Pic Today 3/31/13

HAPPY EASTER

however you celebrate the season!

(And I hope you find all your eggs.)

Pic Today 3/30/13

TAPPING MAPLE'S

SWEET GOODNESS

Early Spring, even in Missouri

(when nights are cold, and days reach 40-50˚),

the sap starts running in local maple trees.

My neighbor taps the sweet goodness

with sap buckets, collecting gallons of

colorless liquid at the end of each day.

At 2% sugar, the maple sap is tasteless,

showing no sweetness.

But he slowly boils the sap down into

a familiar amber syrup

and bottles his own sweet maple syrup.

(Or lets it boil down into sweet

maple sugar candy.)

Yes, it's so delicious

and easy to produce.

Pic Today 3/29/13

THE WONDER OF PLAY

Shooting pictures . . . playing Doctor . . .

rolling out pizza dough . . . making a pot of tea . . .

discovering shapes and tools.

So much to learn just by watching

Metta and Eli play.

"Play gives children a chance to practice

what they are learning."

                            -- Mr. Rogers

Pic Today 3/28/13

TWO OLD U.S.

SILVER DOLLARS

I've always thought

older American coins

were more beautiful

than today's modern versions.

More valuable, too.

Mostly because coins were 

minted in 90% silver,

until 1964.

The first coin above (1899)

is worth about $30 today,

and a beautiful silver dollar design.

The 2nd coin (1794) is also a

U.S. silver dollar, in fact

believed to be the first dollar

ever struck by the U.S. Mint.

This unique coin recently sold

at auction for $10-million.

Pic Today 3/27/13

WRONG DOG

FOR WINTER'S SNOW

Meet Roo,

a pure bred Mexican hairless dog.

And "no hair" is the wrong coat

if you're a young puppy,

 surrounded by all this cold and snow.

(Brrrrr.)

So Emily keeps her wrapped in 

knit sweaters and blankets.

Pic Today 3/26/13

SIGNS OF A BIG SNOW

Outdoor furniture gets a 

blanket of snow (a thick blanket).

And children got a "no school" day

to build big snowmen (giant snowmen.)

Pic Today 3/25/13

TOO MUCH SNOW

It started snowing early morning,

and didn't stop

until dark that evening.

Heavy, wet fast flakes.

More than a foot of snow.

Too much for some of the big trees,

as they crashed onto streets and yards.

We had ourselves a "white Sunday."

Wow.

Pic Today 3/24/13

WILD FOREST FLOOR

A short walk through the woods

showed bright Spring colors

just waiting to explode.

These flowers won't mind

one last snow storm

landing tomorrow.

Pic Today 3/23/13

SPRING, WAITING

Even a short walk in the cold air

reveals signs of Spring so near.

And the forecast for tomorrow,

5 to 8 inches of snow!

Outside is healthier than inside.

Pic Today 3/22/13

RETURNING TO LIFE

After a month's ordeal in the hospital

and slow recuperation at home,

I am returning to life in the real world.

Slowly but surely,

day by day,

with camera in hand.

Hello world!