GLAD FOR GLADS

SWMBO and I were surprised (again) by a delivery of a live plant the other day.

It appeared to be just some green stems of some kind of flower but the directions that came with it told us to put in them in the accompanying vase with some water and some of the plant food that came with them.

Only a few days later, this is what we had.

I have since read up on gladiolus plants and can swear to the claim that they make wonderful cut flowers as well as ground plants.

They're a wonderful splash of color in the house.

ARGHHH, MONDAY AGAIN?

FRIDAY FUNNIES

Ah, here it is again.

FRIDAY!

It's my favorite day of the week because I get to tickle your funnybones, Gentle Readers.

It's my particular moment of joy.

Well, not me, exactly.

But wothehell, let's get on with it.

Drink up, my friends.

So while you're all groaning let me take this opportunity to wish you an amazingly bodacious weekend, filled with everything you want it to be.

And always, Gentle Readers, always remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

MIDWEEK ON THE COURTHOUSE SQUARE

Prescott, Arizona has a number of qualities that make it a desirable place to live.

Chief among them is the courthouse square in downtown which may be one of the reasons the city is known as "Everybody's Home Town".

On any nice day people can be seen walking the wide sidewalk that surrounds the county courthouse.

This fellow might have thought there were some deer hunters to be avoided.

It is quite definitely a dog-friendly area.

This fellow had a brace of poodles on leashes.

A young father had a different pet to corral.

Some of the tourists were doing what I was doing.

Though these two were focused on the buildings across the street . . . on Whiskey Row.

One of the visitors enjoying the shade under the trees favored the "off-the-shoulder" look.

Wait a minute!

Is that Bernie Sanders with her?

Oops, sorry, guess not.

Watching over all of this is what we used to call when I was a kid "the friendly gaze of the cop."

Kind of gives new meaning to the expression "I've got your back", doesn't it?

I'll end this tour with a gentleman with the best advice of all.

Now THAT'S a Kitty!

The picture that showed up on my daily calendar today is so beautiful I had to share it with you all, Gentle Readers.

A BRIEF SHOWER

What does it look like when the sky opens up?

Kind of like this.

The monsoon rains have definitely come to Arizona, as shown in the tragic story from this weekend when 9 people drowned in a flash flood that surprised them at a swimming hole where rain had not fallen.

The raging water, carrying trees and mud, came from where rain had fallen, miles away.

A 10th person is still missing.

Amazingly, this rainstorm I photographed earlier today, though headed right for us, never materialized in our area, though other parts of Prescott and Prescott Valley were drenched.

It's a good time of year to remind locals of the danger and to heed the advice: stay safe.

MO(U)RNING VISITOR

Judy has now passed the one-month mark since her accident.

She's reached the point now where she's frustrated at "how long" it's taking.

In spite of the fact that all the data says it takes 4 to 6 months.

We try to subtly remind her of that from time to time.

Meantime the back yard has been a busy spot with mockingbirds, the house finches, Say's phoebes, even a couple of huge pigeons paying visits to the bird bath.

And, of course, the mourning doves.

These (take your pick) bold or dopey birds will graze the gravel for bugs within a few feet of we seated humans.

I caught this one with his eyes closed about to take a dive into that inviting water.

They use their long tail feathers to balance themselves as they bend way over to get a drink.

In spite of their tenuous hold on the rim of the bowl and the level the water has evaporated down to, they never seem to fall into the water.

Except when they want to.