We Parked the Car in the Lot

And that's when I noticed Mr. Rosenberg and I both stopping to take pictures of the sky. Who can blame us?

The Lookout

At his post. Don't even whisper the world squirrel.

A Scene From Spring Training

White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito signing cards.

His Profile

Those ears though.

The Cart

My goal is to be as nutritionally virtuous as my cart would have one believe.

Smacksy Sunday Links

The roof of Mr. Rosenberg's car.

Stop wearing these things.

Lessons from ancient philosophers.

Grocery store etiquette.

The world of Kay Nielsen.

Breathtaking landscape photographs.

And sleeping giraffes.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo That's Actually a Video: This Morning Came Early

Waking up.

Highway

We got up obscenely early in the morning to drive to Arizona. We were spending four days at MLB Spring Training and we wanted to get a jump on our six hour drive. Somewhere around our second hour, the sun started rising in the desert. Purple and yellow wildflowers were hugging the highway. Bob was asleep in the backseat. Mr. Rosenberg was making me laugh with an improvised Huell Howser-style bit about highway safety.

As we sped along, I looked out my window at the mountains, the desert, the light. I thought about how I'd made some bad choices in my life and also some excellent ones and all of them had led me to this one lovely moment.

Another Scene From the 65 Pound Lap Dog

Hi.

Guys

"Mom, the guys and I are just going to hang out with the ducks."

Fox Face

At this particular cabin, there are three couches, six beds, and two dog beds. Teddy has slept on all of these available surfaces and made up some new ones.

Pals

Good lookin' out.

Smacksy Sunday Links

Take more time for yourself.

Fake excuses for flaking on plans written as movie synopses.

Avoiding flu and cold germs while flying.

Out of this world places to sleep.

How the heart became the symbol of love.

And woodpeckers.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo That's Really a Video: Relax Whenever You Get a Chance

Update from the woods.

Up at the Lake

We're here in the woods for a few days. This place casts a magic spell where all I want to do is hang out and eat snacks. A perfect long weekend.

A Loud One

When you're trying to sleep and someone has a bone. 

Not a Belly Itcher

A little evening pitching practice. 

He Sleeps Standing Up

A 65 pound lap dog. My favorite kind.

Hide and Seek

Look who I found hanging out in a shrub. Mr. Sweets. 

Smacksy Sunday Links

Making time.

Science tells us, getting lost in a book is good for you.

Stopping time by sitting in a forest.

In praise of walking. 

Most of your stuff is worthless.

Fore-edged book paintings.

And a little octopus finding a new home.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo That's Actually a Video: An Old Favorite

Like it was yesterday. 

My Assistant

No matter what he tells you otherwise, rest assured he does none of the heavy lifting around here.

April 27, 1944

April 27, 1944
England

Hello Puss,
Right now I am living in the middle of town in a school. Have a rather nice office with even a radio extension. Have been through Liverpool and Manchester and they are both quite big places. Have seen quite a bit of the destruction wrought upon them from time to time. Even though they hastily clear out the places that are destroyed it leaves a scar. Cities are dotted with empty places where there should be homes and shops. Parts of these places still stand.

You know most everything in the building line is made of brick or stone. Sidewalks and even streets are made of stones. The doorsteps in the various homes up town here are made of one large stone that is washed and scrubbed every morning by the wife and believe me they get down on their hands and knees and scrub clear to the street. The stones are often worn in the middle from much use. Some of the houses and buildings are close to 200 years old and look as good as the day they were built.

Long about the 10th of May you will celebrate another day, Puss. Over here they have never heard of Mother's Day, consequently they have no cards or such. Though of you and Mother Dowell and Mother Zimmerman and I do hope they know that it isn't just the one day that I thik of them - it's every day.

Rather glad to hear that you are starting to work if you want to work. I know it will pass the time quicker. Hope it works out all right though.
I love you Puss,
Lee

Oh, Moon

You know I can't resist you. 

The Seventh Grade Thank You Note

Last week I helped chaperone a seventh grade field trip to the zoo. This thank you note I received is my favorite.

Another Thing I Made

The latest.

Smacksy Sunday Links

How to solve for enough.

Finding your best health.

Shifting the distraction habit.

Mismatched silver spoons and the meaning of home.

This Victorian mansion is for sale. And all that gorgeous wallpaper.

Pet quirks.

And tapirs are cool.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Throws

Replaced the throw pillows that the dogs had not snacked on, but definitely enjoyed moving around the house. This will happen again but I just wanted evidence that we tried. They'll get broken in quickly, but here's a nice before photo.

Please

When you walk anywhere near the dog cookie jar, this happens.

Levi is Chill

"What's Levi looking at? What's he doing, Bob?"

"He's vibing."

The Wednesday Night Sunset

A view of the watercolor sky from our front door.

The Lemon Tree Update

Here's The Lemon Tree Update you have all been (silently) asking for. The little lemon tree we planted two years ago produced this one, big gorgeous lemon. Baby steps.