It has been one hell of a year that's all I've got to say about it for now. 

Just one highlight I would like to mention, my Grandson, Emery has return safe and sound from Afghanistan.  We traveled up to Kentucky in May to welcome him home.  It was fantastic to see him get off that plane.  Thank you Jesus!  In September, his hitch with the army was over and he is back home and working.   He is continuing to protect his country by serving for the next 18 months in the National Guard.

Emery and Monique

Emery and his dad Ray

For the last couple of days we have been having an ice storm down here, temps in the 20's.  We have had the longest and coldest winter that I can remember.  It's not that we don't have cold weather but it usually does not last continually.  Enough already!

I have found something to pass that time away that is quite pleasant.

My sister told me about a very interesting project that she has been doing.  I thought I would pass it along to you all.   It is called "The Virtual Paintout", here is the site: http://virtualpaintout.blogspot.com/


The concept is simple, a location is chosen and you use Google street view to pick something from that location to paint.  It is your choice of media used and you can alter the scene to suit your interest.  You have the whole month to complete your project and if you like you can submit up to 3 pictures.   I just started a couple of days ago so, I just made the deadline.  I can't wait to see what location is picked for February.


I have just finished my first submission for January.  It was so much fun and since I was stuck at home because of the weather what  perfect way to spend my time.

It has been a very long time since I've picked up a brush to paint and watercolor is so demanding but I do like the finish product.

Virtual Paintout January 2014 Cape Cod

Meadow on Meadow Avenue

Location link

Watercolor 8 x 10  paper

Hope you enjoy the post. 

Now where did I leave off?

Oh yes, it was Christmas in Illinois.   Things seem never to stop here, just as Christmas time ends then Carnival time begins.  Mardi Gras was scheduled for February 12 this year.  That’s early!   

Growing up in New Orleans Mardi Gras was a big deal to us.  I can remember attending every parade during the season.  My Dad would take us downtown to the corner of St. Charles Ave. and Julia St.  There we would yell for throws and cherish every little trinket we would catch.  This time of year teachers would give a lot of homework on parade nights because they knew kids were going to the night parades.  What fun we had.

When my children we small,

We did make some parades but work always got in the way.  Now, there was a time when I lived a couple of blocks from one of the parade routes in a suburb of New Orleans and my grandchildren from Houston were able to see a few parades.

Moving forward to now,

It has been at least, 15 years since I have seen a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.  So this year, I decided it was now or never.

Convincing my grandchildren Griffin 16, and Taylor 18 we would have a grand time at Mardi Gras, I started to may plans.

              

                  TAYLOR                                                             GRIFFIN

We managed to make the biggest and grandest parade of the Mardi Gras season Endymion.  The Krewe of Endymion dominated the Carnival with the world’s largest Mardi Gras float ever, a $1.2 million, 330-foot behemoth titled, “Pontchartrain Beach, Then and Now.” The eight-segmented extravagance, designed to carry 230 riders, stretches almost the entire length of krewe’s Mid-City den where it is being decorated to evoke memories of New Orleans’ bygone amusement park Pontchartrain Beach that closed in 1983.

Waiting for the parade to begin:



Here it is in its entire splendor:

 

 

 

My brother lives a block and a half from where this parade begins.  He and his wife are friends with someone who has a nice large porch, perfect for parade viewing, right where the parade turns.  I had the best seat in the house.   We had a specular time.  The kids caught dozens of “beads and throws” and enjoyed themselves immensely. 

They were now ready for Mardi Gras day.

Having never been to a Mardi Gras day in New Orleans that they could remember this was going to be an eye opener.  Use to be, we would dress in costumes for Carnival, but talk as I could no one was biting.  Oh well, there is always next year,

One of the most pressing problems is where do you go to the bathroom?  Being a follower of many RV bloggers, I had come up with the perfect plan for the day.  A trip to Academy Sports and Wal-Mart, I now was the proud owner of a camping shower and a Chem-Potti.  I had secured a parking spot on Jackson Ave. just about 200 yards from St. Charles Ave.  We had our own personal potty, food and drink all the comforts of home.

Here is a shot of our set-up:

 

My chair is on the other side of the fence. If you look close you can see the red lights on the corner. This is where the parades pass.

 

We arrived at 6:00 AM and set-up.  The kids took chairs up to St. Charles Ave. to secure their place.  Every once in a while one of them would come back to the car for food and drink and whatever.  From my vantage point seated next to my car, I was able to see the passing parade but did not have to deal with the crowds.  The weather was a little chilly and we had a couple drops of rain but all in all the weather held.  We left for home around 2:30 PM.   A great time was had by all.

 

PHOTOS FROM MARDI GRAS DAY

Notice the homemade port-a-potty in the back of the trailer,  a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!

This man was smoking and BBQing chicken and sausage and playing the best R&B you ever heard Karaoke and all.

The crowds were friendly we never had a minute of trouble.  If you have never seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans you are missing a good time. 

 

Next month,

St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph’s Day Parades then Easter!  Oh my, does it ever end?

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. I'm back from a trip north to Metropolis, IL to visit my youngest daughter, Sherry and her family.   Metropolis is the official home of Superman and there is the rather large stature in the middle of the city.  Now, nothing against Superman, but once you’ve seen the stature you have seen all Metropolis has to offer. 

 

 

We did spend some time in Paducah, Ky., which is only 7-8 miles from where she lives.  There is a Quilt museum in Paducah and a very large company that fixes locomotives.

Black birds by the hundreds flew constantly, around the area.  I have not seen this in years around where I live.

Here is one of the Black Bird watchers Lucky.

 



Another bird watcher Sake

We had a white Christmas, actually a white day after Christmas 6-8 inches of snow fell on the area.

 

It was a nice visit but I am glad to be home.

 

Wishing you all a Very Happy New Year.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Day.  Remember to count your blessings, even the small ones and give thanks to God.  Special blessings go out to those who cannot be with family or friends for this day. 

Have a good one ya'll and don't eat too, much!

It beginning to feel a lot like......

This morning was a bit chilly, 38⁰ F outside and 52⁰ F inside.  I don’t turn on the central heating unless we get down in the 20’s.   It was time, however, to think about a cozy fire in the fireplace and a hot cup of tea. 

It may not be cold for some of you but for down here it’s a little frosty.   We don’t get too, many days of real cold so I decided to make the most of it this morning. 

I might just get my Christmas decorations down out the attic and spruced up, just that kind of day.

Here is my first fire of the year.

 

 

If you listen closely, you can hear "Louie", my Cockatiel, whistling in the backround.

 



Have a wonderful day!

Breakfast in a Hurry!!!



Best High Protien 8g Low Fat 4.5g Muffin

Breakfast Microwave Muffin

Ingredients:

Brown Sugar, .25 cup, packed

Quinoa Flour, 0.25 cup

Raisins, 0.25 cup

Old Fashion Oatmeal Raw, 0.25 cup

Egg, fresh, 1 large/ or egg beaters

Butternut Squash Baked, .25 cup

Ginger, ground, .25 tbsp

Baking Soda, .25 tsp

Cream Of Tartar, 0.25 tsp

Nutmeg, ground, .25 tsp

Vanilla Extract, .25 tsp

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together until just combined, do not over mix.  Divide mixture between two large mugs or 2 small one cup glass bowls.  Cook on high in microwave for 2.5 minutes.  Serving Size: Makes two large muffins.   Number of Servings: 2

Add or subtract any ingredients to your taste.

Wednesday was not a good day!!

Heading out from home for a meeting, my friend and I were just a block or so from my house, minding our business driving down the road and this big old nasty dump truck decides to BACK through the STOP sign just as we were crossing that intersection. BOOM!!

He plowed into to us and just kept going, dragging us with him under his truck bed.  He didn't know he had hit us and was still backing up.  I managed to break free from his grip and get further down the street. He finally stopped about 5 feet in back of us.

 Needless to say, we took a mighty slam to the right side.   Both of us were not doing so well.  My friend was dizzy and her neck was hurting.  My chest was killing me and I couldn't breathe well.   My left hand was swelling big and my right knee was somewhere under the dash area hurting bad.   

All sorts of first responders showed up and we were taken to the hospital.   Both of us were x-rayed in multiple areas of our bodies and no breaks, thank God.  We are still very sore but it is getting better each day.   That was too, close for comfort, if we had been a few inches more into the intersection, I shudder to think what would have happened.  

 

Remember to give gratitude for each day our lives are so fragile.

 



 

Be Safe out there and have a great Thanksgiving!!

Re-Construction of this site has been completed. 

No plant, animals or people were injured in this process even though you might not see them any longer in their orginal form, they are alive and well.

The other day, I accidently deleted my blog photos in Picasa, Ugh!!!!

I put back the photos but they might be in videos, now.  It was too, labor intensive to go photo by photo.  Please understand my dilemma and thank you for your patience.

I now have a new word etched in my vocabulary,

BACK-UP, BACK-UP, BACK-UP.

I, of all people, who preach this on a regular basic should have followed my own advice.  Why do we think it will never happen to us?

Here a little something to bright your day.

It worked for me. One day last spring, I was driving through the French Quarter with some friends and we came across this mini, impromptu,  parade with Mardi Gras Indians and all.  We stoped the car in the middle of the street, like everyone else, to join in the fun.  Gosh, I love this city!!  Enjoy.