This year, for Christmas, we traveled to both of our families' homes. Everyone lives in either Louisiana or Texas (except my brother-in-law, who, like us, is doomed to travel every holiday. Except he only has to go to one state....lucky him!) We are expected to travel to two states. Since our relatives live 5 hours' drive apart...mine in Texas, and my in-laws in Louisiana...it seems foolish to travel all the way from Florida and not go see both. I can never make up my mind if this is convenient, or a major pain. How do you tell one side that you're not coming over? So, while it's definitely a pain to do all that driving around, it is convenient to see everyone in one trip. Let's just say that we are usually quite thrilled to get back home again!
This year was our son's 20th birthday, and we decided to take a detour into New Orleans to celebrate. I sort of took a rest from my camera on this trip, but managed to get a few shots here and there.
In New Orleans, we stayed in one of the old mansions in the Garden District. I've always loved those old houses, and it was a great location. None of the chaos and parking issues of the French Quarter, and only one block off of St. Charles Avenue.
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| Sully Mansion on Prytania Street in the Garden District |
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| Sitting in the early morning sun and looking out of our window. I can hear the Sunday bells of a church. I love bright sunshine in the morning...helps me wake up. |
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Let the festivities begin...time to get up!
...and, by the way....he's being kind to me and growing out the whiskers so I can transform him into an 1850s overland emigrant for a photo shoot in January. There's been no end of complaining...and he won't admit it, but I suspect he's starting to like the way he looks.
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On Sunday morning we went to mass at St. Stephens, near our B&B. My husband went to grade school here, so it was a nostalgic visit for him. It's a beautiful church built in the 1880s, but the parish was established in the 1840s.
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| The source of the bells that I heard when I woke up... |
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| Traditional cathedrals are so beautiful...love the atmosphere and the stained glass windows. |
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| He is born! |
Alex wanted some beignets, so we drove over to the French Quarter to Cafe Du Monde
Next day it was time for po'boys...eagerly consumed at Mother's restaurant. Delicious, but Jim and I thought they weren't quite as good as in the past, and boy are they ever pricey now!
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| I don't think words are necessary here |
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| father and son |
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| Love the porches! |
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| Alex makes me feel so short...I'm 5'8", but he's at least 6 inches taller. It's nice to have a tall son to look up to... |
On our drive up to Natchitoches (in-law territory)...we stopped for lunch at
Oak Alley Plantation. They have a pretty nice restaurant in one of the original outbuildings. The shrimp gumbo was very good...
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| The live oaks are as beautiful as ever.. |
Then we continued a few miles up the river road to
Laura Plantation. They have an interesting tour about the Creole family who lived there. One of the daughters wrote her
memoirs, which are now published as a book. The house is a typical style built by Creoles, and these are the original colors. This plantation produced sugar and syrup from cane.
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| Laura Plantation |
After visiting Jim's family in Natchitoches, we drove over to Dallas for my folks...
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| We drove over to McKinney to walk around and look at the shops and meet my brother and his family. This is Alex, my dad and me...it was cold! |
...and, even though these sorts of trips tend to be hectic and full, I made sure we had one day to spend with my great friend and fellow artist, Sharon. She and her husband have a beautiful home on a lake, where Alex had a great time kayaking.
And now it's back to painting matters....this new year is already quite full of commitments. But, that's a good thing! Next post will show some new paintings and show information...
