Did I go Glowing?

I'm sorry. Should have mentioned that Golden Glow is a hamlet just west of Elmira, New York. May actually be an incorporated town, but I'm not sure. It's nestled against a cool, green hill* and the Chemung River. MammaDog M tells me the name is a reference to the sky in the afternoon, when the sun is behind the hill but not quite set in the west. Country sort of place that's still just about ten minutes from downtown Elmira. It's a frequent mention in my blogs because the Granddog lives there when she's not visiting here.

*The Cool Green Hills of Earth by Robert Heinlein. The title illustrates an aching nostalgia for home felt by astronauts running between planet stops. For me it's a pang I feel when something reminds me of my childhood in Central Massachusetts. Now very little remains of what I remember. My last visit was years ago, and surely much of that has changed also. But most of the hills are still cool and green in the summer. If I don't go back, they will remain forever so for me. Gotta go: I'm tearing up.

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Dog Day in the Glow

MammaDog M stopped by after work for some late breakfast. We grabbed up GrandDog and headed out to Golden Glow for some shutterbugging.

In the Glow the dogs have their own room, newly decorated, that opens out to the backyard. The fellows have a huge yard, all fenced in, that allows them to run from the front, right up to the street, around the house, and out back. Stepbro Bree isn't much interested in anyone and goes off by himself to inspect the edges of the property.

Ellie is ecstatic and runs right up to Willie to get things started. Isn't long before the heat sends them indoors for relief. We come full circle and soon it's time to go home, armed with dozens of photos to cull.

Scroll down and enjoy my little darlings!

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This is Willie, a fine looking specimen. The gentlest little (not really) sweetie in the world. Comes up higher than my waist. 

Bree off in the distance. He's just not interested in GrammaDog. Grumpy old male with better things to do. 

DogFight!!! Not really, but Ellie plays hard. This romp went on a good while, during which this is actually the best shot I could get. Sounds like sheer hell, but its all in good fun. I could join in and not be bitten. No one gets hurt, rest assured. 

Size-wise, Willie's a winner. However, all dachshund owners can tell you who gave the worst in that fight. Willie ceded victory and Ellie flopped down to rest. 

Some photos just will not take themselves. Ellie won't pose in the house. After several tries that resulted in all human arms, PappaDog Geoff threw Ellie into the shot on top. Later, she hung out in the kitchen, waiting for good things to fall. The boys went with her. 

So the only ones who will pose pretty are Willie and Bree. They're both good boys. We had a nice visit, but Granddog would not let me leave without her so back to Husband RJ we went. 

I haven't forgotten...what was it again?

That I promised pet photos, of course, especially of Willie, to some of my readers. But MammaDog had to work this morning, so I will post after noontime. Guess what I just read in USA Weekend? Granddog Ellie is considered a "designer breed" type dog! Half dachshund, half Jack Russell Terrier. Gives her that brindle look and the constantly over-excited, bug-eyed, jumping up and down ... You know what I mean.

Designer breed, my puppy-nipped ankles! She's what we call a HuggaMutt. Now, Willie, we believe, is an American Foxhound. Looks just like a foxhound, with the white muzzle and the stripe going up the nose, and slight dapple on her back. But huge. Well, at least she's huge to those of us accustomed to short, bitty-legged dachshunds. MammaDog tells tales of Willie stopping Ellie's rampages by simply lifting her off the floor by her harness. Same as I do, when Ellie becomes overexcited while wrassling with the cats.

Photos later today, I promise. In the meantime pay a quick visit to Iraq with Brandon at Webshots. I also have photos there. If you search using "Ellie Dachshund", she should come right up, along with other Ellies in the world. Webshots Community is a lovely way to pass time, visiting with people all over the world.

Later.

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Freedom is not free

Stirred up a little something when I posted about my Grampa Baker. Our families are now searching for photos and mementos. My oldest brother Steve offered this poem by my Grammy:

Armistice - And Irony

I can see them yet, as they marched away,
So debonair, so brave, so gay!
I can see them yet, as they turned to wave,
The smiles erased from their faces grave.
And as I stood there, turned to stone,
The sun's last glint from their rifles shone.

I can still see my Mother, with face so white
And my Father, standing so still,
Trying to think that all was right,
Trying to feel like it was God's will.
Yes, we all tried to be as brave as they,
As my husband and brother marched away.

After many a weary month and long
Came the news, more cheering than the happiest song.
The whistles were blowing, the bells were ringing.
Everywhere people were shouting and singing.
"The War is over at last" cried they,
And the sad old World became hysteric'ly gay.
We looked at each other through tears of joy
And Mother murmered softly, "My boy, my boy!".

Happy plans for their return we made.
I tremble even now, as these mem'ries fade.
"Killed in action", the telegram bore.
"Killed in action"; weary brain repeated o'er and o'er.
Yes, the bells were ringing,
They should have tolled!
The sound of bells will turn me faint and cold
Forevermore.
My brother had died the day before.


Josephine Abby Lamb Baker

Hurts my heart to think how they felt. I often heard about someone who was lost at the time of the Armistice. Remember, back then it took a very long time for any information to be routed around. From joy to mourning. Brings back the fears we felt during the Viet Nam war when Steve himself was in the Service. Thanks for your contribution, Steve. And did anyone ever thank you for serving your country? Let me now. On record.

Thanks. We appreciate it.

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Little Links

If you've clicked through my personal links lately, WalkingTours, ViolentStorm and MSCompanion have been getting most of my attention. Jealous? No. Good. Gotta watch out for the GreenEyed monster.

No, wait. That's wrong. You should be jealous. I promise to post pet pictures this weekend. In the meantime, pb's travelled all through her links to the blogosphere, and all she's got for you are two, no--three!--links.

First this link to a Military Blogger in Afghanistan to add some humor to what must be a rather unfunny experience. At least this Native of Afghanistan thinks so. I've been casually watching the progress being made there. Seems to be two steps forward, one step back. But this is still progress.

And finally a sop to my animal lover friends. Hie thee to my everlovin' BlogMother's site for Dinner and Domestic Animals. Just like homemade, only the food is infinitely better at Sissy's. Always.

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Fwoomphs and Fwaps

Are sounds you can learn at the Multiple Sclerosis Companion site. Head over if you're bored.

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Intelligent Update

Not just an intelligence update. The war in Iraq is not winding down, but it is not gearing up, either. Read the mentality of the people who are there day after day. Once in a while it is good to get the viewpoint of the brass.

This piece is so matter-of-fact. Can't say it isn't slanted, but I'm inclined to believe our people over there more than our MSM showmen over here.

Going to visit my ailing MammaDog and scoop up Granddog. MammaDog needs a break.

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Indy Debacle: A Rant

This will have repercussions for years and years. My answer to the Europeans: If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen! Go work in a kiddy park.

Racing is exciting because it is dangerous. But the purpose isn't to provide spectacular wrecks and horrible tragedies. It is essentially a proving ground for high speed vehicles.

Michelin needs to work on their tires. They admit that they are not good enough for iffy conditions.

What???? What have they been advertising all these decades?

The striking racers themselves look silly now. Are they not skilled enough to find that optimal speed that leaves them alive and winning?

Finally, it is just unconscionably rude and incredibly bad business to quit at the beginning of a race, show or whatever! Nascar racers may look like yahoos and wild eyed Southern boys to the Europeans, but at least they give the ticketholders their money's worth.

And don't get me going about the Europeans and their every-other-day strikes.

Excuse me, I have to go and wipe the spittle dots from my computer screen.

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Kitty Korner

Getting ready to rescue the Universe from X-Death in Final Fantasy V. No post until the world is saved. Visit instead with my everlovin Blogmother at Sisu. Photography, philosophy (and some physics) and, of course, pretty pussycats. Mine are taking apart my living room right now, and I'm too distracted to stop them. When this superheroine returns from X-Death's World, she has to set the upended household to rights. No doubt a taller order than saving the universe.

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Nature Fix

Never quite got out with Granddog Ellie this weekend, and we expect telephone repairmen on Monday. However, lucky us, Shelley at BurningBird did manage to get out for a lovely hike and blogged it for posterity. Even the Title is poetic: Pink and Shadows.

Note especially the reference to the Windigo. Kinda a little roundabout how it caught my eye. I'm a video game buff, and I especially like Role Playing Games, and I especially, especially like RGP's from SquareEnix. One of the most attractive features for a person who's into cultures and history would have to be their extensive use of mythology, and quasi-mythology. They use it in place names and their heroes' names. I like to trace them back to the originals. One creature that has always remained a mystery to me was Wendigo, apparently more correctly called Windigo. SquareEnix depicted a creature with no face (or even a head), very strong and unpredictable. Usually finishes me off in short order.

Now I know. Thanks, Shelley!

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Feedback time, please.

At this point I have decided to try advertising at this site. It is supposed to be relevant advertising. My site is very mundane, daily life sort of thing, and oriented to how we live. It supposes that we share interests. Adsense assures me I can select the sort of advertising that we will display. I could use your help.

Any feed back should tell if the ad is intrusive: does it obliterate any of the blog?

Is is relevant to the day's topic? Is it misleading, such as bait and switch?

Is it in good taste? This is extremely important to me.

I will not be able to investigate the advertising myself, as it will invalidate the contract. In other words, I cannot click on the ads from my site. Seems like it will be all I can do to keep the family from clicking on them, at first, out of idle curiosity.

My personal links will not show advertising until I am certain that it's good stuff. And if I don't like the advertising, if it is too intrusive or at all offensive, I am killing it. I could certainly use the income, but, hey, I gotta be me. And so do my sites.

Thanks for your help.

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StorkCam at Sissy's

Here's something different. My everlovin' Blogmother is monitoring a family of storks, and getting all mushed up inside over it.

You can watch her fussing and worrying here when the parents don't appear on schedule.

Of course it has a happy ending. I wouldn't burden you with anything less.

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Just Like Your Mummy Always Said

New link alert. The Indepundit. Otherwise known as Citizen Smash. This fellow links extensively to all things military, especially in our current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Here is a person who blogged before the war, gave the blog to his homegirl (Mrs. Smash) during his tour of duty over there, and returned to blogging after his tour. He sees both sides of the coin, and we are better for it.

The government is censoring military blogs. Bad thing or good thing is hard to say. We pay our military leaders to do a job and we should let them do it.

But Smash also blogs a set of rules that are just common sense for any blogger. Substitute spouse for commanding officer, et cetera, and you get my drift. Dear Abby couldn't state it better. In all walks of life, loose lips do sink ships.

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Not that you've asked

Head to the Multiple Sclerosis Companion if you've wondered why I cut short my photoblogging on hot days. Or why all my tours are so darned short. No, it's not because Granddog Ellie has short legs. (Or maybe it is, at least in part.) Or why I wear silly huge hats and sunglasses on bright days.

Or not. It's your call.

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Anybody We Know?

Frankly, I didn't laugh at first. I know a little gal like this who went over. After many years in the Guard, she had hardly any complaints about her stint, conditions, workload or otherwise. Oh, yes, she did hate the heat! But she did have troubles collecting the benefits promised her when she was called. The government is as good as its word, but the local businesses can be another matter. I won't publish who the business is until I talk with WM to find out if her employer finally delivered.

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Visited with a neighbor today to discuss the cleanup from last week's Violent Storm. We talked a bit, but were interrupted by a sweet little whine. Hello? 

Actually I took about 20 shots, but Zadie wouldn't sit still. Here Theron gently calms her for a sitting. Good thing I snapped it quickly, though. A golden streak just about knocked us down. 

Jealousy does not become you, Hunter. Pretty yellow lab is very elderly, but still spry. 

Big Buddies

These little fellows make quite a ruckus when people stroll through the neighborhood. Most of us know it is all sturm und drang, though. The rottie is just a big baby and the yellow lab is a very ancient gentleman.

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The New 9/11 Hijacking

Click on the above title to visit my everlovin' Blogmother. Sissy is appalled at the plans being made to turn the 9/11 memorial to a breast-beating extravaganza of self-blame and homilizing.

I have my own take on the situation and have sent the following in an email to our Governor:

Who and what are we memorializing? The people who died in the 9/11 attack, and the end to our security from outside violence.

Any precedents? Pearl Harbor.

How did we memorialize that attack and those who died in it?
A quasi-military memorial comprised of a battleship sunk during the attack and the bodies of the sailors entombed within.

What is so difficult about this? Nothing.

We need a memorial that calls to mind the majesty of the former towers, the humanity and the activity that was held within them, and the treachery of the perpetrators.

Never mind the "lessons" learned from the attacks. Keep it simple: innocent people, going about their daily business, as well as innocent children just going about their daily lives, were killed by murderous men who commandeered our naive acceptance of outsiders and turned it against us.

I absolutely do not want philosophizing to intrude on the facts. The only expansion of the above formula would be to include those people who were killed by the hijackers.

Please don't let anyone water down our 9/11 memorial with sermonizing!

Much obliged to those who would please do the same. Sissy provides the link. You provide the input.

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Breakfast at Montana Mills

Remember my Morning with Louis? Our visit bore its first fruits today when I stopped by Montana Mills for breakfast.

Louis mentioned Montana Mills as a great place for coffee and a snack, and he was right. I got a slice of Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raison Walnut Bread. They have a very impressive array of breads. They smartly allow sampling (actually a good sized wedge) of their product. That and a cup of decaf was my breakfast. I then purchased a loaf of same, so I won't have to bake this weekend. The people are super-friendly, adding to an atmosphere that certainly is worth another visit.

UPDATE: Montana Mills is changing it's name to Great Harvest and expanding its offerings.

Then it was off to find a Father's Day gift for RJ. Luckily, the heat got to me in short order, and I returned home to do my blogging in air-conditioned comfort. If it stays hot, I may blog the Mark Twain tomorrow.

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Walk through Riverfront Park

Head on over to WalkElmira to visit Riverfront Park. It's a lovely strand of greenery along Water Street. I took Granddog, thinking she's love to wade in the cool waters of the various chutes and fountains. Wrong. She knew it wasn't her Chemung River. She must have thought I was out of my mind.

Oh well, must be a people thing. Parks and artificial waterways.

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Alpha and Omega

The Community Bookstore is a great place to begin a walking tour of Elmira. In fact, many Elmiran begin each day here. But my Riverfront Park blogging ended here, with a quick look across Gray Street to Wisner Park.

Farmers' Market

Passed by Wisner Park's Famers' Market on the way back home. Every Thursday in the summertime, this becomes hog heaven, full of goodies for eating, cooking and shopping. Will blog this more fully later, when I can afford the calories.

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Pooped Puppy

Granddog Ellie is just plain exhausted from Riverfront blogging. Me too. I'll post our Riverfront Park Tour tomorrow in WalkElmira.

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Catblogging

Going out with Granddog Ellie for a short trip to a local park. Get a quick catblog fix here and here from my everlovin' Blogmother, Sissy. If you want a little punditry with your fix, scroll down further to her post on the Ground Zero controversy. Be sure to follow her links.

My take on Ground Zero: I have one question. Who and what are we memorializing? How did we memorialize Pearl Harbor? What is so freaking difficult about this???

Back before noon.

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Summertime and the Livin' is Really Quite Difficult

In the previous post we mentioned the fuzzy fluff filling the area here in the Chemung River Basin. Husband RJ just came back from the Guthrie Clinic, antibiotics in hand. Congested lungs, full of yucky stuff. I imagine the fluff, and the fine coating of pollen on everything outdoors, have something to do with it. Personally I stay dosed up on antihistamines around the clock till the first hard frost. Works for me.

Another thing that works for me is Vodka Pundit. While I hope to blog the concerns of Middle America in Upstate New York, the Vodka Pundit works further west. Apparently the pollen's working its magic out there, too. He's currently doing battle with the Mucinex Monster, courtesy of his own congestion troubles, and his blogging is hilarious. I passed his link on to RJ, but he was only moderately amused. Presumably it hits too close to home. I think it's funny as all get-out. Enjoy.

Ladies, be sure to scroll slowly down to the Mucinex entry; you will see he is quite a cutie-pie (don't tell RJ)!

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RiverDogging!

Now you know I wouldn't stay indoors too long. The crystal clear morning calls to me, especially when Granddog Ellie is visiting. This time I rued her presence, because I missed an opportunity for a decent shot of baby ducks.

Oh well. I'll take Ellie over duck photos anyday. She's a tiny bright light in the constellation of my skies. Translation: Love my Granddog.

Head over to WalkElmira for a short visit. By the way Lileks is photoblogging the lakeshore there, with his little Gnat.

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Walk Elmira from your Computer

This blog is getting unruly. From now on, photo links will send you to my various tours and trips around the area. I hope this will cut down on loading time, and allow those who aren't interested in my shutterbug adventures to give it all a miss.

Of course, you can click on the links and wander around with me (and sometimes with Granddog Ellie) through the area.

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Hot out there, too

We are venturing out for a short trip to the Post Office. Granddog Ellie needs a walk away from all the cleanup crews and heavy equipment around here. The violent storm yesterday laid waste to huges swathes of the neighborhood.

On a bright note, My Hero James Lileks spent yesterday with his little one at the Lake. Take some time, if you will, to peruse his entire site. To say he is a very prolific blogger, is to drastically understate the situation.

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Link for Medifans

My prediction Saturday that I would need lots of rest came true, unfortunately. The heat is weakening me, tiring me more than usual. And I still have to work tonight. Therefore, only a short post, and a relevant link.

What's a Medifan? Well, I am. It's my word, so I get to define it. It's a person like me, who has (or must care for a family member with) a chronic condition. It can also be a hypochondriac, so just a person with more than the average interest in the world of medicine, but not quite an obsession.

My Medifancy leads me to follow links to medical sites to see how medicine has skewed their world. Another professional parallel would be an inordinate interest in newspapers and printing. For instance, I work on a newspaper, and I am a news junkie. My interest in news and printing makes me look at life from a unique angle.

So if you are a Medifan, you will appreciate the link to GruntDoc. I first found him early during the Iraqi war, probably through one or more of my usual bloggersites. Some days his entry is densely technical, beyond my dabbler's interest. Most days, however, his writing is delightfully entertaining and always informative. He links extensively, as do most of the site I visit each day, and therein lies an infinite new universe to explore.

Not all entries and links are truly medical, but rather "feature" sort of items, rich in day-to-day humor, tragedy, personalities and current events. Dig a little deeper, and anyone can find leads to just about anywhere in the medical world, both technical and human interest. Have fun, and don't let a short spate of technical or medical terminology, cut short a reading that may be full of otherwise interesting stuff.

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Riverfest. The Boaters

There were too many interesting shots to post here. Go to Riverfest 2005 to see them. Made for a lovely morning. Made me wish, again, for a canoe.

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Riverfest. The Festivities

Bright and early Saturday, displays were being arranged, and people were prepping for the festival. The boats were all launched around 11AM, I think, and we were poised to welcome them. The boats are a later post: It was the people who made the Riverfest festive.

This was a family day, and nearly all the activities and booths were aimed at both young and old. Loading time limits my pictures, so I want to mention a few exhibits of local interest.

Team Osprey was there. Fellow told me a good place to watch the nesting platform: There is a small playground along the southside levee, accessible, I expect from any one of the streets crossing West Hudson. I'll check this out and report on it at a later date. Fording the river would get me to the island, but I don't play games with the Chemung. Besides I have a history of scaring away photo subjects!

I can't make enough mention of the Kid's Fishing Derby, sponsored by Nickle Creek Bait and Tackle Shop. These good people will set the kids up for their day of fishing. Every child in Elmira should have the opportunity to fish. Bring a buddy; no one fishes alone. Nickle Creek will help with supplies, with years and years of experience and good advice, too. Help keep our fishing areas clean, please put trash in its place. That's the motto on their business card. We'll be watching for you on July 30: promises to be a great day.

More photos below and more to come. Later: the boats and boatmen.

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Vote For Brent!

First friendly face I ran into was Brent Stermer. Brent is always found at these community events. No wonder he's running for Councilman. Can't think of another person so readily available to the average Elmiran.

Restored Cannon

Something I don't see too often. Cannon on the riverbank. Pretty accurate caisson came with it. Lovingly restored and actually beautiful.

Trolley Guide

Trolley pulled up and disgorged a crowd of festival-goers. Frank here can tell you many things about many places right here in our area. The trolley is probably the best place to start for anyone wishing to explore Elmira and its history.

Arrowhead Collection

When you were a kid, did you hunt arrowheads? Husband RJ did, and says they used to find them. Ivan Jacobus never stopped hunting them. Very impressive collection and not for sale. Interested collectors can contact him at jacobusid@yahoo.com

Nickle Creek Bait & Tackle

Wanted to close with Nickle Creek's display. That's the Bait and Tackle shop on E. Gridley, Southside. This year's child fishing derby is at the fishing hole nearest you on July 30. Call 734-9233 for details.

Pets at the Riverfest.

I intend a longer post with many more photos. If not tonight (Saturday), then Sunday. Three hours is a very long time for me, even on a partly cloudy day. Some rest is the best remedy. I promise photos of the boaters and festivities by noon tomorrow. Meantime, enjoy my visits with our animal buddies.

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Riverfest. Marshhawk.

I believe I was told that Icarus, here, is a marshhawk. He lives at Tanglewood and has been painstakingly tamed and trained for education purposes.

Riverfest. ShuShu.

Shushu was the smallest visitor to the Riverfest. Lovely-tempered Shih Tzu, and cuter than a whole basketful of buttons.

Riverfest. Big Pup.

Can't remember this fellow's name, because the word "puppy" sticks in my head. Hands down the biggest dog I ever seen, and only nine months old!

Riverfest. Tranquility.

This is Gus. He visited with everyone at the festival.

Riverfest. Animal tracks.

Do you recognize these? Any Elmiran knows the nighttime marauders that chew away our tulips and ornamentals. Deer tracks by the river. They must have crossed two main roads to get there.

God Bless Us All

For the second time this year I have learned of the Very Unexpected Death of an acquaintance's child. Very Unexpected Deaths are not what we consider natural, not from illness or accident in the usual sense. Their obituaries do not give the cause.

These children were in their teens or early twenties. And they are almost always male. My psychologist sister-in-law used to tell me that this is a very high risk group. Actually the highest risk of all. The pressures of maturing combined with the dissatisfaction that is inherent in "angry young men" make a deadly mix. Furthermore, mass communications, even the Internet, itemize, analyze, and (worst of all) romanticize these early deaths. For a child who is agonizing over the difficulties of growing up, death can appear an attractive solution to what must appear to be insurmountable troubles. Perhaps the finality of death does not dissuade, but rather encourage them.

Now everyone seems to know someone who has lost a son in this manner. What I find most upsetting of all is this: of the children I have known, all have very caring, attentive parents. These were not neglected, abused or cast aside in any way. I don't doubt there were problems. After all, look at the age group. The teen years are synonymous with conflict. But the fact is the mother of the victims I've known are loving, hardworking women, who continually strive to provide for their children.

And that's what makes this scary. And even sadder, if that were possible. The wolf is at the door, and there is no chasing it away. Our children are in danger, and we need to act, act, act, accordingly. No clues can be ignored, every suspicion must be investigated, and every opportunity to convince our children of their preciousness to us must be taken as a call to action. And that may still not be enough. So what can we do?

If my child is in trouble, I can seek professional help. If you are reading this, you can go to a search engine (try Google) and type in the problem. For the phone, the community pages in the local phone book have listings for just about everything. Public service announcements on radio and television usually give contact numbers.

Do it now, before the crisis hits. Any hint of trouble can be your opportunity to prevent irrevocable action on a teenager's part. And if the child protests or even ridicules you for it, well, at least you know that the kid knows you know something is wrong.

And pray. Sometimes that is all we can do. For those of us who knew those boys, that is all that's left to do. Cherish the memories of a couple of good kids in happier days. Try to offer condolences to their bereft families today. And pray we can find the wisdom to act should we see anything, anything at all, that may point to a repetition of the tragedy. I have to go to work now, but before I do, I think I'll call my kids. They are working, too. I need to tell them (or leave a message) that I love them and that they can come to me with anything, anytime, ever.

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Links' Adventures

Fridays are almost sure to be lacking in posts here. It's one of my busiest days, both preceded and followed by the worst nights of the week at the paper.

I'll try to mitigate them by posting my favorite links of Thursday. Why? Why should a visitor to this site follow a link? Well, because linking gives one the feel of the infinite expansion of the Internet. No one person or organization has a monopoly on the Web. I personally prefer those sites hosted by the little people. I am, after all, one of them. It's axiomatic that we will enjoy and learn something from a genius, a leader, a hero, etc. So it's easy to forget that we can learn a lot just from each other. It's why I prefer the little fish in this little pond. The Pats and the Louis's.

Go see Alaska through the eyes of Tim P. Look especially for the everyday sort of sights, then check out the backdrops of majesty, provided by Mother Earth and Mother Nature.

Let's visit with the animals. BurningBird has some exquisitely intimate shots in Sweet Babies. Makes me all purry inside.

Not enough? Visit with some of my links. Nearly every blogger posts or links to others of their ilk. I prefer to link to those sites quite different from mine, and many sites do it, too. It may be possible to follow links forever, as the Internet expands till the end of our time here on Earth.

Or at least kill an hour or two. Back over the weekend.

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Sunworshipping.

Just spoke with my Mum in Massachusetts. They are enjoying some rare sunshine. She sounded disgusted with the spate of rainy weather up there. No matter, they'll head to Maine, where they are still digging out from damages suffered from a leaking pipe last summer. I have to admire their ability to keep at it, troubles and all--just a part of life. You see, it was more important to discuss my brothers' efforts to find work, and to share our health updates. Retirement keeps them busy, but the status of the family always outweighs the importance of events and things.

The few photos below are all I could catch while being tugged along by Ellie on our walks. She spent the long weekend camping with MammaDog and Geoff. Lot's of catching up to do, plenty of great snacks to nosh, and an abundance of snoozing waiting to be logged.

The town shots were taken very early in the morning, and are shadowy as a result. The park was midmorning, after a few errands in the car. Ellie fusses and whines in the Tracker, and shot out like a thunderbolt, when I opened the door. Won't do that again: my wrist took the brunt of the pull on the leash.

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Townblog. Canal town home.

Gracious reminder of an era that truly understoon leisure. Deep lawn, spacious porch, sunroom to the side, topped with a cupola--a must in this old canal town. West Water Street.

Townblog. Blue beauties.

These blue beauties cannot be seen, passing through by car on Church Street. To catch low-light details, walking is a must. Personally, blue is my favorite for flowers.

Townblog. Brick with porch.

Gracious living isn't relegated to old memories. This rather snappy brick home has chairs on the porch, perfect for rocking and watching the traffic. West Water Street.