name that kitten

So many kittens. Too many to name without help. There are a total of five kittens. In the picture above there are three of the kittens with the mother Dolly. They just don't seem to give their mother a moments rest. One of the kittens already has a name. Can you guess what the name is that I have selected for this one?

I know, the picture is a little blurry. But his name is Charlie because that moustache reminds me of Charlie Chaplin. Got a name for the black kitten?

This black kitten is the tamest one of all. And of course is my favorite and I think that it may be Mary's favorite also. Do you think that I should use the names of the seven dwarfs of Disney? Sneezy, Dopey, Bashful, Grumpy, etc.? Have a pleasant day. Lew

how to beat the heat

It's summer and it is hot and the kittens are trying to cool off on the cool cement. The black kitten is really relaxed and stretched out to full body length. What a life they have, they don't have to worry about paying the bills or mowing the grass. All they have to do all day is eat, sleep when it is hot, and play when it is cool. Reminds me of my own childhood in a way. I didn't work as a child, dad worked. I didn't lay down in the snow to put the chains on the car tires, my dad did that. All I did was to have fun and play. Well, actually, I did have to mow the grass. Not that bad you say? It was the old-fashioned manual push-mower kind.

The yard was cut by inches at a time. But other than that, life as a child was all fun and games, just like the kittens.

Try to stay cool wherever you may be and have a nice cool drink. Lew

butterfly or moth?

While walking outside the house I noticed a small moth perched quietly on the side of the house with her wings fanned out.

The pattern on the wings caught my eye. When I looked at it closer, I was delightfully surprised at the colorations in the wings and body.

And here I thought that only butterflies had beautiful colorations. Beauty is everywhere. All around us. All that we have to do is take the time to smell the flowers and look closely at all of natures tiny critters. Do you know how to tell when you are looking at a butterfly and when you are looking at a moth if it isn't obvious? Butterflies fly during the daytime and moths fly at night. Have an adventure right in your very own backyard. Lew

Atlas V

I am anxiously awaiting the launch of an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral this afternoon. As the space shuttle program winds down I seem to be taking more of an interest into the space activities. I watch the prelaunch preparations on television and then run outside with my camera to see the rocket go up, get some pictures, and then wait for the roar of the rocket engines to reach me. I don't go over to the coast for the launches anymore because of the horrendous crowds and the horrendous cost of gasoline. Living in Florida has its advantages besides being able to pick oranges right off from the tree.

Yes, I know, where you live you get to pick apples or peaches right off from the trees or fresh corn right from the field. Every place has its little advantage. Have a nice day and be sure to watch the Atlas V rocket launch on television wherever you may live. Lew

barbeque pizza

Today Mary and I went to Cici's pizza all-you-can-eat buffet for lunch. I like going there because I am a barbeque fanatic and they always have barbeque pizza on their buffet. I know that barbeque pizza sounds a little crazy but it is really quite good.

This probably sounds like a commercial but it isn't. Mary is not as much of a barbeque fanatic as I am and she prefers the spinach pizza. A call to all guys out there, which sounds better, barbeque pizza or spinach pizza. If you said barbeque pizza then you got the right answer. Have a nice day and splurge this week-end and get your favorite pizza and enjoy. Lew

spring is definitely here

I noticed this wildflower in our garden. What caught my eye was the pretty color of the blossom. Would you call that color magenta? It could easily be passed over because it is so small.

I was surprised that spring flowers had come so soon when New England still has its snows. I guess that is just one of the advantages of living here in sunny Florida. I decided to take a walk around the yard to see what other wildflowers had bloomed.

There was a rich variety of flowers everywhere.

This variety is my favorite because of its intense blue colors. I had used these particular pictures in an earlier post but these beautiful flowers are blooming in a multitude of areas in the yard.

Do you think that this is a great big flower? Nope, just a small wildflower which is numerous in our yard.

I was surprised to see that a wild dandelion had already flowered and gone to seed. I had missed seeing the pretty yellow dandelion flower.

But not to worry, there are more flowers budding and soon they will blossom also.

Even our strawberry plants are flowering and starting to bear fruit.

These are not all of the varieties of wildflowers in the yard. They are so many different types. And they all have such vivid bright colors.

My friends in snow country will just have to have a little patience and "April's showers will bring May's flowers"

I am anxiously awaiting the shuttle launch. We can actually feel the rumble from the rocket engines here in Orlando. I always find the launches exciting to watch and photograph. Anyone who can make it to Florida for the space shuttle launch may want to do just that because there aren't too many left. Have a great day. Did you enjoy my flower show? Lew

Santoku

Why does a santoku knife cut so thin. The only difference that I can see are the shallow grooves along the blade. Does anyone have any ideas? The name sounds oriental.

Mary got one included with a knife set that she got a while back. She really likes the knife and agrees that it does cut really thin.

I have also seen in the stores that you need a special knife sharpener to sharpen the knife. I don't have one but I guess that I will have to get one someday. But as procrastinators always say, "Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow". So I will get the special knife sharpener someday, just not today. And as I always say "Have a great day for those of us in Florida and for those living up north (especially Long Islanders) keep shoveling snow from the driveway. Lew