News of the week

Monday started off with a little outing to Rock Bridge State Park for a picnic dinner with Lizzy Crippen.  

 

 

  Much like Shelter Gardens, she has never seen the state park so close to Columbia.  Neither Steve nor I had been there lately and we were surprised at some of the changes.  For example, when we first moved to Missouri, the path ended right up to the natural bridge.  Later, a boardwalk was built through the rock bridge.  I believe there was a landslide a few years back that caused some damage to the trails and now, the new boardwalk stops right at the bridge entrance.   

 Thankfully, for people wanting to splash and wade, there is a little gate that still allows entrance to the water (whew).  We didn’t do that, however, when we visited, even though it was hot enough.  Instead, we climbed the stairs to the top of the rock bridge.  

Lizzy had a hard enough time with this endeavor so we didn’t visit the Devil’s Ice Box which was further up the hill.  Remember that rocky outcrop that was like a little stage on the way to the rock bridge?  Well, the new boardwalk to completely bypasses it.

Later on that night, we had a knock on the door and it was a former missionary, Tony Carter, on his way to Chicago who stopped by for a visit and to stay the night.  It was great to catch up on his life – he hopes to get on with a theater rep company.  He is a huge fantasy reader and Elise and Tony and I had some good book conversations the short time he was here.

I am still a seminary substitute teacher and Wednesday morning I taught the freshman class.  All the classes now meet in the institute – which is very nice.  Later that morning, I took my first pottery wheel class since 8^th grade.  I found a woman who teaches in her basement studio and her price for four lessons (minimum requirement) was very reasonable as well as the time she could teach (I compared the assorted classes in the area) so I am learning a new skill!  I made two bowls my first lesson. 

Steve and I spent Friday in St. Louis.  We were part of the temple cleaning crew for the noon – 4:30 shift and this time, we got to help reassemble the crystal chandelier in the celestial room!  It was so cool to see it up close.  Next, we attended a dinner (delicious) and training for area stake presidencies and their wives.  Elder C. Scott Grow and his wife did the instruction.  Finally, we babysat Noah, Lucy, and Quinn so Emily and Joe could go out to dinner to celebrate their 11^th wedding anniversary.  It was a really wonderful day.

Most of my day yesterday was spent with a full-mass Catholic wedding down at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Steve spent his day researching vacuum cleaners and gutter covers.  We did get to spend the evening watching Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, thanks to Melanie.  The only other movie I watched this past week was The Age of Adeline.  I loved it! 

My cello studio continues to expand.  My newest student is the youngest Houseman - Alison.