Happy Birthday, Luke Duke!

Here we are in mid-August, on the 15th, and it’s time to wish our 5th family member a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

This time, the celebrant is our first-born, Lucas, known during his high school years in our family as “Luke Duke.”

Luke and oldest son, Noah.

Luke Duke did a lot of traveling very early, and was in a famous movie, before he was even born, as a matter of fact.

In February of the year Luke Duke was born, I had taken a new position as Foreman of a large cattle ranch in northern Wyoming, and loaded my 4-wheel drive with my clothes, gear, a roll away bed and our Siamese cat, and moved to the ranch that month to start work.

Luke and Noah, in the park a few doors down from grandpa and grandma’s home in Wisconsin.

I flew back home in June, and packed up a U-Haul truck with our things, and my mother and I moved Blond Girl from southern Wisconsin to northern Wyoming. By staying and working at the medical center where she was working that spring, Blond Girl was able to bring along our health insurance coverage from there, to our new home, and have it cover Luke Duke’s birth, which occurred 35 years ago on this day in 1974.

Living and working out in the wilds of northern Wyoming has its good points and its not so good points, like being 55 miles away from our doctor and the hospital, where Luke Duke would be born. Our nearest neighbors were some 5 miles away, too.

As Blond Girl’s due date approached, and we had a pre-birth appointment with our doctor, we learned that he had recently been banned from practice at the hospital, due to being so late in completing his prior paperwork there. Our doctor, though, advised us that he was on good working terms with the delivery wing staff, and was pretty confident that they would allow him to sneak in and deliver Luke Duke when the time came.

Luke, Jo and boys.

That development kind of made us a little apprehensive about the delivery, but we had faith that all would work out when it was time.

After Blond Girl arrived on and settled in on the ranch, she made new friends, and even was chosen as an extra in the blockbuster movie, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” which was filmed on part of the ranch.

And then it was the 15th, and Blond Girl was feeling like maybe it was time to start thinking about making the 55-mile trip east, over the Little Bear Lodge Mountains, into South Dakota, to the dusty western town of Belle Fourche, made famous in one of John Wayne’s many western movies.

After leaving the ranch at a somewhat leisurely pace, and gaining the summit up on the Bear Lodge, we spotted a large apple orchard alongside the road, and on the spur of the moment, decided to stop and pick a few apples to take along to the hospital.

It was during this bit of exercise, that blond Girl’s water broke, and put a more urgent presence to the remainder of our trip into South Dakota.

We arrived at the hospital (which has long since closed), checked in, our doctor was summoned, and the birth went well.

Luke and Truman, at Concert on the Square, 2008.

A couple of years later, our daughter was also born there, and about a year later, we moved back to Wisconsin, where I would go into the real estate and auction business for several years.

As he grew up through childhood, being the first born, Luke Duke was a trail blazer for his younger sister and brother, in many ways. He was an attentive, happy and very curious child, who loved to be read to, and loved to disassemble anything he could get his hands on.

One of his early acquired love of things, was with a set of copper dinosaurs that I had acquired at the Museum of Natural History in Chicago, during one of my trips there during my college geology courses. We also bought a children’s dinosaur book, and, in rather quick order, he knew all the dinosaurs in his book, and everything about them.

As he continued to grow towards high school, his strong aptitudes in the sciences and English communications became glaringly obvious, which his school aptitude tests verified, when he scored in the 99th percentile in several categories.

During his growth, we were fortunate to be able to have Blond Girl be a stay-at-home-mom for several years, so she could be there during those early years with our kids, to better promote their upbringing and nurturing. Best decision we ever made.

Grandpa and boys last Christmas; who are very fond of the Mardi Gras beads grandpa brought them from the gulf coast!

During junior high and high school, Luke Duke was a popular kid in the neighborhood, and other kids usually came to our home to play, rather than somewhere else. The neighbor kids all looked up to Luke, and he was a pretty decent role model for them.

To celebrate his 16th birthday, we took the kids and Luke’s best friend in high school, to St. Louis for the weekend so they could enjoy Grant’s Farm, the St. Louis Zoo and the Gateway Arch. What a weekend that was!

His interest in the sciences and other creative interests continued to grow, and one would often find Luke making fine, minute sketches with one of his rapidograph pens, or perhaps constructing another ultra futuristic space ship model out of the huge bucket of small leggo blocks we had, that would give any of the star wars ships a real run for their money.

Luke, right, and his brother and sister, at home.

During high school, art was one of his favorite subjects, and his expressionism knew no limits. Expressing himself in English compositions and short stories, was also one of his creative talents.

We have always encouraged our kids to be independent and self-reliant, and one of Luke’s initiatives in that direction was to request being able to have his own room, out in one end of our two-car garage, which we allowed him to do and helped him to construct, so that he and his very large, black and white cat, Psycho, could have their own space.

Luke Duke also developed a love of cooking, which led him to become employed in our small southern Dane County village, as a short order cook in the local restaurant. He started technical college, but soon decided that it wasn’t the right path for him at that time.

Later, he moved on to excel at cooking at several fine specialty restaurants in Madison, which was only a short drive from our home. Eventually, he and I both went to work for a local Canon copier dealer as technicians, he as a field repair technician, and I as a remanufacturing technician.

Five years later, after he had established himself as one of the most competent field technicians in the entire field force, he and his wife moved to the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill research triangle area of North Carolina, where she could attend graduate school and obtain her Masters Degree, and where he now works as a very talented Web Site Developer, for a software company there.

Luke and boys at Christmas 2008, as Truman tries to single-handedly devour the Ginger Bread House they constructed the previous day.

And several years ago, he decided to work at getting his college degree, and during numerous night courses ever since, has maintained a straight-A average, and will graduate in December with a bachelors degree, with high honors, all while working full-time and helping his Special Ed teacher spouse, raise their (now) two young sons.

During his growing up years, Luke pushed the limits of many envelopes, tested and poked, and made his share of learning mistakes which many of us make during those years. During those same years, he provided so many proud moments for us, his parents, especially after marrying, and he and his wife beginning their own family life, and having two sons.

Luke is incredibly intelligent, creative in so many ways, and logical, like his mother, and now is a wonderful husband and father, who we couldn’t be more proud of.

Happy Birthday, Luke!

I LOVE YOU, SON!

Dad

2009 – Week #20 Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail Update

Welcome again, Blue Bird enthusiasts, to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail, in Long Beach, and the Week #20 Trail Survey results.

During this past week on the Trail, the daily temperature average has moderated slightly, dropping into the low 90s to high 80s, a change that was welcomed by area residents.

Two growing, Blue Bird babies in nesting box #8 on the Long Beach Blue Bird Trail this week.

The 2009 Trail Survey is nearing an end, with only a couple of weeks left, during which, the last of the 12 Blue Bird babies currently in the nesting boxes will have flown. If they all make it to that point, the total number of babies flying from the nest will be at 67 for the 2009 Season, 22 more birds than flew last season.

And for that, Master Naturalist Buddy John and I are thankful.

Here are Survey Totals this 2009 Season so far:

86 eggs laid: 9 have been sterile, 5 lost to a predator.

55 babies have flown the nest. – Last Year: 40 babies had flown the nest as of Week #18. Last Year Total Blue Bird babies flying from the nesting boxes: 45.

4 eggs in nesting boxes currently.

12 babies in nesting boxes currently.

Here are the results of Friday’s Blue Bird Trail Survey of the individual nesting boxes, on Friday morning, July 17, 2009:

Nesting Box #1 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #2 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #3 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #4 – 5 Blue Bird babies. – Last Week: 5 Blue Bird eggs.

Nesting Box #5 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #6 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #7 – 1 Blue Bird baby, 3 Blue Bird eggs. – Last Week: 1 Blue Bird baby, 3 Blue Bird eggs.

Nesting Box #8 – 2 Blue Bird Babies, possible predator problem. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird Babies, 1 Blue Bird egg.

Nesting Box #9 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #10 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #11 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #12 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last Week: 4 Blue Bird babies.

Nesting Box #13 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

*****************************************************

John and I will do Trail Survey #21 next Friday, and then John will do the final Trail Survey the following Friday, July 31, when I will be in Wisconsin visiting family and friends.

Have a great week!

Happy Birthday, Bear!

It’s that time of year, again: Family Birthday Time! This time for child #3, Andy, whose childhood nickname was “Bear.”

One of the times Andy served as an MC at the UW-P Annual Badger Camp Charitable Telethon.

“Bear” was the largest of our three children when he was born, and the only one born in Wisconsin. His birth was rather a hectic ordeal, made so by an overconfident delivery room nurse, who wouldn’t pay much attention to my advice that when my wife goes into labor, she doesn’t mess around. Things happen fast!

I kept telling the nurse, “Better get the doctor on the way, ’cause it is going to go fast.” When she finally paid attention to me, was when she came back into the delivery room and exclaimed, “Jesus, in only 20 minutes, she went from way off to fully ready! Oh my God!”

Yeah, I could have said it, folks, but I didn’t. Fortunately, our doc, when he was finally called by nurse “Bozo,” was only 7 miles away, and came right over. And things went well from there.

Andy, left, with his brother and sister.

As Bear grew from a baby, into childhood, and into young boy-hood, he always had the biggest smile on his face, and was eager to help and please. It was clear from an early age, that he was the most ’sociable’ of our three children.

And then, when he was a young boy, the personal characteristic, the interest, that would really define his youth, and young adulthood, truthfully, his first 25 years of life, came bubbling up into his life: music!

One of his senior pics.

Once music came into his life, he quickly developed a love for “Oldies” songs, listening to them at every opportunity, and was soon singing them in the shower.

His first favorite Oldies singing group, was, The Beach Boys, and virtually every time “Barbara Ann” came on the radio, he would come running to me. saying excitedly, “Dad, come quick, Barbara Ann is on!”

As he progressed through the Elementary grades, and approached entering High School, his favorite musical group evolved into “The Beatles.”

Over time, his singing in the shower performances showed that his singing voice was taking on a more excellent quality, so that by the time he entered his freshman year of high school, he had a beautiful, rich tenor voice.

Andy, top row, blond hair, singing with the UW-P Chamber Choir.

As a freshman, Andy joined the mixed choir and the band, but it was in choir where he really excelled.

It was also at about this time, that he auditioned for and became a member of the Madison Childrens Choir (MCC), an elite (not elite-tess), structured youth signing organization in the capitol city area. He sand with them for almost three years, and was their most developed tenor voice.

It was with the MCC that Andy had the opportunity to travel to Brazil and Argentina on a two-week signing tour; quite an experience for him and the group!

Andy, and fellow Mississippi Mission volunteer, Bill, unload donated boxes in Itta Bena, MS to a charitable coordinator there.

He was privileged to be picked to sing two solos during an Easter Sunday performance in a huge cathedral in the capitol of Sao Paulo, their last performance before flying back to the U.S.

Andy said he wasn’t nervous during the solos during the Service, but said that came later when he found out his voice went out over Brazilian Public television and radio to some 30,000,000 listeners and viewers!

To date, that has been the largest audience he has performed for.

Andy, with good friend, Tim Biles, in a dorm at Mississippi Valley State University, where Andy and the UW-P Chamber Choir visited to do several joint concert performances a couple of years ago. Tim is currently working on his Masters Degree at Valley State.

During one of his high school choir’s performances his freshman year, Andy was able to sing a solo performance, of what else, The Beatles, “Something,” and brought down the house. It was then that everyone in our little town knew this kid’s voice was special.

Andy tries on sun glasses at the flea market at the French Market, in the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Even at those early times when I watched and listened to him sing at concerts and in musicals, I would swell with fatherly pride and emotion when I would hear his amazing voice.

During his senior year, he sang the lead in “Grease,” doing a fantastic job, hitting the notes like no one else in his school could.

Andy and two buddies, perform at OPEN MIC on the campus of UW-Platteville.

When he matriculated into the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus, where his mother and I both graduated from, he immediately auditioned for, and was accepted into two university choirs. And his long and illustrious university singing career began.

In his sophomore year at UW-P, Andy was accepted into a third singing group, the University Chamber Choir, which is a mixed Honors Choir there. Even listening to those concerts, it was easy for me to pick out his sweet tenor voice there.

During that same year, he auditioned for and was selected for one of the four leads in the university musical that year, “Forever Plaid.” The musical was a huge success, a sellout for every performance, and the only university singing performance that my late father was able to attend and hear his grandson sing in. It was a most memorable evening.

Andy, MCing a Fall Charitable Telethon on the campus of UW-P.

During his senior year, Andy was selected to sing the male lead, Sky Materson, in the musical “Guys and Dolls.” Many, many people came up to him after each performance to compliment him on his singing, and his beautiful voice.

During the fall of 2001, Andy was an exchange student at one of the universities in Heidelberg, Germany. He had been there , attending classes for a few weeks, and then 9/11 happened.

I had been home from work that morning, ill, when a friend called and asked if I was watching TV. I turned the channel, and there it was. After watching for awhile, channel-hopping like mad, I heard one reporter talk about police officials looking for al Qaeda suspects in several European cities, including Heidelberg!

Andy, third left-back, with friends in Milan, Italy, during the Fall Semester he studied at a university in Heidelberg, Germany.

I immediately placed a call to the Student Housing Unit where Andy was staying in Heidelberg, and within a minute or two, he came to the phone. I explained what I had heard on the TV about suspected al Qaeda suspects there, and the hijacked airlines and all, and he said he and his fellow students were watching it on TV there in their housing unit. He also said that, as Americans there, they were keeping a very low profile, and would be careful to keep an eye out all around them. Back home, there was still one very worried father, very far from his son.

Andy and two UW-P Chamber Choir friends, enjoy a little of Beale Street in Memphis, during their trip to perform joint concerts with the Mississippi Valley State University, a couple of years ago.

In addition to his involvement in singing during his university years, Andy also was involved in university student activities, twice serving as the Student Director of the campus group that interviews and selects all of the individuals and groups who perform on the campus during the following year.

During his final two years there, he was chosen to be Homecoming Chairperson for that annual fall event. During that same time period, he also served as one of the several MCs of the Annual Charity Telethon sponsored by the university communications department, to benefit the area special needs Summer Camp.

Andy, and longtime Mississippi friend, Inez Biles, at Greenwood High School, Greenwood, MS during joint concert with the choir of Mississippi Valley State University and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Chamber Choir. Inez is an Elementary School Teacher in the Atlanta area.

In his university years, he accomplished much, enjoyed many aspects of student life, and ultimately graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Communications Technologies. Three days after he received his degree, he started his first post-university job, as the Producer of the 6:00pm and 10:00pm news at the NBC-TV affiliate in Rockford.

I have suggested on occasion, that with his singing voice, he should consider trying out for American Idol, as his voice is good enough to make it in as a finalist, and maybe even win the thing. But, that potential experience is his to decide upon, not mine.

Andy, at home.

As a young man of the business world now, in his late 20’s, currently dating a wonderful young lady, he has my adament respect, admiration and love.

His mother and I are most proud to have him as our son!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDY!!!

I LOVE YOU!

Dad~

2009 – Week #19 Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail Update

Well, here we are, heading for the middle of July, and it’s Week #19 of the 2009 Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail Survey in Long beach.

It seems like we were just observing New Years Day, and the year is already half gone!

Brand new Blue Bird babies were in the nesting boxes again this week on the Long Beach Blue Bird Trail.

Master Naturalist Buddy John and I did the Blue Bird Trail Survey in separate sections Friday morning, with John doing the first 7 nesting boxes, on the occupied part of campus, and your author checking nesting boxes 8-13 on the undeveloped, wooded north section.

After having only 17 eggs in the boxes in last Friday’s Trail Survey, this week we found that 9 of those eggs had hatched during the past week, and we had 3 boxes with a total of 9 new, tiny little Blue Bird babies looking for food from their parents. What a great sight!

Here are Survey Totals this 2009 Season so far:

86 eggs laid: 9 have been sterile, 4 lost to a predator.

55 babies have flown the nest. – Last Year: 39 babies had flown the nest as of Week #18. Last Year Total Blue Bird babies flying from the nesting boxes: 45.

8 eggs in nesting boxes currently.

9 babies in nesting boxes currently.

Here are the results of Friday’s Blue Bird Trail Survey of the individual nesting boxes, on Friday morning, July 10, 2009:

Nesting Box #1 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #2 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #3 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #4 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last Week: 5 Blue Bird eggs.

Nesting Box #5 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #6 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #7 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last Week: New nest built, 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Third Clutch.

Nesting Box #8 – 4 Blue Bird Babies. – Last Week: 1 Blue Bird Baby, 3 Blue Bird eggs.

Nesting Box #9 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #10 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #11 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #12 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last Week: 4 Blue Bird eggs.

Nesting Box #13 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

*****************************************************

Area lawns and vegetation here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast have greened up during the past few days, after a couple of downpours earlier in the week. So nice to see at last, after more than a month without any precipitation.

The next two Fridays, July 17, and July 24, John and I will do Weeks #20 and #21 Trail Surveys, and then early Saturday morning, July 25, I will leave on the long drive north up to my home in Wisconsin, for a lengthy visit there with family, and to participate in the Annual Boscobel, WI Civil War Weekend Reenactment.

I am looking forward to seeing most of my family during that time, including my daughter-in-law and my two grandsons, who will be visiting at her parents’ home just off I-55 on my trip north, about an hour north of St. Louis. So, I will stop off and see them during Sunday, the 26th, before continuing on home that evening.

Have a great week!

Crab Fest in ‘The Bay’ 2009 – Hot, Humid, Tasty!

Come on along, on this walking, tasting, visual July 4th Holiday experience on the Mississippi Gulf Coast…

With the 4th of July here again, many Mississippi Gulf Coast residents and visitors made plans to celebrate the Holiday weekend by having picnic, swimming and bonfire parties on the many miles of cleaned and restored beaches along the coast.

A number of those same Holiday celebrators, and many thousands of others, including, the Coast Rat, traveled to nearby Bay St. Louis to attend and enjoy the 25th Annual CRAB FEST, the mid-summer fund-raiser of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church and Our Lady Academy, located just off the beach in ‘The Bay.’

This was the 25th Annual Crab Fest, celebrated in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Again, like last last July, two of my good friends here on the Coast, Andrea and Ralph, invited me to go with them to The Bay CRAB FESTIVAL, and we did just that, Saturday morning.

Also meeting us to go ‘fest-ing,’ was buddy John, his next door neighbor, Ed, who both live north of my travel trailer, up on the Arcadia Bayou, and also two friends of John’s, Terry and spouse, Lisa,visiting him from Jackson, for the weekend.

This was the Crab Fest beautiful commemorative t-shirt for this year.

Saturday morning, came, and like last year when we went to the CRAB FEST, and like the last 3-4 weeks, it was VERY HOT, in the mid-90s, and HUMID!

As I mentioned in last year’s Crab Fest post, this area of the coast continues to recover and rebuild from being in ground zero for Hurricane Katrina, when it came ashore as a Category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 140 miles per hour, and a 31-foot tidal surge, which put this entire area under water for miles around.

Another commemorative clothing item at this year’s Crab Fest, was the Crab Fest Cooking Apron.

At about 10:00am, Saturday morning, John and his group met us at Ralph and Andrea’s home in Pass Christian, and we set off down on the Hwy 90 beach highway, across the Bay of St. Louis bridge, over to the grounds of Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, and the 2009 Crab Fest.

Andrea, at left, with water cup, took time to walk among the craft vendors and see what they had available for sale.

Once we arrived near the Fest, found nearby parking, and after a very short walk, had arrived at the Fest grounds, the sun was out in full blaze, with the temperature hovering around 95 degrees.

Stand in the direct sun for more than a few minutes, was a real challenge. Most Fest goers I saw there, were somehow standing or sitting in the shade somewhere.

The Crab Fest preparation crew, to their credit, tried to place as many picnic tables in shady areas as there was room for, a move that was appreciated by all who wanted a cooler, shady place to sit and eat their choice of the delicious seafood tidbits available under the food shelter.

Already there was a good crowd on hand at the Fest when we arrived, and the first item on the agenda for our crew there, was acquiring something cold to drink, whether it was a go-cup of one of the beers on tap there, or a cold bottle of water, some iced tea or a cold soda.

That item accomplished, the rest of the crew walked over among the craft vendor tents, while I started out around the grounds to snap some candid images of interesting things and people.

A view from the east edge of the Fest grounds, showing the nearby waters of the Bay of St. Louis. The ground where I snapped this image was probably under about 10-12 feet of water during the morning surge of Hurricane Katrina, Aug. 29, 2005.

The craft vendor area at the Crab Fest had a wide variety of craft items displayed for sale to Fest-goers, including a large display of hand-made bird houses.

There were Fest-goers of all ages, checking out the craft vendors.

As I was snapping images of vendor tents and people walking by, I happened to see this young lady walking by, but didn’t catch the message on her t-shirt.

A little while later, when I stopped under a Live Oak tree to get in the shade for a few minutes, the young lady, “Lana,” walked over, too, to talk on her cell phone, from the shade of the same tree. I asked her permission to take a posed shot of her and her t-shirt message, which she graciously consented to, advising that if she did, I would probably use the image in my blog about the Fest.

I next found myself walking along under the food shelter, viewing the various seafood dishes that were available for Fest-goers to partake of during their visit to the festival grounds.

A quick view of the areas behind the long rows food counters, and the many workers behind them, quickly showed that it takes huge numbers of volunteers to put this festival on, especially to cook all the food, and also to sell it to hungry customers, for 12 hours on both Saturday and Sunday.

And all of the volunteer workers made sure they had plenty of food and beverages available to satisfy hungry appetites and heat-produced thirsts of the thousands of Fest-goers attending the special event.

Prices were very reasonable for the beverages and food items, and I’m pretty sure that most Fest-goers felt that the money they spent at the Fest went to a very good cause.

Although there was a good amount of shade in the volunteer worker food service areas, I still felt for those folks, working there among all those cookers, fryers and grills.

It sure looked like it was hot for volunteers working in the food shelter.

Some fried seafood waiting under a heat lamp for some hungry customers.

I went over to the band shelter and looked for a vacant picnic table we could all sit down at and eat our lunches, preferably a table in the shade. Fortunately, I found one along the edge, right near a line of porta-potties.

This young volunteer server, was dishing up a shrimp dish.

Following are more images of many of the varieties of seafood dishes that were available to eat at the Crab Fest:

Boxes of blue crabs, waiting to be purchased.

There were lots of different kinds of seafood one could purchase and try at the Crab Fest.

I’ve eaten several varieties of seafood po-boys during my mission here on the coast, and there were several varieties available to try at the festival.

The plates of boiled shrimp really looked inviting, too.

Shrimp has long been one of my favorite seafood dishes during my life.

The fried crab claws we tried were just excellent!

Trying to find a table to sit down at, in the shade, to eat lunch, was one of the challenges at the Crab Fest this weekend.

This gentleman came over from Biloxi to enjoy the Crab Fest.

John heads towards me to let me know the group is ready to get some seafood lunch.

Shortly after I had finished snapping a couple of dozen images in the food shelter area, the rest of the crew walked over from viewing the craft vendor tents, and went to pick out their favorite seafood dishes for lunch.

Our crew ready to partake of various choices of seafood. Left-to-right, seated – this side of table: John’s weekend guests from Jackson, Lisa and Terry, standing, left – John’s neighbor, Ed, seated, facing camera: John and Andrea.

For several days leading up to the Crab Fest, I had kicked around what to purchase for lunch at this festival, and thought perhaps this year, I would try some of the blue crabs, that John and Andrea had eaten last year, there.

John and Andrea love the blue crabs!

Andrea bought a box and a half of them to start, and when she put them on the table, several of the crew each picked out a crab and started to break the shells apart to get at the sweet crab meat inside.

The same band that was playing last year’ fest on Saturday, was playing again this year.

I finally decided that I would try some blue crab, too, and set out to try to crack some shells and get at some of the meat. I quickly learned, however, that cracking the crab shells without sticking yourself repeatedly with the small shell spines, would take some practice. Buddy John tried to show me some shell-cracking technique, but my continuing efforts to crack the shells efficiently, met little success.

Although John didn’t shell and eat this entire box of blue crags, he did make a major dent in the pile that originally came in the box! And he is very accomplished at the shelling part of that process.

Finally, I said to myself, I had better go to Plan B, and go buy a plate/dish of some other seafood which didn’t have a shell to crack to get at the good stuff. Shortly thereafter, I returned with a bowl of Shrimp Etouffee, which was absolutely delicious!

One of our crew also bought a plate of friend crab claws, which we all tried, and I have to say, that they are also very tasty!

These youngsters were heading for a shady spot so they could enjoy eating some of the seafood.

Ralph had a bowl of seafood lasagna, along with trying a new beer, and he praised the lasagna, as an excellent dish!

Lots of hungry folks at the Crab Fest.

This youngster has a shady spot, and dad to share a hot dog with him.

Ralph was all finished with his seafood lasagna, and just enjoying the moment.

Having been at the Crab Fest for almost 4 hours, and having had a very enjoyable time, Ralph and Andrea slowly move toward the Crab Fest grounds exit, and the welcome relief of the air conditioning that their car will quickly supply.

If you are in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area on the July 4th weekend in 2010, consider attending the Bay St. Louis CRAB FEST on that Saturday and/or Sunday, for an amazing seafood experience!

Come on down, Mandy, and Quin…

You won’t be disappointed!

2009 – Week #18 Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail Update

Hello again fellow Blue Bird enthusiasts, and Welcome to Week #18 of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail Survey, on the campus of the South Mississippi Regional Center, in Long Beach.

Juvenile Blue Birds from the first hatch of the 2009 Season.

It has been yet another very hot week here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but several of the Blue Bird pairs are still producing eggs. 5 new eggs were laid during the past week, bringing the total number of eggs in the nesting boxes to 17. There are no Blue Bird babies currently in the boxes.

Commenting on the Blue Bird Trail Survey this afternoon, Master Naturalist Buddy John, the founder of the Long Beach Blue Bird Trail, had several things to say: “It’s scorching, it’s no fun checking boxes this time of year. I’m very happy with what we’re doing. We’ve got 10 more birds that have flown this year already, than last year, and we have 17 eggs still in the nesting boxes. So, I think we could reasonably push 70 new birds this summer. That’s an increase of 25 from last year. So, I’m happy. I think we’ve done more than we have expected.”

Here are Survey Totals this 2009 Season so far:

86 eggs laid: 9 have been sterile, 4 lost to a predator.

55 babies have flown the nest. – Last Year: 36 babies had flown the nest as of Week #18. Last Year Total Blue Bird babies flying from the nesting boxes: 45.

17 eggs in nesting boxes currently.

0 babies in nesting boxes currently.

Here are the results of Friday’s Blue Bird Trail Survey of the individual nesting boxes, on Friday morning, July 3, 2009:

Nesting Box #1 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird babies flew the nest, 1 Blue Bird egg missing.

Nesting Box #2 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird babies flew the nest, 1 Blue Bird egg missing.

Nesting Box #3 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #4 – 5 Blue Bird eggs. – Last Week: New nest built, 1 Blue Bird egg.

Nesting Box #5 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #6 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – 4 Blue Bird babies flew the nest.

Nesting Box #7 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last Week: New nest built, 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Third Clutch.

Nesting Box #8 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – 4 Blue Bird eggs – Third Clutch.

Nesting Box #9 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #10 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #11 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #12 – 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird eggs – Third Clutch.

Nesting Box #13 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

*****************************************************

In other breaking news along the Blue Bird Trail this week, our friend, Master Naturalist Andrea K. retired on Wednesday, after 25 years of service on the campus of the SMRC. Her presence and contributions to our clients and staff, will be (are) sorely missed. Enjoy your retirement, Andrea!

Master Naturalist Andrea K., of Hummingbird Trapping fame, (see the little hummer in the white mesh bag?) a staunch supporter of the Blue Bird Trail, and birding, in general, and more recently as Director of Interdisciplinary Programs at the SMRC, has retired this week after 25 years of dedicated service.

Your author will join Master Naturalist Buddy John and his two weekend guests, and Master Naturalist Andrea, and spouse, Ralph, of recent sky diving fame, tomorrow morning to attend the Annual Bay St. Louis Crab Fest, across the bay. That will be a real treat!

How hot has it been here? After a high of 96 earlier this afternoon, at 10:07pm here, it is 86 and clear.

Have a great Holiday weekend!

Happy 41st Anniversary, Blond Girl!

Lordy, Lordy! Where has the time gone?

Doesn’t seem all that long ago, I saw you standing there, on a Saturday night by the juke box, playing your favorite songs. Truly it was Juke Box Magic!

Then the following evening, thanks to my understanding brother, we went to a movie, our surprise first date, at a State Street movie theater.

A bit later, we went out to eat on your 21st birthday, and SURPRISE TO YOU, we came away from that birthday supper in a different relationship!

A little over a year later, 41 years ago tomorrow, in a very small church, in a very small town, we both said “I do,” and, we did! (Haven’t posted about that special day yet).

You looked absolutely radiant that afternoon, in your beautiful white dress!

On a hot Saturday afternoon, it was an awesome ceremony, and shortly thereafter, an awesome reception held in the new high school dining room.

After leaving the reception, we stopped off to your nearby parents’ home, changed clothes, loaded our suitcases in my shiny, yellow – with black racing stripes – 1967 Ford Fairlane GT, and headed for the Canadian border, for our honeymoon.

Yes, we left on our honeymoon that afternoon, and missed the huge, wild, second wedding reception/party, which my parents threw at their Supper Club, for both or our family’s friends and relatives. From accounts we heard after we arrived back from Canada, it was quite a bash, indeed!

The next afternoon, we arrived at a little remote fishing Camp, just out of Rossport, Ontario, and moved into our small, honeymoon bungalow by the lake, where we would first live as husband and wife.

The Camp setting was on the wooded shore of Lake Superior, had several small cabins, a lodge with dining room, and a float airplane service, to fly in fishermen and hunters to remote camps and lakes.

I remember that when we first walked into our cabin, and I sat on the bed, I immediately thought that it was pretty shaky. So, we immediately pulled the mattresses onto the floor, where they remained for that week.

My father had been to the Camp a week or two earlier, on a fishing trip, and left our family’s 16-foot AlumaCraft fishing boat there for us to use to go lake trout fishing during our week there. From being there myself during previous year’s fishing trips, I had a pretty good idea where to go to catch trout, and we did go out several times, but without much luck.

My father had given us that week at the Camp for a wedding present, so our expense there, was minimal. That was pretty neat.

About midweek, the owner of the Camp gave us a wedding present, also, and took us on a flying tour of the whole area, in one of his float planes, including landing on one lake and taxiing around a large, swimming moose.

Upon returning home from that trip, we setup housekeeping in your grandmother’s vacant home, located just two doors down from the small church we were married in.

Those first two years, ours was kind of a long-distance marriage, a bit like it is now, as you were away during the week some 60 miles south, finishing your university degree. Weekends were precious, when we could be together again.

For our first anniversary, we went on a three-week driving tour of of the upper west, including visiting the Black Hills, the Big Horn Mountains and Yellowstone in Wyoming, and western Montana, including Glacier National Park, with family friends living near there, in the Swan Lake area. An amazing experience! Haven’t posted about that trip yet, either…

A couple of years later, one cold, damp Christmas Day evening, on our drive to your parents home for a holiday family get together, we had a very close brush with the hereafter, when our car slid on glare ice going down a hill, and nearly went over a steep embankment, where we would probably have been killed as the car rolled over and over down the steep incline.

Thank you, Jesus, and that beautiful small tree on the edge of the road!

After you received your degree, I went back for the following two years and received mine.

It wasn’t long thereafter that we started our family, who were included in your Birthday-Mother’s Day post, first with a boy, then our girl, and finally, another boy, the first two being born out west, not far from where we lived and worked on a huge cattle ranch (18,000+ acres) in Wyoming.

You stayed home during those critical, early years, to be with them, to provide them with your love, guidance, nurturing and attention while they were growing and learning. This was, by far, the smartest and most important thing we ever did. The three of them grew up into amazing adults, the majority of the credit for those accomplishments, going to you.

The years passed, and we continued to meet, experience and share those challenges which arose in our lives, continuing our commitment and love for each other.

For 27 1/2 years, you shared me with needy families in north central Mississippi, mainly in the poverty areas of the delta, for what averaged about a month each year, for a mission of sharing and helping, which I felt was important to do. During these experiences, I often brought you and the children along, so that they might learn that it is important in life to look beyond ourselves, reaching out to others in need, as our circumstances and resources permit.

During the past 2 1/2 years, you have been such a loving, patient and understanding spouse, to share me (except for several weeks each year), with the people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, who I have had the privilege of assisting in rebuilding their homes and lives, after so many here experienced such tremendous losses to Hurricane Katrina, on Aug. 29, 2005.

It hasn’t been easy for me being down here, so very far from you every day and every night, save for a few over time, nor has it been easy for you, keeping our home up, up there, being alone, too, during my mission to help others.

Probably few couples, except for so many thousands of military families, could make such a physical separation over 2 1/2 years, work like we have, and continue with the same love and affection that we have for each other.

You can, because you are a very special person, and I recognized that more than 41 years ago. I have often commented to others about being your husband, that I must have lived a decent life in the previous lifetime to have been so blessed to share this one with you.

And, it is true.

I miss you dearly, and look forward to seeing you and hugging you, very soon.

HAPPY 41st ANNIVERSARY, HONEY!

I LOVE YOU, AND MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!

Your loving Coast Rat

2009 – Week #17 Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail Update

Another very hot week has passed, here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail, on the campus of the South Mississippi regional Center, in Long Beach, but despite the torrid weather, the Week #17 Trail Survey results showed that 10 more Blue Bird babies flew, and 12 new eggs, appeared in the nesting boxes, since the last Survey.

Nesting box #12 has a brand new nest this week, the largest nest of any we have observed this season. This Blue Bird pair really outdid themselves in the construction of this nest, as the top of it comes right up to the entrance hole.

The flight of the 10 babies during the week, brought the 2009 Season Total to 55, 10 ahead of the entire 2008 Total of 45 babies flying the nest. And with 12 new eggs being laid during the past week, that flight total of 55 should go well over 60 by the end of the 2009 Season.

Here are Survey Totals this 2009 Season so far:

81 eggs laid: 9 have been sterile, 4 lost to a predator.

55 babies have flown the nest. – Last Year: 36 babies had flown the nest as of Week #17. Last Year Total Blue Bird babies flying from the nesting boxes: 45.

12 eggs in nesting boxes currently.

0 babies in nesting boxes currently.

Here are the results of Friday’s Blue Bird Trail Survey of the individual nesting boxes, on Friday morning, June 26, 2009:

Nesting Box #1 – 3 Blue Bird babies flew the nest, 1 Blue Bird egg missing. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird babies, 1 Blue Bird egg.

Nesting Box #2 – 3 large Blue Bird babies flew the nest, 2 Blue Bird eggs left – sterile. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird babies, 2 Blue Bird eggs.

Nesting Box #3 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #4 – New nest built, 1 Blue Bird egg. – Last Week: 4 Blue Bird babies flew the nest, removed old nest, cleaned.

Nesting Box #5 – Empty box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty box, no activity.

Nesting Box #6 – 4 Blue Bird babies. – Last Week: 4 Blue Bird babies.

Nesting Box #7 – New nest built, 4 Blue Bird eggs. – Third Clutch. – Last Week: New nest built, 1 Blue Bird egg.

Nesting Box #8 – 4 Blue Bird eggs – Third Clutch. – Last Week: New nest built – Third Clutch.

Nesting Box #9 – Empty box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty box, no activity.

Nesting Box #10 – Empty box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty box, no activity.

Nesting Box #11 – Empty box, no activity. – Last Week: 5 Large Blue Bird babies flew the nest, removed nest, cleaned box.

Nesting Box #12 – 3 Blue Bird eggs – Third Clutch. – Last Week: New nest built – Third Clutch.

Nesting Box #13 – Empty box, no activity. – Last Week: 5 Large Blue Bird babies flew the nest, removed nest, cleaned box.

Have a great week, and here’s to another quiet hurricane season week in the tropics!

COME ON, COOLER WEATHER AND SOME RAIN!

2009 – Week #16 Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail Update

Welcome to Week #16 of the 2009 Mississippi Gulf Coast Blue Bird Trail Survey, on the campus of the South Mississippi Regional Center in Long Beach.

These three large Blue Bird babies will fly from their nesting box any day now.

In a word, things along the Blue Bird Trail this week, were: HOT! The daily average high temperature this week hovered around 95-96 degrees. This is mid-June, not August. What the heck?

I had wondered if this extremely hot weather we are currently experiencing, might slow down or temporarily stop mating season activity among the Blue Birds here on the Trail. Data from today’s Trail Survey, however, doesn’t support that hypothesis, as we found 3 new Blue Bird nests in the nesting boxes, one with a new egg in it. Looks like the pairs are still mating and producing eggs.

Master Naturalist Buddy John expressed a measure of satisfaction today, with the results of the 2009 Blue Bird mating season, after tallying the Survey data, he noted enthusiastically that the current number of Blue Bird babies which have flown from the nesting boxes (45), now equals that total number of babies which flew from the nests during the entire 2008 Season. And, there are still 8 babies in the nesting boxes, as well as three new nests.

It will be interesting to see how long the 2009 Blue Bird mating season lasts, here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Here are Survey Totals this 2009 Season so far:

First Clutch Totals:
33 eggs laid total, 5 of which were sterile.
28 Blue Bird babies flew the nest.

Second Clutch Totals (so far):
36 eggs laid total, 3 of which were lost to a predator.
6 eggs in nesting boxes currently. – Last Week: 6 eggs in nesting boxes.
8 babies in nesting boxes currently. – Last Week: 22 babies in nesting boxes.
17 Blue Bird babies flew the nest. – Last Week: 3 babies had flown the nest.

Third Clutch Totals (so far):
1 egg laid
3 nesting boxes have new nests in them.

2009 Season Totals (so far):

70 eggs laid: 5 have been sterile, 3 lost to a predator. – Last Week: 69 eggs. Last Year: 73 eggs laid, 12 sterile, 5 lost to predators, as of Week #16.

45 babies have flown the nest. – Last Week: 31 babies. Last Year: 33 babies had flown the nest as of Week #16.

7 eggs in nesting boxes currently. – Last Week: 7 eggs.

6 babies in nesting boxes currently. – Last Week: 22 babies.

Here are the results of Friday’s Blue Bird Trail Survey – June 19, 2009:

Nesting Box #1 – 3 Blue Bird babies, 1 Blue Bird egg. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird babies, 1 Blue Bird egg.

Nesting Box #2 – 2 large Blue Bird babies, 3 Blue Bird eggs. – Last Week: 2 Blue Bird babies, 3 Blue Bird eggs.

Nesting Box #3 – Empty nesting box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #4 – 4 Blue Bird babies flew the nest, removed old nest, cleaned. – Last Week: 4 Blue Bird babies.

Nesting Box #5 – Empty box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty box, no activity.

Nesting Box #6 – 3 Blue Bird babies, 1 Blue Bird egg. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird babies, 1 Blue Bird egg.

Nesting Box #7 – New nest built, 1 egg – Third Clutch. – Last Week: 3 Blue Bird babies flew from the nest, 1 Blue Bird egg.

Nesting Box #8 – New nest built – Third Clutch. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #9 – Empty box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty box, no activity.

Nesting Box #10 – Empty box, no activity. – Last Week: Empty box, no activity.

Nesting Box #11 – 5 Large Blue Bird babies flew the nest, removed nest, cleaned box. – Last Week: 5 Large Blue Bird babies.

Nesting Box #12 – New nest built – Third Clutch. – Last Week: Empty nesting box, no activity.

Nesting Box #13 – 5 Large Blue Bird babies flew the nest, removed nest, cleaned box. – Last Week: 5 Large Blue Bird babies.

Have a great week!

Saturday Fun at the NOLA Creole Tomato Festival in the French Quarter

A couple of weeks ago, my good friend here on the coast, Master Naturalist Andrea, of Hummingbird Trapping fame, was kind enough to invite me to join her and spouse, Ralph, to journey with them over to the French Quarter in New Orleans yesterday, to attend the Annual French Market Creole Tomato Festival.

Entrance arch to the French Market, in the French Quarter, New Orleans.

During this past week, Andrea and I talked briefly about the upcoming Festival, and what all it might have in store for us. During our conversations, Andrea informed me that she has also invited our mutual close friend and co-worker, Master Naturalist Buddy John, to come along to the festival.

Annual Creole Tomato Festival in the French Market.

There were lots of tomatoes for sale at the Creole Tomato Festival.

So, yesterday morning early, I drove the two miles over to Andrea and Ralph’s home, in nearby Pass Christian, to park my car at their place, and ride with them and John over to The Big Easy, for this French Quarter special event.

Upon arriving at Andrea’s and Ralph’s, I learned that John, and his brother Bill, a University Teacher from Dothan, Alabama, who was in town visiting John and his parents, would be meeting us there in the French Quarter.

Under a partly cloudy sky, with a slight breeze and a morning temperature already above 80 degrees at 8:30am, Andrea, Ralph and I set out across the new, $266 million Bay of St. Louis bridge, built after the old one was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, on our way to New Orleans and the Creole Tomato Festival.

While driving into the east side of New Orleans, we drove past and through several areas of the City which had been flooded just after Katrina, noting evidence of both serious recovery and seriously damaged areas, still awaiting recovery efforts.

In my own mind, as we drove through those areas, I silently wondered how many more years it would take for these heavily damaged areas to rebuild.

I also said a silent prayer as we drove along I-10, entering the City, for the thousands of families who were former residents here, prior to the storm and the flooding, who had suffered so much agony and loss because of Katrina.

Just before 10:00am, we left I-10 and withing several minutes, we arrived at the U.S, Mint, and shortly thereafter, made our way down Decatur Street, and into the Public Parking lot, over the Mississippi River berm, behind the Cafe Du Monde, finding a vacant parking space in short order.

When we stopped off at the local tourist information office in the ground floor of one of the Pontalba Apartment Buildings, which line Jackson Square on two sides, we wanted to find out the particulars about the festival.

In the information office, we learned that not only was the Annual Creole Tomato Festival going on during the weekend in the French Market area, but to our good fortune, there were also two other festivals going on: the Louisiana Seafood Festival and the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival! The three festivals were actually working together to make it a combined weekend festival, called: New Orleans Vieux-To-Do.

As we left the car, I slung by camera bag over my left shoulder, the sling of my Nikon D100 over my right shoulder, and a bottle of water in my right hip pocket. At that time, the streets and sidewalks were not too crowded yet, and it was easy to walk right along.

Fried Green Tomatoes were also available at the Festival.

There are lots of benches all around the Jackson Square walk ways, for families to rest at.

Ralph called John to find out where he and his brother were, and learned they were out 15 minutes out yet, from our location. So, the three of us slowly made our way across Decatur Street, over to Jackson Square, and walked around to the St. Louis Cathedral to take a look inside.
The St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

The St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

The cathedral is huge, and inside, very beautiful. A number of people were inside, some sitting in pews, while others walked around reading the various plaques, and viewing the inside architectural features. I had never been inside it before, and it is worth a visit if you are in that area.

An interior view of the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

After snapping a few images, we walked back outside, and then around the other side of the Square, past all of the Carriages lined up waiting for fares on Decatur Street, to the corner across from the Cafe Du Monde.
The world famous Cafe Du Monde, on Decatur Street, in the French Quarter.

Ralph and Andrea walk around Jackson Square.

Dozens of mule-drawn carriages line Decatur Street, in front of Jackson Square, across from the Cafe Du Monde, in the French Quarter.

Andrea checks out paintings displayed on the front fence on Jackson Square.

There were some body-painted mimes hawking for dollars and change around Jackson Square.

John, Bill, Ralph and Andrea talk next to Jackson Square.

As we stood there briefly, talking, waiting for John and Bill, watching a silver-painted mime doing a routine, I glanced across at the Cafe Du Monde and noted that there was a line of customers, stretching all the way around to the back of the awning area, and back around front again, waiting to get inside.

World famous Cafe Du Monde.

WOW! That line meant for quite a wait to get in there, to sit at a table for a cup of chicory coffee and white, powder sugar-covered, beignets.

In this file image I snapped during a 2004 visit I made to The Cafe Du Monde, you see what a typical visitor to the world-famous Cafe experiences, partaking of the delicious, but rich, beignets.

Inside the kitchen of The Cafe Du Monde is where the magic of the beignets takes place, when, fresh out-of-the fryer, a copious amount of powdered sugar is heaped on high, as is shown in progress in this file image I snapped on a previous visit to the cafe, in 2004.

A few minutes later, as the area streets filled with auto traffic, and the sidewalks and walk ways filled with people, John and Bill walked around the corner fence of Jackson Square, and made their way to where the three of us waited.

After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, the five of us walked across the street by the Cafe Du Monde, and started up Decatur towards the French Market where all the festival vendors and music stages were located.

As we walked past the entrance of the Cafe Du Monde, I noticed that there at the entrance were two men playing music for the customers at the crowded tables inside, and those who waited outside, for their turn at enjoying the Cafe Du Monde experience.

I recognized one of the musicians as Herman “Hack” Bartholomew, an incredibly-talented, black trumpet player, I had met and talked with several times over the past 7-8 years, in my past visits to the French Quarter and the Cafe Du Monde. As we walked by the, I gave Hack a squeeze on the top of his shoulder, and said Hello, telling him that he was still playing beautifully.

New Orleans’ own Hack Bartholomew, outside of the Cafe Du Monde, in a file image I snapped of him during a visit I made there in mid-2004, during The Essence of Jazz Fest.

One end of the French Market also has fruits and vegetables for sale.

Various kinds of fish are also available in the Farmer’s Market section of the French Market.

We then spent the next 45 minutes or so, walking around the French Market area, through all of the vendor stands and tables, and watching the Zydeco band playing and spectators dancing at the upper music stand of the Market.

There were three music venues set up in the French Market area for the Festival.

One of the Zydeco music bands playing Saturday morning at the Festival.

Ralph and Andrea paused to watch a number of people dancing to the Zydeco music.

One of the many couples dancing to Zydeco music Saturday morning.

Andrea browses at one of the vendor stands in the French Market flea market.

Andrea tries on sun glasses at one of the French Market stands.

Display manikin at the French market.

Another display manikin at the French Market.

During that time, the sun was shining down hotly, which prompted the other three fellows to visit one of the beer stands for a cup or two of one of the tasty brews on tap there.

The fellows having a beer.

Ralph and John enjoy a beer or two Saturday morning, in the sun and heat.

It was fun for me, just doing some serious people-watching then, as all of the people there moved about, danced, sat and stood around, just quietly enjoying themselves. I found myself silently wishing that Blond Girl could be there with me, sharing the experience. Another time…

Two ladies enjoying a huge plate of boiled crayfish at the Creole Tomato Festival.

At about 11:00am or so we walked down to the French Market Cafe for lunch, ending up in the upstairs dining room, when the main floor room was already full of diners. Our lunches consisted mainly of crayfish, oyster, gumbo and salad entries, with unsweetened tea as the preferred beverage of choice.

It was nice to be able to sit down and eat in the air conditioning, during our lunch. And to also have the opportunity to enjoy the relaxed, friendly conservation that ensued between us.

Just a wonderful time, enjoying a special experience with special friends, while being so far from family and home.

After lunch, we walked outside, and then over to the old Ursuline Convent for a short visit, which was “Home of Ursuline Nuns who came from France to relieve the poor, sick and provide education for young girls.” It was the first girls school in Louisiana, and the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley.

Upon leaving there, the other four walked back over to the French Market to enjoy the sites, while I took a short opportunity to walk down Decatur Street, looking for a souvenir cap, with the inscription “Bite Me – Bait Company.”

Lady at the fountain, next to the river, behind the Cafe Du Monde.

After checking quickly in about a dozen souvenir shops, I was unable to locate one of those, and walked back up Decatur to the gold John of Arc Statue, to meet Andrea and Ralph around 2:00pm, so we could head back towards Long Beach.

One of the other bands playing Saturday afternoon at the Creole Tomato Festival.

An old hearse extremely decorated with various objects, parked on Decatur Street Saturday during the Festival.

Although the sun and the heat was taking its toll on me by then, I felt a bit sad we were leaving the French Quarter.

Lots of trees in the French Quarter, like this beautiful Crape Myrtle, were in brilliant bloom Saturday along Decatur Street.

I truly enjoy visiting there, and always seem to find that when I am fortunate enough to visit, it never seems to be for enough hours to see and experience all there that I want to see and experience there. The place just draws me, beckons to me and has a hold on me.

One of the many carriages providing guided rides in the French Quarter.

We decided to drive back to Mississippi on U.S. 90, along the coast, to see the fishing camps along there, and pay a visit to the Dong Phuong Vietnamese Bakery, just east of New Orleans, for some tasty baked goodies.

The Dong Phuong Vietnamese Bakery on U. S. 90, just east of New Orleans, where we stopped to buy some baked goodies on the way back home from the French Quarter.

Later, after crossing back over the Bay St. Louis bridge, into Pass Christian, only a mile or so from his home, Ralph noted that it was definitely time for a nap when he arrived at there, as he was getting tired.

And, so was I.

It sounded like a good plan to me.

Thanks again, Andrea and Ralph, for inviting me along! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDREA, on Thursday!

A good day, with good friends, at a good place.

Try it, when you get the chance.