Layers

 

Some Questions, Dear Sir

Dear Senator Tillis, Senator Budd, and Representative Edwards,

Is this our USA? A place where unidentified, masked, armed, and armored thugs snatch people away from court dates, worksites, family gatherings, churches schools? And then, usually without due process, these detainees are whisked away to points unknown.

Who are the terrorists here? And why are ICE wearing masks and no ID?

And the recent power move by the regime of sending troops into California "to quell a rebellion" is right out of a dictator's handbook. 

The fact this extraordinary act is at the whim of the president--the same one who pardoned the Jan. 6 rioters who attacked law enforcement and damaged government property while trying to disrupt the lawful business of the government--underscores the massive hypocrisy at work in DC.

What are you enabling? When will you take action against the terrible chaos of this regime? Where are your morals? Who has the bravery to stand against this wannabe dictator?

Why are you silent?

 

What's A Slip?

How times have changed! Rummaging through her dress-up box, Josie pulled out this beauty and wanted to know what it was for.

It's a slip, rather, a half slip, I told her. "But what's it for?" she persisted.

I told her that ladies used to wear them under their skirts. And that I had this particular slip when Grumpy and I got married 62 years ago.  (Back in the dark ages of panty girdles and stockings, but I didn't attempt to explain these artifacts to her.)

She is fortunate to grow up wearing comfortable knit shorts, t-shirts, dresses, and leggings. (Though her Barbies have to suffer some itchy and constricting garments,)

She did find a good use for my ancient half slip though.

Good old Bailey.

"Can I take it off now?"

 

Summer Play Day!

Josie's friend from Atlanta is here for almost a week. First on the agenda was the trampoline,

Josie and I were impressed. He can do in the air somersaults!

He also filled a tub of water in the branch and brought it to the trampoline . . .

and bounced. That seems to me a quintessentially boy thing to do.

Back at the house, we did some marbling.

Such fun!

A screaming person?

Watching the patterns develop.

 

Tender Moments

                                                  

An idyllic afternoon. John and I are on the porch sipping adult beverages while in the kitchen, potatoes are sauteing to accompany one of our long time favorites--fish Russian style. The salads are made, the hard-cooked egg, butter, pimento, parsley topping is ready, the English peas are in a saucepan, ready to cook, the catfish fillets are awaiting their triple dredging--seasoned flour, beaten egg, and panko crumbs.

Time for a little break.

We are reminiscing about the old pre-marriage days when we both had summer jobs and would meet for lunch on Fridays at Cuervo's in Ybor City. Trout Russian was our usual order--a bargain for under $2, and that included soup, salad, Cuban bread, sauteed potatoes, and flan.

We rocked and remembered and talked about the weirdness of being old people with various infirmities and the great good fortune we have to live where we do. And how neither of us wants to end up in a nursing home.

"As a matter of fact," I said, "if I drop dead this minute, I've still  had a very good run."

John looked at me and sniffed the air, getting a whiff of the sauteed potatoes.

"Maybe you could wait till after dinner," he suggested.

                                              

At the Nail Salon

 

Uh Oh

                  

Facebook is messing with me again. Or more likely some phisher. I opened a notification and suddenly the screen told to call some number and wouldn't let.me turn it off.

I can access FB on my phone with no.problem which tells me the problem is on my laptop.

I'm doing thistle post on my phone which is a pain

So I'm going to bed and will try to get this sorted tomorrow 

Or not.

 

Bird and Bloom

 

Dear Sir

Dear Rep. Edwards, Senator Tillis, Senator Budd,

The deluge of pardons from the White House--some for monetary consideration, some for revenge, some to appeal to his base -- along with threats to judges and failure to follow judicial

rulings must mark this administration as the most lawless in recent history.

Have all the GOP members of Congress abdicated their responsibilities, leaving governing to Stephen Miller and The president's Sharpie? Are you content to be an empty suit, a mere yes man as the Trump regime ignores the Constitution?

The so-called Big Beautiful Bill, along with gutting programs so many depend on, also contains a poison pill--

"No court shall have jurisdiction to review any action taken by the Secretary, the EPA Administrator, a State or municipal agency, or any other Federal agency [...] to issue a lease, permit, biological opinion, or other approval."

What it means:

• If the government approves drilling, mining, or development, even illegally, you can't sue.

• It applies retroactively, killing lawsuits already in progress.

• Tribes, environmental groups, citizens, even states, lose the right to challenge these approvals in court.

Why it matters:

This guts judicial review, a cornerstone of U.S. democracy. Courts are the only check on executive overreach. This section erases that check for some of the most destructive decisions the government can make.

My representative has already approved this monstrosity. I hope that my senators will stand against this power grab by the Executive Branch. 

Sincerely,

A constituent who prefers a balance of power to a dictator

 

 

Rabbit Rabbit (on a Rake)

"Why are the bunnies sitting on a rake?" Josie asked, and I told her that those were the roots of a stylized tree, as pictured on a tile from Rookwood Pottery.  

                                                                                     

This little (6x6) tile has fascinated me ever since it first appeared on my Facebook feed. It's so peaceful and balanced. And since I did click on it to find out the price ($139.00 plus shipping,) it continues to pop up to try to tempt me.

But even if I needed yet another tschotchke, I wouldn't spend that kind of money on it. 

So I scratched the itch by painting my own version of the two bunnies on the rake.
                                                                                  

May Flowers

 

School is OUT for Josie

Wednesday was my LAST day of school! We had an ice cream Sunday party and I got a Math Master award. 

So on Thursday I spent the day with Meema and Grumpy. First there were pancakes (of course.)

Then I set up my nail salon with the nail kit I got for my birthday. There are stickers and glitter too.

Otter was happy to have her nails done.

Jenny wasn't sure about it.

I gave Bob a magazine to read while he waited for his appointment.

When they were all done, I got the dress up box and put stuff on Bailey. She looked pretty but she wiggled out of her clothes before Meema could get her picture.

We went to the library on Wednesday so I had new books to read.

                           Then I practiced falling on the sofa.

And helped Meema water her porch plants.

Jenny's nail polish came off when she went running in the wet grass but she still has her glitter on.

While Meema was painting, I worked on some puppets.

I used up all my googly eyes.

Then I got my doctor kit and played vet.

The dogs were good patients.