What made you smile today?

Today I walked out my door and got to see a volunteer plant from a tree allee down the street - a seed that rooted right by a concrete pathway, that I had transplanted to a smarter place - blossom for the first time. I think it has been five years since I transplanted it.
The common name is desert willow, latin name is Ciliopsis linearis -

I give up on finding a good big image on google images (they seem to want to you to only open the images as small.) Oh, well.

All kinds: https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+desert+willow&client=safari&rls=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiR-5rV4a3NAhVQwGMKHc1oDPcQsAQIHQ&biw=1324&bih=888

True, but I can't get a larger image no matter what the pixels are stated in the google image boxes - I looked through a lot of the pages and tried several of them. Anyway, mine has white flowers. They come in several varieties that some sites don't mention, but I've better books, hah.

Whatever, it was nice to see as I came out the door.

On the photo sizing, I've noticed that before re some photos on google images - I take it as some protective measure re people copying.

Congrats to you both, CI.

Smiles Update
I've changed so much in my life and lifestyle in the last month that it's hard to describe. I'm now part of a two-some (not a gruesome-twosome). I've relocated my summer digs temporarily to NY (and am subletting my sw/FL apartment), and we currently split our time between my g/f's apartment nr Central Park West and upstate NY (Rhinebeck-Poughkeepsie area) at her pretty lakeside home. I really love my new life. It's never boring, though I'm no huge fan of crowds.

Last week while in Manhattan, I contacted and I had a bite to eat /drinks with JoeNation. (He spoke highly of you, CI). We'll get together again in a while and maybe other NYC A2K blogger will join in.

Furthermore, having met around Xmas-time and formed a wonderful bond, it looks like we'll be together for a long time. In fact, we'll be traveling to Africa (safari in Kruger National Park) and then NZ . She was born in SA, and moved to US when she was about 20. She lived in NZ for 16 years prior to 4 years ago (became a widow) around when she bought her lakeside place in upstate NY.

Life is now sublime. Sure is so different from 6 months ago. I love having the freedom to pursue my art/photography/writing and being part of a couple and having foreign travel possibilities.

I'm happy for you, Rags!

Very happy for you and her together, as you know, and so glad you met JoeNation!

very nice to read this

It's great to hear good news, stay happy.

Sounds like you are happy in your life. Congrats! Good to know that JoeNation has a good opinion about me; knowing I'm not that popular on a2k.
When ever you guys decide to visit San Francisco or its environs, please let me know. Would like nothing better than to meet up with you guys for drinks and food.
Also, would like to show you guys the development of Apple's Campus 2 near our home. It's huge! Gonna house some 12,000 workers.
Of coarse there are other interesting stuff in this area like the Egyptian Museum and the Winchester House in San Jose. Further out are Carmel and Monterey (Cannery Row).
So, give me a jingle when you plan a trip our way.

Glad you're happy. Glad all this has made your life better.

Just plain glad.

Reading about the recent positive changes in your life definitely made me smile. I am so happy for you that you love your new life.

I hope you and your new partner will continue to enjoy much happiness together.

Thanks, CI. When I get to so Cal ,I'd be honored to gtg with you and your wife. At this time We've got Italy and Switzerland and perhaps France for Sept., Then we'll for Dec- Jan will be in SA and in Jan. NZ. I hope for west coast sometime in 2017.

I'll jingle you then. In the meanwhile, may we all be happy and well.

I'm jealous! I used to travel several times a year in my younger days, and covered 83 countries, all five continents, the highest (flew to Mt Everest) and lowest points on earth (put my feet in the Dead Sea several times), and the northernmost (Hammerfest) and southernmost (Ushuaia) cities in the world. Even visited Esperanza Base in Antarctica. I'm lucky if I travel to Hawaii a couple times a year now.

Our son (visiting from Austin) drove us to Half Moon Bay today. It was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed some fish and chips at one of the restaurants there for lunch.

Did you finally get some use out of all the old Esperanza lessons we were conned into taking?

Great to hear some good news! Much happiness to you.

Never heard about it, so I did a quick search, and found this:


Sounds intriguing .

My wife and I went to the public library last weekend, and I found 2 books that I bought for $2 each.
"Impeach The President" and "The Storied Ice" that recounts the story about Magellan and Ernest Shackleton (one of my favorite heroes).

Our rescue bird (Scaley-breasted Lorikeet) came out of his/her cage at the new digs, and was happy to fly around without getting harassed by the Butcher birds. Landed on my head and sat there for a while.

Your head looks like a dead tree.

It's Sunday arvo, CI. I often look like this at the end of the weekend.