Cake for UMSL Graduation Party

    A simple sheet cake was easily transformed into a splendid tribute to our graduate. The chocolate fudge cake with vanilla icing sported the school seal, which I found online and printed on card stock. Fittingly, the school colors are red and gold (translated to an organic orange which happens to be Christa's favorite color), so it was a no-brainer choosing the decorating palette. Orange tableclothes and balloons completed the scheme, and dressed up the park pavilion nicely. I was afraid the ninety degree temperature and the gusty winds would play havoc with my artistic endeavors but I only detected a little droop of the icing (and a few runaway balloons.)

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.