Pic Today 7/31/13

A GAME OF SCONES

Fresh baked scones are a hallmark

each morning at Kaldi's Coffee Shops

in the St. Louis area.

Kaldi's 8 bakers were invited to

create their own recipe for

a signature scone, and compete

for "best tasting scone"

in a tasting by fellow employees.

Free scones and cocktails

attracted an enthusiastic crowd,

who voted "White Cheddar Apple"

as the best tasting scone.

Pic Today 7/30/13

FIELDS OF WILDFLOWERS

Endless fields of wildflowers 

alongside country roads . . .

Black-Eyed Susans,

purple cone flowers,

wild daisies.

I don't remember a summer

this colorful, this wild.

Pic Today 7/29/13

PLACES TO SIT

at Laumeier Sculpture Park,

St. Louis County.

Pic Today 7/28/13

DOWN BY THE RIVER

A rare sunny weekend with

uncommonly cool weather (in late July!)

Time to escape to the cabin,

by the river.

A perfect day,

down by the river.

Pic Today 7/27/13

ROGUE UNDERGROUND DINING

EVENT XXXI

The 31st Rogue Underground Dining Event

was held last evening at Parker's Table in St. Louis.

Anonymous local chefs and staff prepared

a 9-course gourmet meal for 24 lucky guests.

This summer menu featured courses

served cold, with no heat or flame involved

in the preparation.

One of the specialty seafood dishes

featured live giant scallops,

flown in fresh from Japan for the event.

Pic Today 7/26/13

LINCOLN'S HOME

IN SPRINGFIELD

As it looked in 1860,

when neighbors and supporters

gathered to urge Abraham Lincoln

to accept his nomination for U.S. President.

And as it appears today,

with much preserved inside and out

as it was in 1865

when his body was returned to Springfield

following his assassination.

. . . the living room where Abe enjoyed his cat,

received guests and played with his children,

. . . the kitchen where Mary oversaw the

preparation of home cooked meals,

. . . the banister and stairs he ascended

each evening for bed,

. . . the 3-seated privy out back,

. . . the door bell, still hanging in the front hallway,

. . . and his familiar stove pipe top hat

hanging forever still.

His home is preserved forever at

Eighth and Jackson Streets

in Springfield, Illinois,

and draws daily visitors

from around the world.

Pic Today 7/25/13

REMEMBERING ABRAHAM LINCOLN

IN HIS HOME TOWN

On a recent business trip to Springfield, Illinois,

I stopped by the new Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library.

Definitely worth a visit!

The galleries, displays and theaters

bring his legacy to life.

Recreations of his family life, triumphs and ordeals,

including the Emancipation Proclamation,

the Civil War years, the Gettysburg Address

and his assassination.

This museum brings his torrential presidency

and family to life.

(A visit to his tomb at the nearby Oak Ridge

cemetery completed my emotional visit.)

Pic Today 7/24/13

A NATIONAL PARKS VACATION

This family decided to visit all the

western National Parks 

in one summer road trip.

They checked 'em off

one at a time,

on their car windows.

Looks like the only destination left

is HOME (in Michigan.)

Pic Today 7/23/13

PROUD PAPA

Prince William looks pretty happy.

Congratulations William & Kate.

We're glad your new baby

is healthy, with lots of hair!

Whatever his name is . . .

here's to the future King of England.

Pic Today 7/22/13

AHOY THERE

POOCHES

The Forest Park Boathouse held its

 10th Annual "Paddle With Your Pooch"

dog-and-master paddle boat race

on Post-Dispatch Lake.

50 dog and master teams competed

for the best time around the water course,

and the conditions were perfect.

All breeds seemed to be in top form,

with top honors going to Team Lydia

(a smart Jack Russell who sported

her own team t-shirt), and a 

spirited LabraDoodle.