Carnival Season Has Begun!

I'm back! It's been a busy and super fun weekend, and a slow-starting week. We'll see how this goes. Now, to catch up!

Last Friday we attended the first parades of the Mardi Gras season. This photo just spoke to me... I love how the light came from below to illuminate her face and feathers. I'm still pretty amazed by what this camera accomplished in very low light at the parades.

Saturday evening we went back for two more - this time the Flambeaux were there leading the way.

Mia and her buddy Holly being goofballs and showing off the fruits of their throw-begging labor.

Sunday I went into town on my own to meet a photography student. It was a stellar sunny day, and I got a lot of great parade shots. In the next few, I saw fit to concentrate on the children standing and sitting (on the ladders) all around me. Most (once including myself) think that Mardi Gras = Girls Gone Wild, flashing breasts for better beads. For 98% of New Orleans (certainly locals) this could not be farther from the truth.  I'm sure there are some who get drunk enough and head to the Quarter for that...but this is such an amazing family event! Do we stand out there with our beers and cocktails? Absolutely! But it's a marathon, not a sprint - and almost all New Orleans parades roll through Uptown and the Garden District; areas where families with kids live. And kids really get the best stuff of all.

Early in the parade, this little one already had a hula hoop and a lot of beads. (These ladders with carpeted seats are a great way to get high enough to catch the stuff from the top part of the float!)

By the end of the Krewe of Carrollton parade, she had a giant giraffe and sunglasses.

This adorable little one was working her boots and her tutu. (FYI, the "neutral ground" is what one would call an island in the middle of the street; at least in NJ. It's where the street cars roll by on St. Charles. At the parades, you let people know if you're on the neutral ground side or the sidewalk side so they can find you.)

Possibly my favorite kid-shot of the day.

 This was as racy as it got - the couple wouldn't turn toward me (they were handing goodies to the kids on the neutral ground), but he had green panties on his head, and her glasses were shaped like glittery marijuana leaves.

Lastly - my first 610 Stompers photo of the year. These guys are the real deal! I am a die-hard fan of these "ordinary men with extraordinary moves". They worked it!

Monday, Mia had her last basketball game. They lost to Newman (yes, we do always say it like Jerry Seinfeld from the show...) - but they played their hearts out and improved so much throughout the season. Due, in no small part, to Coach Long, and of course,  Sarabeth (pictured with the girls) - who helped coach them and encourage them in the best possible way.

Tuesday was pretty tame - regular school day and then home for a snack. I picked up opal apples. They were new to me, and apparently in season. Delicious!

And today is Wednesday. Started with clouds that turned into thunder, wind, and LOTS and lots of rain. So dark the street lights came back on. But this should be it for a while - and thankfully, it'll cool things off just a tad.

I'll be avoiding the city this weekend thanks to Super Bowl craziness. We'll see what other trouble we can get into.