Bern's Christening

We celebrated Bern's Christening this weekend with Mimi and Great Uncle Ken. We wandered around the quarter, attended the Zydeco Festival, and enjoyed a sweet service at First Grace. My talented mother made Bern's outfit. Isn't it great? 

Riding the Streetcar with Uncle Ken

Time for pigtails.

All the details.

His outfit.

Mimi putting on his outfit. Bern's holding the hanger for her.

Fam shot.

Our happy boy.

Viola really wanted in on the action.

Memorial Day

We headed to Waveland Mississippi for the day. A friend of ours has a place and while it is no Alabama or Florida panhandle beach it hit the spot.

My Little Helper.

Showing off his first tooth.

She loved the water. 

The water was shallow so she could wade for days.

This little guy got his toes wet too.

"Swimming" with daddy.

Looking for rocks.

How she spent the rest of the day.

Mardi Gras Continues

My friend Brooks sent these this week and they are so wonderful. He did such a great job of capturing the weekend. Cheers Brooks.

Weekend Wrap up

I can't remember the last time our weekend wasn't spent running errands,cleaning, or Will working. We soaked in the Spring weather with good food and beverages, friends, and canning.

Will and I have started sitting on the porch on Fridays usually with a margarita in hand. This week we had homemade flautas and salsa with a grapefruit and Serrano pepper cocktail.

On Saturday we drove to Albany to the strawberry patch. It is hands down one of my favorite things we have done so far.

I picked them and she stored them in the baskets.

The weather was a little dodgy but the rain held off.

Bern enjoyed the horsey swing.

Trying to get Viola to be a strawberry was a little harder.

Later that night we joined friends for some homemade Louisiana cuisine. They made a  wonderful catfish almandine, mirliton dressing and corn machoux. It was delicious.

On Sunday we made strawberry jam (more on that later). I also have a few other strawberry recipes I hope to try.

Hello Spring!!

Happy 1st Day of Spring.

 

St. Patrick's Day Parade

This parade was so fun except for the fact that Will had to work. A friend of ours has an apt on Magazine where the parade goes. It was nice because we could look out the window if we didn't want to be in the middle of the masses. This parade is a little different than the others in that they throw cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and onions. Everything you need for cabbage stew. There are other throws such as Irish soap or wintergreen mints. It is much more of a locals parade so it isn't as crowded in some ways.

Viola's dress was perfect. Thanks Hannons.

The first part is a walking parade which means lots of dancing.

And dance we did.

The chicken lady was there. Taking a break from her children.

Twirling with Aunt Jane.

Waiting for the floats.

LENT

Typically I don’t find myself looking forward to Lent, but this year was different.  This was our first year to live in New Orleans and participate in Carnival as residents. We had a blast, but by the end I was paraded out. The festivities last for a week and a half and Will and I made the most of it.

Normally during Lent I concentrate more on what I want to give up instead of what I want to add to my life. I tend to pay attention to my body and its relation to food. I do this in order to conjure a longing, a craving, and a need to remind me that there is something much bigger than myself. Even though I have missed certain food items in the past I have rarely found it to lead me to a time of reflection and penitence. I don’t often pay close enough attention to the idea of pruning or searching my soul so that love can grow.

This year I have decided to go a different route. I am going to focus on my mind. The past two years during the New Year I have combed my journals for themes of the recent year. One theme that has been present for years has been stillness. While I often write about it I seldom take action to change. For Lent I have taken steps to carve out time for meditation and setting limits with my time. People often ask me how I have time to make this or do that. Example: I was 2 weeks post-partum and making homemade doughnuts. (Disclaimer: I enjoying trying new things and it isn’t always an issue of being still, but in this case I needed to rest) When these comments are made I usually smile from pride of my accomplishments (which give me value and purpose) but deep down I feel sad that I am so restless. I run around making myself crazy and because of this those I love suffer. I am unable to give the best parts of me by being present with them.

My pace creates a mind that can’t stop making to-do lists. With every completed project comes a list of five more.  Here is how I have determined to set limits for this season. I made a list of every weekly thing I do. This includes browsing social media, reading, crafting, baking, cleaning, errands and several other tasks. I pick 3 things each day that I want to do (not including routine stuff that has to be done like meals, naps, and bedtime stuff). When naptime or evening comes I can’t do anything before I have done my 10 minute meditation. When I have used up my 3 things I have to sit and be still (frightening , I know.)

I have given myself the freedom to tweak what I need to. This is a big commitment and very daunting, but I am ok with failing. I have to remember to offer myself grace and see this as a learning experience so I can get to those deeper parts of my soul. I don’t expect the rhythm of my life to be transformed in one season. However, I do hope for change and new experiences and I believe the goodness of God will carry me deeper into the shadows of my soul.

“Go slowly; meet people. Take your time.”  -Stewart Jackson