and put on exercise clothes. I intended to use the treadmill and then go in the pool. While I was on the treadmill, my husband called, then showed up to invite me to dinner with the board. So, the pool was out and I took a quick shower.
Dinner tonight was a local institution, The Chimes, just outside an entrance to the campus. I had a delicious Blackened Shrimp Remoulade salad and my husband had an oyster poboy, yet another thing I won't eat. Good conversation and a good meal are a good way to end the day.
No comments:
Post a Comment