Tartan Days - wet and over. . .

Well, we almost didn't go down. The morning started off raining and didn't look good.
About a half an hour before parade time, the rain let up. We headed down.
Now the parade always goes down old Main St, so we walked up there. Wow! No body here, we should have a great view.
(We were told this would indeed be the route again.)

While waiting we checked out a couple open shops.
Here is daughter in tartan garb standing in the English Shop.

Well to make a long story short. The parade went down the Katy Trail while we waited on Main St. Although they had golf carts with staff all over the place, they never thought of checking to see if anyone lined up where it was suppose to be.

Oh, well.

We headed down to the park.

The Haggis dealer was open.
We chose fish-n-chips.

The Kilties from Central High School Springfield Mo.did a great job.

Waiting for fish-n-chips.

Highland Reign entertained those of us who stayed through the rain. We sat, listened and ate our sausage rolls and jam tarts.
They always do a great job.








Sunday we went back down hoping to catch the big bagpipe bands, but no luck.

But, as is always a treat, the 42nd Royal Highlanders, a staple at the Tartan Days, performed throughout the weekend, doing mostly traditional 18th century music. They are a St Louis area re-enactment group and are always very good, and very colorful.

Their standard near their camp.

Their canon.

Although rainy most of the weekend we made the best of it, and got our yearly dose of Scotland.

See ya Saturday. . .!

DA, da, da,da. . . da, da, da, da . . . BATGIRL!

 When not out protecting the neighborhood with Spider-girl, from the likes of Punster (a young Joker), and the Fairly Naughty Limerick-er (a young Riddler), . . . . .

 .. . . you can find Bat-girl,
in the Bat-kitchen,
helping Bat-Daddy,
using a Bat-rolling pin. . .

. . .with Bat-jelly (YUK?),
to make Bat-goodies,
to celebrate Bat-Tartan Days
this coming weekend.



Whoosh, POW!, BAM!

BATGIRL!

My virgin sepia saturday. . .

 Well, I am re-posting these photos of dad to participate in my first Sepia Saturday.
The theme for this week is 'Flight'

These are of dad in his RAF days when he was assigned to the Belgium 350 Squadron as an engine mechanic.

He was also stationed near the American Eagle Squadron at this time.

To check out SEPIA SATURDAY CLIC HERE!

Here is the link to the first post. . .

And this handsome dude was in the yard. . .

Fighting Crime. . . . one neighborhood at a time.

 Ready for the next crime wave!

Even under paid superheroes have to work on their own wheels now and then.

Great Easter Weelend . . .

 Met up with the gang this past Sat. for an excellent day on the river.

 All the colorful gear and different boats.

 Weather was fantastic.

 Even couples got out in tandem boats.

 Made it!

Close up of the same action.

 Mr. Bling surfing up a storm.

Not all runs ended up the way they were suppose to. . . up right.

Looked good going in.

 But needed an exit plan.

 Ok, this is better.


Husband and

wife.

 One of our State Reps.
(I won't say which one, in case he was suppose to be in the office today.)

Showing great form.

Couple of QS's to get back in the swing. . .

 Hedge-rows

Almost home.

'With every job that must be done. . .

. . . there is an element of fun. .'  (OK, what movie is that from?)

 . . .Well, if ya have to spend the evening raking up maple 'helicopters' and dog-wood petals, you may as well get the kids involved and have some fun with it. . .

Mom and daughter have the first go.

 Neighbor kids come down and give a hand.

 Mix in a few dog-wood flowers. . .

 . . . and it looks like snow.

Caught this beauty in the bug catcher.
Someone said it was a mosquito hawk.
Have to look that one up. (Hey, it's actually called a 'Crane Fly', and mosquito hawk.)

Cool wonderful evening out with the kids.

Adding a little bounce. . . .

We got out to the cabin for a good while last Saturday.


Spring flowers were coming up everywhere.

I had bought this trampoline back in about 1977 or 78 and had used it a lot over the years. First when still living at home, then when I got my own place.
But to be honest, it has been stored now for about 15 years. (Out of the sun of course.)
But once daughter found out daddy had a trampoline, a promise was extracted to see if it was still in good shape and usable.
We dug it out of the barn, and all helped putting it up.
Daughter swept it off with a broom.

I debated long and hard, with the bed being so old and all, about who should go first, grandma or daughter. Grandma older and brittle. Or daughter, young and flexible.
Daughter won the coin toss.

(I had the only coin so I could hardly be in the drawing of straws.)

 Once the trees all come out, there should be plenty of shade for summer jumping.

Cool break after a couple of hours bouncing.

Can't imagine anything worse. . . .

Stranded. . . .

Results are in . . .

Although I posted the story of our recent vacation in Colo., here on the blog, I had not posted group pictures of the gang. I finally downloaded the group pictures of daughters first trip down the mountain on skis, and here they are.

 Wife and I on the day daughter had her last ski lesson.

The whole gang that took her up and down the mountain for her first runs.

I know I would not have had the nerve to try and get her (and myself) on the lifts those first few times without John and Diane along to help..

Thanks guys!