Thanks to our great friends Phil and Bonnie from VA, we were able to stay at a very cool penthouse condo in the Warehouse District. We had our very own hot tub on the balcony. Friday dinner was at Ernst Cafe. We shared the panko crusted crab cakes, shrimp and fried green tomatoes with remoulade and kobe hot dog. The crab cakes were crispy and delicious as were the fried green tomatoes. The hot dog was more like sausage, which was fine, but nothing to rave about. Breakfast was a short walk away at M's, a little coffee shop with nice big, fresh breakfast sandwiches and inexpenisve plates.  The owner, Sean Rixner, believes in quality and customer service. Saturday night we had a fabulous dinner at Muriel's Jackson Square. Denise, Rick, Marian, Mark, Rachel and Scott met us at the bar for drinks and we swapped hurricane stories. Then it was time for dinner. Chef Gus Martin sent out a lagniappe plate (he does not believe in "amuse") of  crab and red pepper over tomato, it tasted to me like there was a bit of tasso or something smoky in there but I don't know for sure what it was. I could have eaten it on a poboy. It was so good. My entree was the redfish with lump crab and crab butter sauce which is outstanding. The process of making the butter takes about thirty hours. I could eat it with a spoon. Drinks were a French 75 and Muriel's coffee. The coffee has a praline liquor and is warm but served with a straw. So good. I think hubby was a little tipsy after his. After dinner we took a little dip in the (very) hot tub during a light sprinkle of cool rain. Serenity now! Sunday it was time to get back to reality. Enjoy a few pictures of our mini vacation.

We took a ride up 51 today. Most of it had been closed since the storm. We fed the mailbox kitties, visited with Chef Horst and had a lovely breakfast at Paul's Cafe. Afterward we went over to CJ's Antiques and scored some very cool stuff! Of course, it was then time for my Saturday afternoon nap. I love naps. For all pics click the link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/12736636@N00/sets/72157631598807122/

Our little hummers

I've been outside playing with my new camera. Here are some of our little hummers that visit daily.

I received a call from hubby telling me he forgot to get cat food for the mailbox kitties. These are the kitties across from Middendorf's, by the fire station. Of course I jumped in the car, bought food and headed that way. I smushed two snakes on the way there. Not on purpose! They slithered under my tires and before I knew it they were vulture food. Oh well, I fed the cats AND the birds today. When I got to the kitties they all yelled at me until I opened the nice new bag of food. They ate, mama let me pet her, then I went across the street to visit T-Mew (the roof cat) and rest of the crew. Flat licked my toes, Black Girl mewed at me, Katze, Rabbit, Simba, Multi-Kitty and Vickie were all there and happy to be petted.

Trying to keep it light

We knew hurricane Isaac was coming, and from the expected path, I knew it would flood. We have lived here for almost 20 years and every time it has flooded, it's gone down quickly and never gone past the sidewalk. This time was different. The wind blew the lake water in our direction flooding the interstate and the two exits to our town, lovely LaPlace, LA.  What a way to spend the anniversary of hurricane Katrina, right? We didn't have water for several days and electricity for a week. Given the choice I'll take water over air conditioning any day, but we have a generator so we didn't have to sweat. Our house stayed an average of about 75 degrees. We have a tree on the lawn, a little roof damage, but we are fine. Our neighbors took in some very nice people who were not so lucky. They had water at least chest high in their homes. We cooked for them, let the kids sleep over here to give them some room and charged their cell phones. I wish we could have done more. Here are some pictures from the event. I don't wish this on anyone.