Lawnmower Brigade

Yesterday's photo was of the equipment belonging to a member of the Arcola Precision Lawnmower Drill Team. It's a small farm town in Illinois, some distance east of here. They decorate old, beat-up lawnmowers in, shall we say, individualistic style. The team takes them out on Market Street year after year, wheeling and turning in the manner of military close order drill. You have to see it to believe it.                                              

President O'Bama

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Another photo from last weekend's parade.  There is a reason his name is O'Bama. Need proof? Check this:

   

I can't really tell what that green thing in his hands is. This is a photograph of a photograph so it's not clear when I zoom in. Could be a squeegee or a toilet plunger. Somebody has to flush that other party.

By the way, this was part of a drill team consisting of broken-down old lawnmowers. They are in the parade every year. I may have another post about their wackiness.                        

And There Was Music

No American parade is complete without marching bands. Sometimes they strut their stuff. Sometimes they rest and prepare.

These organizations are good for young people. Without them, how would we have clarinetists ready to play the opening phrase in Rhapsody In Blue?  

TOMORROW: It's St. Patrick's Day for sure! And how does it resonate in Washington?                       

Law And Order

There are plenty of rowdy people at the St. Patrick's Day parade. The SLPD makes sure it doesn't get out of hand.

Pointless observation: we had quiche for dinner last night because, in American date notation, it was 3 14 16.                                     

Population Density

Big turnout for the parade, even on a gloomy day: at the front, forming up at the rear and on the sidelines.                     

Gray Day Parade

I shoot it almost every year. The St. Patrick's Day parade is a big deal here, one of the largest in the country (although nothing compares to New York). Of course, we have a population of Irish descendants (including me on my father's side, although the other half comes from my Polska mama) but it's not exceptionally large. However, as I have observed many times in these pages, St. Louis loves an excuse to drink in public.

The main parade is held on the Saturday before the actual date. There is a smaller parade for purists that is always held on March 17, but this is where the throngs turn out. Yesterday was cool with mist turning to drizzle. It made the colors of phosphorescent vests and safety cones pop as the Corvette club passed by.               

The Pavilions Of Tower Grove Park 2

Late post today. Long, hard day at work, home for dinner and then fell asleep in a living room chair. 

The Cypress South Shelter dates from 1871. Tower Grove Park has an independent board of directors and funding from several sources. It's good that they can maintain these old structures.

Off to shoot our big St. Patrick's Day parade shortly, if the rain holds off.