Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Wordy Wednesday - New Orleans Style

Happy Wednesday Everykitty! First, we have an update on Daddy's sister. She is still in the hospital as she is experiencing some complications. It's nothing too big, they expect to release her Thursday, but the recovery will take longer than first anticipated. If you guys could send her purrs to get better quickly, we would appreciate it!

Today, we are going to show you what our beans were doing while they left us last weekend. They took a weekend trip to New Orleans with Aunt Susan and Uncle Dave. Uncle Dave is a native New Orleanian (Aunt Susan lived in LA too - her V-E-T degree is from LSU) so they were able to stay with Aunt Dave's sister Susie in Slidell, a suburb of the city. On Saturday, they were invited to attend a huge party at Susie's house. Here's a picture they took when they first arrived.
The food they ate was wonderful and we are very jealous of what they were served- three kinds of gumbo, shrimp and grits, grilled oysters, sausages, Cochon de Lait (Mommy refused to eat this as it's suckling pig), rack of lamb (Mommy also refused to eat), chicken and vegetable kabobs and Corn Maque Choux. Susie has this party every year and its always catered by Jack, the owner of Jacques-Imo's Cafe in New Orleans. This year, two of the gumbos (a traditional chicken and sausage gumbo and a seafood gumbo) were made by John Besh - runner up on the show The Next Iron Chef. John was supposed to be there, and Daddy was really looking forward to meeting him, but he could not make it at the last minute. He sent the gumbo though and Mommy says it was delish! Here are some pics of the food that Daddy took.

The next day was absolutely gorgeous in Louisiana. Daddy woke up early and took some pictures of the bayou that is behind Susie's house. He had hoped to see the foxes and bobcats (big wild kitties) and alligators (Daisy - they are great big lizards!) that live on the property but didn't see any. Here's Mommy's favorite of the bayou pictures that he took.
After everyone woke up, they all went into New Orleans and headed for the French Quarter. They went to some place called Pat O'Brien's and had those hurricanes we heard about. Guess what! They are not scary storms but drinks - really nummy adult rum drinks according to Mommy!
They spent the day in the French Quarter and watched the sun set on the Mississippi River. Here are some pictures Mommy took.

Look what else they got while they were in the French Quarter: gourmet kitty and doggie treats!

After leaving the French Quarter, they drove through the residential sections of the city. Though Uncle Dave and Aunt Susan had been back numerous times after Hurricane Katrina, this was our beans first time back. Even after over two years, Mommy was shocked at how bad certain areas of the city looked like - like a war zone. There is also a smell of mold and decay in certain areas of the city that was not there before. Many people are still living in FEMA trailers in the front yards and entire apartment complexes are boarded up and buildings are falling down. Mommy said seeing it all made her heart hurt and seeing the water lines still on some buildings and rescuers markings of "rescued cat" or "1 dead" followed by dates was just awful. The city is coming back, but its going to take a long time to erase the damage the storm left behind.


They left the city that night and spent one more night at Dave's sister's house before driving home the next day. They arrived home Monday night and we were really happy to see them! We don't think we will let them leave again!!

23 comments:

Tybalt said...

I will purr to make sure your daddy's sister gets better very quickly.

Sounds like your parents had a great time in New Orleans! I bet there could be some great birdie watching in that bayou. I think we should go visit one day.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Capt'n Jack I am purring as I pawtype this...we sure hope that your Daddy's sister will feel better furry soon.

Those were some fabulous pictures of New Orleans! Sounds like your Mom and Dad had a great time!

I bet that there is some wonderful sites to see there...

Purrs
Miss Boo

jenianddean said...

Wowie! It looks like your beans had a great time! My dad lived in New Orleans for 5 years when he was boy. He has very fond memories and he hasn't been back since Katrina. He also learn how to juggle there which means we have a lot of juggling balls to play with.

Mom and dad love gumbo and shrimp and grits. Reading this post made my mom very hungry.

Sending purrs to your daddy's sister!!
-Jasper McKitten-Cat

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

I will purr and pray for your dad's sister.

It sounds like your humans had a good trip! Gourmet kitty treats - yum!

Parker said...

That looked as though it was a great trip. The food looked yummy! I know you are happy to have them back now...we'll think good thoughts for your Aunt!

Mr. Hendrix said...

Big puuuurrrrrrs to your daddy's sister. I hope she gets all better soon.

I'm glad they had a good time. We heard that the city is slowly coming back, but some areas still look the same. That is sad to hear.

The food looks nummy num num num.
I'm glad you all got great treats when they got back!

Daisy said...

I am going to keep purring and purring for your aunt.

The New Orleans trip looks very fabulous! My Mommie and Daddie went there many years ago (before Katrina) and had a great time, too. I am very glad that you got some special gourmet kitty treats.

Diamond Emerald-Eyes said...

Yeah, Bean said that is how it was in Miami after Hurricane Andrew. She went to see how the zoo was making out and the all the surrounding areas were still a shambles. And all the trees were gone. There was no shade.

Purrs to your auntie. I hope she feels better soon. I will prey to Bast to send her some strength.

Anonymous said...

At least you got treats. What did I get from London?! Nothing.

Unknown said...

It looks like your Mum and Dad had a wonderful time. New Orleans looks like a very pretty place.

I will keep your Dad's sister in my prayers.

The Furry Kids said...

Lots of purrs for your aunt! We hope that she heals up quick.

It sounds like your mom and dad had a good time on their trip. Did they bring you any of those treats?

The Cat Realm said...

Lots of purrs for your Daddy's sister, purr purr purr purrr, I hope she will get better very soon!
The whole handling of the Katrina disaster was one of the worst things this country did. And still is doing. To imagine that people still are not getting the help they deserve...
It still makes us very sad to think about it.

LZ said...

What an interesting trip! We love seeing new places.

Chase

The Misadventures Of Me said...

Wonderfuls pictures. Learnings about far aways lands I has nevers been is funs!

Jimmy Joe said...

Momma told me about the terrible storm that came to New Orleans. That is a sad story. I'm glad your momma and daddy had some fun at Miss Susie's house, though, and got to eat yummy nummy seafood!
Your buddy, Jimmy Joe

Sunny's Mommy said...

I hope your Daddy's sister gets well soon and gets back home.

All that food has me salivating, it all looks so good. Tell your Mommy and Daddy thanks for sharing their pictures.

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

We'll be purraying fur yoor dad's sisfur to heal up real fast. Mom said dat no matter what you do nature usually wins, and it doesn't care who's in the way. Those hurricanes yoor beans had looked purrty good tho. Mom loves rum drinks...hehehee

Anonymous said...

Even as battered as it was, New Orleans is still a place where humans can have lots of fun.

All the Good Cats send quick-healing vibes to your Daddy's sister...

Mickey's Musings said...

Mom is jealous,that looked so fun!!!
Gourmet treats?Hmmmmmmmm
sounds good.Now I'm jealous,hahahaha!!

MaoMao said...

We Ballicai are purrin fur your Daddy's sistur! I hope she's bettur furry soon.

Looks like your beans had a great time in Looyisiana! And so much good foodies -- I'm gettin hungry just lookin at the pickshures!

Kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao!

Spike William and Angels China Cat and Willow said...

Willow and I will purr for your daddy's sister to get better fast. My Lap Lady and Big Janitor Dad went close to New Orleans for a wedding last May and they saw alligators! Just like you, we don't want them to go away again and leave us alone!

Purrrrs, China Cat

Anonymous said...

I'm glad your beans had a great time in Louisiana! The food looks fabulous *smile*.

And I will be purring for your Daddy's sister!

Purrs and snuggles from Marilyn.

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

New Orleans looks like a wonderful place to visit~!!!! I wanna being there too.

I almost could smell the great meal~!