MADELEINE MONDAY

A couple of recent shots. Might as well use them both.

First, from last week's trip to the zoo. The carousel is always a hit. BTW, her shirt says resiSTL. She's her mother's daughter.

Second, she likes to play with water guns and in the sprinkler in the cul de sac in front our house. This led to a suggestion that she wash Mrs. C's and her mother's cars parked there. Then she was invited to wash the van of a couple who were visiting our next door neighbors. They paid her a dollar, which was probably fair since she couldn't reach the top.         

IN THE LOOP

Not in the sense on being in the know or having the right information. The Loop is a stretch of Delmar Boulevard that straddles the line between St. Louis and University City. The area got its name a long time ago because trolleys from the city proper would barely edge out into the newly forming suburbs and turn around on a loop of track to head back in. Now it's full of interesting restaurants, offbeat shops, an art house cinema and the bar where Chuck Berry used to play. The feel is adventurous and the politics pretty far left.

The Loop has been the scene of several recent demonstrations. Many businesses have boarded their windows as a precaution. I walked the strip yesterday, taking pictures of some of the things painted on the wood. This got my attention.             

THE ZOO REOPENS

Many thing are reopening here, although I question the wisdom of it. People are very tired of being cooped up and are bursting to get out, although the danger isn't much different than when the quarantine started. Compliance with masks is fairly good, but only fairly. Social distancing is often ignored, although some are careful.

The St. Louis Zoo reopened this week. It controls the number of people by requiring online, timed tickets (although, as always, it is free). This week was members only and we took Ellie. My daughter and I had to work some of the day so we went at 10, getting me the worst possible light. Plus, it's summertime hot. Ellie was bouncing off the walls while my legs turned to rubber. Mrs. C and I sat for a while while the kid took a spin of the carousel.    

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER...

In St. Louis, as we say, just wait a few hours. Being in the middle of the country, we get caught between warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cooler, drier air from the Canadian plains, plus anything that wants to whip east out of the Rockies. This was taken a few days ago when it was cool and damp. It became summertime hot soon thereafter.

It looks like a glorious weekend here. The zoo is reopening on a limited basis. You have to get timed tickets online and this week is members-only (we are). Today we are taking Ellie for her first visit there in some time. Pix are sure to follow.     

AN ASSIGNMENT

I learned most of what what photography skills I have at the Maine Media Workshops, a bit of paradise for people like me. Throughout the summer they run week-long, work-your-ass-off programs in every aspect of photography, video, fine art printing, you name it. I've been there five times. They were some of the best weeks of my life.

And the best teacher I had there, in fact the best teacher I've had from kindergarten through incipient old age, was Bobbi Lane. I took her portraits course and I've never had a week in which I learned more. We keep in touch. She has sort of a daily assignment or theme on her Facebook page for her former students. We post pictures and comment on one another's stuff. Wednesday's theme was macros, something I don't do a lot. My camera bag was in my car so I went out hunting and found this.