Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Louisiana Feb. 10th--19th
Mardi Gras here we come!!
We left Golden Sun Resort at 8 A.M. Feb 10th and arrived in Lafayette,Louisiana at 4:25 P.M. flying Continental Airlines via Houston, Texas. Our friend John Couvillion was there to meet us.Sherryl had a delicious Cajun shrimp stew with Ralph's favourite pumpkin cake ready on arrival. Great to see our friends again.
Feb 11th
Sherryl took me shopping to some very nice stores and met the boys at Patty's for a plate lunch.
Cold 38 Deg. F and raining. We stopped to meet John's daughter Michelle. In the evening we went to Mr. Keet's Resturant for crawfish (3 lbs each)-alot of peeling but very tasty. On our way home we visited their son Bryan,wife and three children.
Feb.12th
Heavy rain and started to snow(woh,every 9 years in Lafayette). It cleared in the afternoon.
Ralph and John dropped the Couvillion's 45 foot motorhome off at Cajun Field in order to watch the Mardi Gras parades.
The four of us went to Vermillionville at 10:30 A.M. to hang our beads on the float. We had lunch (fried rabbit,hot wings,nachos etc.) and drinks(Tequila Rose,sangria and marqueritas)at La Fondas Resturant. John hired a limo to take us to the American Legion at 3 pm to have masks painted on our face. They served pork and sausage jambalaya. Then we went by bus to Vermillionville to ride in the Krewe de Triton parade 6:30 to 9 pm. We were the 8th float of 12.
We were extremely busy throwing beads on the 7 miles of the parade route to Cajun Field. We almost didn't have time to drink our wine,beer and special coffee. We went to a P.J. party at the Hilton Hotel with lots of food afterwards. What an unforgettable day!
Feb.13th
We had brunch at the Broken Egg. Sherryl and I had our hair styled. The guys sure looked sharp in their tuxedos and Mardi Gras vests. We looked pretty good in our long gowns as well. Dinner at Charlie G's resturant with crab cakes,sea bass,filet etc. was superb.
We arrived before 8 pm at the Cajun Dome for the Mardi Gras Ball. There were over 2 thousand people,floats and bands parading around the inside of the Cajun Dome,throwing beads. The costumes and pageantry"Once In A Lifetime" theme was spectaular. We danced the night away to the excellent band "Louisiana Red" . Bed was a welcome site at 2:30 am.
Feb. 14th Happy Valentine's Day(happy birthday Rob Lennox)
A quiet relaxing day . We did some laundry ,watched the Olympics and helped Sherryl prepare casseroles and dishes to take to the motorhome. We made a sign "Canada Loves Mardi Gras" to wave during Monday and Tuesdays parades.
Feb. 15th
After shopping in the morning and having another tasty lunch at Zea's,we drove over to the motorhome at Cajun Field. John and a friend made pork and sausage jambalaya(excellent) in a huge black iron cauldron. Sherryl had made lots of other dishes. Many friends and family were invited to the Couvillion's motorhome for supper.We met Kevin's two daughters. Nairn and Donalda Bannatyne's friends from Lafayette,Luis and Elaine Mora came to meet us and enjoy the parade(Elaine's homemade pralines were delicious). We watched the Queen's Parade at 6pm,waved our sign and caught lots of beads. Sunny 55 Deg. F(15 Deg. C) Lots of fun.
Feb.16th (Fat Tuesday)
Three parades today: Kings Parade at 10 am ,Black Parade at 2pm,and the Independent Parade at 4pm. All the parades end at Cajun Field. We had a vantage spot at the Couvillion's motorhome
(each spot rents for $600.00) .
John and Ralph bar-b-qued hamburgers and homemade deer/pork sausage . Sherryl made lots of other food. The police and security came over for some food too. The fairgrounds had carnival rides and bands playing all day. Everyone certainly knows how to party!
Feb.17th (Ash Wednesday)
Mardi Gras is over but we are off to New Orleans 8:30 am for a 3 hour drive. We crossed the Atchafalaya Basin(swampland)over a 18 mile bridge outside Baton Rouge. We crossed over another bridge over Lake Ponchartrain coming into New Orleans. We arrived at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street.
Highlights of our day:fried shrimp po-boy sandwich for lunch,shopping in the French Quarter,Hurricane drinks at Pat O'Briens,Marie Lavoie's tomb at St. Lukes Cemetry(above ground burial sites),a delicious dinner at Armand's and bar hopping till midnight . The Jazz,Cajun,and other music was fantastic. Good food,Good music,Good times!
Feb.18th
We had breakfast at Cafe du Monde--famous for their cafe au lait and beignets. We took a City and Katrina Tour from noon-2:30 pm We toured the French Quarter,the Katrina devastation and the re-building especially the lower 9th quarter and Brad Pitt's Project,the Musicans' Project and Fats Dominos house,City Park with giant oaks and hanging Spanish Moss,the above ground cemetaries,expensive mansions(Sandra Bullock,Payton Manning) in the Garden District,Super Dome to name a few. It gave us a glimpse at what is New Orleans. After shopping along The Riverwalk and the Mississippi River,we headed back at 5 pm for Lafayette. We stopped in Baton Rouge for supper.
Feb. 19th
Homeward bound to Arizona. We packed our bags in the morning(squeezing in some beads),said our good byes to John and Sherryl and left for the airport at 1 pm. Our flight was delayed 1 hour causing us to miss our connecting flight in Houston. Continental Airlines put us on another flight at 6:30 pm in Houston. We took a shuttle from the Phoenix Airport arriving at Golden Sun at 10:00 pm.
Mardi Gras was everything we imagined but much, much more. Our Cajun friends, John and Sherryl Couvillion were the ultimate hosts. It was a awesome experience. The food,the music,the culture,most of all the people of Louisiana are unique. Thank you John and Sherryl for your kindness and generosity. We had the time of our life and the memories are forever.
We left Golden Sun Resort at 8 A.M. Feb 10th and arrived in Lafayette,Louisiana at 4:25 P.M. flying Continental Airlines via Houston, Texas. Our friend John Couvillion was there to meet us.Sherryl had a delicious Cajun shrimp stew with Ralph's favourite pumpkin cake ready on arrival. Great to see our friends again.
Feb 11th
Sherryl took me shopping to some very nice stores and met the boys at Patty's for a plate lunch.
Cold 38 Deg. F and raining. We stopped to meet John's daughter Michelle. In the evening we went to Mr. Keet's Resturant for crawfish (3 lbs each)-alot of peeling but very tasty. On our way home we visited their son Bryan,wife and three children.
Feb.12th
Heavy rain and started to snow(woh,every 9 years in Lafayette). It cleared in the afternoon.
Ralph and John dropped the Couvillion's 45 foot motorhome off at Cajun Field in order to watch the Mardi Gras parades.
The four of us went to Vermillionville at 10:30 A.M. to hang our beads on the float. We had lunch (fried rabbit,hot wings,nachos etc.) and drinks(Tequila Rose,sangria and marqueritas)at La Fondas Resturant. John hired a limo to take us to the American Legion at 3 pm to have masks painted on our face. They served pork and sausage jambalaya. Then we went by bus to Vermillionville to ride in the Krewe de Triton parade 6:30 to 9 pm. We were the 8th float of 12.
We were extremely busy throwing beads on the 7 miles of the parade route to Cajun Field. We almost didn't have time to drink our wine,beer and special coffee. We went to a P.J. party at the Hilton Hotel with lots of food afterwards. What an unforgettable day!
Feb.13th
We had brunch at the Broken Egg. Sherryl and I had our hair styled. The guys sure looked sharp in their tuxedos and Mardi Gras vests. We looked pretty good in our long gowns as well. Dinner at Charlie G's resturant with crab cakes,sea bass,filet etc. was superb.
We arrived before 8 pm at the Cajun Dome for the Mardi Gras Ball. There were over 2 thousand people,floats and bands parading around the inside of the Cajun Dome,throwing beads. The costumes and pageantry"Once In A Lifetime" theme was spectaular. We danced the night away to the excellent band "Louisiana Red" . Bed was a welcome site at 2:30 am.
Feb. 14th Happy Valentine's Day(happy birthday Rob Lennox)
A quiet relaxing day . We did some laundry ,watched the Olympics and helped Sherryl prepare casseroles and dishes to take to the motorhome. We made a sign "Canada Loves Mardi Gras" to wave during Monday and Tuesdays parades.
Feb. 15th
After shopping in the morning and having another tasty lunch at Zea's,we drove over to the motorhome at Cajun Field. John and a friend made pork and sausage jambalaya(excellent) in a huge black iron cauldron. Sherryl had made lots of other dishes. Many friends and family were invited to the Couvillion's motorhome for supper.We met Kevin's two daughters. Nairn and Donalda Bannatyne's friends from Lafayette,Luis and Elaine Mora came to meet us and enjoy the parade(Elaine's homemade pralines were delicious). We watched the Queen's Parade at 6pm,waved our sign and caught lots of beads. Sunny 55 Deg. F(15 Deg. C) Lots of fun.
Feb.16th (Fat Tuesday)
Three parades today: Kings Parade at 10 am ,Black Parade at 2pm,and the Independent Parade at 4pm. All the parades end at Cajun Field. We had a vantage spot at the Couvillion's motorhome
(each spot rents for $600.00) .
John and Ralph bar-b-qued hamburgers and homemade deer/pork sausage . Sherryl made lots of other food. The police and security came over for some food too. The fairgrounds had carnival rides and bands playing all day. Everyone certainly knows how to party!
Feb.17th (Ash Wednesday)
Mardi Gras is over but we are off to New Orleans 8:30 am for a 3 hour drive. We crossed the Atchafalaya Basin(swampland)over a 18 mile bridge outside Baton Rouge. We crossed over another bridge over Lake Ponchartrain coming into New Orleans. We arrived at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street.
Highlights of our day:fried shrimp po-boy sandwich for lunch,shopping in the French Quarter,Hurricane drinks at Pat O'Briens,Marie Lavoie's tomb at St. Lukes Cemetry(above ground burial sites),a delicious dinner at Armand's and bar hopping till midnight . The Jazz,Cajun,and other music was fantastic. Good food,Good music,Good times!
Feb.18th
We had breakfast at Cafe du Monde--famous for their cafe au lait and beignets. We took a City and Katrina Tour from noon-2:30 pm We toured the French Quarter,the Katrina devastation and the re-building especially the lower 9th quarter and Brad Pitt's Project,the Musicans' Project and Fats Dominos house,City Park with giant oaks and hanging Spanish Moss,the above ground cemetaries,expensive mansions(Sandra Bullock,Payton Manning) in the Garden District,Super Dome to name a few. It gave us a glimpse at what is New Orleans. After shopping along The Riverwalk and the Mississippi River,we headed back at 5 pm for Lafayette. We stopped in Baton Rouge for supper.
Feb. 19th
Homeward bound to Arizona. We packed our bags in the morning(squeezing in some beads),said our good byes to John and Sherryl and left for the airport at 1 pm. Our flight was delayed 1 hour causing us to miss our connecting flight in Houston. Continental Airlines put us on another flight at 6:30 pm in Houston. We took a shuttle from the Phoenix Airport arriving at Golden Sun at 10:00 pm.
Mardi Gras was everything we imagined but much, much more. Our Cajun friends, John and Sherryl Couvillion were the ultimate hosts. It was a awesome experience. The food,the music,the culture,most of all the people of Louisiana are unique. Thank you John and Sherryl for your kindness and generosity. We had the time of our life and the memories are forever.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Apache Junction,Arizona Feb. 4-9th
On Feb. 4th Ralph exercized and swam in the pool. I got my hair cut and colored $68.00 (in Calgary it would cost me another $100.00). In the evening we went to see Rex Allen Jr. in the resort's ballroom. Very good.
On Friday we went to the Mesa Swap Meet (open Friday Sat. Sun.). We shopped, had lunch and bumped into Brian And Shirley Regan (Calgary). We went for a beer with them.
Saturday morning we had a excellent pancake breakfast at the resort($3.00). We met Ron Hobbs and his daughter Toresa ( Langley,B.C. visiting for a week) at the Rolling Hills Golf Course,Scottsdale for a round of golf at 2 P.M. Cheap golfing--18 holes with electric cart $35.00 each. It was a nice executive course and we all had a good game. Cloudy with a few sprinkles of rain.
Feb. 7th Super Bowl Sunday. It rained heavy all night but cleared off in the a.m. We went to pick up a few things at the swap meet in the morning. We drove over to Mesa Spirit Resort(13 miles away). Our Calgary friends Brian & Shirley and Graham & Margret Tedd invited us over for Super Bowl. Lots of great food and a fun time. New Orlean's Saints won.
Monday morning we were up and at it playing outdoor floor shuffleboard at 9:30-11:30 AM. We went to the potluck supper at 5 PM.
Bon Voyage Carl and my sister Janet---Cuba for a 2 week holiday. Beautiful warm day in Apache low 70's. Cleaning,laundry,packing. We had our neighbours Jim & Gail and Arvid & Glenda over for happy hour. Tomorrow Ralph and I fly to Louisiana. Mardi Gras here we come!!! We are excited.
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