Baby’s first Mardi Gras:
A week ago our fair town held its annual “Lighting of the Trees.” Everybody goes downtown where the bands play Christmas music while hot chocolate and hot cider flow, and the mayor flips the switch.
The trees downtown will be lit through the end of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras in the United States is celebrated from Texas through Florida (roughly Galveston through Pensacola) and ends the night before Lent begins.
It is such a huge part of our culture here that banks, public schools and most government offices are closed. Parades roll nearly every night for the five weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday. Everybody participates in one form or another – it is a festival of lights, a feast for a child’s eyes.
In a couple of weeks, another festival of lights will occur in our neighborhood when we have a Christmas boat parade down the river at the end of our dead-end road – boats of all shapes and sizes will quietly float downstream lit up with Christmas decorations – with spectators lining the banks, back decks, piers and bridges – and ending in the small bay leading to the beaches.
Click here for some incredible light sources around the rest of world.
And thanks, God, for Your light in the world, for You, the source of all our light – without which we would be forever in darkness. Thank You for all the life-giving forms of light you provide us with – especially for my sunshine and rainbows and sunsets over peaceful, sweet dreams. ~~
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[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light! | Southern Sea Muse […]
That is an exciting event. A perfect way to begin the Christmas season. Wonderful images that warms our hearts. Full of light, hope and joy. Thanks.
You’re welcome, IT. I love our “extended holiday season” here, for those very reasons!
~~ssm
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light! | Southern Sea Muse […]
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light! | Southern Sea Muse […]
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light! | Southern Sea Muse […]
He is TOO cute! Love the red hat. He is your “little light of mine”! 🙂
Oh, yes he is! Thank you, L&I…except looking at the pic again, I see his ear wasn’t properly centered and was kinda crushed under there. But he never complained, that little beacon of light!
~~ssm
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[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light! | Southern Sea Muse […]
There is nothing like the real deal. I love wonder in the faces of children as they are bedazzled by the awe of Christmas lights. This little guy is a poster child. 🙂
Thank you, Ms. Tess. Children reflect light as much as they are drawn to it, I believe.
~~ssm
That’s what makes Christmas wonderful. The light in children’s eyes.
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light! | Southern Sea Muse […]
[…] Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light! | Southern Sea Muse […]
So that is why you are always in a great mood Mrs. SSM, there seems to be a party all the time on your island. How many beads does he have already? 🙂 The boat regatta sounds lovely. I hope you have nice weather…but word has it the Tide is going to be rolling on Saturday. Echoing Mrs. Betsy…I like your prayers too! Rainbows and sunsets….or Crimson tides and boat parades…It seems like He keeps you happy! Have a good weekend SSM! I hope your home team wins!
So true – life here in the sub-tropics is one event after another. No rest for the wicked. Thank you, 3D! Yes, He is my sunshine when skies are gray. And no worries about the Tide – I’m confident we will prevail. I’ll be a typing monkey’s uncle if we don’t! 😉
~~ssm
You have been blessed with some of the best football to watch over the last 4 years w/ very few disappoints. You can let them have their 15 minutes. Sir Saban isn’t going anywhere. Today we did the outside decorations. The kids were up from their naps before I was done outside. I wanted to though. It was a perfect temp up here too. Have a great week SSM ~~~
I love how you end with a prayer. just finished reading Heaven is for Real. Have you read that or heard of it? It’s pretty incredible. I recommend it. . . after 101 Tips for a Happier Marriage, of course! 😉
Congratulations on your book being published, Mrs. Betsy! Very proud of you, and well-deserved. I like to “pray without ceasing.” I’ve heard of the Heaven book, but have not read it – I will after your book!
~~ssm
🙂 🙂 🙂