Desecration in America

Click title for link to Atlas Shrugs for more details on this.
Much like the mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Islam now plans to violate the sanctity of America's memorial.

Woodpecker

Here's a little guy that's been hanging around my feeders. He really likes sunflower hearts and I can see that the 15 pound bag I bought will not last long with him around. He always announces his arrival so there is no doubt when he is in the yard. Speaking of yards, I've been planting flowers and vegetables all week. The container gardening is done so I now have to weed (ugh) the perennial beds. Think I'll transplant some hostas that get overwhelmed by a big fern. Surprisingly the vincas that I transplanted late last year are thriving and actually blooming. I love a self-sufficient plant.

Human Nature's Vicious Circle

Some interesting articles at The Women's Colony today. Seemed to be a lot of reminiscing. One columnist shared the hospital bill from her birth in 1963. Less than $350 for a six day stay. Insurance paid for everything except phone calls. Heck, you can hardly visit a doctor's office for that price nowadays. I am the first to acknowledge that there have been great medical strides made in the past fifty years. Even so, I think most of us question if the costs aren't exorbitant.

I am old enough to say that our first house in 1975 cost less than what some new vehicles go for nowadays ($40,000 for the record) And this was in Alaska. We could have gotten a comparable home in California for less than $20,000. I know this because my in-laws had such a home.

Another lady wrote about the diversity she experienced attending school in Arizona as a child. It was a positive experience. Now this particular writer did not bash today's Arizona but I'm sure everyone is aware that the school board is exhibiting some questionable mandates for teachers. Not to mention they are experiencing some difficulties with illegal aliens.

Mrs. G. shared a heartbreaking story of friendship and her gesture to notify the wrongdoer that his crimes were not unnoticed. Hope he loses some sleep over this at the very least.

I believe most people have a tendency to look upon the past with rose-colored glasses, i.e., "the good old days." Carley Simon sang, "these are the good old days" and I think it would behoove more people to remember that. Children of today will probably look back fondly upon these times.

My husband at this very moment is expounding on "50's values" and how "we're so much more enlightened today" (insert his sarcasm here) Sometimes it's exhausting.

From my mailbox

DEA officer stops at a ranch in Texas and talks with an old rancher. He tells the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher says, "Okay, but do not go in that field over there," as he points out the location.

The DEA officer verbally explodes saying, "Mister, I have the authority of the Federal Government with me." Reaching into his rear pants pocket, he removes his badge and proudly displays it to the rancher. "See this badge? This badge means I am allowed to go wherever I wish.... On any land. No questions asked or answers given. Have I made myself clear? Do you understand?"
The rancher nods politely, apologizes, and goes about his chores.

A short time later, the old rancher hears loud screams and sees the DEA officer running for his life chased by the rancher's big Santa Gertrudis bull......

With every step the bull is gaining ground on the officer, and it seems likely that he'll get gored before he reaches safety. The officer is clearly terrified. The rancher throws down his tools, runs to the fence and yells at the top of his lungs.....

"Your badge. Show him your BADGE!"

Something's Up

I can hear the fighter jets from the nearby air force base scrambling this morning. Hope it's just a training exercise.

Dear Charitable Organizations

Please, please, please stop sending me address labels. I have more than I can ever use in my lifetime. They are going straight to the shredder. Sending a contribution to you is about the only time I mail a letter nowadays. I don't want any more labels or other gifts to guilt me into giving.

And that's my other beef. I'm not happy that my name has apparently been passed around as a supposed soft touch. I am hearing from agencies that I never knew existed. How did they get my personal information, pray tell?

FWIW, it makes me grumpy and consider not contributing in the future.

Spring!

My mother-in-law gave me this little birdhouse for Christmas in 2008. I hung it in the yard last year where it remained birdless. You can't imagine how happy I was to see a pair of chickadees going in and out of it the other day. There was also a pair of redpolls that seemed interested.


Every year we have a pair of mallards do a layover in our yard. I noticed they were eating birdseed that had fallen to the ground from my feeders so I bought some cracked corn and set out a dish of water. They come by at least once a day and hang around until I have to let the dogs out. Yesterday evening only the hen made an appearance which caused great consternation on my part. My husband had noticed one of the young men who live behind us running around with a paintball gun yesterday. I bet a paintball could be lethal to a duck. So I fretted about that for a couple of hours. I was so relieved to see both of them when I looked outside at 10:30 - yes, this is the land of the midnight sun and it is just twilight at that hour this time of year.

Here is a picture of my two guys that I took while waiting for a chickadee to cooperate yesterday. They are so happy that we took the jolly balls out of the shed.