A love letter to the South.

All of the very best days start with a long, slow walk under tall, windy, spindly, angry oak trees...

...followed by a long, slow brunch of southern comfort food and coffee.

I am absolutely enamored with the South. Between the vibrant plants that seem to find and take over every corner, the inconsistent but charming architecture, the belly-filling food that also reaches your happy place, and the slower pace that is not just the stuff of novels, it's not unusual to feel like you've stumbled into the past - the happiest version of it - for periods of time. And who doesn't need the occassional step away from real life?

While waiting for our table at brunch, we popped over into a seedy, dark, little hole-in-the-wall for something to on which we could sip. But, just as with everywhere in New Orleans, this wasn't just a hole-in-the-wall and had quite the claim to fame.

History (albeit shady), y'all!

I am convinced, though, that the truly memorable feature of this place is the marvelous concoctions they create. Just look at this beauty, brimming with more than your standard Bloody Mary fare: in addition to olives, tomatoes, celery, lemons and limes, it included pickled okra and green beans...it was like a southern garden had sprung up in my cup.

You are looking at the table of a happy group of girls.

After brunch (and swearing off food for the next four days or so), we walked home to get cleaned up. We showered, threw on sundresses (save our tank top queen Cass), and laid out a blanket in the front yard to treated ourselves to a champagne picnic. 

The sunshine, green grass, happy music, and sound of bubbly pouring into glasses made for the perfect background for our never ending chatter. 

Early evening, we put away our blanket and glasses and made our way to the French Quarter. 

But not without a little sightseeing.  How can you not fall a little bit in love with this city? It feels so proud but not pretentious, even when perfectly restored and landscaped. 

My favorites homes were the beautiful ones that looked a bit like a jungle had popped up in the front yard.

There's something a little wild and unruly about southern foliage.

And the people. The very kindest, they cannot be rushed.

Even the animals have picked up on the pace.

Melissa, our self-appointed tour guide, was itching to visit a restaurant built around a working carousel, so we wandered around, popping our heads unto various doors, until we found this:

It existed! A real, working carousel.

Guests spin s-l-o-w-l-y around a bar in the center, slow enough you have to stop and double check that it actually is moving. I think everyone agrees that this is for the best, but it would have been better with wooden animal seats.

I was more amused with the mirrored table in the lobby. The view from below is not one that you often get to experience!

At 9 pm we claimed our dinner reservations on Royal Street and scored the perfect table for four - just inside the restaurant, right next to a movable door that opened up into the street. With clear views of both the inside of the restaurant and the outside street, the sightseeing was perfect, and we could hear the street performer next door singing for the huge crowds. I think we caught her on a rough night: her repertoire was almost entirely Whitney and Adele.

Street view

Over fried alligator, another dozen oysters, shrimp, and clams, we had one of the more hilarious conversations of my life. Even the waitress had something to contribute.

Gator, y'all - delicious!

Claiming oysters

The "pearl" Cassandra found in hers

After dinner, it was a bit of a blur.

We took turns helping someone spread the Gospel in the streets of NOLA.

LUV THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF 

GOD SO LUV DAH WORLD GAVE HIS ONL B-GOT-N SON

JUDGE NOT THAT YOU B NOT JUDGED

Seek yu first the kingdom of God SEEK YU FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

...and made...

 ...a new friend. Ma'am let us each do a few laps on her bike, which was blaring praise music. I had to respect her unique approach.

All weekend, we enjoyed in one of New Orleans' very best products: live music.

Piano by candlelight:

Jazz by neon light:

And the day ended in the very best way possible, just as it had begun.

I was a bit weepy at dinner, surrounded by those girls and thinking back to my very first trip down to Atlanta. I very distinctly remember being in the car with my mom, a load of my belongings filling up the backseat and my trunk, heading towards a city where I knew no one. Mom asked if I was nervous, and I told her that I was excited because I knew that I was heading towards a whole group of friends that I hadn't even met yet.

Nearly one year later, these girls are just a few of those friends that I have since met, and life is so, so much richer because of them. God provided not just quantity, but quality.