Krewe de Les Femmes Mystique takes a trip

Captain of Krewe de Les Femmes Mystique shows her colors

The Krewe de Les Femmes Court at the ball

Teresa and David Allen dance the night away

Here I am partying the night away at the Les Femmes Ball


Photos by Paul L. Schuetze/The Times

Krewe de Les Femmes Mystique was on a roll Saturday at its Grand Bal "Heat Wave" Saturday at DiamondJacks Casino & Hotel Ballroom.

And Captain Sandy Franks was at the helm having a wonderful time.

Paul and I had the ringside seat at the Captain’s Table along with Franks’ hubby Derrel.

If you haven’t been to a Mardi Gras ball, you have no idea how elaborate the tables are.

There are goodies to eat. Special throws to wear. Towering floral arrangements to admire. Goodie bags so you can tote home the beads.

For instance, Sandy wanted all the guys to be a pirate for a night, so had one hoop earring at all their places. Good sport Paul wore his as he snapped the night away, taking photos. Member Teresa Allen’s hubby also clipped one to his ear. (We have some images up that were taken at Les Femmes. See a lot of others at the Mardi Gras gallery, http://www.shreveporttimes.com/.)

The gals at the table received a hot red silk flower to slip into their hair.

By the way, Les Femmes was started in 1999 by 30 women who met in Franks’ living room — as she likes to tell the story!

More Les Femmes notes: Queen Catherine Vanderberry’s chair covers included roses that lit up, so when lights were low they emitted a soft glow that was, well, very pretty. And although you couldn’t tip toe through the roses, you could wend your way around them.

Queen Catherine, by the way, hails from Prince Edward Island Canada, the home of Anne of Green Gables. She met hubby Jim when he was stationed there with the military and they married 40 years ago.

Jim was one proud hubby as he escorted Queen Catherine to a potpourri of events. at the ball, he got down on one knee to kiss her hand as she approached her royal table for a toast.

... When she isn’t Mardi Grasing, Les Femmes Lady of Love Karen Barnes is management assistant for the City of Shreveport’s Fair Share Program. She is responsible for assisting small, minority and women-owned businesses to gain procurement opportunities with the City of Shreveport and has certified more than 250 businesses as participants with the program. And, there is no better ambassador for the city than Karen, all smiles and personality wherever she goes.

... one of the ball’s hot throws was Lady of Light Wanda Clements Oriental-inspired fans.

... Much loved Les Femmes official Stephanie Holoubek ordered orchid leis from Hawaii to hand out as souveniers and a white one for her daughter Lady of Music Kristi Begood to wear as a halo around her forehead.

Sooo...Three Mardi balls to go.

Let the good times roll!