Pic Today 3/31/16

 

 

 

WANT TO FIND 

MOREL MUSHROOMS? 

Now's the time

to start hunting!

(They're early this year.)

Here's my secret spot.

(Can't tell you where.)

Pic Today 3/30/16

OH, THE CORKS

I'VE PULLED

I've been fortunate enough

to learn (and taste)

the great wines of Bordeaux.

Lafite, Margaux, Latour, Mouton, 

Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Haut Brion.

Years ago, when they were affordable.

I got in the habit of saving the corks

of these truly memorable wines.

Today, these same wines command

stratospheric prices.

Fortunately, there are many good wines

from great producers that fit my budget.

(Whew.)

Pic Today 3/29/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CRYSTALS BORN

FROM THE EARTH

Some of the natural and beautiful

gems and minerals shown at our

recent Gem & Mineral Show.

Not just "pretty rocks"

but rare gem quality crystals

from around the world.

Pictured here:

Beautiful crystals

to wear or carry

(some quite powerful.)

Quartz and Amethyst

of every size and purity.

The blues and greens of

Chrisocolla and Malachite.

And hollow geodes

lined with spectacular crystals.

A beautiful show

that always draws the

most interesting people.

 

Pic Today 3/28/16

 

 

THE END OF LENT

Easter dinner was a feast

of carbohydrates!

Creamy, cheese casseroles;

pastries, cakes and chocolates.

Exactly the foods I've been avoiding

and giving up for Lent.

I can hardly move.

 Ugh.

(I don't think I'll be eating today!)

 

Pic Today 3/27/16

 

 

HAPPY EASTER

EVERYONE

However you celebrate it,

wishing you a peaceful

Happy Easter.

(And I hope you find all your eggs.)

Pic Today 3/16/16

 

EASTER EGG COOKIES

These beautiful Easter Egg cookies

  were hand made (and decorated) 

by Kaldi's Kirkwood "master baker" Maria.

They are so beautiful,

and indescribably delicious!

Gracias, Maria.

And Happy Easter everyone.

Pic Today 3/25/16

 

 

 

MAGNIFICENT

MAGNOLIAS

 . . . from start to finish,

pink magnolia trees put on a show.

Delicate buds,

exploding into pink blossoms,

and then covering the ground

with their fragrant petals.

A joy to behold.

Pic Today 3/24/16

 

 

THE BRILLIANCE OF FORSYTHIA

Always a predictable sign

    that Spring has arrived . . . 

that blast of brilliant yellow:

blooming forsythia! 

Here's a tip

if you want some

outside your door:

1.  Find a forsythia shrub.

2,  Go snip a fresh branch,

      6-8 inches of a top shoot. 

3.  Stick it in soil, or potting soil.

4.  Keep moist.

Give it a month or two,

while it takes root.

You now have a forsythia shrub.

(Share the brilliance of Spring.)

 

Pic Today 3/23/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROCKS FROM THE RIVER

Missouri's Meramec River is known

for its caves and rock formations,

stalactites, stalagmites, geodes

and gravel bars.

So it's no wonder 

rocks from this beautiful river

are as beautiful as the spring fed waters.

(Found these during Spring Break.)

 

Pic Today 3/22/16

 

 

BUTTERFLY'S FAVORITE HOST

No mistaking  forsythia's yellow blooms,

Spring's first flowering shrub.

Here a milkweed pod,

protected inside a sweet yellow forsythia,

 disperses its seeds for a new season.

As favored host plant for the

threatened Monarch butterfly,

the milkweed is an important feature

in the home garden.

A beautiful combination.

Pic Today 3/21/16

 

 

BEAUTIFUL START

TO SPRING

Spring got off to a snowy start.

After a glorious, sunny, warm

week of beautiful weather,

the "first morning" of Spring

covered the neighborhood

with huge flakes of snow!

It was so beautiful

and surprised us all

with how fast it 

made everything white!

It was beautiful.

(And gone as fast as it came.)

Welcome Spring.

Pic Today 3/20/16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPRING BREAK

AT THE CABIN

A wonderful early Spring escape

   down to the river cabin . . . 

  warm sunny days, beautiful skies, 

enjoying the peace and tranquility

following the heavy flooding

from the previous month.

But nature has a wonderful way

of recovering and re-adjusting,

    with some surprising benefits . . . 

like the mountains of fine white

river sand left behind,

and the fallen dead trees

left for a new season of fire wood.

Camp fires, grilled vegetables,

the most beautiful clouds,

millions of stars at night 

and sleeping on the porch!

I don't sleep that well

anywhere else!

(Happy First Day Of Spring.)

Pic Today 3/16/16

 

BLOG IS ON

SPRING BREAK.

Gone to the river.

Be back Sunday.

(No phones, no computer, no TV,

peace and quiet.)

 

I'll collect my 

St. Patrick's Day kisses

when I get back.

Pic Today 3/15/16

 

MAGNOLIA PERFECTION

Magnolias are in bloom right now.

I'll let their perfect beauty

speak for themselves.

(Wow.)

 

Pic Today 3/14/16

 

 

 

 

 

CHICAGO TURNED GREEN

THIS PAST WEEKEND

. . . as it does each year

    for the St. Patrick's Day parade.

   For the past 40 years, 

  the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers union 

 dye the Chicago River GREEN 

on parade weekend.

And partiers help celebrate this

very Irish holiday,

  whether they're Irish or not! 

The green dye is actually a secret formula,

thoroughly tested, and proven safe

for the environment.

(The green color disappears by Monday morning.) 

Photos: Courtesy of Huffington Post