Pic Today 5/31/20

A MATCH

MADE IN HEAVEN

Is there anything better

than home grown strawberries

and rhubarb?

Might be time

for a strawberry rhubarb

PIE!

(Be still my heart.)

Pic Today 5/30/20

FIRST ICED COFFEE

OF THE SEASON

Warm afternoon,

socially distant of course,

on an empty Station Plaza

in downtown Kirkwood.

Grateful Kaldi's Coffee is

 brewing and serving again.

The restaurant scene still struggles.

Life's little treasures in a 

private moment.

Yum.

Pic Today 5/29/20

SAW THIS CAR TODAY

ON MY STREET

Did a double-take for sure.

You can buy car window decals

of this man?

Not even funny.

Pic Today 5/27/20

RUSSIAN TURRETS 

RISE IN DES PERES

There's a new Russian Orthodox Church

in the west part of St. Louis County,

off Big Bend Road in Des Peres.

St. Basil The Great

Orthodox Church,

the first Outside of Russia,

in Mid America.

Offering a full cycle of liturgical services

in the Russian tradition,

on all Sundays, Feast Days

and during Lent.

Offering individualized instruction

for those interested in learning more

about the Orthodox faith.

More than half the parishioners

are converts from Protestantism

and Roman Catholicism,

with a third Russian emigrants.

www.stbasilthegreat.org

Pic Today 5/26/20

BLACK EYED SUSANS

A sure sign summer is near.

These yellow wild flowers

are starting to show on the sides

of the road.

Always along a sunny fence line,

planting themselves each year

with their bright yellow blooms.

Pic Today 5/25/20

VIRTUAL ROGUE UNDERGROUND

VIA ZOOM

How to keep Rogue Underground Dining

  fresh, alive and socially distant . . .

Holding our first ever virtual gathering.

Thank you, Zoomers.

65 people signed up Saturday,

and watched a 3-course gourmet cook-along,

including advance ingredient list

and how too demonstrations.

Beverage instructions along the way.

What fun.

Participants were asked only for donations

to Operation Food Search.

Questions and suggestions along the way,

while the audience watches and

prepares each step of the way.

A huge step forward 

as we adapt to the new now.

(Just one problem . . .

sooo hard to drink through these

damn masks.)

Pic Today 5/24/20

HOT POPPY

These oriental poppies

are truly spectacular.

Pic 5/23/20

GET UP,

IT'S SATURDAY

Time to go to the

 Farmers Market.

(Don't forget your mask.)

Pic Today 5/22/20

THE OTHER

FLOWERING DOGWOOD

Cornus Kousa,

or white Chinese dogwood.

Not to be confused with

pink or white Flowering Dogwood.

Is in perfect bloom right now.

Strikingly beautiful.

(I'm lucky enough to have one

just outside my bedroom window.)

Pic Today 5/21/20

HOMEGROWN BERRIES

ARE THE BEST

All this rain,

and warm weather,

are making locally grown

strawberries worth

the hunt.

Nevermind the supermarket.

Visit your farmers market.

There's no comparison.

Hooray for homegrown!

Yum.

Pic Today 5/20/20

WHEN IT RAINS

it pours ! ! !

(Anyone else

notice the changes

in our climate?)

Pic Today 5/19/20

SURVIVING OUR

WEATHER EXTREMES

Nevermind the pandemic.

Our weather is showing us

who's in charge.

Stay inside,

if your roof's still attached.

Pic Today 5/18/20

THE GARDEN GETS A BATH

Yesterday's heavy rains,

with warm weather this week.

Good time to be in the

grass cutting business.

Pic Today 5/17/20

TOWER GROVE

FARMERS MARKET

IS BACK

With some pandemic tweaks!

More spread out.

Respecting social distancing.

Masks for growers and

customers alike.

Strictly organic, local

and freshly harvested.

The way to shop!

Pic Today 5/16/20

TWO POPPIES

Such perfection!

Pic Today 5/15/20

SUSAN B. ANTHONY

HAD IT RIGHT

"No man is good enough

to govern any woman

 without her consent."

Pic Today 5/14/20

PURPLE IRIS

Also known at the "Blue Flag",

these dramatic iris are at

their peak now.

I always want to get close

and stare inside this

magnificent short lived beauty.

Wow.

Pic Today 5/13/20

IF YOU GROW GARLIC

YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THESE

Garlic Scapes!

It's the middle of May.

Time for these flavorful

young buds to appear.

They're so fragrant.
But the delicious parts
are just below the bud.

Pinch off the flower buds, and discard.

Trim the stems 6-inches down.

Place them in your food processor,
with sun flower seeds, lemon juice,
olive oil and parmesan cheese.

Chop them up, until they look
like Garlic Scape Pesto.

Yummmm.  So fragrant.

Enjoy.

Pic Today 5/12/20

RUNNING OUT OF ROOM

Guess that means

no political stickers!

Pic Today 5/11/20

HOPE YOU HELPED

CELEBRATE MOTHERS DAY

Mothers deserve our love 

and attention.

Pic Today 5/10/20

ELI'S DRIVE-BY

BIRTHDAY PARTY

How do you plan an

8th birthday party,

and respect social distancing?

You invite Eli's friends and classmates

to "drive by" at 3 o'clock sharp,

and honk!  No gifts, but

you can decorate the family car.

The weather was perfect.

And it caused a fun traffic jam.

And the best part  . . .

Eli was so surprised!

(Such a cool grandson.)

Pic Today 5/9/20

FOREST PARK OPEN

BUT EMPTY

St. Louis' famous Forest Park

is open, unlike parks in the county.

But strangely empty.

Beautiful sunny weather brings out

cautious strollers and joggers,

with lots of space for

social distancing.

The St. Louis Art Museum and

St. Louis Zoo are still closed,

but the views are always

worth the visit.

Pic Today 5/8/20

LADDER MAN

Watched him out my front door.

Climbed up the longest ladder

I've ever seen, free hand,

to work on the 4th story eaves.

No ropes, no safety lines,

just tools on his belt.

Nice meeting you Shawn.

His parting words ...

"it's good to have a job."