Musings

Winsome decor

garden_bird.jpg

I’ve never seen anything quite like this garden critter—loved especially the beak detail/accuracy.

I’ve long valued winsomeness in garden decor, but never achieved it. The closest we currently have is the grotesque (gargoyle to some, inaccurately) that lives in shady (not very visible) places in the back yard. The next closest is the bench under the tree in the front yard, I guess. See, short list. And not at all inspired.

Mom gave the Guru the grotesque, because she, like many people, hadn’t a clue what to give him one year for his birthday. He really really doesn’t like it, hence its near-hidden residence(s).

Iris bouquet

iris_bouquet.jpg

It’s been a quiet week here at our own version of Lake Wobegon, but today we’ve had visitors in and out! I am now awaiting our overnighter, here because of flight connections made more complicated by frequent flyer miles restrictions….

“Actual Size”

actual_size.jpg

Specially-tailored Mini Cooper humor….

Gardenia days

gardenia_bud.jpg

We’ve moved into the gardenia phase of spring-changing-into-summer, and our front garden smells terrif—sorry there’s no iTunes of such lovely scents!

Writers’ egos

dove_in_flower_bed.jpg

Despite the significant drops in crow populations (and other species), we did see several and hear more when we were descending Brasstown Bald a few weeks ago.

No crow pictures; I’m substituting a dove.

My current read, incurring fines from the library ’cause it runs over 900 pages and is only a two-week book (due last Monday), is Vikram Chandra’s Sacred Games, which is set in Mombai, and covers an amazingly brief time-span, somehow without being overly self-absorbed. Anyway, Chandra notes (pg 640), in the voice of his Indian version of Tony Soprano:

I’ve worked with politicians, and gangsters, and holy men, and let me tell you, none of these can compete with a writer for mountainous inflations of ego and mouse-like insecurities of soul.

Nailed it!

May shower!

droplets_hosta.jpg

I think we’ve gotten enough rain only to moisten the top layers of soil. Still, it’s better than just hot, dehumidifying sun.

Ides (May)

fleur_orange.jpg

I believe I’ve never heard anyone wax eloquent on the Ides of May. But maybe I missed it?

Peony prowess

pee-oh-knee.jpg

I looked for the ants on this peony, but they must have been on break.

Mom-Day memory

momnme.jpg

Here’s Mom and me back quite a few days ago! I think I vaguely remember that couch…

The Globe

chair_witness.jpg

Against our normal pattern of avoiding dining out on Fridays and Saturdays, we visited Atlanta’s The Globe for the first time, enjoying a range of dishes. This chair watched over us as we walked from the parking garage to the restaurant.

I’ve spent many afternoons and evenings, back in the day, at a different Globe, a bar in Athens (and, yes, I know John S, pictured on that link). For years, we would stop in for Friday-fest, and enjoy the popcorn and peanuts (when the machines were working). Now, I think the current version of the Friday-group meets at another establishment, a bit cleaner one….

The bar-folk at the Globe in Athens used to be famous for turning up the lights at closing time (when they had to empty the place or risk fines), climbing on the bar, and screaming “Get the eff out of here!”