Baja St. Martin

I am so happy to hear that the barricade at Bayou Chene is being erected now and sincerely hope that will again prevent this area from getting all the backwater from the Mississippi River when it gets down here. I realize that the same barricade will prevent water from getting out in case we get lots of rain, but I guess you can’t have everything.
Right now the yards are saturated and since Belle River is lapping at the top of many seawalls, the puddles in the yards won’t drain. Thus, my yard, in particular is a mess from the tracks made by a cart and a dog. My sisters in Michigan report they have no snow and the temps are in the 40s which is pretty warm for this time of year.
I am back to walking with my dog on the levee every day and it is very nice. A bit muddy but I put on some waterproof hiking boots and trundle along the path my friend Toby has mowed for me. For the first time today I let the dog off her leash and it worked fine. She’s young yet and spooks easily and I feared that she would become alarmed by something and take off running. I’d never be able to catch her if so, but I carry a pocketful of treats and she came promptly when called. This is a dog who is totally untrained with the exception of usually responding to No! Notice I say usually!
One local Pierre Part restaurant is now selling boiled crawfish for $4.50 a pound. I assume they would be pond crawfish. People are beginning to put out traps in the spillway but I’ve not heard of anyone catching anything. Just staking their territories. A few more men are coming to get prop bushings in their motors and having some gear work done in preparation for the coming season. Most men are a bit reticent about spending too much money this early since nobody knows just how many crawfish there will be. This early high water is tempting for fishermen but I don’t know what it bodes for crawfish reproduction.
The St. Martin Council on Aging (COA) at Belle River had a good crowd for the first bingo of the year. We meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. The next bingo will be on Tuesday, Jan. 19, and that will also be Birthday Bash day thanks to Humana.
I’ve told that Dr. Delhomme from St. Martinville will be holding a Rabies Clinic here in Belle River as she did last year, but no date has been set as yet. I will let you know. Hopefully, this year the weather will be a bit more favorable.
Letters will be sent out and I’ll spread the word at the next Food for Senior and bingo events, but because of the possibility of flooding, the date for the Sheriff’s luncheon over here has been changed from Jan. 30 to as yet an undetermined date.
Food for Seniors will take place on Jan. 28 at the usual places – Stephensville Fire Station and the Belle River Center – and the usual times – 8 a.m. and about 9:30 a.m. We’re looking forward to seeing Grover and his crew again. I’m looking forward to seeing all the friends again.

Teche News’ Lower St. Martin correspondent, Linda Cooke, can be e-mailed at lindacooke1939@gmail.com.