Pic Today 5/5/12

CELEBRATE

CINCO DE MAYO

WITH FRESH MADE SALSA

No better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo

than to make a fresh batch of salsa,

with chips and guacamole.

You can't go wrong with this basic recipe:

Chop or dice the freshest . . .

Tomatoes

Tomatillos

Onions (red or white)

Jalapeno or serrano peppers (seeds removed)

Cilantro

Lime juice

Hot sauce

A splash of tequila

Mix well, and dip in.

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

Pic Today 5/4/12

CHINESE OPERA MASKS:

COLOR IS EVERYTHING

Some of the decorations for the Lantern Festival

feature large silk masks -- faces of the Chinese Opera.

They're striking -- bold, beautiful, very colorful.

Characters in the Chinese opera often wear masks

that have different colors, each meant to symbolize

the characters' roles and portray

their emotional states and personalities.

Their colors hold they key:

o Green masks symbolize characters who are impulsive.

o Red masks are for characters who are brave and loyal.

o Black masks for characters considered fierce, impartial.

o Yellow masks for ambitious souls, and cool headed.

o Blue masks for characters loyal and steadfast.

o White masks are very important, and significant!

CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THE WHITE MASK SYMBOLIZES?

(What color mask fits you?)

Pic Today 5/3/12

THE DRAGON'S COMING

(Part Two)

A crew of 20 Chinese artisans

arrived one month before the opening

of the Lantern Festival,

to build, construct and assemble

26 larger-than-life traditional

Chinese lantern scenes through

Missouri Botanical Garden

(opening May 26.)

Giant lanterns and displays are being assembled on-site,

from miles of welded steel and silk,

and some unusual traditional Chinese materials . . .

like the 200-foot dragon

made from porcelain tea cups, saucers,

plates and bowls . . . hand tied and knotted with string.

And to think each giant display will be illuminated

from within at dusk each day.

Amazing!

Pic Today 5/2/12

THE DRAGON'S COMING

It's getting closer.

And so are 25 other larger-than-life

traditional Chinese creatures, and masks,

and incredible, colorful lantern scenes.

The Lantern Festival is coming to

Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis,

May 26 - August 19.

Lantern festivals have a long tradition in China,

but this Lantern Festival will be the first

of its kind in the United States.

A Chinese construction team of artisans, welders,

silk tailors and lantern makers will spend

one month constructing 26 giant lantern scenes

throughout the garden,

crafted of miles of steel and silk.

Each display will add a riot of color at day,

and will be lit each evening at sunset.

(More photos of the artisans at work

on tomorrow's blog, including a 100-foot

dragon made of tea cups, saucers and string!)

Pic Today 5/1/12

APRIL SHOWERS

BRING

MAY FLOWERS

And how!

With April rains, hail, storms

and tornadoes behind us . . .

let a peaceful month of May

bring warm days and beautiful blooms.