SPRING IS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER . . .

I used to sing that (the title of this blog) and follow it up with "Spring better get a bigger dress!"

Well, Gentle Readers, I never claimed to have any couth.

What brings this to my mind is Tom of the Mediterranean Climate over in California.

The other day when I was braggin' on our mercury headed for the 70's (actually it got to the low 80's the past couple of days), he asked me if we had any spring blossoms over my way.

I said "not yet".

I had forgotten how the "decorative" fruit trees explode in the spring.

I took these photos across the street from our humble home this evening.

Those are the supposedly decorative wild plum trees with all that purply-pink foliage.

So, Tom, and anyone else I may have misled, I apologize.

Well actually, since these trees explode with these blossoms practically overnight, I suppose I could be forgiven.

After all, I don't get out much.

Though SWMBO and I enjoyed an evening on the front patio tonight until the chill came upon us.

Speaking of which . . .

. . . I asked my Master Gardener what was going on with this plant.

It looks like it does in the fall, when the leaves turn crimson.

She said she thought Old Frosty had caught it just a tinge as it was starting to put out new growth and put a hurtin' on it.

But right next to it this lady is doing just fine.

By the way, if you were thinking about asking me what the names of these plants are?

Don't you ever!

(Though that last one might be an Oregon Grape.)

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Oh, joy, it's time for the Friday Funnies.

And not only for Joy but for all the rest of you too.

O.K. for our first laugh let's start off (as Zhoen would say) with one word.

Ryancare.

Oops, there I go again.

Anybody here like wine?

(hic) Had enough?

Oh, wait, there's one more that's sort of related.

That uses up my supply of whacko drinking cartoons.

All of you Gentle Readers (and secret lurkers) out there in the cyberworld have yourselves a disgustingly hedonistic weekend and always . . . yes, always . . . remember to keep laughing.

As for me, I'm happy for Fridays for another reason than the Funnies.

It's pizza night!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

THROWBACK THURSDAY

Today's forecast from the Weather Gods calls for a high temperature of 76 degrees.

The photos are from a month and a half ago.

Very low cloud over StoneRidge.

A night time visitor revealed in the snow.

Looks like coyote tracks to me and they do inhabit the area.

Whatever it was it walked across my front yard in the night.

SAILING AND LANDING

If you ever wanted to know what it would be like to sail around the world alone on a small boat you may want to read Webb Chiles' log of his journey from Durban, South Africa, to St. Helena in the mid-Atlantic in a tiny (24-foot) sailboat.

It is a harrowing tale, at least for this landlubber, and it can be found here.

Keep in mind, this is a 75 year old man!

As for myself, I'll do no such adventuring.

I'll just wait for spring to come for sure.

The temperature has climbed to the 70's this week and the robins have landed once again.

Still, it is only the 8th of March and the Weather Gods have fooled us before.

TUESDAY TUPPENCE

Here's my sparse two cents for the day.

Webb Chiles has updated his blog with the story of his 2,500 nautical mile journey from Durban, South Africa, to St. Helena island.

If you're so inclined, you can read it here.

On the home (and culinary) front, I bought a dozen goodies from The Samosa Lady last week.

My provider is the one on the left in this old picture taken at the square in Prescott.

She shows up at the Prescott Valley Farmers Market.

I had never tried samosas before and got a couple of free tastes and then bought half a dozen with chorizo filling and another half dozen stuffed with egg and potato.

They were frozen and we had some of them the other night after heating them in the oven.

Very tasty.

Sorry, no photos.

I gave the Russian Rocketman Sage its annual spring haircut yesterday, trimming it back to the ground.

It looks a bit like a disaster area in its ring of rocks this morning but it will grow back quickly, probably taller than ever.

SWMBO loaded the debris into the dumpster and did some other weeding in the driveway and that was the end of our exertion for the day.

We sat in the warm sunshine a bit and reminisced about days gone by when we could do a lot more.

So it goes.

THE GRIZZLED TRAVELER

For those of you who may have read my post about Webb Chiles, the 75 year old man on a solo circumnavigation of the globe, here, you'll be happy to know that he has arrived at St. Helena Island in the Atlantic Ocean, having sailed there from Durban, South Africa without stopping.

As has frequently been noted, St. Helena is one of the most remote places in the world, which may be why it was chosen as Napoleon's final place of exile.

But it's only a stopover for Chiles on his round the world tour.

After what I would think would be an appropriate rest there he will set sail for Saint Lucia, at the entrance to the Caribbean.

And I gather once there he will decide whether to sail north to Key West or through the Panama Canal and up to San Diego.

But I'll await his blog entry from St. Helena to know for sure.

FRIDAY FUNNIES

First of all allow me to thank all of you Gentle Readers who expressed good feelings for the return to good health of Muggles and for making allowances for her feistiness.

Hmmm.

I got four "all"s in that first sentence.

Maybe I need a thesaurus.

And thanks to Fast Eddie, who inquired after my health today because I was late with these Friday Funnies.

It's always good to have a hall monitor.

So, let's get to it.

First one's in honor of Muggles . . .

And before I forget, let me wish you all a happy new year.

Okay, okay, that was a joke.

Let's be careful out there this weekend, Gentle Readers, but also enjoy whatever you can find to put smiles on your faces.

And always remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(uh-oh)