Monthly Archives: August 2023

The Rest of the (Second) Story

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Click on photos to enlarge.

When I sent my neighbor David a thank-you for sending me the photos of Coco and Zoe on the roof—naughty kids—because their mom and Yolanda forgot to shut the gate up the stairs, he shot back this answer, which I didn’t receive until this morning:

“HECK, WAIT!  There’s more. . . . and then there’s Morrie! With some prodding, he got the nerve, too . . .  and joined the rooftop party!

Above are the photos I had missed last night as they hadn’t yet downloaded. If you missed yesterday’s post, HERE are the photos of Coco and Zoe he’d sent.

 

Tabachine: FOTD Aug 6, 2023

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After not blooming for months, the tabachine bush just burst into bloom. I guess it was waiting for the rain.

For Cee’s FOTD

Leaf Fall, Snow Fall––For Wordle 615

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Leaf Fall, Snow Fall

Voracious winds split open to spill their crumbled spoils,
unfurling leaf confetti in airborne swirls and coils.
They empty them on lawn and deck, a sign of  what is coming
when winter drops its glittering load—beautiful and numbing.
I do not fear chill prospects, for I’ll be warm and snug
as my house wraps arms around me in its protective hug.

 

For the Sunday Whirl 615 the prompts are: grim glittering crumble empties confetti voracious unfurls wind split mind sign deck

Up on the Rooftop

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Click on photos to enlarge.

Yesterday I had a “Collectors of Mexican Folk Art” group visit my house and forgot to close the gate to the upstairs casita after they left. Today while I was in Ajijic, I received the first three photos above from my next door neighbor. Guess Zoe and Coco wanted to go up and meet Frida.  For those of you who don’t know, Frida (who died a few years ago) used to spend most of her time up on my dome over my bedroom surveying the surrounding scene. That is her you see in the final photo, taken by me years ago. Since my house is on the side of a mountain, she could see for miles, all the way down to the lake and up to the top of the mountains. She loved to see the action of everyone who passed. 

When she died, I put her ashes into this statue of a dog who looked like her and was about her size and cemented it to the top of my dome.  It is accessible by a stairway up the side of my house which leads to the terrace outside the casita. Frida would jump up on the ledge and scurry up onto the dome–a trick she learned from the cats when she was an only-puppy and thought she was a cat. Once when I was at another neighbors, I saw Morrie up there with Zoe and Coco, who never met Frida in the Flesh. They evidently learned the way and at the next opportunity, visited her by themselves. As you can see by the second to the final photo that shows the statue of Frida minus her guests, it is a long way up to the top of the dome!

 

First three photos were taken yesterday by David Bershad. Thanks, David. Last two photos are earlier shots taken by me.

A Curious Happening

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A Curious Happening

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This is a reprint of something that happened eight years ago, and I swear it is true.  I came in, tossed some change down on the desk and opened my computer.  After working for a few minutes, I looked down and this is what I saw.  Luckily my camera was handy just a few steps away.  What are the chances that the coin would balance itself on edge like this???? Curious, I tried at least a dozen times to balance a coint on its edge and couldn’t balance it.  Finally, I decided my friendly desk poltergeists must have had a hand in it.

Then, the next day, I’d  been at my desk for about an hour, off and on, running to the kitchen, doing little things around the house, and when I finally sat down to type, I happened to glance at my desk and this is what I saw:

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There had been no one else in the house.  I don’t know what happened to the larger ten peso piece from the day before, but I do know I was clicking the flashlight off and on last night.  I did not, however, place this smaller coin next to it or upright!.

To test out a theory, I just now lifted up the flashlight and knocked the coin over, then put the flashlight next to it, thinking perhaps one or the other had been magnetized, but the coin stayed in place flat on the desk and did not rise to the occasion. Then I tried placing the coin on edge several times, to no avail.When I sat the coin on edge propped up against the flashlight and moved the flashlight, however, the coin stayed on its edge. When I tried tossing it on the desk or dropping it, never once has it landed on its edge.  Very very strange. I know it is just a coincidence, but I’m curious about how I could have moved the coins without being aware of it and it is a huge coincidence that the small coin should wind up on edge twice in a row when in 68 years of life, I’ve never had this happen before.

Daily Prompt #18: What Are You Curious About?

Ghost Hibiscus: For FOTD, Aug 5, 2023

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This hibiscus doesn’t bloom nearly as often as the others, perhaps because Zoe eats them? At any rate, it is a real treat when it does bloom. Presently, two flowers. They’ll be gone by tomorrow so wanted to share them.

For Cee’s FOTD

Alone

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Why I Dine Alone at Burger King

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Why I Dine Alone at Burger King

I’d like a single cheeseburger with pickles on the side,
cheese but no tomato—a fruit I can’t abide.
Be sure there is no pink to see. I like my burgers brown.
You can also skip the cardboard hat. I do not need a crown.

Grilled onions on the cheeseburger and easy on the goo.
Give me a diet Coke with that. I’d like some French fries, too.
I sit down at a booth to wait, my number on the table,
but if I could, I’d supervise—that is, if I were able.

My sandwich comes. I have a bite. I see no pink or red.
I start to take a drink of Coke but have a fry instead.
It’s hot and oh so crispy. Redolent of grease.
I feel a surge of appetite. My hunger pangs increase.

I alternate the bites I take between the fries and meat.
As regular as clockwork. I do not miss a beat.
For when it comes to fast food, I do not equivocate.
My ratio of fries-to-burger I must calibrate.

I plan it down to the last fry. I don’t allow for glitches,
and woe to folks who borrow one. I do not abide snitches.
If you want a French fry, please buy some of your own.
I have plans for all of mine. I am not sharing-prone.

With one more bite of burger and only two more fries,
the ratio is one-to-two. I plan to synchronize.
I have it all planned out, my friend, so if you’re chancing by,
keep your fingers off my French fries, or somebody’s gonna die!

For: https://alwayswrite.blog/2023/08/02/wq-31-alone/
And HERE is a link to other poems and quotes on this subject.

Number 9 Blues

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Number 9 Blues

Those eyes,
that song,
A bird the color
of the moon
we met under.

The wind
a ribbon of sadness.
Cold hands,
broken heart—
all the hue
of a trumpet’s lonely staccato.

For Stream of Consciousness Saturday: Pick a Number.

Agave Blossom Studies: FOTD Aug 4, 2023

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Hummingbirds love these blooms, as do I. There is a huge aloe just outside the window where my desk is located and I love watching new ones open each day and the visits of various hummers to sample them. Do you have a favorite? I culled out about half of the shots I took but couldn’t cull farther. Nor could I pick a star of the show.

For Cee’s FOTD

Silhouettes of Trees

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Can’t stop posting photos of trees!  Someone stop me, please.

For CBWC: Silhouettes