Pic Today 2/28/14

WHERE I USED TO HANG

Can't party like the good ol' days,

but I do remember!

Happy Birthday, Lorena.

Pic Today 2/27/14

KEEP THE QUEEN WARM

That's how bees survive the frigid cold.

Even when the temperature dips below zero,

the hive's job is to keep the queen warm.

Bees cluster around the queen, flap their wings

and shiver in a tight ball, surrounding her majesty.

This generates enough heat to keep the queen

warm, even on the coldest days.

Bees eat the honey they've stored,

to have the energy to vibrate all winter long.

And thus, the queen survives 

for the good of the hive.

My friend and beekeeper, Joy Stinger.

has also kept warm this winter,

and is ready for a new season

of delicious honey and pollen.

It's a miraculous relationship.

Pic Today 2/26/14

ANOTHER POLAR VORTEX?

Just when I thought our winter was ending,

another "polar vortex" descends upon us.

Single digits again.   Brrrr.

It is so cold,

and I want it to be over!

(Cartoon by Daryl Cagle, for The Hartford Courant)

Pic Today 2/25/14

BEST RESTAURANT

IN CANTON

Ask anyone in Canton, Illinois

"what's the best restaurant in town?"

The answer's always the same . . .

BROWN'S

Speedy Service

FINE FOODS

Never mind fancy decor,

just the best food in town.

Cooked to order by owner/chef

Mitchell Brown.

Better get there early

for a seat at the counter!

(And yes, that's the Chief of Police

ordering his morning breakfast.)

Pic Today 2/24/14

WHAT'S NEW IN

CANTON, ILLINOIS?

Very little, actually,

and that's the problem.

Canton is a town frozen in time,

like stepping back 100 years.

Stately Victorian homes,

a downtown showing its age.

Antiques, including the buildings

that sell them, and a landmark

water tower in the center of town.

In the heart of the "corn belt,"

Canton is a rich agricultural community

with a foundry that invented the 

first steel V-plow (in 1840),

and later grew into International Harvester.

Prosperous until a labor strike

shut IH down for 170 days

(the longest running strike in U.S. history),

followed by a suspicious fire which

burned the company to the ground.

Since then, Canton has struggled to

renew its economy and commerce.

But small town values keep this

historic town friendly and intact.

(Tomorrow, a tour of Canton's

regionally famous 

Brown's Speedy Service Fine Foods.)

Pic Today 2/23/14

INTO THE FOG

My latest trip (and absence)

took me north, into the fog.

More snow, more cold,

and deep winter fog.

(A perfect match for my blue mood.)

Slow driving.  No driving.

Abstract visibility.

Every view was a painting

in black-and-white.

It got me shooting again!

(Out of the fog scenes tomorrow.

Canton, Illinois -- a town frozen in time.)

No Pic Today 2/19/14

TIME OUT

FOR NOW

Taking a break.

Not bloggin' for a while.

Leaving my camera behind.

Don't have any pics inside me.

Pic Today 2/18/14

SNOW'S GONE

FOR NOW

Rain, and warm temperatures,

have helped with the snow removal.

Winter's chill hangs on,

but we're counting the days

until Spring's warm breeze.

Pic Today 2/17/14

A TIME FOR ORCHIDS

It's February,

and time for the annual orchid show.

Superlatives are scarce,

quite inadequate to describe

the perfection of an orchid in bloom.

(On exhibit at Missouri Botanical Garden.)

Pic Today 2/16/14

FONDUE PARTY

Dinner at the end of a fork . . .

Cheese fondue, veggie fondue,

chocolate fondue!

A slow way to dine, 

and meet new friends.

Pic Today 2/15/14

MORNING ESPRESSO

Fresh roasted Colombian beans,

perfectly ground, steam brewed, 

into my espresso cup.

No better way

to start the day!

(Happy Saturday everyone.)

Pic Today 2/14/14

ENJOYING THE THAW

Nature favors circles and curves,

especially with melting snow.

We were fortunate to experience

temperatures in the 40s and 50s yesterday,

which was a very pleasant change

from our frigid weather.

Watching the snows melt and retreat

reminded me of "snow thaw circles",

a phenomenon that undisturbed snow & ice

melts in gradual circles.

We're due to get more snow today (1-3")

so our circles will no doubt fill in,

until the next warm day that is.

Pic Today 2/13/14

COLD COLD WINTER

"If the thermometer had been an inch longer,

we'd all have frozen to death."

                                                -- Mark Twain