Sunday, May 29, 2016
MEMORIAL DAY 2016
WE RECOGNIZE THOSE NO LONGER HERE
COMMEMORATED BY QUIET REFLECTION AND GATHERINGS
FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND WITH OFFICIAL RECOGNITION
IN DIFFERENT WAYS WE REMEMBER WITH FOOD, MUSIC AND PARADE
TO REMIND US FOR OURSELVES, WITHOUT ANGER, THE NEED TO DO BETTER.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
TRIP TO AUGUSTA, MO & KATE'S COFFEE SHOP
On a surprisingly clear, sunny day in early March, I found myself, along with two friends on my way
to "see something unusual" in Augusta, a small town about an hour West of St. Louis nestled deep in
the hills of Daniel Boone County close to the Missouri River.
My friends are members of the St Louis Woodworkers Guild who have achieved some recognition for their artistic, hand rendering of decorative and utilitarian products.
We drove to our destination on Route 94, which begins as a straight forward highway and then turns into a two-lane country road. We came past State Parks, parts of the Katy Trail, old munition shell relics of World War II, lakes and ponds that may have been the result of old flooding or the work of people who built their own "pond".
The scenery became a hilly expanse of grape arbors, small and large homes with canoes, kayaks and row boats in driveways as if awaiting the signal that summer was close at hand.
As we came close to Augusta, I was struck by how much it made me think of Venesque, a small town in France's wine country. Here, Augusta's distinction became the first Missouri-Appalachian wine district settled by German immigrants right after Prohibition. The town also bore the resemblance, for me at least, to the small narrow, hilly streets of Venesque. Augusta is a very small town, population 250 which increases substantially when the warm weather arrives. The day we were there its Funeral Parlor was overflowing to the point that I wondered if it was for some local dignitary.
About one hour after our trip began We spotted the driveway to Kate's Coffee Shop, pulled in and went inside.
As we entered, the smell of baking bread and cookies was reward enough for the trip. One quickly recognized that this Coffee Shop is built with ingenuity, understanding of design, a love of history and respect for the local environment. It was, truly charming. Its owners a husband and wife team come from disparate backgrounds.
He was born in Alabama, raised on a farm and developed a design and carpentry business along with a sales and training company. She was a Geo physicist working for the United States Department of Environmental Protection in Washington D.C, when she was sent to Missouri through the Superfund office. He came to Missouri to explore investment possibilities. They met serendipitously in Augusta eight years ago and built the complex now known as Kate's Coffee Shop.
In the coffee house itself,the artistic use of old woods for flooring, in the transits, in trim and some old stained glass windows provide a cozy, warm atmosphere. The owner has built a grape arbor and fountain and a replica of England's Stone Hinge made of local stones and rocks on the grounds.
In the garage stands a late model car the owner has also built by hand.
Along with delicious, nutritional food there is much to see and do here that is, as my friends said, "unusual" and worth the trip.
As we left Augusta we passed about a dozen young men lulling on the broad porch of the local bar. Some were straddling their motorcycles, others just "hanging out". When I saw them, I wondered if they and we understand how close we all are in our common humanity and in sharing the abundance and failings of the state in which we all live.
I HOPE I SEE THEM AT THE POLLS!
The web site for Kate's Coffee Shop is: oakscrossing.augusta.com
My friends are members of the St Louis Woodworkers Guild who have achieved some recognition for their artistic, hand rendering of decorative and utilitarian products.
We drove to our destination on Route 94, which begins as a straight forward highway and then turns into a two-lane country road. We came past State Parks, parts of the Katy Trail, old munition shell relics of World War II, lakes and ponds that may have been the result of old flooding or the work of people who built their own "pond".
The scenery became a hilly expanse of grape arbors, small and large homes with canoes, kayaks and row boats in driveways as if awaiting the signal that summer was close at hand.
As we came close to Augusta, I was struck by how much it made me think of Venesque, a small town in France's wine country. Here, Augusta's distinction became the first Missouri-Appalachian wine district settled by German immigrants right after Prohibition. The town also bore the resemblance, for me at least, to the small narrow, hilly streets of Venesque. Augusta is a very small town, population 250 which increases substantially when the warm weather arrives. The day we were there its Funeral Parlor was overflowing to the point that I wondered if it was for some local dignitary.
About one hour after our trip began We spotted the driveway to Kate's Coffee Shop, pulled in and went inside.
As we entered, the smell of baking bread and cookies was reward enough for the trip. One quickly recognized that this Coffee Shop is built with ingenuity, understanding of design, a love of history and respect for the local environment. It was, truly charming. Its owners a husband and wife team come from disparate backgrounds.
He was born in Alabama, raised on a farm and developed a design and carpentry business along with a sales and training company. She was a Geo physicist working for the United States Department of Environmental Protection in Washington D.C, when she was sent to Missouri through the Superfund office. He came to Missouri to explore investment possibilities. They met serendipitously in Augusta eight years ago and built the complex now known as Kate's Coffee Shop.
In the coffee house itself,the artistic use of old woods for flooring, in the transits, in trim and some old stained glass windows provide a cozy, warm atmosphere. The owner has built a grape arbor and fountain and a replica of England's Stone Hinge made of local stones and rocks on the grounds.
In the garage stands a late model car the owner has also built by hand.
Along with delicious, nutritional food there is much to see and do here that is, as my friends said, "unusual" and worth the trip.
As we left Augusta we passed about a dozen young men lulling on the broad porch of the local bar. Some were straddling their motorcycles, others just "hanging out". When I saw them, I wondered if they and we understand how close we all are in our common humanity and in sharing the abundance and failings of the state in which we all live.
I HOPE I SEE THEM AT THE POLLS!
The web site for Kate's Coffee Shop is: oakscrossing.augusta.com
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
FAIRMOUNT PARK THOROUGHBRED RACING
The graceful beauty, intelligence and strength of horses has always fascinated me.
When I was offered the opportunity to go to see Fairmount Park Thoroughbred Racing
in Collinsville, Illinois I went.
Gambling does not intrigue me but the whole experience of walking next to the track, with the horses up close as they thunder by, muddy track or no, was and is exciting to me.
As we walked to the paddocks, every so often the sun pushed away the clouds. We passed men, women and children milling about in the brief moment of sunshine.
In the stands, or sitting in chairs brought from home, the crowds wore vivid, colorful clothing and hats of all kinds. Some spoke quietly to each other while others were laughing or arguing enthusiastically.
Just before the races began, I looked over the program which listed tables of statistics on the
horses, owners, jockeys, trainers, betting favorites and odds all of which looked like a mathematical
maze to me. So I devised my own system to determine which horse I wanted to bet on.
I selected three races and picked my horses, Chanceymeeting U Here, Hopeful Sweeper, and
Betty's Ginger. Two came in fourth and the last one was scratched because it got away from
the handlers at the starting gate and began running away in the wrong direction to the finish.
I enjoyed the day but the comedy relief to the serious business of betting reminded me of the crazy race to pick a nominee to run for president which is also headed in the wrong direction.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
When I was offered the opportunity to go to see Fairmount Park Thoroughbred Racing
in Collinsville, Illinois I went.
Gambling does not intrigue me but the whole experience of walking next to the track, with the horses up close as they thunder by, muddy track or no, was and is exciting to me.
As we walked to the paddocks, every so often the sun pushed away the clouds. We passed men, women and children milling about in the brief moment of sunshine.
In the stands, or sitting in chairs brought from home, the crowds wore vivid, colorful clothing and hats of all kinds. Some spoke quietly to each other while others were laughing or arguing enthusiastically.
Just before the races began, I looked over the program which listed tables of statistics on the
horses, owners, jockeys, trainers, betting favorites and odds all of which looked like a mathematical
maze to me. So I devised my own system to determine which horse I wanted to bet on.
I selected three races and picked my horses, Chanceymeeting U Here, Hopeful Sweeper, and
Betty's Ginger. Two came in fourth and the last one was scratched because it got away from
the handlers at the starting gate and began running away in the wrong direction to the finish.
I enjoyed the day but the comedy relief to the serious business of betting reminded me of the crazy race to pick a nominee to run for president which is also headed in the wrong direction.
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS!
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