Today is the first day of the March Slice of Life Challenge sponsored by the Two Writing Teachers blog. A group of teacher-bloggers join in a community of writers to write each day of March. I’ve done this challenge for many years. I can’t remember how many. Nine, maybe 10? Every year I feel daunted by the idea of writing every day, but I also know at the end of the month, there is satisfaction in having written. And the writing builds community and connection.
Today is also Mardi Gras Day which in South Louisiana is a big deal. This year the celebration is back after a hiatus for the pandemic. We have the week off of school, so I am traveling and visiting family. This weekend I was in New Orleans with my daughter and her toddler son. Above, he’s curious about the beads hanging from the porch railing. Beads can be found everywhere, in the trees, on fences, and even on a fire hydrant.
My sister and I drove up to Jackson, MS to visit our parents. She brought a taste of New Orleans in a traditional King Cake. When she cut pieces for Mom and Dad, she said, “Watch out for the baby!” and sure enough, Dad got the baby. He is certainly royalty to us! You can read about the tradition of the king cake in this article.
Reflections on the Teche 
Now, that’s really sweet to get the entire week off for Mardi Gras. I only know Galveston’s Mardi Gras, which is awesome. But where ever one celebrates, the traditions are fun. Love your grandson’s curls and the beaded hydrant! ‘Ya just never know where those beads will pop up!’
Happy Mardi Gras! My daughter lived in New Orleans for 3 years so we got to hear about Mardi Gras and see the photos! It looks like a fun time. She was a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic and their tradition is to have a king cake for the orchestra every day of Mardi Gras. Whoever gets the baby has to bring the cake the next day!
I loved reading and seeing about how special this day is for you in LA!! So lovely that festivities are back!
Enjoy your week, Margaret! I love the picture of your dad with the King cake.
I absolutely love Thomas’ curls! He is growing so quickly! We have a baby from a king cake that is about 15 years old (baby, not cake! :). We took turns hiding it in the house and in all kinds of places! This makes me want to get it out of my drawer because I was the last one to find it!
Hiding the king cake baby would be a fun tradition to add to our celebration.
Happy Mardi Gras, Margaret! Your festive photo journey is magnificent. So grateful for you and you uplifting posts, always. My Louisianan baker daughter-in-law made a king cake out of cinnamon rolls – it was fantastic.
Cinnamon roll king cake sounds delicious. I need to try that!
She did a layer, then brown sugar and butter, then another layer. Baked it and topped it off with traditional colored icing.
I love the beads on the fire hydrant. I saw hints of Mardi Gras around school today–purple and yellow shirts, some people sporting beads, and a happy Mardi Gras greeting first thing this morning by one of my first graders. Have a great week with family and friends!
Loved reading about all the traditions – and seeing the beads on the hydrant! So neat!
Margaret, I have been thinking of you and hoped you would write about the Mardi Gras. It must have been a wonderful feeling to celebrate the event with your family in New Orleans. I did not know that beads were placed everywhere. Thomas looks interested in them. Your Dad looks wonderful and he is the recipient of the Baby Jesus. How lovely that is.