Never Stop Pulling The Weeds, Never Stop Tending The Garden

Pull the weeds, feed the flowers

Sound advice from the Gardener

That applies to all aspects of life

Pruning is not just for bushes and trees

It's also for eliminating all causes of strife

For when you fail to eliminate weeds

They grow and grow and grow

Until they take over the beautiful garden 

And turn your lawn into a golf hazard from hell

Think about this the next time you bargain

With a family member or even a friend

What weeds did you allow to take root

That are now the cause of such woe

The beautiful flowers you used to water and feed

Have now wilted from lack of attention so watch what you sow

Think of the relationships you've let wither away

Because you couldn't be bothered to stay in touch

Or were momentarily turned off by a perceived slight

And let the wound fester until it had gotten out of control

Pull the weeds, prune the flowers - before they blight

Eliminate the ones that bring nothing but trouble

And tend to ones that add joy to your life

Careful pruning makes the flowers bloom brighter 

Which carries over into magnification of the joy you receive

Opposed to the sorrow felt when brambles are allowed to grow wilder

Every time you step into the garden

But you have to make it happen through proper actions

You have to make the effort in order to get the results you want

And never relent, never give up

Persistence and perseverance are your entente

The simple, easy, everyday chores

Of pulling the weeds and pruning the flowers

Let your friends and family know you appreciate them

Be the ray of sunshine in their lives

It they give you grief or sadness think before you condemn

Search for the reasons that compel the unseemly actions

And tend to those reasons as fast as you can

Whether they are caused by factors outside your control 

Or they are caused by something you didn't or did

Make the necessary adjustments with all of your heart and soul

Without unnecessarily sacrificing your id

For you are valuable and you deserve respect and affection

But never, ever forget

That respect and affection are best when earned and not taken

And what you give is what you get

PayPa!: Scamarama Ding Dong

 

Received this text on my phone. If this is not an example of the worst attempt at a scam by text, it surely must be in the top ten.

The Not-Lunch Non-Date Meet-Up

She looked right past the magazine I was reading

And into my face

'said, "Whatcha reading?" like interrupting 

    Was a desirable social grace

I replied sarcastically but not smarmily 

"An article on the lack of propriety in the modern world."

She laughed at that and retorted 

"You're a funny lot, eh Mr. Penforasword?"

Setting aside the magazine I gave her a quick once over

 And smiling, replied with little hesitation

"Doing the best I can to further international relations."

She laughed again and sipped her drink

While her fingers twirled

   The silky brown hair that perfectly framed her features

       Like a dirty cop ignoring legal procedures

"Didjer once around with your eyes suit your fancy?"

        She said with syrup dripping from her lips

I raised my brows in affirmation and nodded to be certain

    "You know how to drape your frame." I said

    With a second appreciative glance 

 "A lost art these days, which makes life difficult for us art connoisseurs"

                       

"You're quick with the flattery kind sir

Not that there's anything I didn't mind hearing

Does make me think you are in the habit, though

Of casting about compliments as if baiting a hook

     At least you're not shmaltzy about it, which is somehow endearing."

"Name's Sidney," she then announced, "though I'm known as Dis.

        Which makes sense once you get to know me."

         "I'm Kirby," I replied,  "A name my mother anointed me with  

         As she was a big fan of the serial Sky King from the 1950s."

"Introductions out of the way, I suppose now we start the interrogations."

She stated that much like DC Reid would, in the later episodes

  But before she married DCI Holmes

"Shall we draw straws or paper, rock, scissors for first question privilege?"

I quipped, trying my best to banter as a Southern Scot might

  Carefully, like before the first seven or eight pints

                 

She looked at me directly, switching gears to serious mode

       And said, "I'll go first. 

       Are you married? Involved? Inquiring minds want to know.

Because I may be forward, I may be a flirt of sorts

 But I'm no homewrecker, and I hope you're not a jerk."

My quick laugh was sincere, and I hoped she understood it to be.

      "No,"  I said as firmly as I could, "I am not married or involved.

I am decidedly single, free of any cumbrance, save for a cat

        That's honest full disclosure, I'm not even a beard, got tired of playing that."

"Not even a beard? That's an interesting statement - never met a cis-het man who rolled

        For leading ladies that aren't interested in drinking at the tap

         Then again, cis-het women do, so I guess the opposite must be true

       In the spirit of your pronouncement of full disclosure then

             I don't judge any of my sisters for the choices or inclinations they profess           

But as for me, I don't shop or slop at the Gap"

    We looked at one another as if staring at rare animals in the wild

      For a second I could swear we both breathed sighs of relief

     The modern world has made it easier to meet people

    Websites abound so every variety of human walking the globe has access

    Takes all the work out of searching for that elusive clover with four leafs

   So we sat chatting and laughing and thinking

   The minutes turned to hours and our glasses became coffee cups

When the waiter came over with the bill I noted she was particular but not finicky

  And wondered which one of us would be the first to screw this up

Utah Morning, July 2026

 

Mounted Shooters Show At The Weld County Fair

   Know what's really cool about the Weld County Fair? It's free and fun for the entire family. Even the parking is free, which, in this day and age of monetized everything, is exceptional. 

   The fair is held at Island Grove regional park in Greeley, and it's well worth the drive. There is a lot going on now that the fair is in full swing and the midway is up and runnin'.

   On the first day of the fair there were not a lot of people in attendance, which was most likely due to the fact that not a lot was going on. There was the dog show, which I already covered, and there was the Mounted Shooters show, which featured men and women on horseback shooting at balloons on posts.

                      Ten post with ten balloons as targets...it's a speed and accuracy challenge 

   You read that right. Men and women on galloping horses, shooting guns, at balloons.

   It was kinda exciting to watch.

   Now, before anyone gets in a lather over the use of live rounds in an open air competition in which the public is invited to watch (which they sadly didn't, as can been seen in the pics), allow me to explain that the rounds used by the competitors are black powder blank .45 Long Colt shells with military crimped ends - these rounds generate enough gas and powder to break a target like an inflated balloon, but they wouldn't penetrate a T-shirt at six feet.

   Basically, Hollywood blanks, but without the Rust effects.

   Also, the balloons had it comin'.

   

Weld County Fair Dog Show (Ponies Later)

   I for one had never been to a dog show. Admittedly, I never much wanted to attend a dog show, but the opportunity to do so fell into my lap a few days ago, so I did.

   The dog show I attended was small - maybe 30 to 40 dogs were being shown, as best as I could ascertain. However, what the competition lacked in quantity in more than made up for with quality.

   All the dogs seemed to be bright and happy, as did the owners. Happy dogs preening and prancing were everywhere.

   The Weld County Fair Dog Show has been around since the 1970's, so there is no doubt of the enthusiasm and commitment of the participants.

It's More Than A House, It's Art