Places I lived at

November 15, 2015 cthulu Leave a comment

It all starts in Soulard, a place just south of downtown St. Louis. The nearby Farmer’s Market was started in 1779 and is still there (great place to get Gooey Butter cakes). Anheuser-Busch brewery is just a little further south. This is where we lived when I was first born. The building is probably 1870’s.

This picture was taken out back, that’s my mom and older brother, and I’m the baby bump.

Here I am at the housing project (housing estate). It had just been built and we were the first ones to occupy this apartment (flat). It was new and quite nice at the time, later it was dynamited. It was just north of downtown St. Louis.

Still in north St. Louis, we moved to this now empty lot next, although it was a corner store at that time. We lived above it in one of the two flats.

Then we moved here, and lived in the upper flat. The old water tower is visible to the left. It’s about 4 blocks from the last place and has since been torn down.

This now empty lot is where we lived when the family moved out to the west county. We always had to live near my grandparents, and they moved to this suburb first. It was a tiny little house, built in 1910. The house was on the very back of the lot, so we had a large yard to play in. I was in second grade.

Then later we moved to this house, 4 doors away and across the alley. Mom planted the roses in front. I was in town for Mom’s funeral when I took this picture. No one lived in the house, so someone broke in and stole the copper pipes. The house no longer exists.

There is a British expression “Safe as houses”. Looking over the places I lived in my youth, I’m wondering if this is true, as all of these places are just a memory at this point.

Art, Ephemera

Dinovember

November 11, 2015 cthulu 1 Comment

It’s Dinovember again, so I’ve got a few pictures from the valley of the Gwangi. It’s way out west, not too many people have ever seen it. And here is how it all began.

It started with the settlers coming in, with their covered wagon carrying their goods to start a new life. Pulled by a matched team, who knows how far they had traveled?

Of course there were natives already living in the valley, but the newcomers were accepted and protected.

They enjoyed wrestling with the town folk and usually won.

As they were neighborly, they would give the locals rides into town, such as it was.

The Pterodactyls can be seen roosting in the trees. It’s quite a lovely spot and distant from encroaching civilization.

Town

A Glimpse of Oz

November 8, 2015 cthulu Leave a comment

In the classic 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz”, there is that moment when the characters first spy their destination, the glittering city of Oz. I always used to think of that image when I went to Denver. I would drive along the freeway (motorway) through a little valley and when the road turned you could behold the tall towers off in the distance. Now Denver has spread out, and, as you turn the corner, you are already in the city, so it’s nothing special. But— here in town I still get the same sort of feeling when I behold the Air Force Academy.

Miss P and I were out for a walk this afternoon. And we could see off in the distance, almost on the mountain, the Oz-like apparition of the academy. (Well, Miss P could have seen it if she wasn’t so busy sniffing).

The icon landmark at the academy is the chapel. It’s shaped like a row of arrowheads, and I forget what the symbolism is supposed to mean. (It’s either war or peace, not that this is immediately obvious).

The main area inside is for Protestant services. Underneath this is the Catholic chapel, the Jewish temple, and the Muslim mosque. The circle for Pagans is outdoors in a different section of the campus.

Stained glass makes it look religious, and the clear glass lets one see the mountains.

Anyone who ever built a model airplane can recognize this, although it’s not visible from a distance. So, if you worship machines, there are lots of models to choose from on the plaza outside the chapel.

Grief, Life

Day of the Dead

November 4, 2015 cthulu 1 Comment

There is something about this time of year, at least in the northern hemisphere. Summer seemed like it would last forever, but as the days get shorter, my thoughts turn to mortality and the ephemeral nature of life. Halloween has gained ascendancy as a sort of carnival before the dark days of winter. The Day of the Dead follows closely on the heels of Halloween. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead has long been a celebration of those who came before us. And now this holiday has been creeping northward.

The images for Day of the Dead are linked to the artists Frida Kahlo (note the bird eyebrows) and Jose Posada.

It’s at least nominally Christian, with an altar set up.

Images and cliches of Mexico.

Marigolds are the flower of choice.

This holiday is also intended as a reflection on the vanity of the living.

In the great science fiction show Babylon Five there was an outstanding episode called Day of the Dead. In this show, everyone in a certain section had an evening visit by a dead person. Sometimes it was someone they loved, sometimes it was an enemy, or someone they really didn’t want to see. It was their opportunity to say something, to see and touch that person.

At that time I saw this episode, I had not lost anyone really close to me, so when I thought about who I would like to see, it was my first dog. I would still like to see this dog (and the one who came after him). But perhaps it would be more fitting to use this holiday for a ceremony to honor the memory of those who have left us. Without masks and costumes.

Ephemera

Spirits

October 31, 2015 cthulu Leave a comment

It’s once again Halloween, the second biggest retail holiday in the year (take that, Easter). This person obviously loves the holiday, judging by the time they spend decorating. Last year they had zombies out front – but this year, they really went all out. And the results are awesome!

So congratulations to you, unknown person, for really getting into the ‘spirit’ of the holiday. For the nearby school, me and my friends filled 367 bags of candy. I will probably get about 12 costumed beggars at the door tonight. I already have one inside.

Ephemera, Wildlife

Spiders

October 29, 2015 cthulu 2 Comments

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Once more the city is being invaded by giant spiders. I don’t think anyone really enjoys being around spiders, even though they do eat other bugs. I got bit by a spider recently and my doctor was too busy to see me. So I was at the veterinarian’s and had the vet take a look. Not poisonous, so it was all good (except it did hurt).

This young woman seems completely unaware that she is being menaced by a giant spider.

You need to be careful not to get caught in their giant webs. This one’s web blew down in some big winds, so the neighborhood is safe for now.

Some are relatively harmless.

Some are art.

And then there are the delicious spiders.

Some spiders look harmless, but are very dangerous to be around.

Ephemera

Gargoyles

October 25, 2015 cthulu Leave a comment

As it’s almost Halloween, so I thought I’d share a few of the gargoyles that are hiding around my house. I always loved the idea of gargoyles, little creatures that decorate your building. Why have a plain building when you can add interesting beings?

This little one sits on top of the bookcase.

Another tiny one. I bought it at a monastery (and they had at least one real gargoyle.)

Another shelf creature.

This one resides in the sewing room, he’s from Halloweens long past.

Wait a minute, how did this one sneak by! This isn’t a gargoyle (well, it’s kind of similar, winged with an animal face) but it does sit on the shelf too.

Ephemera

First quilts

October 22, 2015 cthulu Leave a comment

This is one of the first quilts I ever got, it is a doll quilt. It came as a present from my beloved grandmother. It’s a collection of bits and pieces of 1940’s and 50’s fabrics, no doubt left over from other projects. It is well loved because it came from her, and I was not used to getting presents.

I even love the fabric on the back, a 1940’s print in blue and pink.

This one is a tiny doll quilt that she made for me. It’s just random squares of cotton 30’s and 40’s prints, probably leftover from dressmaking. Again, I just love it, and I’ve kept it for at least 56 years, maybe longer.

This is not the first quilt I ever made (it no longer exists, except in a landfill somewhere), but the second. I did not really know what I was doing and it is made of the polyester/cotton blend fabric that was available back then. The red fabric has somewhat faded. I made it for my dog at the time, so that he could ride in the back seat of the car. It is machine pieced and hand quilted. I still love this quilt too, although it is not the style I work in now.

I doubt that I would have ever made a quilt – without those early gifts from my dear grandmother. (I think that she learned quilting when she went to Indian School.)

Art