I had the opportunity to wander the streets of Old Montreal this summer. It was so lovely. Here are some of my memories.

Such a long winter.  The temperatures have barely been in the 40s.  It was snowing in parts of the Midwest still this weekend.  I would like to get outside and into the garden.  I would like to start planting some flowers. I would like to just be outside in the sunshine!

Here is a picture from the Missouri Botanical Garden.  The Daffodils are out at least.  Come on Spring!  It’s time to make your appearance!

If you ever get a chance, go to Hoover Dam., pay the extra money and take the Dam Tour.  Go down inside the dam and walk through the diversion tunnels built in the 1930s.  It only takes a 70 second elevator ride to descend 530ft into the depths of the dam.

Then we ride back up to the viewing platform to see one of the power plants.  It is an impressive place.  These power plants provide power for cities in Arizona, Nevada and California.  There are 17 turbines altogether.

Then we were taken into a side tunnel that was built for the inspectors and walked out to a ventilation port built into the side of the dam.  Since it was only in the 60s outside, it was comfortably cool in this ventilation shaft.  Our guide told me that in the summer it could get to 120F inside this tunnel.  (Visit the dam in the winter!)

If you look closely you can still see the impressions of the wooden forms used to create this tunnel inside the concrete of the dam.

View from the Ventilation Tube

Take the time after your tour to walk all the way to Arizona (on the other end of the dam) and then back to Nevada.  Look over the edge and enjoy the gut squeezing sensation that comes from looking down such an incredible height.

The tour was informative and the photo ops were abundant.  Its only a 30 minute drive from Las Vegas and very much worth the drive.

For all the facts visit the US Bureau of Reclamation site.  https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/pao/faq.html

It’s July in the Midwest.  Its hot.  102F and dry.  Usually we have humidity, but the wind has been blowing and there has been no rain.  The grass is sad in it’s little brown bag dress.  The squirrels and the chipmunks have resorted to climbing into the bird baths for long drinks.  The gardens are wilting before the end of a day after watering in the morning, but the sun is glorious.

I remember days at summer camp when the heat dragged on day after day; the smell of the red clay dirt of southern Missouri baking in the heat.  During the brightest part of the day, swimming in the lake felt delicious.  Even the fingers of the grass grabbing at our toes as we paddled about close to the dock couldn’t convince us to leave the cooling green water.

We were allowed to only buy one soda during our week of camp.  I remember how wonderful that cold soda tasted coming from that chilled glass bottle as we sat on the long shaded porch of the dining hall.  The long days that ended with sing-a-longs in that same dining hall, gleam with golden light in my memory.

I loved going to summer camp. I loved it when the weather was perfect.  But I really loved it when I was able to escape the heat of a city block, for the warmth of summer camp.  At camp, the best part wasn’t cola, or lakes, or sing-a-longs.  It was my friends.  Old friends, new friends, some made for a lifetime and some just for a week.  But they are still a part of my life because they shaped my love of outdoors, and camping, and summer.  And they gave me so much more.

They made my childhood special.  So yes, they actually gave me so very much more.

Today I found a recipe for Bisquick Coffee Cake.  I used to make this all the time.  It was on the back of the box and so easy.  I have checked every box of Bisquick for years and the recipe wasn’t there… but today I found it online.

It was just like a remember it.  It’s amazing how tasting something that you haven’t tasted in years can flood your brain with memories.  I remembered my little kitchen in the trailer that I had when the kids were babies.  Then I thought about them as babies.  I can still hear the sounds if Sesame Street floating through from the living room to the kitchen.  Such happy thoughts, but also sad.

I read once that each time you leave after spending time with a child, it’s like you will never meet them again.  Because the next time you see them they will have grown and changed.  That is how memory works. I love my awesome grown kids, but I miss the little people that they used to be.  We will see my great-niece this summer, but she will have grown and changed so much since last fall, it will be a new meeting.  A new discovery of the wonderful new person she is after almost a year away.

But for now, I’m off.  I am going to enjoy my coffee cake and my memories for just a bit.  I might even pull out a photo album….

Today I am at one of my favorite St Louis area parks, Laumeier Sculpture Park.  It is a large park located in the heart of Sunset Hills, a suburb of St Louis County.  It is always beautiful here.   Today, in late August, it is unusually cool.   The sky is threatening.  It has rained a bit and it looks like it could start storming any minute.  Needless to say, I have the place to myself.

I am writing this as I sit in my car.  If the storm holds off, I will start my walk through one of the trails.  There are several, but since I am in the back parking lot,  I will walk past the large outdoor sculptures that appeal especially to children.

While I wait I’m going to treat myself to the coffee and donuts I picked up at Strange Donut, a fun little place in Kirkwood downtown.   They sell donuts with a slight twist.   I currently have a Maple Bacon and a Chocolate Nutella flavor. Yummm!

From my car, I can enjoy the sounds of birdsong, rain and the distant rumble of the interstate.  It’s like a gentle sleep machine.  Perfect for calming thoughts and meditation. 

Usually on a Saturday morning this park is filled with dogwalkers.  The wide open space and pleasant shaded trails in the heart of this busy part of southwest St Louis county provides a peaceful escape from busy streets.

……………
Well, my walk is complete.  My shoes are soaked but my mind is calm.  I did pass several other intrepid souls enjoying the rainy day.  And the birds were still singing.

I remember as a little child, sitting on a tree swing leaning back looking up into the tree and seeing the sun glinting through the leaves. It was a beautiful sight, the light greens, the dark greens, the golden sunshine pouring through. A lovely pattern.  I could close my eyes and still see the light. Continue reading →

When my daughter was born, I made up a lullaby for her.  The tune was from an old song that I had learned at Girl Scout Camp.  It went like this.

Rose, rose, rose, rose

morning dew upon your face

smiling in the springtime sunshine

rose, rose, rose

Rose, rose, rose, rose

dressed in gowns the colors of joy

dancing in the summer sunshine

rose, rose, rose

Rose, rose, rose, rose

petals fall like ribbons and bows

from your tresses, autumn blesses

rose, rose, rose

Rose, rose, rose, rose

sleeping neath a blanket of snow

waiting for the springtime sunshine

rose, rose, rose

This is my view of the world; color and nature; a bit anthropomorphic.  Plants that dance, spiders that sing, trees that breathe, buildings that sleep; and Seasons that turn in reliable but beautiful regularity.  This blog is just a place to be creative and to share my curious notions.