Best Belated Birthday Gift (120/365)

TIME: 11:55 am
PLACE: Airport
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy

*~*~*

MB called last night to let us know he was finally coming home.

I got to pick up my boy at the airport this morning.

That was the best belated birthday present I could have asked for.


So happy he is back safe and sound!

 

Birthday Level Up Bonus (119/365)

TIME: 9:33 am

PLACE: Home

SUBJECT: Birthday drawing

*~*~*

I hit Level 54 today.

I received the following bonuses for achieving this level : 

1. A drawing of Jack from StellaDella (above)

2. A Charcuterie platter from HH

3. A bouquet of purple roses was delivered courtesy of MonkeyBoy

4. A supper date with HH and DramaQueen.

It was a good day. 

It's Everywhere (118/365)

TIME: 7:13 pm
PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: Dog hair on flower

*~*~*

This photo is grainy.  In addition, the flowers were moving in the breeze, causing the blurring in the upper right.

But I did manage to capture the dog hair stuck between the petals of the flower in the middle left.

I think it's a Mulder hair.

Survivor (117/365)

TIME: 7:15 pm

PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: Hosta

*~*~*

My hostas survived last week's freak snow storm.

Hopefully, they will survive the being trampled by Mr. Mulder.

 

Let There Be Light (116/365)

TIME: 7:19 pm
PLACE: Stairwell
SUBJECT: Light fixture

*~*~*

We have been searching for a light fixture for the stairwell for quite some time.

We had one, but it used LED lights that could not be replaced; at least, we couldn't figure out how to replace them and the documentation that came with the light didn't tell us either.

So we've been in the dark on the stairs for over a year now.

The majority of the lighting we saw at the home improvement stores didn't have interior lights that shone down  as well as up.  There were plenty of exterior lights that had up and down lighting, but they looked like, well, exterior lights.

Then, one Saturday, I Googled like a mad woman and stumbled upon this website: Inmod
They had a wall sconce that met our requirements.  AND it takes light bulbs, so we can replace when they go out.  Glorious.

  

    

Happy Birthday Scully! (115/365)

TIME: 9:29 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Scully

*~*~*

Miss Scully turned 3 years old today (That's 28 in human years according to this website).

StellaDella and I took her to White Cottage for a Scooby snack (we also brought one home for Mr. Mulder).

She was surprisingly well-behaved.

Happy birthday to a fellow Taurus.  No wonder we get along so well!

Empty Theatre (114/365)

TIME: 9:40 am
PLACE: Scottish Rite Valley of Southern Illinois
SUBJECT: Theatre seating

*~*~*

The local Scottish Rite is downsizing and selling their building and contents.

The content sale was today.  HH and I picked up a few things.

While there, I wandered into the auditorium/theatre to check out the colorful seating and flooring one last time.

  

 

Colorful Entrance (113/365)

TIME: 6:32 pm

PLACE: Casa Maria
SUBJECT: Entrance 

*~*~*

I needed puffy chicken tacos and a drink tonight.

Casa Maria never disappoints.

Globe Collection (112/365)

TIME: 10:19 am

PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Globe collection

*~*~*

A portion of my globe collection in honor of Earth Day.

That little one on the bottom is mis-aligned.  I have tried to twist it to correct the maps, but it is stuck super tight.  It bothers me that South America is shifted.

Lettuce Give Thanks (111/365)

TIME: 7:24 PM
PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Lettuce

*~*~*

We survived the snow and freezing temps.

We even have some lettuce popping up.

April Snow (110/365)

TIME: 5:06 PM
PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: Squirrel in sand cherry

*~*~*

It's 4-20 and look at the that white stuff all over the place.  

Coincidence?

That's not right.

 

Preparing (109/365)

TIME: 6:40 pm

PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Cat litter containers

*~*~*

Yeah...I ending up feeling like shit today.  

I got the chills last night, and when I woke up, I felt like I was hit by a truck.  It even hurt to shower.

I still had to log on to work - I was the only supervisor available today.  That sucked.  But I powered through and felt much better by late afternoon.

Which was good.  We are supposed to have a hard frost and snow tomorrow. WFT?

My hostas just popped up and are surviving the dog's running all over them.  I'll be damned if I let a freak frost kill them now.  The peonies are getting covered with a sheet as well.  

 

Wallflower (108/365)

TIME: 10:41 am
PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Wallflower

*~*~*

SD & I received our 2nd Pfizer vaccination this morning.  Hopefully, if I end up feeling badly, it happens before tomorrow.

We shall see....  

Girders (107/365)

TIME: 7:45 pm

PLACE: St. Louis, Missouri
SUBJECT: Girders on McArthur Bridge

*~*~*

We took Dad to Pho Grand for dinner, then stopped at Ted Drewes for custard.

There was still some day light left when we drove east on the Poplar Street Bridge going into Illinois.

I experimented with the zoom on my cell phone camera.  It seems to work okay.

A Quick Trip (106/365)

TIME: 12:43 pm
PLACE: Red River Gorge, KY
SUBJECT: Our human guide and more importantly, our dog guide, Pepe

*~*~*

HH and I traveled to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky to paddle through an abandoned limestone mine in a clear kayak through SUP Kentucky.  Well, HH paddled and I sat in front.  That arrangement helped keep our marriage from ending in divorce.

Here's the official picture they took of us in the kayak...

Then on the drive back, I made him stop so we could hike a mile (uphill!) to Natural Bridge.

How you get to the top. 

There is a very narrow passageway

The view at the top

A nice quick trip.

Half-Assed Wish (105/365)

TIME: 4:50 pm

PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: Dandelion

*~*~*

I was trying to take a photo of a fluffy dandelion gone to seed - as if I have never, nor has anyone else ever, taken a photo of one of those before (that's sarcasm son) - when Miss Scully rudely pushed in front of me and stepped on it.

Full wish gone, just like that. Poof!

I am left with making a half-assed wish.

That's okay, a half-assed wish is better than no wish, right?  

New Roof (104/365)

TIME: 6:05 pm

PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: Shingles

*~*~*

We had a new roof installed today - well, partial, they are coming back tomorrow to finish.

HH had shingled the roof back in 2014 - recently though, we had some leaks appear in SD's newly plastered bedroom ceiling and in the kitchen.  Try as we might, we could not figure out where they were originating.  We decided to suck it up and hire some professionals to tear it all off, repair any boards, install a barrier and a roof vent and lay down new shingles.

Overall, it wasn't as expensive as we anticipated, but still...I hate spending that kind of money.

Violet (103/365)

TIME: 7:16 pm
PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Wild violet

*~*~*

There are many wild violets in the yard this spring.

It's a nice pop of purple in the yard.

Paint by Number (102/365)

 

TIME: 7:01 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Vintage Paint by Number

*~*~*

I had a routine doctor's appointment this morning and afterwards, stopped by a nearby antique mall to check things out.

This was one of the 1st things I saw when I walked in. And, like most things I see in antique malls, I didn't need it but I wanted it.  So of course I bought it.

This was on the back:

"If you two are still around when I am gone - Good. Just Rember [sic] - I - I Painted You - 1-3-59

Dick Lles otherwise I spell it like this [fancy signature]"

Still trying to figure out if that is his real name or he was being a funny guy...

Lump (101/365)

TIME: 7:13 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Mulder

*~*~*

I took this picture of Mr. Mulder due to the large bag of lump charcoal in the background.

Because he is a big old lump and I love him!
 
*~*~*

edited to add:

Apparently today is National Pet Day. I didn't know this. Sorry, Tessa, Jack and Scully, I only posted Mulder today, but I love you knuckleheads too!

 

Brick Wall (100/365)

TIME: 10:13 am

PLACE: Downtown
SUBJECT: Brick wall

*~*~*

HH and I treated ourselves to some coffee from a downtown shop (Joe and Onie's) this am.

Always love me a brick wall.

 

Under the Skywalk (099/365)

TIME: 7:44 pm

PLACE: St. Louis, MO
SUBJECT: Parking garage skywalk

*~*~*

HH and I picked up my dad tonight and took him out to dinner.

We went to Mai Lee, a Vietnamese restaurant in St. Louis that was recommended to us.

It was nice to get out and eat dinner with my dad.

Throwback Thursday (098/365)

TIME: 8 April 2007, 6:08 pm

PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: Leftover Egg Hunt item

*~*~*

12 years ago we had an Easter Egg hunt in the backyard.

This egg was not found and I snapped the picture when I was back out in the yard with Oreo.

Also?

Easter Egg hunts and the chocolate ingestion aftermath apparently cause children to crash on the couch.


TIME: 8 April 2007, 6:47 pm
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: StellaDella, age 3

 

Dots (097/365)

TIME: 9:16 pm

PLACE: Back porch
SUBJECT: Capital Pear petals

*~*~*

The neighbors have a capital pear in their backyard.  

The rain and wind are blowing the petals from the blooms and dotting our steps.

Scared Me There For a Moment (096/365)

TIME: 6:51 pm

PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Tulip 

*~*~*

I was taking some close-up pictures of the lone tulip we had bloom this year and was startled because I thought there was a creepy spider/bug inside it.

It was just the stamen.

House Fire (095/365)

TIME: 5:58 pm

PLACE: 14th Street & Union 
SUBJECT: House fire

*~*~*

I heard sirens and saw smoke rising up from behind the factory shortly after I finished work today.

SD and I took Mulder and walked down the alley to see what was happening.

A house on South 14th street was on fire.

Chatting with the neighbors, I learned that it was empty; the renters had just moved out a few weeks ago, so no one was hurt which was good.

Many though it was suspicious, though.  I'm sure there will be an investigation.

The Easter Captain (094/365)

TIME: 12:14 pm

PLACE: Back porch
SUBJECT: DQ's Easter basket

*~*~*

Even though she is 23, I still make an Easter basket for DramaQueen.

It was a bit of a challenge this year - Target's shelves were empty when I went there yesterday.  Guess that's the chance you take when you push it off until the last minute.

  Luckily, Walgreens came to the rescue.  

This is how I ended up filling it - it's to be shared with her boyfriend.

I hope they like it.

Caturday Curl (093/365)

TIME: 3:19 PM
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Jack

*~*~*

The box with burlap sacks is still in the living room because Jack likes to sleep in it.

How can I take away his favorite sleeping spot?

Morning Reflections (092/365)

TIME: 8:10 am

PLACE: Bathroom
SUBJECT: Stained glass & reflection off mirror

*~*~*

Here is another morning reflection photo featuring the stained glass we have hanging in the upstairs bathroom.

It makes having to get up in the morning a little easier.

 

It Took 26 Years, But He Figured It Out (091/365)

TIME: 6:41 pm

PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Anniversary Gift

*~*~*

This is my anniversary present.

After 26 years, he *finally* gets exactly what I wanted!