Happy Birthday to me.....!!!!!

  

Wayne needed to go on a work trip to New Orleans

over my Birthday so of course I went too....

We had two nights in the Marriott on Sasol.

(thank you for the Birthday present!!!) 

Unfortunately, it rained most of the time we were there but 

we had a fabulous time. 

 Only in New Orleans would you see

red chandeliers, they were awesome...

so of course I had to take a picture of them...

  

We arrived about 7:30 in the evening so we just 

checked out around our hotel before

calling it a night....

Harrah's casino was right across the street so we went in

to check out the night life.

 Loved the large Marti Gras masks in the 

Marti Gras room....

we didn't stay long...it was kind of smoky.

 Wayne had to go to work the next morning,

so I walked to the Riverwalk

to do some shopping...

it was too rainy to do much else.

  

Tried out the Beignets 

(fried bread...fabulous!!!)

at the famous Cafe Du Monde... I saved some for Wayne

beacuse I didn't know if we would get back there

or not... but they are much better hot!!!

 

And some very hot and spicy, seafood Gumbo for lunch...

it made my nose run...but I loved it!!!

 Then I watched the paddle boats on the

Mississippi...

  

This picture is out of sequence but oh well,

we did go back to Cafe Du Monde...

 ....and a ferry.

Then Wayne arrived back at the hotel earlier than he thought...

because of the rain...so we walked to the French Quarter...

Love the cute balconies...

  

We went into the "House of Voodoo" just for fun.

The floor was cool and completely tiled with broken

tiles.

 Do you love the skeleton mirror?

...and, of course, Wayne!!!

Then we continued our walk to Jackson square and went inside
 St. Louis Cathedral. 

Everything was in French....

This is on the inside above the front door.

We took a couple pictures of random things...

ljke this horse post which was cool...

...and the gas lights that they have lit even in the daytime.

We got stopped by a train...even though we were walking... 

it was a long train...it took forever.

That night we ate at the Palace Cafe... a really nice restaurant

just next to our hotel...

We had the chicken....mine was rotisserie grilled

on top of truffled potatoes with argula lettuce on top.

It was fabulous!!!

Waynes had pesto on top of the chichen

and layered on tomatoes and grilled potatoes.

Then we walked around a bit more and saw the trollies...

The famous blue dogs on the side of some building...

...and the insecterium...but just from the outside.

...and Wayne surprised me with a bracelet from

one of my favorite stores.

I love it!!!

The next day we had to come home but we 

 stopped at Wayne's work first and then we

took a ferry across the Mississippi.

And came home...it was a great trip and a really
fun birthday!!!

Tea Time...

 Julie and I decided that we wanted to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee

of Queen Elizabeth ll by having our very own tea party. I know that the official jubilee was a couple of week ago but this week both of our husbands were out of town on business and we had time to really make it special.

We went all out and even got dressed up...Julie in her cute hat..

(I don't have a hat but I do have a bow in my hair) and

I have on my pearls.

 Julie made cucumber sandwiches

and I made deviled eggs.

   

 I polished my moms silver...

  

The top one in this picture has my great grandfather's 

initials engraved in the handle ( J.A. for John Thomas Appleby Jr.) or it could be my great, great grandfather's whose name was also John Thomas Appleby Sr. and the sugar spoon has my mom's initials

in the handle... E.A. for Eudora Ellen Appleby.

While I was getting ready I kept thinking how much easier this would be if I had a maid...like they do on Downton Abbey...

But if I lived during that time...I might not have had a maid...

OOHHH...

I might have even been a maid....

I think I am just fine cleaning my own house....

and living with modern conveniences... 

but I think what I would really like is 
to have my own cook!!!

Anyway...I have a few tea cups, which were also my mom's, and

a sugar bowl and creamer but I 

did not have a tea pot...so I decided to go to the antique store

to see if I could find one.

There were probably 20 different tea pots to choose from. Most of them were modern and didn't seem to fit the occasion...

but then I found this one... 

Made in England...it is a Gibson Staffordshire teapot....

and I was surprised and pleased at how reasonable it was.

I don't usually care for gold but I knew my tea cups had gold edges so even though it doesn't match it would look as cute as possible...

Plus it is a bit worn, especially on the handle, but it has personality

and probably a cool history.

I love it!!! 

  

 During tea we watched

"Lost in Austen" a cute take off from

"Pride and Prejudice." 

"

 And we worked on our paper dolls...which are actually fabric...

They are so cute and have a bunch of really cute clothes to go

with them.

We didn't get them quite finished...

The little blond pony-tailed girl is done and has on one of the outfits...

...but we can finish them up during out next tea party...

Sooo fun...!!!

Our first tomato of the season!!!

 Wooo Hoooo!!!!

We have been watching this little tomato for the last few

days because it has finally starting to turn red!!!

So Wayne told me this morning before he went to work

that we had better pick it before our

squirrel friends decided to have a taste.

(That is what happened last year to most of our tomatoes)

The funny thing is....this tomato came off of our smallest plant!!!
Go figure!!!

 We are thinking the tomato plants are not getting enough sun

and maybe next year we will have to move it away from the house. 

We will just keep trying.

Our beans did pretty well...we will probably still get some more

beans before they are through.

Weekend yardwork...

 While Wayne was mowing the lawn today, I decided our

driveway was badly in need of cleaning. Every year we power wash

the front porch and the back porch

(Chris did it for us this year)

but we usually skip a year

(or two) 

on the driveway because  #1...it is huge and 

#2...It takes forever.

So this is the year to at least clean part of the driveway...

I actually love the power washer because even though

it is slow...

you get amazing results!!!

And I can soak up some vitamin D in the process!!!

 

  

I also like to make designs... 

 ...and get Wayne involved too!!!

 ......we hope to not see you next year!!!

Moving on...!!!

The sign on the back of the U-Haul truck is very applicable

to a recent graduate. But Chris has know for a few months that

he would be leaving Louisiana and moving on to Denver

where he will be working for Halliburton, an oil drilling

company.

So after graduation yesterday we helped him to load the

 truck get ready to go...

  

They hooked his car up to the back of the truck...

 

...and he took off on his next great adventure!!!

 

I packed him a giant lunch, Wayne gave him a very 

awesome father's blessing and our advice to him

 was to not look back.....

So after a few tears and hugs...

 

...he drove off to start his new life for himself...

Best of luck, Chris, we are all rooting for you!!!

Love you tons!!!

Class of 2012

Today Chris graduated with a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from McNeese State University.

We are so proud and excited for him to have completed this goal in his life and to have received his degree with honors!!!

It was a really fabulous day for him and for us too.

 

After the ceremony inside the Burton Coliseum....

 

We went to take pictures outside...

always a favorite part.

 

We also drove over to the McNeese campus and 

took a few more pictures.

Chris is now an official cowboy!!!

 

So happy for you Chris!!

We are excited for you and know that you will 

accomplish many more fabulous goals in the future!!!

We love you!!!

Mother's Day!!!

Jennifer, Chris and Matthew gave me the sweetest Mother's Day gift!!! I love the card...."My three Chicks".....

...and love the wire nest with the "three chicks" eggs inside!!! It was so thoughtful, clever, and sweet!!! Love you guys!!! You are all the best and sweetest kidos ever!!!