What, More Flowers?

 

Bittersweet

Yes, I'm appalled at the unconstitutional actions in Iran and the loss of life. The Ayatollah was a despicable tyrant and I don't weep for him. But there are so many despicable tyrants in the world, some quite close to home. And I've already let my congressmen know my feelings.

But that's not what this post is about. 

                                                           

I've been using my down time to go through my photo files and get rid of duplicates and sub par or simply confusing (as in, why did I take that ?)pictures.

I came to several conclusions. I take a lot of pictures of critters, Josie, sunrises, trees, flowers, leaves, food, and not that many of other people, except on occasions like Christmas.

These pictures reminded me of how much has changed--and how much hasn't. Christmas looks much the same every year, the house also, though getting shabbier. There are always pets,though the cast changes. And the view and the flowers and trees remain the same.

This below was a wedding. Madelon, who was a part of the writing group that got me started was getting married and a bunch of us made a quilt. 

Alas, Madelon is gone now. And that's the bitter part of sifting through the past--so many folks who were a part of my life are gone.

As are beloved pets, my garden, the chickens . . . so many things that are no longer feasible or sensible for us now.

I'd almost forgotten that I once taught quilting at our local community college branch.

I must have taken thousands of day lily pictures over the years. I can't resist them.

A Thanksgiving meal that couldn't be beat--and another friend who's gone now.

And Dog Club--Maggie, Bear, and Jack, plus Eddie, an honorary member. All sorely missed. 

I deleted well over a thousand pics--my storage was getting full--but I have many left to remind myself of the joys of the past years.
                                                           
                                                             

Rabbit Rabbit

 

The Kittehs Would Like a Word

Hi, CoryCat here-

 

And Angeline, thank you very much.

It has come to our attention that the dogs are getting all the coverage. When we pointed this out to The Woman, she said it was because we spend most of our time sleeping on the bed or sleeping up in her workroom. She says it's always the same picture and possibly a bit  . . . boring.

This is true. But why does she never take pictures of us at night, when we race around the room (sometimes  over the bed and she makes the funniest noise when one of us lands on her belly) and chase our catnip mice across the floor? Or throw up? Primo photo ops and what does she do? Sleeps, that's what.

I call it a deplorable situation.

It's Coming!

 

Keeping a Balance

What I really wanted to do first thing yesterday morning was to look at the internet and see if the Toddler-in-Chief had used the State of the Union to announce he was bombing Iran--a possibility John and I had discussed might be used as a distraction from those pesky Epstein files. But first I had to let Jenny out. And the sunrise was beautiful so I grabbed a few pictures. And then the cats had to be fed. Finally I checked breaking news on my phone and was happy to see that Iran was safe for the moment.

Moist von Lipwig to the Rescue

                                       

Moist von Lipwig, swindler and con man, is scheduled to hang. But Lord Vetinari has other plans--Lipwig is put in charge of Ankh-Morpork's moribund postal system.  

What ensues is Pratchett at his wildest best. Lipwig is an engaging rascal whose astute knowledge of human (and non-human) nature allows him to win through the most trying situations. Bureaucracy hasn't a chance.

In the second book of what is, alas, only a trilogy, Lipwig is tasked with reviving a failing bank and shoring up an all but non-existent monetary system. He's in charge of the bank--and of its main shareholder who happens to be a lapdog named Mr. Fusspot.

There is a golem called Gladys who is taking hints from ladies'magazines,  several undead, a necromancer, greedy minor shareholders, and Pratchett's usual entertaining citizens of Ankh-Morpork. And there is a lot of truth in all this silliness, astute comments on how money works.

“If you were shipwrecked on a desert island, what would you prefer, a bag of potatoes or a bag of gold?” “Yes, but a desert island isn’t Ankh-Morpork!” “And that proves gold is only valuable because we agree it is, right? It’s just a dream. But a potato is always worth a potato, anywhere. Add a knob of butter and a pinch of salt and you’ve got a meal, anywhere. Bury gold in the ground and you’ll be worrying about thieves forever. Bury a potato and in due season you could be looking at a dividend of a thousand percent.”

Great fun!

                                  

                                          

Dear Sirs

 To my senators 

The SAVE act, if passed, will function as a poll tax on women, the elderly, and the disadvantaged. I urge you to defeat this unneeded law--there has been no credible proof of widespread voter fraud in recent elections.

The women you purport to represent will be watching your vote.

Gone to the Dogs

 

Josie's Zoo Pictures

Claui and Josie went to visit friends in Louisville, Kentucky last week  and while they were there, visited the zoo.  

Josie took a lot of pictures and these were my favorites.

 

Quick and Easy and Almost Vegan

Garbanzos, kale, and tomatoes are the basis of this tasty stew, served over rice or quinoa and topped with sour cream swirled with spicy harissa. 

1 red onion, thinly sliced

3-5 clove garlic, sliced or chopped

Olive oil

1 can garbanzos (14 oz. more or less)

1 can diced tomatoes (also 14 oz.)

2 large handfuls chopped kale

2 tsp. tumeric

Salt to taste

Sour cream (or use a vegan substitute)

Harissa paste (could substitute Gochujang or some other spicy condiment, maybe Chili Crisp?)

Saute the onions in olive oil till beginning to crisp, stir in garlic and cook another minute. 

Dump in the can of undrained garbanzos and the can of tomatoes. Add the tumeric and then the kale. Stir till kale begins to wilt, then cook till the tomatoes begin to break down and form a sauce. Salt to taste.

Serve over rice or quinoa. Top with a liberal dose of Sour cream and harissa.

 

Epsilon Minus

 (This was written some years ago. And here we are today, as the GOP gut environmental protection, education, and health care. But, hey, the DOW is over 50,000.)

I recently re-read Brave New World, Huxley’s dystopian vision of a future in which humanity is managed to produce an optimum number of various classes to fulfill various functions. At the bottom are the Epsilons – capable of little more than serving as an elevator operator but programmed to be happy in that function.

Then this morning, I heard on NPR a snippet of a program. Climate change, it said, is projected to have the effect on the world population of lowering life expectancy and intelligence—children’s brains don’t develop well in conditions like famine and pollution. (See Flint, Michigan.)And it occurred to me that those plutocrats who are pushing the horrific policies of the Republican Party—gutting environmental protections to boost corporate earnings--are playing the long game here, as surely as the managers of Huxley’s future poison the future Epsilons in (artificial) utero to stunt their development.

Safe in their climate-controlled gilded towers, the plutocrats don’t fear the effects of climate change. Their children will always eat well. And if the masses grow slowly weaker and dumber, well, someone has to clean those gilded towers and service those air-conditioners. And Fox News can be relied upon to tell the masses how very happy they are, in this brave new world.

Pretty Pink