Good Morning Dear Reader:

Sadly, the shrimp boats are empty and idle in Biloxi

It is a beautiful day in Biloxi, Mississippi. The sun is shining and there are crowds here. That’s the good news. The bad news is the huge number of shrimp boats sitting idle in the marina behind the hotel. We are on the sound and not the gulf, so sadly, I do expect to see plenty of oil in the next few days.

Things at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino are jumping. It is truly a lovely, fun hotel. My sister, however is having some adjustment problems. It’s all about the shower and the toilet. You see she is quite the modest one.

Hey, you can see right through that door!

All the new hotels must be built by exhibitionists because they are swapping bathroom doors and walls for glass or nothing at all as the case may be. The Hard Rock has some lovely glass doors to the bath, which at least are frosted. In an attempt at modesty, Janet positioned the really cute animal print( I’ve been telling you animal is in for fall!) ironing board in front of the doors–decorative but it doesn’t conceal much.

Cool zebra ironing board, not quite wide enough!

She’s not too happy with me these days. When she was visiting last month, she found a gorgeous foxtail fern at a garden center and bought it to take home to Mississippi. When it came time to leave, she had no room in the car for it so she made me promise to babysit it and bring it this week. Well, when I got ready to leave, I had no room for it, so I planted it in my flowerbed.  It looks lovely.

When she found out I didn’t bring the fern, she threw a hissy fit and now she is holding my newCole Haan sandals for ransom that I left in her car. Somewhere I’ve got to find a foxtail fern

The famous Mary Mahoney's Old French House Restaurant

Last night we had the most wonderful seafood dinner at possibly the most famous restaurant in the South, Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant, opened in 1964. Located in one of the oldest homes in America, built circa 1737, the restaurant has survived two recent hurricanes first, Camille in 1969 and more recently, Katrina in 2005, bringing water up to the second story of the restaurant where the family lives.

Point of flood waters on wall at second floor

The founder, Mary Mahoney is gone but her family lives there and within 9 weeks of the devastating flood were back and open for business, such is their spirit.

One of the most amazing sights here at the restaurant is the huge oak tree which shelters it. The tree is known by the name “patriarch” and has been estimated by four different tree specialists to be older than 2,000 years. It is simply a marvel. I recommend if you are in the area that you visit the restaurant and the tree. Any dish you order will be divine and be sure and don’t miss the bread pudding with rum sauce. You know I had some!

The "Patriarch" oak tree, over 2,000 years old

Have a splendid day!

Diane