Big Blend Radio

Spring Festivals and Family Fun in Natchitoches, Louisiana

From Fishing Tournaments and Motorcycle Runs to Music and Art & Crafts Festivals, Spring Picnics and Crawfish Boils, and more, this episode of Big Blend Radio's 3rd Tuesday Vacation Station "Go to Natchitoches" show is all about Spring Festivals and Family Fun in Louisiana's Oldest City! Featured guest is K. Nicole Connell, Communication Manager of Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau. 
Founded in 1714, Natchitoches is the original French Colony and oldest settlement in Louisiana. Celebrating a vibrant blend of French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Creole cultures, this charming city is part of the Cane River National Heritage Area and Louisiana’s No Man’s Land. More about Natchitoches at https://natchitoches.com/ 
Follow Big Blend Radio's "Go to Natchitoches" show here: http://tinyurl.com/yc8csn8b 
Check out our Longleaf Vista Trail story and video here: http://tinyurl.com/4zmd969n 

Susan Lanier-Graham - RV Travel in Western National Park Country

From the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone to Devils Tower National Monument and Mount Rushmore, this episode of Big Blend Radio’s 3rd Monday “Food, Wine & Travel” Show with IFWTWA features travel writer Susan Lanier-Graham, who shares some of her RV adventures through America's Western National Park Country, along with some great advice for those just getting started in RV travel.
Susan Lanier-Graham is the publisher and founder of https://www.wanderwithwonder.com, an award-winning digital food, wine, and travel publication. She is also managing editor of North Peoria Lifestyle, and has authored more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles for a variety of print and online publications. 
Learn more about the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) here: https://www.ifwtwa.org/ 

Ruth Milstein - Making Hamantaschen for Purim

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Cooking with Ruth" Show features Ruth Milstein who talks about the history of theJewish holiday of Purim and how it is celebrated, and how to make Hamantaschen, a triangular filled-pocket pastry that refers to Haman, the villain in the Purim story. In 2024, Purim is celebrated the evening of March 23 until the evening of March 24. In Jerusalem, where Shushan Purim is celebrated, the festival takes place on the following day, from March 24 to March 25. See Ruth's recipe here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/hamantaschen-for-purim/ 
Ruth Milstein is the author of the Gourmand awarding-winning recipe book, "Cooking with Love: Ventures Into the New Israeli Cuisine." Learn more here: https://www.ruthmilstein.com/ 
Listen to Big Blend Radio's 3rd Sunday "Cooking with Ruth" podcasts here: https://shows.acast.com/cooking-with-ruth 

The Legend of St. Patrick's Day

This episode of Big Blend Radio's BIG DAILY BLEND Podcast looks at the history and traditions of St. Patrick's Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Patrick. This religious and cultural holiday is held annually on March 17th, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. Read more and enjoy the "St. Paddy's Day" online jigsaw puzzle, here: https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/st-patricks-day-traditions/

Victoria Chick - Three Amazing Women Artists in History

On this episode of Big Blend Radio, artist Victoria Chick shares talks about three noteworthy women artists in history that she has written about in Big Blend Magazines over the years. 
HEAR ABOUT:- ARTEMESIA GENTILESCHI (July 8, 1593 – c. 1656), who was an Italian Baroque painter considered among the most accomplished seventeenth-century artists, initially working in the style of Caravaggio.
- MARY EDMONIA LEWIS, aka "Wildfire" (July 4, 1844 – September 17, 1907),  who was the first African-American and Native American sculptor to achieve national and then international prominence.  - ANNA MARY ROBERTSON MOSES, aka Grandma Moses, (September 7, 1860 – December 13, 1961),  who was an American folk artist who gained popularity during the 1950s.
Victoria Chick is a contemporary figurative artist and early 19th/20th century print collector based in Silver City, New Mexico. Visit: https://victoriachick.com/ 
Victoria appears on Big Blend Radio every 3rd Saturday. Follow the podcast: https://tinyurl.com/3an38624 

Louisiana Author Ann Marie Jameson

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Toast to The Arts" show features Louisiana author Ann Marie Jameson, known for her "Willow Rose" series of books that are set in Natchitoches, the oldest settlement in Louisiana. Books in the series include "A Bed of Roses,“ "Belle Rose,” “Petite Rose,” and “Coming Up Roses.” Ann Marie’s latest book, is “Lilly’s Redemption." While it isn’t a “Willow Rose” book, it is a spin-off of the series, and it has many of the same characters in it that Ann Marie’s fans have grown to love in reading her other books. Ann Marie's books are available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ann-Marie-Jameson/author/B07QDP7CSG? 

Author Matt Cost - Pirate Trap and Mainly Wicked

Award-winning author Matt Cost returns to Big Blend Radio for a follow-up conversation since the release of his historical mystery, “Velma Gone Awry: A Brooklyn 8 Ballo Mystery" (April 2023). Hear about his novel, "Mainely Wicked: A Goff Langdon Mainely Mystery" (Aug. 2023), and new novel, "Pirate Trap: A Clay Wolfe / Port Essex Mystery" which will be out on March 27, 2024. Matt Cost writes the Mainely Mystery and the Clay Wolfe/Port Essex Mystery Series. He’s also written several books of historical fiction. He lives in Brunswick, Maine. More: https://mattcost.net 

Experience The Victorian B&B in Chama, Northern New Mexico

This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Thursday "New Mexico Bed & Breakfast Association" Show features John & Veronica Bush, owners and innkeepers of The Victorian Bed & Breakfast in Chama, which is north of Santa Fe and just south of the Colorado border. Hear about the historic inn (est. 1880), and what to experience in the greater Chama region including the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the nature and outdoor recreational opportunities, and even some local folklore and unexplained mysteries! 
Book your stay at https://www.thevictorianchama.com/ 
Stay New Mexico True and Visit: https://www.nmbba.org/