Square Dog Friday and Cephalpod Coffeehouse.

Oh My Lord !

Thank goodness it is Square Dog Friday. I need the happy.

Playing catch-up with my life, The Square One's, friends

and everyone's blog and my artwork.
Overwhelmed at the moment.

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But it is Square Dog Friday and you know the drill,
so lets woof it !
Woof !

The Square Ones at work in the vegetable garden.

 i thehamish is checkin' out the growin stuff.

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remerberin my growin fud

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 im' seenin carrots but where the chkikin strips

were were were

chkikinchkikinchkikin

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 murfffurghggger  carrot OK where is chkikin' growin' needin' chkikin

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 chkikin' chkikin chkikin is gud

carrots gud but chkikin' better 

,

 hungry thinkin bout chkikin'

oh woe is me where is chkikin'

woe is me

woe

 awwwwwwww Watson my sweet baboo,  he is the best gud dug ever.
Everyday is a joy to be around him. 

 I just love this gud dug !

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 He is sitting by the Japanese icebox watermelon plant that is going berserk.

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 Oh sweet Watson.

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 ummmmmmm what bout mememememmemememe me memember me 

i thehamish me me me

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 Where is my chkikin' strips growin'

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 no watermemloon chkikin'

.

 i thehamish is wantin' chkikin

chkikinchkikinchkikin why not growin'

woe

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The Cephalopod Coffeehouse.
 Hosted by The Armchair Squid.

Last Friday of every month The Cephalopod Coffeehouse meets 
and post about the best book we have read this month.

My books this month are Wolf Hall and Bring Up The Bodies.

By Hilary Mantel

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I am a crazy history person. 

Vikings, the Roman Empire across Europe
 to the Kings and Queens of England.

I have read too many books on the life of Henry The VIII and his sad Queens.
From the Plantagenet's, Richard the III to Tutor Henry and Ann Boleyn.

Both these book chronicles one mans deluded desire
to crash and burn everyone and everything in his quest to have a legal son.

The books are written from the perspective of Thomas Cromwell.
A blacksmiths son who became a mercenary for the French,
studies Law, spoke many languages, minster to Wolsey
then makes his way through the backstabbing court to become
one of the most powerful men in Henry's Court.

He is the main character, with all the typical character of Henry's court
as planets revolving around Cromwell.
What the books show that Henry was the Golden Prince along with
Cardinal Wolsey until this  golden world falls apart in the quest for a son.
The main focus of the books, the events leading up to Henry's marriage to Ann
and then the downfall of Ann and the Boleyn family.

Henry wanted what he wanted and he wanted it right now and Cromwell
works to give it to him.
Surviving all the back room dealings, political intrigue,
philosophical and religious debates.
But his higher goal and his influences is what led to the
creation of the Church of England.

Living today I think we do not understand what a huge undertaking this was.
The Pope ruled everyone and everything and to question his power
was to be excommunicated and sent to hell.
I enjoyed both books but I didn't love them enough to go back and reread them.
There are several gems that will stay with me, especially in her handling of Ann.
We all know the victors get to write or rewrite history.
As usual women are used and abused as pawns to be moved across a chess board.
Families fortunes rose and fell with the birth of a baby.
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If you watched the PBS miniseries of Wolf Hall it followed the books nicely.
But the star was actor Mark Rylance playing Cromwell. 
Quiet, eyes watching everything a look here,  you could just see his mind working.
He was perfect as Thomas Cromwell and really became the Cromwell of the book.
 ............
Congratulations to Vanya Shivashankar and Gokul Venkatachalam for
co-winners of The Scripps National Spelling Bee.
They had to be named co-winners because they ran out of words.
I mean just how cool is that !
I couldn't say any of the words let alone spell them. What a hoot.
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And just because I can here is your pretty to start the weekend.
thehamish trying to catch pool water.

Tucson had the most wonderful May, temperatures at lest 10 degrees below normal
but it all stops now.
We are back to high 90's and will hit 100+  this weekend !
Pool time !

queen . . parsnip
music. . . Wrapped Around Your Finger,  The Police

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Squard Dog Friday

Best day of the week is here,

Square Dog Friday !

We all know the drill so lets woof it.

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The Square Ones are on very strict diets.

Very low/no fat.

I grate lots of carrots and chopped green bean to add 

to the wet and dry food they eat.

They have always loved carrots to chomp on for snacks.

 I am holding a carrot for Watson.
ummmm yum.

 Is that a yummy carrot I see in your hand,

nice tall person who feeds us ?
Under my work table are two places for the Square Ones to nap in.
I call it the condo.

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 Yes please I would enjoy eating a carrot.

Watson is so polite.

 ummmmureryurff
 i thehamish is likin' carots.

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 gud gud gud carrots !

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I use to have this basket on my porch for a kitty that we took in
When I lived in Laguna Beach.

Jabba rarely napped in it but it was there for him.

Now it is in my bathroom under a counter.

When I brush my teeth at night Watson will slowly crawl in  

and wait till I am finished.

.

 .

 .

 Gud Dug Watson.
I lurve him.

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And now just because I can here your pretty

for the start of the weekend. 

 Wonder friend Tamago  just came back from a trip to Japan.

And look what she sent to me !

TOTORO !

Thank You super nice friend.

I will even re-use the pink plastic bag 

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 Some clouds in the sky that I tried to make look more like what was there.

But really did not succeed.

Still it was fun to try to capture the colors that I get to see most evenings.

carrot. . . parsnip

music. . . Cloud Age Symphony,  Okino Shuntaro

Wednesday in Japan and Tucson.

 I am still playing catch up.

But here I am posting my Wednesday in Japan, sort of.
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If you have read my blog for any length of time,

you know my love of anything pickled. 

From my Polish upbringing to my family living in Japan,

we all love anything pickled.

I usually make quick Japanese refrigerator pickles. 

So easy and so good and you can eat them right away.

No special jars, water baths, big pots and all the other stuff.

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Today I tried out a new gadget. I am not one for buying the latest must have.

This gadget said in a day it can infuse your veggies  with more flavor.

....

 So here is my first batch of Vacu Vin carrots and onions. 

In a smaller regular jar some carrots, onions and cauliflower.

I made my own brine with vinegar, water, sugar, salt, mustard seeds, salt and pepper.

I can't wait to taste them.

They are suppose to last in your refrigerator for two months.

In my home maybe 2 days.  

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 Daughter and partner when out to Randolf Park and she packed them a
Bento Box for lunch.

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 All tied up and ready to go. 

Yummy and pretty.

............................

And just because I can here is your mid-week pretty

The Javelinas are back in the late morning and visiting my yard.

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 Young pretty lady

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 A Mum with her wee beautiful baby.

The babies stick like glue to their Mums and follow everything she does.

They are like tiny hairy loafs of bread.

The herd, looks out for the babies and can be very frightening

in protecting their young.

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 Here is a Mum with a young teen.

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I have two small water ponds for the birds and wildlife.

Here is the small family group drinking and rolling around in the water.

The leader is a young male and I hope they do well.

So many people are very cruel and shoot these 

wonderful animals or try to run them over.

They were here first and deserve our understanding and respect.

My land is for them to find some quiet time. I leave them alone.

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happy. . . parsnip

music. . . The Love Parade,  The Dream Academy

parley view parsnip. . . what day is it ?

Still playing catch up.

But The Square Ones and I found some time to do some gardening.

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 Time to open up the shade cloth so the plants will get more sun.
The vegetable plants have to stay in the protected side yard that is covered in
screen so the critters can't get in and eat everything. Because they will !
They climb over the walls or dig under.
They devoured my garden three years ago.  And then dug it up.
Naughty.
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 Watson and thehamish on guard duty.
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yesh i thehamish is planting chkikin' strips they gud
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 chkikin'chkikin'chikinchikin is chikin' gud
carrots gud 
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 On guard duty
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Carrots and chicken strips

 Watermelon radishes and parsnips.

With thehamish's new pancreatic diet,
no fats plus food that can be tolerated by his diabetes,
liver and bladder problems, it is a huge undertaking.
Thank goodness both he and Watson love carrots.
So every meal they both get grated carrots and chopped green beans
added to their meals, to add bulk.
Plus they still can have homemade chicken strips.
...............

Here is your pretty to start the week.
Some gardening photos from a few years ago.
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i thehamish  plantin' chikin' strips
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 Watson guarding the strawberries !

garden. . . parsnip
music. . . Manic Monday,  The Bangles

Square Dog Friday... Oh No !

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It has been one of those days weeks and months.

Hopefully next week regular programing will be restored.

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The Square Ones wanted everyone to know they are fine.

Woof

Hello Cabana Boys !

Lazing by the pool.

Japolina,  wonderful blog friend is having a free movie giveaway.

American Sniper, just in time for Memorial Day.

Warner Brother is donating $1 per copy sold to Wounded Warrior Project.
A good project to donate to.

Her blog is always doing fun stuff like this, reviewing interesting items,

or talking about her life in Florida. 

Plus she is just a hoot. So stop by this weekend before contest closing time.

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 The Square Ones approve of this contest.

 ......

 And that is your pretty to start the weekend !

contest. . . parsnip

music. . .  Walkin' On the Sun,  Smash Mouth

parley view parsnip... it's a Monday

You all know I post three days a week.

Monday is what ever is happening in Tucson. 

Wednesday is usually Japan.

And

Friday is the best day of the week 

Square Dog Friday.

May in Tucson is really a a beautiful month till you get to the wind.

Lots of wind, I don't like it.

I live in the foothill so my home gets the full brunt of the wind !

My Valley Fever acts up and my lungs are killing me. 

For all the beauty of May it is a painful month for me.

Here are some photos of spring beauty from around my home.

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And here is your begining of the week pretty.

Smile today it is a good day.

Prickles and all.

cheers. . . parsnip

music . . .  You Get What you Give,  New Radicals