Fireside Chat

Before Christmas, I was walking through Sam's Club and encountered this scene on a very large TV screen.

You can now have a crackling fire in your home without having to chop any firewood. Even tho I didn't buy it, it's probably a great idea. Why stop there? Perhaps we could have a pet dog in our home without having to feed it or do any nasty cleanup. During the summer, a nice big rotating fan would give the appearance of cool air flow. Why not show a live webcam view of crashing ocean waves to give your home that beachfront feel (without tsunamis). "They" probably already sell all these ideas along with the giant aquarium scene. I once had two goldfish named Alfie & Omega. They both died when I placed their fish bowl too close to the crackling TV fireplace.

Frostily Foggy

Kit took a picture of our front Maple Tree today. Dense fog made for some beautiful branches. It was frostily foggy. This is how our tree looks in the Winter.

This is how the same tree looked last summer.

Rock On Rock

Throughout the course of human history, various forms of signs and signals have been used as markers or reminders to communicate a message. Here we see an example of a rock pile built on a beach which could be communicating a special message.

Different color combinations can mean certain things. The fact that the base is made up of two rocks spanned by a third could mean something. The number of rocks balanced into a rock tower could be part of a code system for detailed communications. The top rock always carries special significance which can be related to its color or the direction it points.

Regarding this particular stonehenge, I just made it for the fun of it and it has no special meaning.

Last Ball

Our Dad was a fine pool player. He even had a chance to be Willie Mosconi's victim during a demonstration at the local pool hall. From Dad, I learned the value of a good safety (not leaving the incoming player a decent shot). When dementia started to creep in, it became increasingly difficult for him to remember if he had stripes or solids when playing 8-ball. Out of necessity, I made up a new game which dispensed with having to remember anything. We called it "Last Ball". Whoever pockets the last ball, wins the game. Even tho Dad is now playing pool in heaven, I still enjoy playing Last Ball with my wife. It can make wonderful use of any remaining balls left on the table after playing 8-ball on a pay table. Simply rack up all remaining balls and play a game of Last Ball. Whoever makes the last ball wins the game.

Global Warming

Sun Spots

At different times of the day and year, the sun hits our space differently. One lazy afternoon, I noticed this sun spot on our living room wall.

It looked like a Zen painting or some sort of Oriental lettering. This would fall into the category of Temporary Art. Other items found in this category might be Sand Alligators, Snow Forts or Hose Art.

Mirror Image

Since the name of this blog is Johnnny's World, I thought an occasional self portrait would be appropriate. Most people download when they go to the water closet. This time I snapped a photo and uploaded. Happy New Year everybody! Welcome to another year (and decade) of blogging. Blog On!

Partridge Family

We don't officially have any pets in our home (except for one Zhu Zhu pet named Pipsqueak). However, if someone asked us if we have any wildlife, I'd have to say that we don't throw any big parties, but we do have wild partridge.

This family of partridge has been with us (usually just during the winter) ever since we moved into Twin Peaks (2003). The fact that we always have food out probably has something to do with it. One lady across the way calls them "her chickens". Actually, they are our partridge. In my previous life, I used to go out hunting birds like this with Dad, but now they come to me, and I shoot them with my camera.

On Deck

In the aftermath of the 2009 Christmas Blizzard, our deck needed some serious attention. With part of it done, Kit snapped this photo to celebrate that we could once again open our sliding glass door.

It's amazing how much snow can accumulate one flake at a time. Let's not even talk about how heavy it is.

Christmas Snowstorm

It was originally reported that this snowstorm was going to miss the Fargo area to the south. We might pick up a few inches.

It ended up being more like a few feet. These pictures are deck side which faces South. The wind was out of the North during the blizzard.

Wrap-around snow results in a major Sunday project for Johnnny. That's OK because the Minnesota Vikings don't play until Monday Night.

Blizzard Warning

Today is Christmas Day! Up in the North Country, we are now experiencing a full-fledged blizzard. The official forecast is for a Blizzard Warning from this morning until tomorrow around noon. If you want to see what it looks like outside here right now (in the Fargo area), just look at a blank sheet of white paper. I decided to look back at photos from exactly four month ago to see some non-winter pictures of our back yard.

Under our deck, instead of snow, we had some pots that were hanging down and morning glories that were climbing up. We had zinnias surrounding our vegarden. Beyond that, a rock and flower garden with verbena & friends.

Here, instead of snow, we see some Sweet Peas in the foreground, with butterflied zinnias in the middle ground, and the verbena bed bringing up the rear.

Maybe the reason I'm reminiscing about August is because now it seems it was much easier to sprinkle & mow than it's going to be to shovel out after this Blizzard Warning storms itself out. Maybe we should start naming blizzards. Let's call this first one: Al Gore 1.

Pillow Fest

Since all my shopping was wrapped up about a month ago, I was out capturing some store moments. These pillows definitely caught my camera's eye.

So this is where all the extra pillows hang out when they haven't been bought yet.

Most of them will probably end up grouped on sofas, preventing family members and guests from sitting down.

Gone Green

This is the first in a series of posts showing Look-A-Likes. It's been done many times before and they're usually quite amusing. Don't you think there's a strong resemblance between The Hulk...

and the Jolly Green Giant?! Maybe this is why I think eating lots of vegetables makes you strong.

Another similar-looking pair, would be Winston Churchill and W.C. Fields. Isn't it interesting that Mr. Churchill's initials are W.C.?! My next Look-a-Like post will most likely feature them along with similar quotations.

2009 has been a fun year for blogging. I hope to do a lot more of it in the New Year. Talk about a major creative outlet! As a bonus, it's free. Thank you, Blogger.com. Keep on bloggin' everybody! Blog On!

Blue People

The new movie Avatar has introduced a new perspective on life. This movie is the next Matrix. Even tho I have not yet seen it, I do see it being apart of my future.

Our friends John & Lori recently visited our greatown. We met at the local Thai restaurant. They seemed rather blue that evening.

After you go see a 3-D movie, is there any danger in not being able to go back to 2-D? Lately, it seems the Blue Man Group has opened offices in my neck of the woods.

John & Lori will enjoy Avatar as soon as they get shoveled out from their recent blizzard. If you're going to get the winter blues, it's best to be blue together.

Who's that guy over John's shoulder, taking pictures in a public restaurant?

Lively Dividends

Add-On Poem by Kit & Johnnny. Title: Lively Dividends. Date Written: November 9, 2009. Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved.{Line 1: Johnnny, Line 2: Kit, and so on and so forth.}

Title: Lively Dividends

Air is thinner the further up the mountain

I raced there with time to spare a drink from the fountain

Drinking while thinking I'll build me a spa

To balance my chi, or wait, is it cha?

Whatever you do, don't lose sight of the top

Tend your seeds well and they'll envy your crop

Cook for a party of domestic animals and friends

The promise exists for quite lively dividends

Invest in your future and blog about the present

Stop watching what Mr. Jones has or hasn't

Anything we do affects all that we do on this earth

And our most loved posessions have no monetary worth.

Add-On Poem by Kit & Johnnny.
Title: Lively Dividends
Date Written: November 9, 2009.
Copyright © 2009. All rights reserved.
{Line 1: Johnnny, Line 2: Kit, and so on and so forth.}