Pic-A-Day: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Pic Today 6/30/15

SHOPPING FOR FIREWORKS

More and more states are outlawing

the sale of fireworks . . .

but not in Missouri!

And with the 4th of July

just one week away,

there are lots of road-side tents

selling every kind of firework

. . . to crazy people LIKE ME!

(I love fireworks.)

Monday, June 29, 2015

Pic Today 6/29/15

WELCOME LAURA

TO AMERICA

Finally met Laura last evening,

who moved to St. Louis

from Malaga, Spain

to marry cousin Alex,

and join the family.

Sister Liz, hubbie Jeff,

along with Maggie, Metta & Eli

(and Toby the cat)

welcome you to America.

Bienvenida!

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Pic Today 6/28/15

RONNIE'S

AMAZING BLUEBERRIES

I always look forward to Saturday mornings

at the Kirkwood Farmers Market,

when Ronnie drives up from southern Missouri

with his just-picked organic blueberries

and heirloom tomatoes.

Nothing better than his beautiful organic produce.

In-season, hand-harvested, no sprays.

(His free range organic eggs

are the best I've ever tasted.)

Support your local, organic farmers.

Healthy, delicious, responsible.

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Pic Today 6/27/15

31 BRACELETS

Such great design,

so beautiful . . .

how 31 silver bracelets

can look so "right"

on a lady's arm.

Well done, Madame.

Well done.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Pic Today 6/26/15

THE POWER OF

RED

Nothing as dramatic

as a flower in perfect bloom

in full-throttle red.

It will always steal the show.

Ka-Pow!

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Pic Today 6/25/15

SPIKED SPEEDWELL

Pink and blue spikes

in the garden,

called Spiked Speedwell.

Native Americans used this flowering herb

as a medicinal tea,

to relieve bronchial congestion,

asthma and allergies.

(I guess it worked fast,

earning its common name, Speedwell.)

Its pink and blue spikes

add a splash of color

in the summer garden.

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Pic Today 6/24/15

THE BEAUTY OF

AQUATIC PLANTS

Cold flowing spring water

always seems to support

beautiful plant life.

(Trout, too.)

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Pic Today 6/23/15

EMPTY NEST,

EVENTUALLY

"They fly away.

It is what fledged birds must do,

and she's always known that.

The nest can't always be full."

-- Susan Fletcher, "The Silver Dark Sea"

(Empty nest, found after last week's storms.)

Monday, June 22, 2015

Pic Today 6/22/15

MULCH LOVING FUNGI

With all our recent rains,

mulch, lawns and wood chips

are soaked with moisture.

Ripe growing media

for mycelium

(a.k.a. MUSHROOMS!)

They're everywhere.

Some edible, some poisonous.

(It's good to know the difference.)

Otherwise, don't be adding them

to your favorite stir fry recipes.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Pic Today 6/21/15

CABIN SURVIVES

TROPICAL STORM BILL

As the rains came up from Texas,

Missouri took a direct hit

and the Meramec River flooded

its banks, and access to the cabin.

Hiking in, with cars left behind,

I'm happy to report

the cabin was left high-and-dry.

Hopefully, the rains will move on

and the river will return to

its crystal clear trout stream status.

Whew!

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Pic Today 6/20/15

THE RAINS HAVE STOPPED

For now.

Local rivers and streams

have flooded.

Many roads are impassable.

But the rains have stopped.

Thank, God.

(Today, I drive down to

the river cabin.

To see how bad things are.)

Fingers crossed.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Pic Today 6/19/15

CHEERY SIGN

ON A RAINY DAY

All this heavy rain,

day after day,

is getting everyone down.

Saw this old tile sign

on a building downtown,

and it reminded me:

CHEER UP!

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Pic Today 6/18/15

WET DAYS AHEAD

Rainy days have been with us

for the past week,

but the worst is yet to come . . .

tropical storm "Bill" is now

headed our way,

making a bulls-eye for St. Louis.

Heavy rains, thunder storms,

flooding in the forecast.

(Above is a view of downtown

St. Louis from my right car window.)

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Pic Today 6/17/15

ANOTHER ARTIST "SELFIE"

This is Sir William Orpen,

Irish artist in his studio

(oil on canvas, 1913),

a self portrait he created

standing in front of a large mural,

work in progress.

With furrowed brow,

his painter's smock

and black skull cap,

looking quite serious.

Orpen was a prominent

Irish academic painter,

who died in 1931.

(This large oil painting

hangs in the main gallery

of the St. Louis Art Museum.)

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Pic Today 6/16/15

WORLD'S FAIR PAVILION

FOREST PARK

ST. LOUIS

One of the few remaining structures

of the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis,

the World's Fair Pavilion.

An important landmark

at the site of a grand exposition,

111 years ago;

and last evening, a playground

for Maggie, Metta and Eli.

(And a rainbow, for good luck.)

Monday, June 15, 2015

Pic Today 6/15/15

GETTING THE BLUES

. . . high bush North American blueberries,

that is!

They're here.

The blueberry season has arrived.

Picking blueberries is a sensual pleasure,

one berry at a time.

(I love 'em when they're firm,

a little tart, almost crunchy.)

They're loaded with vitamins

and very high in anti-oxidants.

Yum!

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Pic Today 6/14/15

BEE BALM

Add this beautiful flower

to your garden . . .

and the bees will find you.

Bees love bee balm!

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Pic Today 6/13/15

CRAZY 'BOUT LILIES

This is a good year for lilies!

The colors, the shades,

the petals, the tones,

the stamens, the symmetry.

What a show.

More hybrids than ever before.

(So, which is your favorite?)