Soar-Dream-France

The Personal Side to Pumpkins

 

Loving Lotoise Halloweens as I have, I've been surprised that I haven't been the least bit interested here in Ferguson. 

 

Just looking at these photos through the years carries me home and to the fun of pumpkin carving and still lifes.

 

 

It all began with a pumpkin from Jean the first year.

 

Soon, with those seeds I was growing my own.

 

 

 

Then, I begged pumpkins from Simone and Auguste.

 

 

Maybe it's this "personal side" to pumpkins in the Lot that made it most special. I just don't have that here.

 

 

This little guy was a favorite of mine. He went to live with Tom Duponchelle a little in advance of Halloween that year. We sure had some pumpkin fun over the years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing you a Happy Halloween and plenty of Pumpkin Fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up, Up and Away

 

The moment I walked into the Grafton Flea Market, my eyes were pulled to this booth that sat next to the windows on my left. Part of it was the light and color, but the uniqueness of the display in a sea of "piles" and mostly unorganized, unthemed, stalls pulled me over.

 

 

I kept thinking of that old Fifth Dimension song that starts off: Would you like to fly/ride in my beautiful balloon?...

 

 

But, of course! Perfection!

 

Follow the Harleys

 

 

 

Sometimes letting the scenery and the traffic carry you along, is preferable to making decisions. Leaving the Flea Market and passing through Grafton, Kat and I talked about having lunch at the Fin Inn. We could easily return from there. Or, we could catch the Brussels Ferry, lunch at Kinder's, and then take the Golden Eagle Ferry home. As the Fin Inn passed us by on the right, our decision was made. 

 

 

 

 

 

The fall colors and the dancing diamonds from the ferry were particularly pretty on Sunday. Crossing the Illinois River by the Brussels Ferry was free, quick and beautiful. If we had any inkling of turning around on the other side to return; an endless line of cars, trucks, and Harleys kept us moving. 

 

 

Kinder's was easy to find by following the signs to the Golden Eagle Ferry. We turned off before we actually got to Brussels, but by then had traveled through flaming color and rich, rolling farm land. There is a sweet cemetery high up on a hill along the way, but when we got there it was closed so we just kept moving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kinder's was packed when we arrived, but we got a table rigiht away. Then, the wait began. Who cares about waiting when you have some people and scenery that is even more interesting than the river to entertain you? I teased Kat that I hadn't seen so many men (and women) in leather chaps since last Mardi Gras. 

 

 

 

Even so, I most enjoyed watching the Golden Eagle depart. It starts with the vehicles behind it and then the tug swings around to the side, attaches, and moves it across the Mississippi River like that. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our lunch of: fall colors; leather chaps; river romps; burgers and catfish; and, sisterly bonding; was even better than television!

 

 

We said our good-byes to Kinder's from The Golden Eagle and enjoyed the ride to the Missouri side of the Mississippi. I wasn't too sure how we'd get home once we got there. Our strategy: follow the Harleys.

 

 

 

Unconventional Girls

 

 

Riverview Park in downtown Alton, Illinois, is a real gem. Instead of parking in their lot, Kat and I parked on a side street and then walked up these steps to be surprised by a spectacular view. I'd have missed the shot of this sailboat on the Illinois River, had we followed the conventional instructions. I admit we were a little lost; but then, we're also uncoventional girls.

 

 

 

 

As you could see from some of yesterday's shots; the views, the color and the company were spectacular. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who cared if we stepped in a rather huge present left by a dog and an inconsiderate dog owner, or that some of the photos we thought we had just weren't there when we got back to the car?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing got in the way of enjoying the park and everything it had to offer, great and small!

 

 

Just to See Her Smile

 

 

FUN...

...was our Sunday goal. Some days we're better at it than others around here, but one thing that Kat and I agree on is that we need all the fun we can get.

 

 

The original plan for the day was to go to Grafton, Illinois to see our cousins who have a stall at the weekend flea markets.

 

 

In the meantime, Mike had come over to tell me about a park in Alton with a beautiful river view. He had a perfect map drawn for us to follow since he'd just biked from Alton to Pere Marquette State Park the day before. Kat and I talked about ferries. And then on her way over to get me, Kat had seen signs for an estate sale in Ferguson. Need I say more.

 

 

We began at the estate sale that was a little difficult to find. We then: had adventures in Riverview Park in Alton; caught up with Carol and Sandy; wandered through the Grafton Flea Market;

 

 

 

 

 

 

..."ferried" once;

 

 

...lunched at Kinder's on the Mississippi River;

 

..."ferried" twice; and,

 

...shopped at Schnuck's for Mom and Dad.Those first parts of our day even made "Shopping at Schnuck's" more fun! There's nothing like a Sunday full of smiles!

 

 

Sweet, smiling, Sunday FUN success!

 

Reminiscing...

 

...about a magical moment in Cahors.

Sure Looks Like Heaven to Me

 

 

 

I believe that we do have angels on our shoulders over here on our block of Elizabeth Avenue in Ferguson, MO. And then, you'll even find one living in Theresa's Tree! Happy Saturday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treats at Theresa's

 

One of the treats of being here, is being able to spend time with our long-time neighbors. Mike lives directly across the street from 411, and then Theresa and John are on 411's right. I have stopped more than once to take photos of Theres'a tree. Other neighbors have oozed over its beauty and passersby have even commented to me when I'm on my bike or walking. Autumn is its season to be brilliant. It is our neighborhood star.

Last night, we sat on Theresa's porch telling tree tales and sharing family memories over a little wine and cheese.

 

 

 

 

Even though I've been gone from 411 for a very long time and live  at great distances, I've been able to stay in contact and become friends with our "long-timers". I've learned more about my parents from them and there's always been someone to call nearby if I'm worried for some reason. During the Ferguson "Good Friday" tornado, I was working in Stuttgart, Germany. There on the morning news with Anderson Cooper was a tornado touching down at the airport and very near my folks. I immediately got on Skype and made a number of calls. In the end, it was only Theresa I was able to reach who told me Mom and Dad were okay. They were too. But just on the other side of Thoroughman where our beautiful tree sits, the houses on the next block were devastated and the tops of trees had been sliced off all over the neighborhood. 

 

We agreed. We had angels on our shoulders. I think I have angel neighbors and angel trees too! Happy Friday!

 

In Downtown Ferguson...

 

 

...butterflies and budlheia abound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Strange...

 

 

 

...and moody light can evoke a rush and range of feelings! Here, I first felt "pretty". Soon, I felt "prison". The setting sun through the curtains, the lone sunflower, textures, light and location; all play in to this melange of moods that may not make much sense.