Soar-Dream-France: January 2013

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January 2013

January 31, 2013

Mardi Gras Won't Wait

Gates and

Fences and

Nightime Fun!

We are working Superbowl into Mardi Gras!

Posted at 12:17 PM in Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 30, 2013

Taking a walk on Tom and Adrianne's block of Benjamin Street-the beautiful pink in this garden caught my eye. But then, Tom pointed out a creature on one of the trees...turns out there were two, one for each tree! You never know what you're going to find hanging around in New Orleans gardens, yards and on iron fences. Right now, it's Mardi Gras beads everywhere!

Posted at 12:23 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

January 29, 2013

Sit, Stay...NO-COME!-Barkus

Would you rather be sitting in your house on a beautiful, sunshiny Sunday afternoon power pointing, or on your grape jelly colored bike heading to the French Quarter to meet friends and see the Barkus Parade for the first time? I tried those old sit-stay commands on myself, but it only took one from Eric..."Come", and I was on my way.

We began up on the balcony at Lafitte's in Exile, but let's face it...with so many pretty pooches you really have to be down in the crowds to take that thousand pictures that will get you a couple of great shots. I stopped counting but the pooches kept coming. It was hard to tell who was prettier (maybe "interesting" is more appropos) the pooches or their parents. Everyone is in costume. There are beads and of course...biscuits and bones!

So I leave you with a photo collage of the Barkus parade. If you are NOT Four-Legged Friendly, this is NOT where you want to be!

Posted at 12:54 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

January 28, 2013

Nino's Saturdays

Being lovers of routine and personal connections must run in my family. I had my Friday nights at the Napoleon House, Friday mornings with Lucille at the Monteleone Hotel, and Sunday mornings at Croissant D'Or during my past New Orleans life. Tom and Adrianne have Nino Saturdays. I can't really say if it's morning, afternoon or evenings...if it's Saturday, you'll find them at Nino's.

Sicily comes alive in this tucked away spot at 1510 S. Carrollton Avenue. Although I'd eaten at Nino's once before with Tom, I was only visiting and it was during the week...this was very different.

We placed our orders...all of us having the rolled catfish stuffed with cheese and spinach, with a choice of shells or lasagna. As Tom said: "Have you ever heard of lasagna as a 'side'?" Tom also made the mistake of telling me, that any leftovers are graced with an extra helping of pastas to take home. Tom wolfed his down as usual. Adrianne was rather delicately saving half of hers. And me, I realized that I was down to the last half of my catfish. I probably could have eaten it, but would have been stuffed. Those feelings of full and that little voice in my head saying: "more pasta in your take home container" forced me to stop. If I'd eaten it all, there'd have been no catfish, lasagna and shells for dinner later that night! And then there's the wine.

Being regulars is one thing, but this is more than that...this is like family. (And, you know what family means to Sicilians.) After we'd finished our dinners inside and had our take-home containers safely tucked away in the trunk of the car, we took our red wine in those 16oz styrofoam cups and parked ourselves at an outside booth with Nino.

Of course, there's always room for more. If you look at the group photos in the booth behind us, you see the smiling face of "Hen". Hen short for Henry, joined in the conversation quickly. He shared his Sicilian and Cajun roots that he blends into his own special cooking style, which he is convinced helped him catch that "very beautiful woman" as his wife. Hen and Nino traded culinary secrets, but soon Hen, beautiful wife, and children, loudly rumbled out of the parking lot in their large SUV to enjoy the day's parades.

Back on our own, this new kid on the block felt like she'd always been coming to Nino's on Saturdays with Tom and Adrianne. It would be easy to sit there all day long enjoying the company of Nino, family, old friends, new friends, and a whirlwind of fine food and fine wine. But for me, it will be the loveliness of humor and language spoken with that inimatable Sicilian flair and spirit.

As Tom and I got ready to go, I thanked Nino. I told him I am usually on my bike, but I'd be back. I got the impression he'd have been happy to give me a ride...his parting words were: "We don't deliver, but we pick up!" I smiled all the way home!

Posted at 03:54 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

January 27, 2013

A Special Thanks!

Yesterday was about a lot more than books-it was about special moments shared with Tom and Adrianne. Sometimes, it all just works and I'm grateful. With smiles like theirs, you can't go wrong!

Posted at 12:52 PM in Fabulous Family, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Comfort of Old Friends

I love books and I love art. Fortunately, almost all of my beautiful art books were on high enough shelves during Hurricane Katrina to survive. Some favorites came to France with me, but most were gifted to family and friends who I knew would love them and enjoy them as much as I did.

I brought very little back from France. I'd made up my mind that I would make do with whatever I had at my parents' and have no expectations of returns. Imagine my surprise when my brother Tom asked if I would like to have my art books back. I thought about it some...remembering how they carry me to times and places I love, even if seen through the eyes and hearts of others. Just seeing them on the shelf makes me feel good. They swirl a very positive energy through our place that needs all the positive energy it can get these days. Now, we are working on it together-petit à petit..

I leave you with a shot of my brother Tom, hanging on the words of an old friend of his who could become a new friend of mine...more on that tomorrow!

Posted at 12:41 PM in Art, Books, Fabulous Friends and Family, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, New Orleans THEN, Paris, Photography | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 26, 2013

Through the Eyes of Others

Louie is such a "Welcome to New Orleans" kind of guy...gusto, guts and charm. Everyone loves Louie. How can you not? (After all, he is Louie Armstrong Bertrand-Hosapple!) He rounds out the family in his own, very unique, inimatable way. He is one of a kind! As you can imagine, he worked his charm on my visitor too!

No one cared when he rested his head on the table hoping for a tidbit here or there. (Me, I have a Sammie cat who puts her head in the cookie jar!)

Who worries about that, when you have the honor of watching Stew making pecan pies and shrimp etouffé, and Eric has cracked open the wine and nibbles for you?

Eric gave Rob the grand tour (saints included), while I kept Stew company in the kitchen. Even though we were walking over to Café Degas for dinner, I was doing a little Louie begging of my own. Their invitation to stay was tempting-but our begging bowls of shrimp etouffé turned out to be the perfect appetizer. Stew didn't disappoint us one bit!

Posted at 12:39 PM in Fabulous Friends and Family, Food and Drink, Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

January 25, 2013

Fairy Tale Faces of the French Quarter

Wandering around the Quarter on my own or with friends, I frequently see tourists taking pictures of each other. There are times when they just seem like they should be together, so I offer to take a picture of them. On the corner of Royal and Ursuline last weekend, we found a mother taking a photo of her daughter. I couldn't resist. When I'd finished and returned their camera, the little girl said: "Would you take a picture of Ariel?" She held Ariel up for me...two beauties adding their special charm, matching smiles, and innocence to a French Quarter that can be a fairy tale all its own when you love it and look closely!

Posted at 12:49 PM in Mélange-ing Magic, New Orleans NOW, Photography, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)