New Kids On The Block

I came home from running errands the other day and was greeted with these two neon people holding red flags warning that children were at play.  One says "SLOW" and the other, "SLOW DOWN KAREN!"

I've lived in this neighborhood for forty years.  Same house, same cul-de-sac, and almost the entire time, the same neighbors.

Well, now we have new neighbors.  A nice couple with two girls and a boy, ages ten, nine, and six. They often play in the cul-de-sac, their parents sitting in lawn chairs watching them.  Ed has been out there several times talking to the guys - the new neighbor and our other friend, John, who lives one house over.  I've spoken to the wife a few times and have mentally given her my stamp of approval.  Both the husband and wife are high-energy, friendly, funny, open, and super nice.  And the kids are respectful, polite, fun, and social.

The other day we were sitting in the living room basking in the air-conditioning when our doorbell rang.  Ed got up to see who it was and he found four kids waiting for him to open the sliding door.  It was the three neighbor kids and John's grandson, who was visiting for the day.  They wanted Ed to come out and play.  Hysterical.  

The entire time I've lived in this cul-de-sac, I've never seen a kid.  I did babysit the girl next door when I was sixteen, but I  never saw her playing outside.  And John's two kids (both of them are twenty-plus years younger than me) must have grown up in the house and the backyard because I never saw them either.  I pay attention.  I'm observant.  But in forty years?  No kids.

Now, we have warning signs and bikes and jump ropes and running.  A lot of running.  

And finally, we'll have someone who will appreciate our Christmas lights and all the yard accoutrements Ed bought to go along with them.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.

2022: Sorry, no post on this day.

2021: Sorry, no post on this day.

2020: Sorry, no post on this day.

2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: They Just Don't Get It
2017: Performing One Of The Oldest Textile Arts
2016: Helping Hand
2015: Mickey Is Electric!
2014: High Floor, King Bed, River View
2013: Pitchin' Melon
2012: As If The Heat, The Dust, And The Politics Weren’t Bad Enough
2011: My Office Window
2010: All The Live-long Day
2009: What Every Child Leaves Behind
2008: What Happened To Being Human?
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere, Man
2006: Gulf Shore Toe Magnets
2005: Sorry, no post on this day.

Waiting For Their Feathers To Fill Out

 

These two baby doves have been hanging out in their nest, high above our front door.  They were so tiny just last week, it's amazing how much they've grown! Every year the dove reuses this same nest, so we always have new babies to watch.

The mama and papa must take turns sitting with them because when I open the door to go out, the one I believe is the mother, always flies away, scared.  The one who I think is the father - he's bigger and a little meaner looking - just gives me the side-eye and watches my every move, but he doesn't leave his perch.  He just sits there staring at me.

I check on them every day and wonder when the babies will leave the nest.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Prime Parking
2017: The Home Of The Twelve Dollar Burger
2016: Monsoon Mountain
2015: Patriotic Blooms
2014: Someone's Going Home With This
2013: Hey Cutie!
2012: I’ll Have To Pry It From Her Dead, Cold Fingers
2011: Straight Talk
2010: Who Knew There Were Things To Do Other Than Eating Pie?
2009: 157 Years Of Light
2008: Call Me. We Have Telephones In Nebraska Now.
2007: Reach For The Sky
2006: Sorry, no post on this day.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day.

My Main Competition

This is my mother's cat, Mr. Dexter Grey.  He's three years old and weighs 18.9 pounds.  He's almost impossible to pick up; all he does is eat and sleep.  Typical cat.  He often starts walking across the room, stops, and plotzes right where he is, spreading his big, long body across the cool tile.

I am 98% sure that if my mother had to choose between me and Dexter for say, who she'd rather live with, or spend the day with, or take a nap with...the choice is clear. 

It would be the creature with four paws and a tail. 

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.

2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.

2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Exhausting
2017: Separated At Birth?
2016: Red Is The Color Of Desire And Love
2015: Cutting Through The Rain To Get To The Sunshine State
2014: Ed Drove A Million Miles To Get Here
2013: When Summer Comes, The Countdown To Fall Begins 
2012: Tough Choice: Scale Mountains Or Flip Channels
2011: Eyes On The Road
2010: When You Own, You Owe
2009: It’s Not The Nina, Pinta And Santa Maria
2008: One Word At A Time
2007: The Only Way It Could Have Been Better Would Be If It Came With A Side Of Fried Rice
2006: Wanna Sip Of My Jagermeister?
2005: Playing Favorites

Lead With Vegetables And The Best Will Follow

 

El Charro Café of Tucson, Arizona is The Nation's Oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. 

That said, it's not my favorite Mexican restaurant in Tucson but it's not my least favorite, either.  The first time I visited the restaurant, was at its original location in downtown Tucson.  Now they have a location literally two minutes from my house. Much more convenient.

In the last couple of years, they opened another restaurant concept, also close to my house.  It's called Charro Vida.  

Since Ed and I have recently begun eating a more plant-based diet, we had lunch here this week and really enjoyed our meal.  We were pleasantly surprised at the choices and how good everything was.

I might just be able to stick with the plant thing for longer than I anticipated.

* In case you were wondering, a Charro is a Mexican horse-rider.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.

2022: Sorry, no post on this day.

2021: Sorry, no post on this day.

2020: Sorry, no post on this day.

2019: Sorry, no post on this day.

2018: Drive On In!
2017: So This Happened In My Kitchen
2016: Our Neck Of The Woods
2015: Power On The Potomac
2014: Ma And Pa Kettle Lived Here
2013: "License, Registration and Insurance Card, Please"
2012: Welcome To Hell
2011: When She Passes Each One She Passes Goes Ahhhh
2010: The Key To Being Funny
2009: Wishes Really Do Come True
2008: Eddie Plays It Safe Friday
2007: What Road?
2006: I’m STILL Looking To Get Me Some Good BBQ
2005: Say Cheese!!

Grand No More

No longer standing, the Grand Guitar in Bristol, Tennessee was always a fun building to see while driving through the state.  



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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.

2022: Sorry, no post on this day.

2021: Sorry, no post on this day.

2020: Sorry, no post on this day.

2019: Sorry, no post on this day.

2018: Tanks In Sparks
2017: Italian Butterflies
2016: Views Of The South
2015: Supreme Love
2014: Unfuzzed
2013: I Think We May Be Following A Derecho. Or Is It An Izquierda?
2012: This One Time, At Summer Camp…
2011: Into The Wild
2010: It Was Clear The Moment You Opened Your Mouth
2009: Eddie Captures A Sunset Friday
2008: Pelicans Enjoying Their Rule Of The Lake
2007: Bigfoot
2006: There Is A Reason People Try To Repress Certain Childhood Memories
2005: Painted Ladies

Orange You Loving This?

 

Who wouldn't love a garden with a little Chihuly in it?




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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.

2022: Sorry, no post on this day.

2021: Sorry, no post on this day.

2020: Sorry, no post on this day.

2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Thank You, Tiana

2017: Southern Hospitality The Southwestern Way
2016: The Short List
2015: From I Love Lucy To The Lily Of The Valley
2014: We Were Ear!!
2013: This Disturb's Me 
2012: Not Sure The Money Will Follow
2011: Trucking Al Fresco
2010: 3000 Miles To Squidland
2009: It Could Be Africa If It Weren’t For The Schlitterbahn
2008: How To Ace A Job Interview
2007: Diver Down
2006: Day Tripping
2005: Nipple Rock

A Place For People Watching

Plaza Machado in Mazatlán, Mexico.  

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Korean Fire Meat
2017: Passing Through
2016: Man With A Plan
2015: Don't Try This At Home
2014: This Place Is For The Birds
2013: Get Your Travel On
2012: An Art Deco Tower In The Panhandle
2011: Traffic Might Just Have Saved My Life
2010: Joining The Ranks
2009: The Daily Rant Goes Farther East Than Ever Before
2008: What He Does When I’m Sleeping
2007: Now You Don’t Have To Go To The Ghetto To Get Crack
2006: Satchel Pitches A Great Question
2005: A Night In Yakima

Messenger Of The Gods

My best friend, Vicki, took this photo of a Bearded Iris in Nashville, Tennessee.  She's the type that's up early enough to catch the morning dew on flowers.

Bearded Iris is a member of the genus, Iris, named after the Greek goddess of the rainbow. As the myth goes, when the gods wanted to communicate with humans, they sent Iris, who arrived with golden wings. As she stepped to earth, colorful flowers sprung forth.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Okie Eye Talian
2017: After I Stop Laughing
2016: Manly Ribs
2015: My Brush With Nature
2014: Dear Summer,
2013: I Wrote This After A Day Of Doing Nothing, Sitting On My Ass, While I Watched TV  
2012: The Beautiful Strangler
2011: Art Enables Us To Find Ourselves And Lose Ourselves At The Same Time
2010: Even God Can’t Help Men
2009: My President’s House
2008: Don’t Give Up Hope If You Just Don’t Know What You Want To Be When You Grow Up, You Have Choices
2007: Alright, Mr. DeMille, I’m Ready For My Close Up
2006: Stone Magnolia
2005: Fitty Nine!!!

More Than The Holy Grail

 

I took a photo of this sculpture in the Catedral de Valencia in Valencia, Spain.  

The Holy Chalice, also known as the Holy Grail, believed to be the vessel used by Jesus at the Last Supper, is housed in one of the chapels of the church.

The Holy Grail

Most of the cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th centuries in the Gothic style and primarily remains what is considered to be a Gothic building, but as the construction continued over the ages, the styles of construction also changed.

The Renaissance frescoes inside the church, the sculptures, and the ornate decor were all a feast for the eyes.  

This is definitely a site not to be missed.  There's so much more to see in their collection.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: A Rare Bird On The Boardwalk
2021: Rotating High Above The Emerald City
2020: Sorry, no post for this day.
2019: Sorry, no post for this day.
2018: It's A Slow Day, Norm
2017: Pizza On The Q
2016: DQ Cat 
2015: Happy Father's Day!
2014: WARNING: Very Low Flying Aircraft
2013: Stop. Look. Read.
2012: You Won’t Miss Me Coming On This Bike
2011: An Extra Large Bargain
2010: Maybe You Can Learn A Little Something From A Few Truck Drivers
2009: The Fathers In Our Lives, Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven And The Father Of Our Country
2008: Who The Hell Left The Pool Float In The Sea Of Tranquility??
2007: Lure Me In
2006: Sometimes The Reasons NOT To Have Children Are So Very Clear
2005: U-Ta-Dah!!

Surf's Up!

A surfboard display in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: It's A Slow Day, Norm
2017: Pizza On The Q
2016: DQ Cat 

2015: Happy Father's Day!
2014: WARNING: Very Low Flying Aircraft

2013: Stop. Look. Read.
2012: You Won’t Miss Me Coming On This Bike

2011: An Extra Large Bargain

2010: Maybe You Can Learn A Little Something From A Few Truck Drivers

2009: The Fathers In Our Lives, Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven And The Father Of Our Country

2008: Who The Hell Left The Pool Float In The Sea Of Tranquility??

2007: Lure Me In

2006: Sometimes The Reasons NOT To Have Children Are So Very Clear

2005: U-Ta-Dah!!

A Holy Gathering Place

 

This is the Catedral Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción located in the Plazuela República in the historical center of Mazatlán, Mexico.

Work on the basilica started in 1856 and was completed in 1899.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Cloudy Snake
2017: Hello From The Other Side
2016: Stick It To 'Em
2015: Links To Food Dominate This Post
2014: 30 Miles To Spokane
2013: Truck And Sky
2012: Not Despicable At All
2011: Slice Of Summer
2010: Time Suck
2009: The Spirit Of Sharing
2008: Sailor Boy Friday
2007: Cozy Dining
2006: It’s All About Me
2005: Alien Land    

Too Much Is Barely Enough

 

This is Notes, the whisky-tasting area on the Holland America cruise ship we took to the Mexican Riviera.

I'm not a whisky drinker but I did stop to view the selection - I love the shapes and colors and designs of the bottles.  The setup was very pleasing to the eye.

Here's a fun fact:  Whisky (with no 'e') refers to Scottish, Canadian, or Japanese grain spirits.  Whiskey (with an 'e') refers to grain spirits distilled in Ireland and the United States.

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough"

~ Mark Twain

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: A Reason To Go Around The Bend
2017: Resting In The Open Range
2016: Dinner On A Stick
2015: The Good Deeds Of Summer
2014: The Mountain Was Out
2013: Small Town Bullshit. Big City Nothing.
2012: She’s Political Coming And Going And Doesn’t Even Know It
2011: Old As She Was, She Still Missed Her Daddy Sometimes
2010: Crafty Little Bugger
2009: Beauty For A Buck
2008: What My Thoughts Sound Like When Left Uncensored And Ultimately, Formed Into Words
2007: New York Style
2006: I.H.O.P.G.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day.

I'm A Big Fan

 

When we were in Valencia, Spain we went to a shop called Abanicos Carbonell.  Paula Carbonell, seen above, is the fifth-generation owner of the shop. The fan she is holding and the three in front of her are the ones that I purchased.

The shop itself was opened in 1810 and her great-great-grandfather bought the business in 1864.  When we walked into the shop, she and her only employee (the woman seen below) were assembling the fans by hand.  Paula was cutting out silk that she hand-painted and was going to glue to the fan ribs, and her employee was cutting lace to use on the edging of some of the fans.  They do EVERYTHING by hand. 

Paula hand paints the silk herself and has fans in her shop that sell for as much as $5,000.00! My cousin was getting married in November 2023 (we were in Spain in January 2023) and I wanted to get a fan for her.  Paula suggested a neutral-colored silk with gold writing, thinking it would be elegant for a wedding.  I took her suggestion.  On the front of the fan, she lettered my cousin's name and, on the back, the date of the wedding.

The shop has made fans for celebrities and for famous Paris fashion designers to use in their runway shows.  She's had numerous articles written about her which she had displayed in the shop (see photo below) and while we were there she told us that she was making 200 fans for a high-end designer's runway show.  

As a person who carries a fan everywhere, I was thrilled that we found this shop.  I was overwhelmed with all the choices and it was hard enough for me to settle on the four fans that I purchased. 

I have to tell you though, it was well worth the money.  My cousin loved her wedding fan and I was so pleased to be able to contribute a little keepsake item for her special day.  And I, of course, love my fans.  

The owner, Paula, really treated us all so well.  I would definitely recommend her shop to anyone looking for a gift from Valencia that has a history behind it in addition to carrying on the tradition of making the item by hand.  

There's something to be said about this kind of craftsmanship.

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Out To The Pacific
2017: Feeding Time For Dad
2016: May The Best Friend Win
2015: 140 Characters Just Doesn't Cut It
2014: Wyoming In June
2013: I Will Not Be Decaffeinated 
2012: Sweeeeeeet
2011: Summer On The Farm
2010: This Should Be The Next “New Parent” Handbook
2009: Would You Like A Little Screech To Go With Your Whine?
2008: Jane’s Anatomy
2007: Plus People Are Here To Stay
2006: Baiting The Hook
2005: Purgatory

Spain At High Speeds

The train we took in Spain from Madrid to Valencia.  What a quick and easy trip!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Sorry, no post on this day.
2019: Sorry, no post on this day.
2018: Thank You For Your Courage
2017: Live Bait
2016: Love County
2015: Razorback Storm
2014: Go About Three Miles And Turn Left At The Rocket
2013: Puffy And Distorted 
2012: A Woman’s Work Is Never Done
2011: Old Timey Road Trip
2010: Are You Ready For Some Football?!
2009: Hangin’ In The Sea Cave
2008: Weekend In Wyoming
2007: Ready For Nautical Knots
2006: Australia Isn’t Far Enough Away For These Bitches To Hide
2005: Texas Suicide

Torre De Lujo

 

On our last night in Madrid, we stayed at the Eurostars Madrid Tower because it was close to the neighborhood where my friend Catalina lived and we were planning to meet them for dinner.  They took us to Lateral Caleido, which was fantastic - when Madrileños themselves eat there, you've gotta assume it's good!

Upon arriving at the hotel, the tower's exterior was just impressive. Shiny, reflecting the light, nothing but sky behind it.  Just stunning.  The interior was just as beautiful. Very modern and luxurious, from the lobby to the restaurants to the rooms. 

All of the rooms have a panoramic view of the city and ours, on the 28th floor, did not disappoint.  We had a spectacular view!  The sun was setting, the lights of the city just coming on, and the distance we were able to see from the wall of windows in our room was amazing.  

The amenities in the room were top-notch, the shower was incredible, and the bed, well, it was insanely comfortable. And one of the room amenities that I really loved was the valet garment steamer.  I want one for my house!

We did not experience the restaurant for dinner since we went out but we did have the breakfast buffet the next morning and the spread was mouthwatering - fruits, cheeses, meats, eggs, pastries, rolls, toast, waffles, juices, oatmeal, coffee, and tea.  

We spent most of our week in Madrid at the Hilton property, because it was close to everything we wanted to see, but I would definitely stay at this Eurostars property again and would even consider checking them out in other countries.  That's how nice this experience was.

I cannot wait to go back to Spain!

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2023: Sorry, no post on this day.
2022: Sorry, no post on this day.
2021: Sorry, no post on this day.
2020: Fire On The Mountain
2019: Celebrating The Dads
2018: Pastoral
2017: Dune Crawl
2016: The Closest I Get To Camping
2015: This Guy Rocks It, Man
2014: Pillows Of Deliciousness
2013: Staring Me Down On Dad's Day
2012: Load Check
2011: Hotel Special Effects In An Instant
2010: The Great American Shoe Hunt
2009: The First Glimpse Of The People’s Coast
2008: Ohhhh, So This Is How It Works
2007: Can You Hear Me Stereotyping Now?
2006: In The Kitchen With Eddie
2005: Top Ten