RELAX

The end of the week is a day to do just that: nothing.

Take it from an expert:

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

It has been a difficult week, with the death of a wonderful friend of both my wife and mine.

Diane Kalas was a television pioneer in Arizona and had a legendary career with radio stations in Pittsburgh, Boston and San Francisco.

She had marked her 93rd birthday recently but her time had finally come and she passed peacefully.

She will be missed.

But we shan't dwell on the past, shall we?

My purpose here, as on every Friday, is to promote laughter.

Ergo, let us begin.

So that's all I've got.

You may notice a lot of the "Funnies" are just words.

C'mon, Elves, give me some pictures!

In the meantime, the rest of you have a peaceful, laid-back, calm weekend.

Interrupted, of course, by fireworks and champagne cork popping!

But whatever you do, don't forget to keep laughing!

Now, here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . oh, now she wants to take over the world . . . )

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

Like all new parents we've been a bit frazzled but it's come time.

We challenged y'all to submit names for Judy's latest art project in our front yard.

And we proclaimed that Judy, as the creator, would have the final say on what her painting would be named.

A friend known here as Should Fish More but who I refer to as Montana Mike dipped back into the 60's to emphasize this important decision.

If you missed his offering, here it is:

Ah I remember those days . . . . but I digress.

After much contemplation the name Judy has given to her sun face on the remains of our last tree is . . . .

Stumpy it is!

With little modesty I have to point out that is the name I had originally called him, way back in the beginning.

So hereafter let it be known that Stumpy is the chosen monicker for this amazing chap, come into the sunshine from the dark woods of fate.

(You may set off the fireworks and pop the cork on that champagne!)

IT'S DONE!

Several periods of work in Arizona's hot sun by The Artist have resulted in the stump in our front yard being transformed into a cheerful greeter.

It was finished this morning with the eyes completed and a couple of wispy clouds added to our Southwestern azure sky.

So are you ready?

Ta-da!

Oddly, there is no signature.

That may or may not be added.

As to his or her name, that's still being debated.

However "Scarface", in whatever form it took in yesterday's post and comments, may no longer be considered.

The Artist, you see, is also a bit of a plastic surgeon and she took care of that name-prompting feature this morning.

And since she is the creator of this masterpiece, I think it only fair to allow her to choose its name.

(to be continued)

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.