New Orleans 2011

Kathy and I went down to New Orleans at the end of June and stayed with my aunt Darla. Here are a few photos from the trip. More will be forthcoming.




Here I am with my aunt Darla at Cafe du Monde. I call this photo "Phones and glasses."



















Darla's final breakfast for us. Croissants from a Vietnamese French bakery and crabmeat omelettes with cafe au lait. Darla reminded us that the climate of New Orleans mirrors that of Vietnam.

Even the water meters covers are gorgeous!

Did someone say crape myrtle?

Kathy having her first beignet at Cafe du Monde. I think she liked it!

The trees were incredible. I'm always in disbelief over how they dominate in New Orleans -especially in uptown. This is an ancient crape myrtle trunk.

Ancient tree in Audubon park from 400 to 500 years old. They must have used this as the prototype for the tree in Avatar!

Darla and Kathy on the generous bow of a different live oak in Audubon Park.

Another tree hugging experience

Kathy has some bells ringing already at the pier on the Mississippi in the French Quarter.

Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan shoreline

Kathy walking up Mount Baldy, (a shifting sand dune that doesn't retain vegetation) towards the cooling tower of a nuclear power plant. Cozy companions, the dune and the plant

Better shot of the nuclear power plant. I've never been so close to one and I got even closer

Feeling Froggy on the Lake Michigan shoreline

Another shot from the top of Mount Baldy

Milky blue green waters of Lake Michigan. Beautiful.

The clean beaches of the shoreline are punctuated by sweet little pebbles that make fascinating patterns.

Happy Kathy.

Happy (and winded) Martha after having climbed a dune.

Climbing Mount Holden

This is a short of trying to finish climbing a very tall sand dune. Very difficult to climb up shifting sand. The reward is the great view of Lake Michigan when you get to the top. This is in the Indiana Dunes National Seashore at Chesterton Indiana.

countertop is in

Finally a countertop, but, alas, no running water or faucet yet. Can't have it all.

First coat sealer

Kitchen is getting there

Here is the kitchen with cabinets but without appliances or countertop. Missing a new light fixture, as well. The trim near where the microwave will go will be added after microwave install. Mom, this is a good picture of the color if you are dying to buy dishrags... :-)

Still more Shadowlawn pictures

And now the floors are in!!