ADMONITION: LAUGH

I guess we can't ignore the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Cross-Town Lori has offered a solution: make fun of it.

QUARANTINE

2020 style setter.

So how's it going at your house?

The wife and the kids still there?

This self quarantining stuff is for the birds after awhile.

It's gotten to be so bad around here that I'm thinking of actually taking a walk around the neighborhood.

(Wooh. Better sit down and rest a bit before that idea takes hold.)

I've been pretty much holed up for a week now.

But tomorrow's the big day: I get to go sit in my car in the parking lot at the grocery store while someone loads groceries into my trunk.

SWMBO hasn't been out of the house since she had lunch with her daughter more than two weeks ago.

And I think it's starting to wear on her.

But never fear.  

As long as we still have our sense of humor we shall survive.

Take care of yourselves, friends and neighbors.

MORE SIGNS OF SPRING

Beau Jack sent me this picture the other day after I posted photos of flowering trees.

The white beauty is right outside of their home in Prescott.

Temperatures are climbing again as the Weather Gods predicted.

The bird bath was frozen over this morning but our high today is supposed to be 55 by this afternoon and 71 by Tuesday.

The forecast is for a week of 70's after that.

As Sinatra and many others have sung, "Spring is Here".

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

In a time like this it may seem ignoble for me to continue with this weekly foray into an attempt at humor.

So if anyone is offended I apologize in advance but I also say if we lose our sense of humor then what have we become.

So that's what I've got, my Gentle Readers.

Now take a walk, enjoy nature, stream a funny movie, listen to a podcast, bake some brownies (I did yesterday), get to know your family a little better, read a great book, catch up on your sleep and try to have a good weekend.

Take care of yourselves and those you love and above all, always remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

ThrowBack Thursday

Nearly eight decades ago, I was born in a lying-in home in a small town in northwestern North Dakota.

That was a private home where a midwife would help pregnant women deliver their babies.

I believe there was a doctor, too, but no hospital.

Me and my big brother Wayne

I spent 28 of the next 29 years living in North Dakota.

I remember a carefree youth where youngsters could wander the town by themselves or with friends without fear. 

Romey, Roger, Jim, Jerry, Me, and Boop

We would come home for lunch and at sunset for supper (what is called dinner now).

The same "rules" applied when the family went north 100 miles to fishing vacations at Lake Carlyle in Saskatchewan.

That's probably where I learned to swim.

Me and Jim

We also roved through the woods, "discovering" trails and visited the small store for Cadbury's chocolate bars.

And back home in Stanley we never seemed to mind the long winters filled with blizzards.

We'd go out for snowball fights and ice-skating when temperatures were 20 below zero.

Mom and I

It's a long way to the age we live in now but it brought to mind an old song about the state.

Give a listen.

In spite of the "we nailed it" comment at the end, I remember singing it with self-mockery of our Scandinavian accents: "Y'ought-ta go ta Nor'-Dakota".

Yah, well, let's have a cuppa coffee and some lefse.

It's a great day in the neighborhood.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

"Hmmmm......."

A quandary stares me in the face.

What shall I post about today in this blog to entertain, amuse or confound you, my Gentle Readers.

Perhaps something about how I should refrain from touching my face, even my beard.

Or perhaps a soul-baring dissertation on how said beard needs trimming.

Ah, the weather!

It is sunny today and the mercury is on the rise.

The omniscient Weather Gods assure me that this leonine month shall live up to it's reputation and our first 70 degree day will arrive on the 31st.

71, in fact.

I am ready for it.

Let's see, oh yes, next month holds a monumental birthday for me as I become an octogenarian!

But I'll save commentary on that event for later.

Well, there's always food.

As I have said, we are well-stocked and last night SWMBO, aka Madame Judy, got artistic while crafting two salads for our repast.

As I recall there are cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, red onion and avocado.

But she opined (and I agreed) that the stars of the show were those fresh little sugar peas in their pods.

The product of my Master Salad Maker tasted as good as it looks.

Some of you have wondered why I refer to her sometimes as SWMBO.

If you look up at the top right column on this page you'll see that SWMBO stands for She Who Must Be Obeyed.

As to how she got that name . . .

And by the way we have a visitor this morning, our neighboring rental cat Matty.

After devouring a snack and drinking some water he has repaired to his customary spot on the couch for a little (or long) nap.

And with that, there you have it, dear friends, another rambling essay about life inside our four walls.

The Covid-19 virus is out there, it's real and it's dangerous, especially to we octo-people.

So stay inside, eat your veggies, wash your hands and be well.

TTFN (ta-ta for now).

CHECKING THE SKY

We've been having a spattering of light rain here this afternoon.

Earlier, I was out looking at the sky.

To the East

 To the South.

To the West

And to the North.

A little bit of something for everyone today.

SHOPPING TRIP

TAKING NO CHANCES

Once the video starts, click the square in the lower right corner to make it "full screen".

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Gentle Readers, I hope you're all well and taking proper precautions to protect yourselves from the Covid-19 virus.

It may seem unfeeling of me to present this weekly foray into cartoons during this trying time.

But I think we all need a brief respite from the troubles and the opportunity to smile and even laugh a little.

So, with apologies to anyone who may be offended, let us begin.

And with that (I hear you groaning) I shall return you to your regular programming.

Now let's all be smart, careful and relaxed this first weekend of Spring.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

In the Northern Hemisphere today is the March Equinox, which marks the first day of Spring.

South of the Equator, it's the first day of Autumn.

This is the earliest the Equinox has arrived since 1896.

That's 124 years ago!

Which may account for how Spring looked in my neighborhood.

Yes, this is Arizona and yes, it snowed again last night.

Though in our Central Highlands, as shown by the top of my dumpster this morning, it was more rain than snow.

Nevertheless, the Blue Cat was not amused.

However what snow we received should melt off today and the Weather Gods tell us the high temperature Sunday will be in the lower 60's.

But to our north it may take awhile as Flagstaff, only about 80 miles away by road, received 11 and a half inches by early this morning.

So, if you're heading for the Northland today don't be too aggressive.

Remember, it's also ThrowBack Thursday!

(stock photo)