Easter: What a Difference a Week Makes

Fluffy little Easter kittens--

Remember how it snowed here in Street Lewie (that's how navigation systems sometimes pronounce St. Louis) last Sunday?

Here's a picture taken last Sunday of the best seat in St. Louis:

The reason this is the best seat in St. Louis is because, when you sit here, you have the best view of the lagoon in the prettiest park in the city (or anywhere, for that matter). Here was the view last Sunday:

And HERE is what the lagoon looked like today, Easter Sunday:

And: 70 DEGREES, y'all!!!

Here's Goose, trying to keep all the 'quirrels in the park in line. Her work is never done:

Yes, she's still a little white fluffy dog, but believe me when I tell you that this is the most fearsome Lucille has ever looked.

And speaking of fearsome dogs on Easter, check out the signs on the front of this house (taken in St. Louis' Italian neighborhood, The Hill):

To the right, hanging on the door, are colorful Easter eggs that read, "EVERY BUNNY WELCOME." Awwwww. To the left, in the corner window, is a black and orange sign that reads, "BEWARE OF DOG." Damn, people--which is it?!

And, since I'm talking about Easter weather and dogs on Easter and Easter greetings, let me leave you with this video of a gentleman who prepared for Easter in a unique way: "One man, one Lord, one faith, one baptism...two nun chucks."

If you can't see the video and you got this blog post via email, you probably need to go directly to the blog post on Sweet Tea to view. It's worth it!

Until next time, my little bunnies!

Snow Pics: The Architecture

Sweet, sweet bleaders--

For the past two days, I've shared pictures of the late-March snowfall in Lafayette Square: on Sunday, an every-two-hours' snowfall progression, and on Monday, pictures of the snow-covered park. Today I want to show you some of the houses and other buildings around the park.

Lafayette Square was originally part of a section of St. Louis called Old Frenchtown, which includes the current neighborhoods of LaSalle (the neighborhood that Purina built), Soulard (home to the oldest farmers' market west of the Mississippi), and Lafayette Square (the most beautiful neighborhood in all the land). If you ask me, those are easily the three most beautiful neighborhoods in all of St. Louis.

Most of the buildings in Lafayette Square were built in the mid-to-late 1800s; mine was built in 1888. Here's a look down my snow-covered street; surely you can see the consistency of the architecture:

You'll hear the architecture called many things: Victorian, Second Empire, Italianate, Napoleon III, and others. It's hard to say exactly what's right, but the old police station is pretty representative of all the buildings and houses on The Square:

Because snow casts such a magical spell, I put on my boots (the ones that make me the butt of so many jokes *cough*WILLIAM*cough*DAVID*) and headed out with my (borrowed) camera.

Here are some of the my favorite pictures of the houses and buildings around The Square in the snow.

Here's the Methodist Church, on The Square's namesake street, Lafayette Avenue.

The Square has a funeral home, also on Lafayette.

Along Mississippi Avenue...

This pink house, along Mississippi, is my favorite house that faces the park.

The Square's "downtown," home to some of the city's most popular establishments (heading east down  Park Avenue).

Park Avenue homes (and at least one B&B)

This home, at the corner of Park and Missouri Avenues, is one of the only houses in the neighborhood with a porch, so it's a real standout.

Looking south down Missouri Avenue, toward Lafayette Avenue...

The Abbey on the Park, now eight condos, covered in snow. The Abbey sits at the corner of Missouri and Albion (or, as I like to call it, "Albion the lookout for you!").

Let me know if you'd like more pictures--I'll post or not, based on feedback.

Until later...stay warm (something I didn't think I'd be saying right around Easter)!

Snow Pics: The Park

Tender bleaders--

It snowed all day yesterday and today, and I promised you pictures.

I live in a neighborhood called Lafayette Square, anchored by a park (Lafayette Square Park, duh). I first came to this park quite by accident last summer: I was just looking for a new place to walk Lucy and breathe some fresh air. My dad was dying and I didn't know one day from the next. I hadn't been home in months.

And then Lucy and I came to Lafayette Square. As we walked around the park, fed the ducks our leftover sandwich bread from lunch in the cafe across the street, and basked in the sun on a bench, the unmistakable--if almost forgotten--feeling of being home came over me. As an older gentleman who lives on the street next to me would later tell me, you don't choose The Square...The Square chooses you. I reckon so.

Anyway, here's The Square in a snowstorm:

The old police station. Now used for meetings, weddings, and other gatherings.

This is the best seat in St. Louis? Know why?

Because THIS is the view. Gorgeous all year long. Lafayette Square has two ponds: the grotto (this one), and...

...the duck pond (this one, which also has the meanest, most ungrateful geese and swans you've ever seen).

It even snowed so much that folks went cross-country skiing through the park.

And sledding!

Stay tuned...I also got some good shots of some of the houses that face the park--they're beautiful!

Until next time, sweetie pies.

Snow?! In Late March?!

My delicate little snowflakes--

Can we all agree that Mother Nature is indeed the maddest of scientists? I mean, here it is late March, and we've got a snowstorm on our doorsteps. Yesterday it was sunny and 50+ degrees, but today...today we get snow. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch warned us to expect 6-11 inches. Six-to-eleven inches? Why do I feel like some braggity guy is writing their weather headlines?

Anyway, reading about weather is one thing, but seeing it is another. (Exception: hurricanes. News stations need to stop sending their reporters to cover hurricanes. Oh, it's windy and rainy? Now there's a revelation! Leave hurricane coverage to homemade YouTube videos of idiots who decide to surf in a hurricane, not a reporter holding on to a rail.)

With that said, here's my little corner of the world during the snow, with the time taken (24-hour) in the caption:

Looking down my street (the park is behind me):

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Looking up my street, toward the park (my house is behind me):

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Entering the park (that's a gigantic urn up ahead; it's filled with flowers all spring and summer):

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Spring's most cheerful harbinger, the daffodil:

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In the park, looking down my street (That big ol' building on the left is a former abbey that was converted into eight condos--it's called Abbey on the Park, and it's gorgeous. It dwarfs all the houses facing the park, all of which dwarf my house.):

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Missouri Avenue, flanked by the park on one side and the fancy-schmancy park-facing houses on the other:

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Casa de Lucy from the front (sorry, no 0800 picture):

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(See that downstairs curtain pulled to the side? If you look closely, you can see Lucy's face at the bottom. 

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1400 (Seriously, Prius driver?)

Weather.com says that it will snow for the next 24-36 hours. I am serious. I've been taking some other shots while I've been out and about, so look for some randoms a little later on (maybe tomorrow).

Stay warm, my shnuggly little kittens.

Shnuggly.