Core Secrets Exist

My brain is only a receiver, in the Universe there is a core from which we obtain knowledge, strength and inspiration.  I have not penetrated into the secrets of this core, but I know that it exists.
––     Nikola Tesla
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On This Day In:
2023	Into Redemption
2022	A Little More Each Day
	Zappa-ed!!
2021	Every Time It Gets Better
	Distant! (How Do You Like Me Now?!)
2020	I’m Persuaded (Crystal Blue Persuasion)
2019	Hungry For Trust
2018	Mutual Assistance
2017	The Toughest Job
2016	Congratulations!!
	Better Yet, Read!
2015	Even If It Kills Us Slowly
2014	Fun To Play God
	Of Anything
2013	Legal (Almost)
2012	Great Scots!
2011	The GI Bill – A Simple History Lesson
	Breaking Even

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Happy Meeting Day 40 (And Counting)

…When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.
—     Harry Burns
From: “When Harry Met Sally“
Our favorite holding period is forever.
—     Warren Buffett
============
Forty years ago I met the love of my life…   Loving her a little more each day makes getting old easier than I ever imagined it would be.
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On This Day In:
2023	Happy Meeting Day 39 (And Counting)
2022	Happy Meeting Day 38 (And Counting)
	9 (40) – Done
2021	Happy Meeting Day 37 (And Counting) (A Long And Winding Road)
2020	Happy Meeting Day 36 (And Counting) (I Want To Hold Your Hand)
2019	Happy Meeting Day 35 (And Counting) (Could It Be I’m Falling In Love)
2018	Happy Meeting Day 34 (And Counting)
	Storytelling
2017	Happy Meeting Day 33 (And Counting) (A Little More Time On You)
2016	Picture Perfect (The Colour Of Love)
2015	Life Showed Compassion (One In A Million You)
2014	And Then I Met Her (God Only Knows)
2013	Defining Maleness
	The Run Continues
2012	All Set
2011	Not Always

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Depth, Layers And Color

As we were coming home from our morning’s dog walk, I noticed how beautiful the sun was lighting our front garden.
It’s seems true that the beauty of a garden is not just the vibrancy of life.  It is also the subtle shades of color variation and the depth of items which catch the onlooker’s vision.
There’s a ephemeral beauty in a California morning light on a colorful garden.  Of course, there will be a similar beauty later in the day and again tomorrow morning, but for this moment – it is here now in a way it will never be again…
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On This Day In:
2023	Tread Softly, It Works…
2022	Whatever One Can
2021	Horticulture Anyone?
	Take To The Sky (Natural High)
2020	Heroes Die Too
	Front Update
	Still More Hope Than Fact
2019	The Ones Worth Remembering, Anyway
	Boot Edge Edge (My New T)
2018	To Reach The Next Threshold
2017	Streaking Tales
2016	Singular Reality
2015	He Says It’s Hard To Get There From Here
2014	Question From A Founding Father
2013	Make Heroes
2012	See And Hold
2011	Am Not, Are So

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April Blossoms

My wife’s favorite flower is the full size, yellow daffodil.  She likes the mini’s and the whites, too, but her preference is for the full size, yellow.  We look forward to their emergence every January / February as they bring with them the start of a new year and the approaching end of Winter.
But the yellow blossoms fade and then wither…  And then, usually towards the end of March we start to see the sprouts of the California Poppy!!  A few weeks later…  Blossoms!
Granted, we only have ours as a bit of trim at the top of the front garden.  Some of our neighbors have their whole front yards strewn with bright orange and green!  And so, walking around the neighborhood in the bright California morning sunshine, we enjoy the month of April…
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On This Day In:
2023	In The Beginning…
2022	Working Out
2021	Fortes Fortuna Juvat*
	Layin’ In Bed (Help Me Rhonda)
2020	For Sale
2019	Letting Go
2018	Trying To Give More
2017	The Reproductive Value Of A Presidential Election
2016	For Me It’s Been Faith
2015	Where Many Paths And Errands Meet
2014	Rimmed Out
2013	Likeness
2012	Sums It Up Quite Well, Actually
2011	Momentary Abandonment

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Inner Strength

Happy Birthday, James!!
Find your strength in Love!
Love Always,
—    Mum and Dad
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On This Day In:
2023	Given The Option
2022	Remember
2021	Now You’re 31…
	Versions: (Father And Son)  (My Way – Presley & Sinatra)
2020	Make A Fuss
2019	Hopefully, You’re Learning To Forgive
2018	Enjoy The Sunsets As Well As The Sunrises
2017	Enjoy
2016	I Got A Feeling
2015	Fiction Leading To History
2014	A Self-Correcting Process
2013	None But He Knows
2012	99% Are Demanding
2011	All In The Family
	Take Your Pick

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Reading In My Backyard Hammock

Celtic Christianity posits that heaven and earth are typically three feet apart, but at thin places that distance is even smaller.  The door separating us from the next world opens a crack and holy light escapes to bathe these spots in brilliance.
We are closer to God at the thin places than anywhere else on earth.  At these blessed points, we can more easily feel God’s grace and glory.  We come away from these sacred sites renewed in spirit, calm and sure in the midst of the busyness of the world.
After a glimpse of the holiness found in a thin place, we are more likely to see holiness all around us in our everyday life.  We can hear spirituality in birdsong, feel consecration in the sunlight, and see divinity in the warm eyes of people we pass.
—    “Laurie”
[The above quote is an excerpt from a post on the blog:  Meditations in Motion
The specific post is:  The Holiness of the Thin Places
The specific location of the post is:  https://meditationsinmotion.wordpress.com/2019/07/11/the-holiness-of-the-thin-places/
[I was following the blog for a couple of years, but it seems to have gone inactive since December 2019.  I have a number of posts, quotes and writings from several years back and have just never gotten around to re-posting them here.  I offer my apologies to anyone hoping to go to the original site for more current postings…
Disclaimer:  The above quote is posted without prior permission by the site’s owner.  I am making no claim to ownership and am presenting it only because it caught my attention and gave me pause to think.  I will edit or delete the quote if requested by the blog site owner.    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023	Takin’ A Lickin’
	Actually, It’s The Other Way Around
2022	If That’s What You Mean
2021	Awakening The Glow
	I Remember (In The Air Tonight)
2020	Golden Eagle
	Like #45: Incompetent Donald
2019	#45: Who Lost By Three Million Votes
2018	Torn Between Two Loves
	A Girl And A Boy
2017	I Think They Are Starting To…
2016	Living There
2015	Bookin’ West
	Beyond My Reach
	You Never Call Anymore…
2014	Winning?
2013	Still Inventing
2012	Motivated
2011	Waiting In Line At Starbuck’s

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Leaning To The Last…

If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today?
—     Steve Jobs
What we need to do is always lean into the future;  when the world changes around you and when it changes against you – what used to be a tail wind is now a head wind – you have to lean into that and figure out what to do because complaining isn’t a strategy.
—     Jeff Bezos
Don’t Let Yesterday Take Up Too Much Of Today.
—     Will Rogers
[Happy Birthday to me!    —    kmab]
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On This Day In:
2023	Sometimes Once Can Be Enough
2022	The Air Is Thinner, But It’s A Killer View
2021	Staying Young While Getting Old
	Mid-Afternoon (Hopefully) (Fill The World With Love)
2020	Still Measuring (My Next Thirty Years)
2019	Living On The Couch
	Who Am I – One Interpretation
2018	A Gardening Goal: Feed The Flowers
2017	Freakishly Happy Cowboy (The Cowboy In Me)
2016	One More, Please (Life In One Day)
2015	Infinite Adventure
2014	Unpaved
2013	Headstones
2012	Keeping Young
2011	Lessons Well Learned

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Unbanded Slog

“Kings of the Wyld” (2017©) — book review
Today’s book review is for “Kings of the Wyld”, a sword and sorcery / dungeon and dragon style fantasy novel about a group of “retired” mercenary warriors who get back together to save the daughter of one of the group’s members.  The book is written by Nicholas Eames.  This is the author’s first novel and is meant to be the start of a series.  The book was relatively well received (in its genre) when it was first released and was loaned to me by my son who said he’s read it multiple times and it is one of the best books he’s ever read. (Ohhhh-kay…)  I actually completed the book yesterday and am just getting around to this review.
This book raises the proposition of what it might be like if a “band” of heroic warriors who had all retired some years ago were called back together for one last impossible mission.  The heroic “band” used to go around getting hired out (hence mercenaries) to kill monsters which were troubling various kingdoms and locales.  Monsters include:  giants, trolls, dragons, fairies, etc. etc. etc.  The impossible mission is to save a daughter who has been trapped in a fortress city by a horde of evil creatures gathered by the villain of the story.  Yes, yes, yes…  Shades of “Lord of the Rings“, “Game of Thrones” and all the other fantasy sword and sorcery novels of the last 100 years.  Oh, bye the way, “The Wyld” is a large area in the fantasy world where all the monsters originate – and where most live.  They (mostly) only attack humans if you are foolish enough to go into the Wyld or if they are driven into a horde by a leader with evil intentions.  In horde mode, the monsters will leave the Wyld and attack fortressed cities of humans.
So, is this book any good?  Is it realistic in it’s narration of adventure, heroism or combat depictions?  Is it entertaining and / or interesting?  And, finally, do I recommend this book?  No to all of the above!
Any good:  The book is told as a first-person narrative (mostly), by one of the band members (Clay “Slowhand” Cooper).  His thoughts and reflections are the ONLY things which strike true in this book.  Mind you, NOT his actions – particularly in battle / personal combat.  Having said that, the other “band” members are even less believable, so, I guess there’s that.
Realism, characters and battle / combat depictions:  I struggled to find one (just one) combat scene or battle that had ANY basis in reality.  This is a comic book version of “Lord of the Rings“, “King Kong“, “Harry Potter” and all of the “Die Hard” movies all rolled in to one jumbled mess – without the redeeming comic book art.  There is a lot of world building and personal motivation for the narrator, but (to be honest) who cares?  There isn’t even a serious fight to the death in the first 150 pages!!!  And even then, it’s not “real” people who get terminated.  (Remember:  monsters – goblins, wraiths, and undead of various types.  Ho hum.)
Entertaining / interesting:  Neither… My son loaned me this book almost three years ago.  I would read a few pages and put it down for a week (or month).  It just wasn’t interesting.  It wasn’t anything new.  And, worse, there wasn’t even enough story to make me want to finish the book.  I have finished it, now, after a slog and with much effort.  I convinced myself that if my son was that keen on it, the book MUST have some redeeming value.  And, ohhhh-kay…  There are about 100 pages in the last 130 which are a fantastical melee battle between the forces for good and evil – again, think “Battle of Five Armies” or “Avengers: Endgame” – which was almost entertaining / interesting.  Unfortunately, the narration / descriptions were so poorly done it was practically impossible to discern where the action was happening or who was fighting whom.
Final recommendation:  Weak recommendation.  This book is “probably” meant for a different generation (than me) who has grown up playing Dungeon and Dragon style fantasy games.  In spite of my son’s stated opinion, I find it hard to believe he enjoyed this book.  (He has previously loaned me multiple books which were FAR, FAR better than this one.)  At best, it’s “Okay”.
Disclaimer:  This book was loaned to me and no compensation has been provided to me by anyone for my opinions in this review.  I will be returning it to my son on our next meeting / visit / family gathering.
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On This Day In:
2023	The End As We Fear It
2022	Understanding True Achievement
2021	Avoiding Corners
	Nobody Knows (Nobody Knows It But Me)
	A Novel War
2020	First Buds
	To Fly
2019	What If Nobody Believes Them Either
2018	It’s About Heart Not Skill
2017	Winning So Much I’m Already Tired Of It (Not)
2016	Punishing Red Binge
2015	Bits In The Soup
2014	More Beef, Less Bull
2013	Where Are Your Mountains
2012	Spherical Knowledge Of Hamsters
2011	Taking Stock Over Time

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Still Shaking

Happy Birthday, Bro!!
Below is a poem you inspired me to write way back when we were in our teens…
Enjoy the day!
Love ya,
Kevin & Hil
The Genius Shook
My brother was a genius
So nervous that he shook,
My brother was a genius
He saw things as they looked;
He tried to tell the world he saw
Exactly how it looked,
But all he did was scare himself
So bad he really shook;
My brother was a genius
I knew he could go far,
My brother was a genius
He saw things as they are;
He sat there in a chair and showed me
How we really are,
I tried to see the things he saw
Exactly how they are;
My brother was a genius
So nervous that he shook,
My brother was a genius
He saw things as they looked;
The world he saw frightened him
So badly that he shook,
My brother was a genius
He saw things as they look.
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On This Day In:
2023	What My Dog Thinks About Her Daily Walk… (The 59th Street Bridge Song, Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast)
	Still Sunny
2022	Following His Own Path
2021	Show A Brother Some Love
	Beyond Words (Classical Gas)
2020	Especially You, Bro
	Words Without Explanation
2019	Enjoy!
2018	Happy Birthday, Bro!
2017	Love Can Change The World In A Minute (What Do I Know)
2016	60, Little Bro!
2015	Vision and Courage
2014	58 – Little Bro
2013	New Adventures And Old Hopes
	Caving In
2012	Bits And Bobs And Birthdays
	Always Hope
2011	Wet Snow And Long Hills

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Pitter-Patter

Way back when I was dating my wife, she would occasionally hum a little tune.  I asked her what the tune was and she said it was just a little song she learned as a child / teen.  She gave me a book about Liverpool (where she’s from) and it had the lyrics of the song in it.  This morning, I was sitting in bed listening to a cloudburst hit the roof of our house and it brought back memories of living in Liverpool during the 1990s…
In My Liverpool Home
In my Liverpool home,
in my Liverpool home,
We speak with an accent
exceedingly rare,
Meet under a statue
exceedingly bare,
And if you want a cathedral
we’ve got one to spare,
In my Liverpool home.
I was born in Liverpool,
down by the docks
Me religion was Catholic,
occupation – hard knocks,
at stealing from lorries
I was adept
and under old overcoats
each night we slept
In my Liverpool home,
in my Liverpool home,
We speak with an accent
exceedingly rare,
Meet under a statue
exceedingly bare,
And if you want a cathedral
we’ve got one to spare,
In my Liverpool home.
When I grew up
I met Bridget McCann
She said you’re not much,
but I’m needing a man
for I want fifteen kids
and a house out in Speke
Me spirit was willing,
but me flesh it was weak
In my Liverpool home,
in my Liverpool home,
We speak with an accent
exceedingly rare,
Meet under a statue
exceedingly bare,
And if you want a cathedral
we’ve got one to spare,
In my Liverpool home.
Way back in the forties
the whole world went mad
Mr. Hitler threw at us
everything that he had
When the dust and the smoke had
all cleared from the air
“Thank God” said the Old Man,
“The Pier Head’s still there.”
In my Liverpool home,
in my Liverpool home,
We speak with an accent
exceedingly rare,
Meet under a statue
exceedingly bare,
And if you want a cathedral
we’ve got one to spare,
In my Liverpool home.
Loose Translation:
“Accent”:  Folks from Liverpool / Merseyside are “famous” for speaking an English dialect (LoL) known as “Scouse” and the people are “affectionately” known as “Scousers”.  From my limited experience, there’s Scouse, Scottish, and “proper” (BBC News) English.
“Bare Statue”:  Lewis’s Department Store is a locally famous store in downtown Liverpool (aka: City Centre).  The store was bombed out during World War II and was rebuilt after the war.  The rebuild was completed in 1956 and a (naked) statue was commissioned to stand over the front main entrance.  Because the location is well known in City Centre, folks would meet there before going to the pub (or wherever).
“Spare Cathedral”:  In olden days, you couldn’t be considered a “proper” (ie. “chartered”) European “city” until you had a cathedral.  Liverpool has two cathedrals:  one Anglican (“Church of England”) and one Catholic.  The Anglican Cathedral is a traditional cross-shape.  The Catholic Cathedral is circular-shaped and referred to (not always affectionately) as: “Paddy’s Wigwam”.
“Lorry”:  The British word for a truck.
“Speke”:  A suburb of Liverpool about 8miles southeast of the City Centre.
“Pier Head”:  The Liverpool docks were historically famous as the jump off point to Ireland and most of the British colonies (mainly the Americas and the West Indies) as it was the largest pier on the west facing coast of England.  The piers were extensively bombed by the Germans during World War II.  The “Pier Head” is famous for being the location of the “Three Graces”:  the Port of Liverpool Building (docking site of the “Ferry ‘Cross the Mersey”;  the Cunard Building (former headquarters of Cunard Line (shipping and passenger cruises);  and, the Royal Liver Building (originally life “assurance / insurance”).  The “Royal” is the site of the two Liver Bird copper statues which adorn the top of the building.
Note:  There are many other verses, but I believe the above are among the most commonly known / sung.
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On This Day In:
2023	Ditto For A Good Spouse And Their Love
2022	Putin’s Objective In Ukraine?
2021	It’s 12 O’clock Somewhere
	The Way It Is (Get On Up / Sex Machine)
2020	And #IncompetentDonald Weakens It
2019	Morning Mirror
2018	Wondering About #45
2017	A Prayer For London
2016	Don’t Default
2015	Her Pilgrim Soul
2014	Three Observations
2013	Robbed Again
2012	Good Hearts
2011	Interesting Reading
	What Are You Lookin’ At?

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Four For Your Birthday

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
—    Les Brown
You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely.
—    Ogden Nash
God gave us the gift of life;  it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well.
—    Voltaire
You were born an original.  Don’t die a copy.
—    John Mason
[Sarah, Happy Birthday!!
We hope you continue to enjoy your time in the Big Apple and in your new apartment.
We’re happy we’re able to enjoy some of this special day with you.
Love Always,
Mum & Dad]
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On This Day In:
2023	Wishes For You…
2022	Finding Your Strength
2021	Step By Step Find Strength
	Keep Searching (Search For The Hero)
2020	Giving Thanks
2019	One A Day
2018	Try
2017	You’re Starting To Make Us Feel Old
2016	Focus (It Won’t Be Like This For Long)
2015	Challenging Legacy
2014	Happy 21st Birthday!
2013	Expectations
2012	Trust Him Smile
2011	Why Change?

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Front Pot

A couple of weeks ago (9 February), I posted about some daffodils in a plant area at the front of our house.  For the last few years, we’ve had a bushel of daffodils bloom there.  For whatever reason, we didn’t get our normal number of blossoms this year so my wife put in a few additional colorful plantings to brighten up the house…  (Click on the image to see a larger version…)
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On This Day In:
2023	Your Children Are Watching You
2022	Like Smiles, Flowers And Rainbows
2021	On Your Marks, Get Set…
	Absolutely Nothing (War)
	Roses And Chores
2020	Which Is Which
2019	Were You Saying Something?
2018	Ethics Lesson
2017	May I Have Some More, Please?
2016	A Little Lost
2015	This High Place
2014	Elected Madness
2013	Well Written
2012	Related Parts
2011	The King Is Oscar
	Better Reputation?

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Memories Of My Tia

On Wednesday, 14 February 2024, my Tia Francisca Yanez passed away at the age of 96.  Tia Francis was my mom’s twin sister.  They were raised in the mid-west, where Tia married and settled to raise her family.
What I remember most about my Tia is her radiant smile and seemingly always positive attitude towards life.  Below are some photos which I hope share some of her life…
Tia on her Wedding Day
I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be a one-baby stroller…  LoL!
I think this image has been color enhanced…  It looks like a B/W original.
Tia and mom attended nursing school in Chicago.  This is them dressed to the “9s” with one of their younger brothers.  Ready to party in feathers and pearls!
Finally, this is Tia and my mom book-ending Hil’s mom – who was visiting us from Liverpool, UK.  Tia had attended our wedding the previous year and my mom flew her out so Tia could meet the In-Laws.  Hil’s mum has passed, too.  My mom will celebrate her 97th birthday in a couple of months.  Mom currently lives with my sister here in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Our prayers go out to my cousins and their families in this time of loss (and joys remembered).
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On This Day In:
2023	I Try To Be Deserving
2022	A Reminder Of Pride And Responsibility
2021	And Last Minute Blog Posts
	This Boy Just Ain’t Right (Southern State Of Mind)
2020	Pat, Pat, Pant, Pant
2019	You (Too) Are Related
	A Blind Squirrel Finds An Idiot
2018	My Hope
2017	We All Lose
2016	Wants
2015	Let Us Join
2014	Feeling Kept?
	Chillin’
2013	The Lucky Few
2012	A Post-Valentine’s Day Message
2011	Risk, Lyrics, Starting Over, And My Trip To The ER
	Lucky Choice

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Happy Valentine’s Day – 2024!!

Unconditional love is an anchor, providing stability and security in a world of uncertainty.
–     Bell Hooks
From: “All About Love: New Visions“
[Happy Valentine’s Day, Hil!!  You are my anchor…
Let’s make each tomorrow be the best that it can be – together, forever… in love.
All my love, Always, Your Kev XXX 00 X]
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On This Day In:
2023	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2023!!
2022	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2022!! (My Girl)
2021	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2021!! (You’re Still The One)
	Our Love’s No Mystery (Best Of My Love)
	Backyard Narcissus
2020	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2020!! (Sparkling In The Sand)
2019	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2019!! (Perfect)
2018	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2018!!
2017	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2017!! (Always On My Mind)
2016	Happy Valentine’s Day – 2016!! (Truly Madly Deeply)
2015	To My Special Lady (Special Lady)
2014	Awakening
2013	Drowsy In Comfort
2012	Happy Valentine’s Day
2011	Own Your Bible

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Nearing Spring

Every year, yellow reminds me that Winter has turned and Spring is approaching…  I see the first blossoming of daffodils!
The flower box in the front of our home (with the single blooming daffodil):
And, a close-up of the Lone Ranger at the far end:
And, here is a group of mini’s from our backyard:
It looks like we’re going to have a few clusters of the minis in the back, but the regular sized ones will be a lot less than normal.  So far, we’re only seeing sprouts in the flower box (and fewer of those).  None in our actual front yard.  Oh well, I guess we’ll have to buy more bulbs for next year.
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On This Day In:
2023	Try Being Unreasonable
2022	Why Do Republicans Still Follow A Con-Artist / Loser?
2021	Guns Or Butter
	Caught Up In The Magic (I Can Dream About You)
2020	Haunting Illusions
	True Color
	Crackin’ The Flags
2019	Maybe A Slight Advantage
	We Should Never Give Up On Our Dreams
2018	As I Recall
2017	Truly Generous
2016	Choose Your Destiny
2015	Fast And Firm
2014	Neither Head Nor Heart
2013	Lonely, Foolish, Love Songs
	Batting 1.000
	Coward, n.
2012	At Least A Little More Difficult
2011	Speaking Of Fear

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