February 23rd

Today is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
I sincerely do appreciate them,
(as does my dog).
As a matter of fact,
I just gave her one.
She seemed quite appreciative. :)

And.......
On this day in history, in 1455, the Gutenberg Bible was first produced
using Johannes invention.
And......
In 1954, kids in Pittsburg elementary schools were the first to receive
Dr Jonas Salk's new Polio Vaccine.
And.......
Today is George Frideric Handel's (of Handel's Messiah fame and others..) birthday.
He was born in 1685.
And.......
Remember the Alamo! Today in 1836, a 13 day siege began to gain independence from
Mexico.
And I'll bet you thought February was a boring month.

Isn't it wonderful to have information like that at the tap of a finger?
When I was a kid,
I had to use our badly out of date Funk and Wagnall's that my
Mom picked up new editions weekly at the local Winn Dixie.
We've become used to things appearing as if by magic, on screens sometimes so small
even my bifocals can't see the print.

Sometimes I miss "the good old days".
Take lunchboxes for instance.......
Now they are soft sided.
Sandwiches smash, containers open.....
I loved my old one.

Now this thing was indestructible.

A kid could even stand on it!

In a pinch, it could become a ninja weapon.....

Just saying....

Not that I'd condone that sorta thing.

Sandwiches still could get smashed, but it was awesome!

 

And speaking of Polio Vaccines,

in the 1960's these sugar cubes were

the way most kids were inoculated.

Maybe that's where Timothy Leary got the idea..........

Again,

just sayin'

 

 

I miss some of the old things.

Even with an electric computerized cash register, kids at Wendy's counters

still can't make change.

I learned on one like this at my Uncle's corner grocery

 

 

It was a work of art.

This picture is almost like it.

When you pushed down the large keys,

a beautifully printed number popped up.

You had to make change yourself.

Amazing,

imagine that, relying on the old brain

Instead of a calculator.

 

Speaking of calculators.

At a job I had,

I used one like this daily.

I got very adept, very fast, on this machine.

I loved it!

But,

We had to keep the tape.

It was our "backup".

 

I was out and about the other day when I saw a Tesla.

Yes.

A Tesla!

A lot like the one they put into space........

Its a beautiful car.

I just wonder if there's a learning curve if an oldster buys one.

Would we have to attend a Tesla Owners class?

Would there be a test?

If we fail, do we need to refund the car?

Just gimme a simple car.

My first was a VW Beetle

Pacific Blue.

Loved that car.

Sadly, I was in an accident with it and it was totaled.

Looked a lot like this cutie.

No rack though.

I changed tires, a battery and even helped

to install a new muffler.

Easy car to drive.

Easy to repair.

A regular "people's car".

Nudge....

Get it?

I understand the reason that we need to get away from fossil fuels,

and I currently drive an SUV,

But my "Bug" was still my favorite,

even with no air conditioning!

 

(Segue)

Spring is bursting out!

I'm seeing that beautiful pale green color everywhere.

There are 2 seasons I love,

Spring and Fall

because of the colors.

creeping sedum and dusty miller

creeping sedum and pansies

pink dianthus

 

Some of the plants are coming back.

Small green buds are sprouting on the trees and in the garden.

I saw 3 bumblebees yesterday.

I just hope the hens don't catch them.

As I've said,

they eat anything.

 

We also saw a Mallard couple scoping out prospective nest sites.

I hope they choose our yard again.

Baby ducks are just too cute!

 

Its just the squirrels,

they are cute,

but

They are disliked by the menagerie,

and fed by the CEO.

The hens were clucking up a storm earlier.

Its raining, so I didn't think much of it.

They didn't calm down, so I finally went out to check.

Henny and a squirrel were fussing at each other.

Henny's feathers were all fluffed up

and she was squawking to the top of her little chicken lungs.

The squirrel had both arms in the air for some reason.

They were squared off like a couple of MMA fighters about to

take each other down.

Then the sisters got in formation behind Henny.

It looked like OK Corral.

Standoff!

No clucking.

No noise,

Just fluffed up feathers and a stark still squirrel,

You could almost see the squirrel make a wise decision.

He looked in both directions,

decided forward into the breach was unwise.

and made a hasty retreat.

The hens did more clucking.

I'm sure they were bragging to each other about how they were gonna

kick squirrel butt.

Then they spread out to forage.

After all,

A hen's gotta eat!

 

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