Month: July 2018

Summer Sips

These lazy days of summer have affected my writing ambitions. Ideas for blog posts flutter through my mind, but they seldom land. Yesterday was Sunday and I spent most of the day napping. Lazy, lazy, lazy.

This morning I realized I’d written nothing all weekend, but I didn’t panic. After all, energy would’ve been required. Instead I opened up my photo file and put together a post about the “Summer Sips” event at one of my favorite places in Florida–Tallahassee Nursery. There won’t be many words attached. Again, I’m lacking energy.

Enjoy.

Part of the attraction of the event was the promise of wine and of my favorite locally produced beer: Proof’s Mango Wit. It’s a perfect summer beer.

This cute daddy/daughter duo were intent on feeding the goldfish inside the greenhouse area.

Live music always makes me happy.

There were so many wonderful sights and scents.

Just a reminder, I’m not paid by Tallahassee Nursery in any way. I do patronize this business and enjoy sharing its news with others.

Peace, people.

Snapshot #208

This is another photo I took on Wednesday evening at Tallahassee Nursery’s “Summer Sips” event. I call it, “Don’t Play Koi with Me.”

I almost bought one of these, but one would get lonely and two might procreate, so I left these colorful fish for someone with a bigger garden than I have. Nothing fishy about that.

Peace, people.

Snapshot #207

I took a few photos at Tallahassee Nursery’s “Summer Sips” event on Wednesday evening. Here’s one of my favorites from the night:

I call it “Big Bad Bromeliad.”

That reminded me of my favorite childhood song, “Big Bad John,” the heart wrenching story of a miner who sacrifices himself to save his co-workers during a mine collapse. Yes, that’s the kind of tale that appealed to me as a child.

Jimmy Dean, famous for his sausages, sang “Big Bad John.” He was practically a hometown boy, having grown up in Plainview, Texas, just 30 miles or so from my own home town of Floydada.

I believe that’s a young Jimmy Dean in the photo below, but Pinterest couldn’t differentiate between Jimmy Dean of sausage fame, and actor James Dean.

I know for certain that it’s Jimmy Dean sausage pictured here, though.

As far as I know James Dean didn’t deal in pork products as a sideline, nor did he sing.

He could have, though. He was just that cool.

Without further ado (or a decent segue, for that matter) here’s Jimmy Dean, singing, “Big Bad John.”

https://g.co/kgs/b8nuxi

Peace, people.

Owlie McGraw

Owlie McGraw is my new best friend. She wraps around my seatbelt strap to prevent it from irritating my delicate skin. I purchased her last week on my first trip to Dollywood, and I seriously love her.

A twenty-something barista at a Starbucks drive-thru window commented on my cute stuffed friend, and I said, “Thanks! This is Owlie McGraw.”

He looked at me blankly.

“You know, like the actress, ‘love means never having to say you’re sorry,’ Ali McGraw?”

Still a blank look. Then it occurred to me that there’s a whole generation of people, maybe more, who have never seen Love Story, or The Getaway, or Goodbye Columbus! No wonder we’re in such a mess.

I wanted to be Ali McGraw.

I wanted a love story like the one she had in, well, Love Story.

I told the barista he should google Ali. I even spelled her name for him, so he wouldn’t search for Owlie instead. I mean Owlie is great, but she hasn’t achieved her own Google fame yet. Give her time, though. Whoooo? Owlie, that’s who.

Peace, people.

Unpeaceable Kingdom

Peaceable Kingdom Revisited

I woke from a dream, soft gathers of light, distilled spirits at the edges, last vestiges of night

Wandered in from the wastelands, shining city on a hill; I’d visited before, when the illusion held still.

Slept with the lions; lunched with the lambs, before this peaceable kingdom came tumbling down

Now the eagle has landed, poached, plucked, and sautéed; the bear lies in waiting, his meal already made.

The Peaceable Kingdom–Edward Hicks

It Might be Love

I’ve been awfully hard on Donald Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin. The two of them are so cozy that to all appearances it looks like perhaps Trump is committing treason.

But then I got to thinking, maybe, just maybe their relationship goes beyond politics. They might have formed a bond of manly love. Let’s let the two lovebirds have some privacy, shall we?

Oh hell, no. Trump’s a freaking traitor and Putin is feeding him his lines. Here are just a few political cartoons on the subject:

If you’re still supporting this wannabe tyrant, ask yourself why.

Peace, people.

Midnight Thoughts

From the border lands

We feel the children weeping

Lord, please hear their cries

Agents cold as ICE

Breaking families apart

Following orders

What would Jesus do?

We don’t have to speculate

Lord, hear our prayer

Matthew 19:14 King James Version (KJV)

14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Dollywood Souvenirs

Even though I’m 61 3/4 I still have to buy at least one souvenir on vacation. I’m a sucker for the corny and the tawdry, and Dollywood, like every other amusement park in the world, had its share of such items.

Having said all that, I really think I scored two totally cute and cuddly souvenirs.

Meet Owlfie, my new finger puppet. I didn’t even know I needed an owl finger puppet until I saw this little guy. True, the cats think I brought him home for them, but he’s mine.

And this little girl is Owlie McGraw. She will keep my seatbelt from rubbing my neck raw. Not only is she incredibly soft, but useful, as well.

One day I might grow up, but today’s not that day.

Peace, people.

Jane, Roe v Wade and Racial Suicide

An important piece. I want to read the book now. Read more at nonsmokingladybug.wordpress.com.

nonsmokingladybug's avatarThe happy Quitter!

Image result for the story of jane by laura kaplan

While we are awaiting the announcement of a new conservative supreme court judge, and with the fate of Roe v. Wade hanging in the balance, I once again started my own research. I am a woman. I have seen and heard a lot throughout the years and women’s rights are dear to me -always have been, always will be. I am a woman of all ages and I speak up for women of all ages.

View original post 709 more words