FRIDAY (THE 13TH) FUNNIES

Oh, drat! I hate when I have to tell you that it is Friday the 13th. A day filled with omens and portents and all that bad stuff.  "Twaddle!", says I.  "Superstititous twaddle!" Let us not be fearful of a simple date on a calendar. Let us march forth into the fray, fearful of naught! Let us go into battle armed with smiles on our faces and carrying with us . . . THE FRIDAY FUNNIES!

I'm not so sure who "IM" is (didn't catch that, didya?) but I'd avoid him.  Or her.

Let us not forget, this was the week that we were able to spend a ridiculous amount of money on yet another amazing new technology item.

That guy looks like John Goodman, doesn't he?

How much money does one need anyway?

I mean, after the first million.

I saw Princess Kate on t.v. last night and SWMBO reminded me that she was "expecting" a baby soon.  "The Spare", y'know.

Me? It's nearing Saturday, the usual day when the Bible Beaters begin ringing our bell.  But, expecting them, this year I've got a secret weapon.

There is nothing like a cat to set them right.  Right?

That's all, folks.  Keep smiling and thanks to all of my contributors (and victims of theft.)

Oh, and if my little attempts at humor offended anyone, what did you expect?  It's Friday the 13th!

ThrowBack Thursday

Mexico Days - Guadalajara - the 1980's.

A couple of cats - Our newly acquired Chulapay and I - buddies.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

GROWTH

As yesterday's post implied, the nearing of Spring brings growth to the land. But it's not all in our plant life.

The StoneRidge Development, where I live in Prescott Valley, is growing also.

Electrical cables are being hooked up, presumably to serve that new home abuilding on the ridge in the background and many more beyond it.

On another ridge another home is being finished. And you can see a road being scraped up the hillside beyond it, preparing for more construction.

Nearby a lot has been scraped relatively level and workmen are preparing the site for another home.

Eventually I suppose it will all look like that hilltop in the distance. And more homes will be built downslope, as well.  The beginnings of a road are already there.

Meanwhile, turning the camera just a bit to the right, you can see the golf course that winds over hill and dale and amidst many of the homes . . already built, abuilding and planned for the future.

Continuing down StoneRidge Drive we come upon Prescott Valley Crossroads, a 600,000 square foot shopping development.  It currently houses Sam's Club, Dick's Sporting Goods, Sprouts, TJ Maxx, Ulta, Chase Bank, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby and many smaller shops and fast food restaurants.  Another one is on the way.

This pile of concrete will morph into a Chipotle restaurant soon, scheduled for a June opening.

A bit further along is this building, which will house a Men's Wearhouse (menswear), Sport Clips (a men's hair salon), and MattressFIRM (a mattress firm).

So, yes, Spring is on the way and so is growth in Prescott Valley.

SPRING UPDATE

According to the calendar, the first day of Spring is only 11 days away. I'm sure that is fantastic news to the snow- and ice-bound of you. And for my fellow baseball fans, the regular season is now less than a month away. I can't wait.

All of which is prelude to an update on the flora outside my window.

The Redbud tree is full of buds that are, appropriately, red.

Actually I'd call the color sort of a magenta but a Magenta Bud tree just doesn't sound right. And I didn't name the darned thing anyway.

Beneath it, the Oregon Grape (which SWMBO had originally called a holly bush because of the leaves) is blooming with bright yellow blossoms.

Eventually those will turn into blue berries, though not blueberries.

The plant guides say they're edible but neither I nor my good friend Stephen, who lives in Oregon, have had the courage to try them. We shall designate them as decorative.

Other shrubs out front are beginning to bloom, too, so maybe Spring really is on the way.

CHRISTMAS (Late)

SWMBO has a Christmas cactus. It's so-called because the edges of the leaves are sharp and spiny . . .

. . . and because the plant is supposed to be full of red blossoms at Christmas.

But hers is reluctant.  She may get one blossom at Yuletide or none.

I'm beginning to think it's a St. Patrick's Day cactus because as that holiday approaches, the plant is revving into high gear.

Keep in mind that is only one blossom, shot from several angles.

But a couple more buds are about to burst, promising more "Christmas" glory in March.

Happy St. Nicholas and St. Patrick's Days!

CHOCOLATE EXPLOSION

This post is intended to appeal to your sweet tooth. 

If you like chocolate.

And, if you don't, what the heck are you doing here anyway?

I've been baking a little recently.

A week or so ago I created a delicious chocolate cake with a rich chocolate frosting. 

Unfortunately I didn't photograph it.

But we ate it.

Yesterday I tried another new recipe.

Here is the result.

It's called a chocolate truffle pie.

If that doesn't sound rich enough for you . .

. . you have to try a piece with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Believe your eyes and my words.

It's rich enough.