Finding The Cool

It's time for a Walkin' and Readin' Wednesday!

Due to the high humidity and heat, I've been out really early (4:30 AMish), then again at sunset.

When it's still dark, or just getting dark, the scenery changes some:

Opossum, hiding under a parked car.

Friendly kitten with a nub for a tailio; have not seen this baby before.

Sunset clouds.

This cat travels; have seen it on different streets; not a human fan.

Interesting street light patterns on a tree.

📸

Recent audiobooks to recommend:

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States

Author: Sarah Vowell

Narrators: the author and many others

Audiobook published: October 20, 2015

Goodreads blurb:

"A humorous and insightful account of the Revolutionary War hero Marquis de Lafayette--the one Frenchman we could all agree on--and an insightful portrait of a nation's idealism and its reality."

My opinion:

This author brings out such fascinating bits of history that really brings her subjects to life, and rarely does any Revolution historian reveal that the French really won the war for us, but we never really paid back the gold that they loaned us.

Extra Factoid:

The Marquis de Lafayette is a direct ancestor of the current Belgian royal family through the maternal line; King Philippe of the Belgians is his fifth great-grandson.

A Deadly Inheritance

Author: Kelley Armstrong

Narrator: Veronica Hortiguela

Audiobook published: March 24, 2026

Goodreads blurb:

"After discovering she's an heiress to a billion-dollar corporation, seventeen-year-old Liliana finds herself at a new boarding school where she must navigate secret societies and a deadly competition. Not to mention two handsome boys."

My opinion:

Another crafty horror/mystery, when the main female character's life changes in a blink: rags to riches!  But, someone is trying to kill her.  I enjoyed this!

V for Vendetta

Author: Alan Moore

Audiobook published: January 14, 1990

Goodreads blurb:

"A powerful story about loss of freedom and individuality, V FOR VENDETTA takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet. In a world without political freedom, personal freedom and precious little faith in anything comes a mysterious man in a white porcelain mask who fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts. It's a gripping tale of the blurred lines between ideological good and evil."

My opinion:

Wow, just wow!  How did I NOT read this years ago?  Scarily prescient to today's political environment, at least here in The States.

More titles that I recommend:

The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John U. Bacon

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

The Counting Game by Sinéad Nolan

📚

Trees and Tattoos

March 21 is World Tattoo Day, honoring body art and tattooing.

Learn more here: World Tattoo Day

A few sillies below for your entertainment.

For more fun, below is a slide show of my ink.

The first slide is the inspiration art, then the resulting tattoo photo.

March 21 is also the International Day of Forests, a day to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.

Learn more here: International Day of Forests

For Caturday, I'm posting Vincent Van Gogh's "The Grove", painted in 1890.

Found the image online.

Click on the image to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

❤️ Thanks for all of the birthday wishes; y'all are the best! ❤️

Let's Hop!

Nothing Full

It's Caturday!

I chose the trees and cloud photo taken on the night of the recent lunar eclipse, even though no moon can be seen.

Original

Artified by Prisma app's Moonlight filter (you see what I did there?)

Looks neo-impressionist, and I like the colors.

Click on the image to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

Let's Hop!

Kindly Done

November 13 is World Kindness Day, often celebrated by the wearing of cardigans in honor of Fred Rogers, known for Mr. Roger' Neighborhood television show.

❤️

Rooty

In our neck of the woods...pun intended...today is Arbor Day!

Plant a tree, hug a tree, take a walk in the park on a foresty path.

A few tree images for your entertainment:

As I walked in my neighborhood, Michigan
February, 2024

Central Park, New York
November, 2023

Backyard Maple trees, caught in the setting sun, Michigan
November, 2020

Beech Tree, Michigan
August, 2017

Artsy Shot, Savannah, Georgia
May, 2013

🌳🌳🌳

Love Week Day 4: Mother Nature

I love Mother Nature!

Can't help but snap a few pics here and there; the textures of things fascinate me.

 

💕😻💗😻💕

Feeling Arty

It's Caturday!

Lots of things caught my eye this week, so I couldn't choose.

Sweetie, artified by Prisma, Prosecco filter.
Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

Frost on a window, artified by Prisma, several filters used.
Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

Snowy trees, artified by Boat filter on Prisma.
Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

Let's Hop!

Click on the badge above to visit Athena Cat Goddess!

A Moment of Zen

 The Eastside Cats allowed their humans to leave the house!

(Well, they were all napping at the time...and didn't need us for anything for a little while...)

Therefore, due to the beautiful weather, we ventured to Stony Creek Metropark, in Metro Detroit.

It was a delightful interlude; hope you enjoyed the images too!

Jigsaw Puzzle

Lunapic'd Wildflowers

99Artified Park Wildflowers

Thankful Tree Thursday

Copper Beech Trunk

A Redbud Tree

Our guide in front of a 300+ year-old Iron Elm

Canadian Goose feather

Wild ginger is the round leaves in the center

I had a delightful experience last Sunday, visiting Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit to learn about trees and plants.  Our guide was Cheryl English, from Black Cat Pottery, who knows her trees and plants, as well as her artwork and CATS!  I mean, just look at the name of her business!

My friend BG and I went to lunch with Cheryl and her friend B. after the walking lecture, and B. and I struck up a conversation about...you guessed it...plants and cats!  Woo Hoo!  This Friday, B. has invited me to her house to take away some of her overgrown plants; wild ginger, swamp milkweed, and a cup plant too, plus whatever else she finds.  She has four cats, and while speaking with her on the phone today, one of her cats serenaded me!  Native plants attract insects like butterflies and bees, and bats, and aren't fussy to grow.  The Hubby is going to wonder what the hey, but I've been dying to start a garden just for The 'O' Cats, with shrubs that they can hide in and hunt around.  Plus, I just want things to grow naturally.  And...there is little to no cost involved.  Double Woo Hoo!

Therefore, I am very thankful today, for plants and cats, for friends and nature, for trees and Summer!

Join Brian's Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!