As I write, my lawn is being mowed and I hope I picked up all the dog toys. It is a beautiful day already. A bit cool, a little foggy but promising to be warm later.
Crawfishing has begun and I live on the Levee Highway leading to the Belle River boat landing, so the truck/ trailer traffic starts well before daylight and the traffic outside is steady. I haven’t heard much about the quality of crawfish, or the quantity. Not long ago I heard the crawfish were small and the price very high, but I’m sure that has changed.
Activity along my road, the Levee Hwy, and then Hwy 70, going to Morgan City, is steadily increasing. A local Pierre Part contractor has cleared land along Hwy. 70 just out of the town which I presume he will develop. The property is narrow but the new owner hauls dirt so I guess that won’t be a problem.
To my north before reaching the boat landing, a trailer home appears to be emptying and the trash around it cleared up. Just this side, a road has been made to the river and everytime I pass something else has changed there. First a small houseboat, then some pilings, now a larger houseboat. Next to these is a new trailer, a big one, which is occupied.
My closest neighbor has put culverts across the levee ditch and is creating a parking lot. More property is being cleared closer to the Spunky Monkey. Then when you go to Morgan City, just before Stephensville, there is one huge camp built and another just starting next to it.
I confess, I am not really happy about all this. When my husband and I bought our property, we were the only ones in this area. It had been hard to find land to purchase because it mostly belonged to families who didn’t want to sell, but that has changed. I liked the isolation even when we didn’t have a paved road, and no boat landing. My current neighbors are very nice people but they’re still there. I did like living in the spillway and sometimes wish I still could but now I’m too old and physically not able. It was lots of fun, however.
Ms. Brew from the St. Martinville library sent over a box of Spice of the Month samples. This time it’s dill seed. Each sample comes attached to a flyer telling about the seed or sample, with a recipe. The recipe this time was for potato salad I believe. Whoever delivered the samples left them at the Belle River Community Center so I didn’t have a chance to ask any questions.
A load of adults and family came to the boat landing when I was there today. Turns out they were spending time at the Cajun Experience place in the Atchafalaya basin and were there to get a ride to the place. A friend of mine came to chat and she said there had been guests to the place from Alaska and California, plus other places. You can look up the place on the computer if you want. I’m not advertising, but it looks like a fun place to spend if you have some money. Depending on the season there is fishing, frogging, exploring. The Cajun Experience! Might be fun!
Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be emailed at lindacooke1939@ gmail.com.
