Pic Today 11/30/14

NEW STORE IN KIRKWOOD

IS REALLY "CLEANING UP"

Open for just 2 weeks,

Sammy Soap is making (and selling)

hand-made natural bar soaps

in an historic landmark Kirkwood building

(123 West Argonne Ave.)

Each batch of soap is made with 100% vegetable oils,

and natural essential oil recipes.

Chris Moritz is master soap maker

and blends beneficial organic essences

in a variety of pleasing fragrances.

There's a lot of sniffing going on

as customers are invited to smell bars of Sammy Soap.

You're invited to go to the back of the store

to watch Chris blend new batches of soap.

There's even a kid's area where they can

use cookie cutters to press their own soap bars.

(That's the state of Missouri she's holding.)

Owner Karen Copeland is shown here

with her son, Sammy.

Pic Today 11/29/14

ESCAPE 

TO THE RIVER CABIN

. . . just when I needed 

some quiet time, and peace.

Away from the city,

away from holiday sales, 

shopping malls and

the notorious "Black Friday."

Perfect timing, too.

The State Conservation Department

had just released thousands of

farm-raised rainbow trout.

(An annual early winter re-stocking

event on the Meramec River.)

. . . which in turn

always attracts large numbers

of bald eagles and blue herons.

Watching eagles soar overhead

is exhilarating! 

Pic Today 11/28/14

MEMORABLE

THANKSGIVING

DISHES

I brought a sweet potato dish

to Thanksgiving dinner,

featuring red, white and purple

sweet potatoes.

(Recipe follows.)

o  Peel and dice sweet potatoes

(mixed colors)

o  Toss with avocado oil

o  Season with chopped oregano & thyme

o  Add grated fresh ginger (to taste)

o  Fresh ground pepper and kosher salt

Bake at 375˚(F) in large flat pan

for 50-minutes.

NOTE:  Everyone voted for my sister's

home-made apple and pumpkin pies

as tastiest dish!

Pic Today 11/27/14

GARDEN GLOW

LIGHT SHOW

Thanksgiving Eve . . .

a beautiful snowfall . . .

and the opening holiday light show

at Missouri Botanical Garden.

It's just what I needed

to turn my thoughts away

from the recent riots & flames

in our town . . .

to the joy of the holiday season ahead.

Find the light

to make your holidays bright.

(Share the wonder.)

Pic Today 11/26/14

PEACEFUL FLAMES

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness;

only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate;

only love can do that."

                                  - Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Light a candle for peace.

Let your love shine.)

Pic Today 11/25/14

GRAND JURY DECIDES

And the people take to the streets.

The Ferguson, Missouri police killing

is bringing a lot of issues out in public.

People are afraid.

We've got work to do here.

Peace.

And no guns!

Pic Today 11/24/14

SHOPPING FOR

THANKSGIVING DINNER

I love shopping farmer's markets

late in the season,

just in time for Thanksgiving.

Picked fresh, no sprays, all natural.

Let's see what shall we get

for Thanksgiving dinner . . .

o Sage & pumpkins (of course)

o Jerusalem artichokes & peppers (why not?)

o Bok choy (oh yes)

o  Sweet potatoes (a must!)

o  Turnips & carrots (never been sweeter)

o  Persimmons (perfectly ripe)

o  Oyster mushrooms (yum)

o  Organic Granny Smith apples

(ugly but sooo delicious)

So thankful for local farmers markets.

Time for a feast!

Pic Today 11/23/14

DANCE MARATHON

HELPS MAKE MIRACLES

FOR CHILDREN

Students at St. Louis University 

held a dance marathon this weekend

to help raise funds for 

the Children's Miracle Network.

Hundreds of students danced nonstop

to reach their fundraising goal of $250,000

to help area children's hospitals

treat infants born with tragic medical defects.

Highlight of the evening was bringing

children up on stage who were born

prematurely with terminal diagnoses . . .

but with care funded through the

Children's Miracle Network,

are leading normal lives today.

(Fred Bird and other sports mascots

showed up to join in the dance!)