Today was the Christmas in the Country parade and festival in our town. It was the first one we’ve had since we moved back to St. Francisville. Let it be said that Your Working Boy invented a valve-stimulating spicy shrimp creole dish that he prepared in a black iron skillet on a charcoal grill — and it was damn good. Mrs. Working Boy concocted a fantastic vegetarian chili. We had three semi-kegs of beer from Tin Roof in Baton Rouge, and people in and out all afternoon. It was just right, though honestly, is there anything more December-in-Louisiana than one’s priest having to catch a menacing yellow jacket in a beer cup?
I also invented a delicious seasonal cocktail, the Smiling Lemon Ashley, named for a friend. It involves vodka, dark rum, Chambord, fresh-squeezed Meyer lemon juice, and soda water. You’re thinking, “Seasonal?” Again, this is Louisiana; a mosquito bit me on the cheek last night as I lay in bed reading. It was shorts and t-shirt weather today.
Alas for us, this is the first Christmas parade in years that has not been graced by the presence of our local drag queen, Ginger Snap. La Snap skittered out of town earlier this year, allegedly in the wake of a mysterious jewelry heist. She denied all to me on the phone. One never knows, do one?
TimG 
Roland de Chanson 
Roger H. 
Sands 
JonF 
An Anachronistic Apostle 
Ah, Christmas-almost-on-the-equator. It can’t be beat. I’ve never been to Louisiana, Rod, but really I must visit sometime. It sounds really sounds like something you simply have to experience.
We’ve had a mosquito or two lately too. It was nearly 80 today. Started out humid, but that dry breeze I’ve never felt anywhere before I moved to South Texas rolled in just before sundown, making for a lovely breezy 70 degree evening. Half the city smells like mesquite right now since it’d be a shame to not take advantage of the situation and barbecue something. Everyone who can eat outside is doing it, the Riverwalk and the King William district are all lit up and inviting and it manages to feel like Christmas even though there isn’t a touch of chill in the air, let alone any chance of snow.