Jones & Hill HTML February 2018

Jones & Hill HTML February 2018

The Must-Read, Change-Your-Life Newsletter helping seriously injured people for over 30 years

FEBRUARY 2018

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THE “THINKING OF HOME” BUSH THE LEGACY OF AZALEAS

Well, Mardi Gras has come and gone, and we’ve staggered back to our homes. Now we can start the spring in earnest. These early, vernal days are the best part of the year by far, at least here in the Bayou State. Warm days, pleasant nights, crawfish boils, and most importantly, the azaleas will start to bloom. It’s a little like magic. These shrubs wake up in bolts of color, welcoming the springtime with vibrant pink, red, purple, and white. It’s a shame we only get to enjoy their majesty for a few brief weeks. Driving past garden rows full of these flowers is one of the many joys of the season. It’s no wonder Southern Living named azaleas the South’s favorite shrubs. “THESE FLOWERING SHRUBS MEANT DIFFERENT THINGS TO VARIOUS CULTURES THROUGHOUT HISTORY. THEY HAVE SYMBOLIZED BEAUTY, WOMANHOOD, AND EVEN DEATH. ” In many ways, azaleas are a symbol of our heritage, nature’s antebellum dress. Most gardeners will tell you how accommodating a plant they are, growing in the many soils and climates that make up our landscape. Unlike their northern rhododendron cousins, they’ve adapted to our sweltering summers and sporadic winters. After working away all year, quiet and unassuming, they burst into jubilant colors, as if putting on their own Mardi Gras. The azalea is such a ubiquitous symbol of the South, it may surprise some readers that they are celebrated half a world away. In both Japan and Korea, azalea festivals are held each year to commemorate their blooming. The largest of these festivals, held in Bunkyo, Japan, boasts over 50,000 azalea plants!

These flowering shrubs meant different things to various cultures throughout history. They have symbolized beauty, womanhood, and even death. At one point, the toxicity of the plant was infamous — so much so that sending an azalea in a black vase used to be seen as a death threat. How times have changed.

But perhaps the interpretation of azaleas we Southerners would most relate to came out of feudal China. The shrubs were immortalized as far back as the 8th century

by a poet named Du Fu, who named them the “thinking of home” bush. He once wrote “[Azalea], my dear, / You make me think of home. / Of luxurious days spent pondering your beauty. / Of the scent of spring that lingers around your roots.” Those of us who have spent the spring up north can surely empathize with this nostalgia. Nothing makes you more homesick than a spring without azaleas. These bushes have meant many things to many different people over the course of human history, but to us, they mean home.

–Cra ig Jon e s

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Step 3: Get to swapping! As guests arrive, give them the opportunity to socialize. This is a fun event, so while everyone is sampling the soup, play some music, offer drinks, and let them chat it up. After an hour or so, it’s time to get down to business. Soupswap.com recommends having guests draw numbers for tasting order. Try each creation one at a time until you’re out of soup! You don’t have to follow this structure, of course. Find a method that works best for you and your guests. Bonus: Use Mason jars. Readily available in bulk at most grocery stores, Mason jars are leakproof and easier to transport than plastic storage containers. Plus, they’re inexpensive and fairly easy to replace. No one likes hounding their friends for precious glass containers weeks after a party. Soup swaps are guaranteed fun all year long. Looking for more advice to help throw the perfect soup swap? The Kitchn, a popular food blog, has everything you need to know at thekitchn.com/january-soup-swap- gatherings-from-the-kitchn-214906. HOW TO HOST A SOUP SWAP

‘Tis the season for delicious, hearty food, and nothing quite hits the spot on a cool winter evening like hot soup. Everyone has their favorites, whether it’s a classic bowl of chicken noodle or a Tuscan white bean and garlic soup, so why not share the love at a soup swap? Similar to white elephant gift exchanges, guests arrive at a soup swap with a several helpings of their favorite soup and leave with something entirely new. Here’s how you can host your own. Step 1: Send out the invites. The more the merrier. Invite all your soup-loving friends. Instruct everyone to prepare at least 4 quarts of soup. If you invite six guests, make sure everyone brings their soup in six separate containers. Everyone should go home with the same amount of soup they brought. The soup that guests will give away should be frozen, but remind guests to also bring a separate warm serving of soup for tasting. Step 2: Prepare the tasting stations. Soup can get a bit messy, so lay down a simple tablecloth on your table for easy cleanup later. Prepare a handful of blank labels — you can use chalkboard paint, scrapbook paper, or really anything fun — for guests to fill out and place on their soup when they arrive. You’ll want to provide plenty of spoons and maybe some bread, crackers, or other snacks. PREPARING TO CAST INTO 2018 February Is for Planning, Not Fishing

For those who cast from the bank, this may be as simple as restringing your rod and cleaning the guides and reel mount. This will take care of any dust that’s built up or grime left from your last outing. Not only will your rod look great, but it will last longer. Those who kayak have a little more work to do. You’ll want to start by checking the hatches, bungees, and hardware. Make sure nothing has come loose since you were last out. You can’t afford to deal with bad rigging while out on the water. Next, give the boat a good

While every season is fishing season in Louisiana, some months are definitely better than others. Hardcore bass anglers can still land reliable numbers in February, but the cold weather and frequent rain makes for a miserable experience. So, should you simply rest on your laurels and wait for winter to end? Why not use this time to prepare instead? If your fishing gear has been sitting in the garage all season, February’s the perfect time to take stock and do some maintenance. The last thing you want is to race off to your first fishing trip of the spring, only to be plagued by technical difficulties that could have been avoided by a little foresight.

cleaning, taking the time to apply some sun protectant to prevent the colors from getting washed out. Finally, if you’re feeling industrious, make some modifications to the kayak — all those little additions you’ve thought of while fishing. Last but not least, make plans. Look up maps, read articles, and research all the places you want to fish in 2018. Maybe call some buddies and make plans before their summer schedules fill up. This will get you back in the fishing mindset and excited for the coming season. Come May, you’ll be glad you used your time wisely.

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How to Handle a Livestock Accident I Hit a Cow. Now What?

If you’re

sure to answer any questions from law enforcement honestly; they’ll worry about tracking down the livestock’s owner.

like us,

you love the pastoral scenery of Louisiana. The sprawling fields dotted with classic old barns are a beautiful sight. Unfortunately, these landscapes hold an extra danger for drivers: livestock. Even in the open spaces of Louisiana’s farmland, a stray cow, pig, or horse can take you by surprise, especially if you’re driving at night. Cattle and horses are powerful beasts, and they can do a lot of damage if your car collides with them. Common injuries associated with these accidents include severe muscle, bone, brain, and spinal trauma, or even death. Recovering from such injuries can be a long and costly process, often requiring you to take time off work to heal. It’s not uncommon to be left permanently disabled. Unlike other forms of auto accidents, there’s no other driver to swap insurance information with. It’s just you and the cow. Your first priority should be to get help. Call the authorities and seek medical attention. Be

In Louisiana, farmers and ranchers are responsible for keeping their livestock penned up. Each parish sets their own specific fencing regulations, but the burden ultimately falls on the owner to keep their animals off of roadways. For a cow, horse, or pig to have made it out onto a highway means there is a flaw in the fencing. If this is the case, the farmer can be found liable for any injuries caused by the obstructing animal. If you or a loved one suffers after a collision with livestock and want to know whether you qualify for compensation, consider reaching out to an experienced Louisiana auto accident attorney. They can help determine the strength of your case and, should you take legal action, represent your rights against the interests of the farmer’s insurance company. Having over 35 years of experience in both the fields of personal injury and agriculture law, we at Jones & Hill have plenty of experience handling livestock injury cases. We are familiar with the fencing regulations of various parishes and have plenty of experience standing up to big insurance firms.

TAKE A BREAK

Sure, your showoff pal can wrap a tater tot with a piece of bacon and call it “The Daniel,” but you can take it a step further. Prepare a couple batches of these savory snacks for your Super Bowl party or the next family get- together. Snag a few for yourself before they disappear! Bacon-Wrapped Tater Tot Bombs

Ingredients

•

1/4 cup brown sugar

•

2 cups frozen tater tots, defrosted

•

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

•

1 ounce sharp cheddar, cut into 1/4-inch squares

•

4 slices bacon, quartered

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 2. Press a cheese square into each tot, then wrap with a piece of bacon. Dredge each tot in brown sugar. 3. Place tots seam side down on baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, using metal tongs to turn halfway through. 4. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve immediately.

Recipe inspired by ThisGrandmaIsFun.com.

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PRESIDENTS DAY THE TANGLED HISTORY OF

On the third Monday in February, the entire nation celebrates Presidents Day … sort of. While the holiday is known colloquially as Presidents Day, its official federal name is still Washington’s Birthday. If that wasn’t confusing enough, different states officially know it as “Presidents Day,” “Lincoln/Washington/Presidents Day,” “Washington-Lincoln Day,” “George Washington Day,” and more. Let’s untangle how all these variant names came about and delve into the fascinating history of the holiday. Washington was born on February 22, 1731. Given his incredible contribution to the founding of the United States, it’s understandable that a national holiday would be established to commemorate his legacy. The holiday was first established in 1879 for employees in Washington, D.C. Six years later, it was expanded to include all federal offices nationwide. And for the next century or so, nothing changed. However, in 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This bill officially moved holidays that were once celebrated on specific dates, like Memorial Day and Columbus Day, to a particular Monday in a given month. This allowed for three-day weekends and, hopefully,

encouraged retail sales with an extra day of shopping.

But this, unintentionally, moved Washington’s birthday celebration to a day between his actual birthday and the birthday of another venerated president, Abraham Lincoln. By the late 20th century, Lincoln’s reputation and legacy were as titanic as Washington’s. Because Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, many states found it appropriate to make the day a commemoration of two great presidents rather than just one. By the 1980s, “Presidents Day” was the more widely acknowledged name, if not the official designation. Why it hasn’t received a uniform federal name is anyone’s guess, but at least when you say “Presidents Day,” everyone knows what you’re talking about. No matter what you call it, the day is a chance to celebrate some of the people who’ve made lasting contributions to our nation’s history. If you look at any presidential ranking, Washington and Lincoln are probably No. 1 and No. 2. It’s fitting, then, that we celebrate their birthdays in tandem.

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