Sundays in My City - Morpho Style

BLUE MORPHO BUTTERFLY
The Butterfly House
Faust Park, St. Louis

Lunch is served!




Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, Missouri. Welcome to my city!


Ed has been volunteering at The Butterfly House (click above) and decided to take her posse for a Saturday afternoon adventure. It's been a little rainy/gloomy/humid lately, causing her pictures to look as though they were taken in a steam bath. They actually were taken in a steam bath, but this bath belonged to butterflies!

Over 1,000 blue Morpho butterflies have been added to the collection this month. Their color, as evidence above, is magnificent! Because there are so many of them, it was a little difficult to catch them while at rest. They don't rest. They are so excited to be here, they cannot control their erratic and mesmerizing dance. Here are a few more pics of this beautiful creature.





The House also has interactive exhibits like this! Ewwwwwwwwwww! Those suckers are huge!



Feel free to pay a visit to The Butterfly House! Have a sensational Sunday!

Reflections - Girlfriends

Every Friday through Sunday, Newtown Area Photo sponsors a meme where a gazillion photographers, amateur through pro, can showcase their work using a "Reflection" theme. I love to see the different points of view that people have, and the truly amazing pictures that they take.



The photo is of two girlfriends who are each taking a picture of the two of them. In the left sunglasses lens, you can see the reflection of the arm of the friend on the left, as well as, the hand and camera of the friend on the right. I humbly admit that I did not take this picture, but a relative of mine did! Does that count?

I just want to thank Newtown Area Photo for sponsoring this meme every weekend, and allowing me to participate. Please visit here and prepare to be entertained by some truly gifted artists!

Have a wonderful weekend!

My Celebration Trip

This past weekend, I flew (on an airplane, not my broom) to Ontario, California. I chose Ontario, because it's the closest airport to Corona. Why Corona? Well, I heard there was a huge party happening in Corona, and I really wanted to be a part of it.

The party was at Pat & Joan's house, although Pat was not in attendance. You see, Pat left this world in December of last year. His new adventure took him to a place where the waves are narly, the dudes are totally awesome and the surf is up 24/7! Knowing that he was doing what he loved made the toasts with Budweisers much more fun and meaningful.



There were hugs, kisses, tears and recognition of long time friends; and that was just family members! The alcohol flowed freely, the beans, rice and quesadillas never ran out, and to the amazement of moi, nobody got sick...at least not in my direction! But the best part of the whole day was living Pat's life through pictures that had been lovingly attached to poster boards.



Pat touched the hearts of everyone he met. He made people feel like they were his best friends. There were neighbors old and new, high school buds, co-workers, and grown men and women who spent the best days of their youth playing Hide and Seek and riding bikes with him. Stories of embarrassment, encouragement and events that were kept secret until now, could be heard coming from every room in the house, as well as the Oingo Boingo Lounge itself. The "Lounge" was Pat's special place to relax, watch TV, play card games and entertain friends...and it was located in the garage!

During the height of the party, we were greeted with rainshowers. The showers increased and were joined by thunder and lightning. We all couldn't believe the unusual weather for February, especially the lightning. It was the consensus of all that Pat had joined the party and was thanking everyone for coming.

I spent the following day with Joan, her friend Carly, and Joan's children. We bathed in the predictable sunshine and blue skies that follow Southern California's rainstorms. I think my brother, Pat, was there with us. The day was perfection in it the purest form.

It was a great trip! I wrote this at the suggestion of Mama's Losin'It via her Writer's Workshop blog. Click here or on the logo below to visit Mama Kat, and check out her stories, and some of the other stories that were written by her fans!



Do you have a favorite trip?

Wordful Wednesday - Name These Mountains!

I was out of town for the weekend and captured this picture the day after a HUGE rainstorm that included thunder and lightning. These mountains are rarely seen by visitors, let alone residents, unless there have been showers.



Stop by and say hello to Seven Clown Circus as she shares her delightful escapades with the rest of us every Wednesday! Click on the above blog name, or simply click on the following logo.



The San Bernardino Mountains are rarely seen because of the smog in Southern California. This picture was taken in the city of Corona while I was visiting this past weekend.

Hope you have a Wordful Wednesday and make sure to click on some of the other visitors to Seven Clown Circus!

Random Dozen Wednesday

It's late and I'm loopy! I've been without a computer for many days and I'm going to do this anyway!

Please stop by 2nd Cup of Coffee and say hi to Lid! Just click on the logo and you will be magically transported to a very happy place (one of those happy places that we all try to get to now and then!)



Here are a few Q & A's that may tell you a little more about my schizo personality!

1. Have you ever fired a gun or shot a bow and arrow?

I shot a bow and arrow at Girl Scout Camp....once!

2. Do you know where your childhood best friends are?

Hopefully, on my bed...where I left them this morning.

3. Do you usually arrive early, late, or on time?

Mostly late. It drives the hubs crazy!

4. Are you more of a New York or California type?

California. I was born there and it's where I spent my first 40 years.

5. Do you have a special ring tone?

Girls Just Want To Have Fun!

6. What is your favorite type of chip?

Fritos, but since I'm not supposed to eat them....anything that is baked.

7. Best comedy you've ever seen is ....

Anything by Mel Brooks.

8. Have you ever cut your own hair? To quote Dr. Phil, "How'd that work for ya?"

Just my bangs. It didn't work well, at all!

9. If you were going to have an extreme makeover, would you rather it be about your house or your personal self?

Gee, this is a hard one, because both my house and I are trashed big time.

10. Are you allergic to anything?

Animal dander and really stupid people.

11. Why is it so hard to change?

Because it makes me step outside of a very comfy, cozy place.

12. One last question dedicated to February love: CS Lewis said, "To love is to be vulnerable." Please share one example of that assertion or share any thought you'd like to about this topic.

If I couldn't love, I wouldn't feel alive. I think that love bonds us to each other, and, that it is meant to be given away.

It feels good to be back!

Sundays in My City - Coffee Time!

Have you heard of Unknown Mami? She has a delightful blog where she shares photos of her city on Sundays. She invites the rest of us to link up with her and share some of our own city's photos. Click on the logo to visit Mami's Sundays in My City!

I live in St. Louis, Missouri. Welcome to my City!

Not far from where I live, there is a small structure in the middle of a parking lot of a strip mall. This small, but powerful structure is a drive-through coffee, snack and lunch shop. Welcome to “More Than Coffee, Helping Challenged People One Cup at a Time.” With each cup of coffee, patrons receive printed scriptures that have been applied to the cup’s heat protector. This is one way the owner glorifies God. Please stop by the website and say hello!



I was privileged to meet the owner of More Than Coffee, Sam Malek, and get a first hand look at the shop. Sam’s kind demeanor and huge heart infected me immediately. He is an extraordinary Christian man who lives by the ideals of paying it forward. After his overhead expenses are met, all of his proceeds are given to local charities. His volunteer employees are capable young men and women who are passionate about their work. Oh, and by the way, they all posses a disability. Sam gives his crew training in many aspects of his business. They participate in food preparation, taking orders, working the cash register, and serving the public with a smile and genuine interest in their well being. These employees take this training with them when they move on to paying jobs as they join the work force along with the rest of us.

Two years ago, More Than Coffee was visited by Ty and his crew from Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Prior to the visit, Sam’s establishment was very small and would not accommodate wheel chairs. It does now…and then some! Everything Sam needs to run his business is at his finger tips.

If you visit St. Louis, you simply must stop by for a cup of coffee. You will leave with a feeling of joy knowing that just paid something forward. If you live in St. Louis… well…get a move on! Your patronage will be a blessing for so many of our local charities.

Thanks for stopping by my City!

I Just May Have Found Journal Boy!

The most amazing thing happened to me today. You know, the kind of thing that makes the little hairs on the back of your neck stand up straight? I was telling a co-worker about my Journal Boy story, and I happened to mention the real name of this awesome young man. My friend's eyes grew very large and she said to me "I think I worked with his stepmother!" After picking my jaw up from the floor, I said "NO WAY!" She said, "Yes! I'm sure it was his stepmother!" The goosebumps were throbbing at this point.

We exchanged dates, places and names, and she said she was going to go check on something. Fifteen minutes later she came back with a name and address for whom she felt certain was his father. I was beside myself, inside myself, and just about to break out of myself! What are the chances?!!!!

So, I emailed Hayworth and told her to meet me for coffee, that I had some amazing news for her. She reacted the same way that I did! We laughed and almost cried together. The thought that we might actually find this guy, get to know that he is okay and possible get to give him a big hug! We talked about contacting dad, and what we should say (actually, I volunteered to make the contact...but not without Hayworth's okay first) to him. Would a call be appropriate, or should we send a letter? He will probably think I am a nutcase and use his caller ID to report me to the police. I hope not! If I choose the right words and take my time speaking (or writing) then maybe he will understand that we think his son was a very special boy 13 years ago, who wasn't afraid to let his feelings show, even if it was privately in a book. We both just want to know that he turned out to be the same wonderful young man, and that we hope that he is happy. And, if he or dad want the book back, we would be delighted to return it.

I'm really scared. I think I'm going to write a letter instead of calling. I'm afraid if I call, I'll get cotton-mouth, like I used to get when I went on acting auditions. I would think I was prepared, but then the physiology of my body would take over and I became a blithering idiot with nothing but air coming out of my mouth!

I will keep you posted, friends!