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March 17, 2012 While exploring the Jungle Gardens at the Tabassco factory, we stumbled across this old abandoned building. It was locked up, and we couldn't tell what it had been used for in the past. We walked all around trying to figure it out, but couldn't. Nevertheless, it was intriguing and I liked this shot very much for all the different textures, wood, light, wetness in the ground and of course the mysterious Spanish moss hanging from the trees. Have a mysterious and joy-filled day of discovery my friends! Linda
March 16, 2012 Grilled Tilapia and Veggies.... Yum, yum, yum - this was the BEST dinner! This grilled Tilapia was seasoned just right and the mashed potatos hiding under the two fillets were to die for. The veggies were pretty darn good too! I love "pretty" food and I take a lot of photos of our dinners, lunches and snacks. So I thought I'd share this pretty food dish with you. Have a healthy grilled-fish-sort-of day my friends! Happy Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Linda
February 12, 2012 This is the quintessential New Orleans building architecture and I love it. All the lacy wrought iron balconies and fences just fascinate me and have since I was a little girl. I love walking around the French Quarter & soaking in the wonderful buildings and their construction. Hope you all enjoy. Linda
February 11, 2012 New Orleans is well known for it's marvelous Jazz Funerals. This bronze statue commemorates that wonderful tradition. It is located in the Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans. According to excerpts from Wikipedia, The term "jazz funeral" was long in use by observers from elsewhere, but was generally disdained as inappropriate by most New Orleans musicians and practitioners of the tradition. The preferred description was "funeral with music"; while jazz was part of the music played, it was not the primary focus of the ceremony. This reluctance to use the term faded significantly in the final 15 years or so of the 20th century among the younger generation of New Orleans brass band musicians more familiar with the post-Dirty Dozen Brass Band funk influenced style than the older traditional jazz New Orleans style. Most commonly such musical funerals are done for individuals who are musicians themselves, connected to the music industry, or members of various social aid & pleasure clubs or Carnival krewes who make a point of arranging for such funerals for members. The organizers of the funeral arrange for hiring the band as part of the services. When a respected fellow musician or prominent member of the community dies, some additional musicians may also play in the procession as a sign of their esteem for the deceased. Musicians play for a funeral leaving Saint Augustine Church in the Treme neighborhood; Dr. Michael White in foreground.A typical jazz funeral begins with a march by the family, friends, and a brass band from the home, funeral home or church to the cemetery. Throughout the march, the band plays somber dirges and hymns. A change in the tenor of the ceremony takes place, after either the deceased is buried, or the hearse leaves the procession and members of the procession say their final good bye and they "cut the body loose". After this the music becomes more upbeat, often starting with a hymn or spiritual number played in a swinging fashion, then going into popular hot tunes. There is raucous music and cathartic dancing where onlookers join in to celebrate the life of the deceased. Those who follow the band just to enjoy the music are called the second line, and their style of dancing, in which they walk and sometimes twirl a parasol or handkerchief in the air, is called second lining. I really enjoyed the park and this piece of art, and I have always thought that a jazz funeral would be great. Check this sooc shot out in full size. Have a fun & "jazzy" day my friends! Linda
February 10, 2012 This place is a MUST SEE in New Orleans. I enjoyed this shot of patron's casually enjoying this place and probably soaking in a little of it's history. This Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop -- built between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze, is reputed to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. In 1722, further building is recorded by a realty transfer set down by one Don Andres Almonester. The structure and fence are in the old French Provincial Louis XV or Briquette-Entre-Poteauxe style used in French Louisiana. The building escaped two great fires at the turn of the 19th Century, due to slate roofing. Such slates are presently used by artists as canvases. Between 1772 and 1791, the property is believed to have been used by the Lafitte Brothers, Jean and Pierre as a New Orleans base for their Barataria smuggling operation. The legend is based on the fact that the property was owned by the family of Simon Duroche a.k.a. Castillon and the wily privateer Captain Rene Beluche. Castillon was a rather record-shy adventurer and entrepreneur. Captain Beluche commanded his ship "Spy" in Lafitte's Baratarian fleet. Although the owners of the property, Jean Baptiste Dominica Joly LaPorte probably lived on the premises, it is within reason that the Lafittes could have used the place as city base for negotiations with potential buyers of their goods. It is unlikely that a wealthy Creole would agree to meet at home on Royal Street. Bourbon and St. Phillip was probably regarded as a safe and convenient neutral ground. Like most New Orleans legends, Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop is a gumbo of truth and French, Spanish, African, Cajun and American embellishments. Jean Lafitte -- privateer, entrepreneur, sailor, diplomat, spy, hero of the Battle Of New Orleans. Lafitte led a colorful and mysterious life in the New World. It is unclear where and when Lafitte was born, but his presence in New Orleans and Bartaria dates about 1770. He was the man to see for whatever one wanted. In 1814, as the British lay at the mouth of the river, Lafitte rushed powder, flint, and troops to General Jackson at Chalmette. Rather than a poorly supplied, out-manned force, the British stepped into a screaming hell of pirates, woodsmen, Indians and free people of color, under cover of a dense fog and an even more dense anti-British attitude. The British were routed. His good deed done, the "hero" headed to sea and more familiar deeds. (copied from the www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com website). I've visited this place each time I go to New Orleans - I love the fact that the building is reported to be over 250 years old. There's not many of those structures of that age still standing in America, so I'm thrilled that the city and peoples of New Orleans take care of this piece of history. Stop by whenever you're in the Big Easy - you'll be glad you did. Linda
February 8, 2012 - Quintessential New Orleans street entertainment. “I'm not going to lay down in words the lure of this place. Every great writer in the land, from Faulkner to Twain to Rice to Ford, has tried to do it and has fallen short. It is impossible to capture the essence, tolerance, and spirit of south Louisiana in words and to try is to roll down a road of clichés, bouncing over beignets and beads and brass bands and it just is what it is. It is home.” ― Chris Rose, 1 Dead in Attic There's just something about New Orleans that brings out the creativity in people I think. This is a photo of one of the street performers in Jackson Square. I loved the uniqueness of the look & of course, it was a wonderful photo op for me. Check this out in full screen sizes - I think it's pretty unique & cool. I hope you enjoy this & it gives you a smile today my freinds. I'm still in Birmingham, and l'm having lots of long days and late nights of dinners with vendors. So I apologize for being remiss in my commenting - I'll do my best to catch up this weekend. Linda
January 30, 2012 I love this photo which was taken inside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Originally a Mortuary Chapel. This venerable little church located at the corner of North Rampart and Conti Streets in New Orleans, dates from 1826. The figure in the center is of course, Mary the Holy Mother of God. To her right is the Archangel Michael, and to the left is Saint Florian, Patron Saint of Firefighters (and more). The church is the official chapel of the New Orleans police and fire departments. It has had a most eventful history during the 184 years of its existence. It was built as a funeral church; beloved by Confederate veterans because of its rector, Pere Turgis, then a church for Italian immigrants; and still later a church for the Spanish speaking population. For the last half century it has been noted as a shrine dedicated to St. Jude. Three times it has been temporarily abandoned - in the 1860's, in the 1870's and again in 1915 - and three times it has been returned to service. It is truly the church that would not die. From 1796 on, almost annually, Louisiana and particularly New Orleans was stricken by epidemic diseases, mostly brought by trading ships from Mexico and the West Indies. Between 1817 and 1860 there were twenty- three yellow fever epidemics. The 1817 epidemic resulted in the formation of a city Board of Health to cope with the health hazards in the fast-growing Crescent City. No one in the early days knew what caused yellow fever; both the medical profession and the public were unaware of the role played by mosquitoes. They could find no logical explanation for the spread of the horrible disease. As a result there were many theories as to the cause of the spread of yellow fever; the chief one being that poisonous effluvia from the swamps or from filthy city streets infected the atmosphere; some believed that exhalations from the dead at funeral services and the transporting of the dead through the streets spread the dread disease. This latter theory resulted in the passage of a city ordinance on March 22, 1821, forbidding the placing on view (laying out) of the dead during the funeral service at any church, from 1st of July to 1st of December. The ordinance, it was claimed, was aimed at protecting the health of the people, especially those who frequent churches. The city at that time was predominantly Catholic and Catholic funerals had to be held at the Parish Church of St. Louis since it was the only Catholic parish church in New Orleans. Please take a moment to view this in the larger sizes. It's not my best photo by far (the lighting was very difficult) but I loved the feeling of this place, and I lit a candle & said a prayer for our family. Have a great day my friends! I'm off again this afternoon for a week long trip to Las Vegas to help Bill work the Safari Club International trade show. I'm hoping to bring back some great photos to share with you. And.............for the last 10 years that I've been doing this show with Bill, the highlight is that I always get to see Tom Selleck. He is such a nice, kind man - and he is so very private, so I never ask to take his photo when he stops by our booth, but I sure do like the opportunity to spend 10 or 15 minutes with him. HAGD, Linda
January 29, 2012 "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful." This precious little pooch was so friendly and obviously happy "hanging out" in the back of his master's green bicycle that was parked on Jackson Square (New Orleans, Louisianna) early one morning. How could you not stop to sayl hello and give a pat to this little cutie? Obviously I couldn't. Check this sooc photo out in larger sizes. Hope you enjoy. Linda
January 28, 2012 SO MANY HATS, AND ONLY ONE HEAD................ Obviously weird hats in New Orleans don't even warrant a look, or a turn of the head. This fellow was walking around Jackson Square, and hardly a person turned to look at his balloon hat. Notice the fellow in front and the gentleman sitting & leaning against the wall of the building........obviously, they could care less. I thought it was a great photo op. It made me smile, and I chuckled to see that no one except me paid attention to this colorful fellow that morning in the crowded Jackson Square. Check this one out in the larger sizes - I tried SC to give emphasis to the balloon hat man. I hope this gives you a smile today. Take care & best regards, Linda
March 17, 2012

While exploring the Jungle Gardens at the Tabassco factory, we stumbled across this old abandoned building. It was locked up, and we couldn't tell what it had been used for in the past. We walked all around trying to figure it out, but couldn't.

Nevertheless, it was intriguing and I liked this shot very much for all the different textures, wood, light, wetness in the ground and of course the mysterious Spanish moss hanging from the trees.

Have a mysterious and joy-filled day of discovery my friends!

Linda
March 17, 2012 While exploring the Jungle Gardens at the Tabassco factory, we stumbled across this old abandoned building. It was locked up, and we couldn't tell what it had been used for in the past. We walked all around trying to figure it out, but couldn't. Nevertheless, it was intriguing and I liked this shot very much for all the different textures, wood, light, wetness in the ground and of course the mysterious Spanish moss hanging from the trees. Have a mysterious and joy-filled day of discovery my friends! Linda
March 17, 2012

While exploring the Jungle Gardens at the Tabassco factory, we stumbled across this old abandoned building. It was locked up, and we couldn't tell what it had been used for in the past. We walked all around trying to figure it out, but couldn't.

Nevertheless, it was intriguing and I liked this shot very much for all the different textures, wood, light, wetness in the ground and of course the mysterious Spanish moss hanging from the trees.

Have a mysterious and joy-filled day of discovery my friends!

Linda
See photo in original gallery.
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