Pic Today 11/30/17

 

 

TROPICAL TREAT

UNDER THE DOME

Even on chilly cloudy days,

there's always a tropical jungle

inside the Climatron

at Missouri Botanical Garden.

Their geodesic dome

creates the perfect climate

for rare tropical plants and trees

year round.

(Feels mighty good on cold days, too.)

 

Pic Today 11/29/17

 

 

PRETTY IN PINK

So many shades to choose from.

Poinsettias have become the 

the "flower of Christmas,"

and it's not even the flower

whose color we enjoy.

(It's the leaf or bract

that shows its colors.)

The poinsettia was first brought

to North America by

Joel Roberts Poinsett,

our country's first ambassador

to Mexico and founder of

the National Institute of Science.

Pic Today 11/28/17

 

 

DUCKHUNTER'S

FAMILY PORTRAIT

No question who the center

of this family might be.

Trusted bird retriever

and loyal black lab, Aria,

brings these pictures

to life!

Pic Today 11/27/17

 

 

 

SUNNY SUNDAY

ON THE ICE

Family fun

at Steinberg Rink

in beautiful Forest Park.

Shirt sleeve weather

didn't keep skaters

from testing their balance.

 

Pic Today 11/26/17

 

 

 

GETTING READY

 FOR CHRISTMAS 

Now it's time

to pick out a tree,

to find some new ornaments,

to dress up the house

with holiday cheer.

Start catching the spirit!

 

Pic Today 11/25/17

 

THE GARDEN IS AGLOW

Opening night

for "Garden Glow"

At Missouri Botanical Garden,

the night time outdoor transformation

of the 40-acre garden

with over 1-million lights.

Follow the trail through

a wonderland of colored displays,

and occasional fire pits

to warm you hands and feet.

(Now, through January 1.) 

Pic Today 11/2417

 

THE DAY AFTER

 THANKSGIVING 

The best part of the day after . . .

not shopping.

No, it's leftovers! 

 

Pic Today 11/23/17

 

 

 

 

 ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

WITH PANCETTA

My favorite Thanksgiving vegetable

is always this seasonal 

flavorful side-dish.

Peel the rough outer leaves

off just plucked sprouts.

Cut in half.

Toss with olive oil, salt & pepper.

Dice thick sliced pancetta,

sauté and drain.

Mix with freshly grated nutmeg

in a large roasting pan.

Bake in a hot 450˚ oven, uncovered

for 20 minutes.

Goes well with turkey and gravy!

 

Pic Today 11/22/17

 

 

PASS THE CHEESE,  PLEASE

3 extraordinary cheeses,

just in town for the holidays,

from Neal's Yard Dairy,

farmhouse cheese maker,

London, U.K.

John Nash, proprietor

at Starr's fine wine retailer

(St. Louis, 1135 S. Big Bend)

serves up samples of these 3 great ones:

From left to right:

Shropshire Blue

Lincolnshire Poacher

Sparkenhoe Red Leicester

Just in time for Thanksgiving.

Limited supplies available,

open today.

(As good as cheese gets.)

 

Pic Today 11/21/16

 

 

 

 

 

LAST CALL

AT THE FARMERS MARKET

Last chance to pick up local,

fresh organic produce

direct from the grower.

Just in time for a

Thanksgiving Feast.

 

 Yum.

Pic Today 11/20/17

 

SUNNY WEEK AHEAD

Nights are definitely feeling

like winter is near,

but bright sunny days

 are ahead this whole week.

Perfect weather ahead

this Thanksgiving week.

Time to work on

   our gratitude lists. 

 

Pic Today 11/19/17

 

 

 

THE WILD FOREST FLOOR

As trees bare their leaves,

the forest floor transforms

into a carpet of composting color.

Seeds and hushed colors

are ready for the first snow.

Pic Today 11/18/17

 

RIPE LEMONS

My lemons have ripened.

Finally.

(My indoor Meyer Lemon

tree is sooo beautiful.)

Pic Today 11/17/17

 

 

KIRKWOOD

A RAILROAD TOWN

Since its founding in 1859,

Kirkwood Missouri has been

a railroad town.

Today, the Missouri Pacific Railroad

carries freight across country,

and Amtrak provides passenger service

to stations east and west.

Historic locomotives still run through town,

attracting crowds you and old.

 

Pic Today 11/16/17

 

AN AMISH CLOTHES DRYER

Smart reasons to use an

outdoor clothes line:

1.  Electric dryers fade and

     shrink your favorite clothes. 

2.  Outside line drying sanitizes

    your clothes and gives your laundry 

a fresh clean smell.

3.  Hanging in the sunshine

    irons and starches your clothes 

naturally.   It really works.

4.  It saves money and electricity.

5.  The fresh air and sunshine

      puts you in a better mood. 

(Photographed in Pike County, Missouri)

 

Pic Today 11/15/17

 

 

 

 

ALL THIS BEAUTY

is headed in one direction,

and one direction only.

Straight down,

to the ground below.

(Grab your rakes.)

 

Pic Today 11/14/17

 

 

WINTER SILAGE

The corn has been harvested.

Time to load the silage bales

into the barn.

Winter's on the way.

 

Pic Today 11/13/17

 

 

 

 

 

GORGEOUS HAND MADE

SHIBORI TEXTILE ARTS 

Dyed and original silk

scarves and pillows

from the gifted hands

of Abby Fair,

Kirkwood, Missouri.

The ancient Japanese art

of dyeing known as Shibori

is alive and well,

and for sale,

by Sweet Seed Textiles.

Wearable Shibori silks

available at

abby@sweetseedtextiles.com.

Pic Today 11/12/17

 

RAINBOW HARVEST

FROM

THE WINTER GARDEN

Kale and chard

still thrive

and survive our sudden

  winter weather. 

Nutrition can be

so beautiful.

 

Pic Today 11/11/17

 

THE LEAVES MUST FALL

The saddest part of a glorious autumn,

when the leaves must fall

and return to the soil.

It's when I love to walk the woods,

and shuffle my feet

through the fallen leaves.

Soon the trees will be bare.

(But not too soon.)

 

Pic Today 11/10/17

SUBTLE TONES

Sometimes it's the

muted shades and colors

that turn a

walk in the woods

a blinding experience.

Like today.

Pic Today 11/9/17

 

BLAZING COLORS

And this was the year

weather experts predicted

a disappointing autumn,

when foliage would go

"straight to brown,

and fall on the ground."

Our cool, wet November

proved them all wrong.

What a beautiful autumn

we're having.

Wow!

 

Pic Today 11/8/17

 

'DEIDRE AND MAURA'

Bronze installation

at Missouri Botanical Garden.

St. Louis sculptor, Don Weigand,

was commissioned to sculpt 

the two sisters, aged 9 and 6,

playing forever

in this beautiful garden.

Pic Today 11/7/17

 

 

 

VICTORIAN SPLENDOR

 Built in 1860,

one of the first homes to be built

in Kirkwood, Missouri.

Perfectly restored and maintained

and made more beautiful

by the unexpected fall foliage.

Such a beautiful November here.