RAIN SUN - SLICED APPLES - GREEN ONIONS - SPINNING DISK VIDEO - KATY PERRY INTO SPACE BUSHBARBIE QUESTIONS - JIBBER JABBER

Soaking rains this past week in the Piney Woods. Abundant sunshine in between. Lawns lush, planted onions ready to eat, wildflowers ready to pop, rose bushes exploding, 4-hour power outage last night because "we do not know," and general health of the bride and me in the plus columns. Cats thinning for the summer and several small vermin/varmints have been left on our back door entrance to show their pride in having done their job with extreme prejudice. They have received a few "atta girls" and a few loving touches for their efforts. Much here seems in order. 

A trip to Dallas via a northern route was made during a nasty rain storm this past week. The northern route through Fate and Rowlett to state highway 75 proved that we can still make it into Dallas and not have to fight the rapid fire traffic in Dallas proper coming and going. Takes an hour longer, but much much safer, more relaxing and scenic.

The expansion tentacles of Dallas now reach as far east as Greenville. Road construction and new zero lot-line home construction, protected by circular high walls are reminiscent of our time in South Africa two decades ago. We find no value in that life, but this is a personal opinion. I do not think that Dallas will ever find the smooth lines of coming and going. Competed projects will be insufficient for the speed of growth. The beat will go on till it doesn't.

But for now, we can still traverse this landscape of excessive fast moving traffic, crowed shopping, working and making our appointments at medical offices. We did find a restaurant serving fresh fried oysters and markets offering fresh, although expensive, meats and produce. Trips to Dallas will be adventures and serve to help keep some of our skill sets sharp. Add a few good eats. We will continue all of this until we cannot. 

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WHAT IS OLD IS NEW AGAIN

I cannot remember the last decade in which I used an apple slicer. Today, they are called Apple Dividers. Why it is necessary to change the name for a tool that slices apples? Regardless, treating myself to sliced apples over the past couple years has been easy and reasonably affordable. Pre-sliced and packaged has now turned into too much money, poor quality products near the end of their shelf life  becoming a norm at the local grocery store. I had enough of "lower quality" expensive products and asked my wife to order an old fashion apple slicer. The Oxo choice above was delivered the day after my wife ordered it. My old habit of off-the-shelf sliced apples from the grocery store was finished.

There is surprisingly a bonus from this old school food preparation in the physical positioning and slicing of an apple. Personal satisfaction coupled with aesthetic appearance. Satisfaction of saving money when shopping and an-in-your face of "I don't need/want no stinking store bought pre-sliced apples" ever again. 

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GARDEN ONIONS ARE ON!

We have started adding sliced/chopped onions from the garden now. The first planting is coming on, bright green and healthy. Most every meal from morning scrambled eggs to lunch and supper meals. They do add a flavor pop and visual appeal to meals.

 

Fresh chicken salad with sliced tomatoes and garden onions.  

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SPINNING A DISC. 

This has a wow factor for me and somewhere in the math/science of all of this is more information than I can grasp. Don't know, but I bet you watch it to the end and say "wow." Why did you say "wow?" Yea, watch it again, right?

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KATY PERRY GOING INTO SPACE 

I do not have any take on Katy Perry. Know her by pictures and name. But know not of her music and other things in general. 

From Bushbarbie and all of this makes me laugh. Maybe it is her accent or her take on the absurd. But it does make me laugh.  Adult language, just saying!

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JIBBER JABBER

Roses have been "on" for a month now. This is the spot where I tried to grow lemon trees and failed.  The roses have taken flight.

 

I surprised my wife a few weeks ago by putting a small bouquet of roses on the table for her. The photo below is the third bouquet and one she prepared for this blog.

 

Eventually, the kitchen table will be straightened up as things get put away today. But at this moment, the photo well represents a fresh bouquet of roses brightening up a living space.  

Time over the past few weeks has been spent in our rocking chairs under the car port watching pairs of cardinals hit the feeder and scoot off. We enjoy talking of things in general and soaking up the warmth of the changing days. Any wanting for more is nullified by the quiet of the day, time spent together and our increasing ability to put off chores without guilt.

Appreciate your visit this week.