Just for Fun

Too hot and humid to go anywhere or do much of anything. And I just felt like tooning, so this is what I came up with. As usual, click to enlarge.

Marshmallows

Sky Watch #55

When it's time for Sky Watch Friday, we thank the team of Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Louise, Fishing Guy an Wren for all their help. Please go here to see wonderful skies from all over the world.

My pictures today are just a lovely, warm summer afternoon, looking at the sky from my back deck. I hope you find them pleasant.

Think Green Thursday

Michelle is once again bringing us Think Green Thursday. I hope all readers check out her blogs frequently. They are really special.

I'm sure that many of you support World Wildlife Fund, and receive literature from them from time to time. My post this week is stolen straight from something they sent to me - in different words, but it is a list of things we can all do to help keep our world green. These are very basic, but I know that I have to be reminded of them from time to time.

We do live on a wonderful planet. If we want to keep it this way we just have to try harder than most of us do.

First of all, we can start walking. At least, most of us can. We don't really have to hop into the car quite so often. And by walking, we may also better enjoy the sights and sounds and smells of the great outdoors. And while we're walking, we can carry a water bottle - a REAL water bottle, not a plastic one we have bought, already filled with water. (There are serious questions as to whether that bottled water is all it's cracked up to be anyway, and those many small plastic bottles just pile up and never go away in the dump.) Perhaps, like me, you live in an area where the well water is not clean and chemical free. If that's the case, you can at least avoid the multi-packs of small bottles or use a filter so you don't have to buy it at all. We can also try to avoid buying products that come in plastic containers instead of glass.

When we stay indoors in cooler weather there are a number of things we can do. First, we can wear sweaters instead of pushing up the thermostat. We can remember to turn off the lights in rooms we aren't using.

I hope by now we are all recycling, and not contaminating the soil and water by dumping medications or other dangerous items.

Of course we're trying to remember those cloth bags when we shop. If we do forget them, we're asking for paper rather than plastic.

We get so many catalogs in the mail! If they are from merchants we never use, we might try contacting them and asking to get OFF their lists.

And how about the big one. Plant a tree. Plant several if you have room. They clean our air. They filter noise as well. And they provide habitat for wildlife.

Summer Fun

Now that my Flickr pictures have been restored, I'm able to see what the California branch of the family is doing these days. It looks as if my grandson has been having a great summer. Many activities with family and friends.







He does keep busy right at home.





And they also spend as much time as possible, camping in Big Sur country.



Isaac has his own sleeping bag to use in the tent.





He loves all the things most kids do, like roasting marshmallows, climbing trees, playing in the water, and just plain having fun.



Me too. Wish I could be there with them.








He's a lucky little boy.







Hey! Blogging is great for a grandmom who likes to talk about her grandkids!

And Another Thing...

I have one more thing to say about Health Care. And it isn't even in my words.
This is by cartoonist, Mike Lukovich. For me, it pretty much says it all.




Why do I feel more and more that I won't live to see a decent health care system in our country? and that the present one may well prove to be the reason for my own demise?

THANK YOU, MARCELA

She did it! Marcela, from Flickr finally did it. She told me step by step what to do and I can now see all of my photos - all 1448 of them. I've also gone to my daughter's site and I can see hers too!

It took a long time, and a lot of frustration, but I'm back to Flickr at last.

My dear friend, Lisa, went to all the trouble of emailing me my daughter's pictures earlier this evening. Thanks so much to her! She's a really good friend. - And while I'm at it, she has entered the photo contest in The Press. Go on over to her blog post and get the link so you can take a look and vote - maybe
for a couple of her pictures.

But again - Thank you, Marcela!

Follow Up on Flickr

Well, today Flickr got back to me at last. But what they had to say makes no sense. They tell me that 25 of my pictures are designated as "Private" and that's why I can't see them. Come on, now, Flickr.

First of all, I am the only one who can't see them. Everyone else can. Secondly, I have not designated any as Private. And third, what would that have to do with the fact that I can't see other people's pictures either?

They really have to do better than this.

Flickr Is Flickering Out

Is anyone else having a problem with Flickr? And if so, any ideas on how to resolve it?

For more than two weeks now, I have had a problem. The picture titles are in place, but no pictures are in sight. This is the case when I try to upload my photos and also when I try to view other people's photos. Two or three may show up, here and there, but most do not. I'm missing 24 of my own at the moment. - some I tried to upload, and some older ones that were there until a couple of weeks ago have now disappeared.

I emailed to Flickr of course, and got an acknowledgment, but have heard nothing more, and I'm getting impatient. My daughter in California just let me know that she is uploading a lot more, but I can't see them. I hope she'll email me at least a few or put some on her blog.

I really don't care for most of the other systems that create albums for you. Up until now I have enjoyed Flickr very much. But this is ridiculous. I've given up trying to upload any more pictures for the time being, but I would really like to be able to see my family's and friends' photos.

Interestingly enough, I'm told that other people CAN see the photos I've put on the site. I'm the only one who cannot see them.

Mellow Yellow Monday #29

Our friend, Drowsey Monkey, has another Mellow Yellow Monday waiting.

This week I'm celebrating my garden. I've had lots of flowers blooming.




But so far this year, the vegetables I have planted have not done well. I've had some lettuce and a few snow peas, but the others haven't shown much promise. But - this week I have a couple of tiny squash starting! This is amazing because other years that is what has NOT done well. Lots of blossoms, but no fruit. But here it is. At least a beginning!

Shadow Shot Sunday #62

Tracy is once again hosting Shadow Shot Sunday for us at her delightful blog, Hey Harriet.

My neighbor's cats (She has five!) seem to prefer my home to theirs. When I look out on my back deck each day, I'm sure to find at least one of them. This happened to be a two cat morning.








I really wish they would all stay at home. At least this time they weren't lying right in front of my door to trip me.

Health Care - and whatever

Brack Obama has promised us that he will try to get us a good, strong, sensible health care program. (Operative word: "try") He is working hard to keep that promise.

Personally, I do not agree with everything he suggests. Have any of us ever agreed with everything a politician has suggested? But I do believe it is at least about a thousand percent better than the sorry state of our present system.

The "business as usual" people do NOT have the welfare of the public at heart. Our congressmen, secure in their own health care benefits as well as all sorts of other percs, are not willing to rush to our rescue. Nor are they anxious to appease this upstart president who seems hell-bent on forcing them to act like hard-working law makers and actually get something accomplished for the good of their constituents. Maybe they need a real kick-start from said constituents.

My son asked me the yesterday, how come they feel they deserve to take a month's vacation, while we continue to suffer? He has a point.

I listened to Mr. Obama's press conference on the subject. I love to listen to that man talk! After hearing all the "Yes, but..."s and the "What's the hurry?"s and what is supposed to pass for intelligent argument from the nay sayers, hearing him speak calmly and coherently, directly and to the point, and as my son said, just saying what needs to be said, is so refreshing. Hearing someone with authority actually make sense for a change is almost enough to make me cry for joy.

And then there's the Press. Oh, Mr. Cronkite, we miss you so! On an evening when the whole point is to discuss health care, there has to be an alleged reporter who must ask a stupid question entirely off the subject. (and don't tell me that was not deliberate) And so the next morning, are we to hear a good solid discussion of what was said about health care? Of course not. We are told by the "news people" that what WE want to hear is about the off-subject bit. "Everyone" is talking about nothing else. No no. THEY are talking about nothing else.

While I'm ranting, may I add that I really do not see any virtue in these public polls of opinion on such matters. There is certainly a time and place for the public to express opinions, but I see no place on a "news" show for an email survey of the public on their reaction to such things. I would really, really like to just hear the news - real, honest-to-God news, straight up. Then let me make of it what I will. Give me the facts and let me go from there.
..................................

Guess I can't leave well enough alone. I feel I have to add something here. And that is that no, I don't agree with the whole plan. As I have expressed many time, what I really feel we should have is a single pay system. The insurance companies have such a strangle hold on us and their lobbyists have so much influence already that I don't believe Mr. Obama is going to get from Congress anything near what he wants. But he is in there trying, and in my book, that counts for a lot. If he doesn't get it, no doubt he will be blamed for whatever the result.

Sky Watch #54

The team that brings us Sky Watch every week consists of: Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Ivar, and we thank them very much for their work.

I have nothing new today, so I have gone into the archives. I found a few pictures of our beloved Cape May Lighthouse, taken at different times of year, under various weather conditions, summer and winter, sun and fog. I hope you enjoy them.

Think Green Thursday

Each week Michelle hosts Think Green Thursday for us. We owe her our gratitude and we owe ourselves the enjoyment of reading her blogs.

This week my post is more blue than green. I have been reading Sea Notes, from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.

First, it spoke of carbon pollution's impact on the ocean's chemistry, and asked that we let our senators know that we are concerned about climate change and its effect on ocean wildlife.

You may find many items of interest in Sea Notes if you care to investigate it. I especially enjoyed reading about the little Pacific island of Tuvalu. It is located halfway between Australia and Hawaii. Until the present time, Tuvalu has imported deisel oil from New Zealand as its power supply. Today, in the face of changing conditions, the island is in peril of complete inundation due to the rising sea level. Their national survival depends on changing the thinking and therefore the actions of all nations. To demonstrate their willingness to be the first to change, they have pledged to go completely to solar and wind power by the year 2020. This is expected to cost $20 million. Obviously, it cannot happen without help, which they hope to receive from the U.S. and Italy. Already, the Italian government is funding an $800,000 solar power system at a school on Tuvalu. This tiny island country has been in existence for thousands of years. It is now hoping against hope that through the actions taken at the UN climate talks in Copenhagen, it will have a chance to continue to exist.

Please Help

Please help to stop mountaintop removal coal mining.

The Army Corps of Engineers is taking public comment, from now until August 14th. Please consider contacting them to encourage an end to the present streamlining of the permit process for this kind of coal mining. Help to save our mountains, streams, and wildlife habitat.

Just go to the site at http://www.ilovemountains.org/army-corps/ for detailed information and a form with which to contact the Army Corps.

Thank you.

Just Because I Like It

Tracy, of Hey Harriet, wrote a post today and included this quote:

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”~ Buddhist quote


I just like it so very much I wanted to share it. Her post is a very happy one.

A Time of Stress

My dear friend, Casdok, has posted today. She is the mother of a twenty year old autistic son who is about to move on to a specialist home. It is an extremely stressful time for both of them. Perhaps a word of support and encouragement would be in order.

Her post today includes a couple of videos which I found very interesting. They certainly give pause to those of us who have never experienced autism first hand in ourselves or a loved one.

Mellow Yellow Monday #28

On Mellow Yellow Monday, Drowsey Monkey hosts this meme. I thought it would be quite a challenge, but I soon found that YELLOW is everywhere, and always lifts my spirits.


Living at the shore, as I do, there seems to be a popular theme going on. Mermaids! In West Cape May I found this sign posted along the road.



It is at the end of the driveway beside this gift shop.

Remember This?

Over the winter, I worried about the mandevilla I had brought inside to see if it would survive until this summer. My readers will probably groan at the thought of hearing still more about it. I named it the Dr. Seuss plant when it got way out of hand, a skinny, scrawny thing, growing up, up and up to the ceiling and stretching itself out in every direction.

Come spring, I moved it outside, hoping for the best. I cut it back severely. It never quite died, but didn't look very healthy for months. then when I decided it had about had it, I moved it UNDER the plant stand while I put a larger flowering plant on top. I intended to get around to throwing out Dr. Seuss. Never did. I kept forgetting it.

Today I actually looked under the stand because I kept seeing some strange leaves above the other plant, at the base of the hummingbird feeder post.

Dr. Seuss lives!

Shadow Shot Sunday #61

It is once again Shadow Shot Sunday, and Tracy will show us many wonderful shadows on her blog Hey Harriet. This has become a very popular meme as more and more of us join her to show one another how lovely the world of shadows can be.

My daughter Kathryn has become very much aware of shadows these days. I do wish she would send her pictures to Shadow Shots herself, but I guess she doesn't really have the time in her busy life. So I am grateful that she calls my attention to them and I can share them with you. These are pictures of her son, brushing their cat, Emily.

Sky Watch #53

Sky Watch Friday has arrived once again! Many thanks to the team that keeps us going: Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Louise, Fishing Guy, and Wren.


I found my way back to the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse last week. Their gardens are so beautiful! If you ever get to New Jersey, take Route 147 from either Route 9 or the Garden State Parkway, into North Wildwood. It would be well worth your time. The lighthouse itself is a great place to tour, but their gardens are absolutely fabulous every summer.


These flowers are near the front of the lighthouse.


The gazing ball reflects a little of the sky along with the lighthouse itself.


I took this one while sitting in the shade garden, looking up through the pines.


And this one, sitting on a bench under an arbor, near the herb garden.


If you go two posts below, you can see more of the gardens.

Think Green Thursday

Michele, at Rambling Woods, is hosting Think Green Thursday for us once again. Please visit and read some wonderful suggestions for helping to keep our planet green, and see some beautiful photos.


Years ago, while I was working in the Planning Department of our local municipality, the Planning Director received a publication called Estuary News. It had so many articles of interest to me that I ordered a subscription to this news letter for myself. I recently received the Summer 2009 issue, and would like to share some of it with you.

There is an article written by Laura Whalen concerning Landscaping for Cleaner Water. In it she states that rain water or storm water can be a valuable resource, but it is most often simply drained away. Besides the waste of this water, it is also allowed to become a real threat. Storm water from rooftops, driveways and streets rushes through the pipes into our streams, rivers and bays, eroding the soil, destroying wildlife habitat, causing flooding and polluting the waterways. Ms. Whalen's suggestion for prevention of such problems is creation of rain gardens.

I went as directed to the Low Impact Development Center site, where I found the following definition:

"What is a Rain Garden?

PDFs | Links

A rain garden is a garden which takes advantage of rainfall and stormwater runoff in its design and plant selection. Usually, it is a small garden which is designed to withstand the extremes of moisture and concentrations of nutrients, particularly Nitrogen and Phosphorus, that are found in stormwater runoff. Rain gardens are sited ideally close to the source of the runoff and serve to slow the stormwater as it travels downhill, giving the stormwater more time to infiltrate and less opportunity to gain momentum and erosive power.

On the surface, a rain garden looks like an attractive garden. It may support habitat for birds and butterflies, it may be a formal landscape amenity or it may be incorporated into a larger garden as a border or as an entry feature. What makes it a rain garden is in how it gets its water and what happens to that water once it arrives in the garden. "

Ideally, a town would create many small rain gardens on public land, in or near parking lots and streets, wherever appropriate. But private citizens can also be a part of the attempt to conserve water and to preserve the land and prevent further pollution. Anyone can install a rain barrel, or attach a soaker hose to a downspout. A rain garden can be designed to drain within two to four hours of a one inch rain fall. It can be as attractive as any home garden, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. After digging, the planting media should be clean and weed-seed free. A liner may be used where needed. Native plants are ideal. The most desirable would be deep fibrous rooted perennials, trees and shrubs. It can cover as small or large an area as you like. The LID link above is full of plans and ideas.

Most of us enjoy flower gardens. This is something to consider.

Hereford Inlet

On Monday I was heading to the store, and on impulse I turned instead out Route 147 toward North Wildwood. I was feeling pretty good, and the morning was cool, so I decided to take a chance and make a visit to the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse gardens. It is not a large area, and there are plenty of benches where I could sit a while if I had difficulty. That proved to be a good thing. I really can't walk far or stand too long any more.

As always, the gardens were absolutely beautiful. They were also quite crowded. The small parking area was full, and many people seemed to be walking in or riding their bikes. Yellow seemed to be the main theme this year, at least on the street side. I also went a little toward the back, but did not attempt to go on up to the water this time.


There are many colors of hibiscus.









I was particularly impressed with the hydrangeas, both white and pink. They were huge balls of blossoms!

I think I will just show you pictures today.





































I really love red honeysuckle.


























The rose of sharon is a gorgeous shade of blue.






















Here are some of those pink hydrangeas.



I intended to show you more, but Blogger doesn't like all of these pictures. I'd better not attempt them.





There will be just a few on Sky Watch this week, but not those I'd meant for this post.




This is part of the shade garden.








This is under the white hydrangea.

Hereford Inlet - Part 2

Hadn't intended to add this many, but - oh well - why not?



The gazing ball is in the front garden. A view from a different angle will be on my Sky Watch this week.


This is another in front.


This one is just off the parking area.


The gazebo/band stand divides the front and back gardens.


The cone flowers are in one corner of the herb garden.


This would be found in the shade garden, along one side of the gazebo.


I believe this is a type of hydrangea. There are several in varying shades.

Blogblast for Peace

If you need another reason, find the statistics on my sidebar for both Iraq and Afghanistan. But you shouldn't need statistics. Look into your hearts.

Favorites

Among the comments I received for Mellow Yellow Monday, Celeste asked me about the significance of yellow for that day of the week. as I understand it, yellow is simply Drowsey Monkey's favorite color, and she thought it would be fun to see how many wonderful, cheerful things could be found in that color.

But in answering Celeste, I started thinking about "favorites". Have I talked about this before? My memory isn't very good any more. I should probably search my own blog to find out, but I think I'll indulge myself and just sound off about it anyway. As I know I've said before, you can always hit the Delete button if I bore you.

I have always had a problem with the idea of "favorite" anything. How does one choose favorites? And why should we? I have no favorite color - or music, or book, or food, or anything else really. Color in particular would be an impossible thing for me to disect and arrange and separate, one from another. I wonder how many colors there are in the world? Myriad! Each one complimenting or contrasting with all the others, dazzling the eye and the brain with its beauty. This reminds me of a day when I was sitting in my dentist's waiting room, looking out a picture window. For some reason I started counting the shades of green that I saw in the landscape. Of course, I couldn't possibly sort out all of them, and gave up quickly. In one tree alone, there were more than I could count.

There are days when I really need yellow, or red. - Red is so wonderful! There are days when I need soft lavender or pale shades of blue around me. Well - you get the idea. How could I choose a favorite?

The same is true of tastes or scents, or sounds. Music! How can I choose a favorite song, or type of music? I need them all! We all need them all, depending on our mood. I can choose my LEAST favorite. There are certain sounds or tastes or odors that I really cannot abide. But a favorite? No. Which color of a rainbow do I like best? Which bird song? Which of my children is my favorite? What ridiculous questions. Please don't send me any more emails in which I am supposed to list my favorites. I just don't play favorites.

Mellow Yellow Monday

It's Mellow Yellow Monday once again. Drowsey Monkey is waiting to see all of our sunny yellow pictures.

Today I have one that caught my eye in a shopping mall. I don't usually like to show ads, and I'm certainly not pushing beer. But it is bright yellow, and I thought it was a pretty clever slogan. So - - here it is:



On the other hand, I have passed this sign for months now, and finally stopped to take its picture. It's just blank, yellow - just waiting for someone to paint a large "MELLOW YELLOW" on it!

Shadow Shot Sunday #60

Good Sunday Morning, Australia! Even though it is still Saturday in the U.S., I'm ready with my Shadow Shot. I'm sure that Tracy, at Hey Harriet is ready too.

Today it is me, me, me. My own shadow in various places. First, is the photographer, trying to shoot a picture of a butterfly.




Then I am starting up the ramp to the hawk watch platform.



Here I am with my walker.



And finally, I am standing on my back deck.



OK. That's quite enough of me.

Ben Stein's Final Column

My friend, Eileen, sent me this in an email today. You may have received it from someone yourself, but if you haven't, I really feel it's worth reading:



Ben Stein's final column --
For many years Ben Stein has written a biweekly column called 'Monday Night At Morton's.' (Morton's is a famous chain of Steakhouses known to be frequented by movie stars and famous people from around the globe.) Now, Ben is terminating the column to move on to other things in his life. Reading his final column is worth a few minutes of your time.

Ben Stein's Last Column...

How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury Be a Star in Today's World?

As I begin to write this, I 'slug' it, as we writers say, which means I put a heading on top of the document to identify it. This heading is 'eonline FINAL,' and it gives me a shiver to write it. I have been doing this column for so long that I cannot even recall when I started. I loved writing this column so much for so long I came to believe it would never end.

It worked well for a long time, but gradually, my changing as a person and the world's change have over-taken it . On a small scale, Morton's, while better than ever, no longer attracts as many stars as it used to. It still brings in the rich people in droves and definitely some stars. I saw Samuel L. Jackson there a few days ago, and we had a nice visit, and right before that, I saw and had a splendid talk with Warren Beatty in an elevator, in which we agreed that Splendor in the Grass was a super movie. But Morton's is not the star galaxy it once was, though it probably will be again.

Beyond that, a bigger change has happened.. I no longer think Hollywood stars are terribly important. They are uniformly pleasant, friendly people, and they treat me better than I deserve to be treated. But a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera is no longer my idea of a shining star we should all look up to.

How can a man or woman who makes an eight-figure wage and lives in insane luxury really be a star in today's world, if by a 'star' we mean someone bright and powerful and attractive as a role model ? Real stars are not riding around in the backs of limousines or in Porsches or getting trained in yoga or Pilates and eating only raw fruit while they have Vietnamese girls do their nails..

They can be interesting, nice people, but they are not heroes to me any longer. A real star is the soldier of the 4th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. He could have been met by a bomb or a hail of AK-47 bullets. Instead, he faced an abject Saddam Hussein and the gratitude of all of the decent people of the world.

A real star is the U.S. Soldier who was sent to disarm a bomb next to a road north of Baghdad. He approached it, and the bomb went off and killed him..

A real star, the kind who haunts my memory night and day, is the U.S. Soldier in Baghdad who saw a little girl playing with a piece of unexploded ordnance on a street near where he was guarding a station. He pushed her aside and threw himself on it just as it exploded. He left a family desolate in California and a little girl alive in Baghdad.

The stars who deserve media attention are not the ones who have lavish weddings on TV but the ones who patrol the streets of Mosul even after two of their buddies were murdered and their bodies battered and stripped for the sin of trying to protect Iraqis from terrorists.

We put couples with incomes of $100 million a year on the covers of our magazines. The noncoms and officers who barely scrape by on military pay but stand on guard in Afghanistan and Iraq and on ships and in submarines and near the Arctic Circle are anonymous as they live and die.

I am no longer comfortable being a part of the system that has such poor values, and I do not want to perpetuate those values by pretending that who is eating at Morton's is a big subject.

There are plenty of other stars in the American firmament...the policemen and women who go off on patrol in South Central and have no idea if they will return alive; the orderlies and paramedics who bring in people who have been in terrible accidents and prepare them for surgery; the teachers and nurses who throw their whole spirits into caring for autistic children; the kind men and women who work in hospices and in cancer wards.

Think of each and every fireman who was running up the stairs at the World Trade Center as the towers began to collapse. Now you have my idea of a real hero.

I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters This is my highest and best use as a human. I can put it another way. Years ago, I realized I could never be as great an actor as Olivier or as good a comic as Steve Martin or Martin Mull or Fred Willard--or as good an economist as Samuelson or Friedman or as good a writer as Fitzgerald. Or even remotely close to any of them.

But, I could be a devoted father to my son, husband to my wife and, above all, a good son to the parents who had done so much for me. This came to be my main task in life. I did it moderately well with my son, pretty well with my wife and well indeed with my parents (with my sister's help). I cared for and paid attention to them in their declining years. I stayed with my father as he got sick, went into extremis and then into a coma and then entered immortality with my sister and me reading him the Psalms.

This was the only point at which my life touched the lives of the soldiers in Iraq or the firefighters in New York. I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it is my duty, in return for the lavish life God has devolved upon me, to help others He has placed in my path. This is my highest and best use as a human.

Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will..
By Ben Stein http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Stein

The List Keeps Growing

My Reading List, that is. The size of my blogging community. It has grown to be quite unmanageable. Although I have been retired for close to nine years, and in theory have "all the time in the world" to myself to do as I please, there really is not time for me to read all the blogs I want to read, and to respond to them.

I am sure I will always find the time for those select few whom I have come to love so dearly. They will always be my "best friends" on line. But there are so many out there who are so wonderful. I find more every day. Within the past few days I have discovered four more that interest me very much: Celeste, of Into the Moonlight; Shirley, of Mother Nature's Garden; Karin, of Wise Old Woman; and Debbie, of Tea and Photos. And the memes that I enjoy being a part of keep growing in numbers of participants, until I can no longer manage to visit every one of them. I now have to choose which of these wonderful people I will read today, when I want to read them all.

And then there are my own posts. This is my 647th !!! How is that possible? When did I become so full of myself that I thought I had this much worth saying? Could it be that I have so little to do with my time these days that I just ramble on and on like so many other elderly people? Some of my posts have been nothing but inane nonsense I'm sure.

Well, what I started out to say this time was that I need the understanding of my readers and forgiveness if I do not comment often on your posts. I really want to. There just doesn't seem to be time enough.

Post #648 today is going to be worth reading. My friend, Eileen, just sent me an email that I am sure is worth your time, and I am going to publish it here.

And THANK YOU. Your posts and comments and all of the amazing, fascinating, interesting information and photos you give to me every day are what keep me going.

Sky Watch Friday

The team at Sky Watch always manages to do a great job, organizing things for all 300-some of us to present our pictures to the world.


I had nothing scheduled for Sky Watch today, but when I opened my front door, I saw a lovely, soft dawn.

Thematic Photographic

I have just realized that I used the same photo that appears in the post below for a previous Thematic Photographic entry. Probably when the theme was "Up"? This week's theme is "Distant". You must admit, it is appropriate for both. But I have another photo which I believe also represents "Distant". I took this one looking across Cape May Harbor.


The bridge leading into Cape May can be made out on the far side of the harbor, if you try very hard to see it.

Thematic Photographic #57

This week Carmi has chosen the theme of Distant for our subject. Visit his blog, Written Inc., to see many very beautiful pictures.


This picture that I took some time ago, up by the Delaware Bay, is one of my favorites. I think it is appropriate to the theme.

Think Green Thursday

Think Green Thursday is now hosted by Michele at Rambling Woods Green.


This morning I started down my reading list, and came to Tootie's blog which she writes from her home on Sanibel Island. She takes us on her walks along the beach, checking on the sea turtles' nests there. Their nests and eggs are protected as best they can be, but the beach is also open to vacationers. Today her photos and video of the beautiful dawn made me sad, because they also showed me so much debris and minor destruction left behind.


My friend, Gina, printed this cartoon not long ago. I had seen it and saved it myself when it was published on Earth Day. So true!



We humans are so concerned with our own immediate pleasure and entertainment that we ignore the very reason for our own enjoyment.


We visit the beaches or the mountains or wherever we choose to go to find relaxation and fun, because we find those particular places beautiful and pleasurable, and become so wrapped up in ourselves that we become carefree and careless. Sooner or later we return to our favorite spot for another vacation, and look around telling ourselves, "It just doesn't seem as nice as it used to be." It isn't as clean or as free and open, or whatever. No. It isn't. Because we have spoiled it - for ourselves and for others.


I was very much aware of this when I worked for many years for our local municipality, in the Land Use Department. What really brought it home to me was the Dune Review procedure. People would buy property on the water, and come to us with applications to build in the dunes. It amazed me to hear their plans. They wanted to have large homes, complete with garages and swimming pools and decks where they could watch the sunset over the water, etc. - and they wanted to achieve their dreams by destroying the very things that had brought them there. There are ways to build on the dunes without destruction of course, but it costs more money than most of these people were willing to spend.




From sunrise over the ocean








to sunset over the bay -
our world brings us so much breathtaking beauty and pleasure. Why do we not learn to appreciate what we have and try to preserve it? Why can we not enjoy it without carelessly destroying it? It will not survive our carelessness - even in our own lifetime - and will not remain as we remember it for our children and grandchildren, unless we stop and think and take the time to clean up before we leave our favorite vacation spot.

Settling In for the Summer

Two days after the big 4th of July weekend. Traffic in our little town has increased to a ridiculous degree, stores are more crowded and prices are up, all the signs of the tourist invasion are present. I guess we are more or less resigning ourselves to Tourist Season once again, and the tired old joke: "Why do they call it Tourist Season if we can't shoot them?" has made the rounds as it does every year.

The locals are aware, of course, that it is the tourist who keeps our economy somewhere near a reasonable level. But we are already looking forward to Labor Day, when we can reclaim the peace and quiet of our more relaxed existence in our low key town.

The big weekend seemed more quiet than usual this year. Word was out that the police would crack down harder on illegal fireworks. That was a relief for some of us. I heard a few in the neighborhood, but not nearly so many as in past years. They are a concern in areas where homes are close together on small plots and rockets go whizzing over rooftops.


I make it a rule to stay off the roads and close to home on holiday weekends. Just too much hassle for the old lady. This was me. The handle of the spade is deceiving because I don't do much digging these days, but you get the idea. I am pleased with how the garden is coming along. Can't get out there and do weeding or stay in the sun too long, but I've convinced myself now that it isn't going to be the end of the world if I don't pull out all those weeds. Things will manage to grow and bloom without the attention I used to give them. In recent years I have put in some perennials that now do not need much more than watering. So far as annuals are concerned, sunflowers don't require a lot from me, and I planted a lot of them. I do have to laugh at the squash. I don't even know for sure what types of squash they may be. I'm sure some are pumpkins that found their way into the garden space when an old jack-o-lantern was left there, and some may be the little ornamental ones. Whatever they are, they took off like a house afire, and were crowding out everything else until I got rid of some of them. Gorgeous big blossoms though.


While I was staying quietly at home, on the other coast my family was taking off for camping in Big Sur - also to escape the noise. In California fireworks are legal, and in their neighborhood they are set off all day and all night long. They chose the peace of mountains and beach.




When my grandson wasn't busy stealing the hammock from his mother,





or flying a kite with his dad,








he was enjoying the sand and the water.



Ooooops!



Obviously, I did not take these pictures. Either my daughter or son-in-law took them. You may see some of them appear on my daughter's blog as well. But she is a busy lady, and doesn't get around to posting too often these days. I'm just very grateful that she does take lots of pictures, and puts them up on flickr, so I get to enjoy their activities vicariously.


So - the summer season begins. I longed for it during all that spring rain. Now I am looking forward to autumn. Just can't be satisfied with what is here and now. I really have to stop living in anticipation, and enjoy today!

Mellow Yellow Monday #26

Mellow Yellow Monday time again., thanks to Drowsey Monkey.

I've been playing with toys. Well, not really. But I do have a lot of toys in this house, considering that my youngest is now thirty-nine years old. But she does have a four year old who visits every so often. That's my excuse.

I made the owl long ago.
















The Easter Bunny brought me the chick a while back.



And Raggedy Ann is blonde because my youngest daughter was blonde.

Nana Dianne

Congratulations, Dianne!


The newest addition to Dianne's family was born last night! And she posted as soon as she got home. It's a girl! Do run over there and congratulate her!

There are pictures!

Shadow Shot Sunday #59

Time again for Shadow Shot Sunday, hosted by Tracy at Hey Harriet.

Once again, my daughter, Kathryn, has sent me shadow pictures that I love. Her family went picking strawberries, and this was what she took at the strawberry fields.

Sky Watch #51

Sky Watch Friday lets us see what photographers all over the world are seeing in their skies. Thanks to the team of Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Ivar, Louise and Fishing Guy.

One morning earlier this month I saw what I thought was an interesting sky, from my deck.





Not long after this, I drove along the Delaware Bay. The sky had changed, as it often does even as we watch. The masts you see are some Hobi Cats lined up along the shore.

Think Green Thursday

Think Green Thursday is now being hosted by Michele, who also does a meme called Nature Notes at her wonderful blog called Rambling Woods.


I wonder how many of us are aware of the proper methods to dispose of our unused or outdated pharmaceuticals. You younger people do not usually have much occasion to worry about these things, unless you or someone in your family has a serious medical problem. It does serve us well, however, to look through the medicine cabinet every so often and get rid of outdated prescriptions. But those of us who are older find this a more serious problem.

I'm afraid that all too many of us tend to think first of flushing the pills down the toilet. Please don't do that! Doctors used to tell us to do it, but have since learned it is not the way to go. It can seriously pollute our water supply and endanger aquatic animals. And throwing pills into the trash can be a danger too. There are those unfortunate humans and animals who indulge in trash picking, who can be poisoned by what they find, or the ground itself can be poisoned.

The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy has given us guidelines to follow:

In some instances, the label may tell you it is alright to flush. But this is rare.

Ideally, your local pharmacy may have a take-back program, and will dispose of them for you. In other areas, the pharmacy may be reluctant to do this because they have to pay by volume for the municipality to pick up.

In some communities, there is a central location where you may bring them. Call your town hall or Department of Public Works to find out.

If you have a problem finding such a place for disposal, mix the pills in with something such as kitty litter or coffee grounds and seal them into a tightly closed can or impermeable bag that can be sealed. That way, no one is likely to reuse them. The plastic bottles can be recycled either through your municipality, or you can find many uses for them yourself.

If you have sharps - needles for insulin, etc. - make sure they are placed into a tightly sealed container and clearly marked "Sharps". Some hospitals also have recycle programs.

If you have any doubts about means of disposal, ask your pharmacist what to do. The main thing is - KNOW BEFORE YOU THROW


The reason that I started thinking about this subject is that I use a nitrolingual pumpspray for angina. When I have used it to the point that no more liquid will come out, there is always some liquid remaining - sometimes more than others. I have a couple of bottles sitting here, waiting for disposal, and I really had no idea what to do with them. In my case, I called the pharmacist at Walgreen's Drug Store, and was told they would be happy to take them back from me, so my problem is solved. I hope that everyone finds such an easy solution.

Isaac's Haircut

Yes! The long, golden locks are gone! His choice.


In these pictures, his hair looks much darker - almost red. Don't know why, but that wouldn't be too unusual. I was born a red head, and there are others on both sides of his family. I was surprised to see it though.


As my friend, Eileen, pointed out, when he lost his long hair, he doesn't seem to have lost his sense of humor.



Anyway, I love it!







My grandson looks more like a boy now.
But he still looks exactly like his mom at four and a half.