Holding On

I had expected my riding today to be limited to a trip up to Neve Shalom to help pack things up for the move to a new space. It didn't work out that way. When I got there I found the number of folks who turned up to lend a hand had exceeded expectations. This was good news for the project and meant instead of spending the afternoon packing up, I was able to leave after a couple of hours. When we finished packing up the books in the library I took off and wandered up to Creve Coeur Lake.

This was a tree outside Neve Shalom when I first arrived around noon.

There are still patches of color to be found but...

A couple hours later and a different location, it didn't look so colorful.

It is beginning to look more and more like winter is drawing near.

This pair of mallards apparently doesn't feel it is time to move on yet.

But, in most places it is looking pretty gray.

There are two trees just outside my garage that seem not to have gotten the memo about Autumn falling away.

They are gold and red...

...smooth, and...

...fuzzy.

Autumn is holding on here and there, but it doesn't appear it will holdout much longer.

Oh My

This was parked on a used car lot I rode by yesterday. I showed the photo to a friend who asked me if this was going to be "my next set of wheels". Aesthetics aside, I'm not sure I'm brave enough to drive a chicken.

Veteran's Day, 2012

Today the words are from 2nd LT Chris Westfall, the son of dear dear friends. He is presently serving in the Air Force. The photos are mine and were taken at Jefferson Barrack's National Cemetery.

From Lexington and Concord to Gettysburg and Antietam,
Normandy and Iwo Jima to Iraq and Afghanistan,
to those who came before and blazed the trail,
I salute you!

To those who answer the call in the future,
To those stationed around the country,
and especially those overseas and deployed downrange,
it is my honor to call you brothers and sisters.

To those who answer the call in the future,
Godspeed and may God bless you all and keep you safe.

And to you all,

I say thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

And, thank you Chris!

Cheating

I finally got a dragonfly to hold still for me to photograph it.

Hanging out at the Fabrication Arts Center.

I suspect there are some who might say this was cheating.

Well Spent

It seems I been going, going, and going some more...

It's mostly been busyness. It needs to be done, but doesn't really lead anywhere.

People stuff is very draining physically for me. I need a lot of alone time.

Alone time has been in short supply of late.

There are changes at work.

Fortunately, I'm old enough to accept stress as normal...and human enough to feel fragile and exposed as well.

Perhaps that's why I'm drawn to old buildings. It is in their company I'm reminded even brokenness has a wholeness about it, a character of its own, a random beauty and an humility that can't be faked.

Everyday I ride past this old friend of a building. I finally took an opportunity to spend some time in its company. It was time well spent.

It Must Be...

Saw some pumpkins.

Definitely not store bought.

More original creations.

And, there was this guy.

Although, I think he may be a year rounder.

And, of course my favorites.

Tricksters on the march?

These "spooky" flamingos have hi-vis beaks.

It must be Halloween.

A Bridge in Forest Park

I'm told Forest Park is the seventh largest urban park in the United States. Heather and I have spent time walking the trails. But last Saturday we decided to explore intensely the area of the Park near Grand and Union.

It was a beautiful autumn day and the colors were beautiful. There was lots to see.

But, I was captivated by a particular bridge.

 

It is a joy to make a friend.