My View (vol. 14)

French Quarterfest 2014

The people, the dancing, the music: it was an awesome experience - much more "of the people" than Jazz Fest, and very local!

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Happy Saturday!

My View (vol. 13)

We moved here last June, and as cemeteries are one of Will's and my favorite places to visit, we stopped by the oldest one: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

Catholic, of course.

And so began the pilgrimage (here is a map).

If I remember correctly, this is the grave of a supposed voodoo priestess.

But mostly, a lot of family plots.

And impressive mausoleums 

It was like walking through a city of the dead...

Part of me wishes I had gone on a midnight tour around Halloween - the other part thinks, I still can! (Just in May or June).

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Happy Saturday!

My View (vol. 9)

St. Patrick's Cathedral downtown was the first church Will and I went to for mass. We went to five o'clock mass, and I still remember listening to the priest whose radio voice led me blissfully through the liturgies. We went to five o'clock mass there the next three months, missing only once, when we forgot about the conflicting calendar of New Orleans' official religion, Saints football.

The church is gorgeous, old, full of history, traditional and welcoming. Since having Grace, we've started attending the church closer to our apartment (equally staggering in tabernacle and architectural glory); I still try to go to noon mass there, when possible.

I love the scenes from Jesus' life on Earth behind the tabernacle, the gorgeous stained glass windows, the heavy, dark wood pews, the scallop over the Gospel/ homily podium, and the carving details in the columns and arches overhead. 

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My View (vol. 5)

This is outside a local bar down Tchoupitoulas Street - we took a walk down to get a snow cone at Hansen's before looping down Magazine. Tchoupitoulas is pretty industrial; the Port of New Orleans is on the other side, and there is a smattering of brightly painted houses, bars, fix-up car shops, restaurants, a Rouse's, and one house advertising for jazzercise. This bar caught my attention because of the distinctive painting on the walls of the otherwise warehouse-looking bar, and even the tabletops are painted to look like billiard tables.

This is one aspect about New Orleans that I will really miss - the creativity and beauty of even the more worn down locales. The ability to create beauty in the midst of concrete and palm trees, a view of stacked shipping containers and broken sidewalks.

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Luck of the Irish and a Mardi Gras Hang-Over

Will called the St. Patrick's Day parade down the Irish Channel on Saturday the "Mardi Gras hang-over" and it was hard to disagree. Lots more green beads this time, though, and people handing out cabbages. It's really great living within walking distance as well - certainly makes for an extra fun parade!

Will Grace inherit her mother's Irish complexion or her father's talent for tanning?

The theme for the floats this year was circus!

Beads a-flyin'!

Okay, this is seriously cool - Simon is a New Orleans-based folk artist artist whose work I love and whose studio I stumbled upon a few weeks ago while on a walk with Grace. On my birthday, we stopped by, met him, and ordered a sign... and then a few days later, we saw him again! 

The after math. Boom.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! My favorite holiday, hands down, that does not double as a high holy day. A holiday started by proud Irish-Americans to celebrate their homeland, so I feel it is fitting that we participate accordingly. I am fixing Irish stew for dinner and me thinks we'll have a few celebratory beers as well! BECAUSE WILL MATCHED *SOMEWHERE* ... and for my grandmother's birthday today! Happy birthday, dear Mema!

Residency here we come! And erin go braugh!

My View (vol. 4)

So, welcome to the urban jungle. When we first started reading about the program at Tulane, they talked about the "uptown campus" and "downtown campus" - what they really meant was the "pretty campus" and the "ugly campus next to the hospital".

I know; the aesthetics can be overwhelming.

Fortunately, downtown New Orleans is {in general} much nicer than these particular buildings, and I just wish there had been a bit more thought in how to make medical-related buildings more welcoming and beautiful.

On the bright side, next door to the building Will has half his classes in is next to the public library, and the other building is on Canal Street, which is lined with palm trees and is wedged between the French Quarter and the CBD/ Central Business District + Warehouse District for those who want to stay in the city but off the tourist parade routes.

On the other side of this street, there is a lovely city park, City Hall, trees and greenery galore, and streetcar and bus stops. But this is the street we Baldwins frequent daily, and thus it must be viewed.

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Join us!

#7QT: Eating Our Way Through The Week

Back by popular demand... Grace Harriet here to dialogue about my week. It was Mom's birthday on Wednesday, so, between naps and feedings, we've been having a rawther good time.

{one}

My debut as Super Grace with my loyal sidekick (Mr. Muscle) went smashingly! The Lower Garden District is safe. Jackson Ave., I'm watching you.

Super Grace and Mr. Muscle

{two}

My people!

Mom's excited because it's her birdday

{three}

Those donuts. Dang. Mom made a good choice for breakfast. When do I start solids again?!

wedding cake & glazed

Even my not-a-sweets-person Dad duly enjoyed his:

Nom.

{four}

Then, we got a big package from Cincinnati! (What's Mom's is mine, right?)

And red velvet cupcakes!

{five}

Tulane sponsored a crawfish boil yesterday, which is Dad's favorite food. Dad said it was the best day of his life, but he clearly meant of that week... Because my arrival was the best, right? Right?!

Heaven will be a big ole crawfish boil

It was delectable. Not pictured: brass band playing. 

Hamming for the Gram.

Baldwin babes.

{six}

Mostly, though, I just like hanging out with my people. Both of them! 

Here's one before bed. While walking down memory lane, Dad showed me his cards.

Not pictured: Mom reading The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep by Dr. Harvey Karp. Not sure why, I am super well-rested. I even get up early! 

{seven} 

Tomorrow, we'll watch the St. Patrick's Day parade down the Irish Channel! That and me rolling by myself for the first time... Quite a week! Mom is hosting My View link-up again tomorrow; you should join in too!

Happy weekend! Joining in with Jen!

Weekends with Grace

Hello Y'all,

Grace here. Dad had spring break this week for Mardi Gras, so I had my grandparents visit! Then, a present from Cincinnati!

For me?

Why? Why not! I need a St. Patrick's Day outfit! I'm Irish! (Thanks Mom!) Dad has Irish in him too, but tends to defer to his stoic English side... oooh, tissue paper.

A few new outfits helped me feel better about this teething business. Teething has been bringing out all the emotions, especially sadness...

But nothing a little baby wearing didn't solve. Thanks Mom! Sorry about the, you know, drool.

On Saturday, there was weight-lifting/ flying lessons with Dad!

Then he carried me around in my princess chariot because I am a princess and he is my servant. I mean father. He is my father-who-does-what-I-imply-through-cries-and-coos.

I know, I'm pretty cute, right?

Mom and Dad decided on Saturday afternoon Confession and Mass so Dad could focus on his protocol work all of Sunday... exhausting! 

My behavior: A
Pews with seat cushions: B+

Teething toy bonding while Mama folded laundry...

Little Lefty Baldwin

Sunday was spent mostly outside, enjoying the sunshine of New Orleans.

Totally natural, not posed

Then a family walk up the street where we perused through Nadeau - lots of pretty colors!

Who's the fairest of them all?

Finally, after my blowing bubbles marathon, leg kicks, reaching up towards my parrot under my gym, and a few more meals, I settled in for a nice deep sleep.

Psych!

Good night, all!

My View (vol. 3)

Dogs. More specifically, blue dogs.

This picture was taken on Canal Street, a little ways down from the French Quarter, where an exhibit of George Rodrigue's artwork is until January 2015. Rodrigue painted these blue dogs based on his own dog, Tiffany, and a Cajun legend called loup-garou. A native of Louisiana, Roudrigue began painting landscapes of his home state in the 1960s, before moving into historical art and Cajun culture. The blue dogs, originally a commission piece of art, launched him into international fame in the 1990s.

"The yellow eyes are really the soul of the dog. He has this piercing stare. People say the dog keeps talking to them with the eyes, always saying something different. People who have seen a Blue Dog painting always remember it. They are really about life, about mankind searching for answers. The dog never changes position. He just stares at you. And you’re looking at him, looking for some answers, ‘Why are we here?,’ and he’s just looking back at you, wondering the same. The dog doesn’t know. You can see this longing in his eyes, this longing for love, answers."
— George Rodrigue on the Blue Dog, interview with The New York Times (1998)

The contemporary art of Rodrigue is now seen all over New Orleans, in private homes and restaurants, as well as in the public sphere. Diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, Rodrigue died on December 14, 2013.

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Join in!

My View (vol. 2)

Mardi Gras has started in New Orleans, and there are parades every day. I like to watch on the ParadeCam, but last night we joined the crowds on St. Charles Street to watch the Skeleton Krewe parade go by - it was so fun!

All the people on the floats wear masks and pass out cups, beads and other novelties. There are krewes of all women, or all men, or mixed - and they have a theme, and dress up accordingly, and sometimes dance. There are high school bands and dancers and twirlers and cheerleaders. There are also men who walk with huge torches, and other men riding on horseback, straight out of The Horse and His Boy.

I like the people who get right up next to the float, shouting for stuff. It was hilarious, and totally over-the-top.

Nice float, eh? The Skeleton Krewe was awesome! Very macabre. Then a packet of beads landed between Grace and me - nice catch, baby ergo! Will put them on Grace.

And in the spirit of not trusting the people next to us (the lady asked if Grace was a month old...no, Miss 92nd percentile is 5 months...), we took a grainy selfie to commemorate that we were all at the parade together. Happy weekend!

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Five Favorites (v. 6)

A few indulgences in my life lately:

{one}

The Frozen soundtrack

Okay, I've never seen the movie... but I want to; plus, my siblings share all these secret inner stories and loves and knowledge that only movie watchers understand. Brittany wrote a great piece on it for The Mirror Magazine, and I've spent most of today listening to the soundtrack on Spotify.

What's not to love? Sisters, heartache, humor, courage, love and Broadway star Idina Menzel (yes, from Wicked). Swoon, Disney.

I don't know what those little people are, but they're hilarious:

{two}

On that note... here is a hair tutorial for Elsa's braid. I'm always looking for ways not to wear my hair in a ponytail (little fingers hold tight):

{three}

King Cake. Apparently, not everyone celebrates happiness. I mean, Mardi Gras. My husband, for example, did not know what a king cake is before last night when I brought home a delicious one from Whole Foods. But honey, we live in New Orleans... indulge! Lent is in one week! The colors of purple, green and gold stand for justice, faith and power.

Look at dat baby!

Fun fact: down here, they fix more than cinnamon king cakes - praline, raspberry cream cheese, berry chantilly, and more!

{four}

Instagram. Total gramification. Totally in love. Follow me for giggles.

{five}

Today is five months since Grace was born. Love you, smiley baby!

Joining Hallie!