Author: S R Janssen

Speaking of Succulents

A year and a month ago, I was a posy person. Flowers meant roses, peonies, pansies, daffodils and tulips. I wouldn’t have spared a glance for succulents and their cacti cousins without giving them a glance.

Today, I walk among succulents every time I follow the walk between the patio and the carport.

The scorching summer turned me into a water brigade of one. Standing among the succulents, sprayer in hand, I see them with new eyes. First are the shapes. Some geometric: precise angles assembled by blueprint. Others artsy: imprecise curves assembled by whim. Then there are the colors: soft pastels subtly blended or layered over each other. Almost daily, there is a surprise waiting for me. Overnight something grey and spiny erupted into yellow blossoms. A plant, half-dollar sized, wears a coral button for a flower. That once overlooked and disregarded has become magical, enchanting.

All About May Game Day

The Game Day was the Sunday before Memorial Day.  Traffic wise this is the best day of a three day weekend be be negotiating Highway 101 and the 580 Freeway. Cindy hosted. She hangs out in Oakland near the crew house for the UC Berkeley Crew Team. As an aside, there is a non-fiction book “The Boys in the Boat.”

Once again, I am using pictures instead of a thousand words to share this day.  Once again used Microsoft Sway.  The more I use this, the better I like it.  So far it’s a freebie for those with a subscription to Office 365.