Saturday, August 15, 2026

I THINK PHEEBS SENDS THEM TO WELCOME ME

 MONARCH BUTTERFLY
Thursday was another fine summer's evening, and after missing a night, my routine was back in full swing.  A walk, a Hortons coffee to go, and another quiet stop at my hilltop night sky spot.  Four constellations were prevalent in the night sky.  Sagittarius, Scorpius, Cassiopeia, and of course, Ursa Major. (the Big Dipper) I saw two lightning-fast faint meteorites and four satellites, with two of those satellites criss-crossing in my binoculars.  One heading southeast and one heading southwest.  Stood for a long time, leaning back on the front of the car and just looking up at the starry night sky and......wondering.  This is my happy place, and I feel closer to my celestial home here.

 SUNSET FROM MY WALKING ROAD
 AT CLINTON'S TIM HORTONS DRIVE-THRU WAITING FOR MY DECAF COFFEE TO GO
 HEADING NORTH OUT OF CLINTON, I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THE NEW MOON
Tis the middle of August already, and as usual at this time of year, I feel the early stirrings of Autumn.  Cooler nights are upon us with the days steadily becoming shorter.  Spring's happy bird songs are behind us once again, and the waning summer air grows quieter.  A chorus of crickets filled the night air as the overhead constellations steadily plod their way westward in the ever-changing starry night sky.  Life begins to slow as summer's hurried pace lessens and begins to fade.  We are entering the finest time of the year as forests prepare for their year's grand finale of brilliant colors and vivid displays of grandeur stretching across the rolling landscape, drawing oohs and aahs from we fellow Earth Travelers. Sunlight prevails, but without the pressing heat.  Animals, as well as humans, sense the shift and begin laying out early plans for the murky cold days and nights soon to be upon us in another month or two.

It was a beautiful late summer's morn for a walk as I again marveled at all of the surrounding beauty.  My east side wildflower ditch was still there this morning, and again, the little yellow butterflies were all swirling about.  I think Pheebs sends them to welcome me.  

 ONE OF THE MANY LITTLE YELLOW BUTTERFLIES ON MY WALKING ROAD
 CLUSTERS OF THEM ON THE ROAD FLY UP IN A BIG SWIRL WHEN I WALK BY
Talking with Aunt Jean last night, she was tired from an unexpected Dermatologist visit where a fast-growing growth on her left arm was attended to.  Also, another growth on her ear.  A biopsy of the arm growth was taken, and Aunt Jean said the Dermatologist was fairly certain it was cancerous.  Results of the biopsy might be known by the end of next week.  Aunt Jean (a former registered nurse) said the growth on her arm looked nasty and was slightly sore to the touch. She also said that this doesn't surprise her after all the years out in the sun on the golf course. Aunt Jean golfed right up into her early nineties.  She is ninety-nine now.

 I'M WONDERING IF THIS BUG OR BEETLE IS IN SOME KIND OF A METAMORPHIC STATE
 A LITTLE HONEY BEE ON A FLOWER
Al's Music Box:: Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The little Moron was driving home after a football game and got caught in a really bad hailstorm. His car was covered with dents, so the next day he took it to a repair shop. The shop owner saw that he was a moron, so he decided to have some fun. He told him just to go home and blow into the tailpipe really hard, and all the dents would pop out. So, the little Moron went home, got down on his hands and knees, and started blowing into his car's tailpipe. Nothing happened. He blew a little harder, and still nothing happened. His roommate, another little moron, came home and said, "What are you doing?" The first moron told him how the repairman had instructed him to blow into the tailpipe in order to get all the dents to pop out. His roommate rolled his eyes and said, ... "HELLLLO" "You need to roll up the windows first!!"

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It is well documented that for every mile that you jog..... you add one minute to your life .... This enables you, at 85 years old.... to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $6000 per month.

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- How do you make an eggroll? You push it!

- I hired a lawyer to sue the airlines for mishandling my luggage. He lost the case.
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As in many homes on New Year's Day, Lesley and Mark, a happily married couple, faced the annual conflict of which was more important: the football match on television, or the New Year's lunch. Hoping to keep the peace Mark ate lunch with the rest of the family, and even lingered for some pleasant after-lunch chat before retiring to the lounge to turn on the television. Some minutes later, Lesley looked in to see how he was and graciously even brought a cold beer for Mark. She smiled, kissed him on the cheek, and asked what the score was.
Mark told her it was halftime and that the score was still 0-0.  'See?' Lesley said happily, 'You didn't miss a thing.

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Friday, August 14, 2026

I TRULY WELCOME THIS QUIETER STAGE OF LIFE

 A FEW PHOTOS FROM AROUND OUR PARK THIS MORNING
Before heading out Thursday evening, I stepped out onto the back deck and looked up to check for a clear sky.  I did not see what I had hoped for, so that was that, and I stayed home.  Well hey, at least I saved myself some coffee and gas money.......Imagine my surprise this sunny, warm morning to find all the wildflowers and grasses on the east side of my walking road still standing.  I thought for sure they would have all been mowed down yesterday.  And, to add to my delight, little yellow butterflies were twittering all about.  Reminded me of a couple of years ago at this time when, for several days, Pheebs and I were surrounded on our morning walks by all those same kinds of little yellow butterflies.  

 I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE ALL THESE WILDFLOWERS AND GRASS STILL STANDING
Home again, I took a slow drive through our Park, keeping an eye out for a few photos.  I never have to look far to find many beautiful things, whether in flower beds or in the Park's own nature itself.

 THE REFORESTRATION PROJECT AT THE SOUTH END OF THE PARK IS DOING REALLY WELL
This afternoon found me on my front porch reading again and chatting with the chipmunks.  

 HEY, SOMEBODIES IN MY BIRDSEED CONTAINER
 AND, IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOT HIS CHEEK POUCHES FULL OF SEEDS TOO
I love these quiet summer days doing things I enjoy doing, whether it be puttering in the yard, reading on the porch, taking a few pics, or writing and putting my daily blog together. I also enjoy my morning and afternoon coffee times, sometimes with a peanut butter sammich to make all things right with the day.  I have felt for quite some time now, so fortunate to be out of the rigors and responsibilities of the working world, and I truly welcome this quieter stage of life.

 CONE FLOWERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVS
Al's Music Box:: Love Letters In The Sand by Pat Boone.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Life's questions...

- After eating, do amphibians have to wait one hour before getting out of the water?

- How can there be self-help groups?

- If someone has a mid-life crisis while playing hide and seek, does he automatically lose because he can't find himself?

- If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

- Instead of talking to your plants, if you yelled at them, would they still grow, but only to be troubled and insecure?

- Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do 'practice'?

- When sign-makers go on strike, is anything written on their picket signs?

- Where do forest rangers go to 'get away from it all'?

- Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?

- How do they report power outages on TV?

- Why are builders afraid to have a 13th floor but book publishers aren't afraid to have a Chapter 11?
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Susie: My husband is a great handyman. He can repair almost anything.
Jane: My mother always taught me to beware of the man that can fix everything. You'll never get anything new.
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Two dog owners were bragging about the intelligence of their pets. “The brightest dog I ever had,” said one, “was a Great Dane that used to play cards. He was great at poker, but finally a friend complained about him and I had to get rid of him.” “You got rid of him, a bright dog like that?” exclaimed his friend. “A dog like that would be worth millions.” “Had to,” the first man replied. “I caught him cheating.”
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"So," Jane asked the detective she had hired. "Did you trail my husband?" "Yes ma'am. I did. I followed him to a bar, to an out-of-the-way restaurant, and then to an apartment." A big smile crossed Jane's face. "Aha! I've got him!" she said gloating, "Is there any doubt what he was doing?" "No ma'am," replied the sleuth. "It's pretty clear that he was following you."

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