MAJOR BURROUGHS ~~~~ SOAP BOX ALERT

I detest this feckless war, America's longest war, and its attendant siphoning off of our country's future leaders. Our men and women in uniform, thrust in harm's way daily, make incredible sacrifices. For what? I grieve for them and for their families who fearfully and proudly watch and wait and hope and pray their loved ones don't come home in a flag-draped pine box.

Go ahead and call me names, but flag-waving and firecrackers and meaningless "support our troops" bumper stickers have no impact on me. Yet finding this poignant, personal affirmation on a California country road was gut wrenching and heart breaking. I just want Major Burroughs and his fellow heroes to come home safely to their loved ones so they can get on with their lives in peace in THIS country.

IT'S A MADAGASCAR DAY GECKO...

...a diurnal subspecies of gecko.

FAREWELL-TO-SPRING...

or HERALD-TO-SUMMER. Whatever you call it, Clarkia (not sure of species) is a stunning, graceful wildflower that blooms when the hills start to dry out, and is one of my favorites.

When I lived in the Santa Cruz Mountains, hillsides were covered with these nodding, delicate beauties in May. Traveling Highway 49 in the Sierra Foothills in early July, there were miles and miles of Clarkia to heighten my pleasure of this back-country California road.

And here I thought I'd already seen California's wildflower peak.

MI FAMILIA - PART II

I'd like you to meet my favorite niece, Heidi Lynn Gonzalez Orr. OK, sure, she's my ONLY niece, but one is all you need if your only niece is Heidi Lynn Gonzlez Orr! She used to be known as "Snaggle Tooth." Not any more! Heidi, who specializes in Trusts and Estates, is a partner in a big shot Seattle law firm and carries her great, great grandfather's (a Mexican Supreme Court Judge under the Porfirio Diaz regime) legal torch.

http://www.lanepowell.com/2558/heidi-orr/

My niece was recently diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but that hasn't slowed her down much at all. She teaches at Seattle School of Law on the side, she volunteers, she's active in local professional and MS activities. I'm proud of my courageous, optimistic niece. She's beautiful inside and out, don't you agree?

This is her adorable, loveable Neufie puppy Sophia. (She's still a PITA but thankfully, she's smart and trainable and will grow out of her puppyness. Soon I hope!)

"Q" - NAME THAT TREE (#7)

Hint: found in Hawaii

WONDERING...

...what used to be here. I wonder how they sunk the pillars. I wonder how long ago. Do you suppose the structure burned down?

Astoria, Oregon - May, 2010

NOT A COLUMBINE

Another unknown discovery, found in mid-May in Washington's Belfair State Park on the Hood Canal. It sure looks like it could belong to the Columbine family...

THIS is a Columbine!

Hmmmm. OK, I give up. Mark or Darice, are you there?!