Happy Anniversary, July 27 ........... 13 years

Tomorrow will be the beginning of another great year to share together.

I remember the day we got married and the hectic pace. I had worked that morning at the Sheriff's Department booth with the 4-H Fair. After getting off at noon it was home to shower and make a quick switch into my dress for the wedding.

Mike had a similiar morning trying to make all the final touches to the children's wardrobe, lawn, decks and pool area. We were married on the deck with our beautiful yard as the backdrop.

I really don't think we have slowed down since.

Each year on our anniversary we take a vacation. Sometimes it is to the Smoky Mountains, our favorite place to camp, maybe it is just a weekend get away to St. Louis. It is always alot of fun and try to include visiting areas or sites we have not previously seen.

This year we have decided to go to New Orleans, LA. It is time to go back and check out the post Katrina damage and improvements. Continued tourism (or maybe curiosity at this point) will help keep these small shops in business. So we are off to New Orleans for some celebration and fun.

The Big Easy

Well this afternoon we arrived in New Orleans and checked in to our VERY nice, and I might add complimentary room. Our room overlooks the bend in the Mississippi River and it actually very scenic. Lots of HUGE cargo barges going up and down the river all day. On arrival the bellman said we had just missed a Carnival Cruise Liners' earlier departure. Maybe we will have another before weeks end.

These Shoes Are Meant For Walking Or Are They??

Our day started out crossing canal street to go to the RiverWalk Mall. Nice shopping and even happened to find a Cafe Du Monde shop inside. That was a great way to start our day, nothing like a fresh Beignet and cup of "Joe" to get you going.

After "breakfast" and walking in and out of shops I was persuaded to have a back rub "you must try it", " free for 5 minutes", NOT, who can only have a back rub for 5 minutes?? I gave him the go ahead for another 10, looking up to let Mike know what I was gonna do and he is in the chair next to me. A first massage for him!!!! yeh He loved it. Sorry no picture of that but I should of he will no doubt deny it later, ha.

Off to the French Quarter

Going to the French Quarter is an experience in itself. Mike had never been and was looking forward to seeing all the sights he had heard me and others talk about. We went in and out of shops for hours it seemed. Actually the Quarter hadn't changed to much, maybe a little older looking and the some streets were finally getting some much needed repairs, but other than that it was about the same as always. We found ourself getting tired and hot and thought maybe some lunch could help. Let's see?? Po Boy Sandwich, Crawfish, Jambayala, a bowl of Gumbo?












Nope I think nothing will do but a trip to Pat O'Brien's, black beans with rice and a hurricane for the feet. No, not to soak my feet in, ha, but the effects of a hurricane is good for the feet, trust me. The perfect pit stop.

Beautiful Balconies in the Quarter

Looks like a labor of love to me, keeping up with the painting on the iron work and gardening would be very time consuming. The end result is beautiful and our riverfront buildings in Evansville would be a sight to see if we could duplicate this.

Jackson Square and the French Market

Walking around Jackson Square and the French Market are one of the must sees in New Orleans. The market is full of fresh fruits and vegetables, and also a variety of flee market type booths with authentic Louisiana made items. Some of the sights we captured with the camera and some we missed. The Square is never boring that is for sure with entertainment (professional or otherwise) and you can bet you will always find a cup to deposit some coins for a song. I would certainly hate to think I would have to make a living with my musical talents.

One of things that I think I miss most is the spanish moss on the live oaks. It just had a way of making the trees look so much older, if that is possible, and it gave them character. I am wondering how long it will be before if returns, and imagine it will take years.

JAX Brewery

Well on another trip to the Cafe Du Monde we noticed a brewery with a name spelled like our newest family addition "Jax Autry". He was born not long before our trip to New Orleans and we had thought then what a unique spelling for his name.

Yummy, time now for breakfast, 2 days in a row!! And hopefully

again tomorrow before we pull out of town. After all it isn't to far

off the path.

Garden District

Notice the beads still in the trees from the
Mardi Gras parade. Most all the trees done
St. Charles Blvd. are draped with missed
tosses from the floats.

We were told that this is the home of Archie

Manning. Father of Peyton and Eli Manning.

I noticed this is one of the rare homes that

have a front yard, but of course plenty of

flowers and beautiful shrubbery and trees.

Mardi Gras World

After looking at all the floats and the size of them
it is hard to believe they can make it through the
streets of the French Quarter. Especially with all
the people. The parade route includes St. Charles
Blvd. which is plenty roomy. What a great time
you would have being here during Mardi Gras.

Corn Row Fence

The original cornstalk fence is located in the

Garden District of New Orleans. A beautiful

area with old historic homes. It is called the

garden district because few of these fine homes

actually has a front/back yard as we in the

midwest know it. They are landscaped

throughout with beautiful flower beds and

shrubbery.

In the French Quarter there is a hotel located

near Jackson Square that also has a cornstalk

fence. I have been told it is a "replica" of the

original but is no less beautiful.

Wrapping It Up...Packing It Up

Time to leave the city. What a great time we have
had. We even got in a little slot machine play at the
hotel. We ran by day and played by night. Hoping
we have some time to stop by for one more beignet
breakfast before leaving this morning, I think I will
wake Mike and we'll make a move.

.

The Scrap House

As we were leaving we noticed a memorial to the victims
of Katrina, and to the city of New Orleans, for the loss
they endured and continue to endure.  The memorial was
created by scraps found in and around the city of put
together to make a "scrap house".  How lucky we feel
to have been spared this tragedy personally.  Not one
person we spoke to has even given a thought to moving
away.  What a great city.