Beautiful Fall

I added more pics to our facebook album from our walk today. I love the way the sun sparkles through the leaves. This may be my favorite time of year.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46660&l=a7eea&id=500377983

A Kilt for the Rest of Us!

I just found out about a great company from Jason Bartlett--Sport Kilt.

At last! For all those of us wanting an affordable alternative to expensive custom made kilts there is now an option! (Since I'm sure there are so many of us in that category...)

FREEDOM!!!

OK, so this was the look we were going for but they had a lot more hair than we do...




This was what I was going for as Princess Isabelle


Amish Jim & Amy (she sewed her apron!)


Indian Jessica & Giraffe Matthew


Captain Hook Jason & Tinkerbell AmyRuth


Mary Poppins Em & Chimney Sweep Ryan


Plumbers Lauren & Kevin (who we went to Colorado w/...)
Her "beer gut" was her pregnant belly


My Cheesenstein was yummy

I Love Fall

Yesterday we went to a pumpkin patch about an hr. away and got to pick our own pumpkins! They take you out on a hayride, you pick your pumpkins (and apples if you want...) and then when you come back they also have cider, funnel cakes, etc. Currie had NEVER HAD FUNNEL CAKE!! We obviously had to remedy that...don't worry, we split this.







We got a mini pumpkin for our table & two for our porch.

Currie also got me mums to complete the fall look.

And, while I'm at it, I've been meaning to post pictures of my herb garden (you can also see them in the above picture right above the light)!
Sara B. gave them to me when she moved out. (Thanks Sara!!)

We have rosemary, basil, several kinds of oregano, chives, etc. Last night we chopped up chives in our tomato soup and had fresh basil on grilled cheese, tomato, & onion sandwiches. Yum.

Sailing...

Here are a couple of photos of the ABIGAIL ROSE (still need to paint the name on her) at Carlyle Lake in IL in late August. We actually did go out on the lake, but you couldn't see much of the boat in those pics.

Waiting to embark from the "semi-private" "beach" by our campsite.


Heading out to go through the breakwater (yes, I know I'm rowing backwards--we had two guys [one of them 6'4"] in an 11 1/2 ft. sailing dingy!).

I just completed the rear buoyancy chamber this past weekend but haven't taken any pics yet; I'll try to upload one soon.

Chicago Anniversary Trip

Check out the rest of our Chicago Anniversary Album on Facebook!

Are you kidding me?!

MODOT (Missouri Dept. of Transportation) is generally doing a good job with a lot of the major decisions relating to the construction on 64/40, with a few major exceptions (what genius thought it would be a good idea to put a stop sign any place where you have cars merging into 55 MPH traffic? [from Ballas Rd. to I 270 North for example]).

I just spent an extra 15 minutes in the car (burning fossil fuels the whole time) because the ramp from Kingshighway to 64/40 West is closed (though all the signs say it's open and funnel you right into a row of reflector-less cones).  So I got stuck in the middle of the intersection and had to turn onto 64/40 East and drive all the way to the Market street exit where I had to make a U turn to get back on the interstate going the right way--ARRGH!!

And while I'm on the topic of senseless squandering of fossil fuels, let me ask what Einstein came up with the red left-turn signal?  Do they really think we're too stupid to wait for a break in traffic before turning?  Not only do these signals encourage lazy driving (which kills far more people than reckless driving) by suggesting to us that we're just supposed to be on autopilot when we're behind the wheel, they also waste tons of fossil fuels nationally every year (next time you're out driving count the number of cars you see waiting to make a left at empty intersections because they have a red left-turn signal; now think about how many drivers all over America are waiting at such signals.  Even if it's only a few seconds per car per light, that compiles into a whole lot on a national scale).