One of my favorite homes. Now it is, I mean. I pass this home on the way to work each morning and never noticed, that is, until we were out walking one night. Cars just move to fast to get all the rich detail. I love all the trim work, the gingerbread, and the presentation. Looks though as though they quit decorating when they ran out of places to put ornamentation.
I guess you could look at this photo a couple of ways. 1. The cat is content to sit at the window and satisfy her curiosity in the safety and splendor of her abode. Curiosity will not kill this cat.
I was surprised at how unafraid this squirrel was when I walked outside and saw him eating acorns that had fallen from the oak tree. He stood up and took notice of me but then went back to his banquet. I went inside and grabbed my camera. That didn't even csare him off, so I went closer and sat on a bench. He was almost delirious in his nutty feast, bouncing around the yard like a rabbit.
This was taken down by the Algiers ferry that crosses the Mississippi River from the Central Business District at the foot of Canal Street. There was a prety stiff wind coming down the river, so this seagull was gliding in for a spot. When he go close, the to gulls on the right raised their heads a started squawking at him. He hung there for about 20 seconds before deciding he was going to take that flack. He just lift his wings enough to catch a little more air and zoom off to the rear.
A late night walk, a day or so ago, and I came across these cold ladies in the yard of an auction house. Antiques are a big part of the New Orleans economy. In fact, Magazine Street, which mostly escaped the wrath of Katrina, has turned into a bustling thorough fare with dozens of antique shows and dozens more art galleries. I drove it just yesterday, I saw about 7 empty store fronts along the whole street -- 4 of those had just been renovated or were being renovated. One of the others was a recent fire. I'll have to explore that on this blog one of these days.
Another shot from waiting on the sunset the other day. Looks like I shot it with a flash, but this is just ambient light. The sun was going low but shooting its last rays deep through the leaves. The green leaves we call monkey grass, don't know what the other are called.
Sunset at the lagoon in Audubon Park.
The spring flowers around here have just about sprung their time out. Time for the summer flowers to take hold. Even as I say this, a get a strong wift of honeysuckle. The aroma fills your naval cavities with its distinctive sweetness. The weather has been in the mid-80's -- about as springish as you are going to get here.
Seems like since the hurricane you run into workmen doing those "little" maintenance task you never noticed before. Here, a workman re-caulks the windows on a highrise building to keep it weather tight. The slant of the window allows the other large buildings in the area to "look on."
Publish Post
New Orleans is a great port to take a cruise from. Kill two stones with one bird. Spend a night or two in the "City that Care Forgot" -- puts you in the mood for fun to come.
A Great Egret shows off his flying skills but gets upstaged by a high flying jet passing overhead. The scene is the rookery at Audubon Park. It's one of my favorite places -- serene and contemplative.
Okay, you're walking through Audubon Park and you see a young boy sitting next to one of the spraying fish. He's running his fingers through the stream. Good shot. Take it an move on.
I thought I should give a least a passing notice to spring having made its way into our lives. Even though the calendar says we have a month of spring left, in New Orleans summer crowds upon us in late May -- pools are open, summer sports begin, a/c's moan to a start and the humidity leaves a vapory blur on the horizon." A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. " ~James Dent from quotegarden.com.
This is the saxophone player in Irma Thomas' band at the concert this weekend. His hat has definitely sprung a sun leak. Kind of let's you know how hot it was. Most of the crowd was under the trees, but Irma and The Professionals definitely got toasted.
The circuit at Audubon Park is a favorite for exercizers doing their constitutional. The spreading Live Oak trees mute the sun and give it that New Orleans feel. The track is actually split in two for walkers on one side and bikers on the other. My wife and I love to bike around it. On the opposite side of the track from here is the rookery -- kind of a little treat for having been a good boy and done your daily excercise
"It's time to get out you handkerchief or a napkin, or a shirt, or anything white." Grammy winning soul singer Irma Thomas tells the crowd. "If you're not from here we're going to teach you a New Orleans tradition -- time to second line."
Schedules were tight for Mother' Day this week so we decided to take my mother-in-law out last night (Saturday). It was a wonderful evening at Copeland's, even though it was a long wait because they were obviously overwhelmed. (Where we were --Google Earth)
Caught this shot the other day on the Lakefront in Mandeville. This guy is running along the breakwater (I doubled him up -- sometimes reality just misses a few things). Seems to be chasing the sailboat in the background. Way back in the background is the Causeway across the lake (23+ miles long.) If you look about 1/4 of the way from the left side of the picture, you can see a car crossing the bridge.
Harrah's Casino in downtown New Orleans is bright and full of activity. But a lone SUV in the office building parking lot across the street suggests someone is missing the party.
Last night it was YLC 's Wednesday at the Square presented by Hancock Bank. Great music, crowds, great food and libations. It was the Radiators last night (top left) but the series has 24 bands over 12 Wednesdays ending on June 20. Thought I would give a better feel for the fun with a montage.
Catching the last rays of the sun on the lagoon at Audubon Park, these two ducks sit serenely in the pollen covered water casting off shadows.
We were across the lake in Mandeville yesterday visiting relatives. I got the task of driving the truck back from the restaurant while my wife and her sister road the bikes along the lakefront. So when I saw this pair fishing in the sunset I pulled over and took the opportunity for a shot for the blog.
I missed the New Orleans Jazz Festival because we were out of town and other commitments. But just to take note of the event, probably the most notable on the music calender here, I post this picture from the French Quarter Festival of Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots.
At sunset, I caught these little saucer shaped clouds. I suppose some meteorologist can explain them -- may just be the way the rays of sunset only catch the bottom of the clouds, but the seemed very refreshing after a day of severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings.
At dusk, a moon and wall draw closer together in downtown New Orleans. I caught this picture walking back to my car from one of the Wednesday night concerts in the square.
They are widening the Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi -- notorious for its tight travel lanes. But to hold the extra lanes and all that extra weight, they have to add more mass to the columns that hold up the bridge. The crews have started that work by building what looks like a cage around the supports. These will eventually be the steel support inside of the tons of new concrete.
The sunset seems to use the windows of the Hale Boggs Federal Building in New Orleans as keys to play a sunset melody... The building sits across from Lafayette Square, home to Wednesday's at the Square, featuring local musical artist each week.