Spring in New Orleans:

Spring in New Orleans:

            Spring has arrived in New Orleans. We experienced one last blast of cold weather the week after Easter, and now, warmer weather has greeted us. The celebrations began for the husband and me with Volksfest, a celebration of the people, at our beloved Deutsches Haus. This festival is a scaled back version of Oktoberfest and celebrates the beauty of spring and the coming summer. We had glorious weather and ate delicious pretzels while we drank German beer. Easter Week then arrived, bringing with it the solemnity and beauty of the season. 

            This glorious season always brings the hope of renewal, rebirth, and redemption. Easter Week began with the solemn ceremonies of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. A bare cross adorned the church on Good Friday, but gorgeous lilies filled the church at Easter. We visited the wonderful Longue Vue Gardens in our city where beautiful flowers bloomed. Our own garden displays the renewal that is pervasive in the whole city.  We lost a great deal of our garden when a major freeze hit the area in December. Lilies and begonias are now in bloom.

            The citizenry is rejoicing in festival season. My husband and I celebrated at French Quarter Fest, and we will do the same at Jazz Fest. This is the season of crawfish and music. We peel our crawfish and munch on potatoes and corn on the cob. We barbecue and listen to music. Greek Fest takes place Memorial Day, and we will munch on fried calamari while we drink sweet wine. 

            It is spring. Life is good.