Memorial Day Weekend

Yeah...so this week has been an awful lot like this...and I'm fairly sure the water buffalo is going to violate my pet agreement.

Rain...rain and more rain!

Between which, I did manage to get part of my patio garden in.

Still thinking rice paddies might have been the way to go.

It is nice to get it started.

This year I've learned that apparently catnip is eternal.

Left a potful to go to seed last year...and came out to this!
Sofi will be thrilled.

"Did somebody say CATNIP?" -Sofi


The Compost Box has worked its magic and I have 30 gallons of dark black rich soil to work with.

My badly weathered bushel basket will be joining the Compost this Fall so using it for Pontiac Red new potatoes this gardening season. Maybe some Sweet Potatoes.

Both clumps of Purple Flag Irises are now in full bloom.

And I have the beginnings of beans, green onions, leaf lettuce, flat Italian parsley, sweet basil, Greek oregano, and Roma Tomatoes potted.

  

Lost my Amethyst Falls Wisteria over the winter. Obviously, not as hearty as the Chinese Wisteria. Saved the bundle of dead twigs and the pot and am using them as a support for my two Romas.

The Climbing Rose, John and I, planted over Shelby's grave is doing well- and will work its way up the arbor and bloom pinkly this Summer.

The lawn crew has been out twice already and the back common-ground is manicured and beautiful.

(...did I ever say how wonderful it was to know I never ever ever ever have to worry about yard maintenance ever again???)

Love my Den.

Picking Mark's (One of Bill's College Roommates) brain as this is the first year he is experimenting with hydroponics in (he and Sheri's) Florida vegetable garden.  The whole operation looks promising and I could certainly appreciate the additional vertical space to plant.

Baked the first Spring Quiche of the Year with mushrooms and asparagus.

Rejoined humanity this week as well...after a couple weeks of self-imposed hermit-ing. 

I'd love to say I got some mystical, fantastic insight from 14 days of reflection...but really I just pretty much ate, slept, read and caught up from the previous 6 weeks of non-stop chaos.

Brunched with both Diane and Brenda individually...did some sorely needed shopping (...out of everything...), paid bills & got caught up with what was happening in the world.

Saw both Chris and James (and Kaylee), as well.

Kaylee is now living with James!

A lot has happened on the outside, too.

Tina's hens have started laying!

Diane and Sal are grandparent's again...and Brooke has a baby sister, Jade.

Emma Gene has graduated from pre-school!

(pictured with her favorite Aunt Tina, and Uncle Chris)

James has taught Brenden how to split wood...and he loves it...doing it like a boss.
Parenting, you're doing it right!

And the puppies eyes are open now. And they are growling.

and the male is ginormous at only 3 weeks old.

There have been sad moments, too.

Loretta's brother (Art)...who appeared to be rallying and getting stronger died of pneumonia.
Her grandson was thankfully able to get her to the Memorial Service.

Ivan (Angie's Husband) lost his brother this morning after a bad motorcycle accident last night.

And Texas has been pummeled with bad storms this week.

Check out the SIZE of this hail-

Not quite baseball, but very close.

Thinking if one of these caught you in the head it could knock you out.

This Week's Book 

This is one of those "Got to Buy and Add This to the Personal Library" books.

In fact, after finishing it, I realized that something I want to add to my Life List is to create a small library (shelf) of books that have had profound influence on my life. And pretty sure this is one of them.

As someone who has always struggled with procrastination throughout life...this book will give you the kick in the seat you (I) need.

This Week's Movie 

This live action remake of the 1992 classic is simply amazing!

Will Smith pulls off the big blue guy flawlessly.

Songs and dialogue remain fairly faithful to the original.

The storyline diverges near the end and Jasmine becomes the New Shah...a very empowering moment for girls.  But otherwise it is the same Aladdin...just with real people, monkey and jaw-dropping CGI.

Now I want to do a rewatch of Robin William's version from 1992.

And POLITICS...

Because by now we are all saying

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK???

Where subpoenas have now been issued for several main GOP characters...and those receiving them have declined to show up.

How does THAT work?

And why is that okay...no matter if you are Republican or Democrat?

I'm thinking some arrests are in order.

And Trump says he is "the most transparent president ever".

Can we see your tax returns?

No.

 Can we see the Complete Mueller Report?

No.

Can we talk to Bob Mueller.

 No.

Can we see inside the migrate holding camps at the border.

 Hell no.

Righty, then...

Since Trump was refused his parade...he is now hijacking the 4th of July Celebration...and acting like it is something NEW and DIFFERENT.

"It will be HUGE...Fireworks and everything!!!"

Really?

(...who would have thought...fireworks on the 4th of July...)

SMH.

To be honest, I am not so angry at him, anymore.

He is really rather sad and pathetic.

Obviously a deeply scarred/pathological/disturbed individual.

I am furious with Congress for abdicating their responsibility to us....to do their damned jobs and get on with Impeachment and Removal...nearly 2 1/2 years too late.

 Sigh.

Just watching the show.

Upside Devin Nune's Cow friended me on Twitter.
My twitter-verse life is complete...lol!

Looking forward to HBO's crew and cast wrap at 9 PM Sunday of Game of Thrones.

So is one of my favorite political humor writers...Will Durst!

Have a Great Memorial Day Weekend!

More Anon...

The Season Finale: GOT

So...yeah...it is kind of like this.

Up too late...Up too early...still caffeinating.

Enjoying some of the memes and early morning banter.

Not particularly enjoying some of the whinging.

First for the complainers:

1. They are NOT going to REMAKE Season 8...no matter how many signatures you get on your petition...so get over it and sod off.

2. If you have issues with Season 8, perhaps it would be best to save your endless moaning and complaints for GRRM for NOT completing the books in a timely manner...instead of slagging the writers for attempting to complete the series without the books...and in our lifetime.

Now for the rest of us...

Yeah...who saw that coming?

(...I mean besides Bran...)

I got my hopes up when Tyrion did indeed go through the rubble and find his dead brother...for a few moments I thought he was actually going to find Cersei  barely alive...and finish her.

Fulfilling the prophecy and giving us a bit more satisfaction from Cersei's death.

It was not to be.

The scene as it was shot was touching, though...and gave us another

"...I'm not crying...you're crying."

moment.

The Unsullied and Remaining Dothraki were a chilling sight reminding me of Nazi Germany formation and devotion in the destroyed courtyard.

But this was the best visual of all.

Dany topping the steps as Drogon (behind her) takes flight. As we try to take in the transformation that Absolute Power has given her...and not in a good way.

Tyrion already seized and sentenced to die for treason...held elsewhere.

Jon attempting to give orders to one of the Unsullied not to kill the captive prisoners and being told that they ONLY take orders from the queen...and the Unsullied slitting the prisoners throats.

And through all of this...all of what Jon has seen...the burning of innocents...the impending execution of Tyrion...everything...when Jon visits Tyrion in his cell/room all he seems to be stuck on is

"She is my Queen

with no plans of disposing of her...until Tyrion reminds him about his sisters.

"Do you think they will bend the knee?"

(...and we saw a few Seasons back how she dealt with the Tarly's not bending the knee...)

So he seeks her out. To try and reason with her.

Yeah...good luck with all that.

She is full blow "I'm going to save the world...even if we have to burn women, old people, children and villages...ya gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette..."

And YOU can be by my side.

And for a moment you think our boy is going to turn to the dark side...as he sweeps her into a long passionate gentle kiss and murmurs

"You will always be my Queen."

And then plunges the dagger into her heart.

(...Did NOT See THAT Coming...)

Sadder still when Drogon comes forward and tries to rouse his "Mother" with his snout...to no avail.

And I'm thinking at this point...Jon is one fiery breath from becoming a toasted tidbit.

Very nice when Drogon completely melts the iron throne into an oozing mass.

Which gave rise to some of the best memes this morning...

LMAO!

One even had Chris Christie in his beach chair.

And Jon is more brooding and conflicted than ever.

If that is even possible.

Drogon assists in removing the corpse by picking it up in huge talons and flying away.

Somehow...and this is not made clear...the Unsullied find out and imprison Jon to await execution with Tyrion.

(...this requires a huge suspension of disbelief as the Unsullied would have ended them both immediately...)

But...we head back to the Dragon Pit where EVERYONE we haven't seen for SEASONS is waiting...

And the council is persuaded to eventually elect BRAN as the new King.

Bran selects Tyrion as his hand.

John is banished to North of the Wall...where he reunites with Tormund and the Freefolk...and Ghost (...who finally gets the petting he deserves...)

The Unsullied head off on a ship to Narth.

What is to become of the remaining Dothraki is not clear.

Sansa keeps Winterfell and is now Queen of the North...leaving it 6 kingdoms instead of 7.

Brienne makes her peace about Jamie and pens in the record how he died gallantly while trying to save his queen.

(...a nice touch...)

Samwell is now the new Maester...and has completed A Story of Fire and Ice.

Brienne is the head of the Kings Guard.

Ser Davos is also on the small committee as Master of Ships.

Podrick (now Ser Podrick) seems to be transportation for Bran the Broken.

And (to my delight) Bronn of the Effing Blackwater is back to head Highgarden as promised...and is Master of Coins.

Arya is off on a ship with Needle to parts not yet mapped...and very happy in her role as future explorer.

 It ended well.

Okay...except for the water bottle unedited by Samwell's boot.

Starbucks?

Evian?

I'm thinking last minute product placements...lol...

It has been a fun ride...now onto other things!

More Anon...



   

Storm's Comin'...and Awaiting the End of G.O.T.

Yeah...it is kind of like this...

I've been watching the build-up since yesterday out through Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas...and inching our way.

Made (and am fixing) food that requires no further heating in case we lose power.

Soon to enjoy a hot bath and pull out candles, just in case.

Watching our wind pick up and the gray skies getting even more ominous.

They are predicting high winds, rains, large hail, possible tornadoes, power outtages...hell, probably locusts, boils and frogs...

The first of our Spring Storms.

And here I am, over here, literally thinking-

As long as it gets sorted by 9 PM when the LAST EPISODE of Game of Thrones starts...

(...I know...priorities...right?)

Don't judge. I've been invested in this Series for 8 years, okay?

Will see everyone tomorrow...after the conclusion!

More Anon.

                              Who I would like to see get the Throne...lol

Puppies, Chickens and Lawnmowers...Oh My...GOT Episode 5...And More

"Ah say, son...yer built too low...the fast ones go right over yer head!"

New from my sister, Tina,  this week

"We are with chickens...and a rooster!"

Accompanied with photos.

All in all, 4 hens and one huge white rooster

"Think Foghorn Leghorn"

Me, passing coffee through my nose as she told the story of trying to get them in the coop the first night and the rooster evading her (in the mud and rain); where it kept circling the coop until her husband, Chad, had to join the fray...heading him off at the pass.

Get chickens they said. 
It will be fun, they said.

And the puppies are growing.

The male is going to be BEASTLY. 

Look at the SIZE of him in comparison to his sister!

The Hulk.

James has decided to keep him and Nicole's brother is getting the little girl.
They have tentatively named him Thanos. 

And now about the lawnmowers...

Got Sofi into her harness and leash so she could enjoy the outdoors with me on Thursday.

She is doing well with the harness now and seems to realize that when
I bring it out it is going to give her the option of bitching at the birds in the relative safety of my lap. Which she enjoys quite a lot.

This particular day was a Thursday, however, and the lawn crew always arrives mid-day on Thursdays.

In my defense...I forgot.

So there we were. Her relaxed happily beside me as I was weeding my borders. Her chittering at robins and jays.
When around the maintenance shed came a Dixie Chopper.

Roaring.

Suddenly I had what was the equivalent of a jackrabbit at the end of a leash.
Springing into the air. Doing that mid-leap bunny twist. Arabesques.

I am sure the groundsman found it hilarious.

I finally had the presence of mind to just let go of the leash...and she disappeared into the open door of the patio.

When I finished my weeding and checked on her...she had disappeared. Nowhere to be found. Then I spied the end of the leash from under the bathroom curtain trailing into the tub. There she sat...flattened as low as she could get...at the bottom of the tub. Glaring.

She may never trust me outside again.

Enjoyed a drive-by taco-ing by Chris, and dissecting/discussing Episode 5 of Game of Thrones...and later a robust political debate.

Back to G.O.T.

Episode 5 opens with Varys...working on raven scrolls to send revealing Jon's true lineage.

Also having a discussion with little Martha...who he has set to the task (as a member of kitchen staff) of attempting to poison Dany. One of his little birds.

"She is not eating"

We will try again at supper.

Dany is looking pretty rough at this point. Hair bedraggled and dark circles beneath her eyes.  She sees Varys meet Jon on the beach. Only moments later Tyrion would tell her that Lord Varys has/is betraying her.

The timing is spectacularly bad, and soon Varys is toast...er...toasted...by Drogon.

Face it...we knew this was going to happen as soon as he started talking Treason, okay?

Loved Tyrion admitting before Varys was sentenced to death...that it was He who had told Dany (sadly).

Dany is in a really dark spiral...Jon doesn't help the issue by recoiling from her advances now

Yeah...but ick...we're related.

Her cold

"Fine...Let it be FEAR. "

She had told Tyrion if he fails her one more time it will be his

"Last Time"

So, of course, the first thing he does is help his brother, Jamie, escape where he was captured on The Kingsroad trying to get  back to Cersei and giving him an escape plan for them both.

The scene with Tyrion and Jamie was one of those

" I'm not crying..You are crying."

Moments

"You were all I had growing up. You were the only one that didn't treat me like a Monster."

Embraced- with both of them in tears.

The face off between The Golden company of Essos at the gates of Kingslanding and Jon, the Unsulliies, Various Allies and quite a few remaining Dothraki.

Cersei staring smiling defiantly down from The Red Keep.

"It has NEVER fallen."

(...this rivals Scary Movie- saying You'll BE Right Back...but you won't, of course...)

Dany raining hellfire...or dragonfire onto
Euron and his fleet and Scorpion cross-bows.

Suddenly no more Greyjoy Fleet. 

And taking out the wall of the city...the other Scorpions set up to kill Drogon...oh and the Golden Company...before they even had a chance to fight.

The gates exploding outward.

Goodbye Golden Company.

(...most ineffectual mercenaries ever...Cersei should get her money back...)

Huge faceoff between Jon, Ser Davos, Greyworm and the Unsullied and the Kingsguard...

and relief in Jon's face when the Kingsguard drops their swords...and at last the bells are rung signaling their surrender.

Oh you silly man...do you REALLY think that it is going to be THAT easy?

Then the CENTER does not hold.

Dany (who has been building to this for quite a few seasons...and if you haven't seen that by now...I can't HELP you...and I'm sorry you decided to name your newborn baby girl after her...maybe she can go by Danielle...) goes full-blown Mad King.

"Burn EVERYONE...let the gods sort it out!"

On the ground Greyworm throws his spear and kills one of the UNARMED Kingsguard.

Jon is stunned and shocked.

And chaos ensues around him.

He ends up stopping a soldier from raping one of the townswomen, then realizes it is one of his own soldiers.

He runs the soldier through.

Overhead, Dany is laying waste to the city. The city she hoped to rule.

"Queen of the Ashes"

Ayra has a Come to Jesus meeting with The Hound and decides that revenge doesn't mean more to her than...well...breathing.

The Mountain and The Hound (Clegane Bowl) clash and give us a really good and long waited for faceoff...

By not before Qyburn gets his brains literally dashed out by The Mountain.

(...and for the gods sakes...why, when Cersei skirts around them facing off, doesn't The Hound just give her a quick jab with his sword...)

But nooooooooooooooooooooooo.

A satisfying ending to them both as Sandor realizes that Zombies are really really really impossible to kill and plunges them both through the wall and into the fiery death below.

Jamie runs into Euron on the beach...Where Euron is delighted to let Jamie know he

"I slept with the Queen"

 But didn't bother to tell him that she is pregnant.

Who would do this???

And, of course, it did not give Jamie the chance to enlighten him to the fact Cersei was pregnant BEFORE he ever left...which would have been a nice touch.

Anyway...

Jamie though mortally wounded eventually bests Euron...who still gloats with his dying breath that he will be the one who Killed the Kingslayer.

He finds Cersei in the Maproom...more than distraught and tries to take them out through Tyrion's escape route but they get there to see all exits blocked with rubble...and the palace is crumbling around them.

Cersei is losing her shit...and Jamie knows it is The
End for him...he holds her face toward him and as the rubble falls dies in the arms of the woman he loves...fulfilling that prophecy.

(...notice that we don't actually see either of them actually die...I think this may be important in Episode 6...we know Jamie will soon be a goner because of his double stab wounds and blood loss, but Cersei..I'm not so sure...) 

Ayra is on the ground dodging rubble...dragonfire, people...et al.  Covered with dust and bloodied she sees a woman and her child who helped her survive burned to a crisp holding each other.

Then a white horse, bloodied but still with bridle who wanders toward her...amidst the ash...

(...this might have been the most contrived moment of the Episode for me...wth???)

But she mounts it.

A paraphrase of Revelations for a moment


"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and her name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with her."

And the screen goes black.

That is it, then?

Only 1 Episode left...a little over 80 minutes long...after 8 years commitment.

We have lost (for certain)

Varys

Jamie

Qyburn

The Hound

The Mountain

Euron

The Golden Company

The Kingsguard
 
Most of Kinglanding and the Populous. 

Might or Might Not Be Alive

Cersei

Remains Alive

Dany

Drogon

Sansa

Ayra

Jon

Ser Davos

Brianne

Bran

Alive But Elsewhere

Ser Bronn

Tormund

Gilly & Baby

Samwell Tarly


 A lot of people got really bent out of shape over this episode. Didn't like Dany's spiral into madness. Didn't like Jamie and Cersei's Death Scene. If you paid any attention to the angry howls on social media you would think they had trashed the whole Season 8 and used sock-puppets.

Not so.

Everyone has a right to their opinions...but I am kind of interested in the conclusion on Sunday.

And I think
Season 8 Episode 2 might have been the best episode of the entire series for me.

Absolutely no idea who will sit on the Iron Throne...or even if there is one left.

Here are a few predictions I have:

In the trailer for Episode 6 Tyrion is shown walking through the rubble of Kingslanding.

What if he goes down in the tunnels to see that Jamie and Cersei used his escape route..and finds Jamie dead and Cersei nearby badly injured...but not quite dead?  Already angered by the waste that has been laid to KL and then to see his brother, who was everything to him, dead because he ran back to Cersei and Cersei still alive enrages him and he fulfills the prophecy

And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you

It could STILL happen.

I think Dany will execute or attempt to execute Tyrion. 
Maybe even Jon.

No idea who ends up on the Iron Throne (or if anyone does)


I think Arya will kill Dany.

But I would like the prophecy to be fulfilled with Cersei.

More anon...

First Basking Day on NPB...Beginning this Season's Gardening...And Other Observations of Spring

Saw today going a completely different direction. Laundry the needed done. Dishes. Dusting. Floors and such. Gathering the trash. Slowly resuming the daily round.

 A Cinderella Day.

Then the sun came out, and with it the 75 degree temperatures and a light breeze.

Which is why...in the midst of "everything that needs done" and despite the fact I have taken a week and a half off pretty much everything that wasn't eating, sleeping, reading, relaxing, writing or painting...I indulged in slipping into my swimsuit and

Opening North Patio Beach 2019

                                     Greetings from North Patio Beach

The morning rain-filled clouds gone and replaced by clear blue skies. The thwit of the return of my hummingbirds reminding me to fill the feeder today and hang it back up for another year.  Dandelions in various stages of bloom...promising the thousands of wishes to come.

Feeling the sun baking into winter sore joints and beginning the first spring blush that will eventually be a tan.

And finishing the Summer's Gardening plans.

It has been nearly 9 years (with the exception of Nicole's Kitchen Garden we planted together a few years back) since I have had the luxury of SPACE for gardening. I have gone from a Kitchen Garden at the Rose Cottage basically the size of the side of the house- to borders, vertical space and patio container gardens. 

                           My Last Garden at The Rose Cottage- 2011


Still, I manage to have fresh herbs all summer to cook with...and always container green beans, have beautiful flowers and teas...and even grow Catnip for my furry flatmates.

This year I have onions, lettuce and beans sown, and doing Cox's for horseradish starts, sweet potato slips, Pontiac Red potato seedlings and winter savory. Picking up several tomato plants (mostly for access to green tomatoes to fry), oregano, basil, and garlic for the herb basket at our local garden shop. And assorted hostas online.

Maybe a couple more roses.

The Purple Flag Irises seem to have conveniently coordinated their opening with my opening of NPB...and when the wind blows just right you can smell their grape-like sweetness.

The climbing rose that John and I planted over Shelby's grave is thriving and ready to climb the wooden arbor...which I must paint, again, before it begins.

Taking a breather, then heading back out to weed the borders a bit...hang the hummingbird diner...then enjoy my book and some sweet tea before a hot bubble bath.

Nearly six decades have taught me an important lesson

The dishes, the laundry, the dust and the trash will all be there tomorrow...

Unless, of course, you aren't.

And then...well...it doesn't really matter much, does it?

My advice.

Don't Seize the Day...Seize YOUR Life.

Life List #25: The Buddhist Temple of Ta Prohm: Angkor Wat, Cambodia

To be honest I found Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm because of this image

Which, ironically, was mislabeled and is actually in Thailand. It is another Virtual Life List Item.

But when I began to research Angkor Wat and the Buddhist Temple (...and saw they had a face-in-the-tree of their own

at Ta-Prohm...well it also became a Life List (virtual) Destination.

So here we are.

Come along!

Ta Prohm is the modern name for this Buddhist Temple...built in the 12th Century.  1186 AD. It was abandoned after the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 15th Century.

The temple remains in nearly the same condition it was found in 1863 with the jungle encroaching and trees growing out of the ruins making it a popular spot for pilgrimages, tourists and photographers.

It is now one of the World Heritage Sites.

Bas-relief show the Departure of Siddhartha from his father's palace and depicts many other scenes from his life.

And of course the grinning Face-in-the-Tree

Which makes me want to braid a small Buddha figurine into growing ficus now and bonsai it this way.

I may.

The amazing trees which have taken over the ruins are called Strangler Ficus.

Now adding add to the general mystic and photogenity of the Temple.

3-D Tour (if you have the glasses)

https://youtu.be/3TNQDtU2JTw

National Geographic Angkor Wat

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/angkor/

Walking Tour of Ta Prohm (BEST)

https://youtu.be/4OYQq0q2q_I

More information on Ta Prohm  (Also very good)

https://youtu.be/CUfTM-BC-ek

 More anon...