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.

ANOTHER OUTING

 Yes, we who have been fully vaccinated for a couple of months are beginning to feel our oats.

We went out again today, SWMBO to shop fruitlessly in a couple of big box stores for the eternally difficult-to-find ceramic bird bath.

But then I suggested Jay's Bird Barn in Prescott, known to birdwatchers far and wide.

And lo, we found a birdbath that she liked, that she wanted, though for an exorbitant price.

I convinced her that we would save all that excess money by not driving far and wide searching for a cheaper one and to, for cryin' out loud, just buy it!

She did.

We brought it home and have installed it and . . . wouldn't-ya-know-it . . . I forgot to photograph the damned thing.

That will be corrected by the morrow and ye shall have a photo of it then.

Trust me to say that, in spite of SWMBO's wisdom in bird matters and the fact that this is a considerably deeper bowl, there does NOT need to be a rock in the center of it for the little goldfinches to perch on to avoid drowning.

They mistrusted the rock, not knowing what it was and fluttered around but would not light for a drink.

Finally I convinced her highness and she of usually greater wisdom than mine to remove it.

Nearly instantly the goldies began perching and drinking and squeaking "thank you, humans, we thought that thing was a goldfinch munching sea monster or something."

So I have no photo for you today.

WAIT!

Yes, I do.

After the mental and physical strain of shopping for and purchasing said bird bath we strode bravely into a downtown Prescott bistro for something to calm our shattered nerves and repair our hunger.

For the nerves, a sizable and mighty Margarita for milady and a forbidden gin and tonic for me.

Then for the hunger, a Reuben sandwich for myself and this monster for, predictably, SWMBO.

That is billed on the menu as a Hot Club and it features, from bottom to top, grilled turkey, Swiss cheese, bacon, avocado, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise.

Plus, of course, a bun.

Needless to say, she brought half of it home, along with about half of the French fries that accompanied it.

Also needless to say, I devoured all of mine.

It was good to be out.

Til tomorrow then.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 Ahhhh, Friday.

It makes me want to break out into song.

"Dah Dah Dah Dah

  da-da-da-dah,

              da-da-da-dah" 

Hmmm, maybe I'll just stick to humor.

Well that's it for this week, Gentle Readers.

Now let's all get out into the Natural World (no, no, not the Marlon Perkins one on t.v.) and have ourselves a flawless weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(oh, yeah)