Pic Today 12/31/15

 

 

NEW YEAR'S EVE

CHECK LIST

Here's what we need

      to celebrate New Year's Eve . . . 

1.  Twelve grapes.

2.  One bottle French champagne.

    (With one in reserve, if necessary.) 

3.  Pad of paper.

  (To write down 2016 resolutions.) 

There's a hispanic/latino tradition

of eating 12 grapes at midnight

for good luck in 2016.

1 grape at each strike of the bell at midnight.

(12 grapes for good luck)

The champagne, so we can toast the new year,

hopefully with someone special.

And the pad of paper, so we can write down

our resolutions for the new year,

promises of change for 2016.

But remember,

   resolutions are a bit like babies . . . 

"fun to make, but difficult to maintain."

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! 

Pic Today 12/30/15

 

 

 

 

WHEN RIVERS GET ANGRY

10-inch rainfalls have turned

Missouri streams and rivers into 

torrential flood waters,

covering roads and highways,

driving people from their homes

and businesses.

 (Unfortunately, accounting for several deaths.)

The beautiful Meramec River has been 

especially hard hit, unable to handle the

unrelenting rains and runoff.

The last 2 images show Maggie (daughter)

and Andy's river house, and our

  historic riverview cabin . . . 

1) View from their 2nd floor bedroom window,

overtaking their river home, and

2) Hillside overlook of the cabin (see the roof?)

surrounded by the Meramec River waters.

(It's as close as we could get.)

Most rivers crest on Wednesday.

No way to tell how much damage

until the waters recede.

People's lives and property suffer

when "rivers get angry."

Pic Today 12/29/15

 

 

 

 

 

HEAVY RAINS AND WINDS

FLOOD MISSOURI

It's bad.

Heaviest rains have caused

record flooding throughout our state. 

Hundreds of roads and highways

are underwater, and closed.

Virtually every river and stream

is overflowing, and dangerous to all traffic.

Crazy weather.

Never seen it this bad.

Pic Today 12/28/15

 

 

 

 

FAR TOO MUCH RAIN

Suddenly, torrential rains

dampen the holiday season.

Non-stop storms and flooding

forecast for the next 3 days.

Weather man calls for 5-8" of rain.

(That's too much, too fast.)

Just when I was planning on

welcoming the New Year

down at my Meramec River cabin.

(This should all be snow!)

 

Pic Today 12/27/15

 

 

MY HOLIDAY CONFECTIONS

It's important to create something special 

this time of the year, a personal creation

fresh from the kitchen, from scratch ...

preferably something sweet,

to bring to a holiday party

or Christmas dinner.

Here's what I created this year . . .

1.  Christmas Jello (my own invention)

with 3 different layers/flavors of gelatin,

mandarin oranges & mini-marshmallows.

2.  Two-layer white cake, iced with

   Italian Merinque Buttercream

    and red raspberries on top.*

*made with my new Kitchen-Aid Artisan mixer,

   discovered and claimed in a nearby dumpster.

    (Really.)

Guess which one was the "crowd favorite?"

 

Pic Today 12/26/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

SKATING AND PROPOSING

IN FOREST PARK 

A beautiful sunny Christmas Day

in Forest Park.

Perfect weather for

ice skating at Steinberg Rink.

And proposing marriage

at the top of Art Hill.

(She said "yes.")

 

Pic Today 12/25/15

 

 

MY CHRISTMAS MORNING BARISTAS

These are the beautiful ladies

who make my daily morning coffee

at Kaldi's Coffee in Kirkwood.

Cheers to these talented baristas,

and thank you for putting up with my

moody mornings, and starting my days

with the best estate coffees in town.

Here's hoping Santa brought you

something special.

(You deserve it.)

 

Pic Today 12/24/15

MOTHER AND CHILD

Spent a beautiful day outside

yesterday . . . shooting family pics.

Enjoying our crazy warm weather

(it's Christmas Eve!)

when it's supposed to be CHILLY.

And so,

shot some outdoor pics

of 2 beautiful girls.

(Hi Maggie, Hi Metta)

Stunning beauties.

(Like mother like child.)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Pic Today 12/23/15

 

 

 

NEIGHBORHOOD

NIGHT LIGHTS

I love how the neighbors

dress up their front yards

with Christmas lights.

We're definitely ready

for Santa.

Pic Today 12/22/15

 

WHO'S THE BIG GUY

 IN THE RED SUIT? 

Little Metta is not too sure!

Pic Today 12/21/15

 

 

CHRISTMAS LATTE

It's fitting this week

    my morning coffee should be festive . . . 

I'll have Kaldi's Coffee

fix a holiday latte.

After all,  in 5 days

it's Christmas!

(Maybe with a slice of pumpkin pie.)

 

Pic Today 12/20/15

 

 

 

 

 

 

IT'S CHRISTMAS COOKIE TIME

One of the many pleasures about

this time of the year are

Christmas cookies!

(Mmmmm.)

Plain ones, fancy ones,

ones your grandma used to make,

ones from the "old country,"

ones from the bakery,

    or the very best ones of all . . . 

the ones you make at home,

from scratch! 

(Go find that recipe, right now.) 

 

Pic Today 12/19/15

 

DO YOU BELIEVE?

Christmas is fast approaching.

  Santa is checking his list . . . 

and "checking it twice."

"To see if you've been

naughty or nice." 

 Well ? ? ? ? 

Pic Today 12/18/15

 

 

 

 

POINSETTIAS

THE CHRISTMAS FLOWER

Native to Mexico,

the poinsettia is also known as

"the Christmas flower."

Propagated to bloom this time of the year,

poinsettias are widely available

during the holiday season.

Best known in shades of red,

varieties are also available in white and pink,

with some variegated leaves in

white-and-red.

Now, to pick out the perfect one

    to take home . . .

Pic Today 12/17/15

 

 

 

 

 

MAKING CHRISTMAS BIGGER

. . . and much more fun!

Drive around the neighborhood,

and you'll see something new this year

in holiday yard decorations:

Huge, inflatable, blow up displays.

What fun!