Friday Fotos

I know this spring has been unseasonably warm and we're a full month ahead of where we 'should' be in the growing season; I also suspect there's a price to be paid with how hot this means the summer will be; but there are days when you simply have to be aware and thankful that, no matter the cost, we live in a beautiful world.

Days when even man made structures seem prettier - like this one at the end of my block.

My trillium, deep in the heart of the shade bed returned...

and by 'shade bed' I mean the part of the garden where the dogs go to lie down among the weeds and stay cool. The part of the garden that always gets weeded last - frequently after all my steam has run out -which means it doesn't get weeded at all!

Have you ever watched a pansy unfold?

I highly recommend it.

And I FINALLY was able to get photos of the play equipment in a nearby park - without kids being on them! (It's hard nowadays to go to a park playground with a camera and minus kids without being perceived as a perv, ya know?)

I went everyday last week, on my way to work, thinking no one would be there... but no, it was spring break and even at 8AM, there was plenty of action.

Who'd have thought if I waited until Saturday morning I'd find them free!

I'll let you take the rest of the walk in silence...

sometimes, it's good to just be still in the face of beauty.

Thanks, I needed that.

Dear Mr and Mrs Child Abuser

This note is just to thank you for giving me a much needed laugh yesterday afternoon.

I must admit that when the Children's Division worker brought your 2 yr old son in for an exam and I saw he was covered in bruises, I didn't expect there would be anything to smile about for the next few hours.

Just goes to show how looks can be deceiving.

I was wrong - and I'll own that; it's a posture, by the way, you might want to emulate.

In case you hadn't heard by now, we're living in a post racial world.

That means that a persons ethnicity, while noticeable, doesn't determine how they're treated or limit what they can become.

So I'm sure you can appreciate our surprise when you informed us that "we can't have you arrested for felony child abuse because you're white, upper middle class and educated".

We were, of course, happy to help you advance your knowledge of civics and legal process by proving that, actually, we can.

Your wife might also want to reconsider making disparaging remarks like "yuck...no, I'm not Hispanic " in front of a Detective who, while "she doesn't look it", is, in fact, Hispanic!

I'm not saying the remark exponentially increased your chances of being provided with "three hots and a cot", but it didn't help either.

I'm guessing your mother's already pointed out that you are your own worst enemy, right?

You both certainly provided us with some levity in an otherwise dismal day.

As soon as your son regains the ability to sit down on the ass that you beat bloody, I'm sure he'll laugh it right off; well, maybe not.

By the way, the handcuffs match your suit SO well; they really are YOU!

day of opposites

The memorial stone I ordered arrived and it's perfect in its simplicity - just like him!

After I finished crying, I made plans for the garden and the roses I'll plant this weekend in his honor... right in the sunny spot he loved the most!

After work, I played with the camera and created some Easter fun!!

I don't mind experiencing both the highs and lows of life ... as long as there's a decent balance between the two.

between sky and sea...

she was forced to be earthbound... and she shared the time with us!

My great niece, Eleanor, was headed from Chicago to FLA for spring break with her water polo team and had a long layover in our fair city.

Long enough to leave the terminal, have some fun, and savor some treats.

Even if that meant joining her older cousin and his fiancee in their mockery of me since I said she was with a synchronized swin team - not water polo!

Hey, it involves a team in the water... what's the big deal?!

Back at the airport, GI Joe got us into a private club...

and participated in some suspicious behavior that came close to getting us evicted!

And, heaven forbid, kids today go 'unconnected' for any length of time!

Pretending you're a celebrity won't discourage the paparazzi -

although 'the look' will give me pause!

This unintended capture says it all...

his fiancee in one lens, his mom in the other!

OK... THAT look will get me to stop!

There... no people; does that make you happy?

At least, Pearl never complains when I take her picture!

Good girl!

Is it any wonder, I have so many nature pictures?
Never once heard them complain!

Tax Evasion

Took a break from taxes - not that I DO them, but I have to get everything together and take them to my accountant, don't I; surely THAT counts - and allowed myself some playtime, using items from around the house, inspired by Pinterest.

Not that I have a bare necked refrigerator but I decided to add some graphic interest, use an old game board, some of the tiles and viola!

Since the tiles were placed using double sided tape, they could technically be re-used.

I did decide to use push pins on the pictures tho, so the board would be hole-y but it too could be used again - tho I doubt I'll have much use for Scrabble Jr anytime soon!

I also bought this old chalkboard at a garage sale for .25... the front was nothing special, although I do like the ghost writing of both chalk and then pencil around the frame.

The graphics on the flip side, however, were spectacular - and perfect when using it to frame two of my favorite great nephews who live in Michigan.

Use what you've got and what seems to work for you is MY motto!

And while we're wasting time, seriously, could there be a dog cuter than this?

No, I don't think so either!
Both of us are still adjusting to being without Jack, but we're getting there!

Back to trying to create order from chaos...

and then escape for a little bit back into yard work...

hope your Sunday is as productive as you want it to be!

The Blue hairs

When my children were little, we used to laugh (lovingly, of course) about the older women in our church congregation who always sat in the front pews at church; their hair elegantly coiffed - all with 'rinses' in varying shades of blue or purple.

We referred to them as 'the blue hairs'.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against coloring your hair - I used to do it so often my drivers license had a color wheel on it - but blue?

What was THAT about?

It struck me on Sunday that,while many of them are still here, their ranks are sadly diminishing and, God willing, some of us are going to have to be moving on up to those pews ourselves!

On a recent work day with Habitat for Humanity, this brush was going to be thrown out.

I decided to salvage it and do a tribute to all the blue hairs out there - and see how I will look when my turn comes around!

I think I could totally rock it!
Although my 'coloring my hair days' are over!

The 'style' is about right tho!

Yeah...'elegantly coiffed' will never be a phrase anyone ever connects to me - in any color!!

Saturday fun

When I wasn't using these...

I was on my deck, in the chaise lounge, waiting for my heart rate and blood pressure to return to near normal levels, watching the skies...

wondering where this plane was going, if I'd been there before, would like it again and if there was yardwork there I'd have to do!

Then I also noticed...

obviously, I added the arrows to make it easy for you to agree with me.

Cloud paintings can be hard to identify!

You're welcome.

What did YOU do today?