Random

Still trying to recuperate from the LSU tailgate party yesterday. I managed to make it to noon mass at St. Joseph's, but that was about all. Partying is no longer in the cards for me, I guess. My mind wants to have fun and be a social butterfly, but my body won't let me. I WILL be posting about it soon, though!

Posting these random images because I really didn't know what else to do with them.

Observed this at my dad's football game. A little girl under the age of two sat in a stroller right beside this mother who not only wore dangerous jewelry, but also sported psychedelic shoes with 6" heels, and shorts so short and tight she made Pamela Anderson look like Mother Teresa. Every time the child fussed, she stuffed Cheetos in the child's mouth or just ignored the poor girl. I bit a hole in my tongue to keep silent, and felt helpless and angry the whole game. I envisioned a big confrontation, but I also envisioned having my eyes poked out. Gosh, what does one do in a situation like this? I'm sure I could've devoted an entire post to this, discussing the social ramifications of this mother's behavior, but what good would it do?

Playing with Izzy and the iPhone in July while Daddy's out of town.

Our beloved State Capital building, June, 2012. The tallest capitol building in the U.S.

Gecko cutie pie.

BBQ shrimp and grits. YUM! I did not know grits could be fried. Another iPhone shot.

Just playing.

First time ever seeing a wren's tongue.

My new reading chair for the master bedroom. Ordered it from overstock.com. I escape to this whenever my husband is on a sports-watching-binge. Which is frequently.

LOVE this shirt, but had to return it for a larger size. Unfortunately, this was the last one. If anyone sees this shirt anywhere, please direct me! From the fleur-de-lis--to the faded Saints lettering--to the Football script font: this has ME written all over it!

Spotted this dinner napkin at Hobby Lobby. The translator obviously had a problem with the word BLESSINGS! LOL

Hope your week is bleesed!

Bittersweet

It was a strange, but good day. My dad went with me to visit my sister's grave. I don't think he has set foot in the St. Gabriel Cemetery for 40+ years. He had forgotten the grave's location, so I pointed him towards the headstone with the praying angel, flanked by pink roses. Then I walked away to give him some space. I turned and watched as he knelt down beside her, and for several seconds contemplated a quick snap with my iphone. However, it felt like an unwelcome intrusion on such a private moment, so I resisted the urge and continued on. After some time, he stood up and strode towards me, dabbing at his eyes with his handkerchief. We hugged. We stood like that for quite some time with me giving some extra squeezes for the words I wanted to say, but couldn't. It's the first time I've seen my dad cry. Even when his parents died so tragically, I don't remember him crying; he just sighed a lot. But I think he needed this today and perhaps will get some badly needed closure.

Late in the afternoon when all the emotions had died down and daddy had long since returned home, my dogs began a chorus of barks. My husband called out that the UPS man had left me a package. To my delight, it was a box from a very special blogging friend, Michelle Renee Photography! Inside she had...well...I'll let you see what she did!

What a sweetheart! A brand new hummingbird feeder and a National Geographic magazine!
I was so deeply touched by Michelle's generosity and her confidence in my photography.
Hugs, Michelle!!!!!!

Just a few minutes after I set it up, here comes Pierre, Sr.! I was focused on the feeder, not expecting a visitor so soon, but there he is, impatient to give the new feeding station a test drive.
Michelle, it has his seal of approval. He will not even let the rest of his family feed.

A very happy hummer.

Nom-nom-nom

This is him at the old feeder. I included this one because of his tongue.
He didn't stay long, he went right back to the new feeder.
(I think he realized how grody the old feeder is!)

And here sat Izzy listening to the buzz of the hummers' wings.
She so rarely sits still, so I had to take advantage of this moment.
And bonus: both her ears are in the frame!

The blogging community is filled with special people that I've grown close to and care deeply about. There are those that make me laugh, share their talents, respond to questions, pray, and offer support. I become verklempt when I try to put into words what this world of writing, friendship, and community means to me. If you had told me a few years ago that I would be giving out my address to someone over the internet and form actual friendships with other bloggers, I'd have replied that you need to go back to eating your soup with a fork. :) But I've let go and trusted, and in return received the sweetest gifts. And I'm not talking just about "things". The gift of time that people share is what stirs my heart and fills me with hope. Can I get an Amen?!

Macro Mania

On my next post I promise to deliver something different. We have been invited to a tailgate party this Saturday for the LSU vs Idaho game. I've been told there are great danes painted to look like Mike the Tiger, as well as people painted in all manner of purple and gold. I guess if we can put up with the crazy fools on Bourbon Street, we can put up with a few thousand LSU fanatics. I am taking my camera and hope the drunks don't throw up on it.

But for now, you're stuck with my images from yet another visit to Hilltop Arboretum.

Not a macro, but I chose it for the leaf changing color (hurry up fall!) and that baseball-looking bokeh in the distance.

Painted lady

Graceful curvature of the wings

Some type of pondhawk - a new one for me!

The Roseate Skimmer that I thought was so beautiful from a previous visit.
God apparently decided to make up for its less-than-attractive face by clothing it in a gorgeous shade of mauve. 

Starbush

Last of the American Beautyberries

A thank you and photo potpourri

Last week I was so busy getting ready for my son's visit and dodging a hurricane that I neglected to give my sincerest thanks to Hilary of The Smitten Image for choosing my post, Dragonflies and an Itty Bitty Surprise, for Post of the Week! So here is a great big ol' Cajun THANK YOU! It is always an honor to be a POTW recipient. I implore you, if you're not following Hilary's blog or subscribing to her posts, you are really missing out on something special. Mwah! You are awesome, Hilary!

Today I made a repeat visit to Hilltop Arboretum. I couldn't stay very long because I forgot my bug spray, but here are some of the shots I managed to get:

Brown Thrasher

This is some sort of woodpecker; perhaps a juvenile.

He was quite vocal

Yesterday I played with the Raynox macro lens again:

Hibiscus bud

Zinnia

Barreling towards New Orleans we noticed that the opposite side of the freeway was absent of any vehicles except police cars and police motorcycles. So I got on Twitter and found out that it was Obama's motorcade. He was here to survey the damage Hurricane Isaac left behind. The interstate was blocked off for a very long stretch and by the time we got to the beginning of it, the stacked up traffic made me very glad we were going the other way. There must've been 50-100 law enforcement vehicles that had I-10 westbound all to themselves.

The black spots are spattered bugs on the windshield. Sorry.

This is my little granddog, Leo. I took this with my iPhone one morning as the kids slept. He was being so sweet!

Linking up with Rural Thursday

Delightful!

The visit with my son and his girlfriend went beyond our expectations. And to think Isaac almost kept them away! We crammed so much into three days that now I am completely exhausted, yet feeling immense satisfaction at all we were able to do. We enjoyed wonderful food, toured the LSU campus, visited my mother's grave, saw most of the family, had a big BBQ, drove to Magnolia, MS to see my dad and his wife, and ended with a trip to the French Quarter. Whew doggies! I was so busy trying to go and do and please my special guests, that photography wasn't high on my list of priorities. I just wanted to ENJOY them. And I am happy to report that I DID!

My loves. At Pat O'Brien's enjoying the right kind of hurricane. :)
Do they look happy or what?

St. Louis Cathedral

As debauchery played out on Bourbon St. I looked down one of the side streets and
couldn't help noticing the huge shadow of Jesus at the rear of the Cathedral.
Right after that I slyly snapped a picture of "Gay-briel the Gay-ngel" who offered $1
to pose for photos. I wonder how many drunk or confused souls look up, see the welcoming
arms of Jesus and freak out?

We ended our night dining in the courtyard of this historical and wonderful place.
We had Chicken Oscar with lump crabmeat, shrimp and grits, BBQ shrimp and a pecan pie that
was out of this world.  If you're ever in New Orleans I'd highly recommend this place.