A Little Drive-About
Saturday, September 10, 2011
In which travels are made to various regions about the city…
Steady rain…
A little Minecraft for the boys. Puck, Donkey at elbow, pipe in mouth, observed the screen…
“According to this research, you are in the right position.”
Someone had been watching The Magic School Bus that week…
Meanwhile, Linnea was at another volleyball tournament. Ten games, playing varsity and junior varsity.
As the rain began to let up, 10:30 found the little family up at church for OLeif to attend a meeting to install and operate the new television screens for the worship service. In effort to save on paper costs, one would presume… While they waited, Isabella Swiss told Collette more about the shop in Old St. Charles where Collette had participated a few Saturdays in the archaeology dig six years ago. Some blue and white French pottery had been unearthed, leading them to still believe that the original foundation of the house was, indeed, built in the 1760’s — the oldest structure in St. Charles.
By 11:15, they arrived at the Silverspoon’s, where Gloria had just returned from a women’s event with church ladies, and with groceries. The boys joined Theodore in the basement to cut out ‘Bible book blocks’ for Gloria’s Sunday School class.
By the afternoon, it was time for some adventure, Silverspoon-style. So all five piled into the Mazda and drove off to pick up a few parts for OLeif’s bike. Gloria was behind the wheel…
“Off on our Saturday drive.”
“It’s usual a Sunday drive,” said Theodore. “Like back in the 50’s. Down to Mineral Wells for broken cookies. They had a cookie factory there. Sold two dozen cookies for 29 cents.”
At the bike shop, Gloria found Puck a free bag of popcorn and the boys got to check out the price tags on some of the models.
Nothing better than a gray day for motoring around the city, so next off to Old St. Charles. On the way, they passed Tubby’s Pub.
“A friend of mine,” said OLeif, “he’s sort of a foodie. Says they have the best steaks in town…”
“Best mistakes?” Puck asked indignantly. “Daddy, you’re kidding.”
Puck had apparently adopted his youngest uncle’s talent of hearing.
Down to the river by the green-palor sand. Six weddings milling about, one with all-purple umbrellas for the maids.
“Let’s make mud pies!” Puck declared, taking off in a run with his wellies.
OLeif and Collette caught three toads which Gloria tucked inside an envelope.
“Frog farm,” she laughed. “Bob, meet Betty. Betty, meet Bob.”
Painted butterflies… Theodore found what seemed to be a dying fish swimming sideways in circles in the water.
“Look, Dad!” Puck exclaimed. “He was digging a heavy reed into a mud patch. “I made a terrific hole!”
The Riverside Sweets Ice Cream Parlor was waiting for them, in the little green moss stone alley, always cool and dark no matter the season. Inside, Collette chose a cup of black raspberry truffle, a first try for her, and a good one. Theodore and Gloria abstained. But Theodore’s cold water bottle served as a more proper home for the frogs while Puck sat on the stone wall and polished off the last of his strawberry ice cream. OLeif had butter pecan in a cone.
“They’re off on an adventure!” Puck declared, examining the frog tube.
They next spent a little time driving through some older neighborhoods on Upper Bottom, mostly built in the 80’s, large lots, and unique in their styles.
Then to drop off the bottle of toads for German’s little brothers.
Back to the Silverspoon’s for Puck’s bath, Shaun the Sheep, and dinner on a small plank set atop Gloria’s old Barbie-doll box.
Back home…
A spider jumped on Collette’s arm while she closed the curtains… abominable beasts.
“One may have a blazing hearth in one’s soul and yet no one ever come to sit by it. Passersby see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on the way.”
— Vincent Van Gogh