FLOWER TIME

June arrived with hot weather but the past couple of days have been cooler, just right for Judy's "Spring" flower shopping and planting.

More flowers this year to make our patio bloom with color.

Not a moment too soon as the rain has come today.

In the trip home from the plant store, one blossom fell off but quickly found it's spot in a glass bottle top that was just the right size.

It's so nice to have an artist in the family to work with the artistry of Mother Nature.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Let me see now, what is the special day today?

Um, yesterday was National Coq au Vin day so what is today?

Oh wait, I've got it!

It's Friday!

And you all know what's special about Friday, don't you?

Of course.

These:

So that's it.

Looking back over these I'm not sure how funny they were.

A lot of them seemed to hit too close to the bone.

Oh well, whatever.

Please excuse my sarcastic sense of humor and try to have yourselves a spectacular weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . yup, truth . . . )

THURSDAY

 

Today is National Coq au Vin Day.

So what is Coq au Vin?

One website describes it as "Pronounced 'cuhk oh van' it's a dish made of chicken braised in a garlicky, musroomy, bacon-lard sauce with plenty of wine added."

As you might guess, it's French but it gained popularity in the U.S.A. after Julia Child published "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" and went on to further fame on one of the first television cooking shows.

I'm not doing "coq au vin" today.

I have a rather simple sheet pan meal planned with sausage, small potatoes, sliced apples and asparagus.

By the way, the photo at the top of this page doesn't relate to either recipe.

It's just a picture I took a while ago of some rather photogenic peppers.

Whatever you're doing in your kitchens today, bon appétit!

A SAD DEATH

When we moved into this duplex a couple of years ago, three big trees shaded the property.

You can just see the trunk and a bit of foliage of the third one beyond the back of our car.

But last year that one and the one on the right had to be taken down as they had died.

We clung to the one in front of our unit as it showed some greenery and we thought we could save it.

But it was not to be.

We learned this spring that the greenery was a parasite and the tree was pretty much dead.

So this morning, it too came down.

Our once lovely shaded yard is now barren, bringing with it a sense of sadness as we view our neighbor's healthier trees.

We've learned that the two trees in front were Arizona Ash trees which, though fast growing and drought resistant, have a relatively short life span.

The third tree was a Siberian Elm, which has more cons than pros, and is well gone.

So we are treeless.

Just in time for the summer heat.

PAYBACK

You may remember I made my darlin' a cookie a few days ago.

It was her favorite but only ONE GIANT Chocolate Chip Cookie!

Well she returned the favor, only she didn't go for ONE GIANT Frosted Cinnamon Roll.

A dish of 8 lovelies and, as she did with her cookie, I generously shared them with her.

Were, as in past tense, cuz we ate 'em all in one day!

Yum!

They were good.

MEMORIAL DAY

Lest we forget . . .

 

TEXAS BLUE

You don't often see a car with this shade of blue.

And a Bronco at that!

With painted white flowers scattered on it.

Not making any judgements here but I figured with the Texas license plate it must be from Austin.

COOKIE

On a whim yesterday, I made a cookie for my dear Judy.

Yes, I said "a cookie".

She's always liked chocolate chip cookies so this roughly 12 inch monster cookie not only had them inside of it but I dotted the top with them.

To prove the size of it, I offer this photo.

The baker's hand to show the comparison.

And that's what happens when you allow the (mid 80's) amateur baker free rein in the kitchen.

So why didn't you make a batch of cookies, rather than just one, you may be wondering?

Oh, just for laughs, I guess.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Greetings, all my fabuluous, fantastic, fine friends!

It has come time once again to frolic in Friday facetiousity!

I think that's enough "F" words to begin this foray into the fairgrounds of foolishness.

Oops, there I go again.

Let's just get started.

And that, my friends, is finally the end of today's Dad Jokes!

I know you're happy.

Now try to have a toothsome and splendiferous weekend!

And never, ever forget to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . yup, I know just how you feel . . . )

WHOAAAA!

 I think my man Wacky Wally is workin' too hard.

Look at what he just sent me!

Are you dizzy, yet?

GARDENING

My wife, She Who Must Be Obeyed, has told me and others many times over the years that she was raised not to plant new seedlings until after her birthday, which is on May 12th.

She noted that from then on it's full speed ahead.

Which puts us, she said, in the most ferocious time of gardening season.

I don't know if Wacky Wally, one of the most proficient contributors to my Humor Bank, knew that or not but he's right on time with this contribution he sent me today.

Happy gardening, everyone!

THE DELLS

 This is a small portion of the Granite Dells.

Commonly known as just "the Dells" to locals, it is an area of exposed bedrock and large boulders of granite that have eroded into an unusual, lumpy, riddled appearance.

At least, so says Wikipedia.

In the early days of Hollywood, the cowboy actor Tom Mix had a home nearby and filmed some of his movies in this area.

Nowadays the area has become popular with hikers and rock climbers.

Two lakes, Watson and Willow, are actually reservoirs formed by man-made dams.

(Above photo by Kevin Spencer of Phoenix)

You may have noticed electricity poles and it's true, not all of the Dells are as remote as one might imagine.

There are a number of private homes scattered through the area, many with spectacular views.

Thirty years ago, when I was much younger and much more agile, I clambered around on these boulders.

I'm not as old as the Dells.

The granite has been dated at 1.4 billion years old.

But age has taken the spring out of my step and in these times I'm content just to watch.

STREETSIDE BEAUTY

 While on a drive yesterday, we ventured into a fairly new subdivision of Prescott that houses many medical offices.

And found this.

Just planted by the side of a street.

No placard.

No explanation.

Just a bit of beauty by a developer, we can assume.

Here's another one.

It's nice to see that someone rates flora right along with all those steel and glass and concrete buildings.

Very nice.

Norsk uavhengighetsdag

That seemingly meaningless conglomeration of letters titling this post is actually Norwegian, for Norwegian Independence Day.

In Norway it's more commonly called Syttende mai: Seventeenth of May; or Nasjonaldagen: National Day; or Grunnlovsdagen: Constitution Day.

It marks the day in 1814 when the Constitution of Norway was signed.

It is the third oldest written constitution still in use.

There are parades past the Royal Palace and throughout the country.

Wikipedia tells me people eat hot dogs, waffles and ice cream on this national holiday.

Hot dogs?

As a Norwegian American I can tell you that lefse (a soft flatbread spread with butter and sugar and rolled up), meatballs, and rutabaga are culinary delights of the day.

But many of my Norwegian friends and relatives would scorn me for telling you to never, ever try lutefisk (cod cured in lye and served with lots of butter).

The smell alone would kill you.

But that's my final negative warning for the day.

By the way, it's also the 126th birthday of my late uncle, Zenas Howland Taylor.