Neighborly Spring Break

We have lived in Texas 12 years and we've never been to Louisiana (well, Scott has for work, but I don't count that), so we took a short trip there over spring break. We've had very wet spring, and it didn't let up while we were in our neighboring state. Still a good time tho!

Natchitoches, Louisiana (we spent lots of time practicing this name. It's pronounced nak-a-tish... I think).

• A cute little town with a picturesque historic downtown right on the Cain River. I tried, and liked,  a meat pie, for which the town is famous!

• Oakland Plantation- run by the National Park Service, we took a fascinating self guided tour around this authentic property where much of it remains unchanged in a hundred plus years.  It was so educational (but don't tell the kids!).

Overseer's house

I absolutely fell in love with and couldn't stop commenting the whole trip about these incredible Live Oak trees. 

New Orleans (N'Awlins)

• Bike Tours- we'd prearranged this tour with Free Wheelin' Bike Tours as way to take in a lot of the city. We started in the French quarter, made our way through various neighborhoods, learned a lot of local culture and American history, visited a cemetery, stopped at City Park for beignets (highlight!). We were blessed by no rain, and proud of the kids for doing great on the 3 hour, 10 mile ride! 

I can't believe we forgot to get a group shot on our bikes!

These cemeteries with the above ground graves are the weirdest!

Yes, I had a Cafe au Lait with my beignet!

The next day we took the streetcar to Jackson's Square. Rain and fog all day!

\

Jackson's square, and we walked around inside St. Louis cathedral.

The mighty Mississippi! I think this is such a cool spooky picture of a docked Steamboat.

Swamp Tour on Lake Martin outside Breaux Bridge

Tom and Jan, Uncle James and Aunt Michele recommended this tour which they took last spring. The swamp critters we saw: (lots of) alligators, snakes, turtles, birds, trees and we learned a lot about this cool ecosystem!

 It's really very peaceful!

Two gators on a log

That's a big 8 foot long big guy

 Snakes!

Dogs home away from home

• Nervous about leaving Domino and Juno at a new kennel since our regular place was full, we were relieved to able to watch them on a phone app-- behaving! They spent ten hours a day playing in the yard with the other dogs. No problems reported and they've slept nonstop for days since we've been home!

That's Juno (below) closest to the camera, walking away. 

The wet continues..

• As Murphy's Law would have it, one of our water heaters broke while we were away.  Our neighbor called to tell us water was coming from under our garage door, but he was able to shut off the water supply. A great plumber from church installed two new heaters the day we arrived home. Things could have been much worse, and the wet carpet in the guest room and drywall look like they won't need replacing. 

So thankful these weren't in the attic!!