Pic Today 12/31/18

HOWEVER YOU CELEBRATE

THE NEW YEAR

All you need are two things

(besides your loved one):

1.  Some bubbly* to toast 2019

*( Champagne or sparkling cider)

2.  Twelve green grapes

at Midnight

And as the clock strikes 12:00,

the tradition is to eat all 12 grapes,

one for each month of the year

before the clock chimes stop.

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

Pic Today 12/30/18

TIME TO TAKE DOWN

THE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

(Sorry, Santa.)

Pic Today 12/29/18

BEST PANCAKES

IN TOWN

We're lucky here in St. Louis.

3 locations.

The Original Pancake House.

Blueberry Pancakes

for the holidays!

(with warm maple syrup)

Yum!

Pic Today 12/28/18

KITCHEN AND BUTLER'S PANTRY

MAGIC CHEF MANSION

Built for Charles Stockstrom

in 1908,

the Magic Chef mansion contains

the original kitchen and side pantry

of this famous estate in St. Louis.

Once the largest stove maker

in the world,

it is said that in the 1930's and 40's,

one out of every two stoves

in America were Magic Chefs.

Our river cabin 

(built in the 1930's)

still has its original

Magic Chef stove.

Pic Today 12/27/18

BLEVE

2 cute kids

playing with their

sign making toy.

(Thank you, Santa.)

They came up

with the message.

Do what they say!

Pic Today 12/26/18

SURVIVING

CHRISTMAS MORNING

Thanks, Maggie,

for keeping order

(or at least trying to.)

Maybe there's another way

to do this.

(Probably not.)

Pic Today 12/25/18

DON'T FORGET

Leave milk and cookies for Santa.

Merry Christmas!

Pic Today 12/24/18

SANTA COMES

TO THE SYMPHONY

Nothing like attending

the St. Louis Symphony's

holiday concert ...

to help us get in the

Christmas spirit.

It's Christmas Eve.

Are you feeling it yet?

Pic Today 12/23/18

MY FAVORITE LAMP

So many wonderful things

at the cabin.

Original furniture,

vintage kitchen,

fixtures, details, the works.

(Note the framed photo,

before the front deck washed away.)

Pic Today 12/22/18

AFTERNOON SUN

Winter sun

charging feathers hanging

on the cabin wall.

The energy's everywhere!

Pic Today 12/21/18

HOORAY

CAROLYN IS CANCER FREE

Our dear friends

(and cabin neighbors)

Walt and Carolyn

are celebrating the best

possible news 

for the holidays . . .

Carolyn is cancer free.

Having suffered through

two painful bouts

of chemo therapy,

the good news has just come in.

The best possible gift

for the Christmas season.

We are so happy!

Pic Today 12/20/18

RIDIN' THE RAILS

Kirkwood, Missouri

was established in 1853,

and an important suburb

of St. Louis.

As the first planned suburb

west of St. Louis, and an

early railroad commuter destination

west of the Mississippi River,

the city built its train station in 1893,

which continues to serve as 

a major rail stop, with

daily Amtrak service east and west.

The station is staffed and operated

by volunteers, who are avid

train enthusiasts.

All aboard!

Pic Today 12/19/18

NEON ART:

PAST AND PRESENT

An exhibit of advertising

art, electrified.

The beautiful art

 of neon signage.

(At Laumeier Sculpture Park

through January 13.)

Pic Today 12/18/18

CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

One week to go,

till jolly St. Nick

comes down the chimney.

But until then,

it sure is nice to get

to the cabin,

away from the hustle and bustle.

Chilly nights, 

but warm quiet days,

With a fire in the fireplace.

Wishing you all a

quiet, peaceful holiday

season.

Pic Today 12/14/18

CANDY CANE LANE

Festive lighting helps

"make the spirits bright."

How inviting.

Pic Today 12/13/18

WREATHES

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

One of my favorite traditions

at Christmas time.

A symbol of celebration,

and welcome.

Wreathes represent continuity,

and were worn as crowns

in ancient times.

So many creative ways

to salute the season.

Pic Today 12/12/18

CATCHING THE 815

KIRKWOOD TO KANSAS CITY

Holiday travel from downtown Kirkwood

to the heart of Kansas City.

We're lucky to have Amtrak

and the beautiful Kirkwood train station.

All aboard!

Pic Today 12/11/18

TERROR 

ON SANTA'S LAP

Not every child

enjoys visits

with Santa Claus1

Pic Today 12/10/18

CHRISTMAS IS BIG

THIS YEAR

It's irresistible.

Join in.

It's contagious!

Pic Today 12/9/18

TORTIERE NIGHT

AT CHEZ PILON

Making French Quebec

meat pies.

And celebrating with good friends.

It's a holiday tradition.

(Duck fat makes all the difference.)

Yum!

Pic Today 12/8/18

MY CHRISTMAS

MORNING SMOOTHIE

How I start my day

during the holidays.

In a blender, mix the following:

1 freshly squeezed orange

1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt

1/2 ripe banana

1/2 ripe avocado

1 cup fresh strawberries

1 cup fresh peeled pineapple

1 peeled and cored apple

1 tbsp. Joy Stinger's bee pollen

2 tbsp. protein powder

Keeps me full for the day.

Yum.

Pic Today 12/7/18

DID YOU KNOW?

There are shops that sell

Christmas decorations,

ornaments, lights, candies,

collectibles, antiques,

and nothing else?

All year round.

In almost every city

and tourist destination

around the world?

Villages, stores, 

shops, emporiums.

Happy Holidays.

(Bring your wallet.)

Pic Today 12/6/18

JOY STINGER

LOVES CHRISTMAS

A visit to Joy Stinger's

(famous local bee keeper)

is a celebration of an

old fashioned Christmas!

I love stopping by

for fresh jars of honey

and her "over the top"

holiday decorations!

Pic Today 12/5/18

GENTLE SNOW

Soft beautiful snowfall.

Perfect, crystal flakes,

all day long.

I love snow like yesterday!

Pic Today 12/4/18

LOVING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Decorating with holiday lights

is contagious.

Looks so good in the 'hood.