Summing it all up

These are posted backwards :(

We finished the weekend off on a grand scale! One of my longterm dreams has been dinner at Commander's Palace! It was all I thought it would be. Don's fish was swimming, unbelievable!!!!!

We started the last day off with beignets at Cafe' Du Monde. I'm glad I wasn't in any of these pictures, I had sugar, AND powdered sugar ALL over me. Silly me didn't think about sitting downwind.

I especially liked the art work behind Jack. I think he had the best view of everything. We were at a corner table, and he was facing Jackson Square.

The last two pictures were taken at the Old Absinthe House. We had just spent an hour wandering around the French Quarter, lost as only touristas can be. Check out our friend in the background. The blonde. She told Lenice she had just been "decked" by a drag queen while minding her own business walking down the street! Oh yeah-have I mentioned that I LOVE NEW ORLEANS?

We're laughing because we didn't have to sit next to the blonde!!!!!!!!!!

Houmas House

Front entrance of The Houmas House, facing the river.
One of many water gardens at Houmas House. There are sculptures of two giant herons in the background by the rock wall. I just love herons!

One of several waterfalls.

This pot was originally used to make molasses from the sugar cane grown here. Clever up-dated use for it, don't you think?

The back water garden.

Back of the house with part of the terrace, and water garden in the foreground.

Don, admiring the art. This is for "the boys"!

Here's another one for the boys. He really was trying to be a sport.

Lenice said she thinks that Houmas House must be what heaven is going to be for me. A place with lots and lots of blooming plants that I know the names of, and lots of water falls, fountains, sculpture, and butterflies. I hope she's right. It was so peaceful!

More Pictures! (For Joe!!!)

This is my favorite picture of Jack. He's standing on the levy just across from Oak Alley. The back gardens of Oak Alley Plantation.

The front entrance of Oak Alley, it's obvious where it got it's name!

Don enjoying the view from the front veranda.

Annaleisa and Lenice. It is hot, but we didn't know when this picture was taken that mint juleps were waiting for us downstairs!

Guess Where I've Been!

There are really tall horses, and nice policemen (at least the ones we met were nice to us. lol)

Unbelievable food

Great Company

Don and I just got back from New Orleans. I'm going to post a few pictures every day so I won't totally bore you all. We started out Wednesday night, and got back early this morning. There's never enough time there!!!! I LOVE NOLA. We met Jack and Lenice, and had a blast.

"Great Company", was shot right after we met up. We were at a brewery on Poydras St. Lenice and I had a Mojito, it was HOT down there! A whole 3 days and 2 nights to look forward to.

We had dinner at Landry's, because it was an easy walk. Don's back is still bothering him a bit, so we tried to be gentle on him.

On the way back to the hotel, we spotted the tallest horses I've ever seen. They were as tall as Clydesdales! Well, maybe not that tall, but remember I'm always the shortest person in the group, and they looked pretty big to me! More to follow.......

What I Want To Be

Bryan is still keeping us all on our toes!!!!!!
Sarah is happy, and doing well!

Joe is meeting his goals!

Last week when I did career day, a couple of the kids asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I've been thinking about that off and on since. I've pretty much met all of my early goals so far.

1. I've been blessed with a great family.
2. My children are successful, reaching their goals and getting close to their dreams.
3. I'm not often bored, but often have interesting day to day challenges.
4. I've had a wonderful, and creative career.
5. I've had the opportunity to meet wonderful and inspiring people along the way.
6. I'm happy.

I'm not much on bucket lists. It seems to me that a list like that would force me into a sense of urgency. I don't feel urgent. I'm not going anywhere right away. I have been thinking about what I want to do when I grow up though. Here's the rough draft:

1. I want to play the piano like Jerry Lee Lewis. I don't want to be like him, I just want to play like him, with wild abandon. I want to pound out the notes with gusto!
2. I want to sing like Janis Joplin. At the top of my lungs, and from the heart. Not church choir kind of singing, but loud, from the gut singing.
3. I want to start drawing and painting again. I haven't done a sketch in years. I feel the need to paint green, red, purple, and blue dogs!
4. This is the funniest one - I want to run a marathon. I know, I've lost it.
5. I want to see Italy, and the Greek Isles.
6. I want to master Italian cooking.
7. I want a Yorkshire Terrier. She should be named Sally Field. That's the cutest and spunkiest lady I can think of right now.
8. I still want to learn to drive an airboat. Look out Gator-Fest!!!!!!!!
   
9. I am a realist, I know some of this list won't happen, but it's fun to dream.