wedding

my niece H was married a few weeks ago in a beautiful outdoor wedding. G and the minister are waiting for the bride this garden is in a local park and most of us didn't know it was there. It is hidden in a little valley H and her dad walking down the aisle

my sister in law,R, the bride's mom and my brother T the step father of the bride. This is their second wedding this year, R's son was married in April!

where my house used to be

21 years ago my house stood in this area. The road went down a hill and there was a subdivison of homes on the street. St Louis airport brought most of the homes in this area to build a new airplane runway. They filled in the valley and raised the area about 20 taller than it was. The airport ruined the City of Bridgeton, razed around 400-500 homes and the very very sad thing is after disruping peoples lives, threating them to sell their homes and generally killing a city, 9-11 happened, American Airlines cut most of their flights from St Louis and the new runway is hardly used.

For me it was the second time around. The airport also brough my first house in 1979 and we moved to this site. Before I purchased the house that stood here I asked the airport authority if they would every expand to this area. I was told "no not in your life time", well I guess I should be dead because 13 years later they knocked on my door again.

I now live 30 miles west of the airport, crossing my fingers that the airport doesn't decide to expand again!

One of the neighbors from this neighborhood is doing a documentery on what the airport did to the City of Bridgeton and I am going to be interviewed.

Creve Coeur Lake and Park

I visited this park on a beautiful fall day. The park was a hang out for kids in my day (so very long ago). We went here to see friends and of course make new friends! The sign is a new addition. Our version of this story was the Indian maiden threw herself off the top when her father would not let her marry a warrior from another tribe, much more romantic.

perhaps the Indian maiden spirit lives here with the wee folk.

This fall seemed much taller when I was younger. There used to be stone steps along side the falls with at least a MILLION steps up to the park at the top

The lake has really been improved. I learned to water ski here when the lake was 3 feet of mud and 3 feet of water. I couldn't swim so I figured I wouldn't drown and how I hated to put my feet in that mud, yukky The lake is a oxbow lake, the largest natural lake in Missouri. It has been dredged deeper than in my day. Its a great place for picnics, tennis, water sports, and archery. The park at the top of the falls has athletic fields and there is a golf course near by. The walking/biking trail goes around the lake and connects of the Katy Trail.

renovated guest bath

this is the mess I made of the floor in the guest bathroom this is what the floor looks like now. My son has been helping me get some of my reno work done. The floor looks great, good work, D

basketball and the park

that darn ball is hard to hold on to at the park with grandma instead of at basketball practice

first book club meeting

Went to my first book club meeting this week. The group consist of 8 women who meet in each others homes once a month to discuss the book read the previous month. October selection was "Cutting for Stone". This novel was not one I would have read on my own, but truly enjoyed it.

Plus my mind enjoyed the exercise of discussing the story and hearing others points of view. I rarely get caught up in a novel that I care so much about the characters and have a reaction at the end of the story. I would recommend this novel. I read in on my Nook and I believe that it is 600 pages long

M was the perfect hostess setting out a wonderful spread of food and drink.

kickball

son in law B plays outfield daughter B is the pitcher. They play on a kickball league on Sundays. For those who don't know, kickball is a school yard game based on baseball. Their team is called "Still Kickin" because most of the players are in their late 30's, early 40's and they play against some teams that are in their 20's. Last week daughter ended up in the urgent care center because she did something to her foot and was in alot of pain. Nothing broken, she just had to stay off of it for a day or so and take steroids for the inflammation.