"You all are arriving at a very good time. Carnival hits the streets this weekend with an artist parade called The Krewe du Vieux..." See below:

The past four days have been lovely. More from the campsite at St. Andrew's State Park in Florida before I move ahead to the content of the post title.

White dots are egrets. Blue heron are camouflaged

We commandeered the little inlet for ourselves 

Grazing at dusk

And then a quick stop in the very strange, manicured, master-planned community of Seaside where the film "The Truman Show" was made (only because it was 15 minutes from the national park were were staying in and on the way to Mississippi). 

Only guests of residents allowed (we snuck on)

Something odd about this I think

Every house has the residents' names and a personal "expression." Only one font and one color used all over town

So much character

All very nice

Then we chose another state park in Mississippi and spent a very loud night trying to comfort a terrified Marley during a heavy storm. Can you imagine yourself outside in a metal box during a night of very heavy rain, lightening, and endless close thunder? I liked it actually, but Marley most certainly did not. She was treated to a night on our bed, hours of hugs and pats, and I quickly lost possession of my pillow, my corner, my side of the bed. Oh well. All for a good cause!

Today I joined Laurie and Marley in a long, cold and swampy walk. The trails cut through a bedlam of forrest and dune decay, at every possible stage of the natural process that feeds insects and larger critters under the domain of the alligators (who eat each other's young if nothing better is around!)

Then I spent hour upon hour researching our three or four days in New Orleans, which we have decided will begin tomorrow when the weather is supposed to clear. I'm not sure how we are going to jam in all the amazing things to see and do!

And now I am super excited because I received a reply email from a wonderful friend, Elizabeth Shannon, whom I last saw when I visited the Big Easy around 1988. She's an artist who works with found objects and photography. This is what she wrote me:

"You all are arriving at a very good time. Carnival hits the streets this weekend with an artist parade called The Krewe du Vieux. It is the first parade of the season and wildly popular as it lets it all rip - as in political and social commentary no holding back. PR clearly states that it is not for children. This year the king is the nationally known writer John Berry who is fighting the state over the lost of wetlands due to the oil companies and the queen consort is an old friend of Lance's [my step father] - artist Dawn DeDeaux.  I am working with Dawn on her costume - she will be Lady Justice. John will be John of Arc". . . I live in the Bywater neighborhood now - about 12 blocks from the last space( another alternative space)  Dawn is coming here Friday morning for a costume fitting - I think a get together then would be a perfect part of your trip...."

The parade of course has subkrewes: 

"The Krewe du Vieux’s seventeen subkrewes will each present their own interpretations of the theme. Subkrewes include the Krewe of C.R.U.D.E., Krewe of Space Age Love, Krewe of Underwear, Seeds of Decline, Krewe of Mama Roux, Krewe of L.E.W.D., Krewe of Drips and Dis- charges, Krewe of K.A.O.S., Knights of Mondu, T.O.K.I.N., Krewe Rue Bourbon, Krewe de C.R.A.P.S., Mystic Krewe of Spermes, Mystic Krewe of Comatose, Mystic Krewe of Inane, and Krewe du Mishigas.

Also marching will be many of the city’s top brass bands. Showcasing the local brass band talent is one of many Krewe du Vieux traditions not eligible for coverage under the health care reform bill."

Sounds like fun to me!!!