On Friday evening, we were invited to the Muny Opera with Margaret and Steve Culver for an incredible production of La Cage Aux Folles. We met at the Culvers’ house and traveled in to Forest Park together
Many years ago, I lived down the road from Steve and Margaret. The area has changed, but it is very familiar countryside full of memories – and deer. I took a picture of a group of resting deer along the roadway. The road is under serious repair, so there is no traffic at all, which is nice.
Resting deerRoadworkWoods containing many old memories
Being an outdoor venue, the Muny show starts at 8 PM, which is when we are normally close to bedtime. We did manage a nap to prepare for the late night, but it was 1 AM on Saturday before we got to bed. It was well worth the late night, though. The St. Louis Muny won a Tony this year as best Regional Theater in the country, and it was a spectacular show.
One of our favorite restaurants, when we moved back from Pike County twenty years ago, was Thai Gourmet. We became friends with Kan and her husband Bobby and their two children, Faye and Finn. To our dismay, they moved away about ten years ago, but we have remained friends. We were delighted that Bobby and Kan were in St. Louis to visit son Finn, and made time to come out for a visit on Saturday. Faye is now a doctor in Texas!
They arrived with a huge container of the delicious Thai food that we have missed for so long. They themselves are unchanged, except that Finn is a grown man working for Washington University! Margaret was able to join us, too, though Steve had to supervise workers doing a project at their house.
Thai Gourmet Reunion at Bronze Fox FarmBobby, Finn and KanIn the studioMargaret in the studioKan and Finn in the studioBobby in the studioFinn meets OisinKan and OisinBobby and StoneFinn and StoneMargaret and OisinMargaret and Harry in the barn
Today was Sweet Corn Sunday along the Katy Trail, a function of Magnificent Missouri organized by Don and Connie Burkhardt, who are two of the greatest treasures of this state. I had planned to bike, while Harry drove, but there was thunder rumbling, so the plan changed, and we drove together to Treloar, then on to Peers.
Sweet Corn sculpture in TreloarDan Burkhardt – with Bob Painter, who worked on the trains before rails became trailsConnie arrives at TreloarFree books for every family!Cindy Gladden,, a Warren County reporter covering the eventA participant, trying the sweet cornLive music by the Rowdy Wranglers next to the Katy TrailAn enthusiastic singer stands inFiddle playerHarmonica player
After enjoying Treloar for a while, we headed east to Peers, for more live music and a Storyteller.
Magnificent sight in Missouri farmland on the way to PeersDennis Coello, a REAL photographerHarry meets a friend at PeersLive music from Gloria and MichaelStoryteller Brian Fox EllisGloria and MichaelBig rainstorm on the wayChange of venue – inside the Peers store
It was a magical day, despite the weather, and we felt very fortunate, albeit exhausted by too much fun!
And, of course I have taken a few bird pictures. It was a big week for geese. A bold coyote visited while we were enjoying Thai lunch.
A cardinal challenges a blue jay!Geese in the roadMore geese in the waterGeese in the grass todayThree of a flock of 43 geese alongside the road this morningCoyote!
Life is busy, but never boring around here.
Be safe, be well, be grateful, be kind. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
Another blistering, humid day, but every day carries us toward Autumn and cooler, crisper days. For now, we are hanging on to a forecast of cooler weather Thursday.
Bart must get fit, hot or not, if there is even a thought of horse showing in September. Ironically, the prize list for the St. Louis National Charity Show came out today. Bart and I traipsed around for an hour in the heat. He was uninspired, but felt great after a rest day yesterday. We saw a turtle on the trail, which reversed us, rather than risk stepping on it. Always a good day when we see a perfect turtle!
A beautiful box turtleBart is very flexible, as he reaches around to scratch an itch after our rideBad Bart! makes an escape to grab some clover before his bathBart gives his opinion on getting fit in July
Speaking of reptiles, I saw a skink on the porch. Eddy chases lizards, so I haven’t seen many this year.
Eddy is wild, even in the hottest of weather. Weedy is much more sensible.
Eddy leapt onto the table when I came in for breakfast!Eddy on the bed – so handsome!Weedy
Just like his dog, Harry is wise and handsome.
A tufted titmouse cooled off on this hot afternoon. A blue jay was caught in flight before he landed and cooled off by panting.
Tufted titmouseSplish splashBlue jay in flightHot blue jay
Flowers and butterflies are thriving in the heat, though we are already needing some rain again.
Yellow liliesTiger swallowtail on zinniaHot Roscoe resting on cool concrete
A thunderhead teased us with possible rain, but moved on.
Be safe, be well, be kind. Drink plenty of water. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
Kris reminded me by text that we connected twelve years ago today.
Jane and I took our relatively new horses to Oklahoma City for a horse show in July 2013. Jane had purchased Derry from Canada, and she arrived that Spring. Oisin had come here in October 2012 as a green 5 year old.
We were sort of schooling each other, figuring we weren’t jumping all that high. I took Oisin into a low jumper class, and we were eliminated at the second jump. I was pretty sure I had ruined him.
I had seen Kris at the horse shows and had watched him school a student. I liked his style of teaching, so I approached him and asked if he would “catch school” me , since I had stopped out on my new pinto. Also, would he please help Jane, too?
Kris was a good sport as well as a good teacher, and he agreed to take on two middle aged (then) women he didn’t know. I was instructed to stay straight to the jumps. Jane was already doing things right.
Oisin has never stopped since that day! Kris has become much more than a trainer to me. I hope to ride with him again, but regardless, we will always be friends. Twelve years has gone by in a blink. I only have one picture from that auspicious adventure, but great memories.
6 year old Oisin (2013), the year before he came a World Champion
Be safe, be well, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Slava Ukraini! Peace…
The summer days melt into one another. We have had an uncommonly humid July, even by Missouri standards. When we moved here in the 1960s, the British consulate was paid tropical wages for the summer. We grew up without air conditioning, but we were surrounded by trees, which offered welcome shade, and as children, we were fed salt tablets, since we were not acclimated to such heat.
Now, I work in the heat and sweat profusely, salting my food freely to compensate. I really have developed hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating), in old age, which is far preferable to anhydrosis (failure to sweat), a terrifying condition that can occur in horses, and in humans.
So much for today’s health lesson, onward, which is to say, backward to the beginning of this busy week.
Erosion control took up considerable time and energy after a much appreciated heavy rain. It is hard work for an old lady, shoveling limestone screenings. Harlan works in all weather, and always takes time for a visit when I am around.
Harlan empties the dumpsterHaraln in the shade of the barn
The cats keep advising me to take it easy in this weather, so I did take a break to get some cat pictures.
Tom MorrisMarmaladeRosieCoraSkittleRoscoe
You know who is working harder than I am this week? Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird. They have brought 4 more bluebirds of happiness into the world and are feeding them plenty of bugs. It is hard work. Just look at poor, bedraggled Mrs. Bluebird!
New baby bluebirdsHardworking Mrs. BluebirdMr. Bluebird with a big bugMr. Bluebird goes in to feed firstMr. Bluebird departs in search of more bugsMrs. Bluebird
A fellow art teacher, Mary Beth, from Harry’s time at MICDS in 2004/2005 came for a visit. She brought a lovely pot of basil she had grown from seed and we had a delightful time with her. Some people grow bitter with misfortune. Mary Beth has had some difficult troubles (brain cancer being a big one) but she is optimistic and kind. We and the animals enjoyed the day.
Harry and Mary BethMary Beth and BartMary Beth and OisinMary Beth and StoneHarry shows a maquetteArtistsWeedy and Eddy enjoy visitors, but it’s hot!“Let us into the air conditioning, please!”
I had lunch this week with our friend Jane McClaren, who lives in St. Louis. Her partner, Barry, took some incredible pictures of hawks in their back yard. I think they are broad winged hawks. Jane was concerned for them in the heat, but when she took water out, they flew away. They appear to be a pair with a juvenile.
A hawk – photo by Barry NelsonHawk – photo by Barry NelsonHawk – photo by Barry NelsonResting hawk – photo by Barry NelsonA trio of hawks (a “cast” of hawks) – photo by Barry NelsonA hot hawk – photo by Barry Nelson
Wednesday evening, I saw Eddy with a Labrador. I assumed it was Roy, but it was not. He was an older and very hot dog, with two collars on, but no tags. We put him in the pen with water to keep him safe while we tried to find his owner. Without success around here, we resorted to calling the Warren County sheriff . Deputy Justin Wade came by and took a picture. At 9:00 PM, there was a knock on the front door, and the owners of Ruger, who, it turns out is 14 years old, arrived to pick him up. They had also thought to call the sheriff! Ruger had wandered off at 1 PM, so he had been gone for over four hours when he showed up here. A happy reunion and a good night’s sleep…
Eddy meets a new friendRuger
The rain and the heat have produced a bumper crop of chanterelles. Nathan came out and I helped him harvest two bags. Alas, I got a terrible case of oak mites! I thought they arrived in August, so this was a nasty surprise.
ACK!!! Oak mites (and I need to shave my legs)
Less horrifying is the beauty around us, and seeing much of it from Bart, as we get legged up, just in case…
Bart’s very shaggy maneA more presentable maneOne beautiful day lily hidden in the lilac hedgeA glorious yellow lilyA new, pink perennial hibiscus, planted at a difficult time, but beautifulOne little goldfinch
Yesterday, we drove to Columbia to attend a memorial for Deb Booker, a legendary horsewoman in Missouri. Her daughter, Sarah, is a fixture at horse shows all over the nation as a judge and announcer. We have known Sarah since she was a child. Now she is a grandmother of Deb’s great grandson, Tate, whose first birthday was recently celebrated by Mrs. Booker before she left us.
Known as Mrs. Booker to many of us, as Deb or just Booker to friends, she taught at Stephens College and at William Woods. My first encounter with her was in 1975, when she provided me a horse to ride for my U.S. Pony Club A Test. I failed, but I was grateful and in awe of Mrs. Booker from then on. I didn’t know her well, but I aspired to work as hard as she did and to be as tough and kind as she was.
There is a saying that “if you want to have a big funeral, die young”. Mrs. Booker proved that wrong. She lived and worked for 88 years and a big crowd turned up to say goodbye. Linda and Ted drove all the way from Michigan. There was a sharing of memories, in which the microphone was passed to many and various people whose lives were shaped in one way or another by Mrs. Booker. She was a horsewoman, a mother to three, a collector of rocks (!) and insulators (!!). She was interested in history, politically active and she was an irreplaceable, one of a kind character. She truly “lived until she died”.
Mrs. Booker had asked that in lieu of flowers people should register to vote and vote for their choice. Many memories shared were concerned with horses, but one woman stood up and said that Mrs. Booker taught her to be a Democrat. There were laughs and tears, and it was a special day and a good send off indeed.
Be safe, be well, cherish friends. Slava Ukraini! Peace.
In 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon on my mother’s birthday.
I do remember the hoopla around watching the moon landing 56 years ago, and an astronaut descending onto the surface of the moon. We had celebrated Trudy’s 41st birthday on the patio before the big event. Little did I know that across the pond, in England, 4 years later, in 1973, a young Jane would give birth to a son, James, on July 20. That birth would ultimately bring Jane to Missouri and into our life, one of our great blessings. But that is another story.
Trudy, my mother, was born in Oak Park, Illinois on July 20, 1928. She was the third child, and the only girl, with five brothers. She had a charmed childhood, despite the Depression. She often told us of how grateful her father was to have kept his job in the steel business through the Depression. Trudy’s mother, Gertrude, an artist, always helped the many unfortunates who knocked on their door during those difficult times in the 1930s. That example set Trudy on the path to generosity and compassion.
My mother was brilliant, well read, and beautiful. In 1952, having completed her Master’s Degree at The University of Chicago, she crossed the Atlantic to study at Oxford for a summer. There, she met a dashing Royal Naval officer, Brian Barry. She returned in 1953 to spend a summer in London. In January, 1954, Brian arrived (a day later than expected) in Chicago, where he married Trudy, without ever having met her parents! They embarked on a life of adventure, to Malta, where Brian was Chief Engineering Officer for Lord Louis Mountbatten on HMS Surprise. Thence, to other postings in the British Isles, but in 1960 Brian took a job as a teacher at a private boys’ school near St. Louis, Missouri. Quite a change of direction!
Only in retrospect do I see how courageous Trudy was. Growing up, she was just my mother.
I think Brian thought Trudy would like being back in “America”, but she found St. Louis to be a “southern backwater town” by comparison to Chicago. She thought she was going to be the wife of an admiral in the Royal Navy, and ended up the wife of a schoolteacher in Missouri.
For we children (7 of us by 1964), it was a great adventure, and we loved living in the Missouri countryside. Our mother made our lives interesting and fulfilled, despite her own privations. We were extraordinarily fortunate in our parents.
I was a bit of a disappointment to Trudy, alas. I was a tomboy and a rebel, but I did always recognize how lucky I was to have had the exposure our mother gave us to literacy and culture. Perhaps I see that more clearly now than ever before…
Happy birthday to Trudy (1928 – 2015). We seven children were very fortunate in our parentage.
Circa 1931 – Trudy and her brother, JackTrudy circa 1933Trudy marries Brian in January, 1954Trudy – April 2010
Meanwhile, around here, auspicious date or not, it continues to be brutally hot with no end in sight. Still, the world is beautiful and we are filled with gratitude.
Evening sky
Be safe, be well, be grateful and be kind. Slava Ukraini! Peace, please…
Rain is setting the stage for Extreme Heat, at least the Weather Channel App tells us that there is a Warning until Thursday. Here, the rain pushed me into the house, where my muse (Harry) has banished me to my desk. It is difficult to catch up during this hectic, hot summer, but here are a few items from the past two weeks.
The stream renovation is finally finished and the water is flowing again after a seven month hiatus. There is still plenty of work to be done with landscaping and rock tweaking, but those chores are low on the list. Eddy is delighted to be able to cool off and drink on these long, hot days.
An early start on the final dayThe stream is back!Eddy wonders if he is dreaming…Eddy in one of his happy placesAnother resident very happy about the stream’s renovation
The birds, too, appreciate the babbling brook. Here are a few recent visitors to the back porch.
I was not sure what this bird was, on the suet with a red bellied woodpeckerResearch led me… to possibly an immature starling?Red bellied woodpecker and a young starling (perhaps)A tufted titmouse during a rain showerDamp, tiny tufted titmouseA less tiny, but no less damp, titmouseA titmouse with tuft plastered downAn eastern kingbird (Tyrannous tyrannous)Eastern kingbird in flightEvander Squirrel (so named for the bitten ear)A tanager on the suet, as a downy woodpecker flies pastSummer tanager in flight
The cats, as desert creatures, are not interested in the stream and are fairly tolerant of heat, but this Missouri humidity is hard on all of us.
Tom Morris and Marmalade nap in the shade of the trailerMarmalade greets me in the morningSkittle makes a rare morning greeting visit!
The horses are well, though Stone did pull a shoe this week. Fred came to the rescue after doing a very difficult and sad task for a neighbor, whose pony was killed by lightning during the night. He is a gifted shoer, but more importantly, a good friend.
FredStone sings Fred’s praises!Oops! I forgot to close Stone’s stall, but he had no interest in leavingStone and Harry on an early morning rideOisin appreciating the flowersBart rests Oisin in full protective gearAnother fly mask lost during the nightStone and BartBart and OisinOisin staying hydratedStoneEarly morning herd
Flowers are abundant at this time of year.
A most fanciful mushroomZinnias!Butterfly bushVery delicate mushroomsLiliesPhlox and blue atlas cedarVery tall day liliesHarry against daylilies for scalePerennial hibiscus
We had a visit from Harry’s good friend Nisi Sturgis, with whom he acted in Night of The Iguana. Her son, Owen, is growing up quickly, as children seem to do. He is a talented artist already, at 11.
Nisi is in St. Louis for a production of Romeo and Zooliet, with the St. Louis Shakespeare Company. It is an incredible show performed outdoors at the St. Louis Zoo with huge puppets operated by the talented actors (in very hot and humid conditions, I might add).
Flowers from Owen and NisiOwen in the studioNisi, amazed, in the studioEddy in the studio – photo by OwenOwen and StoneHarry, Nisi, and OwenHarry and Nisi follow OwenThe GLOWB, the set at the St. Louis ZooHarry says hello to Dr. Jeffrey BonnerAnne, Harry and the Juliet puppet before the show
The big news is that we got a new (used) car this week! Harry took the 2015 Outback to the dealer for an oil change, and there was so much wrong with it, that he traded it in on a 2022 Outback. In one of those weird, small world coincidences, the salesman, Christopher (who had actually also sold us the 2017 Outback, which is still going strong), mentioned that he had recognized Harry from the MLB All Star Game in 2009. Harry was part of the show, sculpting a Stan Musial maquette, and Christopher helped him move some sculptures. He even produced photos from that day in 2009!! Life is full of astonishing synchronicities.
Christopher Smith, excellent Subaru salesman, and Harry, excellent sculptor, in 2009
And so, on we go, hoping for a better world and grateful for the beauty here, even in the heat of July…
Be safe, be well, be grateful. Stay strong, stay hydrated, and be kind. Slava Ukraini! Peace…
Picking up the blog after another long absence… When I last posted, it was still Spring, the days were lengthening toward the equinox, and now, suddenly, it’s summer and the days are shortening.
Life is hectic, with much more to do than time and energy allow. We have had a very full social schedule, too, and, as Satchel Paige said “the social ramble ain’t restful”. Today, Independence Day, is our first day without obligations of one sort or another. It is welcome calm, but we are discouraged by the political disgrace that has brought shame upon the United States.
I began regular blogging to inform people of Harry’s recovery from a broken femur in February 2020. When the Covid pandemic arrived, the blog brought pleasure to people confined in houses, as I posted pictures of our little patch of country with its variety of creatures. It was a simpler time. We have fallen into “interesting times”, which is indeed a curse. Nonetheless, the beauty of the world around us does remain.
As I write this, there is a constant barrage of explosions as our neighbors celebrate by ruining the peace and quiet that we cherish.
So, let’s go back a couple of weeks. There was rain, and lots of lush, green grass. Fred came to replace the horses’ shoes, and we had a wonderful day, as Fred brings laughter and gossip along with his anvil and forge. Harry had visitors in the studio, and they came over to the barn, fascinated to see a real farrier at work.
OisinStoneFat BartFredJane and Derry
The long, cool, Spring spoiled us, and when the heat and humidity arrived, we all wilted along with the plants, but there is still plenty of beauty around. Particularly butterflies and birds…
Pileated woodpeckerSpicebush swallowtail butterflyA bumblebee, welcome pollinatorA hot bluebird complains to the cowbirdsBluebird cools offA fritillary butterflyBumblebee on sunflowerMany insects visit the southern magnolia’s brief ,but magnificent bloomsA blue jayA hawk on the pasture fenceA departing titmouseSummer flowers – RudbeckiaFirst zinnia of the summer
The dogs and cats bring us joy, of course, regardless of the news. They truly live in the moment. Eddy spills over with joy every day, while Weedy is more reserved, but brimming with sweetness for all.
Tom Morris on the porchEddy in a quiet momentEddy ready for workCoraEddy rompsRoscoe and Eddy return from the monrning barn choresSkittle, the queen of the barnEddy tries his new chairHarry and Weedy on the new couchFarewell to the old couch and chair…Tom Morris“Oh, no, turn off the news!”, says Weedy
The big project for this year is renovation of the stream. The work was supposed to start in February, but did not actually begin until last week! I was greatly relieved, because the catbirds had fledged, so there was less disturbance of the creatures. Once the stream is back in action, there will be many happy animals, but it is a big job and will continue into next week. Here are some pictures… clearing for the project was done by the author.
This is the stream before clearing beganSome clearing doneRemoval of the big prickly bush at top of stream (4 empty birds’ nests!)The base of the stream before clearingThe base of stream clearedHard, hot workNew linerStream taking shapeFuture waterfallA rescued teeny, tiny frog
We went to Pike County for Holly’s birthday party this week. Pike County is one of my favorite places, maybe because I was young and at the height of my abilities when we lived there. But it is still really country, and very beautiful, populated with some of our favorite people.
Greeter of arriving guestsZest, goat of stage and farm (she was in the Tenessee Williams Festival)Serena, who takes guarding duties very seriouslyPike County Harry finds a friendHolly and her brother, SkyA beautiful grasshopper joined the partyEvening over Rockford Farm
Yesterday, we had a visit, delivering some beautiful pine bedding, from Laura, Dorothy and Thrus.
Laura in the studioThrus and DorothyHarryThrusDorothyLaura
And so it goes…
Be safe, be well, be kind. Laugh, stay strong, and learn the truth. Treasure friends and the natural world in all its wonders. Slava Ukraini! Peace. God save America…
The rains continue, and June has never been so green and lush. It is difficult to keep up with the work around here, but it has been a beautiful month so far.
Harry has turned a youthful 83, and has celebrated another Father’s Day, too. I continue to be astounded at my good luck to be with him every day. We had a quiet birthday celebration last week, with Jane and Brett and no pictures!
Harry ‘s birthday morning, watched over by Trudy and guided by Pierre Laclede
The horses have remained on the back burner, but they have no complaints about that! Bart needs his rest, whether he is working hard, or not.
BartStone Oisin would like a treat!Bart works hard eating grass and getting fatOisin Stone switches fliesStoneHappy herd early morning
There was great excitement as we headed out to the No Kings march on Saturday, when we saw a strangely colored squirrel. It had a black front. The pictures could look like shadow, but this squirrel actually had a black face and chest. I stopped and took its picture near the neighbors’ property, and have watched for it ever since, but no further sightings…
A black fronted squirrel!Not a trick of the light!
I did some mowing last week, and managed to break the mower, leaving it stuck on the other side of the creek. Nathan came to the rescue on Friday in pouring rain, and managed to get the drive belt back on (I had run over a stick that popped the belt off). Luckily, the belt was not broken. Unluckily, Nathan got soaking wet and had to work all day next door, while I was able to go to the house and change into dry clothes. He was incredibly nice about it. Also, luckily, the creek did not rise, despite rain, and we were able to get the mower back to the shed.
Oh, no!!!!
There have been many birds to photograph between chores…
A hummingbirdA tufted titmouseTufted titmouse coming in for a landingTufted titmouse in flightA blue jay Rose breasted grosbeak always wonders why I point that camera at him!A cardinal that seems to have met with some sort of accident (note the mouth)The cardinal seems quite recovered as he struts across the feed boardA female house finch and a male goldfinchBlue jayGoldfinches in flightA pair of lovey dovesHouse finches!Male house finchMany birds love suet!(Chickadee, downy woodpeckers and red bellied woodpecker)Red bellied woodpecker and red winged blackbird
There was a fascinating moth in the barn. I think it is a Big Poplar Sphinx moth (Pachysphinx occidentalis), but I am no expert. Whatever it is, it’s gorgeous. Life forms on this planet are astonishing. We have been very fortunate to see so many creatures here.
I had an unfortunate run in with angry bees, when I disturbed bumblebees that had nested in a dog bed in the spare stall. Yikes! I got stung yesterday, and when I made another attempt at moving the bed today, they got so enraged I had to leave the barn! Horses were already out. I feel quite intimidated, but they must move elsewhere. I will try again tomorrow…
Meanwhile, I welcome the bees as pollinators in the garden, and flowers are thriving as this unusually wet Spring approaches summer.
A bumblebee at workBumblebee on butterfly weedFritillary butterfly on butterfly weedOak leaf hydrangeasAstilbeFritillary on echinaceaA daylily that has evaded the deer (the deer are getting more brazen, alas)
Eddy has reduced the deer destruction, but has not managed to evict them completely. He and Weedy are constant joys in our life (along with cats and Jane, of course).
The boys at bedtimeMarmalade greets me every morningWeedy awaits a treatWeedy, Anne and Eddy (photo by Harry)Tom Morris and Marmalade nap in their favorite place in the truck bedJane
And greatest joy of all, Harry, who makes all of this possible…
Harry delivers scraps for the varmints
Be safe, be well, be grateful. Celebrate good luck, and endure misadventure. Pay attention to all the beauty around us. Slava Ukraini! God Save America. Peace…
Kiener Plaza, downtown St. Louis, Missouri – June 14, 2025 – No Kings Protest
Jane and Harry and I departed at noon on our adventure to protest. Harry and I had made signs to carry, and it being Flag Day, we had flags with us. I turned one upside down as a signal of distress.
We had no idea whether the protest would be particularly big, or not. In April, the “Hands Off” protest was not stunningly large. But we were compelled by our need to do something, as we have been watching our democracy demolished by the people now in power.
And as you can see from the picture above, this protest was indeed well attended. The governor of Missouri had activated the National Guard in advance of the event (which he waited 8 days to do after the tornado last month). There was no need of troops for this march. People were overwhelmingly kind and peaceful, despite their dissatisfaction with the Trump regime. There was no violence, only uplifting camaraderie. The police were helpful and sympathetic.
We met kind strangers, many of whom had never protested before. Some had last protested the Vietnam war. There were all ages, and colors, and our hope in this country was revived. Living, as we do, in a very Red part of a supermajority Red state, the attendance at the No Kings event was surprising indeed, and refreshing. People are basically good, for the most part. Sadly, some people are brainwashed and have different views from ours, but the United States was designed by the Founders to allow for differences, and to have guardrails against what is happening now, as the government slouches toward autocracy and Christian Nationalism. We, the people, hope to stop the demise of democracy.
Sorry to veer from Nature and animals to politics, but the times have done this. I will get back to the usual programming tomorrow. For now, here are pictures from the protest. We failed to find some of our friends, and were happily surprised to see others we had not expected. It was a wonderful day, from drenching rain on arrival, to beautiful skies, followed by humid Missouri heat. Exhaustion and exhilaration accompanied us home to the animals and a happy reunion with our regular life.
Here are pictures…
Signs for the protest march^Sheltering from rain against a building, we met Liana, at her first protest. Harry gave her a flag.HarryHarry and JaneHarry and AnneHarry and AnneJoe finds us! With Jane and Harry we head toward Rita…Definitely not in Warren County…^Rita!JoeRitaHarry and Rita by the fountainRita and Harry Friends by the fountain before the marching began^Joe and Rita’s Roquefort (she hopes to meet Eddy one day!)A democratic dog Blue dog democratA cat sign, but we saw no catsEven dogs joined the protest^
So many clever signs! Here are just a few…
This one made us cry (and not because Anne is misspelled)His sign said STAND FOR PEACE
Stay safe, stay well, stay involved. Be grateful and be kind. Slava Ukraini! God Save America! Peace…
We are very tired, so I will not post much this evening, except to say that it is Harry’s birthday. Here is a link to a podcast interview with Harry done a few weeks ago that was posted yesterday.
Click on the link and then on the orange play button. I hope this works…
Galloping Through 