Hey Y'all!!!!

Hey y'all from sweet, sunny Louisiana!! Zev will probably kill me for adding this picture to our blog, but you've gotta admit- didn't it bring a smile to your face!!? There, it was worth it! We hope that everyone is doing great and that people this side of the moon, I mean planet, have enjoyed their summers, and that people in the land of milk and honey (Australia!!) are enjoying the end of winter, beginning of spring and summer!! Zev and I really enjoyed our summer this year and did lots of fun things together in our favorite place- the great outdoors. We went camping and fishing in Toledo Bend, went on plenty of visits to the shooting range and the trap and skeet range and finally today, Labor Day, went hunting!! Zev had a lovely time catching with our family in beautiful upstate New York and goes back tomorrow after a two week hiatus! Fi was happy that Zev could come and watch her in action in her latest criminal trial last week (hung jury baby!!- Good for the defense side!! ;-)) Anyhoo, enjoy the pics and drop us a line or even better a PHONE call when you get the chance! It's nice to hear accents from home every once in a while. Stay cool and keep smiling! Love Zev and Fi xoxoxo

Ever heard the song "I'm a redneck woman"??

Zev and I went dove hunting this morning out at a local Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife Management Area. It was a lot of fun- talk about an adrenalin rush when a big flock of doves flies overhead and you have to quickly re-load your shotgun! I am very lucky to have such a patient, enthusiastic and thorough teacher such as Zev to show me to ropes of good gun handling and safe hunting practices.

I love my Louisiana Red Neck

Need I say more- who wouldn't love this man!???

Dinner tonight.....

Well there's Fifi's first bird ladies and gentlemen!!! I have to say hunting is a lot of fun- especially because Zev and I have been out at the trap and skeet range so much, that is was cool to put our "practice into action" and hunt some real game. The cleaning-the-birds-in-the-field-part-after-we-killed-them was something that I still need to get used to, so Zev was gracious to do the gory part although he did make me take their heads off- ok too much info. Anyhoo, for those of you who prefer to buy their meat already nicely cleaned and processed and such, please rest assured that Zev and I practice good hunting and conservation, including only hunting what we plan to eat and only hunting what we are meant to hunt- easier said than done when you are trying to recognize different species of birds.....

Dunk tank!!

Good Sport ;-)

Zev was a very good sport in "volunteering" himself to be on the dunk tank at his squadron's recent picnic. (Ok, I volunteered him!!!) Anyway, it was all for a good cause- fundraising for the squadron. Some of the littlest girls were the best shots in getting Zev dunked though!!

Public Defender Girls

Sarah was my date for the Krewe of Justinian Coronation Ball as Zev was in New York visiting family and friends (he gets to go with me to the next one and maybe even dance with me if he's lucky!!! haha ;-))) Anyway, the lovely Sarah is my section mate in our criminal court. She and I make up with team of 3 Public Defenders that try felony cases, and we are the only all-female section in the courthouse!! Girl power, baby!!

Duchess of the Court

With Karen, who was crowned "Duchess" of the Krewe of Justinian for 2007-2008. She got to drink out of this large goblet the whole night. As each member of the "Royalty" was sworn in, they threw mardi gras beads out to the crowd (hence the "jewels" round my neck).

Queen for a Day!!!

In keeping with the Spirit of immersing ourselves in the local Louisiana community and culture, I (Fiona) accepted an invitation to join the Krewe of Justinian which is part of the Mardi Gras festivities here in Louisiana. In a nutshell, most people are familiar with the Mardi Gras parades of New Orleans and other cities in Louisiana. Most cities (like Shreveport-Bossier), have their own Krewes (like the Krewe of Centaur, the Krewe of Gemini etc etc) and those Krewes are made of "Royalty" which are elected and "coronated" each year. Anyway, Shreveport has the Krewe of Justinian which is the Krewe for judges and lawyers. A dear friend of mine, Karen, was chosen to be Duchess and thus as her friend, she asked me to be there to watch her get crowned. Really, the whole shebang is a lot of fun and an excuse for a party and a chance to wear a tiara and buy a new dress!! There are plenty more parties in the next "year" which culminates in Mardi Gras which is on "Fat Tuesday" (the day before Lent). Really very interesting!!! Whatever it takes to "merge" with the locals!!

End of Summer- Beginning of Fun Fall!!!

Well I can't believe it's the end of Summer- well according to the local tradition here in the States were Labor Day seems like the symbolic end of Summer and the beginning of Fall. I've got to say that the Fall in the South (or "Autumn" for my dear Aussie family and friends) is probably Zev and my favorite season. It's cooler but not cold and certainly not unbearably hot; it's football season (and if you have ever lived in the South, you'll understand what I mean- football is VERY IMPORTANT STUFF here); and it's just a fun season to cook-out (again, for the Aussies- "BBQ") and enjoy time with friends. At the beginning of summer I ent walk about on base because it was so pretty outside and just took a bunch of pictures so that we can always remember the beauty and history of this great base. I like this picture of Zev washing his dirt bike. It was really cute at one point to see Max, our 3 year old neighbor with bleached white hair and the cutest smile, walk up to Zev and just admire the red bike. We probably had our best summer in the South and it will always be a lovely memory....

My Bible Study Girls

My Women's Bible Study group starts up again next week. I am so excited to be meeting up with this awesome, Godly group of local women. We enjoy learning the Word, encouraging each other and sharing in each other's lives.