SMOKY

 We are far from the California wildfires but the smoke has drifted east.

This was our sunset last night.

This morning's smoke created a strange optical illusion in the sky.

Our sincerest sympathies go to all those affected on the West Coast.

Stay safe. 

Stay strong.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

What a week!

It seems I start every Friday post with the same whew, am I ever glad that's over!

It just keeps going on and on and on.

So, let's get to the business of the day by beginning with the latest contribution from Wacky Wally.

Okay, something in that collection surely must have made you laugh and improved your general outlook.

I'm not feeling alliterative today so I'll just urge you to have a wonderful weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(awwwww)

ThrowBack Thursday

 Seven years ago Judy and I visited our longtime friends, Tom and Lana, at their retirement home in Cambria, California.

It was a time of dyads.

Good friends and good art.

Good food.

And good conversation.

Tell me, do you remember the "good old days"?

ROAD TRIP

Yes, we did take a little road trip yesterday, in spite of an amazing haze that was blown over from California's forest fires by strong winds.

It was amazing to see the area covered with a gray haze that blocked our normal views.

We drove to Cottonwood, about 50 miles by the route we took and toured Dead Horse Ranch State Park.

There's an amusing story about how that name came about.

Back in the late 1940's a family from Minnesota came to the area looking for a ranch to buy.

They toured a number of ranches and one of them had a dead horse lying near the road.

At the end of their tour the father asked his children which ranch they liked the best.

They were unanimous in saying "The one with the dead horse!"

So they bought it and named it Dead Horse Ranch.

Many years later they sold it to the state to be made into a state park with the proviso that the name remain.

It's been beautifully developed, with three lovely lagoons and many camping areas.

The wildlife we had hoped to see was not abundantly evident, though I did spot a duck.

He was diving and reappearing and diving again, apparently having his dinner from whatever fish lurked below.

Then SWMBO spotted something right next to our parked car.

It's sort of hidden in the shadows under that tree.

Using a telephoto shot we got a closer look.

It was a flock of ducks taking a breather and a nap on this windy day.

Later in a different part of the park we spotted one of our more eccentric birds.

It's the wily Roadrunner!

But rather than run along our road he soon disappeared into the tall grass.

Our park visitation done we headed for a brave destination, one planned for this trip.

Lunch at a favorite restaurant, the Tavern Grille.

And yes, we did dine inside, our first indoor visit to a restaurant since last March.

We were masked until food and beverages arrived.

All of the employees and some of our socially distanced fellow diners were masked as well.

I asked Judy how she felt and she said with a laugh, "It seems so noisy!"

Lunch was great.

MUFFINS

SWMBO had been craving some blueberry muffins so after we bought some berries over the weekend she got busy.

The recipe she used turned out to be for a double batch so we have lots of muffins.

That's a Baker's Dozen.

I couldn't be happier.

I loves me some Blueberry Muffins.

I asked her where she got the recipe.

She said, "from the Internet."

I had to laugh because I'm always showing her a new recipe I found on the Web and she says, "We've got tons of recipes and tons of cookbooks. Why do you have to look on the Internet?"

Heh-heh.

He who laughs last laughs best.

CHILL, BABY

If the heat is getting to you here's a little something to help you cool off.

Enjoy.

SILLY SUNDAY

(Swiped from Rajah)

TEE IT UP

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Well pardners how's your Friday morning goin'?

Are you ready for another riotous weekend?

Labor Day nears, you know, so it's time to hit the beaches and the lakes and the backyard cookouts and . . . . oh, yeah . . .

Well, we'll always have Pari. . ., er, The Friday Funnies!

Yes, I said "grouper".

Some people just can't ever give it up.

So if you are grieving that you aren't gathering in gaggles with grandchildren or grandparents, enjoying gastronomy, exchanging gobbledygook, gawking at gorgeous gooseberries, and grinning giddily . . . then just have the very best three day weekend that you can.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(uh-oh, look out below!)