Flowers

Flowers are one of the bright things in our lives. Photography is one of my hobbies and I can't resist taking pictures of all flowers especially those closeups we all love. I found these pictures on my computer and remember the place and time and occasion when I had all these flowers scattered around.

This is a moonflower, it only blooms at night. My daughter Chris has a huge plant in her yard and when I was visiting I took this picture.

I got these Cymbidium orchids for a retirement party that I gave for the President of the company I work for. The party was at my house, my first party for a large group.

This green Phaleonopsis was gorgeous and exactly matched the towels in my guest bathroom! That may not be politically correct to have flowers in the bathroom but that room just looked so sophisticated with these orchids in it, before the party I just went upstairs to look at it a dozen times.

This flower grew from a bulb on my back deck and I can't remember what it's called. Can anyone identify it? The wonderful coral color was a joy to look at until our hot Texas summer got to it.

These weird looking flowers are called "Kangeroo Toes" and are a really colorful shade of orange.

They lasted all summer and really made a statement against the white stucco wall on the walkway that leads to my back door.

One of these days I'll take some really good pictures of my flowers and post them here. My photography attempts can only get better with practice I hope.

Are We Good Citizens?

I love quizes and I took this citizenship quiz thinking I knew all the answers. I didn't. I got 84% of them correct. The secret is to read the questions carefully, try to remember your high school or college American history and hope for the best. Try taking this quiz and see how you do.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/news/interactives/citizenship_quiz/index.html

I think you who are naturalized citizens probably will do better, having had to take these lessons before you take the oath to embrace American citizenship. Whatever score I got on the quiz, I am truly a loyal American. I want passionately to not have our freedoms taken away, a more peaceful and safe environment for my children and granchildren and their offspring.

Visitors

I've had daily visitors to my yard. In the spring there are some hens and one gobbler usually with six or seven little ones trailing behind. Last fall there were thirteen hens who grouped together to range all over the community here pecking at the ground looking for seeds and bugs to eat. They make the pilgramage everyday around the same time.

This picture was taken from the side yard which goes downhill into the woods. They possibly have nests in the woods, I've seen them sit on my fence and fly up into the trees but somehow I think they make nests on the ground.

I don't know if it's one big gaggle or several families that roam around. I have yet to catch a picture of the male fanning his tail feathers but he is impressive.

Off they go into the neighbor's yard. I have seen them pecking at my dining room window but as soon as I run to get the camera they are this far away. Turkeys are funny birds, when they fly they make a sound like a freight train. They call to each other at night and sometimes I can make a sound like they do and they will answer back. I wonder what I'm saying in turkey talk!

What do you know about immigration?

Do you have definite opinions on immigration?

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ

I was shocked to learn these facts. What can we do about it?

Dogs

Does eveyone love their dog like I do? I left today to go shopping and I was gone for about 3 hours. When I came into the house, Tinker greated me like I'd been gone for a week. She does exactly the same if I'm gone 5 minutes to go out to the mailbox and pick up the mail. She bounces around and gives me kisses and wags her tail. It's as if she is saying "At last you've come home, you've been gone so long."

I think dogs are the only creatures that love us unconditionally. A few years ago I went on vacation for 10 days and she stayed at my son Dave's house, playing with their dog Abbey and having a ball. I went to pick her up even before I went home to unload my suitcase because I missed her so much. She was sitting in their front window looking out when she saw my car and the look on her face was unmistakable. She actually couldn't believe her eyes and did a double take when I came up to the door. I think she thought I was gone for good. I went inside and she crouched down on the floor and cried and then ran and got her leash off the doorknob and brought it to me as if she were saying, "okay let's go home now, I'm ready to leave".

For weeks after she never left my side. She walked from room to room with me, sat next to me while I was on the computer. If I went to the store she was in the dining room window watching for my car to come down the street and then met me at the door.

If I go over to Dave's house just to visit nowI can't pry her out of the car! She thinks I'm going to leave her for a long time again. If I take her food dish and water dish, her blanket and her food with me, she gives me a resigned look and eventually gets out of the car, she knows she's staying for awhile.

This dog of mine gives me endless joy.

New Hampshire primaries

I watched the New Hampshire primaries on TV tonight. I missed part of the Republican debates but then there isn't anyone I admire on the Republican list of candidates.

It is going to be interesting following the candidates until we have our Texas primaries in March when I'll have to make a decision to vote for just one person. I like a lot of things that each candidate said, including some things by Hillary. I didn't expect that. She has great determination and does have experience in a higher office but considering the money troubles and the hooplah of Whitewater I'm just not sure she can stay away from the big corporations. I have heard how much public money they spent when her husband was President, about things they took with them that belonged to the Whitehouse, their arrangement with their protection detail which is paid for by the taxpayers. She is experienced in working for herself I can say that.

I liked the things John Edwards said and his passionate ideals on taking money from lobbyists and getting rid of their influence in his cabinet if he were elected but then I've read that he has an illegimate child on the way. That could be opposition badmouthing or it could be true.

I liked what Governor Richardson said about having experience balancing the budget as governor and his experience working with international governments but there has not been much coverage on him in the news so I don't know any more about him.

Barack Obama clearly has a big audience but he can't really state a definitive plan for the change he is campaigning for. But I like him. Don't know if I'll vote for him until I hear more. I've read many slandering emails about him but can't believe everything you read about anyone. I thought he sounded sincere.

So that about takes care of the four Democratic candidates that debated tonight. I'm anxious to hear more from them and the other candidates and next time I'll mange to catch the Republican comments as well.

What is your opinion?