CLOUDS

 

Through the windshield (I wasn't driving) while coming home this morning.

I can't resist the temptation and they don't even look real.

Like a painting.

(click on them to get the full effect)

IT IS BERRY, BERRY GOOD!

 

Just to let you know I haven't quite given up the oven yet in the midst of our move that's my take on Julia Child's Berry Clafoutis.

I whipped it up with a bunch of blueberries yesterday morning but by the time we got to taste it the dish was cold and we were slightly disappointed.

This morning I microwaved a piece just enough to bring it to warm and I found it to be much better.

You can top it with powdered sugar, as I did last night, and Judy had hers with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side but I just had it plain this morning and it was fine.

It's a very simple job and the recipe is readily available on the Internet.

You could Google it.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 For we Anglophiles (I'm talkin' about you, Cakes!) it's been a kind of a rough time, what with the sad news of yesterday.

But I'm here to tell you that no matter your troubles and tribulations, it's important to put a smile on your face.

And my job is to help you with that.

So here goes.

Now cue the laughter gene.

So on that silly note it's time for me to wish you a shorter but slightly cooler and excruciatingly pleasureful weekend.

Now remember if your job is small and your rewards are few just keep in mind the mighty oak was once a nut like you.

And with that terrible and ancient Dad Joke, I will remind you (while ducking) to always keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(. . . hmmmm . . .)

THE QUEEN

 For most of my life "The Queen" has only meant one person, Queen Elizabeth.

I can remember vividly the day of her coronation.

I was a 13 year old boy living in North Dakota, just 50 miles from the Canadian border.

We could pick up many Canadian radio stations and I spent the day listening to the BBC coverage of the big event in far away London.

As a self-admitted Royalist though not governed by the Monarchy, I watched through the years as this young woman lived and ruled on and on and on.

And now, finally, she is gone. 

Only two days ago she named a new Prime Minister, her 15th.

It's a melancholy day for me and for many others in Britain and throughout the world.

She did well and history will long remember her.

LIFE AS I LIVE IT

 

When I saw my pulmonologist this morning and urged him to ask me why my head was bandaged, I then told him "My wife beats me."

Since he also treats my wife and has seen us at times together, he just chuckled.

Actually a different doctor caused that evilness on me yesterday as he whittled out a non-malignant skin cancer.

All the punishment I get for being a fair-skinned Norwegian boy who spent too much time in the sun without using sunscreen.

We called it sun tan oil when I was that boy and, not using it, I got sunburned frequently.

As Woody Allen once said, "I don't tan, I stroke."

This moon shot looks like it was taken in the evening but it was actually in the middle of the day.

It sort of portrays our life at the present as we are about half way toward moving to our new home.

It shouldn't be a tough move as it's only about 4 miles from where we live now.

But we're in our 80's now and the stamina ain't what it used to be.

My previously mentioned wife has been living up to her avatar or acronym or whatever it is: SWMBO, for She Who Must Be Obeyed.

Even though we have some ladies hired to pack up our "stuff" and some guys hired to move it to the new residence, she has insisted on filling boxes and hounding calling on me to take them over there.

In about a week it will all be over.

Except for opening box after box and placing the "stuff" in the "proper places".

As George Clooney said recently in a joint interview with Julia Roberts "That's why alcohol was invented."

She interjected "Or chocolate chip cookies."

He agreed "Those too."

Stay tuned.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 How long have we been doing this?

How long, O lord, how long?

It seems like forever to me.

But still it continues.

Every bloody Friday.

So what can I say.

Except.

LAUGH, darn you!

Oh, I know you're not only groaning, you're gasping at that one.

Well what can I say?

I can only work with what my purveyors provide me with.

(That's called shifting the blame.)

At any rate, try to get over it and have a spectacularly fantastic weekend as we say good-bye to Summer and don't belabor it.

(heh-heh)

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . oh, this worries me . . .)

IDIOSYNCRATIC

 In the continuing fascinating saga of my rather strange family, I convey your attention now to the member known as The BRD, or Beautiful Rich Daughter.

While always beautiful and rich in talent, she has a particular oddity.

When she is dining, she does not like the various elements of her meal touching each other.

And so, today, she has found Her Perfect Solution.

Ta-da!