Arthur Who?

My Texas cousin, about whom I have reported at other times, keeps asking who the Arthur is I mention in emails to him. It'd be Arthur, IL., duh. We went there on a free day - free in the sense that we ignored any personal chores, had no outside obligations, and decide to take advantage of what we thought was to be a rainy day and meant no yardwork.

It was a gift. The weather was perfect.
We lingered. We strolled. We observed. We drove. There was nothing spectacular about what we did yet just doing it and using our senses made the day spectacular.

There was time to go to Sullivan, a community near Arthur, famous for Little Theater on the Square. Only one "star" name was recognized - Dick Van Patten's. So much for fame and fortune foundations in central Illinois.

But, speaking of theater and foundations, we ate at Jibby's (owned by the apparently famous "Trading Spaces" host, Doug Wilson). I had to Google him to get info on him; I like his hair, thus the photo. Ed fans be aware - I'm encouraging him to let his hair grow like this. So far so good, just not curly.
Note the decor. They've made the place over temporarily, to promote "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" at the theater. For those of you who burned all you had back in the 60's, those are bras.
Can I write "whorehouse" on a blog? Yes, but, will there be questionable visitors if I put that word in as a label? We'll see.




This one's titled "Butt Wait There's Mower" ... as in I have to go use the mower and will ride to blog again!

Portland Show July 17-18 2009

What's been happening to Jo, Kevin and Janet

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http://teambeagletravel.blogspot.com/

Bits 'N Pieces of Gratitude

A flower garden asks little and offers much. Some water which is given to us. Weeds pulled if you are inclined. Sunlight which we can't provide. Space, decent dirt, and maybe compost if you have it.

Clearly coneflowers attract.
The outcome is always the same.

Miraculous.
Amazing.

Dramatic.

We all have wings.

















Then there are those who are on their way to garden pleasures and stop by the blue tarp folding area. These critters - what we call the circuit beetle and longlegger - re-defined the tarp's use, making it a rest stop. They moved on after the photo session.




















From a distance, and thanks to a yip from one of the dogs, I saw and captured our fawns. Mom was close at hand. Silence was called for because no words were needed.

How's the View?

Laws are tightening up about talking and twitter and messaging while driving. We can't drink. It's not good to eat a meal. Changing clothes is, well, do-able, unadvisable. Where does taking photos fall? No one has passed a law or even brought it up to the radio talk show hosts.

I'll keep on snappin'. Once in awhile I follow an interesting rear. Here's one. A farmer with a sense of humor, driving crop to the Thursday night Farmers' Market at the fairgrounds no doubt.
Look at the bell pepper box! Hot Darn! Or as they probably say at their home, "El's Bells, Maw, close the barn door before the horse gets out."

You know, one of the things we rarely address is how our car looks from behind. And yet, think about the number of people who see that and get to know you, just a little. Perhaps it is a sensitive issue to some of you. It can be touchy. Just the other day husband told me my tail pipe seemed a bit loose and before I was too enraged I figured out he meant on my car. :-)

A Heart for Nature

WESLEY THE OWL is a true story about a girl-to-woman and her rescued barn owl. It has been raved about in many circles, probably more by biologists than us regular folks. One catch phrase stood out after I closed the book. It was the author's identification of "nature deficit disorder". So many people do have it.
We joke about city kids not knowing the real size of a cow or pig or horse. But how many of us these days really hear the songbirds? How many of us know a vole from a mole? How many of us understand we are often the reason for endangered species being endangered, not evolution? How many of us don't accept responsibility for too many domesticated animals and reptiles not being wanted?

Just wanted you to see the perfection in nature. We can draw hearts freehand and we can use graphic programs to create them. Nothing compares to one found in nature. Next time you sense you have a deficit, that your system needs something, think of the heart-shaped nose on this kitty and go out and enjoy nature at its best.

oooouuuuu - ick

There they were, embedded in the morning offering provided by one of the dogs, tapeworm segments. Thank goodness for baggies and latex gloves. The sample was collected and taken in so medication could be issued for the foster dog.

Since the poor girl had heartworm treatments yesterday and today the tapeworm medicaion had to wait until tomorrow to start.

Then I noticed, hmmm, everyone seems to have tapeworm. Whoops.

My a-ha moment arrived. I realized that what I was seeing is sesame seeds, undigested. Yes, I'd given them sesame seed sticks as extra special treats. What goes in does come out.

I confessed to all who knew of my earlier diagnosis, and I returned the meds.

We are worm free. Pause to love!