
The other book I found and bought the same day is Imperial Dreams. I have been looking for an older published book in the birding section of the store, The Ghost Birds, that Marie mentioned to me a few weeks back. This book, the Imperial Dreams, is about another species thought to be extinct [or very rare]...in Old Mexico. The author, T. Gallagher, wrote another book I read last month and so enjoyed...about The Ivory Billed in our Southern states. But, I must admit, after reading and so enjoying the Wesley saga, finding another book that will be HALF as good just may be nigh-on to impossible right now.
- - -
It is so hot here that:
...I saw a dog chasing a cat, and they were both walking!
...The Jehovah Witnesses have stopped walking from door to door and are now telemarketing!
...My seat belt can be used as a branding iron!!

...I had a dozen chicks in the egg carton by the time I arrived home from the store!
...consider the wind chill factor today, and the temp makes it only 112 degrees.
...Today, I saw a squirrel fanning his nuts!!
- - -
Oh, I haven't been locked in the house all the time. We decided to drive to Padre Island [north!] and walk the beach one day. At least early enough before it became too hot to walk.

Two Black Skimmers along the shore...

A seagull high above the sand dunes...

Palm Trees against a cloudless sky near the residential area of Oso Bay...
- - -
As with the aforementioned book being a true story, I watched a newly, factually, released movie this week! I found myself cheering for every small victory along the way, and saddened by the tragic tale of the Holocaust and wrongful Nazi's behavior with the lives of the Jewish people and their lifestyles. The movie...based on a true story....WOMAN IN GOLD. This was a remarkable film. In short, Dame Helen Mirren once again shines with outstanding acting abilities, portraying an Austrian-born woman who immigrated to America ...the movie focusing on the historical, overwhelming, robbery of her family's fortune and material wealth by Hitler's Nazi party during World War II. Marie, portrayed at the age of 82, and her young lawyer, fight a long battle against the modern Austrian government to reclaim what is rightfully hers....one in particular, the gold [real gold filigree] artwork, worth millions today, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I. [the Woman in Gold] -- Perhaps another Oscar nominee in the future? At least, if not for movie, Ms. Mirren's talent should be recognized. The movie was well-cast, the direction was nearly flawless, the historical value was priceless...the outcome brilliantly done.
image source
- - -
And to close my post for the day, I found this photo generator/editor online that promised me a bit of fun time. There are so many options. And it's free. You can save your pieces of work to your computer to send in emails, or post on a blog, etc. The first one, I uploaded a photo of my daughter and made this "Funny Face" clown. The second one...A ship in a bottle...from a shrimp boat sketch of mine:


Wanna play with some of your photos too? CLICK HERE
- - -
It is so hot here that:
...I saw a dog chasing a cat, and they were both walking!
...The Jehovah Witnesses have stopped walking from door to door and are now telemarketing!
...My seat belt can be used as a branding iron!!

...I had a dozen chicks in the egg carton by the time I arrived home from the store!
...consider the wind chill factor today, and the temp makes it only 112 degrees.
...Today, I saw a squirrel fanning his nuts!!
- - -
Oh, I haven't been locked in the house all the time. We decided to drive to Padre Island [north!] and walk the beach one day. At least early enough before it became too hot to walk.

Two Black Skimmers along the shore...

A seagull high above the sand dunes...

Palm Trees against a cloudless sky near the residential area of Oso Bay...
- - -

image source
- - -
And to close my post for the day, I found this photo generator/editor online that promised me a bit of fun time. There are so many options. And it's free. You can save your pieces of work to your computer to send in emails, or post on a blog, etc. The first one, I uploaded a photo of my daughter and made this "Funny Face" clown. The second one...A ship in a bottle...from a shrimp boat sketch of mine:


Wanna play with some of your photos too? CLICK HERE
The Black Skimmer shot is spectacular.
ReplyDeletethanks Ruth...there were several couples skimming about the shoreline that morning.
DeleteLove the photos...especially the skimmer, and of course the hot Texas jokes!!
ReplyDeleteIt's been miserably hot/humid these days. I'm ready for Autumn. In more ways than one.
DeleteOh, yes! I love your photos, too!! Love the Skimmer shot!! Awesome! So much beauty!! And hot Texas jokes -- we need the same ones for Oregon amazingly enough!! Over 100 degree days -- in a row!! Have a great weekend, Anni, stay cool!!
ReplyDelete....in Oregon? 100 degrees....whoa!!!
DeleteI got a kick out of the hot jokes. The heat is bothering me so much this year. The little clown is sooo cute.
ReplyDelete...it's a far cry from last May...but yes, the heat is bothersome indeed.
DeleteI am here in Kentucky, and it is much the same. Too hot to do anything. Plus, storms at the drop of a hat. Too much heat and too much rain. No fun!!
ReplyDeleteIf you will share, I'll gladly take some of that rain of yours!!!
DeleteThanks for the fun link. I'll take a look for sure! Great photos and I love the one-liners! Cute!
ReplyDelete...thanks Terri
DeleteI just reserved the Owl book at my library and am looking forward to it. I also loved Helen Mirren in that movie! We are also hot, but not as hot as you. I am still melting like the Wicked Witch! :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you like Wesley as much as I did!!! Try and stay cool.
DeleteWe will probably see that movie, it looks interesting. The book about the owl looks charming as you described it.
ReplyDelete...rhanks Terra...I'm happy to have you visit!!
DeleteDanged, I guess I am going to have to read the owl book. It sounds great.
ReplyDeleteIt has been hot here. I ran on Turkey Mountain last night, five miles but I pretty much walked the last mile. I got a bee sting right on my spine at about mile four, and then another bite a little while later. So I started feeling funny all over so I walked. A shower and a couple beers I was fine.
The icy beer sounds delicious as does a shower during this heat wave. Yep, I think you'll enjoy the book.
DeleteI'm glad you got out even if just a little! You got great photos.
ReplyDeleteIt's been hot for us too. Yesterday we hit 90 for the first time since 2013. It's been very humid too.
I'm going to check out that photo site - sounds like fun!
Ewwww, that is way too hot for your area!! Does this heat wave make you want the icy winter tho? Probably not.
Deletethanks for making me smile.
ReplyDeleteDear one...you make me smile each time you stop by.
DeleteWhat a fun and newsy post!!! I loved it all!!! I imagin it is very hard for you to be inside so much. The heat is intense and can be a killer. When I had Lucy at the feed store this evening to get her shots, the vet warned us not to let our dogs out for more than a couple of minutes to do their business. She said one dog had a heat stroke last Thursday right there at the feed store while they were waiting in line. Only 31 days and a wake up to September 1st!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, that is scary to have a dog suffer so in the inferno...
DeleteSeptember can't come fast enough. At least that's how I feel now. When September arrives, I'm sure I'll say something like this year is going all too fast.
That book sound so good. A book that makes me laugh, giggle out loud, expand your curiosity.... hmm...not sure that am game for the bawling part. Have read quite a few of books featuring animals and most makes me cry :(
ReplyDeleteThe crying part is still well worth reading.
DeleteGorgeous shots! Over here it's rainy and cool.
ReplyDeleteOh boy....I could go for some rainy and cool 'bout now!!
DeleteSounds like even it was very hot you've had a terrific week Anni! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures frome the beach and the last one with your
shrimpboat in a bottle. I'll go there myself, thanks for the tip :))
Have a beautiful weekend!
Möwe
I know how you love to draw, so this editor I'm sure you'll have fun with it.
DeleteI've read the book Woman In Gold was based on, and I cried through a good deal of it; sentimental me, lol. Love the generator and I'm going to have a LOT of fun playing with it!
ReplyDeleteOh I bet...if the way things usually are, the book being better than the movie, well then, it musta been a super read.
DeleteGreat shots, Anni!
ReplyDeleteHope you'll swing by http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/07/variations.html to share.
thanks Sue
DeleteHello, Anni
ReplyDeleteThe owl book sounds interesting! It is supposed to be a little cooler or less humid today. You are doing great walking 5-7 daily. . I love the skimmer shot, awesome! Happy Friday, have a great weekend!
Oh it is an excellent read Eileen. Thanks and happy weekend to you too.
DeleteAnni, I have to say it is a good time to be away from Texas! We are enjoying 70s in Maine.
ReplyDeleteIndeed....that temp is perfect in New England!! Enjoy.
DeleteYour hot Texas jokes really made me smile, a great post. Hope it cools down a little for you so that you can get out and about.
ReplyDeleteIt looked promising earlier this morning...but as the title of this post states: Once again....the heat is ON!!
Delete...you remind me so much of my sister, with your love and knowledge of/for our winged friends.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think I'll send you over a few of our 'degrees', then we should both reach a good medium *grin*
No no...you keep your hot temps....I'll suffer along with you tho...this heat is unbearable 'bout now. And I don't want any more degrees added. lol
DeleteWinged Friends...I like that very much Ms. V
The weather here has been horrific as well; heat indices have been stuck between 105 and 110 degrees (awful!) I've only ridden three times this summer (usually it's every day or every other). Love the skimmer shot! I'll have to look for that movie - I really like Helen Mirren - it sounds like a winner. Stay cool!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what the actual heat index is here....but yesterday it reached 101...in the shade!!!
DeleteYes, with the humidity down there I'm sure you get great skies. We do sometimes, but we are anxious to come back your way in October. We love the coast!
ReplyDeleteThanks again Sue...oh yes, you will enjoy her acting abilities in this...and the story is good.
DeleteI hope the heat cools down for you soon. Love the clown.
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know that I will be on BBC Radio Ulster this Sunday 2 August between 2.00pm -3.00pm in a programme called “Time of our Lives”. I recorded it yesterday. If you miss it on Sunday, you can hear it on IPlayer Radio at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06447zw
If you wish to hear my Irish voice!
I doubt if I can get this site to load, but I WILL try!!
DeleteOh you made me laugh with your post today with the funny bits! Wesley the owl sounds wonderful!!! Thank you for the film recommendation, I don't know if I will see it, but good to know it is good if I do! Helen Mirren is a very good actress isn't she. Hope that you get some cooler weather soon! Thank you so much as always for joining in. Remember there will be no fiving in August, but back in September! Hope that you have a great weekend and a great August too! xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy....and, have a wonderful break.
DeleteThe Woman In Gold sounds awesome! I definitely want to see it! And I can't wait to read Wesley the Owl! I have added it to my book list! It reminds me of a book I read MANY years ago called Arnie the Darling Starling! I have never forgotten that awesome memoir. Thanks for the LINK! And loved your photos from Padre Island and your "heat funnies." :-) Thanks for going by to see my review on Magnolia. Have a great weekend! Hope you get some relief from the heat!
ReplyDeleteThank YOU Marie.
DeleteWhen you get a book that you really enjoy you hate to see it end. That one about the barn owl sounds good. I like your fun edits. I'll have to go check that out
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll enjoy the photo editor.
DeleteThe beach looks so lovely! We haven't been to the beach this summer - and we live less than a mile away - it's just too dang hot. We have had ugly heat advisories here too, which means lots and lots of time indoors.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us for Photo Friday again this week!
It's supposed to be very humid and hot once again...:::sigh:::
DeleteAnni, It sounds like you might be getting cabin fever because of the heat. I like those beach shots on Padre Island. I read Wessley - I enjoyed it, too.
ReplyDeleteWishin' 'bout now I was up there in Breckenridge!!!
DeleteHi Anni, just stopping back to say thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDelete...thank YOU Eileen, for hosting.
DeleteFabulous a Skimmer shot. Have a wonderful weekend
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend too Margaret.
Deletethe skimmer shot is neat! laughed at the dozen chicks joke.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it's been hot in your area of Texas also.
DeleteThanks Ms. T
The squirrel has its way to attract you.
ReplyDeleteindeed!!
DeleteI love your birdie pic. I've never been to North Padre Island, but did make it to South Padre a couple times. Had great luck fishing there.
ReplyDelete~
...there is an abundance of fishermen here on this island too. In fact, all over the coastal area.
DeleteGreat photos. I loved reading WESLEY THE OWL too. The writer had a blog that I followed for a while, but she stopped posting as she had so many physical problems.
ReplyDelete....the ending just broke my heart!!
DeleteYou KNEW I'd check out the photo manipulation site! Kick me - I haven't been out of the cabin in 3 days.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to make something with your photos then? If so, share please!!!
DeleteGood Morning Anni!!
ReplyDeleteOh my word do I know what you mean about Wesley the Owl. I read and re-read it.
We saw Woman in Gold...undoubtedly the best movie of the year.
I am so ready for fall. You all stay cool
Hugs madi and Mom
PS I was poking around in the innards of my blog the other day.
My hummingbird header went kaput..gone...vanished.
So I was forced into updating my look. I guess it was time but I did it.
I love the new panda layout/template M&M!
DeleteLove the shots of the skimmers! My daughter read Wesley the Owl and loved it too. I MUST read it.
ReplyDeleteOh yes....I'm sure you'll like the book also.
DeleteI would like to see the movie...I used to read a lot of books about the holocaust, and I loved Dame Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect.
ReplyDeleteShe is good in ALL genres and parts played in my opinion.
Delete