Cajun Tails: City Dogs

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." 

Gilda Radner

"Pushkin" dines with his humans at Royal House, New Orleans

  The one thing I feel most joyful about after returning from our New Orleans & southern Louisiana trip is being back with Maggie again. The way she attaches to me like velcro is a wonderful feeling. I love petting her or throwing the tennis ball again as she repeatedly bugs me while I type our blog. It's a wonderful nuisance. Meanwhile, Maggie wanted to know about the dogs from Louisiana. I told her there are too many tails to tell so, how about a sampling? Woof Woof! When my daughter and I dined at Royal House in the French Quarter of New Orleans a couple with cutest dog sat by our table. 

Royal House

You see, Royal House is pet friendly. They opened the outside shutter door of their French Quarter restaurant to accommodate Pushkin and his family. This small dog was the most well-behaved dog. People continually walked by the restaurant and he never barked. We were told by his owner that his name is Pushkin. He was named after the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin. Pushkin is a 5 year old dog mix of Italian Greyhound, Terrier and Chihuahua. He was adopted from a shelter in San Francisco, CA. Our home turf! Pushkin laid at his owner's feet during dinner. His water was in a styroform take-out container right next to him. By the way, the food at  Royal House  is delicious! That's another story....

In the city of New Orleans we saw many dogs walking about, sitting or pulling their owners on a skateboard! One art gallery in the French Quarter called Rodrigue Studio New Orleans was all about the Blue Dog. This display in the art gallery window rotates into different primary colored dogs; blue, yellow, and red.

Rodrigue Studio New Orleans

Maggie likes hearing about the city dogs of the French Quarter, but now it's time to play tennis ball.... OK MaggieMoose-let's step alive and play ball!

Maggie patiently waits

Cajun Tails: A Horse Of Course

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"A horse is a horse, of course, of course...."

Mr. Ed Theme Song

Carriage Mules

  Maggie loves horses so, I had to tell her about the horses in New Orleans. They're not really horses though, they are mules. At least the carriages we saw. The mules pull the carriages for the horse drawn carriage rides. At first glance they look like horses, but they're not. They are mighty. They work very hard in hot & humid conditions pulling tourists around the French Quarter. Some of the rigs are very beautiful along with their animals. The horse ties around town are works of art.

Horse tie

We were transported back in time through the architecture of the buildings in the French Quarter or from the horse ties. A carriage ride seems the norm here. I assured Maggie that lots of dogs are walking about too. Dogs are well represented in New Orleans, but that's another tail. Maggie's all ears.... Meanwhile, back to our story, I told Maggie to remember  a horse is a horse of course of course, unless it's a mule. Maggie doesn't mind if they're a horse or a mule. She's happy I'm back home where our morning walks together are cool!

Mule drawn carriages

Cajun Tails: All That Jazz

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

"What we play is life."

Louis Armstrong

Landing in the Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY)

  We arrived home from our trip to New Orleans and other southern LA parts. I decided to tell Maggie some bedtime tails from Cajun land. It all started from the first landing in the Louis Armstrong Airport. Everything was bold and musically vibrant in color. The life size statue of Louis Armstrong prominently stood in front of the mural painting of all the jazz greats. I shared with Maggie that when we walked outside into the humidity that was the first shock we had. It was so hot and muggy at night for us Californians use to things cooling off at night. Maggie might find it hot too since she likes our cool morning walks, but Maggie insisted she likes trying new things. OK, maybe next time girl.... Anyway, we left the airport to go to the French Quarter. Here the music was played everywhere in the streets both night and day. They have the famous jazz establishments, but what struck me most was music from the street musicians. They were so good that I questioned if the music was from a recording. No, it's not-it's live. Incredible talent scattered over many streets. All amazing. We heard a song from Porgy & Bess playing. The hot muggy night seemed perfectly fit. Musical tails floating in the air telling of everyone's lives. Maggie loves all that jazz. It is what she wakes up to. It's what we went to bed to in the French Quarter. Love N'awlins. Night Maggie.

French Quarter-Jackson Square musicians

Bedtime for Maggie

Vacation Time with Laughter Across The Miles

Maggie's pawsability thought for the day:

Laughter is an instant vacation."

Milton Berle 

Maggie's green gator

  Today I head out to New Orleans. Maggie will be on her own "doggy" vacation with some animal buddies coming over. A Golden Retriever and a Yorkie mix. They're coming to play and go do fun things with Maggie while I'm gone. Maggie tells me she'll be unavailable by email, but I'll be checking in. I will be posting some fun stuff from the New Orleans, LA area. French Quarter first stop. Honey Island Swamp won't be missed either. I'll be traveling with my college graduate daughter. I haven't spent much time with her these past 4 years while she was away back East. It is going to be great to have the special time together. I know Maggie is in great hands when I leave. She and I will be laughing across the miles. We know how to vacation even if apart. While I'm gone I'll be doing some "gator" research for the MaggieMooseTracks' children's book series. Maggie likes that. She loves her gators & loves to share her adventures. See ya soon MaggieMoose!

Woof Woof says MaggieMoose!