We are in New Orleans!

First time here since the mid sizties and I was in elementary school. Jerry's first time. Sorry, camera is not working.

We had a late breakfast - jambalaya omlet and "real" french toast with an adult beverage (it is new orleans afterall). Strolled around the quarter and am using the hotel lobby computer while we wait for our room. Proably going to leave the lobby in a couple minutes (baby it's cold outside) to track downt he Krewe of Barkus parade.

Tuesday will be red beans and rice dinner with family. thursday will be Krewe of Muses parade (http://imanolagirl.blogspot.com/2012/02/krewe-of-muses-complete-2012-shoe.html) and everything else is well, as it comes ;) This blogger I have linked rides on Krewe of Muses and I have been following her blog and she's where I got the idea to make glitter shoes.

My Daisey Turns 10 Today

Angraecum sesquipedale & Paper Whites

Even though it's winter and cold and snowy in many parts of the country, it is fun to have a couple winter bloomers around the house. My Angraecum sesquipedale (front, left) seems to bloom a little later each year. I remember a Christmas bloom the first year and a New Year's bloom another. With the treatment they got this year, I am lucky it is blooming at all. Bad gardener.


The paper whites (right, behind) are from one of those gift box things that I received for Christmas. It came with the pot, the bulbs, and this flat disk of potting medium that when you soak it in water, it becomes huge! Basically it fills the pot. We had a bit of a cold snap about 3 weeks ago so I planted the bulbs and put the whole thing in the garage hoping for some "chill" to get the bulbs started. It worked! They are so tall now and buds are forming so I thought it was time to bring them in - don't want to miss a bloom.

Bathroom Remodel

We are at it again. It was only December 2010 when we remodeled our master bathroom due to a water damaged rotted shower wall. Initially we were just did the shower but then the bathroom looked odd - half old, half new. So, since we had a high flow toilet and the large vanity only had one sink, we went ahead and replaced those and the flooring. This year is similar story but in the guest bathroom - some water & termite damage around this stained glass window, rotten vanity that was falling apart, and high flow toilet.

You can see the tile surrounding the tub/shower has been removed as well as the tile flooring (some of those were loose too) the toilet, and the rotten vanity. This was early demolition. I didn't get any tub out photos.

New tub in (Jerry's Christmas present was a jetted tub) and the first day of tiling the tub/shower area. The tiles are travertine. We used that in the other bathroom and were very happy with it. The board is where the trim tiles will go - they are slate.

The floor is ceramic tile in planks instead of squares. Mom & Jerry not fond of them but when the room is finished I believe they will like them. This is the day they were set but not grouted.

The photo above is trim tile set and floor grouted. You can also see the new tub in place - it's white, the other was being.

The vanity, below, is not actually installed yet. I just set it in place so the countertop guy could crate a template.

I cropped this photo so you could only see new stuff which gives an indication of how it will look. Still have lots of work - walls, lights, vanity & countertop, toilet, etc. but it is moving right along. Stay tuned!

35 Years Ago Today

Thirty five years ago today I was married at age 19 (barely). The marriage lasted 8 years. I recently came into posession of the photos again and thought I would share. We may be divorced but it is still a part of my life.

I was the first person I knew to have this type of wedding invite. Everyone else's at the time were white, embossed invites. I wanted a non-tradiitonal traditional wedding.

Farrah Facett hair! Back then I didn't use any hair products, not even hairspray, and only eye makeup.

 Me and my Dad. I can tell this one was staged, not an actual down-the-aisle shot, because I have on my wedding band. It's easy to spot that jade band (another non-traditional tradition).

And finally, the bride and groom with a peak of my Aunt Mary. I designed that bouquet and it was the first time the florist ever made a cascading bouquet or used ivy. She had a hard time keeping the long strands from falling out. The florist was used to making those traditional round bouquets.