Happy Girl II - Jazz Fest

Photo taken by Andrew Whitehead
Jazz Fest, April 29, 2012

This is my happiness.  Being in New Orleans, attending Jazz Fest, and special times with good friends.  There was a huge crowd for the Acura Stage - Johnny Sansone with Anders Osborne, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Dr. John, and Bruce Springsteen.  We didn't move from there except for a bathroom visit and drink run, and it was all good.  Loved it all!!

Here's my set of images from the day. In it are the people and times, as well as my growing wish to one day attend Fest with a press pass hanging around my neck. Either that or a beautiful Grand Marshal pass to give you access front and center to the stages. :)

Remember A Dose of Happy with the Rebirth Brass Band here in town?

Fest4Kidz - the great Jazz Fest ticket giveaway for young NOLA musicians!

I just returned from an evening with the Silence is Violence music clinic teachers, children and parents. Tonight was the night that the Threadheads, the greatest and most giving of New Orleans Jazz Fest fans, distributed t-shirts, spending money, and Jazz Fest tickets to all clinic participants. It really was a wonderful and moving experience. More exciting is the fact that a large group of the kids will be performing on the Gentilly Stage this Saturday at Jazz Fest! Wow. I got to hear a preview of what they will play and they sounded fantastic. I really couldn't listen without tears in my eyes. It's so powerful to see how far these children have come with effort, caring instructors, involved families, and this growing program. Visit silenceisviolence.org for more information about the program and how to support their efforts. If you're someone out there that is already involved, please know that you're making a big difference in the lives of these children and the community. Thank you.

Two girls and a cloud

Another great night of gorgeous weather got the whole family out.   We went to the levee path with our favorite gear - my  husband with his bike and Sparkle, my older daughter with her roller blades, and my youngest with her bike.  Me, of course, carried my camera and of course found myself walking down the incline of the levee towards the grasses and Mississippi to see different perspectives of the sunset.  My girls were calling for me, but before heading back up towards them I took this shot.  I first asked for a pose which didn't work out right.  They must have seen my husband in the distance and both turned at this moment.  The spontaneity worked out great, and that little cloud in the distance was a great plus, too.

I have a thing for my eggs

lol.

I love this egg shot and its processing.  Not sure what it is about it exactly, but I like it.  The muted colors...the textures....the little folded paper strips in between.

Long shadows and happy kids