Festival season is in full swing in Louisiana for the fall and this weekend is Festivals Acadiens et Creoles in Girard Park in Lafayette. This is definitely one of my favorite festivals. Two + days of great music, food, and a crafts fair. What more can you ask for, right?

As always, this year’s festivals have incredible line-ups. It all starts Friday night in Parc International downtown.

Friday, October 9 at Downtown Alive:

• 5:30 p.m. Feufollet & Special Guests
• 7:00 p.m. A Cajun Country Homecoming featuring Doug Kershaw, Jo-El Sonnier, Jimmy C. Newman

Scène Ma Louisiane Saturday, October 10

• 10:30 – 11:30 Hubert Matre & Triangle Playboys
• 11:30 – 1:30 Berard-Huval Family Affair 
• 1:30 – 2:30 Ed Poullard & Amis Creoles
• 2:30 – 3:30 Jimmy Breaux et Amis
• 3:30 – 4:30 Nathan Williams & Zydeco Cha Cha’s 
• 4:30 – 6:00 Balfa Toujours

• 6:00 – 7:30 Feu Follet

Sunday, October 11 

• 10:30 – 11:30 Fricasse
• 11:30 – 1:30 Frey-Daigle Family Affair
• 1:30 – 2:30 Bonsoir Catin
• 2:30 – 3:30 Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole
• 3:30 – 5:00 Steve Riley & Mamou Playboys
• 5:00 – 6:30 Wayne Toups ZydeCajun

Heritage Stage Saturday October 10

• 10:45 – 11:45 Robert Jardel & Pure Cajun
• 12:00 – 12:45 Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie
• 1:00 – 2:00 Lafayette Rhythm Devils
• 2:15 – 3:15 Joe Hall & the Louisiana Cane Cutters
• 3:30 – 5:00 Doug Kershaw, Jimmie C Newman & Joel Sonnier & Special Guest
• 5:15 – 6:15 Jambalaya + D.L. Menard
• 6:30 – 7:30 Pine Leaf Boys

Sunday October 11

• 10:30 – 11:15 Briggs Brown and the Bayou Cajuns
• 11:30 – 12:30 T-Salé
• 12:45 – 1:45 Savoy Family Band
• 2:00 – 3:00 High Performance
• 3:15 – 4:15 Dexter Ardoin & Creole Ramblers
• 4:30 – 5:30 Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars
• 5:45 – 6:45 Lost Bayou Ramblers

There will also be great happenings at the Salle de Dance, the Louisiana Folk Roots Atelier and at La Place des Petits. For a full schedule of events, visit the Festival Acadiens et Creoles website.

I will be working at the Ma Louisiane stage Saturday and Sunday so if you are in the neighborhood, come say hello. And while temperature will be much cooler this weekend with highs in the lower 70s, there are chances of rain in the forecast so you might want to bring an umbrella and don’t forget your dancing shoes. You know what they say, in the dust or in the mud, this festival rocks! See you there!

If you’ve been thinking about earning your real estate license, there’s a new class starting on October 8th in Lafayette. This 90-hour pre-licensing class is where you need to start. This upcoming session will last 4 weeks and classes are on Thursdays and Fridays at 5pm and Saturdays at 9am. The instructor is Mark Norsworthy. He is an excellent instructor with over 15 years of experience in sales and investments.

If you are unsure but would like more information, Keller Williams Realty Acadiana is offering a free information session, “Career Night” this coming Wednesday, October 7th, at 5:30pm. Our office is located at 900 South College, suite 100. All are welcome!

If you would like more information about the class or would just like to chat with me about a career in real estate, email me or call and I will gladly answer all your questions.

Sales in September were very similar to sales in August with 193 homes sold in Lafayette parish in September (versus 194 in August). Sales were up a little in all of Acadiana with 276 homes sold this past month.

When compared to last year, sales in September this year were much better than September last year but that is due in part to hurricane Gustav who hit us in September 2008 delaying many sales in the process.

There are currently 490 home sales pending in Acadiana, including 346 in Lafayette Parish.

If you are thinking about building a home in Maurice or Abbeville, these are great lots currently available.

Maurice, LA: Located near North Vermilion High School, this lot is on Harris Ln and it is a little over half an acre. The neighborhood is quiet and Harris Ln is a dead-end street off of Alfred Rd. If you love horses, this lot is located near Stirling Silver Stables where they offer riding lessons and from what I hear, they will soon offer demonstrations to the public (second picture). Asking price is $25,000. Click here for more information about this property.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abbeville, LA: I have several lots available in Bayou Marron, a newer subdivision located about 5 minutes south of downtown Abbeville. Prices vary from $15,900 to $34,900 for a lot with water frontage. All lots are large and have wonderful mature trees. If you are looking for privacy in a quiet neighborhood, Bayou Marron is worth a look. Click here for more information about these lots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the many things I love about living in South Louisiana is the fact that I can garden year round. In Canada, where I from, you have to plant everything in the spring (after what you hope is the last freeze) and you gather one big crop at the end of the summer. Here, in south Louisiana, we have spring, fall, and winter gardens, in which we plant different vegetables.

Pictured here is what I got out of my garden today. The tomatoes are a variety of grape tomatoes I tried for the first time this year. This one plant has been producing loads all summer long and it is still going. As for the bell peppers, I planted them in the spring but they got a very slow start (I’m not sure why). The plants now look good, are producing well, and will likely continue for another couple of months. Peppers and tomatoes are spring/summer crops here and the plants usually die with the first frost.

When we have more vegetables than what we can eat, we preserve them in several ways. Peppers are great as they can just be chopped and frozen in small quantities to use in recipes when needed. Tomatoes can be canned in jars to use in spaghetti sauce or any tomato based sauce.

Below is one of my fall/late summer tomatoe plants, which are now starting to have small fruits in them. This is my second time trying fall tomatoes and I wasn’t very successful the first time. We shall see!

In the next 3-4 weeks, I will start planting my winter garden and if everything goes well, we will have fresh vegetables from late December to April. Winter vegetables that I plant include carrots, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, and spinach. When I plant my vegetables, I always look at the Farmer’s almanac first to see which days are good. To tell you the truth, I don’t know that it really works, but old time gardeners here follow the almanac and I’m just not willing to try another way, just in case…

The best days to plant in October this year are 1, 2, 28, 29, 30 for above ground crops, and 10, 11 for below ground crops. If you live in the south and you haven’t tried gardening yet, you should. It does take a little bit of time and work but the rewards are great and it is a great relaxing activity (sure helps me keep my sanity). If you have a garden and are willing to share your secrets, I’m all ears!