Norma's favorite massage therapy team in St. Louis

Whenever Norma visits St. Louis, a massage with Theresa Paskas, a veteran body worker, is a must! She is joined here by assistant Sarah. They take very good care of Norma and always love having the chance to work on her.

Great friends, family and food in St. Louis

While in St. Louis last weekend, Norma had a chance to have dinner with dear friends Drs. Don and Judie Chaney at Trattoria Branica in Kirkwood. Delicious!
And, you can always count on a fine dining experience at Frank Papa's, an Italian restaurant in Brentwood. At Frank's, were were joined by the Central High School gang and Ray.
Pictured are Norma, Frank Papa and Dawn, and below that are Dawn and Norma and Vicki, Dixie, Andi and Jim Groff.

Gathering at Aurea and Dave's 9/27/09

We had a couple of impromptu gathering at Aurea and Dave's place in Glen Carbon, Illinois when Norma was recently in St. Louis.

Pictured above are Aurea (my mom's oldest sister) and Lois (my mom's youngest sister) and they are both fabulous, efficient cooks. They take after their mother/my Grandma who raised nine children, prepared 3 square meals a day for her family and the hired hands on the farm, raised chickens, managed my grandfather (Louie) and still had time to quilt. By the time grandkids and great grandkids came along, she was preparing holiday feasts for more than 40 people. It was nothing for her to make a dozen pies before lunch. Aurea and Lois are like that too.


Four of the 9: Aurea, Norma, Lois and Melvin, joined by husbands, kids and grandkids.

Field hockey and soccer

Donna, my mom's sister from Chicago, Dr. Petryk, mom's family doctor, and Norma watch Granville's field hockey team. Dr. Petryk's daughter plays on the same team as Emily, who is the goalie this year, seen below blocking a shot. Below that...Lisa, and all of her expertise in field hockey (she's a quick study!), is the manager of the team, along with her good friend Tara Parsley.

Next photo: Paul playing soccer. He's a great kicker and towers above most of the other players. Sometimes he's the goalie.

And now you what weekends are like in Granville.

Brussel sprouts, coming up!

Ralph's plot at the community garden produced the best-tasting brussel sprouts. He wasn't too sure about growing them, and they started out as pathetic-looking plants, but they flourished with his tender, loving care. Here, Lisa and Emily assist in the final prep for dinner.

S'mores and more 9/12/09

Brian and Emily at the backyard firepit.
Paul, William and Peter below.

Breakfast for Donna's birthday 9/13/09

Dawn, Lisa, Donna (Norma's sister from Chicago), Norma and Emily sitting in front of a little shop in downtown Granville. We had just finished having breakfast with the rest of the gang -- Ralph, Brian and Paul. Then we celebrated Donna's birthday on my mom and dad's deck with a sunflower-shaped cake and fresh strawberries from the Granville Farmer's Market.