Smokin Hot

For Christmas, I bought Greg a smoker. He loves smoked meat. I can't wait until he smokes fish. In the picture, behind Greg is a "tulip tree" (my description), other's know it as the Japanese Magnolia. During the majority of the year, it only has green leaves. Once the first frost comes, the leaves fall and we see the lovely lavender blooms! It's refreshing to see the colors during the colder months.

I also wanted to share a wedding gift we received from my Mom's cousin. Here's the story that came with the vase:

Usually a week or two before they are married by a Catholic priest, the future husband's parents make the Wedding Vase. When the Vase has been made, the Husband, along with his parents and all his relatives go to the bride's house. The bride brings out everything she will need to establish their new home together; clothing, utensils, mattress, moccasins, corn and any other homemaking essentials including her white manta wedding dress.

The parents of both the bride and the groom give the young couple advice to help them have a happy and successful marriage. The Indian holy water is placed in the Wedding Vase and the Vase is turned around and given to the bride. She drinks from one side of the Vase turns it round again and gives it to the groom who then drinks from the opposite side of the Vase. This ceremony unites them as one.

The couple will treasure the Vase throughout their married life. Should one of them outlive the other, the remaining person will give the Vase to a couple known to be living a happily married life. The Wedding Vase is treasured and protected always - it is never broken or destroyed.

This story was once told to me by Margaret Gutierrez, a famous potter of Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico."

We didn't drink from the vase, but it has a lovely place in our home. I love pottery and the earthy tones! The story only makes it all the more special.

Today ~ I was planning on a house chore day. Time to catch up on the laundry, get the tax paperwork together, go to the grocery store, etc. Instead, the weathermen called for a beautiful day in the mid 60's and lots of sunshine. Greg and I decided to make the most of it ~ this break from cloudy, winter days.

First we went to Lafreniere Park, which is very close to our home. I wanted to take pictures of the black swans and their babies. We tested out Greg's new camera lens and I learned about aperture settings. Not ready to head back home and inside, we took a drive to the New Orleans Audubon Zoo. We couldn't have asked for prettier weather. Even the bees were doing a dance in the sunlight! To see more pictures of the animals (starting with the swans at Lafreniere), as well as pictures of Uptown New Orleans homes in recovery (I'm so happy to see New Orleans coming back since Katrina) ~ Well, to see those pictures, Click Here.