Hurricane Gustav Evacuation

Posted on September 6th, 2008 by Monique, under Animals, Daily Life, Nature, New Orleans, Outdoors, Photography, Plants, Travel.

As I make this blog entry, I am still decompressing from the last week+ that I have been through dealing with my first hurricane, Gustav.

Having moved here in 2006 post Katrina-land, I really didn’t think I would ever have to go through anything like that. And I have not, because Katrina was a real bitch. Luckily, my experience was very watered down (no pun intended) compared to what they went through for Katrina. On the flip side, we didn’t get nice fema payments and red cross money like they did in 2005, but I wouldn’t want to go through anything like that so no big deal. Those things are for those in need.

I am rather pleased with my experience, it could have been ten times worse, and I hope that the next couple months while we prepare to move aren’t plagued with anymore “5 day cones.”

So as I attempted to make some lemonade with the sour fruit I was given, I decided to take some pictures and capture some images to bring my experiences to the internet, even as the dry nature of text and images lack to convey what it is really like. It’s the best I can do.

Here is where my camera started, snapping a picture of little 9 lb Penny the miniature pinscher as she prepared for an adventure. It was easily 100 degrees F, we had lots of water, and Penny was excited and well behaved as always. Tongue hanging out, ready for some fun, safe with her human friends.

On the highway we would see dozens of other dogs, all kinds of animal pets, even a ferret. I tried to take pics of them all, and in the craziness I got off a couple of shots. (more…)

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Genovese Basil

Posted on July 8th, 2008 by Monique, under Cooking, Food, Gardening, Nature, Photography, Plants, Vegetarian.

This year I am growing several types of basil. This includes Genovese basil. It smells wonderful, and its big leaves are quite lovely. I have a bunch of small plants that are doing very well and look so pretty, I had to take some pictures.

One day, these lush green plants will be making my spaghetti sauce extra tasty.

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The Mystery Plant

Posted on June 23rd, 2008 by Monique, under Daily Life, Gardening, Photography, Plants.

So there was a spot on the chain link fence where the blackberry vines grow that was bare from the dog shoving his head in the leaves to peek at the dogs next door. Yes my dog Max is like a nosy old man. An entire yard to play in, and he wants to know what the dogs next door are doing instead. What are the dogs next door doing? Laying in the sun, sleeping, enjoying themselves and oblivious to my peeping tom dog. SO… there was a bare spot on the fence, so I placed a large potted tomato plant that was dying in front of it. Months later, it appeared. It was the mystery plant.

I needed the pot, the tomato was long dead and winter was coming to an end. However, I noticed this interesting little plant springing up, and I did not want to kill it thinking it might be something cool. So I planted some provence lavender in the pot, and left this thing.

Months later, it is completely out of control. Does anyone know what this thing is? Its pretty crazy!

The wind will not knock it over, nothing seems to phase this funky looking thing. It hasn’t flowered or anything, and it does not seem to be a harmful plant.

I would be ever so gracious to anyone who knows what this plant is called. We are in South Louisiana, so its native to here.

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