Working from Home

The vast majority of people are now working from home. Andy has been at home for a week already, but I went in to work the whole of last week. I decided that I really can't justify going in to work every day any more, so I packed up all my things and brought them home.  I don't think my office has ever looked this bare, not even when I had just moved into it!!!

It looks pretty sad (and very strange) to have everything moved out

So, now that I have brought everything home, I have completely taken over the dining room table, it's a good job we don't use it too often.  

Mum and Dad's house-new agents

Marie has not been happy with the estate agent that she was using to sell the house, so she decided to move to the agent that sold hers.  The house went back on the market at 245K, let's hope the lower price and Spring brings us a buyer.  The house has been empty for almost a year now.
They had to take new pictures, luckily, it looks like it was a nice day when they did!!!!

 Mum absolutely loved the back garden.  It is still beautiful, but nothing like it was when Mum put so much time into it.  It's one of the major selling points in my opinion as it's so large, but of course not everyone wants that these days

 They spent countless hours in the conservatory.  We used to sit out there for ages almost all year long.  It made Mum very happy.  Even when she was gone, Dad sat out here a lot, I wonder if it was so he could remember her.  Dad's camellia looks beautiful right now too

Marie had just had the bathroom redone, Dad hardly even got to use it

 Mum absolutely loved this fireplace when she got it done.  Wonder if buyers will like it or think it outdated?  Also the wood ceiling?  Not always what everyone would want

 This used to be my bedroom before the conservatory was added and the door taken out.  I can still remember Walter building this arch right after I moved out.  Apparently Mum did NOT want me moving back in!!!!

 The kitchen.  To be honest, I hadn't realized that the ceiling was wood.  Mum must have really liked that effect.  It's amazing what you don't really pay attention to until it's empty

 Mum and Dad's bedroom

 The conservatory view

 This is interesting, I hadn't really seen a floor plan of the house before

I'm always going to look on this house with nostalgia.  Mum and Dad lived here for 60 years.  But, looking at these photos makes me realize that the house needs a lot of work.  Hopefully someone can see past that to what it could be.  Fingers crossed

Look at this wonderful woman!!!!

Well-wishers including University leaders, students, faculty and staff members, trustees, alumni and family packed the Wool Ballroom on Wednesday, Feb. 26, to help a true SLU legend, Dame Mary Bruemmer, celebrate her centennial birthday.
Bruemmer, an alumna, administrator and unmatched University supporter for decades, received birthday wishes, exchanged stories with friends, students and colleagues, and spoke to the crowd about her life as a woman in Jesuit higher education through changing times and thanked the Billikens gathered for their birthday wishes and presence on her special day.
As the crowd watched, Bruemmer blew out the candles on the cake honoring her century of service as a woman for others.

Trip to MBG and the orchid show

Arline and I went to the Botanical Gardens. It was a beautiful day, almost 70 in February-amazing!!!!  The orchid show was great as usual.  They were focusing on Mesoamerican cultures this year and had some very good exhibits, which was sa nice change.

I almost bought a yellow orchid in the shop, but it was unbelievably expensive.  Still might go back though!!!!

These are always my favourites

 I really liked this one too

We went in the climatron, this plant has some really spectacular "flowers"-could be fruit!!!

Unexpected orchid

The orange tree in the Temperate House was laden this year!!!!

New Year, New Decade

New Year's Day was another beautiful day this holiday-not as warm as Christmas, but still bright and sunny. We went to walk around Creve Coeur lake again.  Ben decided he was going to run, so he left Maggie and me behind.  There's no way I can keep up with him running and Maggie can hardly keep up with me walking!!!!

The sun always shines on the righteous!!!!

I didn't get a picture of the waterfall at Christmas, so Maggie and I stopped by and got one this time

After we walked around the lake, we decided to go down to the arch.  It was really busy down town, I guess everyone was out enjoying the weather

It was still pretty chilly, despite the sun shining.  It was pretty windy and Ben and I had multiple layers on.  As we left the house, I asked Maggie if she was going to be warm enough and she said she was (I should have known better!)  I was embarrassed that everyone was wearing Winter clothes and she was in shorts and T shirt, so I ended up giving her my shirt (and then I was cold!!).  I told her to warm herself up on the arch!!!

The river was surprisingly high, I thought it would be much lower....

Ben and the arch

Now it's time to go back to work and hope 2020 is a good year

Bah humbug.....and some of it is gone.....

December 27 and I had nothing to do. So, I look around and decide that I might as well take the tree down. I had bought it before Thanksgiving, so it was pretty old and dry already.  I had everything taken down before the kids even got out of bed!!!!!

Everything back to normal....

However, even thought I took the tree down, there are holiday ornaments that stay up in the house all year round.  I figure if you like them that much, why store them in boxes for 11 months of the year?  Marie and I each got one of these when we were in St Charles years ago.  My one Halloween ornament that stays on the windowsill all year

I have a lot of Christmas ornaments that stay out all year, and I realize that most of them are from Garden Heights!!!!  I originally bought the yellow snowman for Jan and Julie, but it never left my possession.  I bought the reindeer this year

We first saw these figures on a wreath at the Botanical Gardens

The Ukrainian Santa came home with us when we got Ben

Trip to the Zoo

It was such a beautiful day on Boxing Day that Ben, Maggie and I wanted to be outside and so we went to the zoo. I cannot remember the last time we went to the zoo together.  Why do we always go in the penguin house?  It's always cold and really busy (and smells dreadful!).  We must really like penguins!!!!

Actually, I like the puffins more and most people just walk by them and ignore them.  Is it because they all turn their backs on the public???!!!!

The gorillas were being quite animated (for a change!!)

The kids let me go in the butterfly house, it's my favourite place at the zoo (and maybe because of the flowers rather than the butterflies, but I'll never admit it)