The 139th Running of The Travers Stakes...

Today is a perfectly beautiful day for the highlight of the Thoroughbred Racing Meet at Saratoga Springs, NY., which is The Travers Stakes. It's the oldest Major thoroughbred horse race in America. It first took place in 1864, when bare-knuckles boxing champion and US congressman John Morrissey held a four-day race meeting. It was so successful that he decided to build a racetrack. And the rest, is history.

{2008 is 144 years from 1864, but it's the 139th Running of The Travers, because the track was closed years during War time.}


When the race is over, the Travers canoe {which always floats in the infield pond} is removed and painted the colors/silks of the owners of the horse which wins the race. Until next year...

Travers estimated post time is 5:45pm EDT. TV coverage is from 4:30-6:00pm EDT on 'ESPN.' They will show 3 races, one of which is ours. :-)

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Just a fuzzy pic of a lamp on the back porch, next door... :-)

Just the pool, in sunlight...

Think you might find some coral reefs down there? ,-)

How about finding stars??? ,-)
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What "What's This" is, plus...

Well, I got some interesting answers to my "What's This"...! Glue, fizzing water, water fountain, bottle in front of window screen, a bottle of something, bottle of infused tea, water bottle held in front of a screen... Thank you to all who guessed!

So, here is more of the cropped picture...
Yes, liquid in a fancy bottle, in front of a screen...

And here is the whole thing. I'd just filled my 'pretty bottle' with clear dish-washing liquid. It was still bubbling from being poured in, and looked so pretty, in a ray of sunlight. So I put it up on the window sill over the sink, to get more sunlight through it. For a *Photo Opp*!!! Just pretty... Then I thought of the "What's This"... And went with it.

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Remember the 2 little tomatoes we were watching? Well, they finally ripened...

So we got together the makings for a BLT. Well, for two BLT's but I only show one.

And here is one!There are lots and lots of tomatoes, but all green. So, the way things are going, this may be it, for BLT's from our own tomatoes, this summer. :-) Yes Sandi, please send me your True Southern Recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes. Looks like we'll be trying some, this year. :-)

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:-)The old Oak tree, which can be seen out my patio door. I love this old tree. Have no idea how long it's stood there, but we've been here for nearly 40 years and it was here when we came.

I like to take a picture of one particular thing, over the changing seasons.

I'll have to take one, out my front door... too. Even though electric {etc.} lines show, in that pic. -ugh- We don't notice them, day to day. But when we take a picture, we do. Otherwise we must 'blank them out' or something.

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We never put pictures of Grandchildren on the Net. But these are so fuzzy, that I think they're ok. 'Twas the youngest one's Birthday yesterday, and the first pic is of the frenzy of unwrapping. ,-) Needless to say, I've not mastered *action* shots with my camera yet!
The second pic is of him totally engrossed in a techy toy. The little screen is illuminating his face...

Now I have to download and crop all the Birthday Party pics and dispurse them to the family...
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Of this and that, on the Full Moon...

{Please click on all photos, to enlarge}

Am I the last to notice that this lovely spread in {July/Aug.} 'Victoria' magazine {Pg.74-77}, was done by Corey Amaro? The whole article! Text and photography!

See? Says so, right at the bottom of the first page of the article.

Isn't that wonderful? I'd ask, Isn't that amazing? But, it would be silly to ask if it's amazing. Anyone who has been reading her blog {Tongue in Cheek}, knows her beautiful photography and her beautiful way with words. So her ability to pull off a whole article, isn't really a surprise.

But it's still pretty special for me. Because I never read a magazine, where I can say that I know the author. Sure, it's Net-know her. But when we read a person's blog for a long time, and email with the person, I think we can pretty well say that we 'know' them. :-)

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Lookie! Two red tomatoes! Well, nearly red. :-) If we're lucky and the sun burns through the clouds today, bet we will have two red tomatoes by dinner time!

The three plants are heavy with green tomatoes. He has to keep tying them up to supports, as you can see in the picture. And I was thinking we were going to have to settle for trying 'Fried Green Tomatoes.' In fact, I was really looking forward to trying 'Fried Green Tomatoes.' Never had them. {Are 'Fried Green Tomatoes' a Southern dish?}

Actually, there are so many tomatoes, that I doubt all will ripen before they have to be picked. So I think we can still have some 'Fried Green Tomatoes,' this year.
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.Card Source

Tonight is the Full Sturgeon Moon. So called because some Native American tribes knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full moon. Others called it the Green Corn Moon or the Grain Moon.

If you really hurry and book a flight, you could attend the Full Moon Festival in Athens tonight. Every August, on the eve of the full moon, several archeological sites in Greece stay open late for a full moon festival. You could have the opportunity to visit the Acropolis and the Parthenon under the light of the moon, while being serenaded by various classical musicians and opera singers.

Or, you could just pour a glass of wine {or whatever your beverage of choice is} and sit in a comfy chair and watch/wait for the rising of the Full Moon, over your own back yard. I think this last, will be my choice tonight. :-)

Pic source

LOOK! Out my front door!!!

The view out my front door! Pretty unbelievable! Sunlight!!!

But a *wise-acre* walker went by this morning and said; "Yes, sun! But I heard that we're in for a Nor-Easter this afternoon." -*evil* grin-
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Well, if that happens, I have just the antidote for it! >,-) For anytime the weather disappoints, actually.
For anytime anything disappoints, actually!!! ,-) A 'June Bug'

'June Bug'

3/4 shot of mango rum
3/4 shot of pineapple rum
3/4 shot of coconut rum
1 shot of melon liqueur
2 shots of pineapple juice
some whiskey sour mix
shake, and serve over ice with orange slice

This above is the recipe which was in our paper. Now I see, there are probably many variations on it. But WOW, any of them would pack a wallop! .-)
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Bet this big froggie guy could use a 'June Bug'! My husband rescued him from the pool this morning and he's been resting on a stone around the little pond. We think he's pretty tired out. Silly froggie! Jump in the pool and you have to wait till some human rescues you. Will he learn? Probably not.

Look at that weirdly fluorescent-green head on him. Wonder if this is a usual characteristic, of some frogs???

Not too long ago, I took a picture of this little guy, above. Same kind of a fluorescent-green head. Wonder if the rescued one, is this one, all grown up?
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Drink pics found at here and at here

Mr. Noah, there is a call for you...

Drip...

Drip...

Drip...

No swimming fun, today...

Soggy Summer...

-sigh-

Photos can be enlarged, by clicking on them

"Happy August!" {For Vee...}

{August Abundance}

Happy August!

Hot days & Cool nights & Farm fresh corn on the cob & Finding a country spot for a picnic & Ice Cream Sodas & Lots of hanging plants & Green grass, if rains come & Parched brown grass, if a drought & Drive In Movie Theater & 'Brown Cow's' & Front porch sitting & Smell of citronella candles & Fireflies & Noisy frog chorus after rain & Kids in swimming pool & Summer jobs for teen kids & August vacations & Blue skies and puffy white clouds & Occasional leaves turning brown & BLT's {Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches} & Gin 'n Tonics & Perseid Meteor Shower & Some days which have an Autumn look to them & Kids in swimming pool during sudden rain shower & Adds for Back To School sales & The determination to grab every bit of Summer, which is left :-)

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A Blog Land vacation...

I'm taking a Blog Land vacation. I don't know for how long, since I didn't plan this. It just kind of happened. :-) A couple of days went by and... It felt good. So, I'm going with the flow, for a bit of time.

I'm not the only one in Blog Land, doing something like this. I've been seeing other people doing it. For one reason or another...

I'm sure the urge to rattle on about this or that, will come over me again. And I'll be back to blogging here. And I'll be back to commenting in blogs, too.

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The nice weather made me do it!!! ,-)

{Click on any photo, to enlarge}

Do you see that glorious sun, on the grass, this morning? Do you know how long we had rain, rain, rain and humidity, humidity, humidity here? For days and days!

And yesterday we had sun, and it was so wonderful that I kept thinking; "I am so happy for this, and I just have to keep noticing it!"

And due to this lovely weather, I've not felt like blogging. So, I kind of did a disappearing act. :-)

But I don't like to be away from 'Blog Land' for too long, without saying 'something.' Sometimes I get worried when a person, is "missing." Especially when they are pretty regular about posting entries. Makes you wonder..... why? So, I made sure I put an entry up today. Even if it's not much. It's something! And it shows I'm still on the planet. :-)

Today isn't as purrrrrrfect a day, as yesterday. May be somewhat humid. But it's sunny! It's summer! And our poor track can use some good days. The Opening Day and the next, were horrrrrible! Unbelievable! Rain, rain, rain and T-storms. One of our Granddaughters was selling "The Pink Sheet," {Everything about the day's coming races} in very wet weather. But, if you're selling "The Pink Sheet" to the people going in ~ You sell "The Pink Sheet," rain or shine.

But today, they're getting their newspapers to sell, in bright sunshine! :-) I took this pic from a moving car so it's pretty blurry, but... You can see the very Pink T-shirts and caps. :-)

So, I certainly hope you are enjoying your weather, where ever you are and what ever it happens to be.

Here comes a private jet over head... On a long final, to land at the County Airport. And it will return after the races are over, and pick the owner back up. Ahhhh, the life of the rich. -grinnnnnnnnn-

Please Click here

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...ADDITION...

A simply wonderful entry...

Please read {click---> here!}

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It Is Now Post Time... :-)))

Photo Source

It is now Post Time!!! Well, it was Post Time at 1PM.

And a soggy one it is, for the Opening Day of the 140th Season of exclusive NYS Thoroughbred Racing. Please click here, just because I love it. :-)-->Call To The Post.

We don't bet. We don't go to the track. So why am I so excited? Because I've lived here for {this will be} 50 Racing Seasons, and it's fun. Even if one doesn't go, or bet. It's fun to watch all the Rich & Famous, doing 'their thing,' this Season.

And what they do, along with the track and polo, is raise much money for charitable causes. Just about every party/dance/gathering of any kind, is to raise money for good causes. So, it's not just 'play.' It's good works, which go to help causes around the area.

But for me, it's just fun. Looking at the pictures and write-ups in the paper and on tv. {I watch more local tv news in Aug. than all year long.} And even if one has to learn to shop early to beat the traffic, it's kind of fun to have your city be so bustling. Anyway, we "locals" know the 'back way around,' and even when traffic is bumper-to-bumper on Broadway, we know that if you go down one street to Maple Ave., you can practically whizzzzz from one end of town to the other. ,-)

And everything is prettied up, "to the 9's," as they say. Lots of photo ops and that's always good for me!

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Look what came in the mail, from Julie! Who ahemmm... btw.... needs to update her blog. ,-) In her drawing, I won this gorgeous book "Return To Fairyopolis." And she enclosed the 2nd book in the "Stonewylde" series. {See the cover? That is what 'being moongazy is about. -smile-}


The whole 'Fairyopolis' book is enchanting. And look at the pop-up effect in the back. My photo doesn't do it justice, but it's magical. Thank you Julie! For the 'Fairyopolis' book and for lending "Moondance of Stonewylde" to me. So I can see What Happens Next!!! :-)

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Accidental Bokeh... And vine attack! ,-)

Look! I accidentally did Bokeh! With the photo, above! :-)

Pic Source

And I want one of those drinks!!!!!!!!! In fact, I'll take the two of them!!! ,-) Is that not a photo?!? We decided it is Photo-shopped though. -pout- Dang Photo-shop, you can't believe any photos you see today. For the flaming drinks pic, it doesn't make any difference, if it's not a real photo of real flaming drinks. But ~~ Some things could make a big difference.

I've thought of this before now. Before I even was introduced to the World of Photo-shopping. We know that pictures are "doctored," today. And probably have been, well before today. Although the old ones are probably more easy to spot, because of less accurate equipment. And because the people doing them, weren't as skilled as they are today.

But the very realization that nothing you see in a photo, can be taken as the sure truth, is unsettling to me. :-( I want my History straight, and my photography straight. Even when it's not a 'big deal.'


It's a jungle out there, folks! The NE is looking like the deep Amazon River area. Vines are going wild. If you stand still for 10 minutes, they'll be trying to wrap around you. ,-) I like a neat look to things, but I'm ready to wave the white flag. How does anyone keep up with the wildly growing vines???

{My "Secret Life of Bubbles I"} ^_^

With Summer time and all the heat/humidity, we're eating lighter. And I simply don't have sweets around the house any more. A random Banana Bread and that's it. E. isn't buying Ice Cream for just himself. Etc. So neither of us is gaining weight.

I need to lose more weight, but mine is staying constant. He keeps losing! He's 183 now. -pout- Unfair! He didn't have much to lose. He does look great and he feels good. But now, he's worried that he's still losing. I say, don't worry until you don't look good/healthy and don't feel good/healthy. Eat more of the good stuff, if it worries him. But I repeat, unfair! -grin-

{My "Secret Life of Bubbles II"} ^_^

Yet we know well that men lose easier than women. They have more muscle mass to begin with. When Autumn rolls around and the weather is less Summmmmmmmmmmmmery, I hope to get back to "movin' my bloomin' arse" a bit more. And that should help. :-)))

{Could I close without a pic of the 'Old Rose'?
Of course not!}
^_^

Happy Full Thunder Moon...!!!

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{{Please remember, I'm posting my pics as Small. To enlarge them, click on them. They are click-able links, to the larger size.
Please and Thank you...}}

{Not clear, not close, very blurry. Best I could do.}

Native American symbolic full moon names were established by eastern and northern tribes, such as the Algonquin and the Iroquois Confederacy. These remarkable people assigned attributes to each of the full moons according to the seasonal characteristics.

{The Lady Moon ...}

{...reflected...}

{...in the pool water}

The Full Moon of July was the Thunder Moon. Since this month is notorious for big booms of thunder and storms.
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Be afraid! ,-) The little pink 'Old' Rose is blooming again. You'll be *subjected* to another week of pics! :-)

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And look, more of the blue Hydrangea out in the front perennial garden. I just can't get enough of it.

Especially since its blooms are soooo big.

Someone wondered what Hydrangeas *like*... E. says acid. He uses Miracid. It really makes them happpppy.
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But... Sadness... Look what happened to the first tomato! On the bottom! Eeeek!


E. calls it "Blossom End Rot" or some such. Tomato is now gone. We keep an eye on the other 2 on another plant. And the smaller of the three plants ~ an Heirloom Tomato of some sort, now has blossoms! Hope springs eternal. :-)
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Plus, something is eating at my Impatient! Grrrr... Guess it's "survival of the fittest." "Dog eat dog." "Bug eat pretty flowers and tasty tomatoes." And leaves too!

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But these *guys* seem to be doing ok.

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Someone asked another question... How to post pics 'small,' but have them be click-able and show in a bigger size? ~~~*~~~ When I download my pics into my iPhoto thing, I make my pics, sized as 800 on the largest 'side.' Sorry, but that's the best I can tell you, since I'm not techy. But thus, they can show as big as a screen, on my computer. ~~~*~~~ And I figure, they do the same, on other computers. Maybe a tiny bit bigger, at times, but that's just the top or bottom edge. I hope. ~~~*~~~ Then when I go to add pics to my post {by clicking on the little blue box, at the top of the Blogger-being-composed-post}, I see 3 sizes from which to choose. If I want my pics to be b-i-g, like I used to, I click on the Large box. Now I click on the Small box. ~~~*~~~ For the "click on pic & it enlarges," bet there is some setting you have to have correctly done, but I looked in Settings and I can't find it. :-( Someone else who knows this stuff, please HELP! :-)
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I feel I rattle on and rattle on, and don't make a lot of sense. Maybe someone else can do all this, in a nice concise comment, and *save me*! :-)
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I also want to thank all who leave comments here. At any time. At every time. At random times. Or consistently. Thank you for them all. I appreciate all of them. I am still struggling with the issue of not being able to return each and every comment. I do try a lot. But I also know, I fall down on the total job of comment returns. And... Like I've said a *zillion* times, I struggle with this.
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I so want to not struggle with it. I so want this. Because it takes away some of the fun of blogging. And fun is the name of the game, for my kind of blogging. I'm not selling anything and I'm not doing any kind of an instructional blog, where people consistently come, to find IDEAS or the like. So... fun is the name of the game. And for me to dampen my fun, is pretty silly. :-(
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We only 'go this way once,' and I'm older and should really be paying attention to only doing what I really want and enjoy and what makes me feel good. {After small duties, of course. Even now, I'm not without some duties.} But basically, humans are wired to seek pleasure and avoid pain. I've had both, in my life. And "now is later." So, if not now, when?<--That's my mantra! :-) But moaning and groaning about how I blog, is not following my mantra. Grrrr me... *~~~*~~~*
Hey, {the last time I did this whine} did I say that I'd never do it again? -heh- Guess I fouled up hu? >,-)))))))

{If you click on the above and make it bigger... and really look closely... you can maybe see the outline of trees, to the right and under the moon. Which would make for a much more interesting photo}

Please, if you didn't see the beautiful Full July Thunder Moon last night... Please look tonight. And even tomorrow night. 'Twill be very full, for a bit, still. Very beautiful.
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And if you're lucky, you'll feel *moongazy*... :-)
~*~
Nope, too late for that {*moongazy*}, with this Full Moon. Has to be right when it rises to fullness. But, there is always another Full Moon! Next month! :-)
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