MEMORIAL DAY

 

Let us never forget what the day is really about.

COMING SOON

A new gas station abuilding.

The roof over it is somewhat amazing.

DELAYED MOON SHOT & A DRY RAIN

 In answer to many one request, here is my moon shot of earlier in the week.

Pretty impressive, eh?

Not like the Professor's pictures, where you can (nearly) pick out the golf ball left from a long-ago invasion by an American astronaut.

But if you want impressive, take a look and a listen to this rainstorm video sent to me by Timmer recently.

Have a great Saturday.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 The balmy days are upon us as we near the Memorial Day weekend.

Triple digit temperatures are forecast for the next week in Phoenix.

The 80's up here in the cool climes.

So what better time than now to inject some *true* balminess into the mix, eh?

That last one is definitely my favorite this week.

And yours?

Now, you have a big 3-day gap this weekend to launch into summer so I expect you to enjoy it.

Grilling, the Indy 500, crowds at baseball games; what's not to enjoy?

Oh, and always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(uh-oh)

MOON SHOT

 I'll bet you're expecting to see a beautiful photo of the Blood Moon from the Lunar Elipse the other night/morning.

Well, getting up at 4 a.m. to look at the moon isn't my idea of having a great time any more.

So I skipped it.

And when I *did* rise at around 6:30 I looked out and saw that the sky was totally overcast.

So I wouldn't have seen it even if I'd tried.

So no Blood Moon from this location.

To suffice, here is a shot from a night or so before, taken with my not-so-hot smartphone camera.

Oops.

I've tried three times to upload that wonderful award winning crummy picture and each time I've gotten this message on my screen.

Sorry! An unexpected error occurred while processing your selection.  Please try again later.

I know when I'm licked, folks.

CHECKING IT OUT

 A big fat robin took a quick bath in our new pool this morning but the sun was on my window so I couldn't get a photo.

But I got a couple yesterday.

We disagree on this bird.

I originally thought it was a Say's Phoebe but now am not sure.

SWMBO thinks it's a Cowbird.

Expert advice is requested.

But there's no doubt about this fellow.

He's a male House Finch.

There are many of his kind, male and female, enjoying the new facility.

THE NEW POOL

 Bet you thought I'd forgotten, didn't you?

As they say on Broadway, "No, No, Nanette".

My short term memory is as good as my long term memory.

Well, that may not be such a good comparison.

At any rate, as promised, here is the first photo of the new bird bath in our back yard.

It's rather plain but it *is* the blue that is beloved by, most importantly, SWMBO; but also by House Finches, Phoebes, Robins, Goldfinches, Bluejays, Doves and an occasional Cowbird, as well as whatever else turns up in the neighborhood.

Oh, and bees.

The bees love it and they don't bother me as I fill it just inches from them.

(I've even fished out a few who've fallen in, apparently overcome by vertigo upon staring lovingly at their own reflections.)

So you've seen the rear view, as indicated by the Blue Cat's head (lower left).

Now here is the front view, glorious in its simplicity but stunningly blue, complemented by a chalky white edge rim, all the better for those little bird feet to grip.

Ta-da!

Once again the birds and the bees have a spot to bathe, drink and (who knows) arrange assignations.