Tea at the Ritz

During the week between Christmas and the New Year, my sisters and I got together for a couple of outings while the youngest of our clan was in town with her daughter. Sipping tea at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown New Orleans seemed like a stretch for this blue-jeans and T-shirt wearing gal who would rather gulp down a diet Barq's. But it turned out to be a fun and interesting afternoon. My niece posed outside the life-sized gingerbread house:

It's Been A While!

While I haven't been faithful to this blog, I am hoping that the New Year will find me keeping up with my Photoblog, Fox Photos! Taking a photo a day will allow me to document both the extraordinary and mundane of our lives, and work on photography skills as well.

SNOW DAY!

Seriously! Who would have thought? It's so cool! I had a lot of fun driving Kevin to school. We were ooohhhing and aaahhhing the whole way. "Ooohhh, look at this yard! Aaahhh, look at that roof!" People were stepping out onto their lawns in bathrobes with cameras in hand. I'd see flashes of light reminiscent of one of those traffic cameras (Hey, I KNOW I didn't run that red light!) and then realize that it's only some guy snapping a picture of his house from the neutral ground! And they said it probably wouldn't stick. Well, guess what?! It did.





I took pictures and finally had to do it...build a snowman. Cute little fellow!

Say Cheese!

This photo makes me feel really SHORT. Shouldn't the photographer have had us BOTH standing or BOTH seated or a TALLER chair?! Anyway, it's a pretty nice photo of the two of us and probably the only studio-type photo that we've had taken since...our wedding, thirty-something years ago! It would be nice to get the family together for a professional outdoors photo shoot. NOW I know what I want for Christmas! YES!

Audubon Zoo

LIONS!





























and TIGERS!














and BEARS!






























OH MY!

Since Children's Hospital is literally next door to the Audubon Zoo, we decided on a visit after Kevin's OT appt. on Wednesday. The sunny and mild weather meant the animals were out and about, and ready for their pictures! I could watch the monkeys, especially orangutans and gorillas, all day. They are so fascinating. One big boy reached his arms up into a bush and pulled off a branch of bright red berries for munching. He immediately turned away as if to protect his cache from hungry onlookers.











































Hopping here and there from branch to branch, stopping only to take a bite, these little guys were some of the most active at the zoo! Some of the trees in their exhibit were showing the colors of autumn. It was a striking scene with leaves and fur of orange against the bright blue sky.











































And one final animal...homo sapien. This particular specimen wanted more than anything to climb on the big old oak trees in the park. We found the perfect one on our way to the sea lion pool (his favorite exhibit). He scurried up the big branch that swooped near the ground and posed for several photos along the way. But THEN...about 6-8 feet up, he realized that getting back down wasn't going to be as easy! Ooops! A little coaxing and he backed down far enough for me to catch him. :)

Believe

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson



Another entry for the Magistical Memories DT contest, this layout of Brendan on the beach showcases several pieces of chipboard: a Magistical Memories Window Tab, a Magistical Memories Flutterby (butterfly), a fancy letter "B", and chipboard sand dollar. All of the pieces were given a basecoat of paint and then stippled with additional layers to achieve the shadow and highlight effects.

Are We Human

Every once in a while I hear a great song that has it all...intriguing lyrics and soulful melody. This is one of them. From their new album, Day and Age, the Killers...

YouTube-Human-performed on BBC2's Later

I did my best to notice
When the call came down the line
Up to the platform of surrender
I was brought but I was kind
And sometimes I get nervous
When I see an open door
Close your eyes
Clear your heart...
Cut the cord

Chorus

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer
Are we human?
Or are we dancer?

Pay my respects to grace and virtue
Send my condolences to good
Give my regards to soul and romance,
They always did the best they could
And so long to devotion
You taught me everything I know
Wave goodbye
Wish me well..
You've got to let me go

(Chorus)

Will your system be alright
When you dream of home tonight?
There is no message we're receiving
Let me know is your heart still beating

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?
My sign is vital
My hands are cold
And I'm on my knees
Looking for the answer

You've got to let me know

(Chorus)

Are we human?
Or are we dancer?

Are we human
Or are we dancer?