HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - MY SUNDAY TO SATURDAY JOURNAL starting 2-15-26

Heads up, this is a good long blather here. Skip if you need to.

Our weather for next week, starting Sunday (today, the 22nd) to Saturday, February 28th. You can click on any of the images below for a better look.

Are you looking forward to the crocus blooming? I know I am. This is one of my old photos.

Sunday, February 15th, 2026: each week our son comes over after he has dropped our dear daughter-in-law off at work. He arrives early and usually picks her up not too long after the noon hour when she has finished. That gives us a lovely visit. 

He helped us to get a few things taken care of and was a big help with heavy lifting. 

He also sorted my streaming channel out as there was a disconnect between the TV and my iPad. So, he fixed that for me. He is so much faster with these electronics. We would get there eventually but, in the meantime, he gives us a short cut. Great to have the help. 

Then we settled down to watch the Winter Olympics. We saw women's curling, men's figure-skating, women's skeleton* which is face-down hill on a sled at 80 miles an hour (how on earth they do that on a tiny sled I will never know). There was also the women's half-pipe (snow-boarding), women's 500 meter speed-skating and now the Men's Biathlon. 

We watched the medals being given to two young ladies from the Netherlands who won the gold and silver, and a young lady from Japan who won the bronze. The young lady from Japan asked for a selfie of the three of them as soon as they got off the podium with their country’s flags behind them, all very excited and very sweet. This was for the 500-meter speed skating. Well done ladies! 

It was very noticeable the good sportsmanship between winners and those who weren't the winners but came so close. I was particularly very proud of the young man (a local boy from Vienna, Virginia) - who fell and was so upset after he realized that he had missed his chance for a win, and yet he congratulated so warmly the young man from Kazakhstan who won the gold. Does the heart good to see all that, young people being 100 percent nice to each other. This is the first time we have watched the Winter Olympics at such length, encouraged by our son who had been following the events and wanted to see what was happening (what we were seeing was not live but took place today). This coming from me, who really isn't into sports but who thoroughly enjoyed it all. 

Thank you son for everything you did for us today.

* I asked Google why do they name the winter sport at the Olympics 'skeleton', as in the event, Women's Skeleton? 

The name 'skeleton' for this Olympic winter sport is primarily attributed to the physical appearance of the original equipment used in the late 19th century. While there is no single definitive origin, historians and the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) point to three main theories:

Skeletal Appearance: in 1892, an Englishman named Mr. Child introduced a new metal sled for racing. This sled had a bare-bones, stripped-down design that many thought resembled a human skeleton or ribcage.

Mistranslation: Another common theory is that "skeleton" is a poor English anglicization of the Norwegian word 'kjelke (pronounced 'shell-keh", which simply means "sled" or "toboggan".

Course shape: some early accounts suggest the name came from the original twisting, serpentine courses used in Switzerland, which early participants thought looked like the curves of a skeleton.

Event History and Context:

Origins: the sport was born in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in the 1880s as a spin-off of tobogganing.

Women's Skeleton: while men's skeleton appeared sporadically in the 1928 and 1948 Olympics, women's skeleton was officially introduced much later, when the sport became a permanent Olympic fixture at the Salt Lake City 2002 Games.

The Sled: unlike luge (feet-first) or bobsleigh (seated), skeleton is performed head-first and face-down on a thin metal frame.

And now we know! Yes, everything goes on here. I will have fun reading this when I have forgotten what information I found out and need a memory jogger.

Monday, February 16th, 2026: I am writing this the next day (Tuesday), so let’s see what I can remember.  We went over to Micky D’s for lunch, no breakfast as we were a bit late getting up. It felt good to lie in and read for a bit in bed before starting the day. So, burger and fries and have to remind myself that I ate healthy for the rest of the day.  

Father and son got together later and their dinner was more exotic. They drove to Tysons (still a very popular shopping mall) and had dinner from an Indian restaurant called Dhoom, link here. Gregg ordered a stuffed bread with chicken tikka and shredded cheese served with masala makhani sauce. They shared it as it was called a small plate. Both said it was very good. It reminded him of a pizza on a thin crust. Son ordered the aloo gobhi matar which was a medley of potatoes, cauliflower, and peas, sautéed with aromatic Indian spices. Another item, Plain Roti. No photos guys? Nope, no photos! They each shared half of each other's dish. It came with basmati rice and they asked for these chutneys/sauces. Gregg wants to take me there, said I would enjoy it. I would have to look at the menu online before going, there is so much to choose from it would be a bit overwhelming just turning up and I feel rushed to pick something. However, I was happy with having a meal at home.

One more thing was what I learned about their other item described as Scottish Egg Kofta. I love Scotch Eggs, though I haven't had one in years.

Here's the restaurant's description of theirs:

"Scottish Egg Kofta is a traditional Nargisi Kofta - originating from British India (modern day Pakistan), our Scottish Egg Kofta blends history with flavor. This dish, originally from India and later adopted by the UK during the British rule, is now known today as Scotch Eggs. This shareable dish features spiced ground lamb meat wrapped around a boiled egg, in a savory brown curry sauce, served with basmati rice."

I enjoy the history of food and where it comes from. Little did I know that Scotch Eggs originated from India, and from the now modern-day Pakistan. Here is theKitchn's version, link here if you're curious.

Anyhow, I heated up our Thai dish we made again the other day and thoroughly enjoyed. I tidied up a bit and settled down to watch The Night Manager. 

John le Carré book is what the series is based on. Very much an edge of your seat at times but the acting is excellent. I am into the 2nd season that was filmed 10 years after the first. My three favorites, Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Coleman and Hugh Laurie are the main characters, a bit hands over eyes stuff at times but a show that draws you right in. Hugh Laurie plays a very evil man. I am totally invested and no, not everyone's cup of tea. It is so intense I can only watch one episode and then I have to give it a rest and watch a Hallmark movie. Yes, I enjoy both for different reasons. Love cops and robbers/spy shows and I also love a good romantic one. 

Case in point, La Dolce Villa (not a Hallmark movie). If you enjoy rom-com, this one was delightful, a father is worried about his daughter's move to Italy who then bought a villa for 1 euro in a small Italian town. He high-tails it over there to see what's what and I smiled all the way through it. I found it a charming movie. It's on Netflix. The Night Manager is on Amazon Prime.

Tuesday, February 17th, 2026: I broke my reading glasses, the part that holds them on my ears. They are the only ones I can use for my laptop. They are progressives, the blue tint kind so I can't use my regular reading glasses, unless I get my nose right up to the screen. I am wearing the broken ones. A bit of a nuisance and lopsided, but the new ones arrive tomorrow. Everything goes down on here as you know. 

Breakfast was a bagel and cream cheese and while Gregg was out, I had a bowl of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries with a scoop of plain yogurt for lunch. 

Dinner was leftovers again, a vegetable stir fry. A no fussing in the kitchen day. 

Son called, he needed a ride to get to an eye appointment as he is without a car this week. His dad loves these days when they can get together, and makes it known that he is always available (much easier in retirement obviously). I am always invited but I really dislike slowing them down and I can't gad about like I used to. The time goes quickly and hubs is back in the blink of an eye, or so it seems when I get focused on something here.

Wednesday, February 18th, 2026: Gregg and I went to Chateau de Chantilly Cafe this morning. We arrived shortly after 10.00 a.m. and fortunately there were two parking spots available right next to a huge mound of snow still left over. We found a seat inside about half-way down the restaurant, making ourselves comfortable in the easy chairs. It isn't a fancy place as you might think by the name. Shabby-chic comes to mind when describing it. Gregg had his Cheese Danish and I my Dubai Pistachio Croissant. I had a venti vanilla coffee and Gregg his coca-cola. My pastry is very rich and along with the coffee, I don't feel like I could eat any more that day but...

several hours later we had a late lunch/early dinner at home, the mashed potatoes and cabbage dish made recently. The week has been full of leftovers, which I love. I put the recipe on my Monday Morning Recipe Post which you can see tomorrow.

My new computer reading glasses arrived, so no more grabbing for an invisible arm next to the lens or looking down and having them fall off my face. We are creatures of habit, so they tell me.

Thursday, February 19th, 2026: didn’t write anything down for today. I do remember the slice of pizza and a salad for dinner. Funny how I remember meals? I can’t remember much else, but I did find this pretty scene that popped up in a folder.

It reminds me of our early days of marriage living in California, when the California poppies were blooming. I always loved the sound of gulls overhead. This is my imaginary pup, let’s call her Poppet, in honor of the California poppy. I would be very at home in the sweater and blue jeans on a fresh morning looking out at the ocean. Such a lovely walk we have had and yes, my imagination is blooming just like the poppies.

Friday, February 20th, 2026: the electricity has been off for the last hour. Just as I was wondering if it was ever going to come back on, it did after 2 hours, I think it was. At least it felt like it. I kept myself busy doing a few chores and then was able to finish a jigsaw puzzle on my iPad. I had it open when the electric cut out.

Father and son are off out again. In Maryland this time where son had some business to do. He is still without a car this week and his dad loves the journey there and back especially. Son does all the driving. Hubs finds a place while waiting for son, looking around for a while and then heads for a coffee shop for a bit of reading. Then they meet up for their drive home. Journeys there and back make for great conversations. 

They will be the first to admit, they are both talkers. There are times I channel my dear mother-in-law who used to say when hubs and his dad got together, “Let’s get out of here Denise, these two are big bags of gas when they get going!” - this was always said with great affection, as do I now in the retelling. So, I look at my two when they get talking and, seeing they are in for the long haul, talking about things that cover a whole wide variety of topics, and quite loudly, I say in my head to my mother-in-law, “They’re still at it, the next apple didn’t fall far from the tree, the next generation has joined in.” A family joke and a tribute to a very wise lady.

Saturday, February 21st, 2026: we were heading out to the garden to walk around, the first nice day of warm-ish weather, and half-way there we realized we had forgotten so many things, we turned around and went home. The spirit was willing, but two minds went for a break on our way out the door and on the way to the garden apparently. 

On the journey home we took a detour and passed huge mountains of snow, one as big as the second story of a parking lot, shaped like a huge cone. I looked at our grass and there are only a few patches of snow left and one the size of an ice-cube at the side of our garage, which gave me a chuckle. Still hanging in there are you I said?

However, the ice-cube will have company soon as it is going to start snowing tonight. Let's just say I am as happy as this little girl with her snowball. Let's just say I am telling fibs? I am really looking to those first crocus blooms.

No walkies for the next couple of days, if the weather people are correct. 

By the way, there has been no sign of that mouse since we gave our car the peppermint treatment.

                             

This is where I am going to end today's post.

Wherever you are, stay warm or stay cool and have a great day!

A THOUGHT PROVOKING QUOTE

 A change of pace, which I like to do sometimes.  This quote jumped out at me this morning. What applied in 1971 applies even more urgently today.   I try very hard to do my part.  Even a small snowball rolling downhill turns into a giant one as it gathers momentum.  

This wise little character is Pogo the Possum.  A memory: my father-in-law used to read newspaper cartoons every day, and my dear other half said he remembers his father reading this one.  I have happy memories of Sunday mornings spent with my in-laws on our visits; mother-in-law doing her New York Times crossword puzzles, occasionally looking up to see what birds had landed at the feeders, father-in-law reading the Funnies.  I also watched the Saturday morning Westerns with her while father and son spent time in the garage chatting as father-in-law worked on his old cars.  Good memories for both of us.  

If you have a particular memory of spending time with your in-laws, or any special person, feel free to share, or not.  I

Real life stories are far more interesting to me, and I suppose that comes from all the relatives and friends who visited us from as far back as I can remember.  

Many didn't get a TV until later in life in those days.  There were Saturday morning matinees at our local cinema and Hopalong Cassidy rode across the screen.  My sister and I always looked forward to Hopalong Cassidy.  Our TV arrived when I was not quite 13 years' old, but the stories people shared were our entertainment and I loved them.  We also had sing-songs with Dad at the piano.  More memories that come to mind are those told by a sweet lady who had just come back from visiting her brother.  He had moved to Australia years before and lived in the Outback she said. Her stories about the kangaroos, koalas and colorful birds were mesmerizing.  I must have been seven or eight years’ old, sitting on the floor with my legs crossed, totally enthralled.  Her name was Mrs. Bissell.  She and Mr. Bissell were older friends of my parents.  They were regular visitors, kindly souls with ready smiles for everyone.  Mum and Dad were very fond of them, as were we.  They were like our surrogate grandparents.  One time Mr. Bissell played Father Christmas at the yearly party at the town hall.  Waiting patiently in line with all the other children, I finally sat in his lap.  He asked me what did I want for Christmas, had I been a good girl?  I took one look at him and said quietly and in amazement, “You’re not Father Christmas, you’re Mr. Bissell.”  “Shhhh” he replied just as quietly, and put me down with a twinkle in his eye, finger pressed up to his lips, and a very grandfatherly Ho, Ho, Ho.  I was flummoxed!  I found that very strange and I think that is when I started asking Mum about who was Father Christmas and did he really live at the North Pole?  And as for Mr. Bissell, I was more used to seeing him drinking a cup of tea at home. But it was our little secret, I never asked him about it and he never told.  My Mum knew.  She and Mrs. Bissell had a good laugh about it later, as I found out when I brought the subject up years later.  Funny what pops into your head.  I had no idea I was going to include any of this when I started my post.  

So, what do you think about Pogo?  Did you ever read his cartoon?  It seems he had a lot of important messages to pass on.

This particular comic strip was drawn in 1971.

Pogo the Possum

created by

~Walter Crawford Kelly Jr.~

(August 25, 1913 – October 18, 1973)

Added note 2:45 p.m., 7-28-23

The quote above is from an actual famous quote by U.S. Navy Master Commandant Oliver Perry during the War of 1812, written in a letter to Major General William Henry Harrison: “We have met the enemy and they are ours.”

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend. 

From Wikipedia:

"Walter Crawford Kelly Jr. was born of Irish-American heritage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Walter Crawford Kelly Sr. and Genevieve Kelly (née MacAnnula). When he was two years old, the family moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut.  After graduating from Warren Harding High School in 1930, Kelly worked at odd jobs until he was hired as a crime reporter on the Bridgeport Post. He also took up cartooning and illustrated a biography of another well-known figure from Bridgeport, P. T. Barnum. Kelly was extremely proud of his journalism pedigree and considered himself a newspaper man as well as a cartoonist.  

He began his animation career in 1936 at Walt Disney Studios, contributing to Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Dumbo. In 1941, at the age of 28, Kelly transferred to work at Dell Comics, where he created Pogo, which eventually became his platform for political and philosophical commentary."

and from 

The New Georgia Encyclopedia

"The comic strip Pogo, created by Walt Kelly, ran in daily newspapers from 1948 to 1973. The strip was set in Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp and was populated by animals talking in a southern dialect."

DOG IN THE WINDOW

When our son came over a few days ago, he stopped at our local shopping center to pick up a coffee for his mum.  When he parked and got out of his car, he saw someone staring at him first, and then that someone looked towards the coffee shop.  I think his human was already getting their coffee and sweet dog was wondering how long they would be.  He was very calm and didn't get agitated when son said hello and took his photo. Maybe he recognized someone who loved dogs as much as we do.

I would say to his humans...

"You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

~Author Unknown~

I'm sure his human knows that already, he looks well-loved.

What a sweetie-pie!  Thanks for taking those photos son!  I found a few frames for him.

"Properly trained, a man can be a dog's best friend."

~Corey Ford~

And a funny for you.

“Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

~Mary Oliver~

Dog Songs: Poems

My sunshine doesn't come from the skies,

It comes from the love in my dog's eyes.

~Author unknown~

"Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong."

~W. R. Purche~

RIP YOUR MAJESTY

I added this at 3:48 p.m. on 9.9.22.

Little did I know when I put this post together a few days ago, to be published at midnight, that it would coincide with the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  I found myself incredibly sad, like so many, when I heard this news.  

Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth of York, by Philip de László, 1933

I left England in December of 1975 at the age of 25, when I married my husband, an American, never having thought of the idea of permanently living in another country before I met him.  Over these many years I grew to love my adopted country and yet throughout my life, I have always admired Queen Elizabeth, for the dedication she showed to the people of Great Britain and beyond, over a 70-year reign. My parents felt the same way, and perhaps I developed my great respect through osmosis, through them, and through the stories they told me over their lifetime. My parents and I had never-ending conversations at a new 'royal event'.  They always showed their great support and respect of not only the Queen but her father before her (George VI), or "The Old King" as they lovingly called him.   

It's been a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs for the Royal Family, that we know very well.  However, throughout, Her Majesty remained steadfast and many of us will miss her, along with her wonderful sense of humor that was shared on occasion.  And, let's remember to try to walk a mile in the shoes of those we have little real knowledge of before rushing to judgement.  Difficult at times I know.  This is something I am trying to do, walk that mile.  A good role model is that American I married in 1975.

Though I don't usually put any world-turning events on here, as I mention in my sidebar, today I am breaking my own rule.  I found this just now and well, it says it all.  A sweet cartoon and I thank the gentleman who illustrated our sadness so beautifully.  Rest In Peace Your Majesty.

My photos were taken over several years in various places.  I found it very interesting to research their history, and have provided links to either people, or places, or moments in time.  

The cultivation of roses likely began in Asia about 5000 years ago.

 They were also very popular in medieval times and were often seen as symbols of power and courage, as well as love. Many medieval rulers cultivated roses in their gardens, and Charlemagne, in particular, was known to be fond of the rose bushes growing at his palace at Aix-la-Chapelle.

During the Crusades of the 12th and 13th centuries, it was common for knights returning from the Middle East to bring roses home with them from their travels. This may account for the spread of many Turkish varieties into northern and western Europe.People have been passionate about roses since the beginning of time. Paintings on walls and other artifacts depicting roses were found in 5th century Egyptian tombs. It is said that the floors of Cleopatra's palace were carpeted with delicate rose petals - more information at this link - and that the wise and knowing Confucius had a 600-book library specifically on how to care for roses.Another interesting part of history, in 15th Century England, the War of the Roses was fought over a power struggle for the throne.  (I am not 100 percent certain, but I think the photo above shows a Tudor Rose.  This particular one I took in Dartmouth (UK) back in 2015.) The House of York, represented by a white rose, attacked Henry VI, whose symbol was the red rose. After years of conflict, Henry VII assumed the throne and united the two symbols into the Rose of England, which can still be seen carved into the ornate woodwork in many Tudor era palaces.  The following shows a Tudor rose emblem.

Archaeologists have discovered rose fossils that date back 35 million years. The oldest living rose is 1,000 years old. It grows on the wall of the Cathedral of Hildesheim in Germany.  Its presence has been documented since A.D. 815. According to the legend, the rosebush symbolizes the prosperity of the city of Hildesheim; as long as it flourishes.Several species of rose are indigenous to North America and the rose was a favorite of many of those credited with shaping American history. William Penn imported 18 rose bushes from England in 1699. George Washington planted roses at Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson grew them at Monticello. John Adams is credited with planting the first rose at The White House and the formal rose garden that still exists today was established during the presidential term of Woodrow Wilson.Alexander the Great is credited by some with having introduced roses into Europe while others attribute the latter to knights returning from the Crusades of 12th and 13th century, as mentioned previously. During The Dark Ages European monasteries preserved the tradition of roses, and required that at least one monk be skilled in botany and knowledgeable about the virtues of rose. Later, in 17th century Europe, the rose became so prized that roses and rose water were considered a source of legal tender and could be used for paying the debts commoners owed to royalty. It also was during this era that Napoleon’s wife Josephine, a lover of roses, established one of the first extensive collections of roses at Chateau de Malmaison where her garden contained more than 250 rose varieties.Everyone knows that roses have long been a symbol of love, but the color choice also plays a role in what a rose symbolizes.  Also it is important to emphasize that meanings can vary in different cultures. The following rose colors in the western world are commonly associated with the following meanings...

Red: Love and Romance

Pink: Grace and Elegance

Yellow: Friendship and Cheer

White: Purity and Innocence and Spirituality

Orange: Enthusiasm and Energy

My information came from these website.  Click on their links to find out more if interested.

Our Rose Garden  - University of Illinois Extension

BBC: The Story of the Queen of Flowers

Earth of Flowering Plants

Flower Glossary

WORD OF THE DAY

 

From Oxford Languages, "used to encourage or draw attention to the performance of some physical, especially acrobatic, feat."  In this case Mr. Squirrel giving a ten-out-of-ten performance while on the balance beam, after hearing yet another dinner bell in the next garden.  

"Alleyoop Mr. Squirrel, Alleyoop!"

Next word of the day, "Motivation".