The best thing about Halloween

The best thing about Halloween . . . is seeing your 14-month-old grandson at the door. :)

This time of year

This time of year...fall, when the leaves have turned golden and red and have become crunchy underfoot, makes me think of dad, probably more than any other time of year. Dad was never crazy about fall. With all its vivid colors he liked the beauty of it; he just didn’t like what it signified. To him it meant the beginning of a long cold winter and dad was definitely not a fan of winter. I’d say it was his least favorite season of all. He and I had that in common. He and I had many things in common and this time of year makes me miss him more than ever.

Dad loved the beautiful bright fall color of this sweet gum
tree but boy did he hate the spiky balls it dropped.

I can still see him standing there and mixed with
sadness is hope that someday I will see him again.

My favorite little pumpkin

Happy Birthday Mandy!

I always wanted my first child to be a girl and with you I got my wish. For 31 years I've loved you and watched you transform into who you are today, a beautiful, caring, and intelligent young woman. For a child that was as shy as I you have come so very far. I am so proud of you for pushing yourself when you were afraid and for taking what you thought were weaknesses and making them your strengths. No more peanuts and raisins for you! ;-)

You my dear Mandy are a wonderful daughter and I love you.

Then: (all 7lbs and 9ozs of you)

and now:

Note to self

On nice October days the wineries of Augusta, MO are very very VERY crowded. Bring lawn chairs so you don't have to sit on a rock.

I love the wineries of Augusta. I love wine. I’m not sure which I like more, the wine or the wineries (the real ones with vineyards). I think it’s the wineries. No, I’m sure it’s the wineries...the land, the hills, the trees, the grapes, and the incredible scenery, that’s what I love most about going to a winery. With lush rolling hills and high winding roads, Augusta, Missouri is a beautiful place to visit with or without a glass of wine in hand. Every time I go there I find myself wondering if the residents of Augusta take its beauty for granted, or do they feel incredibly lucky to live there year round? Like I believe I would.

A few of the many wonderful Augusta wineries:

BLUMENHOFF, a small winery on the outskirts of Augusta in a town called Dutzow.
http://www.blumenhof.com/

LOUIS BALDUCCI, a winery with a spacious open feel, and with a barn, but always one of the most crowded and what one acquaintance called the “party place”.
http://www.balduccivineyards.com/

NOBOLEIS VINEYARDS, open for only a year and our first visit here. Very nice and will definitely go back.
http://www.noboleisvineyards.com/

MONTELLE, always my favorite winery in Augusta, and not because of the wine...it's the view, the incredible view, especially at sunset.
http://www.montelle.com/

Nothing like a relaxing drive in the country

Noboleis Vineyards

all ready for Halloween

Hey that's my dog

Mark and Winnie, best buds fast :-)

How I love this boy

As time goes by and Jude grows more and more into his own unique, funny, and interesting self I realize that there's no one else quite like him. I love everything about my grandson. I love the way his inquisitive mind never stops being inquisitive. I love the way he gazes and studies people, objects, and every thing. I love the way he give his smiles away sparingly and makes you really work to earn one. I love his silly gibberish and his sweet Hi!’s. I love the way he presses the button on his glow baby and then glows himself. I love his determination and perseverance when he sees something he wants. I love the way he loves bananas and ice cream. I love the way he gets excited playing with pillows on the bed and then lays his head down and pretends to sleep. I love his head bobbs, foot stomps, and funny little noises. I love his round face and beautiful blue eyes and chubby arms and legs. And when he reaches up those arms to me? I love that most of all. Oh how I love this boy.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

The Move

Well, the move may have been a bit stressful for Winnie and her feline friend Lucy (hopefully someday they'll be friends) but both dog and cat have pretty much made it through their first week together unscathed. Lucy survived her one-day hunger strike and soon realized that one day of no eating is all she can take. Winnie was smart and did her best to steer clear of Lucy for the first few days and I think in her own way Lucy appreciated that.

Where am I and why am I here?

Why is there a dog in my house?

hmm what's that thing?

Do I look worried? Pfft! 

Cool . . . me, without a leash.

Here I am.

I think I like it here.

Fun time at Chez Marilyn (& other places) :-)

A little art, a little music

The Art

Mark and I went to the “Art Outside” fair at Schlafly's in Maplewood Satuday night. The fair is an annual event connecting local artists, musicians, and the community. This year it featured the works of these St. Louis artists:

http://www.schlafly.com/community/photo-galleries/annual-festivals/art-outside-2011-artist-gallery/

There was plenty of cool art to be had (paintings, sculptures, pretty pottery, and such) but oh the prices. I couldn't get past the price tags. The jewelry was pretty but paying $100-plus for something that looked like it cost around $20 to make? Uh-uh. As I walked around the booths I wondered if maybe artists don't care how much of their wares they sell. Maybe to them it’s all about the art and maybe that’s where the term “starving artist” comes from. hmm

Our lone purchase at the fair (besides a hamburger and Schlafly's beer).
A South City t-shirt (size 18 mos) for a cute little sprout named Jude.

The recycled t-shirt above was sold by Beth Bombara, a St. Louis musician Mark and I have come to appreciate lately. Beth, along with a friend created: http://www.caitydidclothing.com//.

A video by Beth Bombara:

****

The Music

The featured musicians at Art Outside:

Friday:
5-6:30 p.m., Miss Jubilee and The Humdingers
7-8 p.m., Bunnygrunt
8:15-8:45 p.m., St. Louis Fire Technicians
9-10 p.m., Warm Jets USA

Saturday:
11 a.m.-noon, Frank Heyer
12:15-1 p. m., Paul Vandivort Puppet Theater
1:30-2:30 p.m., Ransom Note
3-4 p.m., Tom Byrne Trio
4:30-5:30 p.m., The Campfire Club
6-7 p.m., Humdrum
7:30-8:30 p.m., Theodore
9-10 p.m, Magic City

Since arriving late to the fair we didn't get to see much of the band called Humdrum (an experimental, somewhat dreamy kinda band I would like to hear more of). After Humdrum came Theodore, who was as good as they always are. Last came Magic City, a trippy, theatrical, strange sort of band (strange in a good way I think).

The best part of the Art Outside fair was being outside near the end of Summer people and dog watching. Yes, dogs were there as well and seemed as happy to be there as their owners. It was also fun sitting on a bale of hay watching little kids dance and prance about enjoying the music as much as we did. Looking forward to going again next year.

Schlafly's Art Outside Fair

A handsome fella on a bale of hay

Hey where'd everybody go?

Mel came by...yay!

Magic City

Theodore claims to not be a family band but kids sure love 'em.
***

Times like these

This time last week Emily and I were on our way to Texas for an "all girls" weekend with Mandy. Once at Mandy's place it was fun to kick back on the couch and enjoy a movie and glass of wine with my two favorite girls. The rest of our time included many things, shopping at Marshalls, eyebrow threading (yee-ouch!), lots of Felicity, a couple more movies, more wine, a great breakfast (Mandy cooks a mean omelet), lunches, dinners, a cake better than its picture (thanks Naveen), bing cherries (I can't believe I ate the whole bowl), a boardwalk, a beach, a pool, a lost flip flop, a long drive along the seawall, house hunting, strong winds, cloudy skies, a sad Tuesday, and so on. Aah yes, times like these are just too few.

Check it out...

click here:

http://gottalovejude.blogspot.com/2011/09/look-whos-walking-now.html

pretty cool eh?

Walk down memory lane

Wine, cheese, and stories of dad...what a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Thank you Uncle Denny and Aunt Mary for hosting a very enjoyable “walk down memory lane”.

Happy birthday to you Eric!

Happy 1st Birthday Jude!

Today is a very special day. It's the one year anniversary of the day my wonderful sweet grandson Jude was born. It's hard to believe it's already been a year since the day he brightened our lives. Happy 1st Birthday Jude bug! We LOVE you so much!!!

The way that he sings

Once in a great while Mark and I will go to a show on a "school" night and last Tuesday night that's exactly what we did. Heading to the Loop to see Jim James and his band, My Morning Jacket, play to a sold out show at the Pageant was a real middle of the week treat. This was my first time seeing MMJ in concert and not exactly the way I expected it to be. It was more of a good old fashioned rock show than I had been to in a long time. It felt like 1970-something. Mark and I were easily the oldest ones in the crowd, probably by 20 years or so, but that was okay. I think my "hipster" boyfriend kind of likes it that way and besides, young, old, or middle age, good music is still good music.

Opening up for MMJ was a young group of guys called Delta Spirit. Their first song was my personal favorite “Bushwick Blues”. Another song I wanted very much to hear them play was A.A. Bondy’s wonderful love song “Lover’s Waltz”. Ahh, the lyrics “Your shipwreck eyes, they sing to me as we ride a killer whale across a diamond sea”, I love that. No such luck hearing this song Tuesday night but maybe next time because I sure hope to see this band again.

Delta Spirit opener Bushwick Blues

Delta Spirit – Lover’s Waltz (maybe next time)

Delta Spirit (click to enlarge)

Delta Spirit

***
and now, My Morning Jacket

This video begins with My Morning Jacket taking the stage in the dark.
It ends (when the lights turn purple) with Jim James singing
“The Way that He Sings" (and no does quite like him)

Lyrics:

Why's it so strange when they say that the world's movin upwards?

Why's it surreal when my hands feel they cant roll the dice?

Why's it so great just to wake every day, alive and by your side.

It's a mystery I guess, there's lots of things I cant find.

Its not the way that you look, but your move that catches my eye.

Why's it so soft when the cannons unload on the others?

Why're we so loud when we say it wont happen to us?

Why does my mind blow to bits every time they play that song?

It's just the way that he sings,

Not the words that he says, or the band.

I'm in love with this soul, it's a meaning that I understand.

MMJ performing (perfectly) the same song on Letterman

For beautiful pics of Tuesday night's show I wish I could call my own:

http://musicvsman.com/2011/08/04/my-morning-jacket-the-pageant-wdelta-spirit-08-02-11/