I got home from SF and found that Carnival Season has started! That means basically just one thing so far... KING CAKES

We have a new addition to our house... meet Luray.

 She's a nine year old beagle mix, very well trained, small, quiet and and calm. She's such a good dog, she almost seems like a stuffed animal. She fits right in.

It's been sunny and cold all week. Pretty, but chilly.

Amanda came to visit and spent the week with us. It's always fun when someone comes to town and we have the excuse to go out and eat and enjoy what New Orleans has to offer. We did a lot together, and she had a lot of "firsts," including her first oysters.

 

Another sign that it's Carnival time: spotting king cake / Mardi Gras wreaths on front doors and "Mardi Gras trees" (Christmas trees decorated in gold, green and purple) in yards. I can't wait for Mardi Gras!

I've been trying to hang on to my SF trip, and thinking about all of the places I'd like to see in 2014. I'm starting to plot!