REMEMBRANCE FLAGS

 Once a year volunteers place nearly 3,000 flags on the green grounds of the Prescott Valley, Arizona civic center park.

The flags are there to honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001.

Later more flags were added to honor the lives of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who perished in the Yarnell Hill Fire on June 30, 2013.

The flags gently waving in the wafting breezes give visitors a few moments to think back, perhaps to grieve or just to have a few quiet moments of reflection.

SERENDIPITY

It was one of those moments that seem to come out of nowhere.

Some time ago, Gayle (the BAD) had gifted her mother with a metal sculpture that she had painted white and decided she didn't like it.

Her mother, my wife (SWMBO) liked the shapes and got her daughter's permission to repaint it.

Then it sat in our garage for months and months.

Until I brought it in and asked her when she was going to do something with it.

Shamed, she donned one of my old aprons and a face mask and gathered spray cans and went to work in the garage.

Today, we hung it on the wall in the living room.

We both loved it and how it meshed with the color of the wall.

But I promised you serendipity and here it is.

Before the hanging of the artwork, Judy had been watching CBS Sunday Morning on television and had paused it.

That's when I noticed what was holding on the screen below the painting and called her attention to it.

Now is that serendipity or isn't it?

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Ah, my friends, it's been another weird week here in Wonderland.

And the rest of it looks just as strange.

There's RAIN in our forecast.

Oh, I know.

Not all of you think all of Arizona is a desert wilderness with gila monsters and rattlesnakes at every step.

But it's been awhile and it feels refreshing and it smells and sounds nice.

Kind of like the ice cream truck coming through your neighborhood just as you're relaxing after a big barbecue.

But enough about that.

Let's look at this week's crop of comedy.

Hey, don't blame me!

Blame the humor elves that supply me with these.

'Course, I do keep them in the dank, dark dungeon most of their days.

But to defer, may I deliver a darned deliberate wish for you to have a dreadfully delicious weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing, dagnabbit!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

( . . . oh, my . . . )

IT'S ONLY THURSDAY BUT . . .

 

Just a wee tad of a preview for tomorrow.

(no comment)

 

BUT THEY'RE YELLOW!

I think this is the best crop we've ever had from our tomato barrel.

These are the Yellow Pear Tomatoes but we've had plenty of red ones too and they're growing side by side in the same barrel, along with some marigolds to keep the bad bugs away. 

WARNING