My last blog was wiped out by a power failure so I've been reluctant to blog again, and I'm so far behind.
Last Friday Janie and I went to the "Musee" Wax Museum and was surprised to see a panoramic history of NO, rather than many famous people in wax. Very interesting, but required so much reading you almost forgot to look at the scenes.
Naturally lunch followed and we were able to eat some of the best crab cakes ever, at Oceana-"Old N'Awlings, followed by a platter of fish, oysters, shrimp, slaw, potatoes. We vowed not to eat again, until "supper".
Rode every streetcar line and especially liked the St.Charles line that gave us a look at so many beautiful old homes, tree lined streets and neighborhoods. Actually took longer than we had thought so we were late getting to the LaQuinta to meet our girls from home-Bettye Jean Henson, Mary Ann Wilson, Glenda Armstrong and Lee Sheffield. So good to see all of them and especially to hear about everyone from home.
Our "supper" was a sampling of every thing "Mother's" had to offer, from breakfast to their famous roast beef "de-bris" sandwiches. We topped it off with good bread pudding. Stepped out of the restaurant to view a pre-mardi gras parade. They only threw beads, just four floats, and one band. Then we went to the motel, played cards until the wee hours, and planned a trip to cafe du monde for beignets and cafe au lait the next morning We played cards in the breakfast room, and was amazed at the people that checked in with dogs. Thinking there must be a dog show in town we asked the desk clerk and her only reply was that they catered to pets, didn't charge extra for them, and they were on a special floor.
After strolling through the french quarter Sat. morning, and eating a not so good lunch the girls left for home and Janie and I came home.
Sunday a.m. we visited St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, which had been described as "high" Baptist. A beautiful old building, going through some renovating and refurbishing, very small congregation, mostly older members, very few youth and children, hymnals were used, the music minister didn't lead the singing, the choir did sing an old spiritual, acapella, beautiful organ music, rather formal service, and I wanted the minister to "act like he was there". All in all we enjoyed being there and met some good folks during the fellowship time after the service. Later in the week we received e-mails thanking us for being there and inviting us back.
Our Monday and Tuesday were very low-key and really aren't newsworthy, so our next visit was to Gretna, which was just a ride over there and back. Without any info and plans it was just a ride out of town.
Some days can be so full and that was yesterday. Went in to NO to the aquarium, walking much further than Janie likes, but did enjoy it, even the squealing and crying of a hundred four and five year olds on a school outing. It was a lot of fun watching their reaction to the exhibits.
We have been looking for John Besh since we came to NO, and he has always just left town, HA!, but we did the next best thing;we ate at his restaurant "August". I've never been treated like a celebrity before but the moment you stepped in the door, you felt like one. The entire atmosphere was one of elegance; white table cloths, beautiful old oak floors, high ceilings, chandeliers that sparkled, huge bouquets of flowers, and waiters running over one another, The meal was absolutely the best I have ever eaten. Starting with what Janie described as "amuse bouche," a custard-like concotion in an egg shell, cavier on the top, almost void of taste, but cleansing and getting you ready for the meal. The"rainbow trout" was the only thing on the plate, but was covered with mushrooms, crab meat, and a hollandaise sauce that was aerated so it would be lighter, and fluffier. My,My! The dessert was covered in white chocolate shavings and what was inside was beyond description. In addition to the food, we asked if we might visit the kitchen to speak to the chef, we were appled when we went to the kitchen, asked many questions about our trip, they wanted our blog address, and when we left the kitchen they clapped again. The waiters were all dressed in suits, explained every thing they brought to the table, and stood and talked to you like they had nothing else to do. We will not mention the price of the meal, because it won't happen again, but it was worth every penny.
Then, last night we visited Robert and Bob again, went to the Palm Court Cafe for dinner, and the best NO music that a five piece band can offer, fabulous. It was such fun to be invited back to their home, so we feel like we have two new friends for life. They are so interesting, they've traveled everywhere, know everything about NO, and seem so eager to share about the places they've seen.
Tomorrow we leave. We have to after packing all day today, and
knowing we have to be in Key West by the 1st of February. I would recommend to anyone a month-long stay in NO, even if you're not interested in food. It's like another country, another way of like, the people we've met, so friendly, helpful, and always ready to talk and visit. If every month of our journey is like this one, we will be thrilled.
Until Key West!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Revisiting America
It's been several days since either of us wrote a blog. Ya'll may be sending up little prayers of thanks.
Monday was wash day and hanging around the motel because we didn't make any concrete plans. Same for Tuesday, without the washing. Life on the road isn't all fun and games, you know. Wednesday was better but we kind of messed up. Left around 10:00 going to Gretna and Algiers. Rode around Gretna for a little while and found the old downtown area. Very nice. There was an old train depot that was empty but someone was working on the building so maybe they have great plans for it. Hope so. Didn't even make it to Algiers. Came back to Kenner and ate Mexican food for lunch at Casa Garcia. Nice place and good food.
Thursday, we were back in adventure mode. Started with the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas at the foot of Canal St. in NO. Spent a couple of good hours there, but it was school day so the whole building was crowded with kiddies about 4 or 5 years old who couldn't care less about the marine life. Think the gift shop was their idea of a good time.
Then we went to Chef John Besh's restaurant, August, for lunch. Now that was an adventure. On the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Gravier, it's an elegant old four-story building. Beautiful inside with lots of dark polished wood, lots of gorgeous chandeliers, and lots of bottles of wine. Our head waiter was Mark Gruntz and he was great. Very friendly and helpful. They started us with an amuse-bouche served in an eggshell in an egg cup. It was a tiny, buttery breadstick in a custard with a little caviar. Very tasty. We ordered the speckled trout and it was topped with crabmeat and mushrooms. On the side was the best hollandaise sauce I've ever tasted. They aerate it before serving so it's lighter than usual. Absolutely delicious. We shared a dessert of Pere Rous banana rum cake with cream cheese frosting. It was round, about 3" high, and covered with the icing. Leaves of white chocolate decorated the outside along with white chocolate shavings on top. Beautiful and scrumptious. I had some coffee, then we got to go back to the kitchen. When we walked in, the kitchen staff applauded and welcomed us to August. Chef Besh was out of town but we met the sous chef, Jacqueline Blanchard. She looked too young to have so much responsibility, but has very impressive credentials. We also met another sous chef, Jeff Mattia; the chef de cuisine, Michael Gulotta; and the pastry chef, Kelly Fields. I hugged her neck for making such a fantastic dessert. Anyway, the visit to the kitchen was great fun. Mark Gruntz asked for our blog address. He and all the other people we met were very interested in our trip. The kitchen staff applauded when we left. I could understand that better. We were so impressed. The food was very definitely way above the norm and the people in the restaurant gave us the feeling that August's success is fueled by all of the prople who work there.
We came back to Kenner after lunch for a little while, then went back to NO, to visit with Robert and Bob.
Went to their house for awhile, then walked to Palm Court Jazz Cafe on Decatur. Had a good grilled shrimp dinner salad and chocolate mousse for dessert. Then listened to the Crescent City Joy Makers - piano, clarinet, trumpet, bass fiddle, and drums. Really good band - enjoyed them a lot. Walked to back to Robert and Bob's for a short while, then came "home." We'll miss visiting with and talking to them.
Today, we have packed all day and loaded a good bit of stuff into the car. Think we can get everything in, but it will be a tight fit. We have lots of stuff. Tomorrow, we pull out for Key West, with a brief stop in Mobile. The next story in the adventure. I've never been to Key West and can't wait to get there.
Lou is going to blog as soon as I finish, We'll be out of touch until we get to Key West.
Janie
Monday was wash day and hanging around the motel because we didn't make any concrete plans. Same for Tuesday, without the washing. Life on the road isn't all fun and games, you know. Wednesday was better but we kind of messed up. Left around 10:00 going to Gretna and Algiers. Rode around Gretna for a little while and found the old downtown area. Very nice. There was an old train depot that was empty but someone was working on the building so maybe they have great plans for it. Hope so. Didn't even make it to Algiers. Came back to Kenner and ate Mexican food for lunch at Casa Garcia. Nice place and good food.
Thursday, we were back in adventure mode. Started with the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas at the foot of Canal St. in NO. Spent a couple of good hours there, but it was school day so the whole building was crowded with kiddies about 4 or 5 years old who couldn't care less about the marine life. Think the gift shop was their idea of a good time.
Then we went to Chef John Besh's restaurant, August, for lunch. Now that was an adventure. On the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Gravier, it's an elegant old four-story building. Beautiful inside with lots of dark polished wood, lots of gorgeous chandeliers, and lots of bottles of wine. Our head waiter was Mark Gruntz and he was great. Very friendly and helpful. They started us with an amuse-bouche served in an eggshell in an egg cup. It was a tiny, buttery breadstick in a custard with a little caviar. Very tasty. We ordered the speckled trout and it was topped with crabmeat and mushrooms. On the side was the best hollandaise sauce I've ever tasted. They aerate it before serving so it's lighter than usual. Absolutely delicious. We shared a dessert of Pere Rous banana rum cake with cream cheese frosting. It was round, about 3" high, and covered with the icing. Leaves of white chocolate decorated the outside along with white chocolate shavings on top. Beautiful and scrumptious. I had some coffee, then we got to go back to the kitchen. When we walked in, the kitchen staff applauded and welcomed us to August. Chef Besh was out of town but we met the sous chef, Jacqueline Blanchard. She looked too young to have so much responsibility, but has very impressive credentials. We also met another sous chef, Jeff Mattia; the chef de cuisine, Michael Gulotta; and the pastry chef, Kelly Fields. I hugged her neck for making such a fantastic dessert. Anyway, the visit to the kitchen was great fun. Mark Gruntz asked for our blog address. He and all the other people we met were very interested in our trip. The kitchen staff applauded when we left. I could understand that better. We were so impressed. The food was very definitely way above the norm and the people in the restaurant gave us the feeling that August's success is fueled by all of the prople who work there.
We came back to Kenner after lunch for a little while, then went back to NO, to visit with Robert and Bob.
Went to their house for awhile, then walked to Palm Court Jazz Cafe on Decatur. Had a good grilled shrimp dinner salad and chocolate mousse for dessert. Then listened to the Crescent City Joy Makers - piano, clarinet, trumpet, bass fiddle, and drums. Really good band - enjoyed them a lot. Walked to back to Robert and Bob's for a short while, then came "home." We'll miss visiting with and talking to them.
Today, we have packed all day and loaded a good bit of stuff into the car. Think we can get everything in, but it will be a tight fit. We have lots of stuff. Tomorrow, we pull out for Key West, with a brief stop in Mobile. The next story in the adventure. I've never been to Key West and can't wait to get there.
Lou is going to blog as soon as I finish, We'll be out of touch until we get to Key West.
Janie
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Revisiting America
When I think back over our previous blogs, I think we should rename this Revisiting America's Food. And we have more to offer on that same line.
Friday morning, we went into NO before noon and parked at our favorite lot by the Jax Brewery. From there, we walked to the Musee Conti Wax Museum on Conti St. Inexpensive, interesting, and full of Louisiana and New Orleans history. Instead of solitary figures of famous people, there were scenes depicting that local history. Doesn't take that long to visit, either, so a good place to spend a little time.
We walked back down Conti to Oceana/Olde N'Awlins Cookery for lunch. (I've already warned you there was more food reportage coming.) Fun, relaxed atmosphere and the best crab cakes ever as an appetizer. Two big cakes with crawfish cream sauce to die for. After we split that, we were foolish enough to order their seafood platter. Shrimp, oysters, and catfish, and lots of all three. Small serving of slaw, large serving of french fries. We left there drifting all over the sidewalk - drunk on food.
The next venture was to ride the streetcars. We walked down to the river and started with Route 2 - the Riverfront Line. After we rode that forward and backward, we rode the Canal Street line to St, Charles Avenue to catch Route 12 - the St. Charles Line. That one took us up and down St. Charles including the Garden District. Over an hour and all for the price of $1.25 each. Almost empty on the way out and very crowded on the way back with people going home from work.
We then went to the LaQuinta on Camp St, to spend the night. Four of Lou's friends came in from Chatom, Alabama, for the night. In alphabetical order: Glenda Armstrong, Bettye Jean Henson, Lee Sheffield, and Mary Ann Wilson. A fun group. If you ever meet Mary Ann, get her to tell you about "the boat" and "the dog." Even the ladies who had already heard the stories laughed until they could hardly breathe.
We walked to Poydras and down a couple of blocks to Mother's for - you guessed it - dinner, As we were about to go in, we heard music and walked to the corner instead. Saw a pre-Mardi Gras parade with a band and several floats. Caught lots of beads. They don't throw Moon Pies anymore, Back to Mother's. Dinner was excellent. The other ladies had seafood, but Lou and I ate off the breakfast menu. Still sort of full from lunch, but that didn't stop us from eating again. It's one of the things you just do when you're in N'Awlins. I ordered two scrambled eggs, and if that was only 2 eggs, they were ostrich eggs. Grits, coffee, biscuit, and lots of very good smoked sausage. For dessert, a couple of the ladies got the bread pudding with rum sauce and it was awesome. We all were gracious enough to help them eat it.
When we got back to the motel, we played cards in the breakfast area. Pulled some tables together, with the hotel's permission, and played until about 2:00 or 2:30. We all love "hand and foot," a variation of canasta. We saw lots of people coming in with dogs. So many we thought there must be a dog show in town. Found out that it was just that the motel is dog-friendly. No extra charge and all of the animals (and their people) are housed on one floor. Isn't that great?
Saturday morning, the first stop was Cafe Du Monde for beignets and cafe au lait. Great way to start the day. (Food, again.) Walked through the entire French Market and a few other shops as well. Here it comes ------ ate lunch at River's Edge. Don't recommend it. We were all disappointed with our choices. After a late lunch, the Chatom group left for home. Sorry to see them go because we had so much fun.
This brings us to this morning when we attended services at the St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. I'm going to let Lou fill you in on that. I can't type anymore right now.
The car has made so many trips between Kenner and New Orleans, I don't think we need Onstar anymore. Think the car could do it on autopilot.
Please let us hear from you so we know this isn't just going out into the great unknown.
Janie
Friday morning, we went into NO before noon and parked at our favorite lot by the Jax Brewery. From there, we walked to the Musee Conti Wax Museum on Conti St. Inexpensive, interesting, and full of Louisiana and New Orleans history. Instead of solitary figures of famous people, there were scenes depicting that local history. Doesn't take that long to visit, either, so a good place to spend a little time.
We walked back down Conti to Oceana/Olde N'Awlins Cookery for lunch. (I've already warned you there was more food reportage coming.) Fun, relaxed atmosphere and the best crab cakes ever as an appetizer. Two big cakes with crawfish cream sauce to die for. After we split that, we were foolish enough to order their seafood platter. Shrimp, oysters, and catfish, and lots of all three. Small serving of slaw, large serving of french fries. We left there drifting all over the sidewalk - drunk on food.
The next venture was to ride the streetcars. We walked down to the river and started with Route 2 - the Riverfront Line. After we rode that forward and backward, we rode the Canal Street line to St, Charles Avenue to catch Route 12 - the St. Charles Line. That one took us up and down St. Charles including the Garden District. Over an hour and all for the price of $1.25 each. Almost empty on the way out and very crowded on the way back with people going home from work.
We then went to the LaQuinta on Camp St, to spend the night. Four of Lou's friends came in from Chatom, Alabama, for the night. In alphabetical order: Glenda Armstrong, Bettye Jean Henson, Lee Sheffield, and Mary Ann Wilson. A fun group. If you ever meet Mary Ann, get her to tell you about "the boat" and "the dog." Even the ladies who had already heard the stories laughed until they could hardly breathe.
We walked to Poydras and down a couple of blocks to Mother's for - you guessed it - dinner, As we were about to go in, we heard music and walked to the corner instead. Saw a pre-Mardi Gras parade with a band and several floats. Caught lots of beads. They don't throw Moon Pies anymore, Back to Mother's. Dinner was excellent. The other ladies had seafood, but Lou and I ate off the breakfast menu. Still sort of full from lunch, but that didn't stop us from eating again. It's one of the things you just do when you're in N'Awlins. I ordered two scrambled eggs, and if that was only 2 eggs, they were ostrich eggs. Grits, coffee, biscuit, and lots of very good smoked sausage. For dessert, a couple of the ladies got the bread pudding with rum sauce and it was awesome. We all were gracious enough to help them eat it.
When we got back to the motel, we played cards in the breakfast area. Pulled some tables together, with the hotel's permission, and played until about 2:00 or 2:30. We all love "hand and foot," a variation of canasta. We saw lots of people coming in with dogs. So many we thought there must be a dog show in town. Found out that it was just that the motel is dog-friendly. No extra charge and all of the animals (and their people) are housed on one floor. Isn't that great?
Saturday morning, the first stop was Cafe Du Monde for beignets and cafe au lait. Great way to start the day. (Food, again.) Walked through the entire French Market and a few other shops as well. Here it comes ------ ate lunch at River's Edge. Don't recommend it. We were all disappointed with our choices. After a late lunch, the Chatom group left for home. Sorry to see them go because we had so much fun.
This brings us to this morning when we attended services at the St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. I'm going to let Lou fill you in on that. I can't type anymore right now.
The car has made so many trips between Kenner and New Orleans, I don't think we need Onstar anymore. Think the car could do it on autopilot.
Please let us hear from you so we know this isn't just going out into the great unknown.
Janie
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Revisiting America
Great visit to New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). Beautiful inside and out. As soon as we entered, I checked out a wheelchair. Had my cane, but I knew this excursion was going to require more walking than I could manage in order to see everything we wanted to see. Started on the 3rd floor and worked our way down. We had planned to take a street car ride after NOMA, but that gave way to spending more time in the musuem.
The 3rd floor was Asian, Oceanic, African, and Pre-Columbian Art and incredibly varied and interesting. But, as always, my favorite was the paintings. On the 2nd floor, we saw works by Degas, Monet, Sisley, Corot, Vlaminck, Braque, Picasso, Pollock, and hundreds more. Blown glass, decorative arts, period furniture, and some shoes and clothing native to the culture. Of course, there were exhibits special to New Orleans. Also, many pieces designed by Faberge, including some eggs. cigarette cases, hand seals, hand mirrors, snuff boxes, etc. After all this, it was time for a late lunch. The cafe was a Brennan's and we had great panini sandwiches, with a very large cookie for dessert. The cookie was a freeebie by way of an apology because we had to wait a little while.
After lunch, we toured the 1st floor and saw Italian, Dutch and Flemish Art from the 15th to 18th centuries. When we realized how long we had been in the museum, I turned in my wheelchair and we proceeded to the sculpture garden. A Rodin, a Calder, and a great variety all in all. There was a 3-sided sculpture of the blue dog - one side each in red and yellow. A giant spider which will haunt my dreams for weeks. Beautiful landscaping and bridges over the pond.
My favorite in all of the exhibits was "Portrait of an Old Man" by Jan Lievens painted in 1640. The prfortrait was so realistic, I expected to see the old man breathe.
Neither Lou nor I had ever had so much uninterrupted time to spend in a museum. Always before, there had been something to get in the way. Thank you, NOMA.
Thanks, also, to Jimmy James for your comments today. Lou and I were both thrilled to read your comments and know that people of discernment such as you are actually following the blog - reading it more than once.
More to come at a later date. We have a busy weekend with friends coming for Friday night.
Janie
The 3rd floor was Asian, Oceanic, African, and Pre-Columbian Art and incredibly varied and interesting. But, as always, my favorite was the paintings. On the 2nd floor, we saw works by Degas, Monet, Sisley, Corot, Vlaminck, Braque, Picasso, Pollock, and hundreds more. Blown glass, decorative arts, period furniture, and some shoes and clothing native to the culture. Of course, there were exhibits special to New Orleans. Also, many pieces designed by Faberge, including some eggs. cigarette cases, hand seals, hand mirrors, snuff boxes, etc. After all this, it was time for a late lunch. The cafe was a Brennan's and we had great panini sandwiches, with a very large cookie for dessert. The cookie was a freeebie by way of an apology because we had to wait a little while.
After lunch, we toured the 1st floor and saw Italian, Dutch and Flemish Art from the 15th to 18th centuries. When we realized how long we had been in the museum, I turned in my wheelchair and we proceeded to the sculpture garden. A Rodin, a Calder, and a great variety all in all. There was a 3-sided sculpture of the blue dog - one side each in red and yellow. A giant spider which will haunt my dreams for weeks. Beautiful landscaping and bridges over the pond.
My favorite in all of the exhibits was "Portrait of an Old Man" by Jan Lievens painted in 1640. The prfortrait was so realistic, I expected to see the old man breathe.
Neither Lou nor I had ever had so much uninterrupted time to spend in a museum. Always before, there had been something to get in the way. Thank you, NOMA.
Thanks, also, to Jimmy James for your comments today. Lou and I were both thrilled to read your comments and know that people of discernment such as you are actually following the blog - reading it more than once.
More to come at a later date. We have a busy weekend with friends coming for Friday night.
Janie
revisiting america
How do you take a day off from doing nothing? Well, I did. And it felt so good. There will be more days like that I'm sure. That's after I do the usual routine, cereal breakfast, two mugs of coffee, my two-mile walk, (up the sidewalk in front of at least ten car dealerships, and I'm sure they wonder where I come from every morning), daily bible reading, and a little housekeeping. Then, the day was not a total loss because I decided to make dumplings for dinner. You already know about the limited kitchen facilities, so this became an exercise in ingenuity because I only had a two-quart pot and a frying pan to tender the chicken and make the broth. Luckily I brought baking powder, flour and all the necessary ingredients. Wax paper is a good substitute for a dough cloth, and the rolling pin was a large round parmesan cheese container wrapped in Saran wrap, which became too flabby to really roll out thin pieces, so a can of peaches became the next rolling pin, and it worked. The crock pot became the "big pot" after the dumplings were tender and needed to simmer. Janie said they were really good, and of course she knows that will be her last meal if she doesn't brag on the cooking.
Our Wednesday became a really special day for us because we visited the New Orleans Museum of Art. Wednesdays are "freebie" days so that was even better for our budget. The building, with a total area of 130,000 square feet of display space, sits on beautifully landscaped grounds, huge lake with ducks and hundreds of gulls flying around, walking paths( many people walking and I wondered if I look like some of them did when I walk( that was not nice), even a bride having her picture taken on the entrance steps. A three storied building full of more than 40,000 objects of French and American art, photography, glass, and African and Japanese works, all beautifully displayed. The museum was founded in 1910 with a gift from philanthropist Isaac Delgado and is now one of N.O.'s main attractions. New galleries, expanded education space, administrative space, a new cafe(we had a delicious turkey and bacon panini with pickled articholes and onions on the side) and Museum shop were added with a total renovation and expansion in 1993. I've never had five hours to spend in a museum so I felt like I had really been, seen, and heard what it had to offer.
Adjacent to the museum was a Sculpture Garden, covering five acres, including a permanent collection of twenty sculptures by twentieth and twenty-first European, American, Latin American, Israeli and Japanese artists.
After all that culture we came home and warmed the left-over dumplings which were even better the second time around.
I must take the time to thank everyone for their comments, which makes me think I will continue blogging, and especially to my four wonderful children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren who are being read the blogs(I'm sure).
What's next?
Our Wednesday became a really special day for us because we visited the New Orleans Museum of Art. Wednesdays are "freebie" days so that was even better for our budget. The building, with a total area of 130,000 square feet of display space, sits on beautifully landscaped grounds, huge lake with ducks and hundreds of gulls flying around, walking paths( many people walking and I wondered if I look like some of them did when I walk( that was not nice), even a bride having her picture taken on the entrance steps. A three storied building full of more than 40,000 objects of French and American art, photography, glass, and African and Japanese works, all beautifully displayed. The museum was founded in 1910 with a gift from philanthropist Isaac Delgado and is now one of N.O.'s main attractions. New galleries, expanded education space, administrative space, a new cafe(we had a delicious turkey and bacon panini with pickled articholes and onions on the side) and Museum shop were added with a total renovation and expansion in 1993. I've never had five hours to spend in a museum so I felt like I had really been, seen, and heard what it had to offer.
Adjacent to the museum was a Sculpture Garden, covering five acres, including a permanent collection of twenty sculptures by twentieth and twenty-first European, American, Latin American, Israeli and Japanese artists.
After all that culture we came home and warmed the left-over dumplings which were even better the second time around.
I must take the time to thank everyone for their comments, which makes me think I will continue blogging, and especially to my four wonderful children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren who are being read the blogs(I'm sure).
What's next?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Revisiting America
I'm happy to report that "ONSTAR" and I are back on good terms;I was able to drive into N.O. Sunday without a scenic tour, so I'm encouraged to be off their "list".
We were looking forward to seeing Maude Patterson and Rita Crouch at the Norwegian Seaman's Church. I was a little surprised at the friendliness of everyone, don't know why, and though their was so much we didn't understand about the service or their conversations with one another I felt very "at home". Parts of the service very formal; the pastors dressed in their robes, the scripture readings, the altar prayers, the communion, but very informal in other ways. Everyone dressed very casually except some older ladies, who I imagine, would never consider wearing pants to church, children running around playing; the pastor's little boy dressed in "full pirate attire. The singing wasn't quite up to "Baptist standards", but several songs by the visiting Norweigan youth choir were very upbeat and contemporary.
The building housed the sanctuary, a very large room with seating areas, serving tables, huge kitchen, a shopping area with Norwegian foods, maybe a half-dozen rooms for travelers, swimming pool, patio area, offices, and this was cared for by Lillian, who called herself the "housemother". She had been at the church for several years, she was probably in her late twenties, had applied for the job, moved to N.O. from Norway and was very happy with her position. She took part in the worship service also, reading some of the scripture welcoming everyone and sharing the schedule of events.
It was a special day for the ladies of the church because they were recognized for their hard work and contribution to the planning and work involved in the church festival, a four day event, where baked goods were sold and money was raised for needs of the church. Each lady was presented a long-stemmed red rose, Janie and I included. Don't you always leave a worship service, whether in Norwegian or any language, saying. "It was good to be in the house of the Lord?
Monday was a very uneventful day; and I still must get used to having some days that aren't filled up with things to do. Do need to report that I contributed to the "washer-dryer" fund again, then broke out the new iron I brought (most of my kitchen came with me) because the one in the room quit on us.
Even watched a movie in the afternoon, the first one we've found that we would even think about watching, so I guess going into our third week, I'm getting the hang of this adventure and really enjoying what I'm doing. I too, can't imagine all that is in store for us, and we do promise to start making more opportunities to share with you.
We were looking forward to seeing Maude Patterson and Rita Crouch at the Norwegian Seaman's Church. I was a little surprised at the friendliness of everyone, don't know why, and though their was so much we didn't understand about the service or their conversations with one another I felt very "at home". Parts of the service very formal; the pastors dressed in their robes, the scripture readings, the altar prayers, the communion, but very informal in other ways. Everyone dressed very casually except some older ladies, who I imagine, would never consider wearing pants to church, children running around playing; the pastor's little boy dressed in "full pirate attire. The singing wasn't quite up to "Baptist standards", but several songs by the visiting Norweigan youth choir were very upbeat and contemporary.
The building housed the sanctuary, a very large room with seating areas, serving tables, huge kitchen, a shopping area with Norwegian foods, maybe a half-dozen rooms for travelers, swimming pool, patio area, offices, and this was cared for by Lillian, who called herself the "housemother". She had been at the church for several years, she was probably in her late twenties, had applied for the job, moved to N.O. from Norway and was very happy with her position. She took part in the worship service also, reading some of the scripture welcoming everyone and sharing the schedule of events.
It was a special day for the ladies of the church because they were recognized for their hard work and contribution to the planning and work involved in the church festival, a four day event, where baked goods were sold and money was raised for needs of the church. Each lady was presented a long-stemmed red rose, Janie and I included. Don't you always leave a worship service, whether in Norwegian or any language, saying. "It was good to be in the house of the Lord?
Monday was a very uneventful day; and I still must get used to having some days that aren't filled up with things to do. Do need to report that I contributed to the "washer-dryer" fund again, then broke out the new iron I brought (most of my kitchen came with me) because the one in the room quit on us.
Even watched a movie in the afternoon, the first one we've found that we would even think about watching, so I guess going into our third week, I'm getting the hang of this adventure and really enjoying what I'm doing. I too, can't imagine all that is in store for us, and we do promise to start making more opportunities to share with you.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Revisiting America
When I checked my blog, after it posted, I realized that something was left out. Don't know what I did.
If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn't have hit the wrong key.
A major highlight of our stay here was the evening we spent in the home of a friend in downtown New
Orleans. The building was constructed in 1840 as a townhouse (2 separate lodgings in the building) for
plantation owners to have a place in the city. Beautiful old New Orleans architecture including columns and a gallerie (balcony) with wrought iron. Inside the rooms are small but don't feel like it because they are so beautifully decorated (warmly and comfortably) and the ceilings are high. There is original art hanging literally wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. The draperies are all custom made and gorgeous. Rugs are plentiful and gorgeous as well. So many interesting sitting areas - one they called their den has a lot of Hollywood memorabilia, including a letter signed by Joan Crawford. The dining table seats 10 and was set for dinner service with a floor-length cloth, gold chargers, silver, and crystal. A door from the dining room opens onto the patio and pool area. A truly elegant home and very inviting. Our hosts are a great source for some of the history of the city.
After a drink - cocktail, wine, or soft drink - we walked to a favorite restaurant of our hosts, the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen. A full menu. I had a delicious grilled eggplant pizza and tasted an appetizer of shrimp and artichoke dip. Both delicious. After dinner, we walked around the French Quarter for several blocks. Still fairly early in the evening, but the Quarter was very busy. Absolutely a great evening. New Orleans offers endless variety in so many things. Ya' gotta' love it.
Janie
If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn't have hit the wrong key.
A major highlight of our stay here was the evening we spent in the home of a friend in downtown New
Orleans. The building was constructed in 1840 as a townhouse (2 separate lodgings in the building) for
plantation owners to have a place in the city. Beautiful old New Orleans architecture including columns and a gallerie (balcony) with wrought iron. Inside the rooms are small but don't feel like it because they are so beautifully decorated (warmly and comfortably) and the ceilings are high. There is original art hanging literally wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. The draperies are all custom made and gorgeous. Rugs are plentiful and gorgeous as well. So many interesting sitting areas - one they called their den has a lot of Hollywood memorabilia, including a letter signed by Joan Crawford. The dining table seats 10 and was set for dinner service with a floor-length cloth, gold chargers, silver, and crystal. A door from the dining room opens onto the patio and pool area. A truly elegant home and very inviting. Our hosts are a great source for some of the history of the city.
After a drink - cocktail, wine, or soft drink - we walked to a favorite restaurant of our hosts, the Louisiana Pizza Kitchen. A full menu. I had a delicious grilled eggplant pizza and tasted an appetizer of shrimp and artichoke dip. Both delicious. After dinner, we walked around the French Quarter for several blocks. Still fairly early in the evening, but the Quarter was very busy. Absolutely a great evening. New Orleans offers endless variety in so many things. Ya' gotta' love it.
Janie
Revisiting America
Lou told you about our adventures on Thursday, so I just want to add a few of my own impressions. First, La Provence sits on Highway 190 outside of Lacombe in a rural setting. There are two buildings; one is an office area and the other houses the restaurant, including a large room for weddings, banquets, etc. There are three different dining areas in the building as well. After looking around, we sat in the bar area because that is where "Just Joyce" reigns. She called it her room. A beautiful bar, a grand piano, chandeliers, seating on each side of a coffee table, a fireplace (with a fire), and only two tables for six. Such a warm, inviting room. We were served coffee, pate, and bread rounds. We were so comfortable we really didn't want to leave.
We had lunch just a few miles away at Louie and the Redhead Lady - just a ramshackle old building but nice and homey inside. (Chef Kevin Belton from New Orleans School of Cooking recommended it.) Louie Finnan is the chef/owner and we were able to speak with him briefly. I have to tell you about the ladies room. Small but very clean and decorated to the hilt. Chartreuse paint on one wall and in a stripe on the other walls. Scenes from Paris on the walls as decals. About a dozen vintage hats displayed high on the walls. Ribbon wrapped around an exposed pipe and tied in a bow. Ginger Finnan (the redhead lady) designs jewelry and sells it in the restaurant. Food was excellent. Would go back gladly.
This morning, Sunday, we met with friends and went to the Norwegian Sjomannkirken (Seaman's or Sailor's Church) in New Orleans. The service was conducted in Norwegian. We didn't understand a word but it didn't matter. Think I would have been disappointed if it had been in English. A choir of Norwegian students (about 40 of them) sang and were wonderful. There was a model of a ship suspended from the ceiling in the sanctuary. The actual anchor from that ship was displayed on the lawn in front of the church. The associate pastor? was Vidar and the pastor was Erland Grotberg. After the service, we were served lunch - rolls, a warm sliced white bread with butter, ham, deviled eggs with a strip of sardine, roast beef, salmon, chicken, hamburger patties, cheeses, grapes, potato salad, scrambled eggs with salmon, and I'm sure I've forgotten some of the dishes. Desserts were a cone filled with a flavored whipped cream and a cake with delicious almost frothy icing. Wonderful
lunch. The sanctuary, kitchen, lobby, game room, and a concession stand (room) were in one building. In the concession area I saw ham, sausage, rolls, pastries, flat brod, sjokladen (chocolate), mayonesa, caviar, and soft drinks among other things. There is an outside area with a pool and places for children to play. Housing is provided for seamen and church members who are visiting New Orleans if they want to stay there. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. All of the ladies who attended the service and luncheon were given a long-stemmed red rose. A great experience.
Thanks for reading.
Janie
We had lunch just a few miles away at Louie and the Redhead Lady - just a ramshackle old building but nice and homey inside. (Chef Kevin Belton from New Orleans School of Cooking recommended it.) Louie Finnan is the chef/owner and we were able to speak with him briefly. I have to tell you about the ladies room. Small but very clean and decorated to the hilt. Chartreuse paint on one wall and in a stripe on the other walls. Scenes from Paris on the walls as decals. About a dozen vintage hats displayed high on the walls. Ribbon wrapped around an exposed pipe and tied in a bow. Ginger Finnan (the redhead lady) designs jewelry and sells it in the restaurant. Food was excellent. Would go back gladly.
This morning, Sunday, we met with friends and went to the Norwegian Sjomannkirken (Seaman's or Sailor's Church) in New Orleans. The service was conducted in Norwegian. We didn't understand a word but it didn't matter. Think I would have been disappointed if it had been in English. A choir of Norwegian students (about 40 of them) sang and were wonderful. There was a model of a ship suspended from the ceiling in the sanctuary. The actual anchor from that ship was displayed on the lawn in front of the church. The associate pastor? was Vidar and the pastor was Erland Grotberg. After the service, we were served lunch - rolls, a warm sliced white bread with butter, ham, deviled eggs with a strip of sardine, roast beef, salmon, chicken, hamburger patties, cheeses, grapes, potato salad, scrambled eggs with salmon, and I'm sure I've forgotten some of the dishes. Desserts were a cone filled with a flavored whipped cream and a cake with delicious almost frothy icing. Wonderful
lunch. The sanctuary, kitchen, lobby, game room, and a concession stand (room) were in one building. In the concession area I saw ham, sausage, rolls, pastries, flat brod, sjokladen (chocolate), mayonesa, caviar, and soft drinks among other things. There is an outside area with a pool and places for children to play. Housing is provided for seamen and church members who are visiting New Orleans if they want to stay there. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. All of the ladies who attended the service and luncheon were given a long-stemmed red rose. A great experience.
Thanks for reading.
Janie
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Revisiting America
Well, here I am again.
Regardless of where you are there are a certain amount of chores that have to be done, especially to keep walking space in your room and the small kitchen free of clutter and dirty dishes. I'm coming up with some pretty good meals though, with only a two-burner stove and a toaster oven. Like yesterday, for lunch we had fish fillets in lemon-butter sauce, pasta salad, and left-over asparagus-english pea casserole. Always tea and a bite of peppermint bark for our sweet tooth.
We are looking for John Besh and thought he might be at his restaurant "La Provence" in Mandeville, anyway that was our excuse for going. The restaurant was open, but just open, because meals were served at five in the afternoon. Walked in and a lovely little lady told us this, and said we could look around if we wanted to. We said goodbye, went to our car and were driving away when she came out to the car and invited us back in, because she said, " John would have wanted her to". First of all, the building is so beautiful, furnished with "country french antiques", little seating areas around this huge room, several other dining rooms as well, a huge banquet room, all the tables with white cloths and silver, huge big stone fireplaces with fires burning, fresh flowers, a piano. I sat and played several songs, after she had just told me that the best piano player she had ever heard usually played there. (I'm not intimidated). She did clap, not very loud or long.Ha!
She served us coffee made with a "french press" pate, and tiny little slices of french bread. Her name is Joyce Bates, and she writes poetry under the name of "Just Joyce" She gave us several cards she had written. We really hated to leave, but there were several men there working, and we doubted we could have afforded to eat a meal, regardless of the time it would be served. Sure did want to though, so we may try to visit his restaurant "August" in N.O. next week. This restaurant was in Lacombe, rather than Mandeville, so we went back to Mandeville, only several miles, to the "dive" "Louie and
the Redhead Lady, which will be featured on the Food channel January 24, and several other dates, which is hosted by Guy Fiere, "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives". Kevin Belton had given us the name of the Chef-Owner Louie Finnan. This was some of the best food we have eaten, fried shrimp and catfish, delicate onion rings, green beans, a delicious green salad, but, before this, the most wonderful artichoke and shrimp soup (just a cup). Louie the chef did come over and talk to us, and mentioned several times he would be with Guy Fiere in the next month. That was an interesting experience and we have pictures to prove it.
Then, last night, we had been invited a week ago, we visited a cousin of a friend in one of the most beautiful, elegant homes I've ever been in. I am not capable of describing the many different, unusal pieces of furniture, every wall hung with valuable art of every kind, statutes, dishes, elegant rugs, brick walls, eleven-foot ceilings, out-door patio areas, a pool, beautiful chandeliers. Well, you get the idea.
After visiting awhile we walked around to a quaint pizza place where every unusual kind of pizza was made, as well as many other different dishes, walked down several busy "night-life" streets, walked to our car, said our good-byes, and then, home. We do hope to re-visit them again before leaving N.O.
My direction senses, even with ONSTAR leave a lot to be desired, so on any given trip, I will take a scenic tour or two, and of course, this happened on our way home. I'm just hoping I'm not on ONSTAR'S "most wanted list of the worst driver not to help" or these next eleven months will be a trial. I do plan to listen more carefully, and follow the directions.
We do have something special planned for Sunday, the 16th. Until my next blog, thanks for listening.
Lou, who is so appreciative of the opportunity to do what I'm doing, and know it is because of the wonderful blessings, care, grace of my Lord and Savior, who wants to bless us with every good and perfect gift and blessing.
Regardless of where you are there are a certain amount of chores that have to be done, especially to keep walking space in your room and the small kitchen free of clutter and dirty dishes. I'm coming up with some pretty good meals though, with only a two-burner stove and a toaster oven. Like yesterday, for lunch we had fish fillets in lemon-butter sauce, pasta salad, and left-over asparagus-english pea casserole. Always tea and a bite of peppermint bark for our sweet tooth.
We are looking for John Besh and thought he might be at his restaurant "La Provence" in Mandeville, anyway that was our excuse for going. The restaurant was open, but just open, because meals were served at five in the afternoon. Walked in and a lovely little lady told us this, and said we could look around if we wanted to. We said goodbye, went to our car and were driving away when she came out to the car and invited us back in, because she said, " John would have wanted her to". First of all, the building is so beautiful, furnished with "country french antiques", little seating areas around this huge room, several other dining rooms as well, a huge banquet room, all the tables with white cloths and silver, huge big stone fireplaces with fires burning, fresh flowers, a piano. I sat and played several songs, after she had just told me that the best piano player she had ever heard usually played there. (I'm not intimidated). She did clap, not very loud or long.Ha!
She served us coffee made with a "french press" pate, and tiny little slices of french bread. Her name is Joyce Bates, and she writes poetry under the name of "Just Joyce" She gave us several cards she had written. We really hated to leave, but there were several men there working, and we doubted we could have afforded to eat a meal, regardless of the time it would be served. Sure did want to though, so we may try to visit his restaurant "August" in N.O. next week. This restaurant was in Lacombe, rather than Mandeville, so we went back to Mandeville, only several miles, to the "dive" "Louie and
the Redhead Lady, which will be featured on the Food channel January 24, and several other dates, which is hosted by Guy Fiere, "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives". Kevin Belton had given us the name of the Chef-Owner Louie Finnan. This was some of the best food we have eaten, fried shrimp and catfish, delicate onion rings, green beans, a delicious green salad, but, before this, the most wonderful artichoke and shrimp soup (just a cup). Louie the chef did come over and talk to us, and mentioned several times he would be with Guy Fiere in the next month. That was an interesting experience and we have pictures to prove it.
Then, last night, we had been invited a week ago, we visited a cousin of a friend in one of the most beautiful, elegant homes I've ever been in. I am not capable of describing the many different, unusal pieces of furniture, every wall hung with valuable art of every kind, statutes, dishes, elegant rugs, brick walls, eleven-foot ceilings, out-door patio areas, a pool, beautiful chandeliers. Well, you get the idea.
After visiting awhile we walked around to a quaint pizza place where every unusual kind of pizza was made, as well as many other different dishes, walked down several busy "night-life" streets, walked to our car, said our good-byes, and then, home. We do hope to re-visit them again before leaving N.O.
My direction senses, even with ONSTAR leave a lot to be desired, so on any given trip, I will take a scenic tour or two, and of course, this happened on our way home. I'm just hoping I'm not on ONSTAR'S "most wanted list of the worst driver not to help" or these next eleven months will be a trial. I do plan to listen more carefully, and follow the directions.
We do have something special planned for Sunday, the 16th. Until my next blog, thanks for listening.
Lou, who is so appreciative of the opportunity to do what I'm doing, and know it is because of the wonderful blessings, care, grace of my Lord and Savior, who wants to bless us with every good and perfect gift and blessing.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Revisiting America
We haven't accomplished a lot in the last couple of days, so I feel compelled to tell you all about it. To my daughter-in-law, Ann, "I LOVE MY KINDLE." I read a lot so I was concerned about having enough books to last me for the year. I could picture us with a U-Haul loaded with books being dragged along behind. With my Kindle, not a problem.
Lou and I have been having "temperature wars." As an example, the temp this morning is 34 and she has the air conditioner going in our room. Those of you who know Lou know that I'm not kidding. She turned it down for me, though, when I had to be careful about getting a chill.
The doctor had warned me about fever, chill, red streaks running up my leg, etc. I have a recurring battle with staph. When I've had enough antiboitics to cure a small city, we don't kill it, we just get it to lie dormant. But I refuse to let that get in the way of anything we want to do on the trip. I'll never have this opportunity again and I'm in for the whole ride. Just like staph, I'm not that easy to get rid of.
We have our reservations firmed up for the next 3 stops and Ketchikan in October. In some, we have "kitchenettes" and in some full kitchens. I just have to stop Lou from shopping for the kitchen (she asked me to). We now have mixing bowls with lids for storage, sets of different sizes of plastic bowls with lids for storage, foil baking pans with lids for storage, etc. You do the math (the math being the cubic feet of storage in a Buick Enclave and the volume to be packed therein).
We're having lots of fun even when we aren't doing something extraordinary. Just the freedom of being on this adventure is stimulating. Besides, right now we're in New Orleans and it's a great city. Laissez les bon temps roulez, or, let the good times roll.
Janie
Lou and I have been having "temperature wars." As an example, the temp this morning is 34 and she has the air conditioner going in our room. Those of you who know Lou know that I'm not kidding. She turned it down for me, though, when I had to be careful about getting a chill.
The doctor had warned me about fever, chill, red streaks running up my leg, etc. I have a recurring battle with staph. When I've had enough antiboitics to cure a small city, we don't kill it, we just get it to lie dormant. But I refuse to let that get in the way of anything we want to do on the trip. I'll never have this opportunity again and I'm in for the whole ride. Just like staph, I'm not that easy to get rid of.
We have our reservations firmed up for the next 3 stops and Ketchikan in October. In some, we have "kitchenettes" and in some full kitchens. I just have to stop Lou from shopping for the kitchen (she asked me to). We now have mixing bowls with lids for storage, sets of different sizes of plastic bowls with lids for storage, foil baking pans with lids for storage, etc. You do the math (the math being the cubic feet of storage in a Buick Enclave and the volume to be packed therein).
We're having lots of fun even when we aren't doing something extraordinary. Just the freedom of being on this adventure is stimulating. Besides, right now we're in New Orleans and it's a great city. Laissez les bon temps roulez, or, let the good times roll.
Janie
Revisiting America
Several uneventful days: If you've been scheduled all your life you have to really work at doing nothing. I feel somewhat guilty that I'm actually doing nothing, or whatever strikes my fancy. Now that we are blogging, what do I owe our readers?
Everything we do certainly won't be of interest, like our second trip to Walmart, or Janie's trip to the doctor( which was necessary) and the medicine is working, or just sitting around.
But, one of our "highlights" was meeting Milton and Jack Thompson at the N.O.(remember,New Orleans) airport on their return from the BCS game in Arizona. Couldn't have been more proud had it been the whole team. Most of the people in the airport wore something orange and blue.
I felt like Milton was a little reluctant to leave "HIS MOTHER" in such a strange place, when he's so accustomed to coming to my house in Chatom. I have assured him everything is okay! Love you, Milton. And to the rest of the family, we are fine.
Today, we will follow up on some of the contacts we've made and hope they will be of interest to you.
Lou
Everything we do certainly won't be of interest, like our second trip to Walmart, or Janie's trip to the doctor( which was necessary) and the medicine is working, or just sitting around.
But, one of our "highlights" was meeting Milton and Jack Thompson at the N.O.(remember,New Orleans) airport on their return from the BCS game in Arizona. Couldn't have been more proud had it been the whole team. Most of the people in the airport wore something orange and blue.
I felt like Milton was a little reluctant to leave "HIS MOTHER" in such a strange place, when he's so accustomed to coming to my house in Chatom. I have assured him everything is okay! Love you, Milton. And to the rest of the family, we are fine.
Today, we will follow up on some of the contacts we've made and hope they will be of interest to you.
Lou
Monday, January 10, 2011
Revisiting America
Visited Thomas United Methodist Church for an 8:30 service(missed Sunday School which was at 7:45) and were warmly received, even asked to stand and tell about our trip. We had met the pastor standing at the grocery deli waiting for the mac and cheese to cook. Loved the music during the service, did a little toe-tapping at times. Do-nuts and coffee and meet and greet after the service.
Remember the roast beef? It is now "hash". Did add slaw and green beans to the menu.
Rainy afternoon which was spent reading, napping, phone calls, and then the laundry experience.
Did you know these washers and dryers make $2.00 a load? Anyway, that's over for another week.
Janie forgot to mention the wonderful biscuits and cane syrup served at our cooking experience. Kevin went into a lengthy explanation about the cane syrup, something we definitely know about, while we were dying to get on with the tasting. I am allowed one mistake a day, I heard, and mine for the day was asking the lady who was prepping for the next show if she was the "prep chef", when she was actually the next chef on the program. She was very nice.
Anxiously awaiting the Auburn win tonight! WAR EAGLE!
Remember the roast beef? It is now "hash". Did add slaw and green beans to the menu.
Rainy afternoon which was spent reading, napping, phone calls, and then the laundry experience.
Did you know these washers and dryers make $2.00 a load? Anyway, that's over for another week.
Janie forgot to mention the wonderful biscuits and cane syrup served at our cooking experience. Kevin went into a lengthy explanation about the cane syrup, something we definitely know about, while we were dying to get on with the tasting. I am allowed one mistake a day, I heard, and mine for the day was asking the lady who was prepping for the next show if she was the "prep chef", when she was actually the next chef on the program. She was very nice.
Anxiously awaiting the Auburn win tonight! WAR EAGLE!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Revisiting America
We're back. Lou and I are both stunned to find out that people are actually reading our blog and waiting for the next entry. We coudn't be more thrilled.
Yesterday was great fun. We attended a demonstration class at the New Orleans School of Cooking in the Louisiana General Store. Our chef was Kevin Belton who was featured in Kuralt's America. He is 6' 9" tall and weighs approximately 400 pounds. His business card reads, "Kevin Belton, Human Taxidermist," because he loves to stuff people. In a 2-1/2 hour class, he cooked gumbo, jambalaya, bread pudding with whiskey sauce, and pralines. The best gumbo and the best jambalaya I have ever tasted anywhere. He's a fantastic chef and a stand-up comedian. We laughed the whole time. Makes for good digestion. We were able to sit and talk with him for about 20 minutes after class. He even told us some people to contact for more interviews. I invited him to make the rest of the trip with us, but he has prior obligations. Our loss.
We haven't had any more smoke-filled-room incidents, for which we are grateful. But the trip ain't over yet.
Thanks for reading.
Janie
Yesterday was great fun. We attended a demonstration class at the New Orleans School of Cooking in the Louisiana General Store. Our chef was Kevin Belton who was featured in Kuralt's America. He is 6' 9" tall and weighs approximately 400 pounds. His business card reads, "Kevin Belton, Human Taxidermist," because he loves to stuff people. In a 2-1/2 hour class, he cooked gumbo, jambalaya, bread pudding with whiskey sauce, and pralines. The best gumbo and the best jambalaya I have ever tasted anywhere. He's a fantastic chef and a stand-up comedian. We laughed the whole time. Makes for good digestion. We were able to sit and talk with him for about 20 minutes after class. He even told us some people to contact for more interviews. I invited him to make the rest of the trip with us, but he has prior obligations. Our loss.
We haven't had any more smoke-filled-room incidents, for which we are grateful. But the trip ain't over yet.
Thanks for reading.
Janie
Friday, January 7, 2011
Revisiting America
Bye for Hi!
We're back! Technical difficulties. They usually don't last a week, but with us? Thanks to granddaughter Caroline in D.C. we will continue our journey.
This has been a busy week but not quite sure how to report it since a good bit of the time has been spent making and confirming contacts.
Monday was a special daY though. We gave ourselves an early "birthday present( mine is in June, and Janie's in November)and took a taxi into N.O.and stepped out of the taxi right at the beginning of the Sugar Bowl Parade(New Orleans from here on out will be N.O.) Ate a wonderful lunch, again part of our present, saw a break-dancing group who had appeared on "America's Got Talent", strolled Bourbon Street, came home absolutely worn out.
Our next big event happened in the room as I was browning a roast to put in the crock pot to cook while we were out for the day. Phone began ringing, fifire alarm went off, the room filled with smoke, and while I'm on the phone with the desk clerk telling me to Not Open the Main Door, turn on the bathroom vent,open the windows, Janie is in a chair fanning, the smoke detector(we have a picture to prove it), we are both laughing so hard we can't stand up. My grandmdaughter Meagan had said the fire department came to these spartments at least twice a week, thank goodnes our episode didn't quite reach those proportions. We can't be evicted at this stage of the game.
Bye for now!
We're back! Technical difficulties. They usually don't last a week, but with us? Thanks to granddaughter Caroline in D.C. we will continue our journey.
This has been a busy week but not quite sure how to report it since a good bit of the time has been spent making and confirming contacts.
Monday was a special daY though. We gave ourselves an early "birthday present( mine is in June, and Janie's in November)and took a taxi into N.O.and stepped out of the taxi right at the beginning of the Sugar Bowl Parade(New Orleans from here on out will be N.O.) Ate a wonderful lunch, again part of our present, saw a break-dancing group who had appeared on "America's Got Talent", strolled Bourbon Street, came home absolutely worn out.
Our next big event happened in the room as I was browning a roast to put in the crock pot to cook while we were out for the day. Phone began ringing, fifire alarm went off, the room filled with smoke, and while I'm on the phone with the desk clerk telling me to Not Open the Main Door, turn on the bathroom vent,open the windows, Janie is in a chair fanning, the smoke detector(we have a picture to prove it), we are both laughing so hard we can't stand up. My grandmdaughter Meagan had said the fire department came to these spartments at least twice a week, thank goodnes our episode didn't quite reach those proportions. We can't be evicted at this stage of the game.
Bye for now!
Revisiting America
Sorry we haven't posted but once. As the computer geniuses that we are, we lost almost the entire blog. We'll post again very soon. Please one of you respond that we posted this apology successfully.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Revisiting America
HI!
Thanks for such a wonderful "send-off". Had no idea something like that was planned, but knowing my wonderful children, I'm not surprised. Didn't open the front door to look out, so I was totally surprised when I pulled out of the car port and everyone was there wishing me well.
Janie and I arrived within 30 minutes of one another, each uneventful trips, but mine was rainy most of the way.
Motel easy to find, so we began unpacking immediately, to get a little settled in before dark. Our room ample space, but, of course could use more storage room.
Sunday we attended First Baptist Church, Kenner, La. Beautiful church, contemporary music, on the wall singing, very deep sermon concerning the infallibility of the Bible, very mixed "bag" in the congregation. Janie has promised to attend Sunday mornings with me, but we aren't sure about Sunday night or Wednesday nights. We'll see.
We are mostly settled in our room,so plan to venture out today and begin establishing more of a routine to our days. ....We are re-visiting the book to see how we want to visit, document, and prioritize our time and days so we don't leave here saying we should have done "this" or "that".
Never having done a blog before, I'm not sure what a reader will want, but I'll have to find my way, so if it gets too boring, plese let me know.
Saturday really began an extraordinary time in my life. I would venture to say most people never have the opportunity to experience, or would if they could. I pray that I'll not let opportunities pass to witness to someone, that I'll be open to everything around me, and that I'll keep close with everyone at home and what's happening there.
Pray for us every day and help us keep you informed.
Love, Lou
Now for the other part of the team - this is Janie. Hadn't promised a blog to anyone, but I think this will be fun.
My impressions so far are a lot like Lou's because we are experiencing things together. My trip to New Orleans was longer (8 hours for me as opposed to 3 for Lou) but I didn't have any rain. For the first two hours of the trip, I saw about 10 cars because of leaving Austin early on New Year's Day. Traffic picked up on I-10 of course as I approached the city.
When I went to church with Lou yesterday, nothing catastrophic happened even though it had been some time since I had been to church - any church, anywhere.
Today is Monday, January 3, 2011, and we plan to start venturing out. Charles Kuralt didn't travel to all of these cities and just sit in his hotel/motel room.
I already miss my family in Austin - Dave, Ann, Jake and Josh. Jake has a birthday coming up on the 10th - he'll be 6. Ann has a birthday on the 12th but I won't give you her age. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to both.
If anybody out there is reading this, please give us some feedback. We'll blog again soon.
Thanks for such a wonderful "send-off". Had no idea something like that was planned, but knowing my wonderful children, I'm not surprised. Didn't open the front door to look out, so I was totally surprised when I pulled out of the car port and everyone was there wishing me well.
Janie and I arrived within 30 minutes of one another, each uneventful trips, but mine was rainy most of the way.
Motel easy to find, so we began unpacking immediately, to get a little settled in before dark. Our room ample space, but, of course could use more storage room.
Sunday we attended First Baptist Church, Kenner, La. Beautiful church, contemporary music, on the wall singing, very deep sermon concerning the infallibility of the Bible, very mixed "bag" in the congregation. Janie has promised to attend Sunday mornings with me, but we aren't sure about Sunday night or Wednesday nights. We'll see.
We are mostly settled in our room,so plan to venture out today and begin establishing more of a routine to our days. ....We are re-visiting the book to see how we want to visit, document, and prioritize our time and days so we don't leave here saying we should have done "this" or "that".
Never having done a blog before, I'm not sure what a reader will want, but I'll have to find my way, so if it gets too boring, plese let me know.
Saturday really began an extraordinary time in my life. I would venture to say most people never have the opportunity to experience, or would if they could. I pray that I'll not let opportunities pass to witness to someone, that I'll be open to everything around me, and that I'll keep close with everyone at home and what's happening there.
Pray for us every day and help us keep you informed.
Love, Lou
Now for the other part of the team - this is Janie. Hadn't promised a blog to anyone, but I think this will be fun.
My impressions so far are a lot like Lou's because we are experiencing things together. My trip to New Orleans was longer (8 hours for me as opposed to 3 for Lou) but I didn't have any rain. For the first two hours of the trip, I saw about 10 cars because of leaving Austin early on New Year's Day. Traffic picked up on I-10 of course as I approached the city.
When I went to church with Lou yesterday, nothing catastrophic happened even though it had been some time since I had been to church - any church, anywhere.
Today is Monday, January 3, 2011, and we plan to start venturing out. Charles Kuralt didn't travel to all of these cities and just sit in his hotel/motel room.
I already miss my family in Austin - Dave, Ann, Jake and Josh. Jake has a birthday coming up on the 10th - he'll be 6. Ann has a birthday on the 12th but I won't give you her age. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to both.
If anybody out there is reading this, please give us some feedback. We'll blog again soon.
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