Now is the Winter of Our Discontent...*  Honestly, that line pops into my mind every morning when I take the dog out just before dawn, while it's barely light out and still cold and quiet.  I look at the dead and dormant foliage in my back yard, with its shades of discontent and barrenness, and think, we need this too. We need the dormant times to nourish the seeds in the ground as well as the thoughts in our minds. I know, for example, that when those beautiful, balmy spring days start to arrive in late March or early April, I will want to be outside, soaking up the sun.  But on these cold winter days, a  warm, invigorating exploration of a favorite museum, or a trip to see one of this year's Oscar-nominated movies, is just the thing.

So I try to keep busy in the winter with activities that I won't want to do once warm weather returns.  Two weekends ago, that involved museum hopping (SLAM and MoHist have some nice exhibits right now) and a new Mexican restaurant in the CWE. This past weekend, it was "All Bach" at the St. Louis Symphony, while this coming weekend I plan to paint some furniture and check out another new restaurant. Next weekend, on Valentine's Day, the Orchid show at Missouri Botanical Gardens beckons.  The photo at right is one I took two years ago at the show.

Of course, there are tons of things to do all over St. Louis during the winter months, including right here in Kirkwood.  Downtown shops are running some pretty amazing sales at this time of year, and we have a couple of new restaurants that have opened.  Just this week, the Kirkwood Garden Club hosted an enlightening and entertaining talk at the Kirkwood Community Center by Dave Gunn, from the Missouri Botanical Garden, on roses.  It was a reminder that spring is just around the corner.  But that's not all:  Don't miss the Gem Show coming up at the Community Center over the Valentine's Day weekend and the annual Pancake Supper hosted by the Police Department on February 26. (Details above for both.)

The Squirrels Ate My Wiring - an update.  Jack Schenck, Kirkwood's Building Commissioner, suggested using peppermint oil around the hood compartment of your car, if you have a squirrel problem, and they will avoid the area.  Moth balls are also a good option, and they will also keep away snakes.  No word yet about cats, however.

That's all for now.  (My proofreader is out sick today so once again there may be some undetected typos that I hope you will forgive - but email me if you have a question about anything!)  Stay warm out there, and see you in two weeks (February 19!).