Memorial Day traditions

 The body was a bit on the stiff side when I got up this morning (Sunday) after yesterday's bending and moving about (weeding, kayaking, etc.)  So I gave myself permission to have a quiet morning.  Church on line was lovely, as the music minister preached Mr. Rogers to the tune of the Good Samaritan... a good sermon for this week that presented us with horrid news, and recognizing the importance of considering children in this world.

Mid-morning I put together the Greek salad for this afternoon's gather at my son's house.  He's in charge of the grilling of the Spiedies.  His fiancé's mom is bringing the dessert.

It promises to be a hot one out there, topping out around 89℉, with a relative humity of 59% just now.  

Until it is time to leave, I have the greatest spectacle in racing on in the background.  I listen more than watch, as that matches my childhood memories.  My dad and his fellow car enthusiasts would put it on the radio while the church picnic unfolded.  I used to work back in the 1970's and early 1980's with a woman named Winnie Forward.  She had been a native of Indianapolis, and would go watch the qualifying runs, considering the Memorial Day weekend race much more boring.  It's funny what sticks in your memory.

Snatched from my nieces FB posting, here is Miss Theo and her 12 ducklings!

In 2018 Miss Theo was rescued from a window well, and raised with my niece's two domestic ducklings.  In the Autumn, she flew off with others of her kind (she's a mallard, in case you can't see from the photo).

In 2019 she came back, bringing a drake with her, but her first clutch was eaten by a fox in the neighborhood.  She did come back in subsequent years, but this is the first time she brought the brood up to meet her humans.

The next version of "A man and his dog" from the mythical son and his fiancé's trip to the East Coast.  I've seen them since, briefly, but today will get to see them again.  Carl had never had the water jump at him before this trip, so he wasn't quite sure what to do about it.  Still, what a great stop-action shot... hard to tell in miniature, but when I get this one on the computer and expanded, the droplets of surf and the waves catching at Carl's legs are awesome.  

As part of my prep to head over, I used the home Covid test that will expire soonest.  I still have four more that are good until August.  Have not ordered the next set yet.  It came out negative, as expected.  I have tested several times over the past 2 1/2 years, and always came back negative.  Sometimes being a hermit pays?  Or if I ever "had" it, always tested negative.

Here's hoping my spark friends are taking good care of themselves this holiday weekend (US), or ordinary weekend (elsewhere)... treat yourselves gently as you honor the fallen and celebrate the changing seasons.

Life is good.  Spark on!