My little dragon friend, coffee shop gardens and portrait of me

 Let me take a look at my photos and find some to share here.

The gardens at my favorite coffee shop. Well, my only coffee shop. I like independent shops and never go to Starbucks where they insert politics into their business. Plus I love to sit outside and relax and chat with friends. Do you see the two benches?

Can you see the little dragon? He was across the street from my house and a block away for several months. Then one day he was gone. I hope the sculptor moved him or he flew away on his own. I always look for my cute little dragon. Maybe he flew to your house, have you seen him?

Above is a portrait of me that my blog friend Diane had made for me as a surprise gift. Diane is wonderful and lives across the ocean from me in the Philippines. Each of you blog friends is unique and talented and I enjoy visiting you here in blogland.

Strange sea creatures, Mystery house and George Washington

 

Who knows what these prehistoric seeming sea creatures are? I gathered them on a beach in Florida 60 years ago. I will put the answer at the end of this post. 

A few more shells found on the beach on Sanibel Island on a camping trip with my family.

Above and below a mystery house near my home. Mr. B and I walked past it at sunset and I took these photos. "The heavens declare the glory of God."

Our American hero and first President, George Washington. People asked him to become king and he said no, he agreed to become President. I am praying for the USA and for all of the other countries struggling now. Right now the governor of California signed a law limiting freedom of speech and making it illegal to post comic AI generated political memes. That is a slippery slope, he is against free speech he doesn't like. Free speech is under attack worldwide and we aim to defend it.

The sea creatures are Horseshoe Crabs. Many of you already knew that. I love how they look.

Funny Quotes and Photos

Everyone with telekinetic powers raise my hand. -- Emo Philips

Before you judge a man walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares? He is a mile away and you've got his shoes -- Billy Connolly (I love Billy)

Wait you're serious? I love that.

A day without laughter is a day wasted. -- Charlie Chaplin 

I'm in shape. Round is a shape. -- George Carlin

August 9 is National Book Lovers Day

 

 

I love books and I know many of you do too. As you may know I am a librarian. You might want to treat yourself to "Beholding and Becoming: The Art of Everyday Worship" full of stunning art by Ruth Chou Simons, a busy mother of six sons. Yes, six! Below is another of her books I have, "Graceland: Discovering Timeless Truths Through Seasons of the Heart". Her paintings and art adorn each page.

When I learned August 9 is National Book Lovers Day I thought now that is my kind of holiday. Everyone should be given the day off to stay home and read. Or go to a park and read, or visit a library or bookstore. I posted this two days early so you can get ready for the 9th. This is a USA Day but people worldwide who love reading can join in. Blog friends Baili in Pakistan and Monica in Sweden and others around the world, I know you love reading too.

Jeff Minick wrote about National Book Lovers Day in The Epoch Times and he mentioned one book, Middlemarch, He will celebrate by reading the last 20 pages of what he calls one of mankind's greatest literary achievements. I have not read that book. Have you? 

Here is another author I love, P.G. Wodehouse and one of his books I have: "A Bounty of Blandings." The ninth Earl of Emsworth and his fabulous loved prize winning pig The Empress of Blandings  get me to laughing every time. Enjoy your day.

Some funny quotes to lighten our day

 "Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." Larry Lorenzoni

"Parents should leave books lying around marked Forbidden if they want their children to read." Doris Lessing

"Women's clothes: never wear anything that panics the cat." P.J. O'Rourke

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg though he knows that you are slightly cracked." Bernard Meltzer 

Ha ha, slightly cracked, I like that. The photo is from coffee I made, plus I used my milk frother. Have a good day and remember to laugh.

 

Solzenitzen Graduation Advice and Funny Quotes

 

It is graduation time in my town and I happened upon Aleksandr Solzenitsyn's commencement speech he gave at Harvard in 1978. His words ring true today.

His words were a warning to the west of the dangers of materialism and the dangers of legalizing immorality in the name of freedom. He put much blame on the media for this situation, "The press is more powerful than the President, the Congress or the judiciary community. Americans have a right not to have their divine souls stuffed with gossip, nonsense and vain talk." He warned that our spiritual life, "our most precious possession" is damaged by the media.

Solzenitzyn was born in Russia in 1918 and raised in the Russian Orthodox Church, a crime in Russia. He wrote a letter to a friend critical of Stalin that caused him to be sent to Siberia and prison camp for eight years, which was usually a death sentence. After the prison camp he was put on a plane and sent into permanent exile, not his choice. He lived in the USA for many years, returning to Russia in 1994 to live in a house on ten acres given to him. 

What an amazing life he led from Siberian prison to Nobel Prize. He warned the West of the dangers of spiritual emptiness and called for a return to the teachings of the Christian faith.

 Bounce wearing his LED collar for walking at night with his mom, that's me.

For those who like to giggle, I just bought "The 2,320 Most Hilarious Quips and One-Liners" and I will be sharing some here in future posts. In such serious times I crave lots of giggles. Here is one: "The hardest years in life are those between 10 and 70." Helen Hayes at 73. 

And one more funny: "You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!" Dave Barry

Dandelion Bouquet, Dandy Lions

 

There are a lot of bright yellow dandelions blooming in my backyard. One man's weed is sometimes another man's flower, as they say. This is the first time as an adult that I made a dandelion bouquet. How about you?

I am reading "Cultivating Delight" by Diane Ackerman and after I picked my bouquet I read what she wrote about these plants. The French thought the serrated leaves look like the teeth of a lion and called them "dents de lion" or teeth of the lion. The English heard this as "dandelion". She wrote that she sees home owners patrolling their lawns like serial killers, hunting for dandelions to kill. She thought of holding up a sign "Dandelions are flowers too" but decided not to, in accordance with the first rule of friendly gardening "Mind your own garden."

When I was in grade school, maybe about 9 years old, I loved my teacher. I lived close to school so my friend and I walked to school. One day I was a few minutes late to school because I stopped to pick a fabulous golden dandelion bouquet for teacher. She was charmed by the bouquet and as I recall, she did not mark me tardy that day.