First Day of Pre-School

I understand he was very brave. 

I understand he met a new friend named Violet.

I understand he was not shy.

I understand he didn't cry.

I did.

Coen at the Lake

Our Captain Coen

Know why he insists on the right side of the seat?

That's where the throttle is!

Recharging. 

Check out the skull swim trunks. He's very proud of them.

But even more proud of

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The Harley shirt that's the same color as Grandpa's.

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Plus it has a skull on it!

Casa De Loco

Driving from Hermitage MO to Lake of the Ozarks on 54 Highway we'd passed the sign for

 Casa de Loco winery many times. It didn't intrigue me at all until I heard it was a former insane asylum. 

The sign said 2 miles to the winery.

The sign didn't say it was 2 miles of gravel, then dirt, road.

If not for the occasional arrow pointing ahead we'd have thought we'd lost our way.

Finally we reached our destination.

But wait......

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We had to cross a bridge!

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You may want to double-click on that photo to get the full effect....

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Then - across the road - another sign...

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In 1929 Bagnell Dam was constructed, and the creation of The Lake of the Ozarks changed central Missouri into a popular vacation spot. A man named Hugo Urbauer bought property on the Niangua River and built a lodge to entertain business associates. It became known as "The Millionaire's Club".

Over the years the property changed hands and became The Mozark Club.  

A restaurant was added and then burnt down.

Time passed and a number of owners came and went.

Eventually the property reopened as The Mozark Health Care Facility,

 caring for "either elderly or mentally ill patients".

Since I fit into both those categories, I loved the place.

Did I mention they sell wine here?

We arrived just after 11 AM. 

We were not the first customers of the day.

There are people drinking on the deck in the above picture.

It's 11 AM.

Those are my kind of people.

As you can see by the height of the deck you'd have to keep a close eye on your consumption of alcohol. This place is built on a bluff.

Very pleasant.

Very, very pleasant..........the tasting area.

Free tasting!!

See the wigs on the wall? You can wear them if you're feeling a little, well, crazy.

Yes, the above picture is a little blurry. I took it after the tasting.

Here's what I got home with.

The label claims "Sometimes I'm Sweet, Sometimes I'm Cold".

Casa Cooler, a sparkling wine that comes in a keg.

Slogan "I'd tap that".

And yes, the bottle - like me - is slightly off center.

I tried the Schizo Bianco, but I'm saving Straight Jacket Syrah and Call Me A Cab for the next trip.

FORE!!

Coen took his parents to the mini golf course this weekend.

He is developing his own distinctive manner of play, much like the movie "Tin Cup".

Of course there are always those who refuse to understand innovation, parents being in that stodgy group.

Grandparents are far, far more agreeable.

There's also an unpleasant aspect when it comes to taking your ball home.

They won't let you do it.

Bella's Big Discovery

While walking Bella this afternoon she became very interested in a leaf.

Almost perfectly round, the leaf was in the middle of the gravel road just up from our trailer.

Bella just wouldn't leave it, and when I stopped to see why it was so special here's who I found.

I'm sure turtles come smaller than this but I've never seen one.

You'd never guess how fast this little dude can run. He moves kinda like a spider.

Is this a cute little feller or what?

Fierce!

Why are pirates so fierce?

Just

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because

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they

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aargh!

Robin Reprise

The bird will never leave.

It is the avian version of Chinese water torture.

A tap, tap, tap that lasts for what seems like forever, then a wild dive ending with a feathery thud against a window.

Earl has lost some interest, but Bella is more incensed each day.

She still launches from the chair back in a desperate attempt to catch the robin but

John points out that she now sticks the landing.