Butte La Rose

Bonjour!
Ever been invited on a free vacation to the Ozarks in Arkansas? Didn’t turn it down! Black Pot Bean Festival was happening in Mountain View, small town “way up in them there hills.” I’d never heard of it till some of the Monday night bluegrassers invited me along. Promised much fun. They go there every year.
We are not the only people in this world with cultural events. Lots of music, bluegrass, old country and a couple of Cajun songs. And plus they put on other festivals like us. We’ve got cook-offs, them too. Tables were stacked with black iron pots for the chefs to compete their cook-um-up beans for Saturday.
Scott and Karen Zaizan from Port Barre came also. He plays fiddle and loves playing Jolie Blonde and Jai Passé Devont Ta Porte, and I sing both.
Thank you God that I am worthy to be there having fun with these wonderful people consumed in their love for life and music!
We met with a few other people from here. Everyone was so kind and helped me carry my guitar and songbooks. We had good highways for the trip. Lots of little towns. Everywhere we stopped people were nice to us.
Last Wednesday night I slept at Roger and Peggy Schexnayder home in Midland. She cooked a delicious okra shrimp gumbo for supper. Roger, Pearlin LeBlanc and I hit the road early Thursday morning with Peggy’s leftovers (ha), swung over to Crowley, picked up Kenny Richard and headed north. Peggy stayed home.
When we arrived at about 2 p.m. we began playing music. It just blew my mind, all these Ozark people playing so well, guitars, mandolins, fiddles, bass, banjos, and more. There were several good sized gazebos and all were filled with music makers. Spectators stood around the outside and watched. Here as soon as music starts someone grabs a dancer, but that is where we are somewhat different. None danced!
After a couple of hours, storm rolling in, we had to abandon music for the afternoon. I am sure I was a nuisance, being in awe, recognizing sights I’d seen along the way when I was trucking.
We stayed over in Calico Rock with Wilbert “Zoe” Dejean. There Zoe had cooked a pork roast for our supper. Roger’s niece Carolyn and hubby Allen Bourque from Broussard (with ice chest and gumbo) had tagged along. Carolyn cooked a big pot of rice to go with the gumbo for our supper. There was plenty of everything left over to eat Friday also.
We picked up where we’d left off at the jam. We sit in a circle, none of us sing the same songs, so we just do our thing and sing what ever we choose to. We all harmonize. Lots of old Gospel and old country. We’re from the old school and this music is my roots, not all French.
Woke up Friday morning and again weather was threatening. But we went on to the festival grounds early afternoon. Didn’t stay long – damp and windy – went back to Zoe’s and played till about 9 p.m.
Saturday morning, we were rained out for the day. Zoe had many friends who came by to meet us. Carolyn cooked a humongous gumbo of chicken and sausage, and a potato salad. Tough woman that gal is. Just like her Aunt Peggy.
Just before dark several Trick or Treat kids escorted by adults walked to where we were standing around talking outside. Zoe lives up a hill on a dead end street. There was about 25 of us there, we did not have any treats so I offered to sing a song in exchange. They enjoyed the “Chocolate Ice Cream Cone Song.”
All in all we made good memories and new friends and left them with ours.

Cousine Hélène
337-280-1988.
helenboudreaux@juno.com