LAUNCH PARTY

 Yes, I said "launch" party, not "lunch" party.

This time it's not about food.

It's about a hot air balloon launch right in our back yard.

In the distance.

On the fence mural.

Oh, okay, just take a look, willya?

Here's a slightly zoomed view.

If you tap on the pictures, they'll get somewhat larger.

The balloons were cut out of balsa wood, painted by SWMBO and the BAD some time ago.

The other day, once the weather had finally cooled down a bit, Judy glued them to the fence.

Hence, the launch party.

But what I want to know is, "Where is that darned champagne?"

Ooo! Ooo! Ooo!

Yesterday morning I tried a new recipe I found on the allrecipies website for Gooey Butter Cookies.

Very simple: one bowl using a hand mixer, five ingredients, one shallow dish to roll them in confectioner's sugar (we always called it powdered sugar), baked for less than 15 minutes per pan and it made about 40 cookies.

Judging from the reaction by SWMBO and myself, I'm renaming them Ooey Gooey Butter Cookies.

I may try them with a lemon flavored cake mix next time but these are fantastic.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

So another week has nearly staggered to a close.

Close enough to hear those muted shouts of "TGIF" echoing through the hallways.

Here in the Central Highlands of Arizona, we're cheering the cooler weather.

Only in the low 80's.

So, speaking of cheer, let's see if we can put some in your smiling faces.

How about that?

Star Wars and Star Trek fighting it out to the finish!

Well, Gentle Readers, I hope you won't do any fighting this weekend and by the time it's gliding into Monday you'll be able to say it was fabulous!

And remember: always keep laughing

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . arrggghhh, oh yes . . . )

SURVIVAL

I tried a recipe for Easy Dinner Rolls today and made every mistake in the book.

I won't bore you with the details.

But, amazingly, they turned out okay anyway.

Who watches over rookie bakers?

CAT-A-LOGUING

On my daily calendar page today, a wonderful quote from a famous writer.

A great way to start my day.

GARDENING

Some photos today from Judy's patio pot garden.

Calibrachoa (Million Bells)

Sweet Alyssum

Petunia

Wonderful fragrant Mint

After previewing this, Judy said "There are Chives, you know."

I said, "Yes, but they're not as pretty as these."

So you'll only get what I say you'll get!

WEEKEND AT THE BAKERY

 If Friday evenings are for pizza, then Saturday is for brownies.

(just in case you thought I had given up baking)

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

So I was sitting here thinking, "Is this really even a time to crack jokes?"

But it came to me that even in the darkest of times, we need something to make us smile.

So take a deep breath and let's go.

All right, we're almost done.

Try your mightiest to have a mighty great weekend.

And try to never forget to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . ah, a philosophical cat . . . )

REMEMBRANCE FLAGS

 Once a year volunteers place nearly 3,000 flags on the green grounds of the Prescott Valley, Arizona civic center park.

The flags are there to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001.

Later more flags were added to honor the lives of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who perished in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013.

The flags gently waving in the wafting breezes give visitors a few moments to think back, perhaps to grieve or just to have a few quiet moments of reflection.

SERENDIPITY

It was one of those moments that seem to come out of nowhere.

Some time ago, Gayle (the BAD) had gifted her mother with a metal sculpture that she had painted white and decided she didn't like it.

Her mother, my wife (SWMBO) liked the shapes and got her daughter's permission to repaint it.

Then it sat in our garage for months and months.

Until I brought it in and asked her when she was going to do something with it.

Shamed, she donned one of my old aprons and a face mask and gathered spray cans and went to work in the garage.

Today, we hung it on the wall in the living room.

We both loved it and how it meshed with the color of the wall.

But I promised you serendipity and here it is.

Before the hanging of the artwork, Judy had been watching CBS Sunday Morning on television and had paused it.

That's when I noticed what was holding on the screen below the painting and called her attention to it.

Now is that serendipity or isn't it?

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Ah, my friends, it's been another weird week here in Wonderland.

And the rest of it looks just as strange.

There's RAIN in our forecast.

Oh, I know.

Not all of you think all of Arizona is a desert wilderness with gila monsters and rattlesnakes at every step.

But it's been awhile and it feels refreshing and it smells and sounds nice.

Kind of like the ice cream truck coming through your neighborhood just as you're relaxing after a big barbecue.

But enough about that.

Let's look at this week's crop of comedy.

Hey, don't blame me!

Blame the humor elves that supply me with these.

'Course, I do keep them in the dank, dark dungeon most of their days.

But to defer, may I deliver a darned deliberate wish for you to have a dreadfully delicious weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing, dagnabbit!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . oh, my . . . )