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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Cardinal question -- you looking at me?

Who are you looking at?

This Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) tries to figure out what that funny-looking big ol' glass eye is looking at him for. My son, Aaron took this shot a couple weekends ago. He was testing out my camera while I was in playing with the grandkids. Seems to me he has a pretty good eye.
--steve buser

Cardinal,

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Standing watch with bated beak

A lady Purple Martin and her man stand guard out side their multi-unit apartment dwelling. There was a lot of traffic in and out of the place this weekend. The lady (the light colored one) has a tempting morsel in her mouth for her young one, but she is either waiting her turn or standing guard as required in the lease agreement.
--steve buser

Purple Martin, New Orleans, Louisiana
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Face up to it

Our nieces, Sarah and Rebekah, and their dad Jason, celebrated their birthdays yesterday in Mandeville. This water slide was one of the big hits. Here, our grandson, Sullivan, demonstrates what awaits the daring slider at the bottom of the water course.

We were fortunate the weather held off. Despite a few clouds rumbling that this was "their day," no shower spoiled the fun.

--steve buser

Water slide, Mandeville, Louisiana, birthday
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Lights off, sun up -- action!

The Creole Queen and Cajun Queen sit ready to offer tourist and residents a waterborne look at New Orleans and its extensive Port system along the Mississippi River. The early morning sun, in this picture I shot a couple years back, is starting to glint off of the glassy buildings. Lights will soon be going off and the street traffic will be picking up.

Good Morning, New Orleans.
--steve buser

New Orleans, tours, Louisiana, Mississippi River

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Stone and water mix

At the foot of Canal Street in New Orleans stands this edifice for the Aquairum of the Americas.  The bright tiles against the aquamarine glass really draw your attention.  The effect is to tell you "your time inside of here is not going to be your ordinary afternoon."

By the way,  in New Orleans parlance "the foot of (street name here)" always refers to where it intersects with the Mississippi River.
--steve buser

Aquarium of the Americas, Canal Street, Mississippi River, New ORleans

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Fade to gray

I shot this picture almost exactly one year ago.  It was a rainy day and looking out across the River from the foot of Canal Street, I could see these tug going around the bid in the Mississippi. The further they got away, the harder they were to see.  Over on the right, near the top, is the furtherest  -  almost invisible in the gray rain.
--steve buser

Mississippi River, New Orleans, Canal Street

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Unfettered, ready to soar

Remember when you were graduated from High School. The feelings -- release, excitement, heart-pounding joy, accomplishment, success, sadness (departing friends and teachers), anxiety, fear.

Those feeling flood out this time of year, every year. Each year it is the same and each year it is entirely different.

This is part of the scene this past weekend when the Fontainbleau High School seniors got ready to flip their tassles to the other side to demonstrate their new status. In the middle of the picture (behind the guy looking down) is our niece, Casey Noel Haydel.

It was exciting to reminesce those old feelings and share them with her. Congratulations to her and the entire class of 2009.

--steve buser

Graduation, Class of 2009, High School

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They don't want to leave!

Seems even flowers have that same problem -- they just can't get the little ones to leave their nest.  This was a magnolia flower I ran upon while out walking the dog.
--steve buser

Magnolia flower, New Orleans, Louisiana

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Pavement pounding in the park

Audubon Park is one of the urban oasis perfectly made for excercise. Located between historic St. Charles Avenue and the Misissippi River, the park offers plenty of space and scenery for the walker, jogger, biker etc. The scenery includes these Spanish moss draped oaks scatter about, the antique "street lights", bayou that is favored by huge herons and egrets and more.

--steve buser

Audubon Park, New Orleans, St. Charles Avenue, Mississippi River

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Art Appreciation.

This was at a concert a couple weeks ago in Baton Rouge. The band was playing just behind this splashing pool. Quite a few of the kids took advantage of the cool water for a respite from the heat. Come to think of it, so did several of the adults. These kids were using the scuplture just in front of the band to get from one level of the pool to the next.
I'm guessing this a true art appreciation.

--steve buser

Baton Rouge, Festival, FestForAll

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Laissez le lounger dormez

The first rule in photographs "Follow the foot." Right?

Notice what his foot is resting on? That's right, a pickup truck bed. You learn fast.

Now for the rest of the story:

I was sitting here thinking wow! (Geezsham that sounds so 60's) I havenot posted nor have my eyes seen a picture of Mardi Gras on the internet in a good while (its call Mardi Gras Withdrawl Disease -- MGWD). So I went to my stack of pictures I didn't use from this year, and found this one. I would have loved to use it back then, but we moved on to other topics, as you recall.

Today? Today is kind of a nostalgia day. This guy has put a couch up on the back of a pickup truck to see better. But sometime during the parade lack of sleep got to him. I didn't go back to see if he woke up before or after the parade ended. On the other hand, you got to give a star for trying hard. Thank you for letting me nostalge.

--steve buser

Mardi Gras, Nostalgia

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Ready for Shrike strike

Looking for prey, this Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius Iudovicianus) sits atop a tree where I was waiting for my wife a couple weeks ago. According to the Birds of America book, the 9 inch birds love to impail their prey.
--steve buser

Bee bums

You know what I am going to say before I even say it. Don't you? Sure, you do.

Seems like if you invite bees and butterflies into your flower, they would take a little pride and keep the place clean. I mean after all, just cleaning the pollen they spilled on this Easter Lilly would go a long way toward keeping the flower respectable looking.

You know, I am glad we got that off our chest. Thank you.

--steve buser

pollen, bees, butterflies, lillies
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Poydras -- the power line up.

Good morning New Orleans!

The sun is trying to find a way to lighten up Poydras Street and steamily burn off the residue of an early morning sprinkle.

Poydras is not just a quick throroughfare into and out of the city, but links together many of the city's key business sector.

From where you are sitting here in your car, Harrah's Casino is to your right and behind and around you are some of the cities largest hotels, the Hilton, Loews, Harrahs, Doubletree. The Convention Center is off to the left. This is the tourism center. Canal Street is just a block to the right, and the French Quarter starts just the other side of Canal.

To the left, as you move away from the Convention Center, you pass into the Warehouse District with many of the newest Condo developments in the City. Mixed in there is the Arts District -- unique boutiques and art galleries abound.

Behind you, also, is the busy maritime traffic of the Mississippi River. Also, back there at the "foot of Poydras" is World Trade Center.

As you proceed up Poydras there will be more hotels, but to your right you will catch glimpses of the city's financial center. The Oil and Gas row of tall buildings will slowly blend in.

City Hall will be in that mix too.

Near the end of Poydras will be the Louisiana Superdome, home to the New Orleans Saints.

Then its a quick hop up onto the I-10.

But it is morning. Your supposed to be up by the Superdome coming into downtown.

Did you get up early?

--steve buser

Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, Casino, Hotel, Superdome
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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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Wax nostalgic. Go ahead, you deserve it.

This one is for you. No, over there.... YOU! THe nostalgic one. I know it is a big -- probably too big for a computer monitor. But, it is perfect for printing out and hanging on your wall. Enjoy. If you don't know how to do it, just right click on the picture and choose "Save the image as." From that point it's up to you to get it into a graphics program, drop it in Word or PowerPoint... what have you. Whatever it takes to get a good reminder of New Orleans. Decatur Street at St. Philip -- right in heart of the French Quarter fun.
--steve buser

Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, French Quarter
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Time to get a bigger nest

I was wondering why this Great Egret kept picking at her side. It wasn't till I got back home and looked at the picture that I figured it out. She had a stick in her side. I guess I should do some schtick about that, but I have lived before n crowded quarters like that -- with all the children under feet (literally).
--steve buser

Great Egret, Audubon Park, NEw Orleans, Louisiana, birdsPowered by ScribeFire.

Tail-pinching good

It is that time of year, right? So, if you've never eaten crawfish, you're wondering "what has got into him.?" If you have eaten crawfish, you're jealous.

This was the weekend treat at my brother, Gary's house.

--steve buser

crawfish, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

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Whole lotta shakin' (and splashing) going on

You have to study this picture to take it all in. This is at the Baton Rouge FestForAll this weekend.
Famed Henry Gray and the Cats are playing a swinging blues song up on the stage in the back. In the pool in front of the stage, kids (of all ages, but mostly less than 10 years old) are splashing away -- some of them for hours. In the foreground, the hard driving beat has the young-at-heart of all ages, showing off their swing steps. Over on the right, some spectators were snapping to the beat.

That's the Old State Capitol of Louisiana in the background.

--steve buser

FestForAll, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Henry Gray and the Cats, Old State Capitol
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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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The great getaway

I was shooting away at my friend here when something spooked him, and he decided to relocate.

It's a shame, we had a lot in common. He can fly and I can dream about it. He is a Great Egret (Ardea Alba)with a wing span of about 5 to 6 feet -- just a wonder to watch glide across the water.
--steve buser

Great Egret, Ardea Alba, feathers, birds

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