T-13, Just for Joy, Yard Art & Mellow Yellow

Make Time for Small Reflections

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1. I've been watching French Open tennis for the past week and a half ... just for the JOY of it!

2. There have been quite a few surprising matches & a few upsets already with wonderfully competitive play ... especially from Samantha Stosur (who upset Justine Henin & Serena Williams to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros for the second time) and Jurgen Melzer who took out David Ferrer and Novak Djokovic on his road to semi-finals where he'll play Rafa Nadal.

3. Although I'm sad to see both Serena and Venus Williams out of the singles early again this year, it's fun to see them play doubles together ... experiencing success.

4. Now that the Williams sisters have reached the #1 ranking in doubles, hopefully they'll win their final match together at the French bringing them half-way to a Grand Slam in 2010.

5. Robin Soderling (of Sweden) played aggressively to take out Rafa Nadal in the Quarter Finals LAST year at Roland Garros and did the same thing to Roger Federer THIS year.

6. This ended Roger's streak of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-final (or better) matches starting with the 2004 Wimbledon Championship ... a record that is likely to stand for a long time!

7. Federer has appeared in an unprecedented 22 career Grand Slam finals in his amazing career!

8. Tomas Berdych upset Andy Murray in straight sets and went on to defeat Mikhail Youzhny in the Quarter Finals ... so he'll play Robin Soderling in the Semi-Finals.

9. The first women's semi-final match between Elena Dementieva and Francesca Schiavone ended abruptly when Elena retired due to injury after losing a very close first set in a tiebreaker.

10. Australian Sam Stosur made short work of Serbian Jelena Jankovic in the second women's semi-final match ... winning in two sets, 6-1, 6-2.

11. Both Schiavone (of Italy) & Stosur (of Australia) have played exceptionally well to reach the women's finals so Saturday's match should be a highly competitive one!

12. American men did better this year than in years past ... especially Robbie Ginepri (a non-seeded player) who defeated his fellow American & friend, Sam Querrey in 4 sets and former French Open Champion, Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain in 5 sets to make it to the 4th round where he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets.

13. John Isner lost to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic and Andy Roddick was upset by Teimuraz Gabashvili of Russian in the 3rd round when both of these opponents played exceptionally well in very wet, heavy conditions.

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Thursday Thirteen and Just for the JOY of it

Subtle changes in
this 'angelic' yard art view
using Photoshop

Straight out of the camera ...


Pallet Knife


Watercolor

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and Mellow Yellow Monday

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"In your hands you hold the seeds of failure or the potential for greatness. Your hands are capable, but they must be used and for the right things to reap the rewards you are capable of attaining. The choice is yours." Zig Ziglar

Thursday Thoughts and Memes ...

Make Time for Small Reflections

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Yard Art, Window Views, Weekend Reflections
and Looking at the Sky

1. I'd not been to Knott's Berry Farm in DECADES, so it was delightful to meet my cousin, his wife, my sister & her husband there for breakfast on Tuesday morning. We had a wonderful 'catch up' visit and hopefully won't let so much time go by before we connect again ...

2. In addition to a wonderful visit, I rediscovered 'the Chicken House' ... a restaurant my parents enjoyed and took the family to occasionally on Sunday after church (even though we didn't have much money to spare) long before roller coasters made this place a huge 'theme park' attraction.

Click twice to embiggen and read this history of Knott's ...

3. The food was tasty, the prices economical (especially for Seniors) and parking was FREE. Methinks I'll probably return ... just for the JOY of it!

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4. This statue stands outside the Chicken House and is my Yard Art this week ... just because.

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5. We walked around a bit but didn't actually pay to enter the theme park itself.

6. Virginia's Gift Shop is still there ...

7. It's been joined by Pink's Hot Dog Stand and Cinnabon too. (My brother in law LOVES Pink's Hot Dogs so much he occasionally drives to the original location in Hollywood but now he knows he can get a delicious 'dog' closer to home ... when he's in town).

8. Of course there are roller coasters everywhere you look ... definitely not MY favorite activity, but I did take photos of them and the beautiful clear blue skies to share.

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Looking at the Sky

9. In addition, I saw many colorful signs ...

10. ... window views and reflections too ...

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Weekend Reflections and Window Views

11. Although I ran into problems hooking up to AT&Ts 'wireless connection' at Starbucks on my first visit with my Sony Vaio, methinks things are resolve so that on my NEXT visit I shouldn't have any trouble. This is the Starbucks in downtown Huntington Beach on Main street with more 'kewl' windows and reflections.

12. It's WINDY here, palm fronds are blowing around, and (sigh) I've got a sinus headache ... probably because I spent an hour outside this morning watering the yard hoping to keep my flowers blooming.

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Thursday Thirteen

13. I'm spending Thursday with my sister so I'll be visiting Friday and over the weekend again.

Hope you're all having a wonderful week!

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
George Washington Carver

Random Thoughts, Photos, and Memes ...

Make Time for Small Reflections

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Watery & Outdoor Wednesday
Just for the JOY of it, Thursday Thirteen,
Looking at the Sky, Camera Critters & Pet Pride
Herein are my Morning Musings and belated ...

1. I intended to share 'random thoughts' yesterday, but somehow time got away from me ... so I'm creating this list belatedly and combining it with some favorite Wednesday & Thursday memes Just for the JOY of it ;-)

2. Rain is predicted for later today (around 3pm through tomorrow morning) and that would be most welcome because it's been quite dry during March. I watered a bit on Monday morning as a 'tied me over' ...

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3. ... but if it doesn't rain I'll need to water the yard for real to sustain all these beautiful blossoms. See how these pink Amaryllis are going to produce more blossoms soon? I split the bulbs this past year and spread them all over the parkway, but these are still producing multiples. Seems strange to me, but I'm delighted all the same.

4. I'm especially delighted to discover a few more purple & yellow irises showing up along with the yellow ones ... see the two new buds on either side of the two new blossoms? I noticed one more farther to the left but haven't uploaded those photos yet so I can't share here ... but here's another ripe strawberry ready for picking ;-)

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5. The last few days I've been doing my best to fight off a cold ... taking extra Vitamin C, drinking lots of water, getting more rest, and using Zicam ... hoping for the best. I plan to pick up a 'Coldbuster' at Jamba Juice on my way to class at 11:30 today because I love the taste and hopefully it will help me fight off whatever ails me.

6. I hope to spend tomorrow (April Fool's Day ) with my sister and don't know how much energy (or time) I'll have to visit blogs today so I guess I'll be playing catch up over the weekend once again. She will be heading for Yosemite (and places beyond) on April 15th so we're making the most of what time we have left together ... just for the JOY of it!

7. My right forearm still hurts, but perhaps not quite so much as before. Sitting on my patio in a blue chair (just for the JOY of it) writing notes in my belated belated Christmas/NewYear's & Easter cards didn't help, but fortunately I managed to create a new address database and print the envelopes on my new Canon printer so they're in the mail and should arrive BEFORE Easter.

8. Thinking of Easter, this is what I've photographed to share for Yard Art this week ... just for the JOY of it!

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9. Alas .... I've run out of time and may need to publish this partially completed and finish later on today when I return from my Windows 7 class ... methinks that's exactly what I'm going to do because my mind has just shut down and Molly's bugging me for a walk ... just for the JOY of it!

10. It's 5am Thursday morning and raining gently outside at the moment with heavier rains predicted to arrive shortly (if ABC7's weather reporting can be believed). I'm not quite sure when it started but the 'wet stuph' wasn't falling when I went to sleep (earlier than usual last night) ... and it's supposed to clear up by noon.

11. I've moved Ms Kitty's 'under the blue chair bed' to the covered alcove by the 'real' front door at the side of my house so she'll have a second dry place to lounge around (in addition to her igloo), but haven't moved the blue chairs themselves yet. I'm watching the wind and hoping I can leave them in place to save my arm the added strain.

Celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of Camera Critters

12. Although I slept well for about 10 hours, I'm not quite sure how I feel this morning. I had zero energy when I returned from my class yesterday afternoon (considered leaving early but stuck it out until the end) ... and didn't even THINK about finishing this as intended so I'm doing it now as I charge my phone & camera battery in anticipation of the day ahead with my sister.

13. Finally, (because it's still dark outside) I'm sharing yesterday morning's sunrise ...

just for the JOY of it!

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(belated) Random Tuesday Thoughts,Wordful Wednesday,

Thursday Thirteen, Just for the JOY of it, Looking at the Sky
Camera Critters & Pet Pride

April 1st Bonus ... just because ;-)
Did you notice that Google has become

this morning? Click for their explanation ...
just for the JOY of it!

Hope you're each having a delightful day!

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for the Day
"“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts. ” Bertrand Russell