We spent a beautiful Southern morning touring the grounds of Oak Alley Plantation.
The home is nearly 200 years old. Its twenty-inch-thick walls formed from Mississippi river clay bricks, laid by the hands of slaves.
A few of my children struggled to appreciate the beauty of the home and grounds, the weight of its dark history holding them back. I am hopeful this is a sign of empathy in them, that they are learning to consider others before themselves.
We were not allowed photos in the buildings, but in one room of the "big house," the layers of plaster had been peeled away, a frame made over the exposed brick, and a plaque acknowledging the skill and craftsmanship of the slave laborers. It was a small tribute, but an important one.
The west garden recently has been redone, dedicated to a beloved gardener of the first owners of the plantation.
All of the gardens were beautiful. However, the towering live oaks outshone everything. They are 200-250 years old, transplanted as adult trees when the plantation was built.
This plantation grew sugar cane, and still does today. I found the stats on sugar consumption mind-boggeling.
We ended our morning out with the kids' first taste of local food: friend okra, shrimp sandwiches, and boudin balls at a local diner. For dinner, I was adventurous and made our first Cajun meal, jambalaya (with the help of Zatarain's) 😄
We were stretched in several ways today, but I do believe we are all better for it.
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