Celebration Saturday is here once again. Do the weeks fly by for you? I have much to be thankful for this week.
1. Last Saturday I had a book signing at Lemuria in Jackson, MS with my father. We were signing our book Illuminate. The biggest treat was to see old friends and to share the joy. We even sold one to a stranger.
Here I am with a high school friend sitting under photos of Eudora Welty and Walker Percy among other famous authors.
2. Tuesday night I rode in the Christmas parade all decked out in a vintage red dress and white wig.
My best queenly wave!
3. On Wednesday, my students went to the Shadows to rehearse for their play. Every year, the gifted students in grades 4-6 perform a play for the first graders in the parish. This program based on the history of the plantation home has been going on for 30 years. Some of my students have parents who performed in the play when they were younger. This is a great experience for my students. They all learned their lines and behaved well. We went to lunch downtown on Main Street at Victor’s cafeteria. This is an iconic place in New Iberia. They have a sign that reads “Dave Robicheaux eats here.” My students did such a good job at paying and figuring out tip that they were complimented by the cafeteria staff, so I let them have a play time in Bouligny Plaza. They played a vigorous game of hide and seek. Down by the bayou, I showed them a sculpture garden, another fun place to play and take group family pictures. A great day!
Girls in period costume
4. On Thursday evening, I took an art class. I learned how to use a gelli plate for printing. The instructor, Marcie Melancon, had made a mold from gelatin for me to use. You can purchase a gelli plate, but since I didn’t have one, I used the homemade one. I was very pleased with the resulting prints. The process was fun and easy. Just squirt out paint, roll it on, and print. We used a variety of found objects for printing, like toilet paper tubes, bubble wrap, leaves, string, etc. The one I liked the most was a double print rather than a mono print. So the images layered to create a beautiful mystical image. The woman figure was a magazine cut out that was laminated with packing tape.
5. On Friday, I found $50 that I had lost somewhere in my purse. I thought it was gone forever, but it surfaced miraculously when I was looking for something else.
This was a wonderful week, and I am working hard to avoid getting into a holiday frenzy. I want to continue to find blessings in every day.
Reflections on the Teche 
All these small happening build into a great week. How fortunate to find the missing $50!
Margaret, I think you could be the poster child for the importance of a liberal arts education. Poetry, art, culture, history, writing, reading can all be found in the things you do personally as well as what you do with your students. I am in awe!
Thanks for noticing. I realize that I not only am an advocate for liberal arts, I live it. The arts enrich our lives, it’s true. I’m sure you could find ways to bring the arts into your life. Julia Cameron, author of The Artist’s Way, says you should go on an artist date every week. I don’t do that for myself every week, but I am happier when I do.
Congratulations on your book signing! The play that your students perform sounds fun! And, who wouldn’t be happy to find $50?
Oooh, I love your artwork!!
What a week, love the tradition of the play, Margaret, & the book signing with your dad. Special times aren’t they? And I saw the gelli plate on FB-it truly is gorgeous!