SUMMERTIME BLUES

Summer is upon us.

Here in the Central Highlands of Arizona the mercury is forecast by the Weather Gods to rise to 86 today.

Monday will be the first day in the low 90's, the W.G. claim.

Evenso, summer is not said to actually begin until the June Solstice which occurs this year on the 21st, still 15 days away.

But our backyard Sun Faces are greeting the morning rays with a bemused smile.

And the sky, accented by puffy white clouds, is a blaze of blue.

Today is the 75th anniversary of D-Day, marking

the time in 1944 when Allied forces including the United States of America landed in Normandy to begin to put an end to Adolph Hitler's dream of world domination.

On a personal note it is the 115th anniversary of my mother's birth in 1904.

Regrettably she died in 1953, only 49 years old.

And on a truly personal note it marks the date when Judy and I crossed the border into Mexico in 1987 to begin a four-plus year adventure south of the border.

A lot has changed in the intervening years.

A JUNE SHOWER

A bright sunny day changed this afternoon.

Thunder began rolling across the sky and I spotted some rain falling in the distance.

And a short time later a brief shower here dropped enough moisture to dampen the streets.

SWMBO noted "the weeds needed some moisture."

CONSTRUCTION (continued)

You may recall that I have posted a couple of times about the new wing being built on the large house behind our home as a private home for the man's mother, who presently lives with the couple.

Here was my last post, at the end of March.

You may recall that I was curious about the rather slow progress on the project.

Well, now it's the first of June and they're still working on it.

The roof was finally shingled this past week and a covered deck has been built all around the house.

I was talking to the builder yesterday and he noted that that deck will be very nice, providing either sun or shade all day and offering a nice view as well.

The Queen's Quarters is looking quite nice and I'm sure she will thoroughly enjoy it.

(If it ever gets finished! 😉

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

So it's confusing.

You could say it's been a short week.

Or you could say it's been a long week.

Or, if you're like me - retired, you could say it's been another week.

But whatever you say . . .

Well, Gentle Readers, I hope you will all slow down a bit and have yourselves a restful but fun and exciting weekend.

But always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

(uh-oh)

MATTY ON PATROL

Matty is our neighboring visitor cat.

But even when he doesn't come in for a nap, he shows up frequently in our yard, patrolling.

He . . and several other neighborhood cats . . love that concrete block wall.

They can walk across the top of it giving them an elevated view.

But Matty especially likes this corner perch where he can see into several yards, safe from dogs, watching the birds looking for one who might not be aware of how fast he can leap and run.

So far we've seen no evidence of his hunting success.

TOGETHER AGAIN

Our longtime friends, Lana and Tom of California's Central Coast, were here for a visit this week.

We had a pleasant time talking about the good old days and commiserating about the bad present days.

This morning before departing they treated us to a visit to the Backburner Cafe and it's justifiably famous Cinnamon Rolls.

Lana enjoyed one of those but in her defense that was all she had while the rest of us gorged out on breakfast items.

We've known each other for 50 years and it is always good to see each other once again.

Good friends, good food, good times

IN OUR MEMORY

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

 As I have said many times on this blog I am an old broadcast journalist.

I am so old I can remember when not every newscast began with "BREAKING NEWS".

In this week's BREAKING NEWS, Theresa May has finally given up and is Brexiting herself and our Great White Leader has told the nation (again) that he is an Extremely Stable Genius.

I'm ready for a break.  How about you?

And on that slightly Non P(ea)C cartoon, I will take my leave.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and remember

well, that too, but remember to always keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

HENLEY & BLUE

"I just stopped by for a visit." 

"There's that guy with the camera again."

"Don't mind him.  Let me boost you up for a drink."

WEDNESDAY WONDERLAND

"I wonder if this is safe."

"Is that creepy weirdo watching me?"

"The heck with it.  I'm thirsty."

If he'd only known what was coming next.

"Didn't he say this was a bird 'bath'?"

"So nice."

"Gotta keep watchin' for that damned cat, though."

"Oh, yeah."

"Alright Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

THE WIND

I saw you toss the kites on high
And blow the birds about the sky;
And all around I heard you pass,
Like ladies' skirts across the grass--
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

I saw the different things you did,
But always you yourself you hid.
I felt you push, I heard you call,
I could not see yourself at all--
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song!

O you that are so strong and cold,
O blower, are you young or old?
Are you a beast of field and tree,
Or just a stronger child than me?
O wind, a-blowing all day long,
O wind, that sings so loud a song! 

-- Robert Louis Stevenson