Broomsticks on the Bayou

There's a full moon rising over the bayou tonight

 

Come gather under her spell

Witches, gypsies and restless spirits

Grab your broomsticks and favorite brew

 

and meet me in New Orleans for a night or two
 

Tales of witchcraft and voodoo

 

fill the air

They say the Queen herself roams these streets

Portrait by Frank Schneider, based on a painting by George Catlin

You might encounter her right in the Vieux Carre

You never know what you'll find among the magnolias and Spanish moss

Friend or Foe

Sinner or Saint

What lies beyond the garden gate?

Leave your broom here, dear witches, if you dare

Don't be afraid

An offering might please the lady of the house

But tread lightly

 For here lie ghosts from a bygone day

Was it voodoo or witchcraft that brought about her end?

Was she haunted by her deeds?

Or betrayed by a friend?

Many say she passed peacefully at a ripe old age

Still others claim to see her ghostly figure strolling through the city

 

What about you?

 

Digital art by Schonee

 

Have you seen Marie?

It's time to take our leave, there is much more to do and see

Join me first for a sweet treat

then leave a comment with your link before you go

 

 

Hope you enjoyed your visit here.

 

Before you go check out one of my favorite Nola singers

 

If you're a fan of this season's American Horror Story which is set in New Orleans, here's a great video they posted that looks at why Nola is such a unique and amazing place.

  Do you know that there is a fragrance inspired by Marie Laveau?  

 

Bourbon French Parfums, a noted perfumery in New Orleans' French Quarter since 1843, created a small collection called Southern Favorites. One fragrance is Voodoo Love, a heady jasmine scent inspired by the queen of voodoo herself.

 

Read more HERE

   

Thank you for joining me for a bit of Halloween fun

in the spirit of my favorite city.

 

Here's a recipe for the Sazerac pictured above

 

Image source here

 

You'll find more delicious wickedness from Marfi at Incipient Wings who thought I might love to do a Halloween blog party with a New Orleans theme. Of course she was right!

I'll see you soon out on the bayou.

 Laissez les bon temps rouler

Happy Halloween Cher



Broomsticks on the Bayou

Hello Autumn!
I think it's time for another Halloween party.
Where will our broomsticks take us this year?

The dark forest for Le Mysterieux Carnival?
A Witch's Tea Party Under a Halloween Moon?
Or Maria's Island for a Practical Magic Party?

 

 You might remember a recent post I did about my huge crush on the city of New Orleans and how I think it all started with a childhood visit to the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland. It eventually grew into an obsession and I had to learn as much about that city and it's unique culture as I could.

 

It turns out Marfi and I share the same fondness for the Haunted Mansion and we thought how truly magical it would be to be in New Orleans for Halloween. Since that trip won't exactly be happening this year we thought of the next best thing.

 

 

We're bringing a haunted New Orleans to us.

 

Only a little further west of the Mississippi.

 

The city of New Orleans has fascinated and enchanted people from all walks of life. Artists, gypsies, sinners and saints have all heard her call. She beckons us with her haunted past, old cemeteries, ghost stories, colorful spirits, southern charm, even vampires and off course voodoo and Marie Laveau, the queen of voodoo herself. If you share a fondness for this bewitching city we'd love to have you join in some creative Halloween fun.

 

You can share art, crafts, costumes, décor, jewelry, food, recipes, music, spells, photography, pets, memories or even a real live party. And if you happen to actually live in that city feel free to share as much of anything as you'd like. I promise I'll try not to embarrass myself by drooling too much and I'll try hard not to stalk you!

 

Have your pics and post ready to go by the evening of the 18th, which also happens to be the Full Harvest Moon. How cool is that? Come back and visit me here at Frosted Petunias and Marfi at Incipient Wings on Saturday the 19th and add your link. Then put on some mournful jazzy music, brew up a batch of beignets and a café au lait and take your broomstick on a moonlit trip round the bayou. We'll have both days to make our rounds and off course you can keep visiting even after the weekend.

 

Here's a button to share and a link to add to it.

 

http://frostedpetunias.blogspot.com/2013/09/broomsticks-on-bayou.html

 

 

We'll keep it casual so all you need to do is leave a comment and let me know you're coming. Then just create your post, come on over, share and enjoy. If you're not sure what to do or have questions feel free to email me or Marfi.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

Don't forget to stop by Incipient Wings to check out Marfi's enchanting party announcement and for more Haunted Humpday fun.

 

 

 



So It Begins

See the little countdown clock I just added to the right?

 

Over there ------->>>>

 

It's 60 days today exactly, until Halloween.

 

That's only 1440 hours to get in as much Halloween as possible before it goes away again for another year. Marfi's Haunted Humpday definitely started to get me into the spirit and that's not all she did. She also got me thinking about how I developed one of my big obsessions.

Stay with me here and I'll explain.

 

 

 

One of my fondest memories from my first visit to Disneyland was seeing the Haunted Mansion and New Orleans Square. I might have been around 12 so I was old enough to really have those memories stick.

 

Of course I was just your average California kid and I had no idea there was a real 'New Orleans Square' that existed somewhere out there. We really didn't travel much outside of California and my parents had no interest in southern culture. I just remember walking around the square, taking in the pretty buildings and shops, thinking, forget Sleeping Beauty's castle, this is where I'd rather be. I even remember what I was wearing that day.

 

 

I remember asking my parents for a couple of dollars to buy a souvenir from one of those pretty shops. I don't remember what things I looked at exactly but I ended up buying a pretty little bottle of rose water perfume. I was so excited to be able to conjure up the memory of this place anytime, just by opening my own bottle of magic.

 

 

To this day the scent of rose water reminds me of that first trip.

 

 

Anytime I could visit Disneyland or Disneyworld the Haunted Mansion was the first place I would always go. I would pretty much stay in New Orleans Square all day if I could.

 

Fast forward many, many, many years later and I discover there's a real 'New Orleans Square'. An entire city in fact with real architecture, an amazing history, a diverse culture that doesn't seem to exist anywhere else and food and art that would require one to exist on a minimum amount of sleep to be able to take it all in. Oh and the parades. How can you not love people that need no excuse to have a parade....with those pretty parasols and that infectious music.

 

Above all else I was inspired by this city's resilience. Through Katrina's devastation and other disasters that followed after. New Orleans seemed to draw a certain type of spirit. Artists, gypsies, saints and sinners. I know somewhere in my soul I keep hearing that same call.

 

One day.

 

 

I've been hooked on Nola far longer than I realized and it's all just starting to make sense to me now. I always thought it was the aftermath of hurricane Katrina that peaked my interest but I think it really goes back to that first Disney trip to the Haunted Mansion and New Orleans Square. It sounds silly I know and I have yet to make my first visit there. I do know the real thing is nothing like the Disney version and that's what I can't wait to see.

 

So what does all this have to do with Halloween you ask?

 

 

I've been trying to do a New Orleans themed Halloween for years and I've managed to add a little of that flavor to my regular spooky décor. But this year Marfi inspired me to really embrace the haunted bayou voodoo theme and we've been brainstorming about how to bring that experience to our own non bayou corners of the country. We'll keep you posted and in the meantime you might want to start looking for your old book of voodoo spells or that gris gris bag you tucked away in the bottom drawer of your grandmother's old wardrobe.

 

 

The spirit of Marie Laveau calls.

 

Better be ready.

 

 

 

 

 



blooms and parasols

Good morning. Does your calendar still say February? Yup, mine too. But I know it's already March in some parts of the world and I really really couldn't wait anymore. Soooo Happy March!

We have had tons of rain and this weekend was a colder than usual February for us, but the sun also came out to play. The other day I saw bright yellow jonquils growing along the side of the road while I was driving around. First sign of the coming new season.

Change is good :)

All around my neighborhood the plum trees are starting to bloom and when I went to check on mine this morning I found it covered with pretty pink blossoms.

Just like my favorite leaves in Fall, these sweet blooms come and go much too fast. So I wanted to enjoy as much of it as I can. I love that this is the time of year Mother Nature puts on one of her amazing shows.

You see March is also my birthday month and it happens just as everything around me fills with candy colored blooms, from pale pastels to happy vibrant hues. And not just outdoors but in all the shops that are filling their shelves with Spring and Easter goodies.

Last week I found this parasol and HAD to have it. I loooove umbrellas (maybe it's because they look like mini tents!). Ever since I can remember, I couldn't wait for the first rainy day so I could walk around in my rain boots under my favorite one.

In some countries women use umbrellas for both sun and rain and I really wish more people would here. I guess most of California is too sun obsessed to want to carry one around on a sunny day. Where is the fun in that I ask?

Well I'm taking my pretty pink parasol out on my birthday and no matter what the weather is like I'm going to use it. I am a true believer in celebrating each and everyone of our birthdays. No matter how many you've had. And if you have been blessed with many already, it's the best reason to celebrate even more. So you can be sure that whatever I have planned for mine also includes a sweet triple frosted cupcake treat!

 I'll tell you a not-so-secret secret too. This year my birthday falls on Mardi Gras. Oh how I dreamed and schemed all year to find a way to be in New Orleans to celebrate but alas, I will have to bring New Orleans to me.

 So you see why I had to treat myself to a new birthday parasol. I might not make it to the Mardi Gras parade but I can dance with my parasol to great jazzy music, cook up a batch of powdery beignets and stroll by the Cafe New Orleans

right here in my very own hometown.

Happy Almost March Monday

I'll be back very soon with my March Artful Bag and if you haven't checked on the February bags lately, go and see. My bag ladies really outdid themselves and came up with the most adorable altered purses. Thank you to everyone that played this month.

new orleans mon amour

Five years ago today Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans. I remember exactly were I was. My family and I were on a little vacation. It was the day we were heading back home and I remember waking up and turning on the news and seeing the aftermath of the hurricane and the levee breaks. It was so unreal. My heart just ached for everyone there.

I have never been to New Orleans but if you've read my blog before you might know It's one of my favorite cities. The city has recovered much but also not so much in many ways. There are areas that will never recover. I find this sad in a city that's so full of culture, history and soul.

Last summer I  read a good amount of books about New Orleans. Fiction and non fiction. Poems. Beautiful coffee table books with stunning pictures of the gardens of the Vieux Carre. Cookbooks. Architecture. I watched documentaries about Katrina. Visited websites like the PRCNO an organization dedicated to preserving the historic architecture of the city. I couldn't figure out why I was so drawn to this city. Only that there's something about it that constantly draws me there.

This book New Orleans Mon Amour is one of my favorites. Andrei Codrescu is a noted commentator for NPR and a New Orleans resident. His book chronicles his love for the city as seen through the eyes of someone who like so many others, went to visit and decided to stay. It made me laugh, cry and hungry all at the same time.

One of the lovely people I've met here in blogland is artist and newspaper columnist Cindy Adkins. She owns the blog Whimsical Musings. She and her husband moved to New Orleans after Katrina. Cindy was recently featured in Art Saves in a story about how she used her art to help with the recovery of one of the devastated neighborhoods. She's quite a remarkable lady. You can visit her website and see more of her art or stop by her blog and check out all her fun creations.

Just a few of my thoughts this early Sunday morning. Which means it's time for me to go to bed. Maybe I'll dream of beignets and a cafe au lait. I haven't tried to make them from scratch yet but I have a box mix straight from the Cafe du Monde and maybe I'll make a few in a few hours and look at pictures of those beautiful French Quarter gardens again.