What does one do on a lovely Sunday afternoon?

Well, you go walking in the park, don't you??
We had driven past the Audubon Park yesterday and vowed that we would return there today.

We had to make a stop at the West Marine store in Lakewood first though, this afternoon.
We didn't leave the boat until almost two pm. It was actually 3pm, time-wise (daylight saving came off last night), so the cool was just creeping into the day.

We went across the road to the Starbucks for a drink and I bought a New York Times...weekend edition, which cost $6, but will take us the rest of the week to read.
Our morning had been taken up with buttermilk pancakes for breakfast, sitting in the sun. We are loving the cooler weather and relish sitting in the sun, where we avoided it before.
We took a load of laundry to the machine in the marina and got that pegged on the cockpit deck to dry in the sun and breeze. I knew it might take a while for it to dry with that cold wind blowing, but it was warm enough to dry 90% by the time we left in the afternoon.
I made fresh pumpkin soup with the carcass of the chicken for broth, which was delicious. Lots of onion and ginger to ward off all the winter ills. Kevin and Marina, our newest arrivals came by for a discussion on firearms...we have been told we should carry one at least, and I am against it. Invited trouble, I think. Anyway...that is another discussion, altogether.
Like us, they have sold up everything and invested their money in commercial real estate, and gone boating...on a 40ft yacht.

The Park

We are amazed that we don't see tourists like us in places like this. I am guessing nobody tells them about these gorgeous parks that are barely out of the center of town...and still on the trolley line.

Walking, riding skating track down the middle

of course there was a lake too!

I love squirrels...this one wasn't very afraid of me, being only about two feet from my feet

there were three such pianos around town for the Voodoo Music Festival this weekend. People were encouraged to just play...well or otherwise, and there was some amazing music being made. Like this fellow!

This was the perfect place to read a book.

The white bird is an Ibis...and the ducks are like none we have ever seen before.

This squirrel thought he could blend into the tree...well, he almost succeeded!

the plaque commemorates a woman who 'loved life, people and this park'.

The gorgeous University building opposite.

Sony Pictures were filming in the park....

their great big trucks were parked all along the front entry.

This fellow played Jazz...and sang...Fantastic. I caught it on video on my little camera...just have to figger out how to get it onto here so you can listen.

the dog on the right side is a retrodoodle..his name is Beignet! what a sweetie. of course we had puppy loves:) the other is a spoodle called max.

 Every man, woman, child and dog were out enjoying this park. There are three tracks...a 1 1/2 mile, 2 mile and a three mile. We will have to get back there at some stage.
If you ever get the opportunity, make it a priority to go to Audubon Park and walk and enjoy..it is a treasure of a place.
We made our way to The Pearl in Lakewood for a Sushi dinner at 5pm. It was getting dark and cold. We were starving and ate all but 7 pieces...perhaps we ordered a little too much food, but it was divine! What a lovely day, and we are happy to go to bed early tonight.
So, that's it from me for this week.

Ciao for now.