Stinkhorn Mushrooms

     Possibly the ugliest plant ever, these mushrooms appeared in my yard this morning. They even have an unpleasant name, Mutinus caninus, according to David Fischer on AmericanMushrooms.com. (Fascinating site which introduced me to the study of mycology - maybe someday I'll find a Phallus impudicus!) Anyway hopefully the forecast for a hot, sunny day will hasten the Stinkhorns demise as their slimy appearance and rotten odor are only interesting for the time it takes to discover and photograph them.

Old St. Ferdinand Shrine

    One of my favorite places was established in 1789 in the township which was called St. Ferdinand by the Spanish and Fleurissant by the French ( it is now known as Florissant). The cornerstone of the shrine was laid in 1821, making it the oldest Catholic church west of the Mississippi. It replaced a church that was constructed of logs and had served the early fur traders until it was destroyed by fire.

     The church, rectory and convent have survived fire and flood and are loving maintained today by The Friends of Old St. Ferdinand Shrine. The buildings are authentically furnished and beautiful in their simplicity. A walk around the grounds or inside the buildings is a humbling, haunting transport into another era. I have been there many times and still come away feeling the spirit and courage of the early settlers.

the bellfry

interior hallway of the convent

view up St. Francois Street from the attic of the convent

Button Necklace

     Not every woman would appreciate a necklace composed of buttons, but this was a gift for my daughter-in-law, who happens to be a kindergarten teacher. I have quite a collection of buttons gathered not only from my own sewing projects over the years but also from flea markets and garage sales, and was inspired to create a jewelry set after searching for a replacement for a lost white shirt button. Teacher and students loved the result.

Sauteed Cube Steaks

     Another standby favorite from my mother's recipe box is cube steaks and since the market frequently offers them discounted, we enjoy this comfort food often. A side dish of cooked vegetables is added for a meal in the winter, while in the summer the additional fare might be a three-bean or pasta salad. A tasty entree so to make sure we don't overeat, I never buy more than three steaks!

Painted Rock Village

     Some people prefer concrete gnomes in their yards, or coachmen holding lanterns, or even geese with seasonal capes (ugh!).  My back porch ornamentation runs to the whimsical end of the spectrum and is miniscule in scale. Rocks that I painted and varnished during the winter are arranged on a far corner of the steps. Simply landscaped with ivy and connected by pathways composed of smooth river stone, the little village appears to be home to a community of some small beings - fairies or elves, perhaps. But we never see them in the daylight hours!

'Give Us This Day' Sampler

     The petty dramas of everyday life at the workplace and in the extended family tend to drag the spirit down. When I walk through this hallway at home, the simple fragment of a prayer in this cross-stitched sampler is uplifting and in my head I always finish the sentence, "And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Now I am not a fervently religious person, but I was raised a Catholic and being a romantic, I still relish the enduring and lyrical traditions, the rich symbolism, and the transcendent mysteries. Perhaps the fact that my grandmother did the needlework is also significant - she chose the colors and lovingly labored over a simple piece of linen to create a composition that is treasured several decades later.

My Meema

     Today, May 17, is the birthday of my beloved grandmother, Meema. Phyllis Eleanor Phillips was born in 1905; she was a most cherished child as she was the youngest of five children, two of whom did not survive infancy. Her doting parents did not spoil her however and she became an independent free spirit who attended bathtub gin parties and sang in a barbershop quartet. Meema married Larry Voorhies and had a little girl, but divorced her alcoholic husband soon after. She never remarried and out of necessity became a working woman way before it was acceptable for ladies to have a career outside the home. When the family of her only child, my mother, relocated to another state, Meema moved with them, living in the same house and when not working, she helped with the seven grandchildren. The family was her life and the children loved her for her musicality, her creativity and even her no-nonsense guidance. Meema has been sorely missed but fondly remembered since her death in 1995. Perhaps a bottle of her favorite Stag beer is in order for today.