Dogs and Things

Today, a number of topics, only one of them icky. Enjoy!

Smacksy Sunday Links

The heartbreaking effects of being only partway committed to things.

On input overload.

8 movies that are better than their books.

Give a bagel as a party favor.

An abandoned overgrown estate in Paris.

And polar bear cubs.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Stillness

The view from a friend's new house. Swoon.

Where'd He Go?

Couldn't find Ted this morning. Oh. Hello.

April 23, 1944

April 23, 1944
England

Hello Darling Puss,

Really feeling tops and I do mean tops - received some letters from you. Thanks for Dorothy's (Lee's sister) address. I guess you know she sent a box of candy and a cigarette lighter. The candy was good - salt water taffy but it won't out do the chocolate. If you can get a hold of some that will fit into a cigar box, send some to me, will you?

I am terrible at remembering dates and anniversaries as a rule, but there are a few that stick in my mind and of course one of those is meeting you. Seems like we never do get to celebrate it like we want to but still it is something I shall always remember. Look what it brought to me. A lifetime of of happiness and joy to make my life complete. I love you very much Puss, with all of me.

Received several pictures of mother and the house and even one of the table set for when they were expecting me for dinner one time. They were good to see and I look at them quite often. And then the picture of you and Sandra came and I'm telling you my Sugar Puss, it's a good thing there are many miles of water between here and the states for it burns deep to come back. Gee, if I could take a plane back all the way it wouldn't get me there quick enough - what am I going to do? Have to keep going most of the time so I won't think too much about it. When I go for a walk in the evenings it helps quite a bit but I'm just looking around for things to tell you.

Puss I love you deeply,
Me

The Bulb

Mr. Rosenberg was given an amaryllis bulb kit from a coworker at the holidays. I finally unboxed it last week. Following the directions on the lid, I soaked the small, compact soil ring and the bulb in lukewarm water for an hour. After an hour, the ring had swollen to fill the white pot. I buried the bulb from the shoulders up, set it on the kitchen table and I waited.

Three days later the rough brown tip of the bulb still looked the same. I thought I had missed a step in the directions. Maybe the bulb itself was a dud.

On the morning of the fourth day I woke up to find the smallest sliver of green pushed out of the top of the bulb. Each successive day since then, more green has shown itself. Sometimes I will walk by to the laundry room and on the way back it will look to have grown again. It probably has.

As I work on a current project that seems massive and unwieldy, I sit at the computer, the bulb in front of me. I look up at it and remember we do big work piece by piece, bit by bit. That under a rough surface, is the possibility of a glorious red flower. It could be a show-stopper.

The Thing I Made Today

It's a thing.

How's Your Cold and Flu Season Going?

An update and another update with an adjoining story.

Smacksy Sunday Links

You can absolutely tackle the big things you've been avoiding.

Baths are the coffee of the evening.

Lit Hub's most anticipated books of 2020.

Africa's Roman ghost city.

The first Native American US Poet Laureate. 

And tiny kittens in a cup.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: January

Raindrops and Sun

April 15, 1944

April 15, 1944
England

Hello Puss,
You won't hear Sweet Slumber over the radio I don't think for it is not too popular - I just heard it over the PA system on the boat coming over here. They might have a record of it at the music store.

Had some British candy a few days ago and saved the wrapper to send along with a farthing. The farthing is somewhat rare, at least it is rarely used. Worth about half of a cent and make excellent poker chips. Plan to do a bit of going in the country today for it is such a nice day. In the spring, in Oklahoma, I used to go out on Saturday early in the morning and soak up the sun for about three hours. This is one of those kinds of days.

Tell mother and dad hello for me and give Sandra a hug. And Puss, to you all my love with kisses and a bear hug.
Lee

Close

Ted has a relationship going with this throw pillow. I think they're in love.

Two Days a Week

When it's too cold to watch practice, I sit in the car. This is my glamorous view.

The Best Kind of Sunset

Play ball.

Good Morning

Did I pose him like this? No, no I did not.

Smacksy Sunday Links

Leave your headphones at home.

Kaikebo: The Japanese art of saving money.

How to help victims of Australia's wildfires.

Some items you can probably go without - a series.

Choices that can change your life.

Oh my gosh this apartment.

The alphabet found on the wing patterns of butterflies.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo That's Actually a Video: Books

What I'm reading next. Also, I'm a book hoarder. 

April 14, 1944

My grandmother, Melva. AKA Sugar Puss

Hello Puss,

I haven't been to London yet but I've visited several places of interest. One of these places was the moors. You have heard of them quite often I know for they have always said that they were so beautiful. They didn't exaggerate any either. The heather which is grass that grows on the moors is very thick and when you walk on it you think it is nothing more than a carpet with a nap of about four inches. The ground is almost always wet so it isn't so nice but to look and walk on it is something. All the fences here are stone and when you look at a mountainside you see green fields cut by brown lines which are the fences. Only a few places where there are forests do you ever see any underbrush of any kind. But I miss the sun not shining most every day and it is so damp here. Too I miss the wood houses and steel skyscrapers for everything here is made of stone and only two or three stories high. Nothing tall as in the states. But most of all I miss you.

Love ya heaps,

Lee

Cement Canvas

The wind arranged these perfectly.

Paws

He was determined to be in the shot of my new black flats. My feet are basic. His are special.

The Thing I Made

Today

Getting Organized

I'm a mess, folks.

Smacksy Sunday Links

Living a lighter life. 

The Kaizen method applied.

Things to write in your new calendar.

Stephen Colbert tells the story of when he knew his wife was the one.

Best fifty photographs from around the world 2019.

And dancing flamingos.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Driving Attire

If you thought you saw me driving through the bank and picking up Bob while wearing my new pajamas, you would be correct. Hello 2020. This is how it is now.

Calendar

The new family calendar. I found one with lined boxes. Lined boxes! Finally! Life changing in a why- did-I never-look-for-this-before? kind of way.

Looking Out

I do miss the tree, but it's nice to have the window back.

Taking Down the Tree

I got out the hot glue gun to repair one of my very favorite ornaments. 

Thursday

A little chat for your Thursday.