Pic Today 9/30/15

 

 

 

HAY BALE MAZE

There's a new playground

at the Kirkwood Farmer's Market.

A maze, just for kids,

made from stacks of hay bales.

Twisting, turning, climbing.

You might get lost,

but if they can make it to the end,

they get to pick out their

Halloween pumpkin!

(Now that's "a-maze-ing.") 

Pic Today 9/29/15

 

AUTUMN LEAVES

 Aren't they amazing? 

Pic Today 9/28/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRYSTAL FEST

DAY TWO

The Midwest Crystal Fest

drew more beautiful people

to Emmeneger Park on Sunday,

and more rocks, minerals and crystals

(and all the energy they possess.)

Yoga, massages, live music, dancing,

energy workers, drum circles,

and fabulous jewelry.

The World Bird Sanctuary brought

"Junior" a great horned owl,

and a recovered red tailed hawk

which was found as an injured baby,

raised and recuperated,

and released into the wild

at the Crystal Fest closing ceremonies.

(It was quite a day, and ending

to a fabulous festival.)

Pic Today 9/27/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 MIDWEST CRYSTAL FEST

(I've been waiting for this one.)

A fantastic opening day for this amazing event.

On the banks of the Meramec River,

perfect sunny day, beautiful people,

amazing rocks and crystals,

energy workers, alternative everything,

yoga, massage, oils, smiles, music . . .

and CRYSTALS!

And not ONE PERSON was texting,

or looking down at their "smart phone."

(Tomorrow's blog -- more pics from this festival,

some of the beautiful people I met.)

 

Pic Today 9/26/15

 

BEFORE THERE WAS

INDOOR PLUMBING

There was the cistern.

Well situated near the house

on 19th century farms and homesteads,

the cistern was an essential underground 

holding tank for rain and well water,

with a hand crank to dispense 

this precious resource.

A good cistern meant the difference

between surviving on a farm

or having to look elsewhere for water.

Many old farms in Missouri

still having working cisterns.

(A precious commodity

for "living on the land.")

Pic Today 9/25/15

 

 

 

 

 

MISSOURI'S

HISTORIC BRICK SILOS

In the late 1800's,

grain silos were often made of

red clay bricks from Missouri.

The state was rich with clay soils,

especially north of the Missouri River.

Many brick companies established

factories throughout the middle of the state,

and are still in business today.

At the turn of the century,

fine brick homes were built

throughout St. Louis and Kansas City

(still standing today),

and the grand beer breweries in St. Louis

featured all-brick grain silos

(like the old Lemp Brewery,

still standing today.)

And there are still century farms

west of St. Louis, with brick silos

standing in the field.

Pic Today 9/24/15

 

GROW WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED

In the wild,

plants choose to grow

where they will thrive.

This tree

really wanted to grow

along side a limestone bluff.

(Move over, bluff.)

Pic Today 9/23/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLAVORS AND COLORS

OF A FALL HARVEST

Now that autumn is here,

farmers are bringing

a new fresh harvest to the market.

Fragrant pumpkins, for pies and jack-o-lanterns,

sweetest ever concord grapes,

cherry-red bittersweet to brighten your door,

gourds in every shape and color,

Indian corn (a sure sign summer is over),

squash too pretty to pick,

just picked local apples (for your next pie),

and sweet potatoes for Sunday night dinner.

Autumn harvest is here.