Silver Screen Surroundings: Outlander Ep101 - Ancient Scottish castles

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/98/e5/e3/98e5e314fed0dec2ddd5da86150c4116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/98/e5/e3/98e5e314fed0dec2ddd5da86150c4116.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Doune_Castle_-_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/Doune_Castle_-_front.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The premier episode of "Outlander" on Starz has finally aired and it was really, really good and very true to the book. By the end of the first episode, the protagonist Claire Beauchamp Randall has "fallen through time" leaving behind her 20th century husband to wonder what happened to her and falling into the midst of a firefight between British "Red Coat" soldiers and Scottish Highlanders. She initially thinks it's some kind of costume drama being shot for the movies, until she realizes that they are using live ammunition. She is assaulted, nearly raped, shot at, knocked out and then kidnapped by a band of disreputable looking Highlanders who are mostly speaking their native Gaelic. The Gaelic isn't translated for the viewing audience under the theory that we always see things through Claire's eyes and since she doesn't "have the Gaelic" then neither should we. She comes to realize that somehow, unbelievable as it may be, she's no longer in the 20th century and she would do well not to let on to her kidnappers (or rescuers depending on how you look at it) much about herself. Having served as a war combat nurse in WW2, she has medical skills and knowledge that far outstrips anything known in the past and can't help but step in to help out one of the Highlander's who is injured with a dislocated shoulder, among other troubles. She starts ordering the men about (not something they are used to) and gets to work and fixes the problem, earning a level of respect mingled with suspicion among the men. The last scene shows the band of travelers with their unwilling captive arriving at Castle Leoch, the seat of the Clan MacKenzie.  Two days before (and two hundred years in the future), Claire had visited the ruins of the castle with her 20th century husband Frank. And now she rides up on a horse to a living, breathing, if still foreboding, structure.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/fa/ff/d7/faffd7f7d8d5204ed6bb0a7f8bf19725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/fa/ff/d7/faffd7f7d8d5204ed6bb0a7f8bf19725.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Standing in for the fictional Castle Leoch (roughly pronounced Lee-ock) is Doune Castle which is in the Stirling region of Scotland. Only the exteriors of the castle are being used for filming. The interiors are entirely shot on a custom built sound stage in Cumbernauld, Scotland, which is outside of Glasgow. The Castle is a property of <a href="http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_092" target="_blank">Historic Scotland</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/cf/55/1e/cf551e2696e299cf1fd4f69d4fc789f1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/cf/55/1e/cf551e2696e299cf1fd4f69d4fc789f1.jpg" /></a></div><br />Doune Castle was built around 1400 by Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany who ruled Scotland from 1388 to 1420 and is known as "Scotland's uncrowned King". It's structure includes a large courtyard, 100ft high gatehouse, a Lord's Hall with musician's gallery. Before "Outlander", "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and some scenes in "Game of Thrones" were filmed here as well. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ba/66/8e/ba668e60f9da8f48c859d1c63e172a38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ba/66/8e/ba668e60f9da8f48c859d1c63e172a38.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Doune_Castle_plan.png/1024px-Doune_Castle_plan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Doune_Castle_plan.png/1024px-Doune_Castle_plan.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />Floor plan of Doune Castle.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Doune_Castle_-_great_hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Doune_Castle_-_great_hall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The restored Lord's Hall at Doune Castle.<br /><br />While Doune Castle is busy being a tourist attraction and move set - one wonders if it will see the huge influx of cash that Highclere Castle in England has as a result of Downton Abbey - it's clearly not a comfy, livable place. But, there are certainly other castles in the area that are very welcoming to the modern traveler.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.culcreuch.com/" target="_blank">Culcreuch Castle</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/hero_homepage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/hero_homepage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Culcreuch Castle Hotel welcomes guests with warm and traditional decorations. Located in the same region as Doune Castle, Culcreuch is the seat of the warrior clan Gailbraith. The tower on the current structure dates to the end of the 15th century and is thought to be located on the same site as the original early 14th century structure.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/dsc02347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/dsc02347.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/honeymoon%20suite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/honeymoon%20suite.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/napiersuite2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/napiersuite2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/baronssuite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://www.culcreuch.com/images/slideshow/baronssuite.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="http://inverlochycastlehotel.com/" target="_blank">Inverlochy Castle Hotel</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjR2oHModrzFxOefdL0UpvGA_mTVgHm-Iy5I6MZmiVJTMR-0QUcKwSAQ-dQyM6DGCK4yKrkeClcri8wcuv1qgbFjZwq_UGe4UN4UBM3ok7WeZkuYtvPuZ-ni0cj1gWz0BrhFNTWSagiw/s1600/inverlochy+outside.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjR2oHModrzFxOefdL0UpvGA_mTVgHm-Iy5I6MZmiVJTMR-0QUcKwSAQ-dQyM6DGCK4yKrkeClcri8wcuv1qgbFjZwq_UGe4UN4UBM3ok7WeZkuYtvPuZ-ni0cj1gWz0BrhFNTWSagiw/s1600/inverlochy+outside.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br />Inverlochy Castle, in the Highlands, was built in 1863 on the site of the original 13th century structure. The castle is located in Fort William, which plays a prominent, though not happy, role in the "Outlander" story. Today, Inverlochy is an award winning hotel.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_18dCn_ddgTQETO9RKPsgtjCR8kUEB-Jk0hV_qj5bdH-z69qRXzUyeJzixuMOby-OfnEFkPhx44a2M8yAscZCbyssEYSpyiTQ1tAAgzDofI3xOmSUX9cTHp9C3Dm1d0lmyWsPedOu3Y/s1600/Inverlochy+room.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_18dCn_ddgTQETO9RKPsgtjCR8kUEB-Jk0hV_qj5bdH-z69qRXzUyeJzixuMOby-OfnEFkPhx44a2M8yAscZCbyssEYSpyiTQ1tAAgzDofI3xOmSUX9cTHp9C3Dm1d0lmyWsPedOu3Y/s1600/Inverlochy+room.tiff" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/v/t1.0-9/602764_444165132306027_2131585869_n.jpg?oh=b820a876f66ee8a172b51718d844765a&oe=5469168F&__gda__=1416243929_1bdcc76c7cb5d799780954ca2f034966" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/v/t1.0-9/602764_444165132306027_2131585869_n.jpg?oh=b820a876f66ee8a172b51718d844765a&oe=5469168F&__gda__=1416243929_1bdcc76c7cb5d799780954ca2f034966" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t1.0-9/10462658_684535001602371_2873798928650536384_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t1.0-9/10462658_684535001602371_2873798928650536384_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I imagine that Claire would have been much happier to have arrived at one of these beautiful, and comfortably outfitted, castles rather than Leoch, wouldn't you?<br /><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3024px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3024px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3024px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3024px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>

Silver Screen Surroundings: Outlander Ep101 - Ancient Scottish castles

The premier episode of "Outlander" on Starz has finally aired and it was really, really good and very true to the book. By the end...

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Silver Screen Surroundings: Outlander on Starz

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9e/28/e0/9e28e0a2c9b98b8a5f2330e47661e61b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9e/28/e0/9e28e0a2c9b98b8a5f2330e47661e61b.jpg" /></a></div><br />For twenty years I've been reading, and rereading, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=outlander&linkCode=ur2&tag=chameleoninte-20&url=search-alias%3Daps&linkId=3BHOW4Z5TTRPS46X" target="_blank">Diana Gabaldon's</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=chameleoninte-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> epic adventure series "Outlander". They are, as I like to describe them, "bodice ripping, time traveling, romantic historical fictions, filled with warrior poets in a kilt, a take charge heroine, blood, guts, gore and more." Really, they defy easy description. This is not just chick lit either. There's enough epic adventure, sword fights, machiavellian villains and clan revenge to satisfy any man as well. Plus, Diana created the absolute perfect male hero. Seriously. Big, brawny, educated, will kill a man to protect hearth and home, while quoting Marcus Aurelius.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b4/2b/74/b42b74f5eb423a80c9a749166c595261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="558" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b4/2b/74/b42b74f5eb423a80c9a749166c595261.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Caitiona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire and Jamie</div><br />After twenty years of movie studios optioning the rights to make a feature film - which would never have worked each book is over 800 pages - it has been turned into a television series airing on Starz. The first (of what will hopefully be several) season is sixteen episodes which covers Book 1.  Author Diana Gabaldon is a consultant on the show, which is produced by Ron Moore (of Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek fame), and filmed in Scotland with a mostly British, Irish and Scottish cast.  Amazingly, Diana, who is a scientist by training, wrote the first book as practice to learn how to write a novel, she never expected it to be published or see the light of day beyond a Compuserve writer's forum she was part of. She was in her mid/late-30s when she decided to try her hand at writing and the book wasn't published until her early 40's - an impressive mid-career change, no question. <br /><br />The trailer:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/KAS01FFj1fQ" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />The series officially starts on August 9th, but the first episode has been released on the production website <a href="http://www.starz.com/originals/outlander/" target="_blank">here</a>. It was so good I intend to watch it a few more times. We'll be waiting another two weeks for the second episode. My only complaint is that they've decided to split the seasons into two 8 episode half-seasons, with part 2 not airing until the winter. Boo on that. Mad Men has done the same with its last season.<br /><br />So, I'm such a fan, I am going to be blogging about the show, the interior design (there's not much, but a bit inside the castle), Scottishness in general (I'm English/Irish, but a wanna-be Scot).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u3QJmVnoKGM/T_buhZwmxiI/AAAAAAAALB0/bYfz-ovVFrs/s640/Photo%252520Jun%25252023%25252C%2525202012%25252011%25253A34%252520AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u3QJmVnoKGM/T_buhZwmxiI/AAAAAAAALB0/bYfz-ovVFrs/s640/Photo%252520Jun%25252023%25252C%2525202012%25252011%25253A34%252520AM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />A couple of years ago, I did a <a href="http://chameleon-interiors.blogspot.com/2012/07/bucket-list-item-riding-rails.html" target="_blank">post on the Royal Scotsman</a>, the fabulous train through the countryside.  It's worth a read and drool.<br /><br />I thought I'd start this first "Outlander" post with a little tutorial on tartans, kilts and plaids.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media-cache-cd0.pinimg.com/736x/9a/69/1e/9a691eba65ae420f9f48b6f00dd9f4b9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-cd0.pinimg.com/736x/9a/69/1e/9a691eba65ae420f9f48b6f00dd9f4b9.jpg" /></a></div><br />- <b>Tartan</b> is the pattern that is made by weaving dyed wood strands together to create a specific pattern (now of course they are printed as well as woven).  In America, we tend to refer to the pattern as the plaid, which isn't quite accurate.<br />- <b>Plaid</b> is a length of tartan that is often slung over the shoulder, or used as a covering for multiple purposes such as a blanket or ground cover, as needed. It was a multi-use item.  Wool with it's natural lanolin and when tightly woven together, is waterproof (up to a point).<br />- <b>Kilt</b> is made from a tartan and worn skirt like around the waist. It is a traditionally male garment and could easily be up to nine yards and more (the "whole nine yards") which traditionally the wearer pleated with his fingers and rolled himself up in it, securing with a belt. Like the plaid, a kilt had multiple uses.  Even today, traditional Scottish dress has that only the men wear the kilts, where a woman might wear a plaid over a dress, or even make her dress out of the same family tartan.<br />- Originally,<b> tartan patterns</b> were regionally based, versus family or clan specific. Local tastes and availability of natural dyes played a roll in this.  Of course, most people in a region were likely related or parts of the same clan, but there wasn't a specific pattern for each family as we think of today. In the mid-18th century, the British banned the wearing of tartans and other Gaelic cultural items.  (And we American's think the  were only bothering us at that time!) By the end of the century, the law was repealed, but Scotsman no longer wore their tartans and kilts as every day dress. The tartans were, however, retained as symbols of Scottish culture.  It wasn't until the mid-19th century,  where chemical dyes were more readily available and cultural branding became more possible,  that patterns (old and new) were associated with specific families.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.allthebestblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/RCFF_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.allthebestblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/RCFF_1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Fellow blogger at <a href="http://www.allthebestblog.co.uk/2014/03/the-details-ronda-carman-fine-fabrics.html" target="_blank">All the Best</a> Ronda Carman lived in Scotland for several years. She's recently returned to the States and has launched a new fabric line of, you guessed it, wool tartan fabrics for decorative use, under the name <a href="http://rondacarman.com/" target="_blank">Ronda Carman Fine Fabrics</a>.  Handcrafted in Scotland using traditional techniques, the line includes wool fabrics and throws.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.allthebestblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/RCFF_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.allthebestblog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/RCFF_2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />The fabrics are available to the trade only. They are currently in a showroom in Houston, with more coming. Designers outside those areas may order direct.  Good luck with your new line <a href="http://rondacarman.com/" target="_blank">Ronda</a>!<br /><br />So, if you're watching Outlander, share below your thoughts on the production, I'd love to hear!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmrWiXeZgn3z13aXxF9lszYTULunX0IM-8ZEMyFCTDEAZ0Ns32Kbjs47KH5pzyA-g_UqE5JpL0F5MVQOY_5V10WstSaorm64xWaKYDZDlcOlbo0DhyW4TS6L3IG_izo2tBleAiRw8_Gc/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmrWiXeZgn3z13aXxF9lszYTULunX0IM-8ZEMyFCTDEAZ0Ns32Kbjs47KH5pzyA-g_UqE5JpL0F5MVQOY_5V10WstSaorm64xWaKYDZDlcOlbo0DhyW4TS6L3IG_izo2tBleAiRw8_Gc/s1600/Linda+sig2.png" /></a></div><br /><br />

Silver Screen Surroundings: Outlander on Starz

For twenty years I've been reading, and rereading, Diana Gabaldon's epic adventure series "Outlander". They are, as I lik...

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The Peabody Hotel in Memphis - it's all about the ducks!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXk6heqVh2Za8cs-QnvlAoIBOdDdsXiG2hUkg8PNA0ZYindBFRCfr_gIEtoOqSqewaLeuAdPRmUJ5pWdd1xdNL9Qm9nYnQlU58zkF1Pp6o1P8cREDILqX5C3RFkBykpE6Iysa6h44IYYo/s1600/blogger19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXk6heqVh2Za8cs-QnvlAoIBOdDdsXiG2hUkg8PNA0ZYindBFRCfr_gIEtoOqSqewaLeuAdPRmUJ5pWdd1xdNL9Qm9nYnQlU58zkF1Pp6o1P8cREDILqX5C3RFkBykpE6Iysa6h44IYYo/s640/blogger19.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Okay, boy the last two weeks have just completely flown by! Between a last-minute photoshoot for a magazine (more to come on that!), tidying up client projects, packing for Memphis and then the whirlwind trip, it's been quite an adventure! A huge thanks to <a href="http://www.brizo.com/" target="_blank">Brizo</a> Faucet for bringing nearly 80 designer/bloggers together for a reunion of the elite Blogger19. Brizo picked up the tab to fly us all in from across the US and Canada, put us up at the elegant <a href="http://www.peabodymemphis.com/" target="_blank">Peabody Hotel</a>, feed us really well and showered us with sparkly things both big and small, and give us a reason to think, cry and be inspired. That's a whole lotta goodness in three days! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxBxjnmWq-YBmp2uxHeAmpUfQr4aKfGfx5E_NnuQ4RQIgrMiBNpkXya6kmZgCf0aJgktO3_aQDT_OmPLissP7Y4xiYMAvtC5QzfmSXOoozY3yT-vUL2z6PN5muUqzgj8L3Fh7RTw1SBs/s1600/duck2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxBxjnmWq-YBmp2uxHeAmpUfQr4aKfGfx5E_NnuQ4RQIgrMiBNpkXya6kmZgCf0aJgktO3_aQDT_OmPLissP7Y4xiYMAvtC5QzfmSXOoozY3yT-vUL2z6PN5muUqzgj8L3Fh7RTw1SBs/s640/duck2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Peabody Hotel is known for its famous Peabody Ducks, who reside in the lobby fountain and have a ceremonial march in at 11:00am and march out at 5:00pm every day. You can read more of the history <a href="http://www.peabodymemphis.com/peabody-ducks/" target="_blank">here</a> - it's quite the event! The ducks not only paddle daily in the fountain, they appear all over the hotel - on the linens and bathmats, the usual gift shop items and in the form of butter and soap - which both look identical, so watch out for that! So, above was the duck soap in my hotel bathroom along with the usual complement of toiletries...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_1WCOZbIhEekwwK2xZz3Ib_VFiTdURanpzXwcoUn46OwRTksFSE2nRR_ui0Kzt9-v_dmBgb0QqyoZeccvFwGsw5zA1mZlCXYjZC046RKRa7_ri66mczMdlqzPK8PW4peRGpPnK7h8Mw/s1600/ducksoap1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_1WCOZbIhEekwwK2xZz3Ib_VFiTdURanpzXwcoUn46OwRTksFSE2nRR_ui0Kzt9-v_dmBgb0QqyoZeccvFwGsw5zA1mZlCXYjZC046RKRa7_ri66mczMdlqzPK8PW4peRGpPnK7h8Mw/s640/ducksoap1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />And here he is in my own bathroom. Cute! <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bnhMj63_ic9gs85m3Yp198h1XmjejKYjRgK-6H7BtHePTJIW4dXA1NdYllU8YcbqYEy-4vwcnfyu8jfnjk8sAm32UtMi0lV4fFIFg2spiTB9WvUs1X6NT6yYJ3J3ya0gKE61Fw1HbnQ/s1600/pea4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bnhMj63_ic9gs85m3Yp198h1XmjejKYjRgK-6H7BtHePTJIW4dXA1NdYllU8YcbqYEy-4vwcnfyu8jfnjk8sAm32UtMi0lV4fFIFg2spiTB9WvUs1X6NT6yYJ3J3ya0gKE61Fw1HbnQ/s640/pea4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I was afraid I'd miss the march of the ducks, but got lucky on Wednesday. Here they are from my mezzanine balcony vantage point. The gentleman in red is the Duckmaster - only the 4th since the 1930s. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSd3xPbj49pXbHlkx7AxgLcdpYlwWeOzi-IwOyTGAftLGzSuNGL_gYuip3z2dp9OwqCqJt1eYAXvzS-eprQ53EEkRKMSDWOpvVuG4e1jYVEagFh0YVjJAUYhCVdqkd4oA0sw_dqGmBnk/s1600/pea2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSd3xPbj49pXbHlkx7AxgLcdpYlwWeOzi-IwOyTGAftLGzSuNGL_gYuip3z2dp9OwqCqJt1eYAXvzS-eprQ53EEkRKMSDWOpvVuG4e1jYVEagFh0YVjJAUYhCVdqkd4oA0sw_dqGmBnk/s640/pea2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />As you can see - this draws quite a crowd. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1BZMRV7n2KI4CxXFIwXAjfmEKh_9WRcP0uUcVC-inr03atwKfS76LmGEV4IHyVDQ3GDBLL6L2Jgbiqa1-Jel23Grvfd6wrRhupQ8T1b7JPduCEpJXe2WNtG3YOF0vDIIm-yYmwUVT1s/s1600/pea1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1BZMRV7n2KI4CxXFIwXAjfmEKh_9WRcP0uUcVC-inr03atwKfS76LmGEV4IHyVDQ3GDBLL6L2Jgbiqa1-Jel23Grvfd6wrRhupQ8T1b7JPduCEpJXe2WNtG3YOF0vDIIm-yYmwUVT1s/s640/pea1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The comfortable lobby is filled with patrons waiting for the twice daily show. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ-W2gs231FiQadOqYLwhfZNbf06idhhQ21nd9t2AdBAQg8jDtEhpGfonkGddE4iw3Ha7KK_ZMdrgNIE-9kSnpv0ZoO27rF4LiwVlxE2XP0AGwOb39KS8cFkpK_5QUFw2fO7BSmxDHR8/s1600/pea3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ-W2gs231FiQadOqYLwhfZNbf06idhhQ21nd9t2AdBAQg8jDtEhpGfonkGddE4iw3Ha7KK_ZMdrgNIE-9kSnpv0ZoO27rF4LiwVlxE2XP0AGwOb39KS8cFkpK_5QUFw2fO7BSmxDHR8/s640/pea3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />And so is the mezzanine. The ducks walk the red carpet to an awaiting elevator and are taken up to their rooftop "Duck Palace" for the evening.<br /><br />Enjoy the video I took! I'm not sure what happened to the sound, unfortunately...<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iE7ebdBNRag" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />More to come in the next few days of our amazing and inspirational tour of <a href="https://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f87d4c2a71fca210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD" target="_blank">St. Jude Children's Research Hospital</a> - they handed us tissues on the bus going over. And our fabulous tour of the Delta Faucet Factory where they make the luxury Brizo line - all by hand with multi-point inspections. The final inspection is done by a woman who has the only job in the company that allows her to ignore literally anyone who comes to speak to her while she's inspecting a finished and packed Brizo faucet so she doesn't miss anything. Made in America baby! <br /><br />If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

The Peabody Hotel in Memphis - it's all about the ducks!

Okay, boy the last two weeks have just completely flown by! Between a last-minute photoshoot for a magazine (more to come on that!), tidying...

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I'm a thief!

<p> My latest issue of <a href="http://issuu.com/surroundings/docs/spring_2013" target="_blank" title="">::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living</a> is focused on vacation style living. One of features is "A Cheap and Cheerful Vacation in a Bag". It's a cute idea, but I must come clean - it's not my own!! My <a href="http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="">Skirted Roundtable</a> partner Joni Webb shared this concept on <a href="http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2010/04/must-be-nice.html" target="_blank" title="">here</a> blog in 2010 and it stuck with me. Joni showed us photos of the rental condo she and her family stay in during their annual month long beach vacation. The dated, well used, condo gets the Joni treatment with slip covers and flowers. Is a great idea, and so I pilfered it. So, thanks Joni! </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chameleon-interiors/8897175939/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="997" id="blogsy-1369969473487.5889" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5460/8897175939_dc56db02ab_c.jpg" width="757"></a></div> <p> Speaking of The Skirted Roundtable, as God is my witness, our recently recorded chat with the one and only India Hicks will be edited today!! And then I am off to a quick trip down to Provincetown for the evening to meet up with my Brizo Blogger 19 and BlogTourNola buddy Gloria Graham Solicito of <a href="http://kitchensforliving.net/" target="_blank" title="">Kitchens Four Living</a> who is in town from Florida for an encaustic art conference. We'll be strolling Commercial Street and visiting the local art galleries. It looks like my quest to get inside John Derian's shop will be thwarted yet again! His seasonal shop is located in the back of his gorgeous Commerical Street Federal era home, and it's never open when I'm there! This year, it's opening on Saturday - missing it by one day!!! </p> <p> Have a great weekend!!</p> <p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Posted with Blogsy" height="20" src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>

I'm a thief!

My latest issue of ::Surroundings:: Guide to Decorative Living is focused on vacation style living. One of features is "A Cheap and C...

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BlogTourNola: Antiquing on Magazine Street, New Orleans

After our walkabout in the <a href="http://Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to visit all the shops I'd wanted to, " target="_blank">Garden District of New Orleans</a>, out <a href="http://www.modenus.com/blog/category/blogtour" target="_blank">BlogTourNola</a> group was treated to a guided tour of a few select shops on the famous, and very long, Magazine Street.  Our host was up and coming designer <a href="http://shaunsmithhome.com/" target="_blank">Shaun Smith</a> who owns his own sweet little shop as well. Below are some of my favorite things and links to the shops we visited:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdhHzFqttR9SewgJC1lNUSbXJdL-ZOLZ9-KkspoH2c93JAl4Rsrlj8fk_lA8CcBDtG4y3dTaN9yiaHsHLHGI9Uzk6ZGjWRDBYJchyphenhyphen21Yml8Ol9coTgNcaYnoi7mvosBCQ7mN5DBtjHtw/s1600/IMG_2786.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="744" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdhHzFqttR9SewgJC1lNUSbXJdL-ZOLZ9-KkspoH2c93JAl4Rsrlj8fk_lA8CcBDtG4y3dTaN9yiaHsHLHGI9Uzk6ZGjWRDBYJchyphenhyphen21Yml8Ol9coTgNcaYnoi7mvosBCQ7mN5DBtjHtw/s640/IMG_2786.JPG" width="558" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.petriciathompsonantiques.com/home.php" target="_blank">Petricia Thompson Antiques / Antiqueties d'Europe</a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDF6OI5mDrQhhrl99sWy5OTFQJKdQ5bqcINpbTjM2O0vun0V0fw4Akuk8BNQnzmifs9JEYclxu4huvMuCOn5yLeGu7wFMVb2ZjxQMMu5ZF7qLkDiwPq7hEgbZR6jc502PBHy96UBv5sM/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="756" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDF6OI5mDrQhhrl99sWy5OTFQJKdQ5bqcINpbTjM2O0vun0V0fw4Akuk8BNQnzmifs9JEYclxu4huvMuCOn5yLeGu7wFMVb2ZjxQMMu5ZF7qLkDiwPq7hEgbZR6jc502PBHy96UBv5sM/s640/IMG_2789.JPG" width="567" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.empireantiques.net/" target="_blank">Empire Antiques</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdhHzFqttR9SewgJC1lNUSbXJdL-ZOLZ9-KkspoH2c93JAl4Rsrlj8fk_lA8CcBDtG4y3dTaN9yiaHsHLHGI9Uzk6ZGjWRDBYJchyphenhyphen21Yml8Ol9coTgNcaYnoi7mvosBCQ7mN5DBtjHtw/s1600/IMG_2786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKSXzs83WNmZ70zTnj3gaOhir0jgN1r5GyjgTZbk6i4DEVz28Ju8PFItQvM1qOXwIymh0BLFtkLvp7ZexRExXwj-2uniXHR0T7XcNN0x8N1ISNqRq6TCLCTbhtrZZA30lmdt3aCYl6a4/s1600/IMG_2787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="757" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKSXzs83WNmZ70zTnj3gaOhir0jgN1r5GyjgTZbk6i4DEVz28Ju8PFItQvM1qOXwIymh0BLFtkLvp7ZexRExXwj-2uniXHR0T7XcNN0x8N1ISNqRq6TCLCTbhtrZZA30lmdt3aCYl6a4/s640/IMG_2787.JPG" width="568" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.malachitehome.com/" target="_blank">Malachite Home</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbQQmtQXz2h_VkzkXetHh4Itn3YRG9bU9euLA4VunaFwnBH1IKhZsNO2zA34O_-ikB5m8EE9m2uYRmJKsu182SzFKTIS3BcwORwZla5YuTup22jGUsrswa6a-M3IPNiiOrj0bALcefVY/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="757" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbQQmtQXz2h_VkzkXetHh4Itn3YRG9bU9euLA4VunaFwnBH1IKhZsNO2zA34O_-ikB5m8EE9m2uYRmJKsu182SzFKTIS3BcwORwZla5YuTup22jGUsrswa6a-M3IPNiiOrj0bALcefVY/s640/IMG_2788.JPG" width="567" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bremermanndesigns.com/store/furniture_search.php?FRID=ZWnEaGZplZSb" target="_blank">Gerrie Bremermann Designs</a> - Ms. Bremermann is one of the Grande Dames of New Orleans design and her shop was just filled with exquisite finds both old and new. Her entire staff was lovely, as was she. My Skirted Roundtable co-host Joni listed Ms. Bremermann as one of her Top Ten Interior designers. Read <a href="http://cotedetexas.blogspot.com/2008/10/cote-de-texas-top-ten-designers-4.html" target="_blank">Joni's excellent profile here</a>. I actually will admit that I wished I had done so before I visited her shop, which is right next door to our tour guide Shaun Smith's store. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3gGMY-K99fDHbFE5zxiQfM4lm9VVAjBZ5og5tsDV63zsqG2WfFqMcnOO2di0wo6EtWOTwUbZbdDd_63DUFWeHS8-xO0yrNai1BWllT9Vk4O_PPQ1_tm_2gGwmXAikFq2Qeu9CM9hlS0/s1600/IMG_2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="721" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3gGMY-K99fDHbFE5zxiQfM4lm9VVAjBZ5og5tsDV63zsqG2WfFqMcnOO2di0wo6EtWOTwUbZbdDd_63DUFWeHS8-xO0yrNai1BWllT9Vk4O_PPQ1_tm_2gGwmXAikFq2Qeu9CM9hlS0/s640/IMG_2796.JPG" width="541" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://shaunsmithhome.com/" target="_blank">Shaun Smith Home</a> - a huge thanks to Shaun for putting together our little tour of his Magazine Street neighborhood and for the tasty luncheon! His own shop is imbued with his fresh, young style and filled with pieces that mix both old and new. </div><br />Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to visit all the shops I'd wanted to. I would have loved to visit Brian Batt's <a href="http://www.hazelnutneworleans.com/" target="_blank">Hazelnut</a>, <a href="http://www.perch-home.com/" target="_blank">Perch</a> and <a href="http://julieneill.com/" target="_blank">Julie Niell</a>'s lighting shop and factory.  Julie and I had been emailing about me stopping by, but aside from a quick hello on the sidewalk outside her enticing shop, we had a schedule and couldn't stop in. Some other time, Julie, aka the <a href="http://bayoucontessa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bayou Contessa</a>!! So nice to meet you!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFBL-A5zPy-1wptymAaJ6bFdgGDb3ucMojsa2DgARdMrjpAkeq5MNN7BVoP1M_7yMl84WR17jlHNzPkcB2hSqGCYJVSiZgx_JXbi9KO5QA9-TJsNrCkYGF-o-YKJu5JvTEwXpBw25Or0/s1600/IMG_2433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFBL-A5zPy-1wptymAaJ6bFdgGDb3ucMojsa2DgARdMrjpAkeq5MNN7BVoP1M_7yMl84WR17jlHNzPkcB2hSqGCYJVSiZgx_JXbi9KO5QA9-TJsNrCkYGF-o-YKJu5JvTEwXpBw25Or0/s640/IMG_2433.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />And I wanted to send a quick hello to the nice lady from Denver who recognized me from The Skirted Roundtable in Shaun's shop. I'm afraid I forgot to ask your name, but thank you for saying hi!  I was plopped down in a chair, sfitzing from the high-80's heat and humidity, sunburnt and feeling a little bedraggled, so you were a nice pick-me-up!<br /><br />After a quick shower back at the hotel, we headed over to the Odgen Museum for a talk given by Miles Redd about his career and new book The Big Book of Chic. We chatted with <a href="http://skirtedroundtable.blogspot.com/2012/11/chatting-with-miles-redd.html" target="_blank">Miles at The Skirted Roundtable</a> last fall and this talk included much of what we had spoken with him about. I've met or chatted with Miles a few times now and he's always the epitome of Southern graciousness. Afterwards, we headed over to Chef Susan Spicer's restaurant <a href="http://www.bayona.com/" target="_blank">Bayona</a>.  BlogTourSponsor <a href="http://www.mrsteam.com/index.html" target="_blank">Mr. Steam</a>, or more precisely Mr. Steam VP Martha Orellana (aka Mrs. Steam) was our hostess with the mostest for this wonderful dinner.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4wDtp0feDQ4pwmQVipph9xRm9vUPnvbsqWI4_rNo2VXwI-9YgpaN36UvISzaNjx6NNTMbNNjUIFq3120vq7BZ620g2adkziCjRAZz9pPG6bznb6hDzjskZN_eKuZ12gdMP4XUqcd6ac/s1600/IMG_1240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4wDtp0feDQ4pwmQVipph9xRm9vUPnvbsqWI4_rNo2VXwI-9YgpaN36UvISzaNjx6NNTMbNNjUIFq3120vq7BZ620g2adkziCjRAZz9pPG6bznb6hDzjskZN_eKuZ12gdMP4XUqcd6ac/s640/IMG_1240.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I dined on grilled hanger steak, fingerling potatoes and green beans in an amazing bordelaise sauce. Seriously, plate licking good. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8670054169_893b356985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8670054169_893b356985.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br />If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

BlogTourNola: Antiquing on Magazine Street, New Orleans

After our walkabout in the Garden District of New Orleans , out BlogTourNola group was treated to a guided tour of a few select shops on th...

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BlogTourNola: New Orleans Garden District Walkabout

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.modenus.com/blog/wp-content/themes/modenus-sleek/bt_nola_2013_banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="http://www.modenus.com/blog/wp-content/themes/modenus-sleek/bt_nola_2013_banner.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />I can't believe it's already been two weeks since we were walking and gawking in the gorgeous Garden District in New Orleans. Our first full day at <a href="http://www.modenus.com/blog/category/blogtour" target="_blank">BlogTourNola</a> started with an amazing breakfast at Chef John Besh's<a href="http://www.lukeneworleans.com/" target="_blank"> Lüke Restaurant</a>. A big thanks to <a href="http://www.kbis.com/" target="_blank">KBIS</a> for being our gracious hosts. After a hearty breakfast of beignet's and chocolate, omelettes and french fries (yup!), we posed for a quick group shot and headed over to the Charles St. Streetcar for a quick ride over to the historic Garden District. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8670052441_4d56684597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8670052441_4d56684597.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(photo credit: Modenus)</div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmxpI6s4YdAG0etCZXO-1JMwJFC2o3qlDgWQYMxJyDiTNwOEWIMnk4Btvv3aHpweiXCky5kWBq3GhhRf8R3H30dCaTcpc6PSml_H3QKSvznRmWzwNw758H0sKWdAdmlQMefwEPRabEOg/s1600/Garden+Dist+sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmxpI6s4YdAG0etCZXO-1JMwJFC2o3qlDgWQYMxJyDiTNwOEWIMnk4Btvv3aHpweiXCky5kWBq3GhhRf8R3H30dCaTcpc6PSml_H3QKSvznRmWzwNw758H0sKWdAdmlQMefwEPRabEOg/s1600/Garden+Dist+sign.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Come walk with me... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWUBpD_WPt0LgR12sKP4jax_EGbK4uPh-rTbDwUlrqAmZBK4B9jNTSGdadVdAApNzRb1HVkqJ_apJMbm2rjItaHUM2VC1IsGhUznsL_RIfV3aSar5nPcjYV6iCkXSJ_thdfnw-Ww50Tw/s1600/DSCN6972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWUBpD_WPt0LgR12sKP4jax_EGbK4uPh-rTbDwUlrqAmZBK4B9jNTSGdadVdAApNzRb1HVkqJ_apJMbm2rjItaHUM2VC1IsGhUznsL_RIfV3aSar5nPcjYV6iCkXSJ_thdfnw-Ww50Tw/s640/DSCN6972.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoBKdw3NSIDLilpDAd667BNNa6OSdFrTUTO2tTZctb7HR35fNDWKmS1961pDmLglic1NHX7MLcp7tFMOiHiST4Uaz6fPS_Q_gBOe6N1aSP5RPpsRC-nMgGGBDgpYgJ1kA95WvUVY0h_Q/s1600/DSCN7015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoBKdw3NSIDLilpDAd667BNNa6OSdFrTUTO2tTZctb7HR35fNDWKmS1961pDmLglic1NHX7MLcp7tFMOiHiST4Uaz6fPS_Q_gBOe6N1aSP5RPpsRC-nMgGGBDgpYgJ1kA95WvUVY0h_Q/s640/DSCN7015.JPG" width="590" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ5j4czh1DViC25viyDmb5_Fkv-1i0pF76tZQz87ncMONVj5qdqDZ25Mm_HmOGUVRuEqMUSp4MvFrRMDRGr_EkLgFphRkhW1KhwJcqXjKqevRnOPr_2PE5Yt2x11aouCtz3DJ4-hEcvY/s1600/DSCN7014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ5j4czh1DViC25viyDmb5_Fkv-1i0pF76tZQz87ncMONVj5qdqDZ25Mm_HmOGUVRuEqMUSp4MvFrRMDRGr_EkLgFphRkhW1KhwJcqXjKqevRnOPr_2PE5Yt2x11aouCtz3DJ4-hEcvY/s640/DSCN7014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr1Ugc_eDwkFHNLQebxnWEYH02fqw-BZSTr9FToa06a0xAiYIwPNd7fvdp9fOsJvmCMEmfN5XxLAk6cTBW_YI4mvKRlFMXA7thd28ejgWDLDACAJnr0hYUZzrBzVK4bFkLhrzlcZGhoA/s1600/Yellow+House.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr1Ugc_eDwkFHNLQebxnWEYH02fqw-BZSTr9FToa06a0xAiYIwPNd7fvdp9fOsJvmCMEmfN5XxLAk6cTBW_YI4mvKRlFMXA7thd28ejgWDLDACAJnr0hYUZzrBzVK4bFkLhrzlcZGhoA/s640/Yellow+House.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7Ti2EfwC-tZ4T_WmrYtMEcvZlx9nHLAG-UWtMIJx28iEG97dTTDupZtmXo7xVyOmo4ncWFGTfeiIIOIaOf7FFBvGnWckCdRdk9o6o_dhp6CGlYcpn3TMjX_Ec64B67Pl3oeidGs4FiU/s1600/DSCN7021+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnN5y7mbkE6n0D_G-nd6ddJw8zaHbGuZ2eSaNnL7O9zkx83rW8YGlYJc9HDqBrkGCw_t2QB4PI_1W1xqC3g8VdpzttC4KfiHYNo2shRVBboze0hMGx46DAUAK8QLcto5qED2dO-kU5rQ/s1600/DSCN7026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnN5y7mbkE6n0D_G-nd6ddJw8zaHbGuZ2eSaNnL7O9zkx83rW8YGlYJc9HDqBrkGCw_t2QB4PI_1W1xqC3g8VdpzttC4KfiHYNo2shRVBboze0hMGx46DAUAK8QLcto5qED2dO-kU5rQ/s640/DSCN7026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXngNqj-IF72X4wBe4VfE8LIKy8ESseshyy3zc6eH3ZzBPybGRQNFYVQmkHVmB2sQxGwwHbltEtiW2Dvju0mB77nF_kczm6cHwTAgsZ5J0wap_JjKDQd8FvWcTcrXkhyphenhyphenu07p3BAEa3uo/s1600/DSCN7039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXngNqj-IF72X4wBe4VfE8LIKy8ESseshyy3zc6eH3ZzBPybGRQNFYVQmkHVmB2sQxGwwHbltEtiW2Dvju0mB77nF_kczm6cHwTAgsZ5J0wap_JjKDQd8FvWcTcrXkhyphenhyphenu07p3BAEa3uo/s640/DSCN7039.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQ_tKnTOsMas02ceD0uhCUNe03TJz6Z4vCYGVj1KEcAuHKIzBnVyArcPM7HDOzGM5_y9XR6rRY94nBdK3qMyij8dyPsww4bQB0tyv4BRgqs5g96kU2p59jeASMyd-6oVOzWFC6exmitQ/s1600/DSCN7040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQ_tKnTOsMas02ceD0uhCUNe03TJz6Z4vCYGVj1KEcAuHKIzBnVyArcPM7HDOzGM5_y9XR6rRY94nBdK3qMyij8dyPsww4bQB0tyv4BRgqs5g96kU2p59jeASMyd-6oVOzWFC6exmitQ/s640/DSCN7040.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAGs2lMDksmJJf4OOLT2OvhpOjywjkMP5izd8l_nUefhRF5ZlcfTwbbzO3SAOrXA5Iixn5vIxmKXtQnS9-m6ZuJ2NkyP4cvpvXO1lhTM64d8pfdum5-SPj0WNSebjdlCZxsE58KTes2Y/s1600/DSCN7042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAGs2lMDksmJJf4OOLT2OvhpOjywjkMP5izd8l_nUefhRF5ZlcfTwbbzO3SAOrXA5Iixn5vIxmKXtQnS9-m6ZuJ2NkyP4cvpvXO1lhTM64d8pfdum5-SPj0WNSebjdlCZxsE58KTes2Y/s640/DSCN7042.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>ETA: Just found out that this is the childhood home of Eli and Payton Manning. Probably the most pristine property in the neighborhood. Nary a blade of grass out of place. Thanks to my friends at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/feiaconstruction" target="_blank">Feia Construction</a> for the update!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxdCClCo3CC5mcL6-0w-YSRKrblTz06o7BRUEwMAedSlsgnfJz6ysXu9e3bdHPemCOz_m0S5rMw6KGYKT7QxWuJi2LBKmBYLMVAFqaMch1uYJbKRg04rfN54ws8HIqve_2P6UDEJpsK4/s1600/DSCN7043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxdCClCo3CC5mcL6-0w-YSRKrblTz06o7BRUEwMAedSlsgnfJz6ysXu9e3bdHPemCOz_m0S5rMw6KGYKT7QxWuJi2LBKmBYLMVAFqaMch1uYJbKRg04rfN54ws8HIqve_2P6UDEJpsK4/s640/DSCN7043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIakuWm5b1h5u5WpJt_zzZdtFyP4yqr0nm5syFfXs3KEJYoink9ia87yWTK1d838Me5TObBFeLLXAjTdIuo2uMItcEsdkJr3GcUPqibwh8VJUjR3a8G533-nBMTsnY57kruy1OC7SIzD4/s1600/DSCN7045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIakuWm5b1h5u5WpJt_zzZdtFyP4yqr0nm5syFfXs3KEJYoink9ia87yWTK1d838Me5TObBFeLLXAjTdIuo2uMItcEsdkJr3GcUPqibwh8VJUjR3a8G533-nBMTsnY57kruy1OC7SIzD4/s640/DSCN7045.jpg" width="610" /></a></div>The house above is "Interview With The Vampire" author Anne Rice's former house. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfv1pXtZY0PLiKdGrrHmUmVhJbj2VAIeUMhXomEtfjBbXzNed_DtQScuhD4vaxVUet2j1O_cilPCd2GdUCuiUYMlw4tPQwitE_Gv_MOKS4-cAetbZ9ku_FxWohQ1f5ngpIBAsucuFurs/s1600/DSCN7046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfv1pXtZY0PLiKdGrrHmUmVhJbj2VAIeUMhXomEtfjBbXzNed_DtQScuhD4vaxVUet2j1O_cilPCd2GdUCuiUYMlw4tPQwitE_Gv_MOKS4-cAetbZ9ku_FxWohQ1f5ngpIBAsucuFurs/s640/DSCN7046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmxpI6s4YdAG0etCZXO-1JMwJFC2o3qlDgWQYMxJyDiTNwOEWIMnk4Btvv3aHpweiXCky5kWBq3GhhRf8R3H30dCaTcpc6PSml_H3QKSvznRmWzwNw758H0sKWdAdmlQMefwEPRabEOg/s1600/Garden+Dist+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AWJPCgHRjVisOXCld79ocWboahVf0qKu309ssVyfaL4kxp1fnJ8RpRmLoYU-DC61uddditiLFSSWUnGYsxEpu6_RkJ0ncWuaOMZtyum11j49E8kgtM1PIvLOEPLEGKL6fBbavakkgCI/s1600/Garden+Mary.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AWJPCgHRjVisOXCld79ocWboahVf0qKu309ssVyfaL4kxp1fnJ8RpRmLoYU-DC61uddditiLFSSWUnGYsxEpu6_RkJ0ncWuaOMZtyum11j49E8kgtM1PIvLOEPLEGKL6fBbavakkgCI/s1600/Garden+Mary.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHBDP60HlLQYuakQyaBo3lnindnN2HZsXMuM1C4uSU_UNVA3CUQPlkj_gsUowPwMWIx94WNC_VHmzGP2bY1SxxS9FFJj5zkHEIi1vJsO5etnKfY-IDl36Cpt5fOpGnyKf__LLDWy99WA/s1600/IMG_1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicHBDP60HlLQYuakQyaBo3lnindnN2HZsXMuM1C4uSU_UNVA3CUQPlkj_gsUowPwMWIx94WNC_VHmzGP2bY1SxxS9FFJj5zkHEIi1vJsO5etnKfY-IDl36Cpt5fOpGnyKf__LLDWy99WA/s640/IMG_1309.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl6KG5ZBRKwr-3uTz26Ob81mcu-Q4HphDVOQM7LjltCpw71qmdP5Atd7s4qVsvVu8MFn-M-kriTXW7DfsFyevrzYYBkMK40LlnljZpjqckFnZlvHltgnfArS0fsb9DxTBhNbrF-hreO8/s1600/IMG_2570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwQ2Axb6EoxkazUAZWA3puU5WP3cZV0cRpjoHEre4svojh7iJbLB8sRzZrfsMHKAWhSkyaUel0mgvkFCvj9eCW7Tc3kOmsL_2Un3grWQct9046u9CoC5QoMmy7U_litfD0HiuaH9K8X8/s1600/IMG_1310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwQ2Axb6EoxkazUAZWA3puU5WP3cZV0cRpjoHEre4svojh7iJbLB8sRzZrfsMHKAWhSkyaUel0mgvkFCvj9eCW7Tc3kOmsL_2Un3grWQct9046u9CoC5QoMmy7U_litfD0HiuaH9K8X8/s640/IMG_1310.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Seriously, right? House after gorgeous house. We were like a swarm of moths to too many flames.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b5kATCjTwjbyD632m4ijhVfdRkyed35ZdshG391WSIGJ0UMxeBOEKbbhN__TP19QZIaJ0iIuCN4IBKK7kLjMH57mHWZeTKAjFJUuvDG3uB6S43esWHgAwbqBWc5YTiXbdJeLHajf1F8/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7Ti2EfwC-tZ4T_WmrYtMEcvZlx9nHLAG-UWtMIJx28iEG97dTTDupZtmXo7xVyOmo4ncWFGTfeiIIOIaOf7FFBvGnWckCdRdk9o6o_dhp6CGlYcpn3TMjX_Ec64B67Pl3oeidGs4FiU/s1600/DSCN7021+%281%29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7Ti2EfwC-tZ4T_WmrYtMEcvZlx9nHLAG-UWtMIJx28iEG97dTTDupZtmXo7xVyOmo4ncWFGTfeiIIOIaOf7FFBvGnWckCdRdk9o6o_dhp6CGlYcpn3TMjX_Ec64B67Pl3oeidGs4FiU/s640/DSCN7021+%281%29.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This Garden District walk ended at the famous <a href="https://plus.google.com/116213607188991703125/about?hl=en" target="_blank">Lafayette Cemetary #1</a>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl6KG5ZBRKwr-3uTz26Ob81mcu-Q4HphDVOQM7LjltCpw71qmdP5Atd7s4qVsvVu8MFn-M-kriTXW7DfsFyevrzYYBkMK40LlnljZpjqckFnZlvHltgnfArS0fsb9DxTBhNbrF-hreO8/s1600/IMG_2570.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl6KG5ZBRKwr-3uTz26Ob81mcu-Q4HphDVOQM7LjltCpw71qmdP5Atd7s4qVsvVu8MFn-M-kriTXW7DfsFyevrzYYBkMK40LlnljZpjqckFnZlvHltgnfArS0fsb9DxTBhNbrF-hreO8/s640/IMG_2570.JPG" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Now, let me share that it was in the high 80's and very humid that day - in fact the first really hot day of the season in Nola and a good 40 degrees warmer than what I am used to in April. By the time we got to the cemetery, <a href="http://antiquesdiva.com/" target="_blank">Antiques Diva</a> Toma Haines and I were ready for a sit down and not so much a walk amidst the mausoleams, luckily there was a tree with a fantastic root system handily waiting for us. (photo taken by <a href="http://www.kellymorisseau.com/" target="_blank">Kelli Morisseau</a>) <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDHi66GC_Vhtk8W0eWaYK06Vm8WQ-lXkWQgRsdkrnbCk3cVVwrabAidbDiTb3TjlqBZrHJpiYddMbWNsCChe6Qh8_u6-Irj7qOFvpb2vOIgmfTZNq0OwnM9hpX4eE6-vatZyuzjZYUyw/s1600/Mr+Okra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDHi66GC_Vhtk8W0eWaYK06Vm8WQ-lXkWQgRsdkrnbCk3cVVwrabAidbDiTb3TjlqBZrHJpiYddMbWNsCChe6Qh8_u6-Irj7qOFvpb2vOIgmfTZNq0OwnM9hpX4eE6-vatZyuzjZYUyw/s640/Mr+Okra.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As we headed out of the Garden District towards the wonderful shopping on Magazine, with a stop for a very cold beverage in a highly air conditioned coffee shop, we ran into a true local celebrity Mr. Okra. We'd all been sent a link to a recent documentary short film made about him, so running into him turned us into a gaggle of crazed paparazzi. You'd have thought he was Miles Redd (whom we met that evening) or Brad Pitt (whose "Make It Right" houses were were seeing the next day). He must have thought we were nuts. And no, I'm pretty sure the baby wasn't doing the driving.  If I can find the link to the video again, I'll post it here.  Meanwhile, BlogTour and Brizo19 friend <a href="http://kitchensforliving.net/" target="_blank">Gloria Graham-Sollicito</a> got a closeup!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> I'll post some of my favorite Magazine Street finds from our little tour, hosted by Shaun Smith, soon.<br /><br />A big, big thanks to <a href="http://www.modenus.com/blog/category/blogtour" target="_blank">Veronika Miller, founder of Modenus and BlogTour </a>for putting together such an amazing, eye opening and well-run tour. Impressed barely covers how I feel about her abilities. And also to our sponsors for making it all possible!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr1Ugc_eDwkFHNLQebxnWEYH02fqw-BZSTr9FToa06a0xAiYIwPNd7fvdp9fOsJvmCMEmfN5XxLAk6cTBW_YI4mvKRlFMXA7thd28ejgWDLDACAJnr0hYUZzrBzVK4bFkLhrzlcZGhoA/s1600/Yellow+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8670054169_893b356985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8531/8670054169_893b356985.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />All photos by Linda Merrill, except where noted. <br /><br />If you would like my help on your design project, I would love to chat with you! Please <a href="mailto:linda.m.merrill@gmail.com">email me</a>. Thanks!<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img alt="" src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" style="border: 0; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/EQjz" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe to ::Surroundings::</a>

BlogTourNola: New Orleans Garden District Walkabout

I can't believe it's already been two weeks since we were walking and gawking in the gorgeous Garden District in New Orleans. Our fi...

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