Lafayette, LA

That's pronounced Laugh-fee-et, ya'll. What a fun couple of days in the deep, hot, humid swamps of the southland! I flew into New Orleans and drove 2 hours west to Lafayette for a conference. I just loved how everyone called me Miss Ann, they are so polite there and I could listen to them talk forever! I must have some southern belle in my blood cuz I love that whole gentile way the south works, I love the way the ladies talk, the way the men take care of the ladies and the fact that fried chicken and biscuits is a daily meal.

One afternoon after the meetings were over I headed south to Avery Island, home of Tabasco sauce. Of course I was more interested in alligators, so I took a drive through the park there winding through the lagoons and gardens alongside the river and boy did I see alligators, I screamed every time I saw one, the hair on the back of my neck was at full attention.


While I was keeping a close eye on the gators, I took some pictures of the great oak trees covered in moss, I was walking backwards in the one picture and stepped on a piece of moss that I thought was a gator. Good thing I was the only one in the park because I let out a scream like I was dying! Talk about being a nervous wreck!

Further into the drive I came across this serene garden and the budda. The story of the budda is that it was stolen from a palace in Tibet and years later sold on the black market. Someone bought it as a gift for Mr. Avery, the Tobasco mogul and it has rested peacefully in the garden ever since. It was a very beautiful place and had it not been for the gators in the water, I would have stayed and meditated, but frankly I had a rough time closing my eyes and letting it all go while I was worrying about loosing a leg or something!


I wish I had more sunlight and a little more time to explore the area, I stayed until it couldn't see anything else and by then it was too late to get pictures of the Tabasco factory (it's just a big building anyway!) But I took this on the ramp at bird city just as I was leaving the island.

Fun trip and one of the gals I met at the conference offered to take me out on their boat into the swamps and the Gulf next time down, so that is one adventure I will be looking forward to and planning for, maybe in December!

F-18 Hornet

Hard to tell which one is the kid here. Me and my airport shadow, Ryan, got an impromtu tour "up close and personal" of an F-18 fighter jet yesterday. The pilot was awesome and took about 45 minutes just walking us around and through the jet answering all kinds of questions, it was a really fun experience capping off a nice flight over the tail end of the changing Fall colors.

Cavalia

Wow! It was an incredible show and an experience I will not forget. The horses were beautiful and amazing, and in true Cirque du Solei fashion you almost forget you are actually looking at real people and real animals performing on stage, it was just beautiful from start to finish. It started out with 2 babies (5 month old horses) walking the length of the stage (which was covered in sand). The lights were dim, and they just meandered across the stage like we weren't there at all, while a lady sang a haunting tune. From there the horse with long manes and tails, the beautiful costumes, then the thundering riders at breakneck speeds trick riding all the while the acrobats were swinging and tumbling from the rafters, WOW doesn't do it justice. We were 3 rows from the front, you could feel the wind and we definitely had sand in our hair by the end. It was incredible and even though you couldn't take pictures during the show, I did manage a couple.

Great Read

I really loved this book. It was especially timely for me since I just lost Booner. I finished it in the Doctor's office and had to wait to get outside before totally losing it, but it made me feel so much better about how everything turned out that day that Booner slipped away. Guaranteed if you are a lover of animals or if you just like a great story, you will like this book.

dedicated to my boonie moon dogger, may he be running free through the fields of flowers and tall grass.

The Big Easy

A few days in New Orleans is an experience no one should miss. The Beniets at Cafe De Monde, the Muffaleta's at Franks, pralines, Hurricanes, beads, and all the crazies on Bourbon Street. It was a blast!





If you're easily offended, weak stomached or "not quite jaded" Bourbon Street and the French Quarter probably aren't the place for you, at least not after dark. The music is incredible though and really, you can dance, stand, eat, or just people watch everywhere.

We took a break from all the voodoo and debauchery, caught a street rail and took a tour through the garden district. The homes were so incredible and right in the middle of it all is Loyola and Tulane Universities. Awesome! The home bathed in pink is a beautiful white mansion that went pink while we were standing there in support of breast cancer research, very cool!





The City has recovered nicely since I was there right after Katrina, I didn't get to go see the hard hit areas this time so I am hoping that they are recovering as well. It is such a unique and vibrant city, just totally fun and delightfult every where you go. And yes Tricia, the hot lead singer was still rockin' the joint! Even saw the dude with the pony tail.

This is the sun coming up this morning as I made my way home. I get to go back in December for a couple of days and I have my sites set on other areas to explore. But no doubt another trip to the Garden district mansions all decorated for Christmas will be on the top of my list!

The Sunset tonight

Was amazing!

The Spoon Bracelets

Karen helped me with the bracelets, this is the one I kept and she has one that is similar. We made some very cool ones for her Primary Presidents, but I didn't take pictures, so Karen you need to do that and put them on your blog! Anyway this was the result of a stop at an antique barn in Minnesota. Now I am on the hunt for more cool spoons or utensils to continue bending and creating. Who knew?