§ Out of the ashes...rises the Phoenix

We've been lazing around this week. Doing not much of anything. We did go beaning one day, and will probably be out on the beach again today if the tide's low...looking for drift seeds. Last year, we found VERY few. But this past week, Old Mexico has had their first hurricane make landfall from the Pacific side of the coast; heading eastward. So, it's kinda churning up the Gulf of Mexico and the wave action in our area is a bit 'rougher' than usual. At least the day we went out. Once the waters get to heavin' and rollin' a bit, the drift seeds show up on the beach. The other day, when we decided to go searching for some, the tide was a bit too high yet, and the seaweed was really a bit too soggy to go tromping through. But I did find three heart beans and one hamburger bean. I was surprised, and a bit happy to know they're returning to our area. The Sea Heart is my favorite. They ARE shaped like hearts.

We continue to return to one refuge to find some baby American Coots. To no avail tho. We can hear them chirping and calling out, but the mommies and daddies are keeping them well hidden in the back bushes along the canal. Oh well. If we're persistent enough, maybe one day...

We had a two day Robert Langdon movie marathon. LOL. Not really a marathon, but the last two nights we have sat down and watched THE DA VINCI CODE and ANGELS AND DEMONS. It's been quite a while since we've watched them. Even tho we know the outcome, they still hold our interest.

Why? Well, I'll tell you why. Monday I bought a new book that has just been put out on the shelves recently. At Target they had the book, Inferno, on sale for $17.95 [original price $29.95}...so, I bought it. And I tell you...it has been a page turner from the get-go!! I'm more than half way through the book already and I don't want to put it down, but have to to eat and sleep...oh, and do laundry. Wish I could just continue to read 24/7. It's that good. Another thriller/suspense novel by Dan Brown [he authored The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons and The Lost Symbol]. I've often wondered why The Lost Symbol hasn't been made into a movie. But I kinda figure, even tho the sites online tell me differently, I think that our government has a lot to do with this 'delay'....the story of the Lost Symbol takes place in Washington, D. C. See where I'm going with that thought?!! Y'all know the government has their sticky hands into everything these days.

Then, to end my short post for the day, I thought I'd share some sky photos I took the other morning, early. I went out to take a photo of the moon before sunrise, and found that there were 'storm clouds' high above. Ya, it threatened rain, but nope...not this time. In any case, the clouds and sky made for a good photo shoot. Oh ya, I designed a new copyright logo to paste into my photos with a Victorian Lady....

...this last one I'm sharing when I saw it through the viewfinder, I thought immediately of the folklore/legend of THE PHOENIX!! Do you too see the rising of the Phoenix?!!! In Greek mythology the phoenix is cyclically regenerated or reborn. The phoenix [usually depicted as a large black crow-shaped bird with artistic embellishments] rises from the ashes of its former self and obtains new life. The phoenix was adopted in early Christianity as a symbol and is referenced in modern day culture.

§ Like, du-u-de!....we're on an unknown planet---

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SHADOW SHOT SUNDAY







Last week, on Monday, the winds were high, bringing in a cold front along the coast. We bundled up in our sweats [early morning temp was 50 degrees...which is cold when mixed with humidity and sea breezes], and took our walk along the beach anyway; instead of indoors at the mall. As we neared our mile mark to turn around and head back to the car, I noticed how the sand had blown around some sea weed giving off an eerie appearance; like landscape of an uninhabited planet. The deep crevices cast dark shadows even without the sun!!


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SUNDAY'S SUMMARY

Well, this past week there isn't much 'summarizing' to be had. It's been a busy week, and the days have been very cool the first of the week [a bit under the normal temperatures for this time of year], so we've been working outdoors mostly - we're taking advantage of the 50 degree mornings; cooler working. And while it was much cooler, I could have the windows open and no air conditioning, I took the liberty one morning, early, and made a large batch of homemade flour tortillas...from scratch! After they're rolled out flat, they need to be browned on a very hot cast iron skillet---which makes for a lot of smoke in the kitchen, thus having all the windows open. But...I tellya, if you've never tasted a homemade tortilla, you don't know what you're missing. They are a lot of work, but oh so worth the extra time because of the extreme tenderness and light fluffy texture and wonderful homemade taste. I froze half and I made my famous taco filling and a batch of margaritas for Cinco De Mayo. Okay...back to the rest of the week...there is always yard work to be done, but during the hot, hotter and hottest days not much gets done and when it DOES cool off some, we have tons of work piled up for us. Mowing grass, edging, cleaning up. Anyway...we have been fixing fence, irrigating everything because of the severe drought, rearranging some of the figurines and statues, repairing soaker hose, trimming back the rose blossoms that are nothing but the rose hips, etc. etc. I have been keeping up with the hummingbirds and their feeders also---we have about a dozen hummingbirds in our yard each and every day, from before sunrise up to sunset. Boy howdy, do they ever go through the two cups of sugar water...fast!!! Before the yard work is even begun, I do my blogging while Bud is feasting on his two cups of coffee. By that time, we head out for our long walk somewhere. This, as you know if you've been visiting and keeping up with my entries here, is drift seed season. The end of March thru April the sea beans are found in abundance. And I love to search for the heart sea beans while we're traipsing along the shore. This week, we've hit all the beach access areas except for one. We'll try and get there in a day or two. I do not have any inkling as to what type of seed pod this is; my research online has been in vain...I find nothing as to the species. Also, I've been trying to keep up with the Pakistani news and the demise of the terrorist leader this past week!!! I will try and take time later today or late tonight to finish composing a post of my views on the whole situation. I feel a need to get some thoughts I have about this off my mind. I'll be adding opinions on my Monday Morsels; tomorrow. One more thing...this past Thursday, Irene attended an Awards Ceremony for Academics at her youngest son's high school. You see, Dillon, our grandson was to be an honored recipient of achievement in History. I think the interest runs in his blood...his two grandfathers [Bud and George---Dan's father] both LOVE history and Bud especially interested in Civil War. Dillon and Bud text a lot about Civil War books they read and share the interest. Anyway, Dillon received a 'highest achievement of academics' in Civil War. Irene texted me a photo of the paper award. And of course, I felt a little boastful myself!! I did, upon request from Irene, pixelate his name and school. For security reasons.


PS....I emailed for identification assistance on the large hand-held seed pod I found [photo above]...sending a request to the National Seashore National Park and Research. They were stumped. I then tried emailing another website author and he gave me a name!! Receiving his email this morning, he noted that it's possibly known as a porcupine seed from South America. And would you just LOOK at the beautiful flower from where the seed came? Gorgeous. Of course, keep in mind, that this may not be the particular seed pod from this very kind because what I've read now that I know what it's called, there are 15 or more known species of the Porcupine Tree. I'll keep on keeping on in my searching.

Tree blossom photo granted by permission from HERE