On the outside looking in . . .

Me and the little critter on the outside of the front door. I almost grabbed his tail as I shut the door behind me. I never let a door slam. My mother is proud of me - this I know!

Showing off.

Unusual markings

 Quote:  When thou are obliged to speak, be sure to speak the truth; for equivocation is half way to lying, and lying is the whole way to hell.______Penn

Almost 10 years ago . . . I should save it for Sunday but I won't . . .

 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Joyeuses Pâques . . .

Truly miraculous . . . Day started out so somber and dreary. It is now almost 11am; the sun is shining brightly; Puppy's Pop has already gotten in a flight and is now pitching horseshoes while I woman the kitchen and the roast beast is at 108 degrees much too early. It is so nice to be consistent. Puppy's Pop will help park the cars so no one blocks the basketball net and all is well with the world. I felt drab and funky when I went to Mass early this morning in the thick fog. But now with the sun I feel that we're on the way to a wonderful Easter Thanksgiving.

Quote: The question is not whether a doctrine is beautiful but whether it is true. __When we wish to go to a place, we do not ask whether the road leads through a pretty country, but whether it is the right road. __Hare

UCONN Women will play Arizona Friday in the Final Four . . .

Not a clear shot of a wasp building its nest in a Palmetto/Cabbage Palm. Puppy's Pop put an end to that escapade.

 Did some slow walking; did some good cooking; played in the dirt a little; spoke with my kid sister. 'twas a good day.

Watched UCONN Women beat Baylor in the Elite Eight last night. I didn't think they would pull it off. They are a very young team and the Baylor team is made up of veterans but when their point guard went down with what seemed to be a very painful leg injury UCONN made a stand and withheld the onslaught. GO CONNECTICUT HUSKIES! C - O - N - N - U FIGHT! I have no idea how I did this monster, black paragraph. But I'll leave it alone. Typing in the dark is probably not a good idea. Light bothers my eyes so I often wait too long before I turn them on. Not a brilliant thing to do. Dommage!

If this Comic is true . . .

Incredible . . .

 I've been trying not to pay attention to the media because I get too upset. I always read Mallard Fillmore because he is pithy and usually correct and funny in his observations. I find it so difficult to accept that we really are living in a society that will brook no comments at all about whatever agenda the left is pushing down our collective throats. I don't even know how to word this properly! This isn't culture - this is anti-culture, anti-people, anti-thinking, control freaks! My word - is this idea of erasing conservative opinions really happening? I must re-read 1984 but I'm afraid to. It scared me when I was young and since it is really happening it is more frightening. Is this beautiful experiment, The United States of America, coming to an end? Will our children's children be living in Orwell's Hell? When I read my old novels, enjoy the vast beauty, charm and strength of nature ( if man will only leave Her alone) watch our Big Kids and their families making their way through their daily lives, am I just sticking my head in the sand like an ostrich? Perhaps so. I used to take part in politics, was an elected official when our first Kiddo was born and have tried to keep up with the times but I think the modern world has left me behind. It may be that the only way I can survive is to live the way I was brought up - honest to a fault, working hard to be kind, generous and loving to all, appreciating the people that come into my life and relying on myself and Puppy's Pop to do what is best for us, our kids, families, friends, neighbors, acquaintances and all of the people we meet  as we go about our normal lives each and every day. Yup, I'll just have to keep on swinging on the back porch. It will keep the new fangled cancel/woke/left/socialist/democrat culture from annoying me to the point that I can't relax. I would like to be able to speak with my old friend A. who left me 13 years ago to join the blustery, laughing angels. We were pretty much total opposites in all matters but we loved each other and could talk about everything. I do need her now. I would like to connect with someone in this strange new world and together try to figure out if the end of the American experiment is here or are there some redeeming points in the rhetoric spouted by the progressives that I can understand and respect?

Quote:  The fears of one class of men are not the measure of the rights of another.  ___Bancroft

Palm Sunday colors . . .

The Sally Lunn is in the bread maker; it's an on again off again grey, breezy, raindrop falling day. We'll be leaving soon for Big Kiddo's home to celebrate M's birthday. Looking forward to a pleasant, calm, delicious meal put together by our eldest granddaughter. I'm trying to figure out what kind of cake we will be having for dessert - I'm guessing Lemon - M's favorite. 

Enjoyed watching the Palm Sunday Mass coming direct from Toronto. The Masses are short with on target sermons, well enunciated readings and the singing is just right. I'm not an over abundantly religious person but I am a strong believer in God, the supreme intelligence and instigator of the Universes. Will want to  talk to this superior being at some point in time to find out why the Earth's peoples are topsy turvey! No rush; the answers can wait. 

Was so happy to hear from my younger sister. We speak on the phone daily; yesterday she was finally able to hug her daughter, my godchild! Yes, they had the masks on but they have not actually been physically together since Thanksgiving. That is just the best news. R has been through an operation on her back; that will suffice to explain the hell that she has gone through. She is now living in a great nursing home; she can no longer live alone. I am reminded daily about how well she is doing;  I am thoroughly amazed by all of the care she receives. I can hear it in her voice. She is pretty much always in a good mood and has no worries about falling as she only walks with two aides helping her; she also  has a battery powered wheel chair. I imagine she'll be scooting down the halls one of these fine Spring days. She has also,finally, been able to walk outside with help. Unbelievable.

Puppy's Pop did a heck of a job cutting back the Sago Palm by the front door. It was pitiful. The freezing weather we had this winter turned it into a mass of brown and yellow fronds. He also used the rest of my special palm tree fertilizer and I will trim off the dead whatever you call them at the top. It looks like the new fronds rotted and dried up. It will be like cutting thorns. As long as I'm properly dressed it will be easy as they are just short, brittle and easy to trim. I hope we have saved it. It wasn't  in very good shape when we got here five years ago but we worked on it and it came back to life so I imagine it will be okay once again.

Quote:  Clouds - Those playful fancies of the mighty sky. ____Albert Smith

Quote: Clouds - That looked as though an angel, in his upward flight, had left his mantle floating in mid-air.  __Joanna Baillie

Quote: Flowers are the sweetest things that God ever made and forgot to put a soul into.  __H.W. Beecher

All because the UCONN Women are in the Sweet Sixteen . . .

 

My Louisiana

Still My Louisiana

You've got it . . .

As I was doing dishes after supper, yes, I finally felt like eating and cooking,  I started to think about friends and family who are surprised that I root for both the Men and the Women's Basketball Teams at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. I have so many good memories of the UCONN Campus and some  tough memories too. But one of the best came to mind as I was washing dishes this evening: my parents came to see the UCONN Men play in a Yankee Conference game in the Field House in Storrs. It was incredible that my parents came to see a game. At half time we watched Greco-Roman Wrestling. I don't remember who the opposing team was but I do remember Big Ed Slomsenski, Don Perno and Toby Kimball as members of the team. Big Ed was in one of my English classes; I remember getting a kick out of seeing him squeeze into the regular classroom seats.  I don't think they won - but the fact that my parents were there is a vivid memory that popped into my head as I was cleaning up after supper. My older brother and I were on campus at the same time. He had just gotten out of the Army and he and his wife lived in an apartment off campus. I imagine that I must have driven Ma and Pa to D's for supper and then we went to the game. I lived at home and commuted to campus for my Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes and I worked at Deary Brothers weekends and sometimes Tuesdays and Thursdays if they needed me. 

I also recall D and I taking a History Class with Dr. Cagel. D would often not show up for class, he was working at the UCONN Dairy delivering milk, and I would take notes which I passed on to him. Of course he always managed to get a higher grade than I and it used to tick me off.  I still think that he got the better grade because he was a man and a veteran; I was just a girl. It's funny what my mind conjures up when I think about UCONN. I wanted to major in French and minor in Botany but the counselor to whom I was assigned said that wasn't a good combination and I believed him!! What a jerk I was. In any case I majored in French and minored in Latin. All of this background noise I'm writing is just to explain why I love UCONN Basketball! I've followed the men since I was in school for my BA and then I lived on campus for my MA while Puppy's Pop was in Vietnam. I started paying attention to the Women's team when coach Auriemma came to UCONN and I've followed both teams pretty religiously ever since. I  get  revved up and tell them how to play, what to do and what not to do! Somehow or other they have become my favorite TV show. I don't watch TV very much, probably because my parents thought it was a waste of time so we didn't have one in our house until I was 16 years old when an Aunt who was moving to a new apartment gave us her TV and kitchen stove. Heck, I can still sing Connecticut UCONN Huskies, symbol of might to the foe . . .  

Here's hoping the Women can go all the way  but it really doesn't matter because I'll take both teams and root for them no matter what. It really is a pleasure to watch them play even though I've had to admonish them and their various coaches for many years.  

All schools at every level should be giving all of their students a sound, education in the fundamentals - reading, writing, mathematics, history and philosophy but it ain't happening. All schools seem to have an agenda and if the modern student isn't brainwashed from an early age it is miraculous. But that's for another time and place or maybe never.  It hurts my brain when I think of what is happening in all phases of education. Perhaps the only schools I applaud at this time are the Trade Schools! Anyway I must end here because I'll get maudlin.  Need to go sit on the back porch and swing.

Quote:  He that has found a way to keep a child's spirit easy, active, and free, and yet at the same time to restrain him from many things he has a mind to, and to draw him to things that are uneasy to him, has, in my opinion, got the true secret of education.   ___Locke

Quote: There is a moral as well as an intellectual objection to the custom, frequent in these times, of making education consist in a mere smattering of twenty different things, instead of in the mastery of five or six.  ___Chadwick

Quote: Education commences at the mother's knee, and every word spoken in the hearing of little children tends toward the formation of character.__Let parents always bear this in mind.  ___H. Ballou 

Not an auspicious start to the day . . .

Red-headed Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Red-winged Blackbird

Tuesdays we go to to James' Restaurant in downtown for breakfast. It is an older restaurant located in an older building owned by an old church. The interior of the restaurant which used to be a drug store is being renovated, slowly, by new owners.The clientele is older folks, more men than women meeting for their daily exchange of pleasantries, gossip and tall stories. The food is good, the atmosphere is 'good old boys.' Today we arrived a little later than usual; Puppy's Pop let me sleep in! I slept until almost 7:30 which is very unusual. The restaurant was quite busy and the coffee was flowing into our cups but the food never arrived. We waited over 45 minutes watching as very few breakfasts made it pass the cooks to the customers. It seems that two cooks did not show up this morning so whoever was cooking was having trouble. When a to go order came they put it ahead of the orders already on the board. Well that did not work out well for us. They must have gotten a huge order that stopped them from getting our breakfast to us. Three different waitresses tried to get the cooks to prepare our breakfasts but it didn't work. I can't  remember ever being so disgruntled; we gave our slip to the waitress before we left so she could stop whatever the cooks were planning to do with our order. Puppy's Pop had to stop and at least pay for our coffees but the man checking out in front of him didn't have a slip and so a long drawn out process stopped us from even getting out of the restaurant. We were just going to go home and have breakfast but I remembered that we hadn't  eaten at Waffle House in over a year because  they would not not allow us to sit together at the counter even though we are a married couple! Even the other customers showed signs of disbelief.  We didn't get angry because I'm sure the waitress must have been following some sort of orders set up by our illustrious governor and his minions. (We do wear our masks whenever we go into a store or restaurant and follow their rules.) In any case we stopped in today and it was perfection! The waitress was wonderful, the coffee came immediately and the food was good and hot. Wow, my faith in humanity has been restored.

My poor LSU Tigers couldn't play well enough to get to the Sweet Sixteen. I am disappointed. Now I'll have to root for the Terps to go all the way. Not much fun at all.  I won't even watch the games. Hoping my UCONN Women can make it to the top but I don't think that is a reasonable expectation. The team is made up of young players and they will have to face some very good teams with seasoned players. Here's hoping that we can watch a few more basketball games before calling it an end to the season. 

The deluge has begun. It looks like we'll be staying inside for a day or two. Glad we managed to get some breakfast. I'm rarely in the mood to cook! I suppose I'll have to come up with something for supper. Lunch is always easy - just crackers and cheese or peanut butter with nutella and grapes or some such . . . It's a good thing the lawn has been mowed and trimmed because it will be muddy as the devil for a while.

Quote:  Panic is the stampede of our self-possession.  ________Rivarol

 

A slow walk at South Park . . .

Northern Flicker

 

I seem to be doing something illegal as I try to place the Northern Flicker video. Oh well, we'll just see how this all turns out. I have a funny feeling that the video and photos are going to be lopsided - the story of my life!

Decided to go along with Puppy's Pop to South Park this morning even though I still can't walk properly. I can't stand not going out and roaming around.  It drives my crazy and the weather right now is perfect for being out of doors - dry, sunny, breezy, 70's. It don't get mo' betta than this. I stayed within hailing distance of Puppy's Pop just in case I needed to be rescued but I took my time and all was well. It kills me to slow down but it seems that age can creep up on you and then you realize you're not 68 anymore!

 

 I was pretty shocked to hear a bird calling from way the heck up in a tree and to be able to find the stinker. I am usually not that lucky. I wasn't sure what I was taking photos or video of; I thought it might be a year old Red-headed or Red-bellied Woodpecker but I was surprised  when I got home and downloaded the FZ200. I have rarely seen a Norther Flicker in a tree. They're usually on the ground digging up little critters to eat; I've often seen two or three of them together. I was really pleased with the  shots and videos I was able to take this Sunday morning.  

My UCONN MEN were beaten by the Terps yesterday.  I was surprised that they didn't play well - they certainly were outperformed by the 10 seed. I'm sure that Coach Hurley will have them ready to make another run for the top of the NCAA Basketball Tournament next year. Gee, I'd be happy with a Sweet Sixteen - I'm not greedy! At least LSU is going to be playing Monday.  Tonight we'll watch  MY UCONN WOMEN play. That will be fun. I'm sure they will be meeting some tough teams down the road a ways. But for now I'll settle for an easy win . . . I hope!

Made some stew at Big Kiddo's home yesterday and brought along my Sally Lunn bread, nice and warm from the bread machine! Granddaughter made a from scratch chocolate cake with peanut-butter icing and snickers sprinkled around the top. Oh my, it was fantabulous. I'm sure that my weight will suffer if I keep eating my piece of cake and the frosting from Puppy's Pop's piece! I will have to curtail eating the good stuff if I don't want to get way the heck out of shape. (Out of shape is okay but way out of shape is not!) I love sweets, chocolate milk with sandwiches, and just plain old bread and butter. Will never pass the eat healthy tests!

 

Quote:  To select well among old things is almost equal to inventing new ones _______Trublet

A couple of critters; a couple of flowers . . .

Lizard was green when I started the photo shoot!!

Back porch

Front porch

Puppy's Pop took this photo of a Sharp-shinned Hawk as I was eating breakfast - my despised camera, of course!

 Spent this cold, raw day as if it were my cleaning day! We'll be off to Big Kiddo's tomorrow. Had an excellent supper courtesy of L. She brought us baked potatoes with all the fixin's. That is a real splurge; they were delicious.  Time to get lazy and watch some LSU Baseball. They haven't been on TV very often this year. 

Quote:  Tyranny and anarchy are never far asunder. _______J. Bentham

Quote: Where law ends, tyranny begins.____William Pitt, the Elder

A little jaunt to visit My Old Man River . . .

Bayou Sara is rising beyond three sets of trees. We can generally walk here.

Mississippi River not quite at flood stage

My Bridge across Old Man River

Turkey Vulture

 When Puppy's Pop asks if I want to go for a ride I always take him up on his offer. This morning we went directly to the Mississippi rather than stopping at the Birdman. Of course we stopped for a couple of Glorious Morning Muffins and  River Road Coffee on the way back! 

The Mighty River is just about at flood stage and we couldn't walk along the paths I love to trod. There weren't any boats or fishermen although there were a few trucks with their boat trailers parked above the now very short boat ramp. We did walk around but I only saw one tiny bird and I couldn't even see it well enough to know what it was. It wasn't much bigger than a Hummingbird; that's all I can say about it. I did get a chance to try and capture a bird in flight. I find that very difficult and rarely have any luck at all. I did get one shot that wasn't too bad - at least you can tell it is a bird flying in the sky! I have many photos of blue sky!

To top off Puppy's Pop's 24 hour banning from Face Book he got banned again for another 24 hours! He explained to our daughter-in-law in a FB post why he had been banned and of course he had to tell her he used the expression 'White trash!' So . . . there ya go! Thank goodness Google hasn't started sneaking around Blogger yet to see what words people are using when they are writing. I bet the list of expressions and words one can no longer use on line is going to be bigger than an unabridged dictionary! Some expressions just work in certain situations - they are not of them selves pejoratives. I'm quite sure that the programmers who choose the words and expressions that must be banned have not programed into their lists users' intentions. Wow! Pretty difficult to explain something if you can't use words except if they are on an acceptable words or expressions list. I was going to play with being banned myself by just explaining what had happened but I'm sure it's not worth the effort because these Monoliths of Tech Control will just automatically have the program do its job. Pretty outrageous but since they offer free access to their apps they have total control over you if you use their programs. Yeah, still thinking about quitting but not quite ready to give up the pluses - keeping in touch with friends and following sites that I enjoy. I really should get back into writing letters and making telephone calls although the telephone calls on the modern cell phone may not be a safe way to go. I'm pretty sure no one, as yet, is reading the cards and letters I do send! Good grief, just the thought makes me anxious about all the grammatical mistakes they could correct!

Quote:  The highest reach of human science is the recognition of human ignorance. ______Sir W. Hamilton

Quote: Science is the topography of ignorance. ____O. W. Holmes

Poor Puppy's Pop was banned from FB for 24 hours . . . that is hysterical . . .

Eastern Bluebird

Too funny

 Slowly working out the kinks in the left leg. Had to dig out the sciatica physical therapy sheets from 2014; slowly getting better. Not fast enough to please me but if I'm persistent I shouldn't be as grouchy as I've been without my daily walking and be back to normal in a couple of weeks, I hope! The beautiful Eastern Bluebird came for a nice visit last night and the Northern Cardinal was just sitting pretty as the day turned into evening.

That last two days have been very special for us. Friends from Connecticut stopped in and it was so good to be able to sit and talk for hours. Yes, we do miss our Connecticut peoples! The South still has a hold on us because the weather allows us to be outside almost every day of the year but when I think of home it means Highland St. Extension where I lived for 24 years  with wonderful, generous, intelligent parents, brothers, sisters, Pépère Bonnin and the old Caron Homestead on Plainfield Road where Puppy's Pop and I raised our three kiddos. All of the memories, loves and heartaches are engraved in my soul. The heartaches are hurtful, après tout, we all must leave this world and find our better selves in the realm of the Maker. But enough of seriousness and on to funny.

Yesterday Puppy's Pop wrote a comment on a video that a Moosup friend had posted to Face Book: "White trash." Yes, he was banned for a comment on someone else's post. Wow, Face Book is watching! It's funny in a way but it is positively scary. It's our own fault for taking part in what FB offers but it is their property and I suppose the best thing to do is to leave them to their business which is minding our business. It makes Orwell's 1984 a true and honest picture of our world gone crazy. I really haven't dropped out of FB completely because I like the Bird, Butterfly and International sites where I post photos and can see beautiful photos from around the world. I'm wondering if I've finally had enough of Big Brother? I should just drop out for good but I still like to check on friends and family. It's addicting for sure. 

Quote:  To rule self and subdue our passions is the more praiseworthy because so few know how to do it. ____Guiccardini

Quote: No conflict is so severe as his who labors to subdue himself.  ____Thomas a Kempis

Intrepid Great Egret finding breakfast at South Park . . .

Muddy waters - muddy tail feathers

Today has been a beautiful Saturday for doing the usual cleaning. My poor UCONN MEN couldn't hold on last night and got beat for the 3rd time by Creighton. It was heartbreaking - but not the end of the world. Hoping my Huskies can make it to the Final Four.  That would be spectacular for their first year back in the Big East. I still get angry every time I think of the powers that be at UCONN who actually thought they would be able to compete in Football so they chose to play  their sports in the AAC or whatever conference the Basketball teams had to put up with. Disgusting leadership at all levels at the University of Connecticut. Don't they know that they're playing around with MY TEAMS! Good grief. Quelles têtes de pioche! 

Puppy's Pop washed the trucks today.  That's a big job especially with all of the pine pollen covering everything. I scrubbed them on the inside, just a little. Don't want to get too fancy - after all a truck is for working folks! I'm also trying to take a couple of days off from walking; my left leg is not too happy lately and I'm not sure what's going on. Not in the mood to go to my Primary Care to have her send me to a 'specialist!' Maybe I can work the kinks out or just get used to a little pain and limp!

Getting ready to watch LSU vs Arkansas. Geaux Tigers! The powers that be at LSU are even worse than those at UCONN. Too bad Universities are looking more and more like for great profit enterprises rather than bastions of learning, civility, life and deep rooted knowledge based on truth and facts. But I'll put that rant off until another day. It's too discouraging to think about what passes for a college education in the 21st Century.

Quote:  Adversity's sweet milk, philosophy. _____Shakespeare
 

Finally, a decent little vaccuum . . .

Brown Thrasher

 I've been threatening to get a brand spanking new baby Dyson (my old full featured Dyson is still good but my Baby Dyson died) so I can keep up with the indoor/outdoor rug at the kitchen door but a few months ago I settled for a Shark. The Shark didn't like starting up unless you handled the switch very delicately. Now, really, handle a vac delicately when all you want to do it pick up the little piles of debris that come into the kitchen each time we go in and out? We have grass but the underlying earth is clay, clay, clay. It gets very wet and windy here fairly often and wet clay is a pain especially when the leaves have been blown all over the back porch. It's an almost impossible situation for someone as picky as I am about dragging in dirt. I don't know where that comes from in my genetic makeup because most of the family on both sides were just nice, regular, wonderful people.  But someone must have been picky unless I have just added that to the gene pool all by myself. In any case I looked up the Dyson V 7 on Amazon and I didn't really know if I wanted to pay a lot of money for something that will only be used to pick up dirt as it comes in the door. Puppy's Pop suggested that I find a store and we could go look at what I wanted. We ended up at the Vacuum Cleaner Store off of Florida in Baton Rouge. I  spoke with the owner on the phone and he told me he doesn't carry Dysons but he repairs them all the time! He is the only only authorized service center for Dyson  in and around Baton Rouge! 

Anyhoo . . . we did see the Bagless Stick Vacs and bought a JohnnyVac for $279.99 total, a little less  than the Dyson V7 and I know where the store is so if I have trouble I can easily get it all fixed up! It's great. I no longer have to bend down to sweep up the crumbs and clay! Well that made me happy so all is well with the world. Now if My UCONN MEN can beat Creighton tonight in the Big East Tournament I will be thrilled.  They beat DePaul handily last night. 

Quote:  Dirt is not dirt, but only something in the wrong place.   _____Lord Palmerston

Definitely was not in the mood for photos . . .

 Today was just a too ordinary day. I walked, of course, and then decided I needed a new plant or two. I should not have been surprised when I got to Clegg's Nursery and the parking lot was almost full. After all it is March in Louisiana.  I'm still on Yankee time and generally don't think of gardening until the end of May! Yikes, everybody and her uncle were buying new plants and gardening stuff. But it went smoothly. I only bought one new flowering plant and a patio tomato along with new gloves and Zinnia seeds. It is the first time that I buy seeds here in DS and there were a lot of seeds in the package! It was astounding! I couldn't even count them - the number was so great. 

 I really was in the mood for a dull day and certainly not in the mood to take out the camera but . . . what can you do when you're trimming a plant, that did survive the ice and cold weather, and a big, fat, brown frog comes galloping from the center of the dense plant and jumps right up into your face before landing on the cement block almost at your feet? You get the camera; take a few shots and call it a day. Well, almost a day. I went out right after supper to check on the birds and plants when I saw the little green frog who must have thought he was well camouflaged all tightly positioned on the bare iron display I use to allow the Blue Sky Vine to show off its beautiful deep, vivid green vines and heavenly blue flowers. Necessarily I had to get the camera and try to take a photo in the dark, cloudy evening. I had to turn on all of the porch lights but I did manage to capture the cute, little fellow.

Almost time to get comfortable and watch My UCONN MEN defeat DePaul in the Big East Tournament.

Quote:  Mirth should be the embroidery of conversation, not the web; and wit the ornament of the mind, not the furniture.   ____Talfourd

Mourning Doves looking svelt . . .

Another busyish day. Went walking at South Park immediately after a quick breakfast and didn't even have time to listen to Les Misérables .  I'm in Book 5 and it all seems to be coming together beautifully. How on earth Victor Hugo was able to come up with so many wonderful characters is amazing to me. I'm sure all good authors must know all of their characters but to create a whole set of characters and follow them through 50 years of their lives seems impossible. I just gave an old Volume I of Charles Dickens complete works to a young woman who enjoyed her class on Dickens at LSU.  I'm certain that no class whether about Dickens or Hugo can even begin to do justice to their works. I may have to set myself up for listening to Dickens on Audible.  I keep finding and reading some of my Mother's books.  It feels as if she is sitting near me as I read my evenings away. I believe the Charles Dickens Vol. 1 came with the Moosup family homestead we bought in 1969. Ma Tante Rose lived with us; she had been the keeper of her family's books, photos, and other objects left behind as her brothers and sisters married and took up housekeeping in many towns far and near or as one of her younger brothers did, left to be a cellarer  at the Cistercian Monastery in Conyers, Georgia! 

Well, as usual, I've gotten sidetracked and have rambled on. Revenons à nos moutons! 

Sunset through the Pear Tree

Time to call it a day. Bonsoir, les amis, bonsoir.

Quote:  Leisure is gone; gone where the spinning-wheels are gone, and the pack-horses, and the slow wagons, and the peddlers who brought bargains to the door on sunny afternoons.   ____George Eliot

Beautiful day for a short haircut . . .

Tufted Titmouse and House Finch

American Goldfinch

 These shots of the little ones were from a couple of evenings ago. I rarely get a chance to see any of these birds sit still long enough to get photos of them but they've been harassed by the huge flock of Pine Siskins so we haven't been putting out black oil sunflower seeds until late in the day. The Siskins seem to like to devour everything in sight first thing in the morning. We're trying to make them go North  which is where they belong at this time of year. I was happy to be able to get pretty close to the little blue feeder and they didn't fly away for once!

Finally talked myself into getting my traditional haircut. I've been trying to let it grow out a bit but it gets out of control so fast since we've moved to Louisiana.  I think it may be the weather - my hair always looks as if I've had permanent waves that just like to stick out all over the place. Much better short and under control - not that I'm a control freak!!! Yeah, I know, that's a poor joke.

Pretty sure I've lost almost all of my plants from last year. I had put many of them in the shed Puppy's Pop has for the lawnmowers and various odds and ends but I've taken them out and I think they are all dead. I've got them against the fence where they'll get morning and afternoon sun but I doubt they will survive.  Lucky me!  I get to go and buy a whole bunch more at Clegg's! I'm going to try to control my impulse to buy one of everything I like. I'm really not a gardener.  I just pick out what I like and hope for the best.  

UCONN WOMEN won the Big East Title last night. They were fantastic. Hope they can keep it up.

Quote:  True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise; it arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's self; and in the next, from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions; it loves shade and solitude, and naturally haunts groves and fountains, fields and meadows; in short, it feels everything it wants within itself, and receives no addition from multitudes of witnesses and spectators.  On the contrary, false happiness loves to be in a crowd, and to draw the eyes of the world upon her. She does not receive satisfaction from the applauses which she gives herself, but from the admiration which she raises in others.  She flourishes in courts and palaces, theatres and assemblies, and has no existence but when she is looked upon.  ____Addison

Windy Day - Northern Cardinal and . . .

It's been a rather hectic day for some crazy reason. I think it's because we weren't home Saturday as Puppy's Pop was helping Big Kiddo to do some yard work and so I just lazed around with his family while they were working. That means that today I had to get caught up on the washes and cleaning etc. I even washed two windows and two storm doors. The windows are a pain in the derriere. At least I don't have too much trouble removing the screens so it went quite well. Maybe the mood will strike me again tomorrow and I'll throw in a few more windows. 

Will definitely be watching the UCONN WOMEN playing for the Big East Title this evening.  Marquette gave them a pretty good run during the season so I hope the HUSKIES are fast and furious as they usually are. I love to watch them play. UCONN MEN have one last game Thursday against Providence before the Big East Conference Title games next week. They have a lot going for them this year.  I hope they can go all the way.  That would be the best! But both UCONNS are young so I'll just accept what they give us. We certainly enjoy watching their games.

Time to find something for supper. Not much in a cooking mood but I'll come up with something.  Puppy's Pop may have to help! Although he just picked up the Amazon package on the front porch and it's a new floor lamp for the living room and it needs assembly.  I may have to struggle through supper all alone. Hell's Bells - life can be tough! This photo is of a plane he was given because it was all messed up.  He took it all apart, made new pieces and did a great paint job actually using some of the deep red paint from the '71 El Camino.  Looking so good.  Can't wait to see it fly!

Quote:  A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called old for the first time.   ___O.W. Holmes

Slow, calm Sunday . . .

 We were up early this morning and drove to the VA in Baton Rouge so Puppy's Pop could get his Second Shot. That was a good thing done so we celebrated by going to Frank's in Baton Rouge for breakfast. I found out that I prefer the dining room on the left. It's brighter and we sat at a table for two by a window. Can't believe that I am eating grits and liking them. Bien sur I cover them with sugar which I doubt is the correct way to eat grits but they are much better than oatmeal. Frank's smokes its own bacon and I was quite happy with it. I really went all out and so did Puppy's Pop. The photos are from yesterday as the sun was going down. I am going to try to download another video and see if it is any easier this time! Watched the UCONN WOMEN beat Villanova in the Big East semi-finals this afternoon. Onward and upward! GO HUSKIES! Still going to Sunday Mass on line. I found a neat Mass on YouTube which originates in Toronto. It is in English and the sermons are just the perfect length and quite good!

Quote:  Much wisdom often goes with fewest words.  ____Sophocles