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This hike is 2.5 hours from New Orleans has 8 waterfalls!





If you live in Louisiana and even somewhat enjoy hiking for fun, then you’ve likely heard of a spot not too far from Baton Rouge in Mississippi where lots of waterfalls can be discovered. Upon further investigation though, you’ll find that the exact location gets a bit confusing. Where exactly are these and what are they called? The answer is Clarke Creek and the best place to download the route is via AllTrails whether on the website or App. It gets confusing because people call them Tunica Falls. There are hikes in St. Francisville called “Tunica” this and that in Louisiana, but those are different, and they don’t have waterfalls (to my knowledge). So if you want to see these falls search for “Clarke Creek”.

When I say waterfalls, I mean up to 8 of them! We did a 3.7 mile hike and saw four of the waterfalls. Here are my top five things that people don’t tell you about these hikes that you should know.
1.   Pretty sure the water flows year-round because it’s rainwater rather than snow melt. This feature is pretty badass because waterfalls and their flow elsewhere are hit or miss.
2.   There are a variety of ways to approach this hike. If you want a pretty easy version you can see two of the falls.
3.   This would be a great activity even in the hot summer months. We did this hike in early September during a heat wave and enjoyed it thoroughly. The key is to start early. We arrived at the trailhead at 6:30am and left around 10:30am. The whole route was pretty shaded.
4.   Trail is not well marked. Since there are so many different ways to do this trail, I recommend going with someone that has the All Trails Pro app.
5.    I personally would never do this hike right after a big storm or in a heavy rain. I don’t like to get my boots too wet or muddy and this trail would definitely be a mud pit in the rain.

As always when you hike, stay hydrated and bring extra water. I had a 1L bladder pack and drank about half.

The parts of the trail that actually lead to most of the waterfalls is not really a trail it’s a creek with big boulders. So the majority of the waterfalls are accessible with moderate hiking rather than easy. 

Here's the route that we took in red:



Here are some photos to give you an idea of what's in store. 
















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Sew 2016

I've been attending sewing classes for the past year and fell in love with fashion goddess, Ms. Christina Blunt.  http://www.polishedbrand.productions/ 
She's a fierce creative force that I've had the pleasure to share, learn and grow with. Here are a few of my beginner creations and alterations.

This vintage dress had a high neck and a Pentecostal attitude. 
Created a V and popped out a choker for a modern vibe. 


Maxi skirts, scarves and Elf vests too.


Hats and capes are easy to whip up for costume occasions. 

I made this silver skirt to pair with an H&M lace shirt. 
Christina made a bowtie for Jules. 

My first Chewbacchus was solid gold with this C3PO apron. 

Simple alterations like darts are a cinch. 





0

Life in Lyrics 2016

I saved every letter you wrote me
From the moment I read them
I knew you were mine, said you were mine
I thought you were mine

Do you know what Angelica said
When we saw your first letter arrive?
She said, "Be careful with that one, love
He will do what it takes to survive."

You and your words flooded my senses
Your sentences left me defenseless
You built me palaces out of paragraphs
You built cathedrals

I'm re-reading the letters you wrote me
I'm searching and scanning for answers
In every line, for some kind of sign
And when you were mine
The world seemed to

Burn
Burn

You published the letters she wrote you
You told the whole world how you brought
This girl into our bed
In clearing your name, you have ruined our lives

Do you know what Angelica said
When she read what you'd done?
She said, "You have married an Icarus
He has flown too close to the sun."

You and your words, obsessed with your legacy
Your sentences border on senseless
And you are paranoid in every paragraph
How they perceive you
You, you, you...

I'm erasing myself from this narrative
Let future historians wonder how Eliza
Reacted when you broke her heart
You have torn it all apart
I am watching it

Burn
Watching it burn

The world has no right to my heart
The world has no place in our bed
They don't get to know what I said
I'm burning the memories
Burning the letters that might have redeemed you

You forfeit all rights to my heart
You forfeit the place in our bed
You sleep in your office instead
With only the memories
Of when you were mine

I hope that you burn


Burn written by Lin-Manuel Miranda
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Timeline of My Life to Music 2015

It's like when a baby is born and grandma dies the same year. It's like reaching the top of your dream mountain and falling off once you get there. It's like realizing there really are monsters in a closet full of your favorite things. 



January 2015
Santigold "Starstruck"


February 2015
Disclosure "Latch"


March 2015
Beyonce' "Ring the Alarm"


April 2015
Little Dragon "No Love"


May 2015
Duncan Sheik "Barely Breathing"


June 2015
Townes Van Zandt "Lungs"


July 2015
Katie Paisant "Human Enough"


August 2015
Mozella "You Don't Love Anyone But Yourself"


September 2015
The New Orleans Suspects "All the Money"


October 2015
Florence + the Machine "What Kind of Man"


November 2015
Phoenix "If I Ever Feel Better"


December 2015
Tom Petty "You Don't Know How It Feels" 


2015 proved that it's possible to realize your dream and have it ripped away shortly after. 
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Timeline of My Life to Music 2014

2014 flew by. I only had time to jot down 5 songs. I had more on my shoulders than ever before. I've never scrambled to get so much done. Thought that I was providing a future for my family. Thought that nothing could stop us and that we were building an even bigger family for the community. The brewery opened at the end of the year and my world started to change. I'll try to piece together a list of songs from my short list and the things that I tagged in Shazam. 





San Diego Serenade - Tom Waits



So Swell When You're Well - Fats Domino




Blinded by the Light - Manfred Mann's Earth



Back to Life - Soul II Soul



Go Outside - Cults



Move On Up - Lettuce



Reminded - Native America



If It Hadn't Been for Love - Steeldrivers



I've Seen Footage - Death Grips

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Timeline of My Life to Music 2013

As predicted in last years post 2013 was no cake walk. We had a lot of ups and downs securing a location for our brewery. Each month we'd get our hopes up about another location; we'd draw plans, draft agreements and then the deals would fall through. We also watched our son grow from a baby to develop his strong personality and begin to destroy our home the way that toddlers do. Never a dull moment. I look forward to success in 2014 with the opening of our brewery and the introduction of our beer to our community. 

  
January 2013
Yacht "Psychic City"

February 2013
Miguel "Sure Thing"


March 2013
James Taylor "Your Smiling Face"


April 2013
Iron & Wine "Upward Over the Mountain"


May 2013
Bishop Allen "Heart"


June 2013
REO Speed Wagon "Keep on Loving You"


July 2013
Broadheds "Nothing that I Care About"


August 2013
Devendra Banhart "Baby"


September 2013
Jessie Ware "Wildest Moments"

October 2013
The Two Man Gentleman Band "Fancy Beer"


December 2013
Coconut Records "West Coast"
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My Love Story


Someone finally wrote my love story...

Here's how it starts:

"It’s hard to say if 
The Courtyard Brewery
is a love story 
about beer 
or a beer story
 about love. 
Either way, it began 
on Frenchmen Street." 

Read the rest here: NOLA DEFENDER.