HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I may have said this before but I'll say it again. April and May get really busy around here.

Today is the day we commemorate the birth of a beautiful woman. I refer to her as SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed). Her eldest daughter refers to her as The M (The Mother). She answers to Judy. Or Judith, her given name. Around the house I call her Honey or Dearie. I used to call her JG, which are her given initials for Judith Gayle. But I used to joke that they stood for Judy Girl.

All in all, through thick and thin, as the saying goes, she's been by my side for . . . a few years. More than I can believe some times.

My dad really liked her.

And so do I.

Happy Birthday to my wife.

Scottsdale art fair

A gypsy girl, at Halloween

A somewhat later Halloween

In Northern Arizona, (posing for Vogue?)

In our courtyard in Guadalajara

Enjoying the high mountain air in Innsbruck, Austria

This one belongs on a dust jacket

Pretty in pink at one of her daughter's fabulous brunches

The fashion plate, celebrating one year ago

Tuckered out

She's a good one.  I think I'll keep her.

(BTW, her email address is judyt78@gmail.com)

A GRAND DAY FOR THE M

Yesterday the BRD invited SWMBO (also known as The M to her eldest daughter) and me to a Mothers' Day Brunch at her home. 

Following Bloody Mary's and antipasto plates of shrimp and bruschetta with goat cheese and tomatoes, we repaired to her dining table, which was beautifully set with flower arrangements and the Beau Jack's late mother's china.

Shame on me for not photographing the food but I'll give you an idea of how good it tasted. Eggs Benedict, bacon, asparagus, new potatoes, mixed fresh fruit, Mimosas, and for dessert (as if we needed it!) fresh strawberries, ice cream and Angel Food cake.

Holy mackeral!

To top off the day, Beau Jack presented his surrogate Mom with this beautiful live orchid.

The M and I went home sated and mightily pleased. A grand day, indeed.

MOTHERS' DAY

Judy and her girls

VIEWPOINTS

A couple of places in Jerome, Arizona from which to view the Verde Valley.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Gosh, I love Fridays. It's the day of the week that I get to be just silly. 

My friend, Jager, has been running an email meme which started with an epic scene from The Wire. Unfortunately, I can't run that scene or any of the subsequent comments here. It's only for big folks with nasty minds.

But nevertheless, let's get on with it.

Seeing a theme here? Well I can put a stop to that by commenting on Robert's diet.

Ooooooohhhh!

Hey, speaking of women, let's not forget Mom. Mothers' Day is Sunday.

I may forget, though, because . . .

In past weeks I have shown you numerous photos of my friends, the cats, sleeping in unusual places or positions. This week it's the dogs' turn.

That last one is my favorite.

The cats, Yin and Yang, have a more serious thought in mind this week.

Thanks for the contributions, folks, have a great weekend and remember to keep a smile on your face.

THROWBACK THURSDAY

The early 1990's in Austin, Texas. A photo taken by SWMBO. Submitted for an Extra (or better) role in motion pictures.

I landed two Extra (no better) parts in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", with Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio, and "A Perfect World", with Clint Eastwood, Kevin Costner and Laura Dern.

One day each. But it was fun.

My Oscar role still awaits.

AN UNIDENTIFIED VISITOR

The bird bath just outside my window attracts a wide variety of avians. Many house finches, including some newborns. An occasional bluejay. Mourning doves. Warblers. And this character which I have yet to be able to identify. Some type of oriole, perhaps? The photo of him up in the tree shows the most color.

There must be some birdwatchers out there in the blogosphere who can give this bird a name.