Columns

Snake-Zilla

Last week t h e evening news reported on and showed footage of a giant black snake weaving through the limbs of a tree in Fenton, La. The landowner reported seeing it near one of his crawfish ponds and claimed it was over 12’ long! When asked for an I.D. of this giant the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries were of the tentative opinion that it was a “… very mature Black Rat Snake.” The largest on record in Louisiana being over 7’ long.

We welcomed a new family member in mid-June, a beautiful chocolate and tan miniature schnauzer puppy girl.

Our little Bailey (“Bailey Hanna Chocolate Bliss”) came into our lives at just the right time. We lost our precious two-year-old schnauzer girl, Charli, in early April to a sudden tragedy. Our family and our boy schnauzer, Kaiser, had been grieving.

We originally had no idea that we would be getting another puppy so soon after losing Charli, but a series of events that I recognize as God’s grace came upon us.

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As Americans make plans to celebrate one of our most important National Holidays there are a few things that should be kept in mind other than Bar-B-Queuing. First of all what is the Fourth of July? On July 4, 1776 delegates of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence from England. It was the act of declaring not necessarily obtaining our independence from England. July 4, 1776 marked the formal beginning of the American Revolution and we celebrate it as our Nation’s Birthday.

Well hello everybody! I’m back and ready to roll! Vacation was fun but it’s always good to get back to my routine here at MNC. When you love what you do it sure makes it easy to come to work everyday.

Didn’t Mike McDonald, our new Activity Director do a good job in my absence? Thank you Mike, for all your help, I know he enjoyed helping me out.

We’ve been busy, busy all week! Its CNA week and boy did our staff do a good job showing them appreciation. Y’all,, they work hard! Being a CNA is a very rewarding but challenging job. Thank you to all the CNA’s out there. We love and appreciate you!

This past week we stayed inside most everyday. It’s hot out there! But that’s ok because Mike had a variety of fun everyday of the week. We play Bingo Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 2:00 p.m. sharp! There’s always a lively, and sometimes rowdy, crowd in the dinning room for our Bingo! Mike is even thinking about hiring a Referee! Anybody need a job out there?

U.S. Catholic bishops recently attempted to prevent President Biden from receiving Communion at Mass. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops voted “overwhelmingly” to write a formal document on the significance of the Eucharist after a controversial debate on whether Biden and other politicians who support abortion policies are worthy of receiving Communion.

One thing I notice is that great emphasis is so often put solely whether these politicians take legalistic religious actions such as “receiving Communion” or “taking the Eucharist.” Little, if anything, is ever mentioned about whether they have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, which has nothing to do with works or legalistic formalities.

I often listen to a YouTube channel called Eternal Call where the speaker often talks about the dangers of religious legalism. Here’s an excerpt from one of his posts:

Have you e v e r given thought to what a Sunday afternoon date would have been like during the “Depression years”? Well, just imagine how two young boys and girls reacted during the 1930’s when no one had money or cars or other modern day things.

Bill and Ray, good friends, had been flirting with Maria and Ann Davis, sisters about one year apart in age. Bill, almost one year older and taller than Ray, had chosen Maria and Ray picked Ann. The two boys rode their bicycles to the Davis home at 2 o’clock after some strict rules of not putting their feet in the river and being back at 4 o’clock the girls were instructed by their mother to go to the outhouse before leaving.

Look around. The world is trying desperately to skew God’s symbolism of the rainbow.

Even most children’s clothing lines are now pushing another meaning of the rainbow by providing rainbow-colored “pride wear” for innocent children and babies.

Even pet stores have entire sections of rainbow pet items.

Old Navy now offers a “Gender Neutral” line of clothing which features kids wearing “pride” rainbow clothes and other apparel. The gender of many of the children featured in the Old Navy ads is not discernible.

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There are some stories of old that should never be lost. They should be told to our children and grandchildren. The following true story that occurred following the Battle of Mansfield is just such an incident that sheds light on a familiar subject possibly in a different respect. During the Battle of Mansfield, one of the bloodiest in the war and last major victory of the Confederates, General Taylor ordered the La. Crescent Regiment forward to attack the 130th Illinois led by Major Reid. The Yankees were behind a rail fence and as the rebels charged Gen. Mouton, Col. Beard, Lt. Col. Clack, Major Canfield and seven of the ten Captains were killed along with 55 Rebel soldiers and 150 wounded. Prince Camille de Polignac, a French born aristocrat, took charge and defeated the 130th Illinois Regiment.

Homemade Ice Cream Showdown!

Churn until you drop - Let’s Rumble! Memorial weekend I whipped up a bucket of homemade ice cream from a recipe I’d seen on the Internet. It sounded so good that I made the mistake of not going back to my tried and true recipe from Ms. Shirley Golsan who lived right here in Mansfield (& Grand Cane), LA. I’ve written about this great simple little recipe before and, don’t worry, I’ll be listing it again at the end of this column.

Several of our early DeSoto leaders have been spotlighted in this article; however none have surpassed today’s individual – Mariah Martin Davidson, born in Nova Scotia in 1799 of Scotch parents. She married James H. Davidson who was born in 1805 also in Nova Scotia. The Davidsons moved to the Grand Cane area where they begin buying land northward.

James H. Davidson died in 1853 at the age of 48 years leaving Mariah with 5 children and a plantation with 21 slaves. This was a situation where few women could have succeeded but there were few women with the ability and determination of Maria (changed her first name). Maria Davidson had lost her husband several years before the Civil War but she became adept at managing a plantation. She educated her children and held her real estate and livestock in spite of the misfortune of wars and drastic misfortunes and loss by fire of two homes.