old house

took several photos of this old house

I'm doing sketches

practicing

while listening a lecture

No one lives here.

It's kept up by County Park Services

Sits along two trails

"hawk" and "fox run"

so, we pass it sometimes

I know the property was given to the County

and many people enjoy it

Always grateful we have such a lovely place to enjoy

often wonder who lived here

Hope their lives were happy.

Thursday Mornings Are Special

Wednesdays are our longest days

Thursdays we make sure to do something special

We enjoy Nature Walks A Lot

There was traffic, it was overcast and a little rainy, BUT

we finally made it

Which way should we go today?

She chooses the "coyote path"

It's got hills and fallen trees

and we haven't taken this path for a while

We can get pretty worn out

Time to head home

See ya later!

Something New . . .

I've been neglecting Waitingle . . . sad.

(giggle)

This bench is across the pond we pass on many of our nature walks.

maybe I'll carry a sketchbook and see if i can capture it.

Better yet, we could carry some biscuits and a book and hang out here.

Oh yes, That's a good idea. 

Mercy Center

The Mercy Center Retreat House sits on a large parcel of land, 

tucked away in a suburb outside of Saint Louis, MO.

It is a Roman Catholic Center that serves people from all disciplines of faith.

Individuals and groups might stay for extended times.

Some courses are offered by outside interests,

some by the sisters themselves.

I used to visit an artist friend of mine in her studio there.

It has grown A LOT over the years . . . 

 

Today I want to show you the labyrinth.

It's tucked away towards the back of the property.

I think walking there is the fun part. 

Imagine living in a place, surrounded by gorgeous trees . . . 

Entrance

a little sign gives tips

a little walk-about removed from the world

strolling back to the car - there are sights of hope - here and there

the center may be busy,

filled with all kinds of chatter

but quiet corners can be found,

if one wants to "get away"

and

"call home" 

 

Sappington Cemetery

Tiny cemetery sits along a well trafficked road in Crestwood, MO.

Looked after by the City of Crestwood and Daughters of the American Revolution.

The oldest grave dates 1811

Sarah "Sally" Sappington Glenn

wife of Hugh Glen

great grand daughter of Sarah Pottenger

Sarah Pottenger's father immigrated from England around 1665-1685-ish.

There are veterans here from the American Revolution, 

War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War and World War I.

Recently there was a ceremony to honor

John Sappington

recognizing his service as George Washington's body guard 

at Valley Forge.

Many of the markers were made of limestone.  Time has worn them, some still stand with no embellishment, some have broken off and look like stones on the ground. 

I read there are more than 300 buried here.

City of Crestwood

Sappington Cemetery

intersection of Watson Industrial Drive and Watson Road 

Crestwood, MO

Moss

 Early in the morning, before crowds arrived, I managed a walk and found moss.  That wouldn't seem strange if you knew me.  A few days before I was thinking about moss and how beautiful it can be.

This was a crisp morning.  I passed photographers.   Professionals come and go as early as possible.

Passed a lone walker bundled in warm clothes.  We silently nodded to one another.

In the far south east corner, where shade would give protection, fields of Moss spread out.  

Seemed a True Treasure.

MORSE

Meet Samuel Finley Breese Morse.

He was smiling at me from a black and white handout.  The paper was sitting on top of a counter, in an unattended corner.  It was the only piece of paper and it took me a while to find an attendant.  Eventually the information was mine.

The paper asked who he was.  Then listed a few persons he is not.  Now we know he is:

Samuel Finley Breese Morse

Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts,  April 27th, 1791.  His parents gave him a good education.  Samuel preferred drawing to books.  He developed talent for portraits on ivory.  He continued his education, graduating Yale in 1810.  Samuel worked as a bookstore clerk and continued working on his art.

 Art isn’t always the easiest path for financial security.  Making a living proved challenging but his skill was remarkable and there are a couple of his works in the Smithsonian.

 In 1832 he met Charles Thomas Jackson, a doctor and inventor.  The two of them discussed the idea of electromagnetism.  Morse thought “if this be so, and the presence of electricity can be made visible in any desired part of the circuit, I see no reason why intelligence might not be instantaneously transmitted by electricity to any distance.”

 Samuel Morse began the quirky quest of developing “electronic intelligence signaling.”

 Which people considered a “silly invention.”

 Morse had strong opinions about the world around him.  Plenty of folk, even today, refer to him as a ‘strange duck.’

 Still, the kept working on this one idea.  He and Albert Vail worked together on this long distance communication until Mr. Vail needed to find secure employment.

May 24th, 1844

On May 24th, 1844 a message was sent from Baltimore to Washington DC, 40 miles, and changed the world forever.

Western Union, Associated Press, Railroads all adopted the telegraph.  Using a system of long and short sounds, the world was connected.

Mr. Morse died of pneumonia, April 2nd, 1872 in new York City.  He was 80 years old.