A LITTLE MORE PROGRESS

The Painter (SWMBO) and I (who she's titled the Sous Painter because I hold stuff and hand her stuff) were back at it this morning.

And the stump has now got the start of a face.

The Painter says she needs to do some work on that crack in the wood.

I suggested it might be taken as a scar but she vetoed that idea.

And she has to finish the eyes.

And name him!

I was thinking of calling him either "Stumpy" or "Sonny".

Maybe that latter name should turn out to be "Sunny".

Let's see what you folks think.

Feel free to pick your own name for the creation.

MAMA KNOWS

You may recall our effort to save our one remaining tree but after watching it green up this spring with some kind of fluffy growth that didn't resemble the leaves of years gone by we called in an arborist.

He quickly declared it a parasite and said the tree was a goner.

And so, like the other two big trees that were originally here, it came down, leaving us with nothing but stumps in our yard.

It took awhile but after mulling the perfectly flat surface over in her mind, Judy got out her paintbox once again.

Yesterday a new project began.

It resembles a lake.

Or maybe another birdbath, I noted, and we both expressed fear that birds would "bust their beaks" trying for a drink.

So this morning, the painter's itch began again and she hurried to make more progress on her latest artwork.

A pattern is developing and when it's completed, it will be a smiling sun face in a blue sky.

With maybe a wisp or two of clouds.

A little more daubing has been going on with the side yard fence mural but she's still not satisfied and photos of that will have to wait 'til another day.

MIDAS, MEDUSA AND MORE

A few of you may have been stumped by yesterday's first cartoon.

Several got it.

Or at least part of it.

Let me re-cap.

The cartoon shows Medusa welcoming King Midas to her house and the two of them shaking hands.

Now you have to dip into your memories of Greek Mythology.

King Midas was said to turn everything he touched into gold.

Hence Medusa's appearance but also the bouquet of flowers the king is holding.

But there's more!

Another story from the ages tells us that Medusa, with her hair of serpents, was so horrendous to look at that anyone who gazed directly at her would be turned to stone.

Hence the sculpted king, ergo the laughter from some of you.

So enough about that.

Yesterday was the Solstice, marking the longest day up here and the shortest day Down Under, as we snootily call the southern hemisphere.

While having my morning cup of tea on the patio, I commemorated the mid-year with a couple of early morning photographs that perhaps could be said to illustrate the difference.

Whether you're in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, enjoy the changing of the seasons.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

So it's Juneteenth plus one.

In case you didn't know, yesterday was the 160th anniversary of the day federal troops finally got around to reminding people enslaved in Texas that they were freed.

Only two years late, as the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed in 1863.

But I'm not here to quibble with the great state of Texas or the federal government.

I'm here to brighten your week.

So let us begin then.

The first one may take some thought.

The humor trip, such as it is, is nigh over.

Now your instruction is, as usual, to take cover from the weather, unless it's pleasant where you live, enjoy yourselves and have a wonder-filled weekend.

And never forget to always keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . uh, oh, I suspect he's been "padding" a bit . . . )

TOASTED

The BAD (Beautiful Artistic Daughter) keeps on turning out amazing art.

Here's the latest - a psychedelic toaster complete with two slices of toast.

It began with an actual junk toaster that was then mosaic-ed by the artist in her best 1960's vision.

Now it's a piece of art.

(If you'd like I could direct you to the creator.)

WARMING UP

The heat is on! 

It might be a good day to do your outdoor gardening early or late.

At least here in Arizona.

At 9 a.m. today it's already 84 degrees F.

That's almost 29 C, according to the Google Gods.

The forecast high for today ranges from 97 to 100, depending on which site you use.

Down the hill, in Phoenix, the temperature has already hit the triple figures in the last few days and today it's expected to reach about 115.

And we still have July and August to go!

But long-time Arizonans, like yours truly, know to just take it in stride.

Unlike that guy above, I stay inside an air conditioned house during the middle of the day.

And hydrate, which means drink a lot of water.

The calendar says it isn't here yet but Happy Summer, everybody!

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

There is not much to laugh about this week.

But I'll give it a try with the help of my accomplices, the humor elves.

That's it, my friends.

I hope for this brief time I was able to take your mind off whatever bothers you and give you a rare moment of joy.

Now try to have a good weekend and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . oh, I don't t-h-i-n-k so . . . )

ODIN

Well, my loyal readers, I have searched and searched until I am "blue in the face" but I can not tell you where yesterday's picture was taken.

But I can tell you a little.

The subway (who knows where?) rider is posing as the Norse god Odin, or All Fathers.

And, by the way, that is NOT a crow on his shoulder.

It is a raven.

Let me explain the difference.

Crows avoid humanity and hide in the cornfields.

Ravens are very social as they come in to raid our dumpsters.

Ergo, that has to be a tamed raven on the Odin-posing man's shoulder.

Now to get back to the facts.

Or folk fiction as we know it.

Odin is the god of wisdom, knowledge, air, poetry, death, healing, royalty, divination, gallows, frenzy, magic and runic alphabet in Norse mythology

Thanks to Wikipedia for that information.

This is what he supposedly looks like.

You will note the spear and a couple of ravens (the real Odin was price-ier, apparently) but no eye-patch though he was known to have only one eye.

He is known as All-Fathers, because he is said to be the father to all of the other Norse gods.

And Wednesday is his Big Day because it is named after him: Odin's Day = Wednesday.

You have to say it out loud to get it.

The only thing I can't figure out is why he was riding the subway and where.

Anybody else out there with an investigative mind and time to spare?

Go for it!

AN AGING LIFE

I saw this picture on Facebook today and couldn't resist cheekily sending it to a friend in England, asking if it was him.

This is aging with style..an older gentleman in England riding on the train wearing an eyepatch, carrying a spear and he has a live crow on his shoulder.

Now that I am a tad more than halfway through my octogenaria, I feel I can get away with things like that.

My beloved Judy (aka SWMBO) constantly gets compliments when she is out in public.

Comments like "I can't believe you're ** years old!"

Or "You are so beautiful!"

And the latter does not always come from men!

As for me, the best I've been able to manage is "I like your hat" when I'm wearing the beret I acquired in Paris 40 YEARS AGO.

Or occasionally someone will note a shirt I'm wearing, like my treasured Rolling Stones tee, or one of my seemingly larger Hawaiian shirts.

I say "seemingly larger" because I have been shrinking in these so-called Golden Years.

So far, no young lady has seen fit to comment on how handsome I am.

Ah well, alas and alack.

Now there's another thing, old sayings pop into my head from time to time.

I just had a back and forth with Margaret up in Washington who was wondering if anyone knew the expression "meeting someone coming and going".

Yup, I knew that one and still use it from time to time.

Another part of my senescence is getting rid of stuff.

Marie Kondo be damned, it's hard to part with.

But I sent a huge box of old family photos and history off to a nephew recently who had volunteered to take if off my hands.

There is still way too much clutter taking up space in our living quarters.

But you know what Scarlett said, "tomorrow is another day".

JUNE IS BUSTIN' OUT ALL OVER!

With apologies to Rodgers & Hammerstein, I couldn't think of a better name for this post.

The plants are putting on a show with beautiful blossoms everywhere, whether in the wild or planted around my library as these are.

The background is kind of crappy here but I couldn't resist a snap of these floral beauties outside a medical laboratory this morning.

I have to give credit to a friend, the recently retired newspaper reporter in neighboring Prescott, Cindy Barks.

She is an inveterate hiker and traveler and shows her talent on her blog NearandFarAZ.

I saw her photos of wildflowers, cactus flowers and sunsets on Facebook this morning, inspiring me.

I'm too old to hike like her anymore so my pictures are mostly shot from my car window.

SUNDAY DINNER

Shrimp Piccata & Rotini Alfredo.

Accompanied by salted bread sticks (not shown) and Judy's latest fruit salad.

Strawberries, cantaloupe and pineapple sprinkled with Tajin Clasico seasoning.

Very tasty!