§ Here, There, This and That...

Some years ago, I attempted to paint some rocks [called kindness rocks] to hide along some of the pathways [hide in plain sight] for others to find. There is usually a picture depiction on the top side with a kind word or passage on the back side. Well, the one time I did, I did three stones and that was the end of that. I also painted another rock to make it look like an alligator [or some thought a dinosaur] head. I shared it here a couple years ago, but looking through my post labels I can't seem to find it. [addendum: Found it! Photo of rock HERE, and the others in post HERE] Well, a few weeks back when it was still too hot to be outdoors, I started another stone to paint. I finished it finally...

I have a couple other ones in mind, but I have to find the "just right" stone.

I mentioned ordering a metal sign that is "me" through and through. It arrived on Friday as promised. It was hung on the kitchen wall for permanent display before the day was out...

For Sunday dessert I finally used up all the apples that we bought at a roadside stand. We had a peck of tart cooking apples. I made apple crisp the other day [I froze some of it]. And then while watching football games we dined on warm apple pie a la mode! Thing is the pie played a nasty trick on me. I would guess what apples were left totaled about 3 pounds. I used them all! Yep, you guessed it. The filling over-flowed in the oven while baking. Now I have an oven to clean. Oh, goodie. [self cleaning it is, but when it's done the cycle, I still have to scrap out the ash. I'm retired. That shouldn't have to be. Ohh-h-h-h Bud? Hmmmm, he seems to have disappeared!! Guess it's up to me to clean the ash...even if I did find him, I wouldn't be able to convince him the pie was baked for HIM.

With my heart health issues, I don't wanna be unprotected if I happen to have to make a trip to the ER. So, this weekend I also got a booster shot for Covid. What harm can it do? I know there are breakthrough cases reported, and the mandates are unconstitutional; but for me personally, it's playing it safe. Bud, the aged one has yet to make an appointment. He says he will, but that remains to be seen. Anywho....we went out to dinner afterward just 'cause I thought I deserved it being punched in the arm and all. The pain in the arm? Guaranteed I'll milk it all it's worth to get out of cooking! We went Mexican. A yummy LARGE margarita and Chili Rellenos!

It was delicious. And yes, my margarita has no salt on the rim....ordered that way by me. Again, with heart disease, I don't need MORE salt.

One more thing, then I'll let you go [if you're still here with me]...we finished the jigsaw puzzle Monday. And tore that one up to take to the senior center and started another one. This time instead of 750 pieces, it's 1000.

§ What Are the Odds?

I'm going to begin and end this post with some things.... odd ...

...at the Botanical Gardens, well hidden beneath a cactus plant...a rock!  Instantly, to me, it seemed like a human mask [Phantom of the Opera, kinda sorta?].  It's natural....not painted....I got down on the ground, and checked!!!

...a piece of rotting tree branch at Paradise Pond...I saw the heart of it all!

...slime covered oyster shells.  The odd thing was, for me, the distinct odor of rotting seaweed.

...what's odd about this?  Nothing really, except I don't know what kind of flower this is.  Oh, and there is a teeny tiny 'odd' bug on the petal.

...two things odd about this...first the fact I stood still long enough to get a photo of this snake!  I HATE SNAKES!!  Second, the leaf is heart shaped?  Odd something of beauty such as a heart can be near something so terrifying to me.  [Yes, it's caught a fish]

...odd!  What did this gull get into?  Oil?

...seeing double?  That's odd...so did I - There are two katydids mirrored [coupled] on the chain link fence.  [you may call them cicadas]

§ Stone hearts...ya, I need one sometimes...don't you?

CLICK HERE to Join

...a meme where you match photos to song lyrics

SONG title: STONE HEARTS by Cher
Listen to the song at this link


I ask the river for a sign


In a dream, we go on together
How long is love supposed to shine
In a dream, diamonds are forever
But you and I, hurt together, hurt alone
Don't you sometimes
Wish your heart was a heart of stone


Mercy, mercy, wish your heart was a heart of stone
With a heart of stone, you'll be well protected
Don't you sometimes
Wish your heart was made of stone



PHOTO CREDIT: River - Nueces River near 1-37 LaBonte park [where the fresh water ends and salt water from the bay begins...supposedly. For me it's far far from the 'delta' and that would be where I'd say it ends/begins; what do I know?]
Rock photos are two small stones I turned over while cleaning out the landscaping rock in the back yard some weeks ago, and the song came to mind because of the 'heart shapes' in the stones.

§ rock paper scissors?....too bad, scissors...ROCK! I win.

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Photos of one large piece of crystal with artificial lighting [the bottom photo: blue tinges are from the computer tower power light--to show you it's 'crystal clear', and top photo is with a the flash enabled and the light's being reflected off the surface...] the piece is about the size of a large grapefruit and very heavy






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This little piece of news is just getting too close for comfort. Of course the history of this area near the Texas and Mexican border has never been a 'friendly' sort. But if it happens here, it's more than likely to hit other border towns. My way of thinking...America should consider condemning property and taking about 5 to 10 miles of each bordering state; forget the border fences and high volume of patrolling by foot, helicopters, and infrared military instruments, and ATVs...just begin to dig a mile deep and several mile wide canal that will border the southern states that lie against the Mexico's border....like the Panama Canal. I realize it's just a dream that would never become a reality, but surely, that would deter a lot of closeness to our border towns and cities like San Diego and El Paso, and even Tucson! Car bombs now? Drug Cartels are moving much too close to America.

EL PASO -- The car bombing in Juárez on Thursday in which three people were killed signifies an escalation of brutality and sophistication in the city's 2-year-old drug war, officials said. Juárez officials on Friday confirmed a car bomb with C-4 plastic explosives was detonated from a remote location. Local experts said the Juárez and Sinaloa drug cartels apparently have adopted terrorists' tactics that use suicide bombers and car bombs to kill foes or to make a point. "It certainly seems like they've taken a page out of the Middle East," said Richard Schwein, the former FBI special agent in charge of the El Paso office.

I know, I know they're found even as far north as Chicago...but this is just getting a bit too scary for peace of mind. It's looking a lot like the third world; suicide bombers. Will it come to this? Drug wars have nothing to do with the immigration laws either...it's unlawful no matter where you live; which country...it's purely insane all for the love of drugs, power, evil and greed. I live just over a few 100 miles from this happening... will it ever end? I don't think I'll see the end of it in my lifetime. This, no doubt, is only the beginning.

Photo courtesy of online news report.
Not infringement intended.
Quote in partial is posted ...read more here



POSTED: Monday, July 19th, 2010
12:25 A.M.

§ ...no stone unturned?

PART IV OF Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History

With my week's theme, dealing with a museum tour of the local Science and History Museum...today, for Thursday 13 I give you GEMS!! I've been fascinated a long time that the state of Texas actually has a state gem cut...which I viewed a couple of times perusing the mineral section of the science part of the museum. Googling, I even found a site that tells of its history and how the cut was successfully accomplished for the very first time. All photos have mouseover captions. Just float your mouse over the photo...you'll then know just what you see...


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THURSDAY 13


















Also, here is a history of the State of Texas Gem Cut...the LONESTAR Cut




POSTED: Thursday, May 27th, 2010
12:40 A.M.






Links for the previous posts on the museum
PART I
PART II
PART III

Rock: Turquoise set in silver...ring from Tombstone Jewelers [I loved the veins in the stone]- Rock: Amethyst Geode Piece, found hiking




Rock: 'Breakers' on Packery Channel; white dots =seashells Rock: Copper ore found between Tucson and Green Valley Arizona







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PHOTO HUNT 2009 THEMES

ROCK[s]
Posted: July 18th, 2009
12:01 A.M.

Friday, July 3rd, 2009
6:31 A.M.

For Friday's Flash Fiction 55, scroll down, or CLICK HERE

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As I posted on Tuesday, about some of the rock that I've found in our landscaping stone that surrounds our foundation and patio....I'm thinking it is petrified wood. And I think it's palmwood after reading so much about it lately, online. And I also stated that I had sent some photos of the very same you see here to a geologist here in town. I have yet to hear back from him. His last email contained a lot of info on the differences of stones, but the crucial part for me was this....

"...you could bring your samples to a Gulf Coast Gem and Mineral Society Meeting at the CC Musuem of Science--we have a gathering from 6:30 to 7pm where people bring items to be identified--look it up on the internet-- our first meeting will be the in the first week of July. Send the pictures and I will look closer..."
owen hopkins
geologist

I thought I'd share a few of the photos with y'all. I'd really like your opinions too....does this stuff look like petrified wood of some kind to you also? Or, if you have ANY idea what it is...please help me out. The first two photos show just one piece...front and back sides ---the 'rock' is about 6 inches by 4 inches and weighs about 3 pounds. Very heavy for its size.



This one, and the next photo
shows the large piece I
found on the beach here in
town...the "bark side"...




...and same piece as above,
only the inside...
the plant resin [sap]
petrified into a quartz-like
substance.





These last three photos
are some small sized pieces
found in our
backyard landscaping...



























Click on this link...it's a shared photo on Flickr & it makes me think mine is also palmwood; comparing his with my finds I share here with you today. [link should open in a new window]

~...End Show n Tell
COMMENT HERE if you'd prefer to skip my Flash Fiction Friday


<><><>

A Friday Meme with fiction...55 words, no more, no less. Try it, it's a fun challenge!!
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There once was an ol' gal named Anni
Who decided to blog the hours away.
With certainty, her blog popularity would grow.
Alas, the only thing growing was her fanny
her mirrored reflection did show.

So, she returned to her desk that day
Thinking to herself "It's beyond uncanny...

....my bloggin' name'll hafta be Hootin'Anni-Fanny"