Jazzfesting

And the day begins.



This year we started off with an overpriced, yet quite stiff, six dollar and fifty cents bloody mary at the Seahorse Saloon across from the Fairgrounds. We pulled into rockstar parking then saddled up to the bar until the crowd on Gentilly pushed their way through the gate.

He got us going and into the fest and straight to breakfast.

He parked me at a table and headed off to the booths to find our first treat of the day.



Softshell crab was YUM-ME...and the crawfish enchiladas are a perfect blend of cheesey goodness and crawfish tails.

After we quickly scarfed this down, he soon returned...



...with round two!



Our daily cochon de lait poboy and a serving of fried eggplant with crawfish sauce. We washed it down with frozen cafe au lait, and mapped out the rest of the day.

While looking at the day's schedule I got to listen to (ok, I was eavesdropping) the goup of 60-something women next to us. They were from down the bayou for sure...there was no hiding that south LA accent. The one in the group with her clipped, flipped sunglasses told the story of how her daddy named her after a brand new boat he spotted on the way to the hospital for her birth. Only in Louisiana!

Smiling over this little lady, we left our shady table and headed to the Gentilly Stage where we'd spend most of the day.



We had just begun a grade A people watching session, when Sean arrived!

We haven't seen Sean for nealry 18 months. Can't think of a better place to spend time with old friends. Sean got off to a strong start..suncreened back and a cold beer in his koozie.



But lack of sleep caught up to him...



And not even Bonnie Rait could keep him going.



We had a perfect weekend. I wish I had taken more pictures and had taken time to post some more of our sights and experiences, but I'm worn out! Maybe next weekend I'll do better.

Happy Jazzfest Y'all

We're loving the weather this year! Perfect sunny days.



Our three course breakfast: roast beef, cochon de lait (his all time favorite which will be repeated several times this weekend and next), and stuffed shrimp.



Yummy! He's been careful to not drip on his shirt!



More updates to come. I am not so good at taking pictures here...so much to look at!

He loves to be outside

Childhood Flowers

My garden has been filling with flowers from my childhood, which hasn't really been a conscious effort. For the most part the memory or association doesn't dawn on me until I am watering the newly planted flowers, but I rather like it. I am now thinking back on past gardens and working to include those plants.



Four o'clocks were rather bushy, and I think they were yellow, at 108. I remeber being impressed at their opening each afternoon, and even at 32 (and a half) I am still checking them in the morning and the afternoon to see the buds open.



For some reason I remember them growing along with the lantana (We called it ham and eggs, of course). I don't know how accurate that memory is, as far as the plant locations, but I do remember pulling the tiny flowers off and tossing them over Christian's head like confetti. My small ham and eggs has been stripped of it's leaves by Batture who needed to munch on it's greenery for his upset stomach. I haven't replaced it yet, because I haven't seen the perfect bush with ham *and* eggs. Most of what I see just has yellow flowers.

I also remember having a bottle brush and a Japanese magnolia in the yard. These are two that I'd love to find a place for on Bordeaux, but I am not sure where.

A wild honeysuckle vine used to grow behind the garage at 108. I can remember climbing atop the grass clippings that were piled there to pick the flowers with Christian. No honeysuckle in our yard, but I'd like to add the vine somewhere.

And zinnias.



Memories of these come more from pictures I think. Danny has many photos of us clipping zinnias from her front flowerbed. Looking at my little patch of zinnias, she must have planted lots and lots of seeds to get such a display.



Gernaiums, red geraniums, will always make me think of Mom. She likes that green smell of the leaves. Breaking a leaf will always make me think of her.

I know there are other plant associations that will be developing in the garden over the next few years. Looking at my garden today on Bordeaux, I know angel trumpets, flowering maples, and walking irises will be the plant asssociations that will follow us. Oh, and probably the shrimp plant and the althea as well.

Caladiums

Last year's caladiums have been working their way up.



Last year they didn't last very long because of the lack of rain. They wilted and looked rather tired. This year I have gotten off to a good start with watering. I think I need a sprinkler to use in the front to make it even easier.



Last year I planted nearly 100 caladium bulbs. This year I figured many would return so I planted half as many.



Most are in the front but a few are scattered along the side. I can't wait for them to all pop up.

And if *he* had a ride...

...it might look like this...



Smile.

We were passed by this El Camino on Claiborne. Certainly it can be contributed to the current Mexican influence. Yes, the yellow scaffolding is attached to the hood!!! This is quite the work vehicle. I'd hire these guys just because of their ride.

Summer Rituals

Today we kicked off one of our summer rituals, mowing followed by snowballs. If we do sell Harding, we must incorporate snowballs into a new summer routine.

Today I considered a chocolate snowball, but thought my first of the season should be of the cherry variety, my standard choice. Black cherry it was. Charlie is more adventurous and usually hits most of the flavors at least once each summer. It's great because I get to have my usual "red" and I get to taste his. Tonight was honeydew, which he gave a thumbs down as it wasn't quite sugary enough.

The Garden this Morning

Just a few things that made me smile when looking around the yard this morning...

Sold!

...well, not quite, but we have accepted their offer and will sign a purchase agreement this week. Let's hope inspections go well and they are able to secure insurance at a reasonable cost.

I really like the potential buyers, so I am especially glad we were able to agree on a price. I really want them to have the house. I like them because they *love* the house. They do not show any signs of wanting to do any major changes to the house. There is an appreciation for the plaster walls, arched windows, and charming cabinets. They'll take care of the house and do improvements the right way (i.e. they way I'd do them) in my little house.

Keep your fingers crossed and we'll keep you posted. We are aiming for a closing in late May.

Ginger This Morning

The stalks are heavy with blooms, and they're beginning to bend rather low to the ground. They should be trimmed to get them out of the way, but there's just something about trimming back a plant as it's about to bloom. I just can't do it.

Equal Time

Can't put up a picture of one without doing the same for the other.

The New Do

This morning...



This afternoon...




Yes, he looks pretty silly, but he's got to feel so much better. We haven't hit 90 degrees yet and he's already been panting up a storm each afternoon. It also cuts down on my sweeping hair tumbleweeds.

It's a close cut. He'll need suncreen if he's out for too long! The groomer felt badly about his face being so short, but a quick jerk on Batture's part meant it all had to go.

In about 6 weeks, he'll be back to his old look. We'll need several $60 visits to the groomer to make it through the summer.

My Science Guy

Today was research day, and a poster presentation had to be done. I went down this morning to get a peek of the presentation in action, but unfortunately was a bit too early for any action.

His poster looks great, and I think he's learned a great deal from working on this one, particularly, start early because it'll take longer than you think.

Oh. And, no, that's NOT a pocket protector. I knew you were wondering. I do wish he had his jump drive around his neck for this picture. It would complete his "science guy" look. I'm smiling now just thinking about it.

No Room at the Inn

Chateau Bordeaux is open for business. As a matter of fact we only have one vacancy mid May.

Between festivals and weddings, we are going to have a full house every weekend, except one, from now until we go out of town the first of June. I hope we remain pleasant hosts, but if not you can let us know on the comment card we leave in your room.

In all seriousness, we are *truly* looking forward to seeing friends and family over the next six weeks. Time between our visits has been too long.

Cleome This Morning

I love this plant, despite the leaves resembling marijuana, as people like to point out. It'll always be full of flowers, but it does get a bit leggy looking by the end of summer. Last year I was able to get a few from the downtown market, but this year I found just one at Home Depot.

Many gardners give them a poor review because they grow wild, reseed, and are difficult to control. That sounds perfect for my garden desires -- an overgrown, constantly flowering, cottage style garden. I haven't found any evidence that the plants from last year reseeded and I didn't have any luck starting them from seeds either.

I'll be on the lookout for a few more to tuck into the flower beds, somewhere (things are starting to fill in).

They're Watching Me

Usually they bound out of the door and down the steps in search of one of the kitties that have been lounging in the yard. But today they seemed a bit calmer, and really just wanted me to come inside and give them their "chewy."

His Flower Favorites

His very favorite rose...



It makes me smile when I see him tending to it.

And the *beloved* shrimp plant...



I think this one's called "fruit cocktail."

Daylily this morning

This is the first daylily bloom of the season. Unfortunately this is the only bush with any flower stalks. I moved them this year, and think that may have disrupted their blooming.

If I had a "ride" ...

...it might look like this...



I love some ice cream, as does most of the city, especially when it's hot out.

I would have never thought displaying it on your ride, a status symbol for many, would be *so cool*. Maybe only in Central City...

Maybe I'm not cool enough to know some secret emedded code here. That's probably the case.

Invasion

Thankfully we don't have the buck moth invasion in this part of town. I am content to squash them at the park. But I do have a problem with little white fuzzy guys munching the angel trumpet and wisteria. Evidently they like the four o'clocks and passion vine that I've added to the garden this year.

I actually felt a little guilty for squishing these guys that apparently just made it out into the world. One wasn't completely out yet. Quite neat to look at, but nevertheless, they need to be smashed.

Suppose I'll start spraying tomorrow.

He hung 'em up

Charlie pulled out the cord (and fishing line) to hang my flower photos. As usual, my idea always seems better than the actual execution. They don't fill the spot just as I had planned, but overall I am pleased. I like that I took them. And that they are in my garden.

Thursday's Life Lesson

Never let a woman who's in tears because she just broke up with her boyfriend bleach and cut your hair.

New Hues

I love yellow. I love orange. I always gravitate towards those warm colors especially when selecting flowers.



But I noticed today that my garden is beginning to be overwhelming filled with blues and purples and other cooler colors. I haven’t noticed this change in the color palette anywhere other than the garden yet.



Interesting. I wonder if this is reflective of a change in my personality.



After post edit because my husband doesn't leave comments: He think's the change is reflective of my merging his preferences into the garden. Hmmm, who woulda thought?

Butterfly Flowers this Morning

I am not sure of the name of this, but I think it has a "butterfly" in there somewhere.

Last spring when we'd drive to Tulane to get bagels at Einstein's we'd always drive around the surrounding neighborhood admiring gardens. There is one yard that had an overgrown cottage style garden that I loved. We'd even park across the street and look for a while to try to figure out all of the different flowers. People probably thought we were stalkers. Well, they had these flowers, but white, growing in large masses. I may have to go back to Lowe's and get a few more.