Pet Cemetery

     Cemeteries are an object of fascination for many people. Especially with supernaturally focused television and reality shows fueling our curiosity and preoccupation.  Books from Stephen King's "Pet Cemetery" to Charlaine Harris' "Sookie Stackhouse" series have been flying off the shelves for years. 

      I think people really just want to know what happens after we die. Not knowing what comes next creates fear and drives people to religion where they can pray themselves into a supernatural insurance policy that will protect them from the unknown.

  

     With that in mind I'd like to share the pet cemetery in my hometown, Imperial Crown Pet Cemetery.  I love the history, art and undying devotion that each headstone represents.

      I hope you enjoy my photographs and feel some of the love that I felt for these animals when I was there.

     (Follow the links below to my flikr page for more photos and to Imperial Crown Pet Cemetery for more information.)

http://www.imperialcrownpc.com/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/111968717@N03/albums/72157665804465184

Skipping Rocks on the Missouri River

An old friend of mine and I like to get our families together and just spend time.  It doesn't matter if it's a holiday, vacation or "just because."  

We have spent time both in Florida and Missouri, celebrating Thanksgiving, playing board games, cooking, swimming, tossing the football, listening to music and drinking beer!  

This visit we went to the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

This place has been officially named the Edward "Ted" and Pat Jones - Confluence Point State Park. 
Many locals don't even know that this is a destination spot. 

Whether on boat or on foot I think this park should be on your list, if only to say you were there. 

(Scroll to bottom for official park link)

    Stephanie, Steve and Tiffany - Some of my favorite people

My son was worried about our dog, so he gave him a friendly lift.  

 
Girls


           By The



                                                           Riverside                      

 Hey, look!  It's me!

Cute little guy!

Anyone remember the flood of '93?  The biggest weather disaster that I have ever seen in my home town.  The photo above is my eight-year-old son, Casey, standing on top of the display, next to a water mark pole.  All the way to the top of the pole is how deep the water was, at that spot, during the flood of '93.

 "If the water was that high, right here in this spot, how far wide would it have gone?" my buddy Steve wondered.

How far wide was bigger than my mind could wrap around.

Among other things, you can actually paddle this river!  I would be scared to death but people do it. 

              

 This edit is one of my favorites.  It looks like it was from an older time. 

I love this photo.  The drift wood is perfect.  The greenery is the perfect backdrop, and the little flowers are my favorite color.   This picture makes the kid in me want to climb over that wood and see what's beyond. 

I love the way the light reflects on the water. I could see this every, single day.

This is my adventure partner, Steve.  We have known each other for years and today we got to check  "skipping rocks at the river" off of our bucket lists! 

After visiting the park's web page I realized there was a confluence "point" that we missed.  So there will be more to come.

Below is a link to the official park page.  Click and explore some more!
Click here to visit the official park page

Fort Bellefontaine Spring 2014

     Spring 2014 a friend of mine posted on Facebook that she needed to take her niece's "Flat Stanley" to some place in St. Louis that he had never been before. 

 She asked people to comment where she should go.  One place mentioned was the "Grand Staircase" at Fort Belle Fontaine Park. I followed a link only to find what truly was a grand stair case!  It was stunning. I knew I had to go with her. Little did I know that she planned to go the very next day.  Luckily I was able to fit it in my schedule and the following pictures are the result. 

      It's crazy that it was built as a functioning site for soldiers.  I found out from my cousin that I had at least one ancestor who was stationed there during the war of 1812.  How is that for amazing! Follow the link at the bottom of this post to see the official page for Fort Belle Fontaine.

(Follow the link to my flickr page where you can see all the photos.)

                      https://www.flickr.com/photos/111968717@N03/sets/72157644419952696/

This is one of the 250 cake sculptures that have been placed throughout the Greater St. Louis area in honor of St. Louis' 250th birthday.  With me is my good friend, Caitlin "Cat" Mayhew.

The Grand Staircase itself!

                 Anne and Flat Stanley making their way to the road to take in their own view.

Cat looks like she could be on an album cover.

Stunning, romantic construction. 

Follow the link below to the official site for Fort Belle Fontaine.

http://stlouisco.com/ParksandRecreation/ParkPages/FortBelleFontaine

Another cool site for the Fort. 

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-fortbellefontaine.html

St. Ferdinand in the Snow 2014

I love going to parks in the spring, summer and fall.  I have never been to a park in the winter.  This past winter my son and I got a wild hair and decided to go to the playground at St. Ferdinand Park in Florissant during a big snow.  I didn't know what to expect!  I don't like to be cold, my nose runs, my ears go numb and then HURT when they warm up, my toes get cold, my teeth chatter, etc. etc.. I dressed in layers with some really warm hiking boots (best purchase ever!) and dove in!  The following pictures are the result of leaving my comfort zone.  Will I do it again?  Only time, and my pictures, will tell!  Follow the link for individual views of these photos. 

Have you been to a park in the snow? Let's see some of your pics!


https://plus.google.com/photos/105026015689502545947/albums/5976730156476748561?authkey=CJzWwJSfm6KlGQ

https://plus.google.com/photos/105026015689502545947/albums/5976730156476748561?authkey=CJzWwJSfm6KlGQ

Follow Your Nose

Today Cat and I decided to stop at The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.  We had two cleaning jobs and decided we wanted to do some yoga in between.  While we were there we found one of St. Louis' birthday cakes!  We took lots of pictures and had a great time doing yoga in the sun and wind out over the water.

There is something about doing yoga outside that makes you feel more connected to the earth than when you do any other exercise outside.  When we opened up for sun salutations it was awesome to feel that sun hit us right in the heart.  It's almost like a beam of energy shoots from you instead of the other way around.  So cool!

Other people were using the bridge that day too.  A dad and his two boys were biking the bridge and stopping to take pictures of their own. Two ladies were walking and talking and another family was taking photographs by the birthday cake.

 Over the years it has sat unused and kids used to sneak up there and party at night.  My dad used to think it would be cool to put a restaurant right in the middle of the bridge.  I think he even drew up some plans for it.  He was never able to sell anyone else on the idea but I still imagine a cute cafe out over the water with visitors from both Missouri and Illinois.  I wonder how many other people had ideas like his.

 I think it's wonderful that the old bridge has been "upcycled" into a destination and recreation spot.

 I love this shot in B&W. I posted this on instagram and printed it out in the 4 X 4 size.  It looks incredible!  I love today's photo tech but I miss having actual prints to look at so I print my instagram photos right from my phone through different apps.

                                Shadow "High Five!"  Living in the moment!

                 K-She 95 is a musical staple in St. Louis.  Love to see it immortalized in grafitti!
                       
 Listen live here: http://player.liquidcompass.net/KSHEFM

 This is my edited version of this picture.  I do most of my edits on the picsart app on my phone. I'm a bit obsessed with photographing bridges lately.  Especially this one.

 "Cat" is one cool chick!  I love kickin' around with her.  She is always in for following our noses.  We call it getting caught in the trick bag!

My best friend passed away this year.  This bridge was also one of his favorite places so I made a photo tribute to both of them. 

Elephant Rocks

     One of my all-time favorite places to to take family and friends is Elephant Rocks State Park.

  

     It's located in Belleview, Mo. which is 100 miles from the city of St. Louis (Give or take).  The ride is hilly at times and showcases middle America like a postcard.  We even came upon a yard sale out in the middle of nowhere!  

     The parking is free and there are picnic tables for when you arrive.  The last time I was there you could find a local gas station not too far down the road. 

     Bathrooms are available.  

     Bring a first aid kit just in case you scrape a knee. 

 

     In the opposite direction, 16.5 miles away (according to mapquest), you will find the famed Johnson Shut-In's State Park.  Because of their close proximity I recommend seeing them both in one day.  You start out driving into the Elephant Rocks and do your hiking for the day; get yourselves all sweaty so you are ready for the water at the Shut-Ins. 

     Bring some drinking water because you will get thirsty. Wear sunscreen, take lots of pictures and don't fall off! 

   

See some highlights.

                                                         My kids. 

  "Nature will always find a way."

 Makes me want to walk right through the middle.

                                                                              Mi familia!

Rocks from this quarry were used to pave the streets of downtown St. Louis. 

 Hide n Go Seek in the rocks!

 http://www.visitmo.com/elephant-rocks-state-park.aspx?gclid=CjkKEQjwiPWcBRCTj_-Vz8fE3cMBEiQAZIMSUjOZ3X63W91qds4tCCNmnQyImYp20RvC53EnzBWxY5jw_wcBwebsite.