LIGHT AND DARK

Dogwood tree blooming in the sun and tombstones in the shadows at the town cemetery in Ste. Genevieve.               

OPINION

Found beside a small house in Ste. Genevieve. It was  on a corner, with a charming, quirky garden that had an invitation to take a look. This could be seen as a stereotype of small town Missouri. However, the area has unionized mines and plants that make calcium products out of the abundant limestone. We passed a number  of Biden Harris signs.

The second picture location was off to the right of the top frame. Note the last numeral on the sign in the foreground.

        

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH

There are signposts at several intersections in Ste. Genevieve marking the way to points of interest. Given the shopping bag symbol, I assume that there is a store off to the left with the name written on the top sign. I didn't see the place and I have no guess what they sell, but I bet the name wasn't ironic when it was opened. It works the same on this side of the Atlantic.                 

THOUSANDS OF BEES!

We stayed in a B and B in an historic house in Ste. Genevieve. At breakfast Thursday morning the owner noticed this in a blooming red bud tree in the yard. He told us that it was a bee swarm, something I'd never heard of. We learned something. This is part of the reproduction cycle of honey bees. It happens in the spring, when a single colony splits into two or more new colonies. I am quite bee-phobic so I got out the telephoto lens to take this. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swarming_(honey_bee)

This was just inside a fence by the sidewalk and the owner was concerned about neighbors who might be more curious than informed, The local bee person was summoned. He had a box scented with lavender, of all things, which attracts the insects, and used a smoke stick to nudge them off the tree into the target. When we returned in the late afternoon they were gone.

 By the way, we liked the B and B and recommend it. https://www.hertichhouse.com/             

STL DPB A LITTLE OUT OF TOWN - STE. GENEVIEVE, MISSOURI

So our brief anniversary getaway is to Ste. Genevieve, a little over an hour south of our home. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ste._Genevieve,_Missouri . You can see how it promotes itself and it's true that it was the first permanent white settlement in our state. There are a number of historic homes and museums we will poke around in today (although hours are quite limited by the pandemic). This side of the Mississippi River is an area of rolling hills with several wineries. I don't have a good word to say for any Missouri wine I've ever tasted but we're having lunch at a vineyard with very nice restaurant.           

Vive Les Françaises

.

A couple of shots of the old Ste. Genevieve cemetery while I figure out when there might be time to shoot some new stuff. As I've mentioned, the town was settled by the French after their country took control of the Louisiana Territory from Spain. Apparently they were hardy people, as M. and Mme. Valle lived into their 80s. No Obamacare then, either.

As a speaker of 21st Century English, the gravestone in the bottom photo is pretty funny. Sure, the language was more formal one or two centuries ago, but it seems like the deceased is being damned by faint praise, as the saying has it.

Sorry for the lack of comments yesterday. I just got home from work way too late.

Sgt. Pepper Comes To Ste. Gen

.

At least that's the reaction that I get, although this version is much more genteel. It is painted on the side of an empty building across the street from the church we saw yesterday. Sure, a Native American, a French army officer (but in a red coat?) and a local rustic with a fiddle, but it makes me feel like the singer's gonna sing a song and he wants you all to sing along. So let me introduce to you the one and only Billy Shears...

So who is that on the bottom, anyway? It's just to the right of the big mural, a bit above the sidewalk. I can't tell if his intentions are friendly or not.

The Church Of Ste. Genevieve

.

There is a very impressive Catholic church in Ste. Genevieve. Not surprising, since the town was founded in 1735 by French Catholics, but it was in beautiful condition for a place that has seen much better days.

While we were looking around, I heard what sounded like quiet arpeggios. Their source was unclear. It hit me that the music was Baroque. Then the bass notes of the organ dug under the delicate top line. When I looked at the choir loft I saw someone at the console but could not make out the person. A telephoto lens did a better job. The boy in the picture below couldn't be much more than 12 but he played with great assurance and technique.

Note the On Air sign on the wall. There must have been radio broadcasts of the organ or choir at one time.

Ste. Genevieve

.

We are in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, (founded 1735, population 4,410) for the weekend, staying at the historic Inn St. Gemme Beauvais. It's a quiet little town along the Mississippi River. The inn serves classic French cuisine at dinner on Friday and Saturday night - it was superb and modestly priced. It all seems very bucolic, but down the street at an art gallery...