Walking home I encountered a Muggle.
The wee Muggle seemed stuck in a Puddle.
Working quickly I soon had him outed.
Then running on he turned back and shouted-
“Thanks mate, for the break but I’m rather late.
So sorry for the bother and trouble!”
The Muggle in a Puddle
Not having many (any?) old photos to share, I have not jumped on the Throwback Thursday wagon yet. But I did happen across a news feature this morning about one of my favorite places nearby—Grant’s Farm in the St. Louis, Missouri area.
Grant’s Farm opened to the public 60 years ago this week. Before it became known as a tourist destination, it was (and still is) home to members of the Busch family, of Anheuser-Busch Beers fame and fortune.
Before being owned by the Busch family, the land was the Hardscrabble home of President Ulysses S. Grant. Hardscrabble was purchased in 1907 by August A. Busch. The log cabin hand built by Grant for his family before the Civil War was disassembled and rebuilt on the Busch estate, which encompasses over 280 acres of the original land owned by Grant. The two-story cabin is located about one mile from its original site, and is on the tour trail of Grant’s Farm to this day. Years ago, visitors were allowed to disembark the tour trains in front of the cabin and tour the actual inside, which I was fortunate enough to do several times. Having been out of the area and not visiting there in quite some time though now, I am not sure access to the cabin is still allowed in order to preserve it.
My first visits to Grants Farm were shortly after it opened waaaay back in the 1950’s. My heroes were Davy Crockett and Marshall Matt Dillon on the TV show “Gunsmoke” at the time. Visiting Grant’s Farm and seeing my very first live bison and elk up close and being able to pet a horse in the stables actually named “Gunsmoke” were heady adventures indeed! It’s a great place to visit, especially with children. Be sure to visit early in the day to feed the baby goats before they get full and lose interest. Also be sure to double knot all shoelaces because they have a knack for untying shoes. Adults can sample free Anheuser-Busch Beer products in the hospitality area. Stables with the famed Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales can be toured there also, allowing an opportunity to get up close and personal with the giant horses and learn more about them.
There are many more things I could tell you, but it would be a lot more fun for you to come, visit and find out for yourself. Here are a couple links for more info on hours, directions and such if planning a visit to the St. Louis area in the future.
http://anheuser-busch.com/index.php/our-heritage/grants-farm/
http://stlouis.about.com/od/freethingstodo/p/A-Visit-To-Grants-Farm.htm
We are proud to publish Rusty’s first interview in the new Blog feature series today- “Rusty Behind the Scenes!”
As you may recall, Rusty the Red Squirrel, or “Rusty the Fairydiddle” as he has become known here, was recently hired as a Blog Assistant to provide special behind the scenes access for you while Little Red Bear and I finish his collection of short story adventures for release in the coming months. This is the first in a series of news articles, features and interviews Rusty will be doing. If you missed it, more information about Rusty himself is available a few posts below, when he was first introduced.
Rusty sat down for a chat the other day with one of the Gray Foxes from the “Ozarks Ostrich Crisis” story. Not sure everything went quite according to Rusty’s plan though. Having been raised in England, some of his assumptions about the backwoods critters here in the Ozarks Mountains may have been a little off. Here is a link to the full length interview text→ “The Gray Fox Interview” Hope you enjoy it.
Gray Fox
Rusty is hard at work now preparing for his next interview which, in all likelihood, may go a little more smoothly for him—“Buzz the Honeybee”. Watch for it soon.
A St. Charles, Missouri man nearby died after being bitten by a Copperhead Snake in a Missouri state park. It is the third Copperhead bite fatality in the state’s history, and the fourth snake bite death overall in the state, the other being from a Rattlesnake in the 1930’s.
Here’s the point → If you don’t know what it is do NOT pick it up. And even if you do THINK you know what it is, still do NOT pick it up. Snakes can be very confusing and not obvious when covered under leaf litter and detritus in the woods.
For copperheads specifically, note the distinctive hourglass shape pattern and coloration. But- they are easily and frequently confused with Rat Snakes and other snakes. As are Water Moccasins (Cottonmouths). And Coral Snakes vs King Snakes. Please leave snake handling to the experts. Snakes are on the move and very active this time of year, baby snakes are coming out and even a poisonous baby snake is dangerous. Please teach your children to give all snakes and wildlife a wide berth and to please leave the critters alone. For your safety and the wildlife’s.
Have fun in the outdoors, but please use common sense and be safe. Prayers for the family. So sad and avoidable. Here is a link to the original news story as filed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper.
My goodness, so much happening today. It’s a beautiful Saturday here on the outskirts of St. Louis where they are having the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure downtown this morning. The weather could not be more perfect for such a wonderful event.
Today is also Flag Day. Here is a link for a brief history of the day, especially to share with the kids so they know what it is all about. The History of Flag Day
In addition, June 14 this year is Strawberry Shortcake Day! Huzzah! My father’s birthday was May 23 and Strawberry Shortcake was always his cake of choice for his birthday every year. How appropriate it falls one day before Father’s Day this year. Here’s to you Dad, via Google Heaven– Happy Strawberry Shortcake Day!
Wishing everyone a beautiful and wonderful weekend. Fly the flag and have some Strawberry Shortcake. And remember to add barbeque sauce to the grocery list for tomorrow’s Father’s Day Barbeques, too.
Wishing everyone a very Happy and SAFE Memorial Day weekend! If heading to the beach, or anywhere out with nature and wildlife, please remember this is nesting and babies season. Please teach the kids to keep a respectful distance for their own and the wildlife’s safety. When we are out on the beach, in the woods or on the rivers and streams, we are really guests and visitors in someone else’s home. Here is a link to a great article from the American Bird Conservancy.
Fish, Swim and Play From 50 Yards Away
Hope everyone has a chance to have a picnic, go hiking or biking, play softball, go fishing, splash in the surf, go boating or swimming this weekend and enjoy the great outdoors, fresh air, exercise and the start of the summer season! Remember to bring the sunscreen. Stay safe and please keep an eye out for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcycles!
And pause for a moment to reflect on the real meaning of the weekend.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_memorialday.html#lqIY9pTKYCMBMxPw.99
“Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the Armed Services make to defend our way of life.”– Robin Hayes
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_memorialday.html#lqIY9pTKYCMBMxPw
Have a great weekend and visit back on Tuesday for the start of a regular new Blog Feature– “Behind The Scenes”. — Jim (and Red!)
Happy Memorial Day!
James Milson - The Writing Pages 