Louisiana Flood 2016

The rains came down and the rivers topped their banks and flooded everything we knew. That was three weeks ago. 

Together. Tirelessly. Non-stop. Hard and Dirty. Before and During and After. That's the kind of WORK my hometown is doing right now. 

Three parishes have been running on adrenaline. Neighbors, volunteers, and authorities doing the work to save and rescue  200,000+ people during the flood. 

The work continues to repair and rebuild homes, feed and clothe people who lost everything they owned. 

Schools were damaged and there are no classes being attended. School had started 2 weeks prior. Students are scheduled to return to classes on September 12. School has been interrupted for a month. 

My kids weren't flooded. But close family members and friends and strangers were. Twelve strangers and one friend lost their lives.

Tho I live an hour and a half away now, it still hurts my heart to see and hear of the devastation of people's lives and homes. 

Work continues. 

# Louisiana Flood 2016

First Day

The first day of school for our Pre-K 4 year old grand.  I was as excited as he was. His mom sent me pictures. 

This smile may change a little as the school year goes along. It's always exciting at first. But then all the newness wears off and it's not so exciting, 

He was non-stop talking when I talked to him on the phone after school. He likes school as much as I do!

"My Zoo" Deliveries

The three My Zoo's we made for the little ones have been delivered and filled with their animal friends. 

Bears, and Mickey's and Minnie's were thrown in and landed how they may.

Owls and Lambie and Olaf, too. You have to know all about Frozen and Doc McStuffins to keep up with this. 

Green dragons and ducks and tigers and puppy dogs for boys. 

They actually like them. The best part is throwing the animal friends across the room into their cage.

What project is next? There's a few more projects lined up and in the works. Stay tuned. 

National Watermelon Day Yesterday

For me every week this summer has been National Watermelon Day.  A watermelon has just about every week made it to my kitchen either from the farmers market, the grocery store, or a farmers stand on the side of the road. Those you know for sure are local home grown and are the best. 

While eating watermelon everyday, all summer long, I feel like I'm doing myself a favor with a low calorie food that is good for you. The down side is a lot of bathroom trips. 

According to Medical News Today, watermelon is actually considered a nutrient dense food with a lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Random Facts:

1. Watermelon may help prevent or reduce asthma, high blood pressure, cancer, dehydration, inflammation, indigestion and muscle soreness.
2. Watermelon is considered a fruit and vegetable.
3. According to the Guinness World Record, the heaviest watermelon weighs 159 kg (350.5 lbs) and was grown by Chris Kent of Sevierville, Tennessee.
4. Watermelon boosts brain power – has a source of Vitamin B6, that is necessary for normal brain function.
5. Watermelon contains about 92% of water and 6% sugar.

In some weeks this summer I bought two watermelons. One to eat. One to carve into something. Like carving a pumpkin in the fall, I carve a watermelon in the summer. 

This years carving was an Angry Bird scene I made for a summer birthday party. 

I bought a four piece Angry Bird set. A sling shot, a watermelon, and a bag of key limes to make more pigs since the Angry Bird set only came with one pig. 

The cubed melon pieces were put together with wooden screwers and stacked up on the watermelon with loose melon cubes scattered around. The sling shot and birds set up on one end. Pig faces painted on the key limes and set around on and in the stacked melon cubes. 

Here's My Inspiration photo compared to My Version photo.

I've also carved a watermelon shark and a pirate ship in past summers. You can see the shark here.