§ Actin' a Bit Squirrely ...

...but first a few feathered friends!

Wild Bird Wednesday hosted by Stewart

Geese at a Local Lake Park

White Pelicans at a Bay

Roseate Spoonbills and Other Birds -seagulls, herons, pelicans

linking to: Wild Bird Wednesday




Hodgepodge hosted by Joyce

1. Do you manage your own money or do you have a financial planner who helps in some way? Do those kinds of conversations stress you out? A lot or a little? We did have an adviser just before we decided to retire. But now, instead of doling out a percentage of our retirement to financial planners, we do it ourselves. And I find it all exciting and challenging at the same time.

2. The second week of October is Pet Peeve Week. Off the top of your head, share TWO of your current pet peeves. Current? As in just a few days ago, I was reading blog posts that use the word 'anyways' instead of 'anyway' - it just seems like improper English even tho anyways is urban slang and found in the urban dictionary. Anyway the 2nd pet peeve would be that reading such annoys me...lol

3. What is one thing you'd like to learn right now, this very week if you could? The numbers that will be drawn for the winning ticket for Lotto?!!!! BEFORE they're drawn.

4. How concerned are you about the recent health related news concerning Ebola? How about Enterovirus D68? It's been in Dallas now...but I'm not all that concerned. Should I be?

5. Garfield, Nemo, or Tigger-your favorite orange cartoon character? I adore 'em all...but if I had to have a favorite pick, it'd be Garfield.  Oh and his sidekick...Odie!!!

6. I'm [Joyce, our hostess] going to see Gone Girl with my neighborhood book club this week. So often books made into film are disappointing. What's a book turned film you thought was well done, in that the casting was 'like you pictured' when you read the book, and the film plot remained mostly true to the book plot? Movies and books are of great interest to me and I'm going to expand on this question quite a bit.  So, wordy as it's gonna get, I still want to voice an opinion... The books are always better.  At least 90% of the time.   One I can say was better reading was John Grisham's the CLIENT. The movie was so lackluster and the cast just didn't fit my imagined characters at all. Another one that has been done in 3 parts [the third installment release and conclusion will be out this month, or is it November?, at theaters I believe] - it has been a huge disappointment, but still follows the book.  And that is Atlas Shrugged.  The same characters throughout the book,  in the three part movie, have never been the same actor/actress!!!  What's up with that?!!!  Offhand, one I can think of that was pretty good both as book AND movie was Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, directed by Clint Eastwood.  Another equally good book turned movie was The DaVinci Code...both just mentioned followed the book and the characters were quite 'likeable in likeness' both in movie and book form.  Now....

I have a question!!  What movie was BETTER than the book?  I'd have to say hands down, the book turned movie:   Mystic River!!  The movie and the actors put on a performance worthy of an Oscar!  Sean Penn was great --- he brought the character,  Jimmy Markum, to life!!!  In an exceptional way.  Oh...and not to forget JAWS!!  And oldie, but ever so graphic and unforgettable...the movie was MUCH better than the book, and the book was excellent.  Guess that makes the movie super-excellent!!!  Stephen King's Cujo was another that surpassed the book...Psycho comes to mind also....I could go on and on.  Movies, as you can see from my profile, are a passion.

7. What is one story your family always tells about you? I can think of a couple of stories. It depends on who is with me at the time...if it's sibling memories and tales, it always comes up that I was born...in a hospital [the only one of my parents children -all brothers and sister were born at home]....during the blizzard of '48 and '49 and the county cleared the roads for my mom to get to the hospital in time for delivery. But, if it's immediate family with our own children, the subject of me relieving myself in the woods...and a rattlesnake was nearby with me running out of the trees zipping my pants up...well, it always brings laughter to tears for everyone but me. :::snort:::

8. Insert your own random thought here. Just who owns the pecan rights? Me or the squirrels? ...he would scurry across the power line above our yard boundary, and within just a few minutes return at a lower elevation along the top edge of our wooden privacy fence heading for the neighbor's yard. For several trips here and there, he'd leave only to return with more pecans to stash for winter [excuse the blurry image of the last one, it was really mobiling across the fence. I couldn't keep him focused in the lens with the swift traversing  all that much]---

linking to: HODGEPODGE!!

§ Blue Bayou...

Tho my photos are no where close to a bayou of sorts, the Great Blue Heron is seen just about anywhere you go in this area. From ponds, tidal basins, beaches, channels, and even in the downtown area by the Marina; around and near the seawall. Once in a while, if lucky when I'm out with the camera, I spot one atop a fence post. This one, the other day, was along the Aransas Ship Channel nearing a birding reserve called Charlie's Pasture. The 'old' fence posts are remnants of the ranching days before the land was donated to the town for a nature reserve. The newer cabled fence line in the foreground follows the road to the reserve...


I was driving, so, I moved the car a few yards and then zoomed in on the heron...




linking to: Wild Bird Wednesday - Good Fences

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY
linking to Joyce's HODGEPODGE

1. Are the leaves turning color where you live? Have they begun to fall? Will you have to rake when it's all said and done? Is that a chore you love or loathe? In our area, most trees are evergreen. There are a FEW 'round town that turn color and leaves fall, but in November and December. We have, in our yard that turns color, the Pecan tree and Pomegranate tree...and no we don't rake the leaves...it's great mulch on our lawn...we MOW the leaves [our lawn is green year 'round also]. Then, by February they're all green again or leafing out.

2. When did you last shake like a leaf? I'm sure it was from anxiety or anger. But I can't recall the last time. Years ago most likely.

3. After 20 seasons with the NY Yankees, Derek Jeter played his last official game Sunday afternoon. Jeter has been described even by opponents as a 'class act', both on and off the field. The NFL is back in action this month too, with several players in that sport also making headlines. What are your thoughts on athletes as role models? Should a professional athlete be expected to act as role model or is that going beyond their job description? What responsibility do the organizations these athletes work for have when it comes to dealing with off the field behavior? Discuss. I LOVE Derek Jeter as y'all know. Baseball won't be the same now that he's retired. He was quoted as saying he wants to start a family now that baseball is behind him. I wish for him that he'll be happy no matter. And as far as role models...of course it's not in the job description that I know...but then, if not, why is the media all gung-ho when it comes to their mis-deeds and good deeds?   I'd like to think it's all about money...there is money in media following the professionals.  Kids [as well as adults] look up to and often emulate the professionals. But, in all honesty, they're human and will make mistakes, and we as fans, should realize this as well as the media pro sports' affiliations.  For instance, Tiger Woods!!  Ewwww.  After all...there are OTHER occupations/employees that do good/bad things without the news...why  not add some commoners to the rag papers/sports columns, TV cable news etc.?  Simple!!  No money there.

4. What season of the year is toughest for you in terms of your health? Why?  At my age and this stage of my life, the summer...and you guessed it...the humidity!! Thing is, why live on the coast then? Because there is NO SNOW!!!  After 40+ years in snowy, wintry, Colorado...the older I got, the more I grew to detest snow and icy streets 4-6 months out of the year.  Sure, Colorado is a beautiful and healthy state to live...but slip sliding on the mountain roads with drop-offs in the cavernous canyons while driving to and from work, began to get on my nerves.  Not to mention the maniac 4 wheel drivers who think that they won't get stuck or slide off the road and continue to do the speed limit on treacherous roadways!!  'Bout the time I turned 50 I was ready to get out for good and go to a sunny clime with beaches and no winter exhaust pollutants.  Have you seen Denver's skyline in winter?  A lot of times the air was literally GREEN with pollutants!!!

5. The top six healthy food trends of 2014 according to Eating Well are-
clean eating (more veg, less meat, less sodium, limit alcohol and processed foods)
trash fish (you know those fish that get caught in fishermen nets and are thrown back? It seems chefs are finding creative ways to make them more appetizing)
cauliflower (this year's IT vegetable)
kaniwa (essentially baby quinoa, so like quinoa only smaller)
fermentation (think pickling except with twists on flavor we're not accustomed to)
community supported food (farms operating with community support/membership).
Okay-so how many of the hot healthy food trends for 2014 have you experienced, encountered, enjoyed? Any you've tried and said ewwww? Any on the list you'd like to try before year's end? I've always liked cauliflower and we have it often...steamed or raw in salads. And as for 'clean eating'...I have to eat like that for my health issues and have for many years. Of course, I admit that there are times I crave [and go out for] a Cheeseburger and about twice a year...a McDonald's Fish Filet sandwich.  And, speaking of fish filet -I've never  heard of 'trash fish' until today...at least as far as chefs are concerned.  Y'really don't know what you're having at some restaurants any way.  So, I'm not all that surprised.  Besides who knows...when you order rainbow trout...are you really GETTING trout when it's served?  And who spit on my plate?!!  [lol]

6. In seven words or less, bid September adieu. So long September, hello October...'bout time!!

7. What's something on your October calendar that makes you happy just thinking about it? Need you ask? Halloween decorations...sweet autumn cooking like pumpkin bread, the tiny single serving boxes of candy from the stores [Jr. Mints more so than any other!  I stock up on single serving Jr. Mint candy bags], the colors, the aromas, etc. I love October.

8. Insert your own random thought here. Since this season is one of my favorites, and I enjoy viewing everyone's sharing family and holiday treasures, I have created a "Showcase of Homes" Blog for the Autumn Season and the Fall holidays. With a Linking Party that will run for TWO Months. From October 1st thru November 30th. It's a Blog where you can share your holiday treasures that pertain to Autumn. For instance, if you have a blog post about your decor for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Craft Projects, etc. Come on over...link up anytime between now and November 30th!! Show off your Autumn Flair with Blogging Friends!!! Get us all enthused from the Autumn fragrances and colors of apples, cinnamon, pumpkin pie, turkey and the wonderful musky odor of falling leaves and the welcoming aroma of a cozy fire in the fireplace....don't you enjoy those scents and warm, comforting shades of Fall?

The Autumnal Showcase of Homes

linking to: HODGEPODGE!!

§ A House is Made of Bricks and Beams...

...a "Home is Made of Love and Dreams!"

1. It's fall. Y'all. My [Joyce's] favorite season of the year! What's something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel it's officially fall? And unrelated to that, do you ever say-'y'all'? The first part of the question: The cooler temperatures and drier air makes me WANT to work in the flowers/yard and decorate for the season both inside and outside our home!! The second part of the question: Yes, I say Y'ALL....but I type it more than speak it.

2. When did you last have a falling out with someone? Has it been resolved? This summer...and NO, as far as I'm concerned it isn't resolved. But that will pass eventually.

3. A song you love with the word 'fall' in it's title? When I Fall in Love - Nat King Cole [a duet with his daughter, Natalie]

4. What's something you've recently let 'fall by the wayside?' Washing windows!! [reason is because we have to remove ALL the Hurricane shutters to do so. Neither one of us wanted to tackle it this year.]

5. When did you last attend an event, read a book, watch a movie, try a new recipe, or visit a shop-town-tourist attraction that fell short of your expectations? In what way? The Movie [which we watched only about 15 minutes of it before taking it out of our DVD player...Dallas Buyers Club....OMG!!! [that movie should've been in the video store's BACK ROOM!!]

6. Describe a time you said or thought, 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Well, I would have to go with the physical traits on this one because the two apples I produced are very individualistic in character; comparing Erik and Irene to me or Bud....And for the physical traits...Each time I look in the mirror I see my own mother!! Then, Bud....he is the spittin' image of his father...Irene looks like Bud's mom...and Erik could be my younger twin.

7. Was today better than yesterday? Why or why not? I'm answering the question way too early to know exactly. Call me tomorrow.

8. Insert your own random thought here. The day I mentioned when it was so hazy while we cut our walk short because of the extreme humidity, I spotted this house and the 'colorful' fence. Well, the fence was nearly hidden with all the blossoms, but the "A Frame" peak of the house caught my eye [and I do think by one photo where you see an electrical switch box, that this may be lighted at night -dunno for sure]. I took a few photos to share. The shore birds on the level part are from scrap iron!!! [click to enlarge for easier viewing]


linking to HODGEPODGE!! - Good Fences




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In a recent post I mentioned I was out on the patio watching all the hummingbirds.  I'm not 100% sure, but lately, there seems to be very few male hummingbirds as compared to last week. I do know that the females stick around longer while the males leave much earlier. If they're leaving already, then that means only a short time now and some of the females will be making the long trek southward also, and the numbers will dwindle rapidly. At times during the day, there have been 15 to 20 at our feeders at one time while another 10 or so are flitting around the trees and bushes...

linking to: Wild Bird Wednesday

§ When the moon hits Your Eye....that's ANOLES

1] Can you do this with your neck?...

Bendy...Twisty

linking to:  Wild Bird Wednesday

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linking to:  Good Fences

2] ...at the north bay sanctuary, the entrance gate is at the end of the public road...from there, it's private property [I guess...I did not see any 'no trespassing signs' posted anywhere]. A large wrought iron gate beyond this image I took, shows an entrance pass code number pad to open onto a gravel road beyond the embedded cattle guard rails! I did not want to attempt fate and be seen taking any photos of the touch pad for fear of a shot-gun ringing out from close-by. LOL


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3] HODGEPODGE
linking to: HODGEPODGE!!

1. I'm [Joyce, Hodgepodge Hostess] celebrating a birthday this week so a question relating to aging feels appropriate. Douglas MacArthur is quoted as saying, 'You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair.' Would you agree? If not why not? I never liked the ego-maniac, Douglas MacArthur. Enjoy what comes your way when it arrives. The older you get the more you experience, the wiser you are, but fear is a challenge given to us to conquer. Don't despair. I'd prefer Jimminy Cricket's theoretical basis...When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are.... "Fate steps in and sees you through!"

2. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily in your birth-year, just the same date/same month. February 9th - - 1942 - - Daylight-saving "War Time" went into effect in the U.S.

3. Describe a time or circumstance where you wanted to 'have your cake and eat it too.' In all honesty, I can take things as they come without wanting it all. In other words, I can't think of a darned thing.

4. What's something you do that makes you feel young? Something that makes you feel old? Young: giggle Old: trying to get up off the floor to stretch my back - after a long day of yard work and my back muscles rebel!

5. When did you last do something that was 'a piece of cake'? Consume that piece of cake. [it was a piece of carrot cake!!!]

6. Beef, wine, and cheese all improve with age. What's something else you'd add to that list? (not necessarily food or beverage) Older eggs are better for hard-cooking because their shells won't stick to the cooked egg white [I learned this from my mother decades ago]. Another 'item' I think of would be fruit trees...the older they are the more fruit is produced.

7. If I [Joyce] were to have a giveaway when we hit Volume 200, what should I give away? By my calculations we'll hit Volume 200 on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving, which means whoever wins would have whatever it is in time for Christmas. Something that would be easy to pack/ship to the winner of a giveaway prize...a small wind chime that will ring in the NEXT 200, maybe? And may I be one of the first to congratulate you, Joyce, on such a successful Hodgepodge!!!

8. Insert your own random thought here. While it was raining most of the day one day this past week, I began and easily completed another project for Halloween. This one I got the idea from what I saw at an antique store that they had displayed near the cashier desk. Once I saw it, my brain switched into 2nd gear and I was off to Dollar Tree!! I had the pumpkin glitter tattoos from years ago, the witch's doll head, and ribbon. All I needed to buy was a package of 20 indoor cool lights in orange color [purple would do well also] and a clear glass pilsner glass. I chose a pilsner glass because it was closest to the shape of a human body.

witch doll's head - $2 [on sale last year AFTER Halloween @ Joann Crafts]

pilsner glass - Dollar Tree [$1]

Halloween ribbon - Dollar Tree [$1]

String of Cool Lights - Dollar Tree [$1]

Glitter Pumpkin self-stick tattoos [sale last year AFTER Halloween @ Walgreen's Drug Store .50¢]

piece of scrap black material

Gorilla Glue

After cleaning the pilsner glass, I added three pumpkin tattoos for 'buttons'. I thought of using my hot glue gun for a second then realized I'd probably break the glass. Flipping the glass upside down, I used Gorilla Super Glue to glue the head onto the bottom. When the head was dry, I added the lights and draped the scrap piece of black material for her cape and tied a short piece of Halloween ribbon around the neck to hide the seams of the material/neck rubber. Then, added the string of orange lights and voilà....

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4] Look! Up in the sky, it's a bird...it's superman...it's a plane!!

linking to:  Skywatch

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Her-r-r-r-e-e-e Lizard, Lizard, Lizard....

linking to:  Camera Critters  - Saturday Critters

5]  The large photo to the left on the collage is from our back yard [on fence] ... The smallest three are different days on Mustang Island. All are Brown Anoles

...and entire five entries will be linked to: lWilly Nilly Friday 5

September 19th note:  I hope this is okay...I feel that with Ann's family there must be such a great loss, and empty hearts... and it's tearing at me...On a sad note, Ann lost her best friend...Duke, yesterday. I know how difficult this is for her! But, with my heartfelt sympathies, know Duke no longer suffers and your memories will soon bring you smiles of the good times and days of the past!!  Those of us who knew Duke will miss him dearly...

§ Reader's Digest Version...

RUBBISH...


In a field where a new WalMart Supercenter is open at Flour Bluff, Texas [suburb of Corpus Christi]
Linking to: Rubbish Tuesday


HODGEPODGE...
linking to: HODGEPODGE!!


1. On Thursday we pause to remember a dark day in history-9/11. Will you mark it in some special way? I will do nothing special.

2. Do you ever/still...listen to an actual radio? Watch a videotape (VCR)? Look up a number in a phonebook? Refer to a paper map while traveling? Set an alarm on an alarm clock as opposed to your phone? Yes, I listen to the radio when I'm alone in the car. Usually loud with my windows open. Oldies but Goodies station 93.1 Corpus Christi. - We have a DVD/VHS player and we do have some VHS tapes/movies that we'll watch occasionally. - Yes, I use a phone book once in a while also, but it's quicker and easier to read online if you do a Google Search for a number. - Paper maps?!! Yes. Bud is usually the navigator. We have navigator on our phone but there are THREE problems with using that...most times the light in the car makes the maps unreadable with the glare on the phone screen...the voice navigator is difficult to understand sometimes...AND the navigator eats away the battery power. - As for alarm clock, we haven't used one on either clock or phone for nearly 20 years!!!!! [retired]

3. Is it ever a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don't know? No, I usually take the 5th.

4. What's a dish you haven't eaten all summer, but come September find yourself craving? Have you made it yet this month? Won't be September that I'll fix it, probably October but I always crave some crock pot chili con carne!!!

5. What's something you know nothing about? The back side of the moon.

6. September is Classical Music Month. Do you like classical music? If so, what's your favorite piece? I love classical music. I can think of two of my favorites off hand---Fur Elise and Bolero.

7. What's the oldest thing you own? My grandmother's wedding photo...1902

8. Insert your own random thought here. Worked outdoors this morning before the temp soared to 93 degrees....again!!!




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1]  Last week, I had a little trivia with a photo of a celebrity from long ago...on TV. My clue that day was: "A now semi-retired TV celebrity, but not known to many." Actually it was a game show of sorts. My kids both really enjoyed the program and continually laughed, which was good. I was leery at times that they should be watching it, but figured if they laugh, that's good medicine. At least they were home, safe, and not getting into trouble with other teens like they like to do. Besides, compared to today's TV, that program was tame and LAME. lol Oh well, the character I had you try and guess who he was, was a fellow named Murray Langston....

AKA - Gong Show's UNKNOWN COMIC

...at the time, he had quite a cult following. Several kids even dressed up like him on Halloween.

Murray Langston was born in Canada and left home at the age of 15 because his parents, disabled and financially strapped, could not afford to raise him and his younger siblings. He emigrated to the United States by joining the U.S. Navy, serving during the Vietnam war but never seeing battle action as a sailor. Other than the Gong Show as the stand up comedian, he appeared on TV with Sonny and Cher, Red Foxx, The Laugh-In, Bobby Vinton, to name a few. Langston most recently reappeared as The Unknown Comic in the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Also in his repertoire of accomplishments, he has written books, done charity work, and raised two daughters as a single parent. READ MORE...

photos courtesy of Google Images

Linking to Good Fences

2] Bud and I drove to the yearly Hawk Watch at a park in Calallen, Texas. Tho, we were there way too early for hawks, we did get a chance to see several hummingbirds at the feeders near and on the Observatory Platform. The volunteers have placed several dozen hummingbird feeders around the area. Along with the hummingbirds, we spotted some juvenile blackbirds, one male cardinal that was coming out of molt, some Inca doves, white winged doves, sparrows and more. At this park, Hazel Bazemore Park, there is a couple of fresh water ponds...there we saw snowy egrets, American avocets, a great blue heron and some sanderlings. As we drove through the parks winding paved lane along the Nueces River, we spotted a crested caracara in the tree top and along the electrical lines, perched high above, a couch's flycatcher. Then, on the way back to Corpus Christi, we stopped at West Guth Park [northwest Corpus] and walked the trails that meander through the hills...it was so green there! Finally, rains are making our area look like the subtropics that it is! At West Guth we saw many geese and ducks on the man-made pond. In the grasses on the knolls we spotted several long billed curlews. And flying above the pond's water many terns [Forster's Terns] busy diving onto the water, beak first, catching and eating insects and fish!!----





linking to: Wild Bird Wednesday - Nature Notes - Our World Tuesday


3] Next month...it's October!! Already. Other than the long hot summer dragging on and on, it doesn't seem very long ago, it was October of 2013. My goodness. Anyway, I went to Michael's Craft Store to buy something. Heck, I can't even remember what I was there for now. But, I got it, had it in my hand and was walking to check out and pay for it. BEHOLD!! The Halloween shelves and displays were calling me ever so softy..."Anni, Anni? Come over here. See what's in store for this year!" Temptation got the best of me. I was side tracked by the black, orange and purples!! Trinkets and fun stuffs galore. Tho the urge was getting heavier and heavier as I perused the aisles, it took every ounce of will power to just walk on by...drooling!! Then, it hit me flat on my face. A Witch's Hat!!! I had to have it. Until I saw the price they were asking!!!! Ummmmm, that crocked it. I wasn't about to spend $70.00 for something I could make for less than half the asking price.

...so, I hopped in the car, drove to Hobby Lobby and purchased what I needed!
Grapevine wreath - $3.99
Grapevine cone - $7.99
Black Spray Paint [at Wal Mart] - $.96
Ribbon, flowers, and feathery Owl, box of 20 purple lights [at the Dollar Store] - $7.00

TOTAL $19.94 plus tax.

Went home and started the project. I wired the grapevine cone to the grapevine wreath. Bent the cone a bit to shape the hat. Then, spray painted the 'hat' black. When dried, I added the orange ribbon for the hat brim, tying it in a bow. After that, added the flowers and wired the owl to the hat's brim. When all done, I took the string of purple lights and worked it up through the bottom opening to the tip of the hat; secured the lights to the wreath/brim and for less than $25 I had the same as what Michael's was selling for $69.99!!!





4] Sunday, September 7th, at NYC and Yankee Stadium it was Derek Jeter Day!!! He's been playing with the Yankee team for 20 years...this is his last season before his retirement. And he's always been my favorite!!! I will miss him!! [I wore the #2 Jeter NYY t-shirt all day.] And no, I'm not an Astros, DBacks, or Rockies traitor. I've followed Derek since the beginning and he's always been so congenial towards his fans of ALL ages...and a great team captain and sportsman; there to play the game, oftentimes injured. It's gonna be a black arm band day on the Yankees' last day of the 2014 season for me.


5] I've tried to condense and add as much as I could to this one post. The reasoning behind it is that I am about to take a blogging break for a week, maybe more. Bud and I have a lot of catching up on yard work that has been sorely neglected during the heat blast we've had this past summer. And there is a LOT TO DO. Also, the Fall Migration has started with a big bang...so when we're NOT working in the yard, we will be gone birding! But, in the meantime I will continue with my weekend meme "The Bird D'Pot" each Saturday as I have prescheduled posts there. If I can I will stop by and say howdy to those who visit there, beginning Saturday September 13th---
linking to: Willy Nilly Friday 5

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Linking to Sky Watch

A street light looming bright in the distance of about a mile from our garage door....seen from our home toward a freeway against a dark morning near sunrise.