Pic Today 4/30/12

NO ORDINARY HAIL STORM

It was early Sunday evening

when the storm sirens sounded.

The skies turned black,

and clouds started rotating.

The tornadoes didn't come,

but the hail storms did.

And this was no ordinary hail.

Like icy tennis balls,

but much harder, much faster.

This was a fierce hail

that hammered car tops and hoods.

And God forbid if you didn't run for cover,

and find shelter for your windshield.

(You'd never forget the racket.)

It seems the weather is becoming

more intense, more extreme.

Pic Today 4/29/2

WE GOT THE BLUES

IN ST. LOUIS

The St. Louis Blues are in the

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs this week,

and they're painting the town "blue" (literally.)

Round 2 Semi-Finals against

the Los Angeles Kings.

(Oh to have tickets to this series!)

LET'S GO BLUES ! ! !

Pic Today 4/28/12

HIBISCUS BLOSSOMS

Mother Nature's perfect antennae!

How could any bee resist?

(No wonder they always get pollinated.)

Pic Today 4/27/12

BIRTHDAY PARTY

FOR A UNIQUE CHURCH

A presentation on the design and construction

of St. Louis Priory Church

was held Thursday evening inside the church,

as it celebrated its 50th birthday.

The very special presenters were

the original architect, Gyo Obata

(founder of HOK, Hellmuth Obata & Kassabaum),

and original headmaster, Fr. Timothy Horner

(founder of St. Louis Priory School, St. Louis,

a Benedictine monastery and school founded in 1956.)

The unique design and construction

of the church was the first use of thin shell concrete

which was sprayed on a wooden frame.

The architectural form of the church is also

its structural frame, with parabolic fiber windows.

The design creates amazing light and acoustics.

It was a thrill for this blogger to be on hand,

as I was a student at this school,

and Fr. Timothy a friend and teacher.

Pic Today 4/26/12

DELICIOUS

NASTURTIUM FLOWERS

I've just discovered nasturtiums!

I've always known them as a beautiful

flower of Spring . . .

orange, reds and yellows.

But a friend made me pick one

(the yellow one, 3rd photo down),

and eat it!

What a delicious surprise.

At first they're sweet, and then

they turn peppery, spicy.

(Makes sense. They're in the watercress family.)

Now I put them in salads.

They're beautiful to view, delicious to eat.

(Try them with fresh strawberries.)

Yum.

Pic Today 4/25/12

MAGNIFICENT

BEARDED IRIS

Cool nights and sunny days.

Just what the doctor ordered

for the stately iris.

The color combinations are endless.

Enjoy the show!

Pic Today 4/24/12

TAKE A BITE!

Oh the taste of homegrown strawberries!

Is there anything more delicious

than fresh, homegrown strawberries?

Straight from the garden.

Sweet, ripe, fragrant.

You can't buy these in the supermarket.

Find them in farmer's markets.

The season is short . . .

ENJOY.

Pic Today 4/23/12

STREET SCENES

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA

Window shopping, people watching.

(Elm Street, downtown Greensboro.)