Day 32 August 22

SOME DAYS I JUST CAN'T GET GOING

Usually, I choose my clothing and accessories the night before. Failing that, I have a morning like today. My closet seemed like something from the tv show, "What Not to Wear." Inside my head were the two critical hosts of the show, and the hopeless fashion slob. No matter what I tried, everything looked awful. My outfit is still looking awful now, but I'm going home to put on some pj's and select tomorrow's outfit.

Day 31 August 21

Day 28 August 18 Continued

CAFE RECONCILE

Cafe Reconcile is an amazing nonprofit that trains community members to cook, serve food and run a restaurant. The food is wonderful and inexpensive. One of their recipes was published in the newspaper - White Beans and Shrimp. (See NOLA.com recipes, Thursday, August 16.) Using the shrimp purchased at the Gretna Farmers' Market, I made my easier, crock-pot version of it. I only used 1/2 pint of heavy cream. Sarah was right; it really had to have some cream.

Please check their website for something positive about NOLA. Be sure to look at the menu. Yum!

www.cafereconcile.com

Day 28 August 18

JOHN LENNON

We watched an incredible documentary last night about Lennon, Yoko (ugh) and the FBI, etc. It was really well done. My favorite quote from that show was spoken by Gore Vidal; "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." We (DH did actually) looked it up and found this site

www.samueljohnson.com

Boswell tells us that Samuel Johnson made this famous pronouncement that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel on the evening of April 7, 1775. He doesn't provide any context for how the remark arose, so we don't really know for sure what was on Johnson's mind at the time. However, Boswell assures us that Johnson was not indicting patriotism in general, only false patriotism.For more of Samuel Johnson's thoughts on patriotism in general, go to the patriotism page.For a discussion on a possible false patriot who Johnson might have been thinking of, see this discussion.

Day 28 August 18

Back to the Gretna Farmers' Market
It just has a nicer, small town pace, and it's
covered (cooler). I park across the street just
outside a neighborhood barroom. When patrons
open or close the door, there is a wave of that
wonderful/awful barroom smell. It is made from
wet, dark, smoky, air conditioned, yeasty,
beery, man smells. That smell is enticing on a
hot, bright day. I wouldn't go in there, but I like
to catch a whiff.


My first stop is always for a glass of fresh, fruit water. Those are muscadine grapes in the little baskets. I'm allergic to watermelon, so I always have mango, sometimes two glasses. Today I was served by a little girl standing on a chair. She smiled widely when I said, "Gracias."

Next stop was to checkout the seafood at Danny and Bonnie's. I bought some fresh catfish filets for Don and some shrimp for tomorrow. I'm using Cafe' Reconcile's recipe for White beans and shrimp, but I'm leaving out the heavy cream. Sarah says that will ruin it, even though she's never had it. That girl does like her butter and cream.

Mr. Danny was good enough to show me the crabs in his refrigerated truck so I could snap a photo. I wasn't up to dealing with those today. I think they were still alive, just chilly. They were too pretty too cook. If someone else cooked them, I would eat'em up.

Don't look there. Look the other way -orchids - which I'd been trying to ignore. I'm a loose woman when it comes to orchids. I just can't say, "NO." Soooo I bought one that's about to bloom, and took it to the office where I can enjoy it during the day. Mr. Russell has thousands of orchids at his house, just down the street from the market, and I'm invited for a tour. I'd need to prepare by leaving all money, credit cards and checks at home.

Day 26 August 16

Babysitting orchids has rewards

This is a closeup of one blossom on a

spray of orchids.

I'm taking care of this

plant while my client is out of town. She

trusted me with it, but she's missing

all the flowers. I have taken several

photos so she can see how grand it was.

Day 21 August 11

FARMERS' MARKET
Warehouse District in Downtown NOLA


Returned to this market to see
how I liked it compared to Gretna.
Several of the same growers and
producers are represented at all the
markets in the area. I didn't like
it as well as Gretna's Market;
the pace is faster, it's crowded and
it's set up in a blacktop parking lot.
Whew! What a super solar collector it is.
But there was great produce. Gotta love
those peaches.

I was deeply moved by the elderly couple
who are apiarists. They lost 400 hives
in Lakeview (as well as there home)to
Katrina. Now they live in Algiers,
just across the Mississippi River from
the French Quarter. I believe they said
they have 70 hives now. I hated to see
them out in the heat (over 100F.
for hours. Theirhi ves are healthy
though - no sign of the infections
that are killing off so many wild
and domestic bee hives. So I bought some
honey that we do not need at all,
and I'm glad I did.

Those are home made cheese tamales
lying on the aluminum foil. Still warm.

These mushrooms were so gorgeous,
I hated to cook them, but they made a dandy pasta dish.
The ones on the left are more yellow than the
photo - such a delicate shade. Onions, bell peppers
and garlic sauteed with mushrooms added toward the end. Yummy!

I like the peaches out of focus.
They look cool and refreshing with the mint
plant draped over them.

Day 27 August 17

Men Do Have a Different Brain

It's the androgen bath that takes place in utero which
causes these difficulties later in life.

Today, my DH told me there is no reason to wash a cheese grater after using it to grate Parmesan cheese. He proceeded to give it a casual wipe with a dry dish towel. What do you say to a person with a master's degree in computer science who thinks this way? I had to take a little walk to the bedroom and back in order to compose myself.

I disagree with, but can understand his refusal to squeegee the shower walls after use, but this... Germs. I wonder what other kitchen implements have been getting this kind of treatment. (Shudder)

Day 21 August 12 Sunday

I am struggling with preliminaries for a commissioned painting of a suburban house and having a very rough time with it. I'm going to switch gears to one of my Katrina inspired sculptures from roots of dead plants. This one is made from the roots and trunk of an orange tree that was killed by the standing flood waters. It's name is, Roots in New Orleans I - Desdemona.

While fooling with this, I somehow lost most of the photos on Don's computer. They aren't in the trash folder. I wish Don would get home.

Day 20 August 10

DON RULES

I took Don to dinner to celebrate his promotion to Dean of the College of Business and Technology.

For some reason the flash wouldn't work on my telephone. I think it was fooled by the Saints' game on the television (bright rectangle).

We had a surprisingly wonderful time at Asian Cajun on Oak St where we were entertained by with his small piano. He rolled it from table to table playing requests. Then the chef, Honorable Chan, came out and played Moon River. He played really well - maybe better than Phillip. Sorry, Phil. We laughed and sang along. There are some bonuses to being older, and singing in public without giving a damn is one of them.

I had a delicious coconut, curried grouper, and for dessert, yam ice cream - yum! The dessert was waaayyy too much - 3 scoops of ice cream and instead of a little cookie, a basket made of cookie. I did manage to eat it all. Don had his grouper grilled and ordered bread pudding for dessert. He said it was very good.

The service was wonderful. A miracle in post-Katrina NOLA.

My only complaint is that the place is too noisy, and I don't mean the piano and singing. There must be some way to lower the decibel level. ?

Day 19 August 9

Visited an Uptown optometrist today and dropped a bundle. Of course, they lead me to the most expensive frames, and I fell in love with some, touched them, put them on, before I knew what was happening. I could have had a used car instead! Hope my vision will improve with my new Finnish spectacles. I started to drive away, but remembered my 365 Project, and drove around the block to snap a pic. That's the optometrist in the parking lot. He glanced my way - hope he doesn't think I'm really crazy (as compared to regular "therapist crazy"). Their telephone number is 899-eyes!

Day 18 August 8 Wednesday

Day 17 August 7 Tuesday

Day 16 August 6 Monday

Day 15 August 5 Sunday

Day 14 August 4 - Saturday

Gretna Market

It's so hot, I drank two glasses of fresh mango water today! It was important to stay away from the man who sells orchid plants. They're irresistable to me.

I planned meals for the week around my purchases.

Day 13 August 3

Day 13 August 3

TGIF

Day 12 August 2

Today I struggled with whether to call my brother, David to wish him a happy birthday. I know he's having a hard time today. Didn't.



I completed a necklace and earrings for Lee's birthday today. After rushing, I found out that it's not until August 9! She liked it though. I'll add a photo soon.

Day 11 August 1

Portrait by her husband

pencil, charcoal and pastels

Violet Blanche Huffman Cowart

Wife of Durward Veston Cowart

Mother of Virginia Lee Cowart (Dickson) Huffman and David Allen Cowart

Daughter of Rosalie Grey Huffman (Woessner) and Harrison Huffman

Sister of Milton Huffman, Charles Albert Woessner and Carol Ann Woessner

Granddaughter of Annalina Mix Grey and _______________

Today is the anniversary of my mother's death. I spent several days being miserable before I realized what was bothering me. Talking with a friend and my daughter helped and so did taking a nap. I see her fingerprints on her tattered cookbook and feel her presence.

Day 10 July 31 Schatzie's Bedtime

Here's Schatzie (Little Treasure, G.), a mixed breed terrorist. Her parents were a Jack Russell and a Schnauzer. She has her stuffed animal at her feet to let me know she wants to play. If I ignore her, she will hold it in her mouth and bump me with it.

Here, she won't let go so I can throw the toy. She likes a mix of activities, and controls the action.

Schatzie has her own bedtime ritual. First, she requires a little walk to check up on any aromas left by other neighborhood pets. Then, she likes to play fetch and tug of war with her toy. It's easy for humans to sustain minor injuries during this event. Schatzie accompanies the humans to their bedroom when they retire.

The photos were altered using JASC Paint Shop.

Day Nine July 30

Day Seven July 28

GRETNA FARMERS' MARKET - Rain or Shine





Hand made soaps using olive oil, soy oil


and essential oils. We bought a bar with a fleur de lis design.





I love those long, skinny eggplants. Too bad -



this time they turned out to be very seedy. Still made a terrific


pasta - ricotta - eggplant - mushroom casserole.






Ou-la-la. So much fun to make your own



bouquet. Tip: zinnias get discolored edges if you put them in


chlorinated water. Let the tap water sit open overnight.





Cap embroidered with a market scene









Youngest person present. I startled



Mom when I took this picture. Note to self: remember to ask first.

GRETNA FARMER'S MARKET

We are attempting to buy as many food products as possible from local growers and producers. This supports the local economy, reduces the cost of shipping and producing foods, provides better nutrition due to freshness and puts us in touch with local folks, many of whom do not use pesticides, preservatives, etc. It's also a lot of fun. There was live music at the covered market in Old Gretna, and fresh mango water to enjoy. Kids, dogs and maw-maws milled around sharing news and smiles.

Day Five July 27

MY DESK ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON

Can anyone work on this surface? NO. I don't think so. I spend so much time looking for things that I covered up with other things, or folded up inside of things, or put in the infamous, but unlocatable, "safe place." I have periods of organizing, but I can't seem to keep up with the steady stream of paper washing into my life. But it's Friday at 6:00PM - no one else works this late on Friday - so I am outta here!

Day Four July 26 Orchid Sitting

A very nice compliment! A client asked me to

babysit this orchid during her vacation.

I was flattered to be trusted with it.

It was just starting to bloom and seemed

right at home with the other orchids in my office.

Day Two No More Beads

Today, I started to sort all my beads and findings. It was waaay more stuff than I was aware of. I was reminded several times of my mother as I came across little things that had belonged to her. There were some tiny, gold-plated glass beads that once adorned her glamorous, rayon dress. A few threads of the fabric were still attached. I felt very close to her and aware of our shared, packrat tendencies. The beads in the photo represent a small portion of my collection.

Day 3 July 25 Maple Street Books

EXPOSURE THERAPY

Went for a drive with a client who suffers from phobias - driving, maps, getting lost, etc. This person likes book stores, so we went to Maple Street Books where I bought some - of course! I need a 12-step program for my book addiction. Here's a photo of a tshirt tacked up above a doorway in the crowded little shop. It says, "It's Your Choice...The Hood [as in KKK], The Crook, None of the above." It's from a past election where the gubernatorial runoff included David Duke, with a KKK hood since he was the former Grand Wizard; Edwin Edwards, the crook; none of the above just for fun! People also had bumper stickers - "VOTE FOR THE CROOK - IT'S IMPORTANT"

Also took some shots tonight of Schatzie's bedtime ritual.

July 29 - Sunday

?????????
No photos today! TOP SECRET!
Completed a surprise today for a special person. It required many false stars and do-overs because of technical difficulties beyond my skill and knowledge. I plan to admire it for a while before I send it off.