Pic Today 7/21/11

LOOK CLOSE . . .

DO YOU SEE TWO DAMSEL FLIES

DANCING ABOVE THE WATER?

Chances are, a trout does!

There are rainbows underneath the water . . .

large, hungry rainbow trout!

And they're watching and waiting for their

favorite summer meal . . . damsel flies!

The cold Meramec waters are teaming

with hungry rainbow trout,

just waiting to leap for flying insects

in the flash of a fin.

Insect control, Ozark style!

Pic Today 7/20/11

96-MILLION GALLONS EVERY DAY

Missouri's 5th largest spring,

Maramec Spring (spelled correctly),

pours 96-million gallons of pure cold water, every day,

into the Meramec River (spelled correctly)!

(As to the different spellings of the "spring" vs. the "river",

don't ask. There's an argument that dates back to the early 1800s.

Anyway, the spring is Maramec; the river is Meramec.)

This famous spring was the site of the earliest iron works,

west of the Mississippi, dating back to the 1830's . . .

an important source of Union cannon balls during the Civil War.

Today it's the site of a trout hatchery, and

important feeder spring to the beautiful Meramec River.

The cold spring waters create a wonderful mist

as they meet the hot summer air.

Pic Today 7/19/11

KEEPIN' COOL

DOWN BY THE RIVER

Fly fishing in a cool Ozark stream

is a great way to stay cool

during these hot summer days.

Grab your rod and reel,

step into the clean, cool waters

of Missouri's trout streams and

bring in your limit (4) of

beautiful rainbow or brown trout.

And don't forget to buy your trout stamp & license.

Pic Today 7/18/11

HEAT WARNINGS POSTED THIS WEEK

Hot, hot weather forecast all week,

with temperatures in excess of 100˚ -

this is going to be extreme.

DON'T FORGET to drink lots of water.

And DON'T FORGET your dog.

(They need lots of water, too.)

Here's a thoughtful drinking fountain,

with a street level water bowl for Fido, too!

Good idea. Thanks.

(Woof.)

Pic Today 7/17/11

THE FARMER'S MARKET

DIFFERENCE

Grown locally . . . picked fresh . . .

organic . . . never sprayed or waxed . . .

or refrigerated . . . beautiful heirloom varieties . . .

. . . fruits and vegetables with flavor,

sold by the farmers who grow them.

. . . pies and pastries baked that morning.

. . . hand collected honey and bee pollen

from a bee keeper named Joy Stinger!

(Really.)

. . . puts the joy back into shopping locally.