Just another day in paradise

The little beauty above flew by low enough and was nice enough
to pose for a picture. Not sure where it was going but it seemed
in a hurry to get there. I often wonder why people fly with all
the restrictions put on them and the chance of having to get
searched to even get on the plane.

While pondering that I noticed the magnificent specimen above
and began to wonder if I didn’t mow it over next time I mow what
it would become. Probably a weed, but interesting on no
doubt. We’ll know tomorrow if it survives mowing.

Not to be outdone, the sky caught my eye and I noticed a
pattern of etch-a-sketch and finger painting. Whatever it was
I kept watching until my eyes crossed then moved on.

And the Mississippi Valley Fair starts today with Kids Day. I
was going back and forth as to attending until the morning news
stated that fair-goers should allow extra time as everyone
entering the gate would be searched.

Some think it’s a great idea while I believe it to be as dumb
as a glass outhouse. Another subject we’ll have to wait for the
outcome to see how we feel about it. I just know when we heard
about the search at the gate my response was Oh hell no!

It would take the security people doing the searches about 20
minutes for me to empty my pockets and even longer to explain
why I carry so many things on my person.

Enjoy our Tuesday as it’s the first one this week. As for
myself, nothing wrong with me that a gallon of coffee and some
leftover pizza won’t fix.
Comments are always welcome.

There are times…

when you think a plan will work and quickly get reminded they
rarely work out as hoped. Having done my research I went
outside yesterday to take a picture of the moon during the day.
The problem was it was so cloudy you couldn’t see the sky. Then
this morning our computer decided it didn’t want to play nice
and I just got things up and running again.

This colorful little guy seemed to share my disappointment. Not
sure what he was looking for but he stood like this for several
minutes looking all around only to get back down on all fours
and go back into the brush.

This event made me wonder if he was looking for predators who
would find him a tasty treat or running low and food yet could
not find suitable vegetation. Perhaps he got a ‘Dear John’
letter or the kids jumped ship when he was napping.

Whatever was on his mind this ground hog looked to be praying
at one point so his troubles must have been serious. Either that
or he fell asleep while on duty. We may never know. As for the
moon, we never saw it as the clouds hung around all day.

Today we’ll just wait and see what happens. I’m sure feral
mama cat will be waiting when I go out with food and water for
the strays. Enjoy our Monday as we will as soon as I get a cup
or three of coffee in me.
Comments are always welcome.

Winding down

The Bix 7 was yesterday and not long after the start the wife
thought she heard the helicopters, or a helicopter, belonging to
news companies following the race. I knew from the sound it was
not a chopper but an old plane with a propeller. So I got the old
camera ready and have proof as seen above.

As the planes flew over, the sirens from the police bikes, and
the roar of bunch of Harley’s signaled the beginning of the event
this butterfly just sat calmly and posed for pictures. We were
glad he did.

As I watched this guy in the brush I would not have thought he
would be the cause of an argument between the wife and myself.
I simply stated the cat had blue eyes and the wife claimed they
were green. We’ll probably never know for sure but we’re both
too stubborn to change.

Almost walked right into guy as the sun made it almost
invisible at first glance. Some spider was busy putting this
together and it looks almost like a work of art.

Finally, I saw this guy on a wire above the alley and had to
get a shot. This picture was taken as he was between songs and
actually had his beak closed. After the picture he flew away
to a more hidden perch.

Enjoy our Sunday as we will with the cool weather here. Now for
a refill on coffee.
Comments are always ready.

Sunday snicker

While shopping in a food store, two nuns happened to pass by the beer, wine, and liquor section. One asked the other if she would like a beer. The second nun answered that, indeed, it would be very nice to have one, but that she would feel uncomfortable purchasing it.

The first nun replied that she would handle it without a problem. She picked up a six-pack and took it to the cashier.
The cashier was surprised, so the nun said, “This is for washing our hair.”Without blinking an eye, the cashier reached under the counter and put a package of pretzel sticks in the bag with the beer.

“The curlers are on me.”

Another day…

The crows were making racket in a nearby tree, squirrels were
scampering around, and the mama feral cat actually jumped up to
be petted when I went out. Clouds trailed across the sky much
like a larger version of jet contrails and the temperatures
never left the 70s.

Just another day in our part of the world. We even spied a 39′
Ford sedan in the grocery store parking lot as we walked in to
spend too much money on things we really didn’t need. It’s been
a morning that makes one glad you live where you do.

This past Wednesday the wife stopped on the way home from work
and bought a newspaper as we hadn’t been getting the ads in the
mail as we used to. Jokingly I told her now that she paid $2 for
the paper the flyer would come in the mail. Sure enough, it did.

Tomorrow morning we will boxed in from all sides as streets
will blocked for the Bix 7 runners to complete the course which
is only a few blocks away. We can get out but if we wish to
head west the only route open takes us 6 miles out of our way.
This once a year event is reason I wanted to live in the
country.

And in less than a month we’ll be cruising to Idaho for a short
visit with our youngest and his family. We’ve found that the
people in Idaho are about as friendly as the people in Iowa and
the food is pretty good also. Unless you like a really good
pizza.

Enjoy our Friday because we all know that before we know it
the weekend will be history. Now for more coffee and leftover
pizza for breakfast.
Comments are always welcome.

Busy weekend

Here on the east coast of Iowa we’re going into a busy weekend
with so much going on one might have a hard time choosing what
to do when. One that all of us can participate in is viewing the
Full Buck Moon on Friday. And Mars will be close to moon also.

In the southern hemisphere there will be a lunar eclipse that
last for almost 2 hours while we in the U.S. of A. get to see
the full moon as long as we wish to, weather permitting. For
those of us here in Davenport, on the east coast of Iowa we also
have events to keep us going all weekend.

RAGBRAI will finish here on Saturday. It started on the west
coast of Iowa on Sunday and will finish here Saturday with the
riders dipping their wheels in the Mississippi River. RAGBRAI
stand for The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.

And it wouldn’t be this time of year around here without the
BIX7. If you haven’t heard of it this is a 7 mile foot race that
goes up and down hills and starts and ends in our downtown.
There are other races and events for those who don’t want to,
or can’t, make the 7 miles.

Then we have the Street Fest 2018, the Quad-Cites biggest
Homecoming party, on Friday and Saturday. Plenty of good food,
good music, and if you can’t find something for sale that you
aren’t looking for you aren’t trying.

There are a lot more things to do this weekend like the stock
car races, the museums, the Farmer’s Market and too many others
to mention. And when the dust settles Sunday night those of us
who live here know the Mississippi Valley Fair won’t be far
behind.

So enjoy our Thursday as the weekend is only a dream away. Now
for some coffee and leftover pizza.
Comments are always welcome.

Looking back

Went to visit Dad yesterday and strolled down memory lane just
about the entire time. For some reason we got on the subject of
the time a pitchfork went all the way through my foot in the
hayloft and the old country doctor who pulled it out and some of
his quirks.

When Dad carried into his office old doc quickly said “Well
that doesn’t belong there”. My pre-teen brain screamed “No s#@t!
That time he felt around my foot and announced that nothing was
broken, handed me the strop with instructions to bite on it,
and yanked out the pitch fork.

This old doc would make an occasional house call, was not
above taking a tug off a bottle if his patient was drinking as
he made a house call, and was not the most discreet doctor ever
known. Tales of some of his odder cases would pour forth after a
few tugs on a bottle yet in his defense, he never mentioned
names.

He once told of the time a woman came in his office for the
removal of a soda bottle and that one still got a laugh when
repeated yesterday. And we talked of how one could tell that
something was about to do would hurt.

If he started humming or handed you a razor strop and told you
to bite down on it, it was going to hurt. He was not one to use
drugs to ease your pain. But he was the closest doc and had an
office in the living of his home right in town.

An odd part of the tale of old doc was that he also the local
horse doctor (veterinarian). He’s long gone now as he was about
retirement age when I danced with a pitch fork, but he can still
make us laugh as we look back. Thanks doc.

Enjoy our Wednesday as it means we’re halfway to the weekend.
Now I need some coffee and lots of bacon.
Comments are always welcome.

Doesn’t get it

I don’t think the wife knows she married a genius. After a look
at the local tV news I had a couple of ideas that could make a ton
of money yet she looked at me like I’d lost my mind. Let me
explain.

A segment came on that claimed a company overseas had invented
a suit that would soak up sweat in the summer and keep the
wearer warmer in the winter, and it’s machine washable. Yes the
reporter stated “the terry cloth suit would retail for a mere $349”.

So my weird motor brain kicked into overdrive and the wife was
told we’d be rich beyond our wildest dreams. When she asked how
I quickly explained I would patent a suit made out of micro
fiber cloth so people who sit at desks for 8 hours a day don’t
get dusty. I know, brilliant right?

Then I had granddaddy of all great ideas; micro fiber polo
shirts for sloppy eaters! Think about it. Said sloppy eater goes
on lunch break and orders a messy sandwich only to discover that
they are wearing part of the lunch. No problem.

Just run back to the restroom, pull out a bar of Ivory soap,
add a little water, and the spots are gone. Put the soap back in
a baggy, place it back in your pocket, and by the time you’re
back to work the shirt is clean and dry.

That one earned the look. Which was expected. But I asked her
how many pet rocks were sold when they were the fad? And if
people are dumb enough to buy a $349 suit made out of bath
towels they would buy my products. She rained on my parade
anyway. Probably for the best as I don’t think the world is
ready for some of my wilder ideas anyway.

Enjoy our Tuesday as it means the middle of another week is
just a dream away. Now I need some coffee and a break. Great
ideas don’t come easy.
Comments are always welcome.

Stay calm and watch racing

Since I was in a good mood yesterday a clog in the kitchen sink
didn’t bother me much. At first. Grabbed the plunger and began
my attempt at a quick fix so I could watch the race on TV. And
things didn’t get any better.

After a half hour of plunging with no real progress it came to
me that we had some drain cleaner that was guaranteed to open
up the drain with one application. Yeah right. When it did nothing
to get the drain flowing the plunger was again tried.

Nothing. So I went to a local store and bought some baking soda
and vinegar in an attempt to open the drain while going natural.
After two attempts and a still plugged drain I thought perhaps a
drain snake would be the way to go.

Going to the basement I soon discovered that the drain snake
was not on a shelf where I usually put it. After a quick search
of the shelves in the basement it was decided that I either
loaned the snake to someone who didn’t return it, or somebody
broke in and only stole said snake.

By now the race had started and I really didn’t want to cruise
across town to buy another drain snake, so the plunger came back
out. Several minutes later I got the drain working at about 80%
and had time to catch the end of the race. So after the other
chores are done today I’ll shoot for 100% even it means buying
another snake to do it.

That’s how things went here at Casa Cruiser yesterday. Enjoy
our Monday while I get more coffee and some bacon.
Comments are always welcome.

Thoughts about Saturday

It all started yesterday with me oversleeping and stumbling to
the kitchen. The wife was not a happy camper yet didn’t wake me
up. So after a quick cup of coffee to wash down my meds we
headed to the lab to get blood drawn for whatever tests our
family doc decided we needed then had a late breakfast.

After some chores got done I ran across this little critter
darting around the neighborhood. The butterfly didn’t stay in
any one place too long but was entertaining to watch. I did
manage to get a few pictures before he flew away.

A little later we decided to try the “Dinner for Two” kit we
purchased at our little grocery emporium. It contained two
thick-cut boneless chop chops, two twice-baked potatoes, and a
bag of something that was called brussel sprouts covered in a
cheesy sauce.

The meal turned out great with the exception of the mixture
we thought was brussel sprouts. Ever the adventurer I speared a
chunk of the green cheese covered vegetable and decided not to
overdo it with the healthy eating. We left the table full yet
wondering what happened with the green stuff that was labeled
‘brussel sprouts’.

The forecast-ed cloudy day looked like the picture above when I
stepped out the back once the evening meal and chores were done.
I figured this could make for some interesting shots so I hung
around and waited for the sunset.

And I wasn’t disappointed when the time come. The western sky
took on a life of its own and put on a show you just knew came
from the hand of God. I walked back in the house grinning and
the wife thought I was up to something. I was just amazed at a
perfect ending to a great day. As always, you can click on the
pictures to enlarge them if you wish.

Enjoy our Sunday as before we know it the work week will begin
for some. Now I need to go feed the feral cats, get some coffee,
and eat myself.
Comments are always welcome.