the grace of a beautiful day....

 It snowed here...

Yesterday was a gift from God.  It started out cold, rainy, a little icy, the possibility of snow was in the news, and in the air....

See...it was wet, not sticking to anything.  You could see it, though and you just knew, it wouldn't be long before it did stick...

As I went from window to window, trying to catch those "kodak moments", I was feeling that exhilaration of a perfect day in the making.  You know the kind of day I mean.  Circumstances have taken the moment out of your hands, this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.  This was a day for a good book, a hot cup of tea, and soup simmering on the stove.  Since Ben had plans for the evening, today was Butternut Squash Soup, yummy.  And all the while, the snow continued to fall....

It was so beautiful, and peaceful.  The snow covered yards exude such calm....

I couldn't coax Hercules out of his bed but I did find the birds were enjoying the day, especially the cardinals...

The cardinal color just pops against the white snow.  I got a little carried away with their pictures...

I truly enjoyed the day, I even had a nest...

It was the perfect spot.  I didn't get much accomplished, although I did read a good book.  And more than once I thanked God for the graces given on this glorious day.

good times indeed...

Going down South last week was good for the soul.  We spent some quality time with the boy and saw some dear and wonderful friends.  At the heart of it all was the Mardi Gras celebration that can only be found in NoLa.  Rain or shine, the people set up their tents, chairs, ice chests, bar b que pits, claim their spot and Let the Good Times Roll...

This year it rained, but it did not dampen the spirits of those who choose to stroll the Boulevard...

check out the sights....

This was the King, getting ready for his ride....We even saw some celebrities....

See what I mean, real celebs at this parade....

These guys are the real deal, man....sadly, it was not meant for them to strut their stuff this day, too wet...

I got around to snap some pics as they were loading the famous wagon back into the trailer, but they let me take pics of a couple of the guys.  They are so beautiful.  When you walk the street before the parade you get to watch preparations and chat with the riders, that's always fun, as they have been up for several hours and they have not been drinking water or coffee, if you get my meaning...

Doesn't he look like he is having fun, LOL!

Yeah, that's more like it...they really do have fun, as did we.  It was a great day, and a great trip.  We went to dinner with my best friend Janet and all of her family.  We laughed so much I thought they might ask us to leave at some point, but we would have laughed at that as well.  Good times.  We went to Mass on Ash Wednesday at our old parish in LaPlace.  Of course it was comforting to see our old pastor Fr. Walter celebrate the Mass in his style of chaotic reverence.  I was able to touch base with some dear friends, which warmed my heart so much, I could come back home feeling well fed, if you know what I mean.  For the man in my life, that well fed statement has a whole other meaning.  He did enjoy his fill of shrimp and crawfish. 

It was time to leave the swamps of La...

but what greeted us as we made the drive north on 48.....

Absolutely glorious!  Home again, until the next adventure, stay tuned....

Mardi Gras, NoLa, sunshine here we come....

I apologize in advance for the repetitive use of the word 'dreary'.  It seems we just can't get away from the dreary weather.  I say dreary because here in the mid west of America we are still in a drought.  That means when we have a seventy percent chance of rain, we might see seven out of ten drops hit our yard.  It just stays cloudy and dreary looking.  See what I mean...

In all fairness, we have had warm temps and the sun makes a glorious appearance once or twice a week.  It is just enough a tease to get us out of the house thinking of the garden we will have, little projects we can tackle, only to hide behind the clouds while the wind gusts and blows, sending us back inside to continue our winter hibernation.

So with the boy living so close to the Big Easy, we figured why not Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez, ya"ll.  It should be warm, sunny, fun, just what is needed to shake away those blues.  So we pack....

notice the assortment of colored t-shirts.  These are my new favorite thing from Wally World, soft-soft and they have a longer tail, perfect for the southern warmer weather we are surely to encounter.  Plus t-shirts are perfect for parade going, throw reaching, and arm bending, if ya get my meaning.

I also needed to get a painting finished that had been commissioned...

I can't show the completed piece because it is a gift and ..well the recipient might see, so will reveal the art at a later date.  But wandering throughout the house, this is what I encounter at every turn...

Hercules is with me every step of the way...

He knows something is up, and it makes him very anxious.  He doesn't seem to remember that he will not be alone, there will be someone here with him.  There are others of us not so anxious...

"What?, I'm relaxing, getting ready for the drive."  Yes dear, we don't want you stressed, you rest, get yourself ready for all the shrimp and crawfish you are planning on consuming.  So as we look forward to some fun, warmth and sun, down at de Mardi Gras!, we understand there is a chance of rain, which means something quite different down there than it does here, so we hope for two out of three.  Not such bad odds considering.  Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez, ya'll.