New Orleans Trip

Recently my mother and I went on a trip to New Orleans. We stayed close to the french quarter at the Intercontinental Hotel just off of Canal Street. Getting in at 9'oclock at night and going down in the french quarter was somewhat scary.. and that was in a cab..... Bet you thought we were walking huh ? hahahahah. We rode the trolley, visited cool cemeteries, the french quarter, the french market and really did have a great time.............. Thanks mom for another wonderful time together........

Shotgun House

Wandering around in the Garden District we found these cute little houses known as "Shotgun Houses". They are not very wide but go a long distance back...... Cute huh?

St. Louis Cathedral

St. Louis Cathedral located by the French Market along the Mississippi River. Notice all the neat carriages ........Down along the French Market is a great flea market, street performers, art and FOOD.......... Good ole Southern Creole food.

We ate gumbo, deep fried catfish, oysters, shrimp, a po -boy sandwich and a yummy creation called a "Praline".........

Lafayette I Cemetery........Where's Brooke ?

Forget Waldo............

Where's Brooke ???????

New Orleans Trip

This tomb is what is known as a "Society Tomb".

To cut costs people would band together in "Benevolent Associations". These societies would reduce medical bills and help support widows, but their main purpose was to provide a sort of burial insurance, ensuring interment in a consecrated cemetery. Members were buried in the multi-vaulted "tombs". Of course there were monthly dues involved but you were guaranteed a good turn out at the service, as it would be manditory to attend all members services.

New Orleans Trip

These crypts or ovens as they call them are very interesting.......We visited St. Louis I cemetery and Lafayette I. They are known as wall graves and outline the cemetery as a fence. They are bought by families and are also used as temporary graves. Considering most family tombs have 2 to 4 places for crypts.....sometimes there is no room for the next deceased person so they would rent one of these wall spaces until space would become available. The remains of the individual would be removed after 1yr and 1day and be buried in the space below the grave and then someone else can now be buried there.

New Orleans Trip..Tomb of the undead......

This cool tomb is located is Lafayette I cemetery. It is the Karstendiek tomb and is built entirely of cast iron and dates from the 1860's. Does it look familiar? Did you see Interview with a Vampire? As a child Ann Rice played in this cemetery....

Hence it was part of the movie. I don't remember it but come on......that was a long time ago. I guess I will have to watch it again.

What is all the buzz on these Ornie Bowls?

Oh Yeah...... I started seeing these darling creations on E-Bay (Ebay thats another story). Anyway........ These little handmade creations are called Primitive ornies or bowl fillers. Most are baked and scented then you display them in the entry or on a table in a cute flat bowl or a wooden open face tray...... I bought each of my daughters these really cute brown metal decorative bowls and we started this at Halloween........ OH MY GOSH........cute cute cute......ARE YOU EVEN KIDDING ME............ We have now moved on to Thanksgiving with cute littleTurkeys, acorns, etc.... But my big excitement is Christmas. These cute ones to the left were purchased as ornaments at Cracker Barrel at a third of the price and then I will mix and match them with filler such as holly, pinecones, jingle bells, small ornament balls and whatever else................After I put them together I will post a picture of the finished product............

Baby Gap.......Baby Girl

She love her Nana...........................

Mt. Nebo majestic view

What a great spur of the moment photo....

Spectacular view of Mt. Nebo

Madame Butterfly

Recently my mother and I traveled to Salt Lake City to Capitol Theatre to see Madame Butterfly. What a beautiful opera. It is a heart wrenching story of a beautiful young geisha who sacrifices her family, her religion and, ultimately, her life for her American husband. This is a Giacomo Puccini opera. It is sung in Italian and it premiered in Milan in 1904. Puccini also did my other favorite opera of La Boheme. Both VERY VERY VERY Sad.............

Halloween 2008

This is my cutie Ivy and her hubby Cody. I am just wondering where his earrings are......?????

Brooke Tombstone

O.K. I guess there has been some confusion and CONCERN about my profile picture. For those of you who don't know of my addiction.............well it's time you knew..........

Yes, I am a graveyard groopie........I have had this obsession with family history / genealogy now for about 30 years. I also do alot of freelance work for other people.

This particular photo of the gravestone with my name on it was a stone I found at Arlington National Cemetery in August. I am headed to New Orleans in 2 weeks to photograph several ole "FABULOUS'' cemeteries..........

Now you know........................