Mardis Gras 2014 at the Plantation

I know that the last post was mostly about eating, well we’re starting off here with the guys having lunch out while the ladies are on a shopping excursion in Pensacola for more quilting supplies! The guys are not so photogenic so no pictures of us sitting in the sunshine, on the deck overlooking the inland waterway at Lulu’s in Gulf Shores.

The Plantation’s Mardis Gras starts this Friday, Feb 28th. Barb & I are not too much in the party mood so we’re only participating in the opening dinner Friday. This meal is when the King and Queen are selected and after they are sworn in, the party begins. We also went to Fat Tuesday’s dinner, the grand finale. Barb was in a skit on Friday and I was in a skit on Tuesday.

Going with Dick & Mary to the Pensacola parade on Saturday is becoming a tradition. On Friday, we were busy cooking up some finger foods – wings and a shrimp dip, beer and wine for the ‘tail gate party’ as we wait for the parade to start. We had a little mix up at the ‘regular’ parking spot so made do across the street but still had fun. The difference is that before, we could have our tail gate party and do some people watching all the while we snacked. It is more social being right next to the trucks and our lawn chairs that we set up next to the parade barriers. We still had fun, watched a good parade that seems to get bigger each year – over 2 hours long this year! As the parade progresses, people behind us press forward so they can get their share of beads and trinkets thrown from the floats. We usually give the stuff we catch to any kids around us. Here are a couple that were too cute, they kept sharing beads with each other while we kept hanging more beads on their necks. It was a long day, we stopped at Five Guys for a great burger on the way home.

Sunday was a quiet day until we went to the ice cream social (happy now John). The King and Queen are escorted in and to their thrones, ice cream is served and then the skits and stories begin again. Lots of laughs and good times shared. Monday was the Plantation’s Mardis Gras parade and it was a go no matter the weather – it was threatening rain. Many parade floats were not decorated because of the weather threat and the parade was down sized some but still went off as planned.

Fat Tuesday is our Mardis Gras grand finale here at the Plantation. Dinner, skits and the de-throning of the King and Queen – which sometimes is more dramatic than the swearing in ceremony!. After the festivities have subsided and the dust is settling, the theme for next years event is introduced.

Well, that is a slice of our life down here in paradise. Some times we pinch our selves because we can not believe that we have such a great winter perch! Until next time…..