Into The Weeds

 

"As one grows older, one should grow more expert at finding beauty in unexpected places, in deserts and even in towns, in ordinary faces and among wild weeds."

~C.C. Vyvyan

This beautiful purple blossom is called, wild radish. It's that gorgeous purple you see dotting fields and roadsides, and that looks so lovely with the yellow wildflower known as field mustard or wild turnip. Both of these flowers grow all over California each spring and summer, but it never occurred to me to look up their stories. Both can be used in cooking, I think they would look beautiful on salads, as well as other uses. How great would it be to have a wildflower salad paired with a chilled soup like Gazpacho or maybe Honeydew mint, on a hot late spring afternoon! I have been trying to do more photography beyond my birding. I used to do that all the time in the Bay Area. Public art. Lighthouses. Flowers in my garden. You name it, I was there with my camera. A favorite was photographing celebrities, but, alas, there isn't much Hollywood north out here. But I am happy finding new things to see. This spring will probably bring some lovely cloud filled skies, and rainbows. So, as the Pacific flyway closes, it's about time I photographed all the colors of spring!

The Best Photograph Ever Taken

Phil Nobel Reuters/Reuters

"Photography is all about secrets. The secrets we all have and never tell."

~Kim Edwards

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

So much can be said without uttering a single sound.

Virginia, I wish you could have been here to see his arrest. While it was not directly for the devastation he inflicted on you, it will help to bring to light the full extent of his crimes. You were unique and strong. You'll be remember for being the one that fought the hardest for justice in this dreadful situation. You will never be forgotten.

 I am praying that you have found peace.

"Don't be fooled by those in Epstein's circle, who say

 they didn't know what Epstein was doing."

~Virginia Roberts Guiffre

Nobody's Girl

 

Beautiful, Breathtaking, Woodbridge Road

"Feed the birds in winter; in return, they will feed your soul with the look of gratitude."

~Mehmet Murat ildan

Beautiful, breathtaking, Woodbridge road. There is so much beauty to be found there, no matter what season it happens to be. I think of all the places we do our birding, Woodbridge is my favorite, although, Desmond road is a close second! Moments like this, ethereal and calming, revives me!

More from Thursday's trip down Woodbridge road to come! 

Watch this space!

Little Green Men And Ugly Orange Despots

 

"For although we may not be alone in the universe,

 in our own separate ways, on this planet... we are all alone."

~Jose Chung

The X-Files

Season 3: Episode 20

 'Jose Chung's: From Outer Space'

Well, we could put Mulder and Scully on the case, but, you see, they were fired last year when Elon Musk was wielding his chainsaw, and Kash Patel was firing the FBI's finest. Fear not, Mulder and Scully will always have our backs, despite whatever X-file wins the presidency. 

The Truth Is Still Out There.

99 Red Balloons Go By

 

"It's interesting how every politician starts every conversation with talk of peace, then immediately shifts to investing in more fighter jets, tanks, Rifles and warheads!"

~Abhijit Naskar

Visvavatan: 100 Demilitarization Sonnets

It's 85 Seconds Until Midnight

Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists

Congratulations, MAGA, the man you voted for, the man who said no more wars, is now a full on warmonger! Your tax dollars well spent. Killing people, you don't know in the name of peace, and Trump's next justification for perhaps winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Are enjoying this time with Trump, an obviously psychotic tinpot dictator? 

One day, when the missiles are about to hit America, remember, YOU made it all happen, because he couldn't have got us all killed without you!

Enjoy

Tyler Likes To Help

 

"I believe cats be spirits come to earth. 

A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud, without coming through."

~Jules Verne

Tyler likes to help. He loves my desk. He loves my chair. And he loves my computer. Simon does too, but it's my pink eared black cat that likes to be helpful in my office. All he wants in the way of salary is snuggles, a supply of catnip fish and tinkle balls, and, of course, nom noms.

 A better assistant I'll never find!

Just Remember... your cat likes to help!

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... Ocean's 11

 

Danny Ocean (answering the phone)

"Hello, this is a recording. You've dialed the right number; now hang up and don't do it again."

Ocean's 11

(1960)

Ocean's 11 the original. The classic. Is it the best version of the story of Danny Ocean and his cohorts, you bet! But only because most of the time I go with the originals, so to be fair, the George Clooney's, 2001 version, definitely hits the mark! I guess it really depends on mood. Angie Dickinson is wonderful as Danny's wife. But Julia Roberts brought the same class as Dickinson did. Both films were made in different eras, so the updating of the story had to be done, and it was done in 2001 without damaging the original feel.  I am not going to tell you what I thought about the acting in either movie, because perfect is perfect. Right? So, here is my current pick between the two, but by the time the week is over, I might just watch the 2001 version. Shrug. Watch them both, but start with this one.

Check them out at IMBD

Ocean's 11 - 1960  Ocean's 11 - 2001

7 Minutes In February

 

Roberto Schmidt, Getty Images

There is really no quote for this post. 

 LISTEN TO THE SURVIVORS...

 RELEASE THE FULL UNREDACTED EPSTEIN FILES!

How To Make A Banana Cream Pie

 

"I'm not a lady, I'm a legend."

~Marlena Dietrich

Get more recipes from the Pet company here.

A little Atomic Jazz, While You Bake Your Pie

Every Day Is A Winding Road

 

"But you are still you, and I am still me, and we are still we."

~Richard L. Ratliff

Well, this is a busy weekend for us! Today is Valentine's day, tomorrow is the anniversary of the purchase of our condominium, and it was just a couple days ago that we bought the new Mini Cooper, so it has taken a bit of time doing all the necessary tasks, although some of which I am pushing into next week! But for right now we are just planning on enjoying being us. The us that can make monumental decisions without losing each other in the details. We have pretty much become of one mind when it comes to the big decisions. You would think that would be boring, but believe me, it's not. We make our decisions together, but that doesn't mean that there isn't vigorous debate on what path we take getting there! 

Everyday is a winding road, right?

 Hopefully that road looks just like Desmond road in spring!

Happy Valentine's Day to you and your love!

Our favorite romantic movie scene...

~

A Rainbow On The Day You Buy A Car

"What you see is what you get.

 It's not just black and white.

 It's a rainbow of fucked up colors too."

~Dana Husseini

RIP Basil

Wednesday, February 11th, 2026

So this squishy little rainbow appeared in the sky, as we drove to Sacramento to trade in our car. I hope that's a good omen, hopefully meaning that our old car would make it's way to someone who really needs it! Alas, I have a feeling that our Basil has gone on to it's glory. I am very sad about that. We had a lot of good times together. It truly had our back. But hey, 15 years isn't bad for a car. And it still got amazingly good gas mileage! But I digress. The point is, I am hopeful for the future, as soon as we learn to drive the new electric vehicle to get the most mileage. One thing is for sure, we will be saving a lot of money, and it's so much better for the natural world we enjoy so much! That's life in 2026!

One a side note... Donald Trump Can Kiss My Ass!

Read About it here.

Meet My New Ride!

 

"If everything seems out of control, you're just not going fast enough."

~Mario Andretti

Okay, so our lovely Basil is no more. He was 14 years old, and had well over 120,000 miles on the odometer, so he lead a good long life and served us well! As happy as I am, its bittersweet saying goodbye to a car. We share a lot with our rides. The best memories with Basil, were the times we went birding, and that's what I am thinking about. Getting to know our new friend, who does not have a name yet, will have some new challenges, like getting used to what it's like owning an EV for the first time! I miss the olden days, where when you bought a car, it had a steering wheel, four tires, and if you were lucky, air-conditioning, but time does move on, and while somethings have gotten exceedingly easier, somethings come with built in complications. But time will shake it all out. No worries, but I do need a day of an emotionless state of being, and for that, I need a pillow, a cat, and a Sibley guide to plan my next day in nature.

If you dream it, it will come. Right now, I'm dreaming of a stress free day.

More to come...

Maybe

 

"Always focus on the front windshield, and not the rearview mirror."

~Colin Powell

Maybe.

Could be.

I really like it.

But there are things to consider.

Maybe.

Could be.

We'll find out later today.

One of my favorite scenes from the movie, is the brilliant Eugene Levy as a shifty car salesman.

"The Wagon Queen Family Truckster, you think you hate it now, but wait until you drive it."

Ellipsis Movie Of The Week... Frankenstein

 

"I am obscene to you, but to myself, I simply am."

Frankenstein ( 2025 )

~Based on Mary Shelley's

 Frankenstein

Another first for me, this interpretation of the classic book by Mary Shelly's, Frankenstein. For the most part I am a purist when it comes to adaptations, and I usually bristle at versions of books that stray too far. I mean the books are best sellers for a reason! This version of Frankenstein, however, was terrific as a stand alone movie, but don't watch it for it's accuracy to the book. This first few minutes had me ready to give up, but hubby encouraged me to stick it out. Snuggling on the couch, watching movies, is a great motivation! As the movie progressed, it began to annoy me less, and actually began to entertain me. Thanks in no small part to, Christoph Waltz, as Heinrich Harlander, and Jacob Elordi as the monster. By the time the movie concluded I was sure that seeing it again, would be something to look forward to. Maybe I will add it to my October movie list. It's a very atmospheric film, so watching it around Halloween would be perfect! 

See the IMBD page here.

Atomic Game Day Elegance

 

"There's no love more sincerer than the love of food."

~George Bernard Shaw

BBC Presents, Man and Superman

The Superbowl is finally here! And there is already a lot of noise! Too bad it has nothing to do with the game of Football! "Bad Bunny bad" says the republican mood killers, "were gonna have our own half-time show, starring, Kid Rock, that'll own the libs!" Or something like that. Sheesh. Will ICE show up to ruin things? Don't know. I am sure they will pull something somewhere. Will Trump commit nasty Truthiness? Yeah, probably. But I don't give a shit! I plan to kick back with hubby, order in some decadent appetizers and watch the last football game until September! 

If I had thought of it sooner, I could have made my own appetizers, rather than order in, but alas I didn't. So, in an effort to be ready for next Superbowl, I am tip-toeing through cookbooks, online sites and YouTube to find something a quirky and fun to try. And these recipes above answer that call, and as plus, it's got a mid-century vibe to it. Go. Watch. Make something offbeat and delicious for your Superbowl party.

I'll be back Tuesday!

And now a little Atomic Age Mellow Jazz for your pregame party!

Go Seahawks!