My home - after pics

So, I'm still working on getting furniture, hanging pictures, painting, etc. but things are coming along.

Thank you, Kelly, for the help in painting the sunroom. While I was a bit uncertain at first, I've decided that I love it!
Two new chairs. If you look closely at the one on the right, you'll see that Coit Tower and Chinatown. That's right! San Francisco right in my living room!
The dining room is still in progress, but thanks for the loan of the table, James and Anne. Its nice to have somewhere to work.
This was the first room I thought I would paint. The golden yellow just didn't work for me. But now that my stuff is in there, it doesn't bother near as much. So, it will stay for now.

Next project: paint the bathroom!

Other New Orleans

New Orleans was a very fun town, always full of surprises. And the food! I left town with a 10 lb love child I'm calling C.C. (as in Creole Cookin'). Yummy!


Samantha in the French Quarter

Bourbon Street by day
Bourbon Street by night
Marie Laveau was a voodoo priestess, so of course we had to visit her shop. Thanks for the house blessings, Samantha!

On our way to the Garden District, to have brunch at Commander's Palace, we passed many trees like these. If you look closely, you can see that they are covered in Mardi Gras beads. Apparently, its not worth it to the locals to get them down--they'll be more next year, after all.

What visit to New Orleans would be complete without a cemetery tour?

This is a status commemorating immigrants. This is on one side...
...and this is on the other.

Joan of Arc
A little atmosphere in the Market.

A park just outside of Tulane University. It was too hot, and we had planes to catch, so the peak to the left is all we have to show for it.
And a lion for my boy, Finn. This was at the New Orleans Zoo, right across the street for the park previously mentioned.

So glad I got to see New Orleans with you, Samantha. And to share your birthday! Looking forward to next year...

Samantha's Fabulous Birthday in New Orleans!

I recently took my first trip to New Orleans to help my dear friend, Samantha, celebrate her birthday. We met up with some local friends of hers, and had an amazing meal at Galatoire's. (Did I spell it right, S? I lost that piece of paper...)

Please note the tiara and boa. Samantha does all things with style.
Judy and Lynne, signing one of many - and I do mean many! - birthday cards for the night.

Samantha with JJ.

She got some great presents, like this lovely candle.
Moi
The whole group. You might notice unattached hands to the left. Madame P expressed her discomfort in being represented in a blog, so while I got to spend time with this beautiful lady, ya'll only get the hands.



Happy Birthday, Samantha!

After the girls went home, Samantha and I celebrated just a bit more. We walked the city, and ended up at Cafe la Monde for beignets (sp?) which are like zeppoles, for those of you who were reading last summer. Yum!

Chicago

So, I've been spending a good deal of time in Chicago lately. I think its a really beautiful city, although I probably haven't seen as much of it as I should. So, just to prove that I do occasionally leave the hotel, here are some pics to prove it.




This is a multimedia art piece found in Millenium Park. It was pretty cool; it was like watching a person react to different things, only huge. The people kept changing also, so it was interesting to watch, particularly as it got darker.


The front view of the Art Institute of Chicago. They had a great Edward Hopper exhibit that I went to see. I only got to spend a half hour there, between the time I got off work and they closed for the night, so I only saw the Hopper exhibit. Maybe I'll get another chance to see the rest fo it later.





I'm not sure what this building is, but its on Michigan Ave, as is the tower in the next shot.

Next time, I'll try to venture off of Michigan Ave to see some Chicago sights. Stay tuned!

My birthday, with pics

As promised, the pictures to accompany my earlier post about my excellent birthday present. James and I had an awesome time at the Wild game. We were so close to the ice!

Minnesota, after all, is the state of hockey.
Thanks, James!

No place like home...

Since posting about my new home ownership, many of you have asked for pics of my new place. Below are a number of "before" pictures, as in before I started putting my stamp on the place. (These pictures were actually taken before I even put an offer in.)

No structural changes are in the works, but I have done some painting, some furniture purchasing, and generally started settling into my new home. Stay tuned for some "after" pictures soon!

View from the front of the condo, from the sunroom through the rest of the house.
View of the sun room.
The living room from the front door.
The dining room (with built in buffet!)
And a closer look at the buffet.
View of the master bedrrom.
Out of the master, peek of the bathroom.
Into the kitchen.
View from back door, and the hallway back into the rest of the house.
The second bedroom, just waiting for out of town guests. Any takers?