WTF-Beta

I don’t TikTok, but I do appreciate my sterling silverware for 8(from my mom’s uncle & aunt), and my mom’s silverplate service for 12. And all the lovely platters from my mom-in-law. It’s fun to bring it all out for holidays and tea parties (but the last tea party was probably in 2019…)

Stunning, Steve! I would love to visit Seville someday.

I read on my Kindle so I can increase the font size. I like what I like! Like Jon, I either borrow or purchase Kindle versions of physical books friends try to give me.

It’s always funny when I tap the page of a physical book, to try to make it turn the page.

I don’t know how long they’d last, except that my cat would probably chew it! So I don’t bring cut flowers inside. Sometimes they grace the table on my front porch!

We planted a dogwood on our parking strip last fall. It looked like twigs when the neighborhood magnolias and cherry trees were blooming. Now it’s time!

Enchanting.

This is appalling.

@AndyD Poppy is very handsome! He’ll settle in when he decides that you’re useful to him. Cats are like that.

Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller.

I read the Little House books a long time ago. I know part of the story is problematic (colonialism, racism), it’s still fascinating. In this case, the story is told from Caroline’s viewpoint (the mother). It’s tender and sweetly told, so far.

I don’t watch a lot of stuff, but someone just recommended Soviet Jeans to me, and it sounds good. Eight episodes, you can get it through PBS Passport.

Set in Soviet Latvia in 1979. Dictatorship, KGB, a love story, a counterfeit jeans caper. Here’s the trailer.

@Bernard You set a beautiful table!

@Bernard Agreed, it’s distraction time.

Although I can’t help but notice that only women get fired. (Noem, Bondi.) Going on to special important jobs elsewhere.

We have urban coyotes in our neighborhood. This one was in our back yard a couple weeks ago. It’s on its way out the side gate.

Take good care of both of you! Glad things are improving. A long road, steady pace, always upward!

It’s $5.09 at the corner Shell station (my usual fill-up spot, with Kroger points to knock it down.)

John Pavlovitz has second thoughts on what he said before. No Kings Day Helped Me Find Some Things I'd Lost

“…No Kings Day was a much-needed reminder of how vital joy, hope, diversity, and our collective efforts are in resisting this Renaissance of hatred.

Our Republic is still in great peril, but we, its fierce caretakers who number in the tens of millions, are still not ready to consent to defeat.

With all we’ve had thrown at us for ten years by this b*tshit wanna be despot, his morally bankrupt accomplices, and his critical thinking-impaired cultic disciples, that, in itself, is a victory.”

I protest for the joy in seeing like-minded people. I don’t expect to change anyone’s mind. But I don’t want people to think that I’m fine with the current despot’s shenanigans.

I forgot to check the corner Shell station; last I looked it was $4.99. But I bought gas last week in the neighboring county that has lower gas taxes, so I paid $4.69 but I had points for 50 cents off, so $4.19 at Kroger. I’m planning my next Costco run to coincide with my next fill up.

Thank you for keeping this forum humming!

It’s a great program. Dolly Parton is a wonderful human being.

Yes! It was a gorgeous day in Portland, Oregon. A rally at the waterfront, and then a march. So many signs!

Always more fun to protest with friends.

The unions meet before the main rally, and marched in over the bridge together.

My group didn’t actually march; we participated in a performance art piece with umbrellas on the Burnside Bridge. If you zoom in, you can see us with our white umbrellas at the top of the second E in the word KEEP.

That’s my protest umbrella/parasol/sign. Very handy! I made it for the first No Kings event, and just keep adding to it.

Did anyone else go?

@Steve-Miller Where are you going in Spain?