CONSTRUCTION

Okay, I gotta do it.

Someone sent me this one the other day and now Wacky Wally sent it.

Brace yourselves.

Oh, all right.

One more.

Ta-ta, Gentle Readers!

TECHNOLOGY

All hail the bread machine

Judy's favorite - whole wheat with Craisins

IN THE WEEDS

Speaking here for my wife, who is known as SWMBO for a reason, can anyone identify these critters from the world of flora?

They are all over our yard, not to mention the neighborhood, the town and the countryside and, yes, we know they are some type of weed.

But *what* weed?

Aye, that is the question.

DOUBLE VISION

Okay, poof, the weekend's gone, just like that.

So here are two different views for the beginning of another week.

And then, there's a more optimistic look toward another new beginning.

Thank goodness for Internet Cats!

SUNDAY SERVING

The Cooking Catalyst hied to the kitchen this morning and created this Gingerbread Spice Dutch Baby.

Topped with a spray of confectioner's sugar and a drizzle of syrup it was a great way to break a fast.

The recipe can be found in Deb Perelman's "The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook" or online.

I should mention the spectacular Apple Galette Judy made yesterday.  

Alas, I did not photograph it.

My apologies to her and to you.

HERE, KITTY-KITTY . . .

I just got this from the BRD and couldn't resist sharing it with you.

It's so cat.

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

"Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag,

and smile, smile, smile!"

That's the first line of the chorus of a World War One song written by George Asaf and Stephen Powell in 1915.

Good advice for a hundred and five years later.

So let's start smilin', shall we?

THERE!

That should tickle your tummies for awhile.

Remember that old poem by the famous scribe, Anonymous.

"Don't worry if your job is small,

and your rewards are few.

Remember that the mighty oak

was once a nut like you."

That's all I got for this week except to wish you all a safe, secure and happy weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing!

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

ALMOST FULL

THE FRIDAY FUNNIES

Okay, I decided no matter how messed up the world is, we all deserve some humor.

So here it comes.

Oh, so you thought that one was a groaner, did you?

Well get a load of this one.

Okay Loyal Supporters and Gentle Readers, now you've had your weekly medicine to take away all your ills.

Now try very hard to have a good weekend.

And always remember to keep laughing.

Here, kitty-kitty . . .

ThrowBack Thursday (kind of)

This look goes back a ways.

I shaved off the sides of my beard and my moustache (mostly) this morning.

When SWMBO finally noticed it she said "Why did you do that?"

My response was "I dunno.  Why did I decide to grow the beard?"

It's been awhile since I haven't had a 'stache though.

When we were getting ready to move back to the States from Mexico in 1991 I shaved everything off.

I was then stunned to see my Dad gazing back at me from the mirror.

And I had a double (or triple) chin so I quickly began growing my facial hair back.

"Vanity, thy name is . . ."

And, I stopped at the library while I was out on a couple of errands (booze run and fast food lunch) and picked up a batch of books for SWMBO, who claimed grumpily to have read everything in the house.

That's the first time I've been into the library in at least a couple of months.

And the first time ever I've been in it wearing a face mask.

So it goes in this new world we live in.

THE LAKES TOUR

SWMBO has been self quarantined here at home since the middle of March, only going out for a visit with her eye doctor and once for a drive to Sedona with me.

I've been out a little more than that but still we've both been cooped up at home for more than two months now and the boredom gets heavy after awhile.

So yesterday we decided to go out for a picnic but Judy said she would like to ride around and see how the world is handling this pandemic.

And she had mentioned wishing she could go somewhere where she could see some water.

So your faithful Catalyst invented the Three Lakes Tour.

First we stopped briefly at Watson Lake.

Lots of kayakers at the boat launching site.

Next stop, the nearby Willow Lake.

A long dock allows a walk out over the lake if one so chooses.

We didn't though Judy enjoyed watching some ducks in the water.

Then, a drive through Prescott, past the BRD's old house, which had a car sitting in front of it with words painted on the windows: "You did it! 2020 PHS Graduate!"

Graduation was virtual here, as across the country, though there was a parade of capped and gowned graduates in their own cars through downtown recently.

We drove through downtown yesterday and saw business mostly returning though in a different fashion than in "the good old days" before Covid-19.

Finally we arrived at our picnic destination, Lynx Lake.

But it was crowded, though people were maintaining some social distance.

We spotted something we had never seen before.

Two women came kayaking in but they were accompanied by two dogs paddling along beside them . . both seeming to be wearing life jackets!

I took a couple of pictures and researched it on line and was informed by one of my blog readers that they were, indeed, life jackets designed just for dogs.

These two canines seemed delighted to have them.

Even at our advanced years we find we can still learn something every day.

ANIMALIA

Don't panic.

It's just the scientific name for animals.

It's been calving season down in the Savannah (flood plain).

Quite a few new additions to the local herd, including this strange combination.

These two adults aren't really trying to take down that power pole.

They were just locking horns briefly over some point of contention.

The critter in the center of this photo seemed a bit suspicious of me and my camera.

But I was not about to argue with that hefty side of beef and it soon resumed its casual stroll.

So goes life down at the end of my street.

Now for a real treat you have to take a look at an amazing video on Robin and Roger's blog here.

MEMORIAL DAY

Remembering those who didn't come home.