Clark Creek Natural Area

So, after posting my throwback pictures to when I went to Clark Creek, I decided to call up a friend as ask if she wanted to go. While it is only about a 2-2.5 hour drive from Lafayette, we had to leave at 5am! This means, this non-morning person, was up at 4am! If Louisiana wasn't experiencing such a heatwave with high humidity, we could have been normal people and left at 8am. 

Anyways, the hike was cut short (only 3 hours) due to an extremely close snake encounter and the ever abode sweltering heat. On our drive home, we decided since we were nasty, we wanted to pick up a few things to go crabbing. Boy, what a day! I've added a map to show our drive-- REMINDER: this was done in 1 day! 

The green marks our 1st adventure and the pink marks our 2nd! 

Clark Creek Natural Area, Pond, MS. 

Rockefeller Refuge, Grand Chenier, LA

So, in order to crab in Louisiana, you must purchase a crabbing licence. After paying our mere $2 fee, we set off to Grand Chenier to crab at Rockefeller Refuge. After spending 3 hours out there, we only caught 13 crab-- slightly disappointing, but totally fun. After battling the alligators stealing our bait, we did a decent job. They stalked us like prey and got obnoxiously close-- some close to 9 ft long! 

A was pulling in a line and kept saying it was heavier than usual. Being completely oblivious, I told her it was probably caught on a rock. A lady proceeds to come running over, screaming, saying that a gator is attached to it! I've never seen A drop something so quick in my life. After backing away, it was clear to see that we did indeed have a gator-- the largest one out there! The line was caught in it's mouth and he must have fought to free himself for the rest of the night, because when we left, he was still hooked!

What a day!

Throwback to March 6, 2011-- Clark Creek Natural Area

I have a natural love for Clark Creek Natural Area. It brings the north to the south-- essentially. It is the only place I can go in Louisiana (well really in Mississippi) that has waterfalls. The trail is only 2.5 miles long, but by the time you diverge off of it, you've hiked to China. I could spend all day out there, but the way back to the car is the most strenuous-- it's entirely uphill and in Louisiana summer heat (118 degrees) it is quite miserable and even life threatening. I went on this trip with my ex-best friend. How ironic does it sound to say that!? Through trials and tribulations we stuck together ALWAYS, until I didn't show up for court and she threw me out of her life. 

Anyways, this particular trip, we decided to go early March and not much was blooming, the air was still crisp and enjoyable. The coolest part was the fact that, while we were hiking, I saw this familiar face. I must have stared for what felt like forever, only to realize it was an old boyfriend and friend from middle school! Because this was quite a while back, I don't have much to say, except that I will be going back before Autumn comes so that I can see all the greenery. 

Throwback to May 17-18, 2011-- Chicot State Park

I am an avid outdoors person, and when I say this, I am talking... hiking trails, canoeing, kayaking, biking, etc. I find nature simple and beautiful; however, once I see a snake, worm, or caterpillar-- I'm out! Creepy critters scare the bejesus out of me and I want nothing to do with them. Don't understand why I am always wanting a garden, yard, etc. 

However, a good friend of mine-- we will call her A-- invited me to come for a night to Chicot State Park  in Ville Platte, LA. The cabins were a thing of beauty!

We spent the entire 2 days collecting firewood for dinner, canoeing, hiking, and reading! I could live there year round! As soon as I got there, we hopped in a flat bottom boat and I set out to take literally 500 pictures! (IN 2 DAYS!!) Such simplicity-- phones had little signal, no computers were brought (only Nooks), and time was spent reconnecting with each other and Mother Earth. 

Throwback to 2005-- Mission Honduras

How many of us actually count our blessings each day? I'll be honest, I don't. In an effort to take the time to focus on my impending student teaching starting in T-3 weeks, I am trying to center my life and remind myself of how lucky I really am. 

Raised Catholic my whole life, I've now diverged from religion, I spent my schooling years in private, Catholic schools. I was fortunate enough to attend high school at St. Joseph's Academy, an all girls school, that provided many life lessons. Among these lessons would be 1 that stuck out the most. We were required to complete 50 hours of community service work yearly. This sounds just horrifying to teenage girls-- you want me to get dirty? help people who might not want to be helped? and then bribe me with hours to move on to the next grade?

In an effort for my parents to be good ones, my mom told me I was going to Honduras to understand my blessings. (While she would NEVER, EVER do this herself, it has now created a passion for me to travel and live a simple, eco life-- she's created a monster! ;)) 

In the summer of 2003, we left on a mission trip to Comayagua, Honduras to spend 10 long days there. I came back from this trip dying to go back 2 additional years. I will say this, in the way of providing service to people and to help make the country better... we failed; in the way of meeting new and interesting people, entertaining cultures, and sight-seeing... we succeeded! The trip taught me patience, what the internet and other technologies mean, and to be respectful of what I have and the world I live in. 

I am sad to say that we prayed the majority of the time and I was really disappointed in the little we accomplished. I guess that's why the group I went with no longer goes to this particular sight. However, I highly recommend trips like this--- it puts life into perspective and teaches you what's worth living for. I'd also like to include that I made a digital scrapbook of this trip, you can see it here: The edges are slightly cut off. :(

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Figured it's time to start this thing...

So, after many, many days/years that I have had this, it's time to start posting. I am one proud momma (of a great little Yorkie named Avery) and I am beginning my student teaching in a few weeks. 

While my original bachelor's degree (hospitality management) didn't quite pan out to provide fruitless amounts of money, I am now going back to get my teaching certification in elementary education on top of that! 
As a child I was always told that I should choose a path that is always needed in life (doctor, lawyer, school teacher, etc.). I chose not to do that on my first go round and enter the cut throat world of business. However, I have listened to my parents and have come back for that "always needed" job to find out that no one in Louisiana is hiring teachers right now. So, back to square one. 
I've had some many great trips in my life and will be, ever so often, giving a throwback to those times... Honduras, Bahamas, etc.