Party Animals (366/366)

TIME: 11:25 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Scully & Mulder

*~*~*

Yep - this is the crazy party scene at my house this New Years.

Try not to be jealous of how much fun we are having.

...and because I like a Prisma filter.

 

Big Flakes (365/366)

TIME: 3:13 pm
PLACE: Looking out the home office window

SUBJECT: Snow

*~*~*

We had some big snowflakes coming down for awhile.

They weren't hamster sized, but some were rather quite large.

The ground was too warm for them to stick and soon you couldn't even tell we had any flurries.

Two Sides of the Same Spiral (364/366)

TIME: 7:35 pm
PLACE: National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows
SUBJECT: Millennium Spire

*~*~*

We took a quick drive through the Way of Lights.

No line to get in and no cars in front and/or in back of us.

We drove at our own pace - just the way I like it!

 

The Airport (363/366)

TIME: 7:27 am
PLACE: MidAmerica Airport
SUBJECT: Sign

*~*~*

I drew the short straw and had to pick up my DQ and her boyfriend from the airport this morning.

The plane was on time - In fact, it flew over me as I was driving up Illinois State Route 4 to the entrance.

I didn't have to wait long and made it back home in time to start work at 8:30am.

Cathedral (362/366)

TIME: 4:40 pm

PLACE: Intersection of Centreville Ave and W Lincoln St - looking east
SUBJECT: Cathedral of St. Peter

*~*~*

SD and I had cat feeding duties while DQ is out of town. On our way back home from feeding the rodents this afternoon, the clouds and remainder of the daylight combined to make a picture taking moment of the Cathedral.

St. Elizabeth's Hospital used to stand in that large grassy area in front of the church.  I guess if it was still there, I wouldn't have this photo.

Missouri River (361/366)

TIME: 1:47 pm
PLACE: Outside the St. Charles - Lewis and Clark Boat House & Museum
SUBJECT: Missouri River

*~*~*

Normally, I'm a big day-after-Christmas shopper, but this year HH and I took a drive instead.

We ended up in St. Charles and popped in the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum located on the Missouri River.

Lewis, Clark and Seaman the Newfoundland dog.

It was a very informative and interesting museum with a lot of artifacts.

It's nice to get out take in the history of the area.

Christmas 2020 (360/366)

TIME: 11:49 am

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: SD and the dogs, Jack behind the tree

*~*~*

This is a different Christmas.

MonkeyBoy is overseas and DramaQueen is in Florida with her boyfriend's family.

But, we have StellaDella, Mulder, Jack and the new addition of Miss Scully who all sat for the traditional Christmas morning photo. (Tessa is hiding in the basement.)

MB's girlfriend came by later in the day for dinner and we facetimed MB for a good hour.  I also video chatted with DQ as well.

I will take what I can - and look forward to when we can all be together again.

Jack Frost (359/366)

TIME: 8:31 am

PLACE: Bedroom
SUBJECT: Frost on window

*~*~*

It's pretty, but I guess this means we need to reduce the humidity levels in our room.

Too much hot, doggy breath, I do believe.

Wayback Wednesday (358/366)

TIME: 23 Dec 2006 - 3:32 pm
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Jack 

*~*~*

His first Christmas with us was the only time he ever climbed the tree.

After that, he preferred to lay underneath it.

Casting Shadows (357/366)

TIME: 2:49 pm

PLACE: Alley
SUBJECT: Tree shadow

*~*~*

The bare trees casting their shadows down the alley and onto the factory walls.

StL Aquarium (356/366)

Sandbar Shark                            Atlantic Sea Nettle

                                                            

"Lord Stanley" the blue lobster

Cownose Ray                    Giant Pacific Octopus

Leafy Sea Dragon

TIME: 1:00 to 2:15 pm
PLACE: St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station

*~*~*

SD and I finally visited the Aquarium at Union Station today.

The otters were sleeping, so we didn't get to see their antics, but, we were able to spend about 20 minutes doing one of my favorite things....petting stingrays.  We even got to feed them.

I was happy.

I took my mask off for Lord Stanley's claws/hockey photo shoot.

 

The Arch From the Car: Day and Night (355/366)

TIME: 7:52 am and 6:37 pm
PLACE: St. Louis
SUBJECT: The Arch as an arch

TIME: 7:52 am and 6:37 pm

PLACE: St. Louis

SUBJECT: The Arch as a monolith

*~*~*

Different times, different perspectives...

Brought to You Today by the Colors Teal and Brown (354/366)

TIME: 8:32 am
PLACE: Viviano's on the Hill and Shaw's Coffee
SUBJECT: Teal and brown colors

*~*~*

We kept up the tradition of our annual Italian run this morning.

Gotta have that cheese, salami and Italian cookies for Christmas!

Brewery Lights (353/366)

TIME: 3:34 am
PLACE: Anheuser-Busch Brewery
SUBJECT: Brewery Lights

*~*~*

Another photo taken by my husband. 💕

The 35th annual Brewery Lights at Anheuser-Busch this year is drive-thru only.  Even as a drive-thru it is still very popular.

Since he was at the brewery in the early, early morning hours, he was able to take a photo without any other cars around.
 

Having a Bad Day (352/366)

TIME: 7:25 am
PLACE: A farm
SUBJECT: Stuck cat

*~*~*

HH sent me this photo of a kitty with its head stuck in a container.

He was at a farm dumping brewer's grain and saw this poor guy.

Yes, he did help the cat out of its predicament.

I hope whatever was in that jar was worth getting its head stuck!

Jack On His Back (351/366)

TIME: 2:09
PLACE: Home Office
SUBJECT: Jack

*~*~*

He looks comfortable....I think.

Just for fun, I ran this through some filters in the Prisma app on my phone.

Here he is all "Gothic"

and all "Renewal"

My boy, handsome in any filter! 

Take Me Back Tuesday (350/366)

TIME: 15 Dec 2007 - 9:59 am
PLACE: Back yard
SUBJECT: StellaDella

*~*~*

Apparently on this day, 13 years ago, we had snow.

I think she had just laid down to make a snow angel.

End result is here:

Alien Ornament (349/366)

TIME: 8:59 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Christmas ornament

*~*~*

Here is a close-up of an ornament that gets the honor of being part of the "Ugly Ornament Tree"

I obtained her from eBay earlier in the year.

She is an alien (some may say she is an elf, but I say she is an alien)

Her head is made from a nylon stocking, she has little bead antenna and white ear muffs.

This newest addition is sitting on a branch, enfolded in the gum wrapper garland.

She keeps watch over us all. 

2020 Tree (348/366)

TIME: 7:25 pm

PLACE: Living room

SUBJECT: Christmas Tree

*~*~*

I REALLY am not/was not feeling the Christmas spirit this year. Besides the COVID that affects everyone, we had the loss of HH's mother; we had to make the hard decision to end Oreo's pain and say goodbye to our sweet girl; MB was deployed to Afghanistan, DQ and SD are dealing with health issues that I can't fix...the list goes on.

I didn't want to put a tree up.

I didn't see the point.

But I did it anyway.

It's not the traditional tree we usually put up, but 2020 has not been a traditional year either.

It is what we call the "Ugly Ornament Tree" - all the strange, unusual and unique ornaments we've found and obtained over the years, displayed on a "feather tree" with a gum wrapper garland.

There are a couple of other little decorations in the living room. And I did put lights on the porch. But I did not decorate anywhere close to the Christmas explosions I've had in past years.

Minimal, but meaningful.

This also means there is less to put away after the holidays - another plus!

Relieves Fatigue (347/366)

TIME: 12:20 pm
PLACE: 1st block of North Charles St

SUBJECT: Ghost sign

*~*~*

I've been wanting to take a picture of this for some time, however, everytime I drove by, there would be a car parked in front of it.

There was no car today!

I'm not sure what relieves fatigue, is sold everywhere and is only 5 cents. I could sure use some though.

I did do some quick research in the local historical newspaper archives (courtesy of our library) and found this advertisement for some gum that "relieves fatigue" and was only 5 cents for 5 sticks back in 1916.

Maybe this is it.

 

Unhappy Jack (346/366)

TIME: 1:24 pm
PLACE: Outside at the veterinarian
SUBJECT: Jack in the cat carrier

*~*~*

I've been noticing that Mr. Jack has not been jumping on things and when he sits or lays down, he does so very slowly - I figured he has arthritis in his joints.  That's what happens when you get to be an old man.

While I know I can't make it go away, I figured there had to be a way to lessen the pain and stiffness for him; we did this for Oreo the last few years of her life.

We went to the vet - Jack did not like the ride and yowled all the way there.  Once we parked he calmed down a bit.  They came out and got him for his exam (I can't go in).  The vet called and said his weight was fine, and overall he was healthy.  She gave me Cosequin to mix with his food twice a day.  It will take a few weeks to see if this works for my boy. I really hope this it helps him.

Ummmm...Hello, Could You Throw This Please? (345/366)

TIME: 8:49 pm
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Scully

*~*~*

She will place what she wants you to throw and her head on your lap.  She then stands there and looks up at you until you throw the darn thing.

This is/was a rope toy that was supposed to be pretty durable - however, we soon found out it was definitely not Scully-proof.

I keep throwing the remains for her anyway.

Botanical FIzz (344/366)

TIME: 7:11 pm
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Botanical Fizz

*~*~*

Our broker had a Holiday Cocktails Mixology Class via Zoom with the St. Louis Bartender of the year (2019).  The broker provided cocktail kits with the liquor, so naturally I was in.  I even got my sister to join from her house.

We made Holiday Mules (vodka, cranberry, lime, and ginger beer), "Irish Quarantine was Over" ( Irish whiskey, ginger-pear syrup, mint bitters, and club soda), Autumn Old Fashioned (rye whiskey, apple cider syrup, and cinnamon bitters) and a Botanical Fizz.

The fizz had 1220 Blue Morpho Gin, lemon, simple syrup, orange bitters, sparkling grapefruit juice, egg white, and rosemary. 

I served mine in a festive circus tiger glass.

It was pretty tasty.

Drive Time (343/366)

TIME: 4:52 pm

PLACE: Heading south on Highway 55
SUBJECT: Sky

*~*~*

I had to drive to the office to pick up some work from home equipment - a 3rd monitor, keyboard and headset.

While I don't miss the commute, I do miss seeing the morning and evening skies during the drive.

I got to see a nice one tonight.

Battery Daddy (342/366)

TIME: 6:13 pm

PLACE: Walgreens
SUBJECT: Battery Daddy

*~*~*

HH, SD and I went to Walgreens to get passport photos taken - whether we will be able to travel next year is obviously still up in the air right now, but we are getting prepared nevertheless.

While waiting for them to print, I went down the "As Seen On TV" aisle to look at all the products you didn't know you needed until you see them on the shelf.

The Battery Daddy is one such product - "No more digging through junk drawers searching for batteries...!"

I then took note of this little blurb on the package...

I'm pretty sure that this is considered ironic?
Correct me if I am wrong.

An Open House & Shelves (341/366)

 

Outside of house

Living room light

Hallway ceiling

Shell art on the open basement stair wall

Dining room light

A bathroom

Living room fireplace mantel and beams
(A note stated that the paneling is cyprus and the beams are from a church)

TIME: 1:00 pm
PLACE: West end of town
SUBJECT: Open House

*~*~*

SD and I went to an open house in the west end of town today. (Much better photos of the rooms than I could take - also, I don't know how long the link will work, - it is an auction and ends on 12/9/2020).

It is very mid-century modern and I was very smitten.

 

Who cares that all the windows were single pane glass and it probably costs and arm and a leg to heat the place?

The important thing to note, in my brother's words, is that the house is "Un-Home Depoted" - Which is kind of rare to find these days.  

In any case, for various reasons I will not go into here, there is not a chance I can even think about purchasing this house. Which made me sad.

On the drive back home, I spied an estate sale sign.  We stopped and popped in to see what remained on the 1/2 off day.

I was able to snag this shelf for only $10.00

  

It made me feel a bit better.