FINISHING FEB WITH A BANG!!!

Number nine is the Sandy Creek covered bridge located less than fifty minutes from our house.

It is hard to believe that I have lived plus sixty nine years and today is the first tine I saw or touched a Covered Bridge.We walked across the bridge and marveled that it had been built over 135 years ago. We wondered how many horses and buggies had crossed this bridge.





Old me thought I would have to go to Indiana to see a covered bridge.
Sandy Creek is located off highway 21 near Hillsboro Mo.

If you are into history, beautiful scenes are photography you will have a wonder full time at the bridge.

In the last photo notice the icicle's formed in nature across the creek from where Nancy is standing.

After nine I am amazed!!!!!

*** The beauty less than an hour from our home

*** The beautiful and interesting

activities I have missed and passed up.

*** Except for gas I have spent less than $50.00 for nine great activities.

NUMBER EIGHT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today Nancy and I toured the Body World3 exhibit at the St Louis Science Center.The exhibit is certainly worth the plus one hour of your time and the fee to enter the exhibit. They would not allow photography inside the exhibit area.



We topped off our time at the Center by attending the Omnimax theater and seeing an interesting movie "MUMMIES" The movie is also worth your time and money.
A good day was enjoyed by all.

WHY WE LIVE IN ST LOUIS!!!!!!

I received this old picture today from Brad. I guess the picture was taken five to six years ago. It certainly is our favorite T-shirt.

For those who are observant you will notice we need to add a Cardinal with the name James.

For those who have not seen me in awhile note the glasses of a life time. Thanks to a miracle operation [new corneas] I no longer have a need for the eye glasses.

Thanks for the memory,Brad.

McKNIGHT ROAD 2008

MEN's RETREAT

On Friday evening thirty men of various ages met at McKnight Rd about 6:30 PM to begin our men's retreat. We began with a great meal prepared by chefs John C. and Doug.

Everyting was good especially the chili. At about 8:00 PM the GAMES began. Photos are attached of basketball games but we also had cards, board games computer games and ping pong. Most of us went home and returned saturday morning. About six or eight men spent the night.

Brad,Doug and Edward


An elder at play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Around 11:00 Pm A.J. arrived with Michael who was ready to make the biggest decison of his life.

Saturday morning the retreat continuted with breakfast by John H. and his helpers.The morning continuted to 12:30 with a group bible study, devotional, and challenges for us to be men of influence for God. In the afternoon a group of the men went and did some projects for the North City Church.

PROOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On this cold,dreary,snowy,slick road day {and called off from work day} I decided to prove to myself I could do a four star Sudoku. It actually took less time than the first one star I completed last week.I realize no one but me really cares but remember it is my blog. {only kidding}

YEARNING FOR SPRING TRAINING!!!!!!!!!!

Photo one--------- Jupiter Fl. 1999 His image had not yet been tarnished. "Mark McGwire

Nancy and I were fortunate to expierence spring training the first eight years of my retirement.




1999 still was an active player "Cal Ripken" Fort Lauderdale Fl.

Best defensive center fielder to wear the Birds on the Bat since Terry Moore

"Jim Edmonds"

Hall of Famers "Red Schoendest"

"Bob Gibson"

Best trade ever with the Cubbies "Lou Brock"

AL Lang field St Petersburg Fl. The Gulf next to left field.

NUMBER SEVEN IS SPECIAL!!!!!!!

Nancy and I went to a new/old theatre in St Louis. The Ivory theatre is new to the St Louis theatre scene but housed in the former St Boniface Catholic church. I had never been in this building until we attended the"Patsy Cline Story"

I decided in the begining not to include new plays we see at familar places like the Muny, Stages, and the Rep. but to include new venues.

If you like Patsy Cline music you would enjoy this play. There were times I closed my eyes and thought that Patsy was really singing.

The theatre only seats 195 so there is not a bad seat in the building. They took the pews out and it is stadium seating. I am ten percent of the way to my goal of seventy.It truly was a terrific evening.

Yours truly with Gail Bliss as "PATSY CLINE"


Ivory theatre formerly St Boniface church

Inside views

NUMBER SIX IS UNUSUAL BUT COMPLETED

I know some of you will think this a little weak BUT remember

*** I want in 2008 my seventieh year learn, expierence, see, feel, hear, things I have never expierenced.

Until last Thursday I did not even know how to spell "SUDOKU" or even know it was in the paper daily.

Last Thursday I was patiently waiting for my barber and an elderly gentleman [ five or more years older than me } came into the shop and introduced me to Sudoku.

I tried doing the game on Friday but it was 4.5 stars in diffuculty. The gentleman had warned me that each day of the week it got more diffucult. After an hour on friday I decided to wait for the start of a new week and for the easier diffucuty rating.
I will try to do again on Tuesday but I do not plan on making Sudoku a new hobby.

Stay tuned for number seven as that puts me at ten percent of my goal.

FAMILY CELEBRATONS

Sunday the family gathered to help Princess Kayleigh to open gifts and to eat her birthday cake.

It was a fun time for all and the cake was delicous. The picture of her in the yellow outfit is one of the gifts from the Queen grandma.

The last photo is from saturday nights variety show at our church. It features brother inlaw Steve on the key board and our niece Jenny doing the vocal honors.

A SPECTACULAR DAY FOR


NUMBER FIVE!!!!!!!!


Less than thirty minutes from our house we found a treasure in Mastodon State Park. My estimate is that I have at least one hundred times driven past this park less than one mile from the Imperiel Mo exit on I-55.


Today we corrected our error by exploring Mastodon as part of my quest to do seventy things I have never done in this year.





We hiked the Spring Branch Trail about 1/2 mile long and a part of Limestone Hill Trail. We promised to return and finish the hike.















A creek along the trail.

We had no advance clue that the park housed a great museum with slide show.


Many great pre-historic displays

Limestone Hill trail includes steps that go down.



What goes down must eventually go up. You better save energy for the up part of the trail.

We spent the last twenty minutes of our beautiful day watching this beautiful Red bird at play.




I have said many times "The best things in life are free"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS KAYLEIGH

Wow seven years old and it seems like only yesterday that I held you for the first time.

The world was a lot different when I was seven.

*** We did not have a car

*** A street car ran past our apartment

*** I walked to school

*** I came home for lunch

*** No televison

*** We listened to the radio and played card games every night.

*** I lived with my grandparents

*** Grandma lived in a real small town.

I know it is your birthday but I could not resist this picture. [all three do have birthdays witin three weeks of each other]


Taken at our park!!!!!

A star is born

Happy number seven and we hope you have a great day.

We love you!!!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa and Grandma