This is my loot acquired at the local plant place in San Juan Cosala the other day. It’s already planted! My yard is looking cheerier every day.
Zinnias, Gerberas, Dusty Miller and Immortal (Straw) Flowers
For Cee’s FOTD
I’ve been saying for some time that it isn’t enough to rail against the conditions in the concentration camps currently being filled with those seeking asylum in the U.S. We need to propose some solutions. Today I received a communication that offers solutions–or at least ways in which we can support those attempting to institute measures to end the atrocities in these camps. Here is a link to view what is happening in the camps–many of them run by a big-time contributor to Trump and several senators as well as a list of things you can do to help.
Some excerpts from the link above:
But why are these camps any different from the detention centers we’ve been hearing about for the last year? Elizabeth C. McLaughlin explains why:
“These concentration camps (let’s call them what they are) will be under the control of the Department of Homeland Security, but within the Department of Defense. Unlike ICE facilities, which allow site inspectors inside, there will be no inspection of military-run camps.
The military will be able to deny access to anyone it chooses. No media. No oversight. Lawyers will not be allowed in. Human rights monitors will not be allowed in. The camps will also be protected airspace, meaning that no drones can fly over them to take pictures of what’s going on inside. The Trump administration will be able to conduct itself in whatever way it wants to without anyone knowing what’s going on inside.”
photo by Tim Mossholder, courtesy of Unsplash, with permission.
Ephemera
In the ballpark of the universe, there is no referee.
Chaos theory is the rule book. As sure as we may be
that we have followed all the rules, there is no guarantee
that fame won’t be ephemeral even though we’ve won the game.
On the scoreboard of the universe is no eternal fame.
However much the hero, however bright the flame,
In the end, we’re similar—just another name
lost within the cosmos. Another exploding star
that once thought that history would record who we are.
Road Rage
Every time I lose control, I have cause to regret it.
I only hope that friend and foe in time will just forget it.
I try to hold myself in check before I go too far.
The only time this does not work is when I’m in a car!
I rave and rant at thoughtlessness. Bad drivers I revile.
I simply must use tongue and fist to communicate my bile.
I wish I had more self-control, that my response was blander,
but somehow selfish drivers just tend to up my dander!
I have an early appointment tomorrow so need to do my post early. The only prompt ready is Your Daily Word, so it is a single prompt today. The prompt word today is control.
For Cee’s FOTD
Teenage Fashionista
She layers on her makeup, gussies up her hair,
then faces indecision over what she is to wear.
It is an epic battle, trying to decide
inside which current fashion her body will reside.
She asks no one’s opinion. She’d rather try and pile
garment after garment, not quite today’s best style,
on bed and chair and carpet, in crumpled little heaps
until she finds the outfit that she will wear for keeps.
There is no dearth of choices of every hue and kind,
which makes it even harder—this making up her mind.
Crop tops, skirts or Levis ripped in the right places
are surveyed in the mirror as she strides off her paces.
Lip poochings and selfies help to make the choice.
When she finally picks her costume, all of us rejoice.
Into the car and speeding to get to school by nine,
both of the kids delivered, back home I guzzle wine.
Raising a fashionista is something short of fun.
I swear I won’t go shopping with the younger one.
I’ll build her fascination with reptiles or bugs,
go hunting in swamp waters for snakes or frogs or slugs.
I won’t encourage fashion sense or darling little dresses.
I’ve had enough of posturing and daily costume messes.
Making mistakes in parenting is not part of the fun,
and for sure the next time, I’ll make a different one.
Prompt words today are help, dearth, epic and indecision.
What We Must Do
I take an inventory of my heart.
There is nurture there,
and some peace,
but when I think about
the jealous nature of our world,
a bit of it nestled, I must admit,
in me as well,
I worry about the heart of all of us,
for surely the hate and greed that jealousy seeds
is somehow fostered by us all,
no matter how much we protest it.
Where has putting up with this greed brought us?
Children are taken from their parents
and kept in cages in our country.
What can we do save protesting on Facebook?
Are we willing to face the guns
of those whose salaries we pay
to risk saving the children ourselves?
Weak children of our century,
we have to brandish our voting pens like swords.
They are our weapons.
Our agents for nourishing our souls.
The prompts for today are peace, inventory, nurture and jealous.
It took an incredible amount of research for Bob to find the name of this flower, but by Jove, I think he did it. Plaudits to LWBUT’s Flower Identification Service!!!!
For Cee’s FOTD Challenge.
Here is a better shot of more of the plant… for Bob!
