Tribute to Another House: Bockrath-Wiese

     Yup that's me sitting on the steps of a house that is not mine. Young Rissy had the camera in hand that day (she is a quick study and has a good eye - teaching her photography is a pleasure!) and I had just told her that this well-preserved old home was a particular favorite, so acting as director as well, she suggested I be in one of the pictures.  I don't appear in many photos since I am usually on the other end of the camera, so I followed instructions and actually like this shot.

     But now back to the main story here - the house, which is situated on the eastern side of St. Ferdinand Park, on a hillside overlooking the pond (because of the rolling grassy fields and stands of mature trees, the surrounding area retains the atmosphere of a farm). Built in 1870 by Henry Bockrath, a prosperous German immigrant, the simple red brick farmhouse has beautiful details: segmented arches with radiating brick voussoirs above the windows, the denticulated frieze on the south facade, and the single stack chimneys flanking both sides. Even the random stone foundation is appealing.

     Rissy and I enjoyed trying to imagine the life of the family that first resided here - besides the house there is nothing left to indicate daily activities. The city and subdivisions surrounding the park have changed and grown during the last century, but the house remains the same - silent and serene, watching the seasons come and go and filled with its own memories.

White Chocolate and Cherry Cookies

     Pop has a special affinity for dried berries and one of his favorite cookies are Hootycreeks (oatmeal with white chocolate chips, nuts and cranberries). However, having only dried cherries and white chips on hand, a variant was necessary so a Toll House type dough was used and the result was pretty tasty. The half-gallon of milk in the refrigerator disappeared as quickly as the cookies.

Color-Fall

     Autumn brings a host of color and activity, which is always welcome before the gray winter commences. We always enjoy a trip to the pumpkin farm, where we tour the Halloween exhibits, admire the farm animals and wander amid huge piles of orange pumpkins. Then we stop in the open-air market area to buy apple cider and and a few late season vegetables. All the while, a gentle wind rallies the cornstalks, sunshine warms the afternoon air and over all, the sky stretches far and wide in a brilliant blue. The girls are not so little anymore but still like to climb on the biggest pumpkins and pick out little ones to take home.

 

 

      Pumpkins are soon set aside and cell phones take precedence in the back seat of the car on the way home. After appreciating the myriad colors at the farm, this photo seemed to lend itself to the understatement and intrique of black and white.

 

Kielbasa with Brussel Sprouts 'n' Onions

     I'm not only proud of my Polish heritage, I actually like Polish food. The authentic fare is hearty and filling, though sometimes it demands a lot of time to prepare. This favorite entree, however, is simple to prepare and roasts quickly in the oven. Kielbasa and brussel sprouts is not a traditional dish, but combines the distinctive sausage alongside baby sprouts and sliced red onions, stirred with a tiny bit of oil. So tasty and so simple!

A Ducky Day

     Sometimes we will visit St. Ferdinand Park to ride our bikes or do a little fishing in the pretty little lake but on a recent Sunday afternoon, Rissy and I went on a camera expedition. We brought some stale bread to share with our feathered friends and this little group was especially interested and proved to be very photogenic. They were a varied group, almost a lesson in integration, and the overcast sky muted the landscape to provide a good background for their contrasting colors. 

The followers were content to have a stalwart leader as they paraded past us from their grassy resting area into the lake. And back at home later that same day, as the sun began to set, we were thrilled to see a cloud formation that had an uncanny resemblance to that fine fellow!

Weather Rock

     The weather rock in my front garden has had a monotonous job this summer. Oppresive record-setting heat and severe drought have plagued the St. Louis metro area - trees are visibly drooping and loosing leaves from the stress, lawns are parched and crunchy to walk upon, and utility bills are enormous. The smooth veined weather rock endures unscathed, however. The blazing rays and baking temperatures are absorbed and manifest each day's weather: sunny and hot. If only we could wake for a few days to a cool, wet rock!

Patio Coordinates

     Hooray - the enduring and depressing heat that has been suffocating the Midwest for the last two months has abated for a few hours. The humidity vanished, the night was actually cool and this morning's coffee on the porch was pure joy. After reveling in the physical comfort and the colorful sunrise, I rose to begin a morning of chores but not before admiring the coordinating chair cushions and table cloth that accented the pretty iron table and chairs. When the furniture was new, I searched fruitlessly for cushions - tropical themes, stripes and loud colors seemed to be the only option. A trip to the local fabric store was the last ticket and there I found a lovely green-on-white toile. Its pastoral scenes and cool colors were a perfect complement to the vining flower pattern on the chairs. Thick quilt padding (leftover from another project) was used for cushioning in the chair pads and ties were attached to hold them in place, while the tablecloth featured a centered hole for the umbrella. Simple construction and a simple look equalled a serene effect for morning muses!