Buddies

Paula was out for a visit last weekend and I must say that she is truly one of the most delightful visitors.  Easygoing, relaxed, up for anything (or nothing), everywhere she walks trails a waft of natural hominess and, if you'll forgive me borrowing a Stephen Colbert phrase .. truthiness.  Unafraid of looking things in the eye and then snickering about it and sharing the laugh with you ... that's my friend Paula.

I didn't take pictures while she was here, but I probably should have done so.  Paula .. we always have a room for you.

Mel and Sandy called to sing Bruce another fine rendition of Happy Birthday gone horribly astray.   I'm afraid its a tradition that we like to reciprocate.  Mel and Sandy just came back from their vacation and shared some pictures with me that I in turn can share with you.  :)

Cozumel

Dunn's Falls, Jamaica

Grand Cayman
That's a stingray that they're fondling.  Look at Mel's grin.  You can tell it's a fondle.

Renegade

As a preface to this post .. this song has been rolling around in my head for two days now .. and we all know there's only one way to excise something like that.  So you know what to do when you find yourself pottering in your kitchen or garage or driving somewhere singing "the jig is up, the news is out, they've finally found me" ... share it with someone else!

Oh Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law

Law man has put an end to my running and I'm so far from my home

The jig is up, the news is out

They finally found me

The renegade who had it made

Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray

This'll be the end today

Of the wanted man

Oh Mama, I've been years on the lam and had a high price on my head

Lawman said 'Get him dead or alive' and it's for sure he'll see me dead

Dear Mama I can hear you cryin', you're so scared and all alone

Hangman is comin' down from the gallows and I don't have very long

The jig is up, the news is out

They finally found me

The renegade who had it made

Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray

The judge'll have revenge today

On the wanted man

Oh Mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law

Law man has put an end to my running and I'm so far from my home

The jig is up, the news is out

They finally found me

The renegade who had it made

Retrieved for a bounty

Never more to go astray

This'll be the end today

Of the wanted man

From my new camera

Today, I read the manual that came with my camera.  I was doing something online that required I look up at the screen occasionally, but could occupy myself with a book in the meantime.  I decided to dig out my camera manual since the jasmine along the east side of the house has bloomed and I wanted to show you my little treasure.  I'd needed to fix the settings so that pictures were as sharp and clear as I like them to be.  I think things turned out quite well.

This jasmine was a late fall purchase two years ago for two dollars.  Gotta love a deal that just wants to show you how happy it is.

The kitchen window behind the sink isn't normally a favorite window of mine, probably because I'm usually doing dishes when standing in front of it.  It's also really hard to reach for cleaning and its got all sorts of spatters inside and out as a result.  Yet everytime I've been at the sink for the last couple of weeks, I've watched this jasmine get ready to add a burst of color to our pretty drab and grey Spring days.

Also a couple of years ago, I planted some grape hyacinth in the main flower bed in the back,
hoping it would naturalize.  Its taking over a nice chunk of that garden now.

The heather at the bottom of the garden nicely covers the electrical panel on that post.

The bells from the Pieris looked like little pearls littering the beds in the front.
I'll take a necklace made of that!

The primrose tucked in behind the boulders soften the rock and provide little Springtime color bombs.

I don't know why I can't remember the name of this tree.  It flowers before it leafs out and is one of the
first showstoppers of the season.

And speaking of show stoppers ...  this is the face of the man I love.
Bruce came out of the house for a smoke and was watching me with the camera when I turned around and
caught him, for once not goofing around for the camera.

I am a great aunt!

I am a great aunt.

No no ... not like that .. I'm sure all my nieces and nephews will tell you I'm a great aunt.  At least under threat of pain.  Or promise of chocolate chip cookies.  Or of disinheriting my vast collection of dust bunnies or web comic links.

Actually, my niece Myranda brought home a lovely young man.  That sounds a new relationship and I guess in a way it is, as he is a lifelong commitment.  Although just a wee fella at seven and a half pounds when he first greeted them, Liam already has stolen an inordinately large chunk of his parents' hearts.

Let me introduce Liam Larry Keith Britton, born February 1st to Myranda and Ryan.  Myranda reports that she still has a few pounds of pre-baby weight to shed, that Ian is having a hard time sharing his grandson, but he's being a great grandpa.   And damn, that sounded so weird..  My little bro is a grandpa!

Here's a shot of the new family guy.  :D

In other great aunt news of the more ordinary sort, some of you may know Kelly's daughter Trina took a trip to Cambodia where from all reports and the look of these pictures, had a fabulous time.

Hard to say whether the pictures of Cambodia or my niece look more fabulous.