TOWER GROVE PRIDE

 

We have two major annual Pride events. There is a big parade downtown in June, which I was not able to attend this year. This weekend we have what is called the Tower Grove Pride Festival, named for the city's second-largest (and my favorite) park. Stages, entertainers, food, artists, craftspeople, churches, healthcare, politics (guess what kind), social services, clothing (some provocative), and lots and lots of interesting strollers. This dad and I are like the shortest distance between two points on a plane, but we are open minded and sympathetic.                     

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Pink

I don't always get around to posting a City Daily Photo theme day pic, but there was an obvious choice this month. These are the feet and toes of my granddaughter Madeleine, now 12 days old.          

Little Madeleine has had a busy few days, including some landmarks: first brunch and lunch out with mom and dad; first dinner out with the family last night at STL's fabulous Afghan restaurant, Sameem; and first music performances. They were kind of twangy. But wait - what are Madeleine, Emily - and I! - doing at the International Steel Guitar Convention? Come back tomorrow and find out. 

And what the heck, I'll throw in another pinkie.

Baby's Hands, Grandmother's Hand

Baby Photography 101 continues. Hope I'm not boring everyone. Indoor flash photography is not one of my top skills so the lighting effects here are not exactly intentional. Nevertheless, the color and lighting remind me of 15th-16th Century Dutch portraiture (there's self-congratulation at its best). This was taken last night after Madeleine and my daughter came home. It was Emily's 37th birthday, too. Here, the emphasis in on Madeleine's hands and Grandma Crowe's hand.

Some variation soon. The Lou is about to start an annual string of festivals - the International Festival this weekend in Tower Grove Park; the Japanese Festival (konichiwa!) in the botanical garden over Labor Day weekend; and the Hispanic Festival downtown the weekend after that. Only problem is the first two get so crowded it's hard to shoot.                  

Don't Let The Bugs Get In Your Mouth

What, bored already?

Below, dad, mom and baby share a quiet moment. Son-in-law Brian pours a toast with Taittinger La Francaise, the official champagne of St. Louis Daily Photo (although C de Q has told me I could do better) and, last, Emily and Brian, Carolyn and I have a swig.

I read my granddaughter her first story at the hospital last night - of course, one of the Madeline series - and asked her to remember that the first city she heard about was Paris. We took some video on my DSLR. I don't do video but if I can figure out iMovie we'll have a clip soon.

So sorry about the lack of comments. I'm a bit preoccupied. And not just her - some intense stuff going on at work. What perfect timing.                       

Madeleine Horrocks

The announcement, at last. My first grandchild, born to my daughter Emily and her husband Brian at 4:50 AM on August 20, 2013. Three and a half hours old in these shots. She's perfect. Mother and daughter doing wonderfully.

Lots more of this to come, I can assure you. And my first try at baby photography. Lots to learn.                   

Detour, But It's OK

I was going to run some pictures of the Calgary chuckwagon races but I didn't have any time to edit yesterday. Had to go to work for a while. In the late afternoon and evening there was a baby shower for our daughter Emily, who is soon to have our first grandchild. So voila, la famille Crowe. Me, Em, Carolyn and Andy. All very happy.   

There will be a feature about this venue in a week or so.                                 

STL DPB On The Road: A Last Picture From New Jersey

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We are back in St. Louis as this post goes up Monday morning, but this is literally the final image as we left my sister's house in New Jersey. What monsters lie there? The family keeps a wreath on their front door year-round. This summer a robin built a nest in the center. Mom went off looking for food while this little peeper, two or three days old, waited for chow. A couple of siblings were in the back of the nest, all of them with their beaks resting on the edge.