The Weeping Willow

I love trees. I have many, many trees on my wee little acre of land, too many to even count. I contstantly add more trees, and I'm very sad every time one of them dies. When that happens I usually plant at least two more. Usually I've been very successful in my plantings of trees. I've grown them from a 6 inch twig to 30 feet tall. But there is one tree I have no luck with and it's one I just adore...the weeping willow.

Four Reflections

I am enamored of this particular spot I encounter daily along the Roanoke River. There's just something about the reflection that always causes me to pause. Sometimes it's hard to tell where the reflection begins and ends. I inverted the shot so you could see what I mean. Here are four different pictures, not one photo edited four different ways. I switched my cheap camera's color settings and took four shots in a row. Which one do you think is the best reflection?

Additions to the Greenway

When I was jogging along the very low Roanoke River in Salem last week,



at one point I became out of breath. I wished there was a bench I could rest my bones on for just a minute or two. The following morning, Poof! There it was...



So shiny and red. There are three of them along the greenway. The same day I wished for the bench I also noticed that inconsiderate people were leaving their bottles of water, cans of soda, disposable cups and other trash in the grass and on the fences. I said to myself, "They really need to put a garbage pail along the way." The following morning, Poof! There it was...



So shiny and red. Nearby the trash cans cement was being poured so that picnic tables could be placed. I was tempted to carve my initials in it before it set, as I always am whenever I see wet cement. Naturally I didn't. Unfortunately sometime during the night others could not control their urges and left their mark...



Even worse were other additions I spotted along the greenway...







Perverted graffiti, how lovely. Just what the many children I encounter along the way need to see. It looks like they scraped their art into the path with a rock or something. They must be really stupid too because they signed their names to their masterpieces. I can only hope they get caught. Idiots...

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day! Hope your day is simple and sweet just like this flower...

Fly Fishing

Another sultry day, feels more like August than May.

He's got the right idea...



Maybe I'll go for my fishing license today.

Possible Facebook Groups I

I was having some fun yesterday on the ultimate time-waster Fakebook, I mean Facebook, going back and forth with a friend about a group called, "Say No to Spandex." I was actually going to start a group named something like that after almost being knocked down, again, by a biker in lycra as I walked along the greenway in Salem. When I saw there was already a group I just hopped on, even though there's no "action." While I was chatting with my FB buddy I mentioned I should start a group called, "Where I grew up if we saw a guy wearing spandex, we'd pull him off the bike and beat the crap outta him!" My FB buddy responded I'd better be careful or he might hit me with his purse. Haha! Ok, calm down, we're just joking.

Since I have a mental problem and do most of my bizarre thinking in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping, a bunch of different Facebook groups I think I'd like to see started parading past me...

"Stop being so smug...you're riding a freaking bicycle!"

"Yeah, I know I'm overweight, but I still look better than you!"

"Why are you so freaking angry?...your candidate won!"

"Raising your voice does not make you right!"

"Stop answering my questions with a question!"

"Wipe that phony smile off your face before I do!"

"You lied to me, I will never take you seriously!"

"Would you mind taking the knife outta my back without twisting it?"

"The first time I saw you I immediately disliked you, now I hate you!"

"Why can't my city have a decent daily newspaper?"

"Why do newscasters giggle? It does not make them more likable!"

"When I hear (insert a name, the first one that comes to my mind is...) Obama's voice come on tv I must change the channel!"

"You call that art? I call that crap!"

"You're a teacher? Really? A teacher?"

"You have no money to feed your kid, but enough of it to get beer, cigarettes and tattoos!"

"Now that you have tattoos on your face, neck, arms and hands, what job are you applying for?"

"Don't you think you should move out of the one-room welfare hotel before having another kid?"

"Getting a tan does not make Jersey girls prettier!"

"Speak English, I don't understand (insert whatever, I'll go with...) redneck!"

"Why do you say "bless her heart" when you don't even mean it?"

"Who the hell taught you how to drive?!"

"Merge does not mean stop!"

"Yellow does not mean stop short!"

"You're not better than anyone, so get over yourself!"

"Shoot me now...my husband has taken to wearing red suspenders!"

Those were just a couple that came to mind...I'm sure they'll be more. I hope no one gets offended but if they do here's a group for you...

"Lighten up! Not every thing's about you!"

Azaleas

It was nice to meet a friend on Friday for a walk along the Roanoke river (beautiful as usual) followed by a tasty lunch downtown at Wasabi's (Sumo Roll still rules) then a stroll to the Strawberry Festival (overrated unless you're a huge fan of strawberries I guess) onto getting ripped off by downtown parking lot fees ($5.00 for a minute over two hours is way too much for lunch) and topped off with a nerve-wracking ride in an about to over-heat car up Chestnut Mountain to take pictures at Happy Hollow Gardens.





Happy Hollow has always been known for its amazing azaleas. This year, they weren't too amazing. Maybe I waited too long and they had already peaked. I thought I actually had at least another weekend since my azaleas were still pretty brilliant and Happy Hollow's elevation is much higher, but apparently not. However, this orange azalea is a pretty rare sight...



Luckily I made it back down the mountain by cruising so the car didn't overheat until I pulled into my carport. This is the view from my driveway. If I'm looking for that azalea shot I think I'll stick closer to home next time...