Pic Today 7/31/11

NO BLOGS FOR A WHILE

Off to work we go . . . traveling . . .

no computers, no email, no pics, no blogs.

Be back soon.

Ciao, bambino!

Pic Today 7/30/11

BERRIES, AND CHERRIES, AND GRAPES,

OH MY!

One of the wonderful things about summer

are the sweet, bite-size fruits

that come to the market.

Oh the flavors.

Fun to eat, one at a time.

Or mix 'em up.

There's blackberries, raspberries, strawberries,

blue berries, bing cherries, golden cherries,

green grapes, purple grapes . . .

there's even tiny tomatoes that look like cherries!

When it comes to the fruits of summer,

good things comes in small packages!

Pic Today 7/29/11

FLOATING BEAUTY

The water hyacinth is a free-floating perennial

which flowers easily in a sunny spot,

and spreads to fill its watery home . . .

sometimes too fast for its own good.

Best suited to man-made ponds or

open containers of fresh water,

the water hyacinth doubles its population

every two weeks . . .

which can cause big problems in lakes and ponds

as an unwanted invasive species.

Find a sunny spot in your yard, add a couple

of bulbous water hyacinths to a tub of water

(and make sure it's not chlorinated),

and you'll be blessed with purple blooms all season long.

The base stems form hollow bulbs of air

which keep water hyacinths floating on the surface.

(Pretty neat trick.)

Pic Today 7/28/11

THE TASTE OF

HOMEGROWN TOMATOES

I'm not sure what they sell

in grocery stores the rest of the year

(they look like tomatoes, but they're not),

but it takes the heat of the summer

and a sunny garden

to grow homegrown tomatoes.

Picking them fresh

and tasting them "still warm from the vine"

is an indescribable experience.

Slice one up, add some fresh basil leaves,

drizzle good balsamic vinegar on top . . .

THIS is a real tomato!

"It's difficult to think of anything but pleasant thoughts

while eating a homegrown tomato."

-- Lewis Grizzard

Pic Today 7/27/11

PUTTING THE COOL

ON HOT SUMMER DAYS

Sure fire ways to "beat the heat" this summer . . .

eating snow cones with a friend,

running through a lawn sprinkler,

hanging out at the local pool,

getting wet at the fountain (any fountain),

saying hi to the sting rays at the zoo!

It's all about getting wet!

Pic Today 7/26/11

THE MIGHTY MANGOSTEEN

Meet the grande dame of superfoods . . .

the mighty mangosteen.

The mangosteen is one of the most highly prized fruits

and grows only in Asia (in tropical climes).

It is famous for its medicinal properties and

exquisitely luscious and delicious taste.

Valued as a superfood, along with acai, goji and pomegranates,

the mangosteen is used in juices, dried in supplements

and now available fresh in select health food & grocery stores.

Its white pulp is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants,

and is an effective treatment against inflammation, bacterial

infections, histamines, arthritis, some cancers,

depression and Alzheimer's disease.

Mangosteen has so many antioxidants that

it has the potential to totally neutralize "free radicals."

And on top of all this . . .

this medicinal superfood tastes absolutely delicious.

The outside shell hardens to naturally protect

and preserve its sweet flesh.

(It's kinda' cool looking, too!)

Yo Mangosteeno!!!

Pic Today 7/25/11

HUGE HISTORIC RESTORATION PROJECT

ON VIEW AT ST. LOUIS ART MUSEUM

The world's largest panoramic canvas (348-feet wide)

is undergoing a restoration and conservation effort

in a rare public display at the St. Louis Art Museum.

On continuous public view in the main exhibition gallery,

an historic panoramic painting by John Egan is

being restored, panel by panel,

which depicts 19th century Native American life

along the Mississippi River Valley.

The massive panorama painting was commissioned

by Dr. M. W. Dickeson, a physician and amateur archeologist,

in 1844, to accompany his traveling lectures

about Indian life, culture and mounds through the area.

The 92" high continuous muslin roll resembles

an old Instamatic film cartridge

with cylinders on either side.

Through years of use, the fabric rolls have deteriorated;

the restoration will preserve and restore cracked creases

and missing areas of pigment.

The four panel areas shown here include:

(1) camp site along the Mississippi River,

(2) Chiefs in costume, including mounds and monuments,

(3) Carved rock cliffs with colossal rock bust in river,

(4) 1844 tornado which caused damage to Indians,

white settlers and negro slaves alike.

The restoration will be on view publicly through August,

and is expected to last more than a year!

(Once finished, the total canvas will be on display

in the museum's new expansion addition.)

Pic Today 7/24/11

SUMMER SUNFLOWERS

ARE IRRESISTIBLE

. . . especially if you're a

swallowtail butterfly!

Pic Today 7/23/11

"Fashion is what you adopt

when you don't know who you are."

- Quentin Crisp

"I don't do fashion,

I am fashion."

- Coco Chanel

Pic Today 7/22/11

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN

WHEN YOU HAVE A GARDEN

1. You get to plan what you grow, and

watch over your plants, start to finish.

2. You learn about self sufficiency.

3. You involve your family, and teach

children how to grow food.

4. You add aesthetics to an outdoor space.

5. You enjoy a work space with

fresh air and sunshine.

6. You pay attention to the weather.

7. You get to eat fresh foods that taste better,

and have more nutrition.

8. You celebrate healthy living.

9. You learn more for next year's garden.

10. You meet the nicest people.

Enjoy. And eat well.