Professional beggar

Tell me the truth. No matter how hard it hurts. Could you look this squirrel in the eye and deny him one of the pecans you have in your salad? Really?

He came wandering up to a nearby table for lunch the other day. They gave in to the temptation. He probably has a plush, Beverly-Hills style condo squirrel's nest somewhere close by. He just pretends to be down on his nutty luck. Don' you thing?
--steve buser

Squirrel, Mandeville, Louisiana

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Squirelly lunch companion

This squirrelly fellow was begging on the patio of the restaurant where we went to eat today in Mandeville.   He was very polite.  He didn't take his offering and run off the eat them.  Here he is eating a pecan.
--steve buser

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Whether to weather again?

The last time I saw this oak tree on the lakefront in Mandeville, La., it appeared to have given up its ghost. And why not, it fought Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike in recent years. Who knows how many hurricanes and tropical storms it weathered over the years. Nonetheless, I wouldn't count it out yet. Who knows?
--steve buser

Mandeville, Louisiana, Lakefront, Oak trees, hurricanes

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Time, Time, Time, is not on my side

Stepping into the sunset, these three Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) figure there's a chance that more and better food exists at the end of the long breaker pier at the Mandeville harbor. Perhaps they're right, but time is not on their side.
-steve buser

Ring BIlled Gulls, Laurs delawarensis, Mandevillle, Louisiana, Sunset

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Early bloomer

This flower was sitting beside the St. Tammany Trace in Mandeville. THey only open in the morning. and then close up like the one in the back in the heat of the day.
--steve buser

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Cardinal rule of fine dining

If you were a beautiful Cardinal would you feast on worms and insects?   I think not.   You'd probably do like this fellow and has tasty, succulent morsels of sun-baked baby elm buds.  The birds are apparently into fine-dining at the Mandeville Nature Center  (across the lake from New Orleans).

--steve buser

Cardinals, Cardinalis cardinalis, eating, Mandeville, birds, nature center, Louisiana

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Its looming, I'm zooming... home

I caught this image some time ago in the New Orleans suburb of Slidell. When you see something like this closing in on you, it's time to put off the grocery shopping and head home.

--steve buser

The last bite of sundown

The sun is tired. The last ray, hopefully the last bite. The lakefront in Mandeville, just across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. Maybe it wasn't a good day, but maybe it will end well. Maybe.

-- steve buser

The sting of luck

Even on the best days things sometimes just don't go right. The sun is shining, the breeze is gentle and cool out over Lake Pontchartrain. The water is clear and inviting. Suddenly you've got a tug on your line and you smile with expectation. You're expecting a huge redfish, a succulent trout.... Yeah it's going to be a good fish fry tonight... and then.....

Lights out

Just a quick shot of the sundown over Lake Pontchartrain, shot from a car on the Causeway heading into New Orleans.

--steve buser

Crabs anyone?

Boiled crabs anyone? This is a true New Orleans meal. The crabs are boiled in a large pot with tons of seasoning -- enough to make you lips burn when you have been eating them for a while. It's a lot of work to peel the crabs and get all the crabmeat out, but it is well worth it. The typical New Orleans tradition is to spread newspaper over a table outside and everyone gathers around and digs in. The spices make you body kick in all the endorphins so that you feel pretty good afterwards.

This was part of the treat last night at my in-laws' (Dan and Winnie Haydell) house in Mandeville -- a Easter family get together. (The other half was crawfish.) Good food, good family fun.

--steve buser

Audience participation

Another peek back at the Mandeville Dog Parade held recently. Just wanted to show that this was a crowd participation event. Who could resist petting a pretty pouch passing by.

--steve buser

Twin pup ups

Another shot from the Mandeville Dog Parade out on the lakefront this past weekend. The question I have is, "are these guys having fun? Or, are they just putting up with this? -- 'oh, no, not another parade with costumes.' " The weather was surprisingly warm with temperatures in the high 70's. That made for a great day for parading your favorite favorite Fido through the crowd.

--steve buser

Krewe of canines

We were at the Mandeville Dog Parade on the lakefront yesterday. Not your typical parade. First off, the parade route was only a few feet wide -- with all the kids squeezing in to pet each dog as it went by, it was more of a snaky route than a straight one.

Second, there were more creative costumes than in any of the human marching parades. But clearly, costumed or not, the dogs were the main feature. They came in all sizes and shapes --Greyhounds to Pekinese and everything in between. The parade drew more than a couple thousand spectators -- much larger than I would have thought. We had to park and walk several blocks to get to the event.

This guy in the picture was my favorite -- he just look so happy to have his 2,000 closest friends around.

--steve buser

Kite runner

The kite. Our thoughts and dreams soar with it. And when it won't soar it seems like our life is in the doldrums. I caught this family trying to get this kite flying in a light wind out on the lake front. Eventually they had to use leg power to keep it in flight -- running around creating their own wind.

--steve buser

Okay, let's take a break from Mardi Gras for a day. Hey, it wasn't my idea, it was the weatherman's -- he let a front come through here and cancel all the parades for tonight. Tomorrow at this point is kind of iffy, too.

Let's sit back, take a deep breath and put ourselves in a good place. Imagine yourself on a sunny day, sitting on the akefront wall in Mandeville, under the shade of a century-old oak. Favorite fishing pole in hand. The fish are biting. The cotton is high.

Sing with me. "Summertime....." --- you're doing good, keep singing.

See, weather can't bother us.

Tomorrow.... back to Mardi Gras. .... but for now, keep singing.
--steve buser

Lagniappe -- (a little something extra)

A hill,
a kid,
a cool morning,
bright sunshine.

All the elements are in place.... for the beginning of one of the country's greatest orators....

today on Pixel Eyed.

"Firm Deadline"--Theme Day

On the first of each month, 117 City Daily Photo sites do a new "theme day." Today's theme for January 1, 2008 is "Best Photo of the Year." I had to dig through my old photos to find the one I rated highest. This picture is what I chose.

The photo was from May 7th, just a couple weeks after I started this blog. Here's the link to the orginal post The scene is a sundown shot from the lakefront in Mandeville. I don't think it needs any explaining.

Other Theme Day participants are:

Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Philadelphia (PA), USAEvry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wrocław, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India - Terrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USA - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USANew York City (NY), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Torino, Italy - Susanville (CA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Memphis (Tennessee), USA


Lagniappe (a little something extra)

The legs tell the story. What is the story you ask? Well, you have to check it out today on Pixel Eyed.

Bayou Boogie

The sun is setting. Not much time left. One last fishing spot to check out before boogeying back home. Bayou Lacombe sparkles in the dimming light of dusk. Maybe it will be hypnotic for the fish that have been eluding you all day.

--steve buser

Lagniappe ( a little extra)

They live separate existence. Neither aware that their fates are intertwined.

Today on Pixel Eyed

The colors of night

Painting the sky
The slowly sliding hues of a sunset over Lacombe Harbor. The blues cede way to the yellows then orange and roses. But the high canopy dome above wants to show off it's deep blues and lavenders until the last second. Meanwhile, the crickets, frogs and cicada mark the passing sun with a complex syncopated clicking suite.

-- steve buser

Lagniappe (a little something extra)


Today on Pixel Eyed it's recycled sunshine.

Skipping and skimming

Unspoiled
Skimming the waves -- and the last rays of the sun on Bayou Lacombe. This unspoiled bayou is just north of New Orleans in St. Tammany Parish. We were out on a slow cruise up the bayou, when we caught site of this fisherman.

--steve buser


Lagniappe
Don't tell. Nobody will know. The darkness will provide cover. After all, isn't it every boy's nature to know how things work.

But in the darkness, Paw Paw is running his own covert, sting operation.

Today on Pixel Eyed