Laughing Magpie

Last Jazz on the wall

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000Z

This one is Royal Street, just a block south of Bourbon Street it is also known by its old Spanish name, Calle Real. So you can see it's one of the oldest streets in New Orleans. It is littered with antique shops and art galleries that charge extortionate prices, so many folk just like to wander along Royal Street just window shopping and enjoying the traffic free freedom of the afternoons.

More Jazz on the wall

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000Z

Bourbon Street - maybe the most famous street in the French Quarter - think of all that jazz being played in the many cafés along its length and the songs written about it.Was the House of the Rising Sun on Bourbon Street? And what about Moon over Bourbon Street (Sting). And lots of genuine jazz tunes, too.

Jazz on the wall 2

2012-01-27T06:30:00.000Z

Decatur Street is in the French Quarter of New Orleans, named for Stephen Decatur (1779-1820), the youngest captain in the US Navy at the age of nineteen.

Jazz on the wall

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000Z

No prizes for guessing where this is - home of jazz, New Orleans.
The artist seems to be Katie Lin, but I don't know anything about her. These murals decorate the blank window recesses on the side of the building, just opposite the lot belonging to the car rental companies.

It's Burns Night

2012-01-25T05:30:00.000Z

- the night when the birth of the Scottish Bard, Robert Burns, is celebrated. He would have been 253 this year.
At a Burns supper one would expect to hear lots of Robert Burns poetry but above all there will be the Selkirk Grace:

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit.

And of course, the Address to the Haggis:

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin was help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin', rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckles as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' blody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' hands will sned,
Like taps o' trissle.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a haggis!

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000Z

At Laura Plantation, Lower Mississippi, Louisiana.

New Moon

2012-01-23T03:00:00.000Z

On Jan 23, 2012 the moon rises at 7:32am and sets at 5:13pm the New Moon is at 7:30am
Don't forget:
Never take a first look at a new moon through glass - it's bad luck;
and
When you do see the new moon, turn the change in your pocket over for good fortune;
and
If the new moon forms a cup, then the next month will be dry - it's holding water.

Just now and again, Venus can be seen just above the slightly upturned cup of the new moon and everyone of Pakistani origins is mighty pleased at this resembles the Pakistan flag. I only mention this as I have seen it.

NFL Championship 2012

2012-01-22T23:30:00.000Z

Our favourites, the Saints were knocked out, but Sunday saw the Championship games being played. The two matches were Baltimore Ravens v New England Patriots and New York Giants v San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots won (23-20) as did the NYG (37-20), so we have the Superbowl teams for this season the NYG v Patriots on 5th Februaryat 6.30pm EST in the Indianapolis Lucas Oil Stadium.

Fleurty Girl

2012-01-21T05:30:00.000Z

Simon Hardeveld

Fleurty Girl

Open

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000Z

Simon Hardeveld, a very popular New Orleans artist - but he has no website. Originally from Cannes, I think he said, with a French Mum and, yes, a Dutch Dad! We met him at the Jackson Avenue location, just by Magazine Street. He is so busy with new creations and commissions, and long may it continue.
Here is a newspaper article all about him - it's a bit slow, but does get there eventually.

Pipe Dreams?

2012-01-19T06:30:00.000Z

Up in Smoke HQ

Two Birthdays, two posts

2012-01-18T05:30:00.000Z

One who likes cars

and one who is definitely into books!

Happy Birthday to you!

Garden District Book Shop

Loves Coffee

2012-01-17T05:30:00.000Z

A little cafe in The Rink, a historic building in the Garden District of New Orleans.
And just to wish Pete 'a Happy Birthday' - one who likes coffee, but it has to be instant!
Still Perkin' may not be for her, their coffee is 'real'!

Still Perkin'

Anyone for a paper?

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000Z

A street car named

2012-01-15T04:00:00.000Z

Desire

GEAUX SAINTS

2012-01-14T03:30:00.000Z

Tonight the Saints play the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. This is a divisional playoff game in the race to the Super Bowl XLVI. Play starts at 16.30 local time, I think so that's midnight thirty GMT, so maybe we will stay up to watch, but then again. . . . . . The folk in New Orleans will be watching at 18.30 so

WHO DAT ----

and

GEAUX SAINTS!

Don't forget to wear gold and black and NO red, please!

Shoes -

2012-01-13T02:00:00.000Z

shoes and more shoes!

Delicious!

2012-01-12T02:00:00.000Z

Favourite stop! La Boulangerie on Magazine Street where we had restorative cups of tea with raspberry tarts. Very good!

2012-01-11T02:00:00.000Z

Just the place for New Year resolutions!

2012-01-10T02:00:00.000Z

Practice makes perfect!

Geaux Tigers!

2012-01-09T03:00:00.000Z

2012-01-08T01:00:00.000Z

is it true?

Wirthmore Antiques

- and Beyond

2012-01-07T01:30:00.000Z

New Orleans, Bali -

Igor's

2012-01-06T02:00:00.000Z

TP fans will be amazed that an Igor has found his way to New Orleans!

Discarded

2012-01-05T01:30:00.000Z

Turquoise wreath

2012-01-04T00:30:00.000Z

2012-01-03T00:30:00.000Z

Once again the stores are opening after the Christmas/New Year break, but we spotted this sign on Magazine St., New Orleans. Painted by Simon Hardeveld, a famous New Orleans artist, it shows his distinctive eye-catching style that can easily be spotted all over town.

Read about Simon

The Alternative Christmas Tree

2012-01-02T05:30:00.000Z

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000Z

Carolina Chickadee

2011-12-31T06:00:00.001Z

In the Conservatory at Biltmore House.

Northern Mockingbird

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000Z

Biltmore Gardens.

Christmas cupcakes

2011-12-30T06:00:00.000Z

At the Maple Street Patisserie, New Orleans

Dancing Gingerbreadman 3

2011-12-29T04:00:00.000Z

Dancing Gingerbreadman 2

2011-12-28T06:00:00.000Z

Dancing Gingerbreadman 1

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000Z

Boxing Day drive

2011-12-26T06:00:00.000Z

Mr & Mrs T Bear go for a Boxing Day drive, starting out from Under the Tree, Inn on Biltmore Estate, NC.

Happy Christmas

2011-12-25T06:00:00.000Z

Christmas in the Conservatory

2011-12-24T06:00:00.000Z

At Biltmore, Asheville, NC, USA

Pointsettias

2011-12-23T06:00:00.000Z

In the Conservatory at Biltmore, Asheville, NC USA

Gingerbread Hotel

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000Z

Inn on Biltmore Estate beautifully modelled in gingerbread.

Tiffany cupcakes

2011-12-21T01:00:00.000Z

At the Creamery in Antler Hill Village, special cupcakes for the Tiffany exhibition.

2011-12-20T06:30:00.000Z

Someone's ideal Christmas presents - someone else's nightmare!

Blue Arcade

2011-12-19T06:30:00.000Z

Archways of light

2011-12-18T06:30:00.000Z

Christmas Lights

2011-12-17T06:30:00.000Z

Brollies, parcels, swooshes and stars light the way down Oxford Street

Picadilly Arcade

2011-12-16T06:30:00.000Z

Beautiful historic arcade in the West End all dressed up for Christmas.

South Moulton Street

2011-12-15T06:30:00.000Z

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000Z

Rickshaws, buses, bright lights on Oxford Street

Christmas Shopping

2011-12-13T06:30:00.000Z

No - It's a

2011-12-12T06:30:00.000Z

Hermit crab
Jungle Fever at RHS Garden Wisley by Anvil Ironworks

Anvil Ironworks

What's that coming over the hill?

2011-12-11T06:30:00.000Z

Is it a monster?

Jungle Fever at RHS Garden Wisley by Anvil Ironworks

Anvil Ironworks

Fiddlehead

2011-12-10T06:30:00.000Z