"OH, YOU CAN'T HELP THAT," SAID THE CAT, "WE'RE ALL MAD HERE."
--Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Days Daze

I think we are on four through six days of this adventure. Here I am again warmly greeted by Susie my sister of the St.Louis address.

Let me back up to where we left off on Saturday. Jeanenne and Larry's grown kids with their busy lives and families made time for us to be together in their homes. This summer two of the three families each birthed an additional daughter to make my sister and brother-in-law's grandchildren count now at seven total--Ollie, the oldest, leads the pack with his eighth birthday next week. Before I upload some photos of them all, I want to say it was pleasant and really pretty special to see the happy energy of them all, caring for their youngsters, keeping house and homes and jobs together in a close-knit family of happy, noisy exuberance.

Here they are in no particular order...

Jeanenne with some of her flowers.

Larry with his new machine.

It's a good thing there is a shiny new riding mower to replace the old one that died because there are five acres to mow.
Ballerinas--Harper and Kensie.

Alexis ("Lexie").

My nephew David with his newest daughter Lexie.

Lexie with her momma Sarah.

Jackie with her newest daughter Adeline ("Della").

Nephew Jonathan's youngest daughter Eleanor ("Ellie").

Grandpa Larry with Ellie and Della.

Grandnephew Oliver and his Uncle Chad.

Me with Oliver

The weather, though grey skies, was pleasant enough for the kids' table to be outside.
Clockwise: Ellie behind the cup, Ollie, Emory and Harper.

Dessert.

Jeanenne and me with five of her grandchildren and the dog is Oogie.

Ellie and Grandpa.
Now that I've managed to name nearly everybody, I see I missed capturing a picture of my nephew Jonathan and his wife Krista. Sigh. I'll share with you that I enjoyed talking with all these young parents who grew into new family branches from Jeanenne and Larry's lives. It was a new experience to visit with the younger generation in their own settings.

Sunday morning saw Jeanenne, Larry and me at Daniel Boone's homestead for an interesting visit. 


Not so wild looking now with the electronic device in the view.

The ceilings revealed beams shaped by human hands and tools. I doubt this house ever was "flipped".

This view from the house shows (almost) how remote it all was when it was built--it was still under Spanish rule.

Jeanenne and Larry.

...and adding me.
 Lindenwood University did an outstanding job turning the homestead into a beautiful, well-managed historical attraction and adding a number of buildings from that era and Boone's family's homes. It is commendable and an excellent experience. Once  upon a time, the homestead without roads leading to it was accessible only by canoe from the Femme Osage Creek. It was a great visit there with a nice outdoor lunch we shared at a picnic table.

Monday brought niece Paula...

Paula.
...to Jeanenne and Larry's for dinnertime and a visit in the evening. We hadn't seen each other for a long time, so it was especially good to reconnect and learn what is happening in her life and about her  family that has now extended to include a daughter-in-law and grandchild.

Larry was digging out in one of their gardens and was surprised to find a spear point by the first people on his property.

Larry found this on their own property.
It is always tough leaving Jeanenne's loving household. I said goodbye this morning and headed for my sister Susie's in St. Louis County. Another warm welcome awaited me and we went in the afternoon to Missouri Botanical Garden--one of my favorites.

Chihuly glass floating on a reflecting pond.

Susie at Chihuly adorned gate to the rose garden.

Chinese garden.

A different sort of oak tree made this acorn.

JM.



George Washington Carver.







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