Boy am I tired. . .

I have no picture to post today, because I've been painting and moving furniture for two evenings.  My husband and I got the hair brained idea last night about 7:15 to start painting the computer room, which has needed it for several years.  That meant we had to move all the flowers, nick nacks, the computer and all the furniture out of the room.  We painted last night and tonight we put all the stuff back, got the computer hooked up and now I'm ready to soak in a hot bath. 

See, More Lilies

Photo by Chris Duffy . . . . . click on picture, then the F11 key, to see a larger image.

See, I knew I'd have a bunch of lilies.  I could tell this morning that quite a few new ones were going to open up, but I had to wait for the sun to do it's thing.  This is what I found tonight after work. 

Just you wait . . .
Photo by Chris Duffy . . . . . click on picture, then the F11 key, to see a larger image.

Well, I really thought that I'd have more than just 5 blooms today.  I was bragging to my sister Alice that yesterday I had 4 blooms and 21 buds and that by today I'd really have a bunch of lilies to share, but alas I only got one additional bloom.  It was cool here today and kind of overcast, so I guess I was really lucky to get even one more bloom.   But believe me, when the sun does decide to come out I'm going to have a lot of lilies.

Oxalis

Photo by Chris Duffy . . . click on picture then the F11 key to see a larger image.

I have two little patches of Oxalis in my garden that fight to keep their territory.  I love the pale lavender blooms and the rich purple leaves which are shaped like large clover leaves.  This year they are nearly overrun by the sedum that I started 4 years ago.  It gets thicker and spreads out a little farther each year. 

This Bud's For You

Photo and Enhancement by Chris Duffy . . . click on picture, then the F11 key to see a larger image.

I love rose buds.  I wish they could REMAIN as buds instead of opening up all the way, just like I wish puppies could stay puppies instead of growing up to be dogs.  This bush is in my back yard and I'm constantly amazed at the abuse it takes and still it produces beautiful roses.  We've moved it several times in the landscaping scheme and it never seems to mind.   

Paint Shop Pro - TIP

Did you know that when you're in Paint Shop Pro and want to use the Clone tool, you are not limited to using it in just one picture?  No indeed.  Try opening up two pictures and make them small enough so that you can see both on the screen at the same time.  Now RIGHT CLICK in one of the pictures and then move your cursor over to the other picture and use the LEFT Clicker to copy from the first picture over to the second picture.   Cool huh?

Look What I Came Home to Tonight !

Photo by Chris Duffy . . . click on picture (then F11) to see larger image. . . of course I don't know why you'd want to do that. 

I went out to get the mail and low and behold, part of my sidewalk was missing, a third of the street was missing, and there was this big pile of pipes in my yard.  This is the FOURTH time our street has been torn up since we've lived in this house.    GRRRRRRRRRR.   But at least this time they're not doing it piece meal.  They have the entire length of the street torn up rather than just "hot spots".  I guess they figure it's better to redo the whole street rather than coming out every six months or so and fixing another break.   Last year they redid a whole street three blocks North of us, and if I remember correctly it took them about 5 or 6 weeks.  I hate to think of our street being torn up that long.  There will be DUST, DUST and more DUST.  Oh, well, it's not like I can do anything about it.    

Anybody Want to Be Famous?

Have you ever wished that you were really famous?  Like a movie star or a famous writer or an exceptional athlete?   On the surface it would seem like a wonderful thing . . . having people instantly recognize you, know your name, wanting your autograph, wanting to be seen with you, wanting to touch you.  You'd get special priviledges; you wouldn't have to stand in lines like normal people, waiters would seat you immediately.  But I think the "rich and famous" pay far too high a price for that fame. 

Imagine not being able to go ANYWHERE and just be yourself.  You'd always have to be "on display", looking the part, minding your P's and Q's.  You couldn't go on a picnic with your family without people staring.  You could never have a disagreement with your spouse without it showing up in the tabloids.  You couldn't ride on an airplane without people asking for your autograph.  You couldn't run to the grocery store for a gallon of milk if you were having a bad hair day.  It would be like living in a cage at the zoo, with no freedom. 

Everything you said would be quoted somewhere, whether or not you'd had a chance to think through your comments.  You'd be misquoted as well.  And you'd be a target.  A target for con men, beggars, charities.  You'd never know whether people liked you because of who you are deep inside or because you're famous. 

Nope!  I wouldn't want to be famous at all.  I like my life the way it is, thank you very much. 

Pretty as a Daisy

Photo and Enhancement by Chris Duffy . . . . . click on picture, then F11 Key to see larger image.

I came across this small patch of daisies on my walk at 7:00 this morning.  It was part of someone's side yard with no fence and they'd obviously gone to some trouble to mow around the stand of daisies.  I'm wondering if anybody saw me as I laid down in the grass to get a view through the flowers rather than from above them. 

Cracked Pot

Photo and enhancement by Chris Duffy . . . . . click on picture, then F11 key to see larger image.

We have several clay and ceramic pots in our back yard.  Some make it thru the winter months and others don't.  This clay pot is chipped and has definitely seen better days, but for some reason it's still hanging in there.  I gave it red dianthus flowers this year.  I thought it deserved a splash of color for it's last hurrah.