First Buds

Last Monday I was out in the front yard cutting the grass.  We have a number of miniature rose bushes on either side of our front path.  I noticed two of the bushes have buds which are starting to bloom.
Our first “red” bud.
Two yellow (with pinkish tinge) buds.
Once these get going, they will continue to bud and bloom through late-September / early October.
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On This Day In:
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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The Sun Came Out

We have been having a few days of overcast weather lately.  Yesterday, I was putting the bins out for the weekly pickup and the sun broke out.  Next to me was a flash of color.
I paused to see what had caught my attention…  Snapdragons, some garden frogs and two pots of mini-roses (budding, but not yet blooming).  Our daffodils are gone, but it looks like spring is sprung.  The three frogs are “Hear no evil”, “Speak no evil” and “Falling asleep” – which I guess is supposed to be “See no evil”.
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On This Day In:
2019	The Importance Of A Deadline
	Chaos Is Not Really A New Remedy
2018	History Will Judge Harshly
	Father Time, Perhaps?
2017	Odds Are
2016	Prayer, Too
2015	History, n.
2014	See It Sometime
2013	Precious Friend
2012	It Couldn’t Be Done
	Feeling Surrounded?
2011	Surprise!

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Not A Wink On Guard

This is Teddy (the one-eyed bear)…
Hil’s Teddy
Teddy has been with my wife for as long as she can remember.  Originally, “saved” to be passed down to one of our own, Teddy was reclaimed by my Hil for want of “proper” attention.   For most of the last 15 (or so) years Teddy has been the proud daytime resident of our bed – tucked to the waist under our sheets and propped up against the pillows on Hil’s side of the bed.  Occasionally, slipping between both sets of pillows with an arm extended on either set.  Our ever vigilant guard bear…
Teddy is a fierce survivor!  As you can see (if you click on the image to see the larger version), Teddy has lost his left eye, had major reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder and has worn a fair bit of fur off of both arms and feet and under his chinny-chin-chin.
All things said, he’s a good little bear who doesn’t demand much by way of food or drink.  He gets by on lots of love and the occasional snuggle.
And each day he performs his duties:  by daylight he guards our bedroom and by night he watches over us as we sleep.
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On This Day In:
2019	The Importance Of A Deadline
	Chaos Is Not Really A New Remedy
2018	History Will Judge Harshly
	Father Time, Perhaps?
2017	Odds Are
2016	Prayer, Too
2015	History, n.
2014	See It Sometime
2013	Precious Friend
2012	It Couldn’t Be Done
	Feeling Surrounded?
2011	Surprise!

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One Person’s Roses…

Are another person’s weeds…
In Our Garden…
My wife (Hil) likes to add whimsy to our backyard by inserting (fairly) random articles here and there.  Most are “life” forms (ducks, rabbits, turtles, frogs, angels and saints, etc.), but some are just bits and bobs (wind chimes, bird feeders) to catch your eye.  And, some are just for philosophy…
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On This Day In:
2019	In The Long-Run
2018	#NeverAgain
	Doss II
	Doesn’t / Does
2017	Talent Hates To Move
2016	Looking To November
2015	It Isn’t The End
	Prospero’s Precepts
2014	Friends
2013	Learning Bitter
2012	Remembrance, Minstrels & Going Off To War
	May I Have More Happiness, Please?
2011	There Is No God, But God
2010	Another Running Book…

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The Doggie Dab

My dog (Shiva) has been watching too many Usain Bolt videos on YouTube…
Actually, it’s what happens when you get your tummy scratched “just right“…
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On This Day In:
2019	#LyingDonald’s Problem With The News And Truth
2018	Oh, Hell
2017	No Welcome Mat Here
2016	Making It Up
	A Missed Beat
2015	We Are All Explorers
2014	Still Trying To Cope
2013	Dear Diary (A good chuckle!)
2012	Conveniently Sequential
2011	King’s Speech Number Four
	Rational Probability

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And In The Back

My wife loves to putter in the front and back yards.  She claims it’s because she’s English, but I think she just likes to add little touches of her personal beauty to the world – or at least to our small part of it…
In addition to the “normal” daffodils we have in our front yard (as shown in prior posts), we have a couple of plantings of “minis” and, most recently, a little purple “something” (she’s forgotten the name of) which are located in our back yard.  We are expecting the neighbors’ cherry (and other fruit trees) blossoms any day now…
Mini-daffodils
Two daffodils with their respective turtle guards
Small purple flowers…
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On This Day In:
2019	Sunlight Stream
2018	Wars Without Taxes
2017	Multiplication And Division
2016	I Went To The Woods…
2015	I’ve Got To Run
2014	Which Is It?
2013	Making You Stronger
2012	Sick Of Being Sick
	Greater Than Power
2011	Clear, Specific And Measurable
2010	The Runner’s High
	Into The Dark…

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Pat, Pat, Pant, Pant

Every couple of months Hil and I take a short drive over to the marina in Martinez (CA).  Most of the time we take our dog (Shiva) along to give her some fresh smells.  Shiva is over 10 years old and her most active days are well behind her, but she loves going out in the car (as well as the fresh smells).  Here’s a picture of Shiva and me (taken by Hil), giving her a rest and a chance to catch her breath.
The marina faces north towards the Carquinez Straits which connects the Sacramento River with the north end of San Francisco Bay.  Because it’s right on the water, when the tide shifts in the Bay, the water flow speeds up or slows down, the air flow increases or slows and there is almost always a cooling breeze.  Plus it’s a great view!  Oh, and by the way…  mid-February and it’s low to mid-70’s.  I didn’t “need” the sweatshirt, but I brought along in case the wind was too much.
Martinez Marina on the Carquinez Straits
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On This Day In:
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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