Pic Today 10/31/19

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

80 mph winds blowing hot embers

towards your home.

Sudden mandatory evacuation orders.

Northern California, and now moving

closer to Los Angeles.

What would you take with you?

Poor helpless homeowners, farmers,

ranchers, vineyards.

God bless the thousands of firefighters

and residents who are facing

this State of Emergency.

Pic Today 10/30/19

CALIFORNIA WILD FIRES

SPREAD THROUGH WINE COUNTRY

Northern California is bracing for

another windstorm that has

already evacuated 200,000 residents

and wiped out whole vineyards

in Sonoma and Napa Valleys.

The Storm Prediction Center warned

of "extremely critical fire weather"

beginning today, amid an unprecedented

wave of power blackouts by 

Pacific Gas and Electric.

Estimates predict the fires to burn

until November 7.

State officials link the increase

in wildfires to climate change.

Pic Today 10/29/19

PERFECT SEASON

FOR HIKING IN THE WOODS

Timing is everything.

(Pack a camera.)

Pic Today 10/28/19

THE BEST PART OF AUTUMN

The magical transformation

from summer to fall,

waiting for the colors,

the cooler nights.

Enjoy the light, the feelings.

Pic Today 10/27/19

THE COLORS OF AUTUMN

Leaves turn, then fall.

Adding color to our neighborhood.

The show is definitely in the trees.

Pic Today 10/26/19

SWEET TREATS 

AT KALDI'S COFFEE

Thanks, Phoebe,

for my "trick or treat"

for joining the neighborhood

Halloween visits this week.

(Almond Joy is my fave.)

Pic Today 10/25/19

GET OUT INTO THE WOODS

This is the weekend to enjoy

the fall foliage.

Enjoy the colors, the smells,

the crisp cool nights.

Pic Today 10/24/19

PERFECT DAY

AT THE

SCULPTURE PARK

Warm sunny day

at Laumeier Sculpture Park.

And a chance to pay homage

to the Great Eye Ball.

Last warm day of the year,

so they say.

Pic Today 10/23/19

COME SEE THE MASTERS

OF DUTCH PORTRAITURE

Come stand eye to eye

with the perfection of Rembrandt.

70 masterpieces of Dutch painting

from the 17th-century,

now at the St. Louis Art Museum.

Lifelike captures, blushed cheeks,

weathered skin, starched linen, 

stiff black fabric, fur trim.

On loan from the famous collection

of Dutch portraiture, at

the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

 Rembrandt up close.

Don't miss it.

Now through January 12, 2020.

Pic Today 10/22/19

LOVING THE COLORS

OF AUTUMN

Especially the faded reds

on old barn wood.

Pic Today 10/21/19

REFLECTIONS

ON THE MERAMEC

Hard to see the rainbow trout

with all these autumn colors.

Pic Today 10/20/19

FINALLY

The leaves have started turning.

And the days are warm and dry.

Enjoy!

Pic Today 10/19/19

HISTORIC KIRKWOOD HOME

So proud to live in this neighborhood.

Pic Today 10/18/19

TIME TO BUILD A FIRE

Now that nights are cold,

tis' the season to fire up

that great old fireplace

at the river cabin.

Pic Today 10/16/19

THE POWER OF ONE ACORN

"The creation of a thousand forests

is in one acorn."

                             - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pic A Day 10/16/19

SKELETONS IN CLASS

A Kirkwood High School

science teacher

set up a science classroom

in his front yard.

So fun!

Pic Today 10/15/19

PRETTY IN PINK

Good day for a drive in the country.

This beauty parked in the shade.

I love old Dodge trucks.

That divided front windshield.

(My still life for today.)

Pic Today 10/14/19

HISTORIC ROUTE 66

Starting in 1927,

motorists could "get their kicks"

driving from Chicago to L.A.

on Route 66.

Mostly a 2-lane paved highway,

it was promoted as an

adventurous way to see the USA.

Eventually made obsolete by 

an interstate highway system,

there are still sections that remain

including stations and outdated motels

(as the original motel in Cuba, MO,

seen above.)

Cozy, huh?

Pic Today 10/13/19

BIG RIVER

CEDAR HILL, MO

The old mill washed out

long ago, but still worth a visit.

One of Missouri's free-flowing streams.

The Big River is one of our 

greatest natural resources.

Pic Today 10/12/19

WARM DAYS ARE BEHIND US

B r r r r . . . cold snap is here.

Time to bring the plants inside.

Freeze warning tonight.

(Go Cardinals.)

Pic Today 10/11/19

HOW TO LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS

Harvest fresh sprouts off the stem.

Cut in half, toss lightly oil

and fresh ground pepper.

In a separate pan,

dice a thick slice of pancetta.

Saute until crisp, and drain.

In a roasting pan,

spread evenly in a

400˚ oven for 30 minutes

until edges are crisp.

Season with fresh ground nutmeg

and parmesan cheese.

And serve.

You now love brussels sprouts.

Pic Today 10/10/19

STARTING TO TURN

Finally . . .

River trees are changing colors.

My favorite season of the year!

Pic Today 10/9/19

PUMPKINS, PUMPKINS

EVERYWHERE

Got yours yet?

They come in every color,

and every size.

Pic Today 10/8/19

ROUND BALES

Harvest is late this year.

But certain.

Remember when bales

were rectangular?

(Is so,

you're older than me.)

Pic Today 10/7/19

PERFECT EVENING

FOR LOCAL ARTIST

Brian Haynes art reception

at Kirkwood Train Station.

Perfect night for Brian's

wonderful paintings.

Pic Today 10/6/19

SAVORY OKRA

Late summer harvest

at the Farmers Market

gives us just what we need

for stewed okra and tomatoes.

Slice okra, dredge in flour,

mix with egg mixture,

sauté with chopped tomatoes

in hot oil.  Add hot peppers 

and garlic, and stew for 5 min.

You've got a classic creole favorite.

Try it, you'll love it.

Pic Today 10/5/19

INDIAN CORN

A fall favorite, used mostly

for seasonal decorations,

Indian corn is another name

for maize, a hard shelled corn

grown by Native Americans

for thousands of years.

It's the same variety used

in popcorn.

Pic Today 10/4/19

PERSIMMON PERFECTION

They're here, 

they're ripe,

their juicy.

Get 'em while you can.

The new crop is in.

Pic Today 10/3/19

WHERE I NEED TO BE

October temperatures in the 90s.

Much too hot for autumn.

The cool clean waters of the Meramec

is where I need to be.

Pic Today 10/2/19

BEST KEPT SECRET

Acoustic music lovers,

acoustic artists,

have discovered 

Wildwood Springs Lodge,

in Steelville, Missouri

(1 hour west of St. Louis.)

Beautiful setting on the

Meramec River,

in the Missouri Ozarks.

Intimate stage setting,

overnight rooms in this

100 year old resort,

great country food,

with world famous acts.

America, Poco, Taj Mahal

Ozark Mountain Daredevils

just to name a few.

www.wildwoodspringslodge.com

Pic Today 10/1/19

CARDS CLINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

ON LAST DAY OF SEASON

Cardinals left fielder Marcell Ozuna

congratulate Matt Carpenter

on his 3-run homer in yesterday's

final game of the season.

The Cards pounded the Chicago Cubs 9-0

grabbing their first post-season championship

since 2015.

They play Atlanta on Thursday

for Game 1 of the NLDS.

Go Cardinals!