spring buds.

Remember I mentioned the Hydrangea and Easter Lily buds? 

Easter Lily

Hydrangea

Now they've blossomed!

Erin's 30th Birthday Surprise Party

Last weekend at this time we were all sneaking around, cooking and baking for the surprise party Trey planned for Erin...

I'm making such a crazy face because those cakes are HEAVY!
(I baked them, too. They're blondie cakes iced with chocolate dream frosting,
with dollops of peanut butter around the rim of the cake.
The "3" and the "0" are made with pretzel m&ms.) 

Way to go everyone for keeping it a surprise!

The laughing bunch: Uncle Lee, Mom, Aunt Maria, Aunt Janet.

Happy 30th Erin!

French Quarter Fest

A couple weekends ago was the French Quarter Fest. It's a fabulous festival (and one of the top money makers for the city). There's no entrance fee, and there is an extraordinary amount of absolutely amazing food. And thank goodness this time I ordered some very good food: Cochon de Lait Po'boy, Shrimp and Alligator Sausage Cheesecake, some very tasty spring rolls, Barbecue Shrimp with Roasted Garlic Bread Pudding, Blackened Crawfish Cakes with Crawfish Cream Sauce and of course for dessert, Strawberry Creole Cream Cheese Bavarian, Chocolate Marshmallow Smores, and Buttermilk Drops. I ate all of this by myself!! Just kidding, Mom, Aunt Janet, Erin, Trey and I + some of their friends, shared all of these treats.  

Erin and I French Quarter Fest-ing.

We walked around quite a bit, but did have a seat by the river for a little while, the breeze off the Mississippi was nice and cool. While we sat we listened to Ovi-G and the Froggies. 

The Hat Ladies (- me) + Erin. 

the Natchez on the Mississippi.

It's been one whole month...

now, how many more days until I get to see Ray?

Parasailing at Wildwood, NJ, Summer 2010

St. Patrick, St. Joseph, Isleño Parade

It's been a while since I've posted. I've kept busy lately working through the grad school decision-making process, helping Dad out at the gallery, spending time with Erin during her birthday celebration week, and, of course, all of the festivals and parades that are going on this time of year in New Orleans. 

Mom and Aunt Janet at the parade!

The St. Patrick, St. Joseph, Isleño parade was my first parade in St. Bernard and let me tell you, they know how to do it. Plenty of good food and family. There was a huge smoker for cooking chicken and sausage, red fish caught outside my Uncle-Jr.'s house, oysters... YUM. They weren't just throwing beads at this parade either. They were throwing cabbages, onions, carrots, parsnips, lemons, oranges, grapefruit, lucky beans, Ramen noodles, even handing down bags of ice to parade-goers... not sure what that was about.

Erin and Trey dressed festively for St. Patrick. 

Spring in New Orleans

This is a plant I bought in Charleston (at the Farmer's Market) during my last summer there. It survived the move to New Orleans last year and has bloomed again! I haven't had much luck with flowering plants, but this one is doing great. Last Spring I managed to save an Easter Lily and a Hydrangea plant and recently found a few buds, it'd be great if they blossom. 

Last weekend was the French Quarter Road Food Festival. I'd never been before, but Megan, Ben and I headed down there to see what good eats we could find. Since being back in New Orleans, besides Mom's exquisite cooking, I have eaten a very tasty fried catfish po'boy from Joey K's, a Tuna Nicoise salad from Cafe Rani, and a fabulous brunch. I had a hankering for some boiled crawfish, but ended up with a less than delicious crawfish panini. (Just one of those times when you order the wrong thing...) The good news is Megan and Ben shared some of their tastier finds + my Uncle Jr. is looking for a good weekend for a crawfish boil, and there are more festivals in the coming weeks that are sure to have tasty foods. 

Ben (my future brother-in-law) and I at the road food festival eating crawfish louise.