D-Day...

June 6th, 1944...never forget.

This is why...

 ...Michiganders love "up north"...that's a view from my friend Larry's cottage near the Traverse City area.

Love the mirror like reflection of the clouds in the water.

The lucky stiff is working remotely from there - for a while, anyway - and every so often he graces me with a pic or two...

...of life on the lake.

He actually gets paid to work from there...go figger...

Saw this scenario on our back patio this week...

hey...what's that?

don't see anyone around...

yep, coast is clear...

mmm...seafood sensations...

Who knew?  Blue Jays like cat food.

Got one half of our Redneck Riviera situated this weekend...

...with our inflatable hot tub...and this year we done gone and got ourselves a ga-ZEE-bo...insert excited "yee haw" here.

2nd half of our RR scheduled for early July when Mirage Pools installs our pool...it's been a 4 year wait on that so we're pretty excited.

Lately I've been on "mole patrol"...

before: that's part of a mole tunnel

...using my 13.5 lb compactor to flatten the network of mole tunnels criss crossing our yard...

after: flattened tunnel and hopefully dead moles

...they're busy little buggers and wielding my "stomper" has become a regular part of my "daily functional fitness" routine.

We've spread grub killer around, too.

This is war, but so far I haven't resorted to dynamite like Bill Murray in Caddyshack.

Just about time to close up shop here at the AMC...

...and as we go we leave you with these parting shots...

very windy day

back patio...love the huge oak tree canopy overhead

a co-worker shared this pic of a couple of foxes in his backyard

roses are beautiful this year

more beautiful roses

later, mcm fans...

Looks Like Our Version...

...of the Redneck Riviera is just about complete.

We've got an Intex above ground pool and an Intex inflatable hot tub...

But before you laugh too hard, I have to say I'm now a fan of inflatable hot tubs.

They get great reviews on line for many reasons, not the least of which is they're inexpensive (about 1/7th the cost of traditional hot tubs), easy to set up (takes less than an hour) and simple to maintain (a chlorine floater does the trick).

Since they last between 3 and 5 years, that means you could replace them every few years for the next 20 years and still spend less than you would on a "permanent" one.

That adds up to some real savings...

never did learn how to use one of these things...

We had one of the expensive tubs at our last home, and you know what?

When you're sitting in the inflatable at night, it feels just as good as the traditional tub.

But, a couple of caveats...

1st, if you don't live in Dixie, these are 3 season hot tubs.

They can't be outdoors when the temps regularly drop below 39 degrees...can't take freezing weather and the heater wouldn't keep the water warm, anyway.

So if you like to sit outside in a hot tub with snow flakes gently falling on your eyelashes, this ain't your thang.

For us, that's just fine.  We tried the winter hot tubbing routine at our old house and didn't like it.

Come mid-October we'll either pack this one away until next April or move it indoors to our bonus room.

The 2nd caveat is this: they're advertised as a 4 person tub, but there's no way you'd comfortably get 4 normal sized adults in it.  It's really a 2 person tub, which is exactly what Karen and I wanted.

No offense, but I don't want to see you in your underwear, and I certainly don't want you snuggled up next me in a hot tub...that's private...

In my view, hot tubbing should always be a party for two...

...and this one accommodates that concept perfectly.

So here's to saving some serious cash on outdoor living!

Now...about that big blue tank in our backyard...

Yeah, you got me there.

I'm thankful for it in the heat...

a recent picture of me...

...but Lord willing we'll have an in ground pool next year...they're just prettier.

But I am keeping the hot tub...

...you can bet your boots on it.

It's been awhile since I had anything good to report...

yep, that's my wooden play club...un-retired it this week and did pretty well...

...about my escapades on the links...

...so I'm happy to say today went swimmingly.

Went back to gutta percha golf balls and hit my play club from the tees about 130 yards, my mid iron around 110, mashie about 85 and niblick around 50.

Even putted pretty well with Calamity Jane, and along the way I managed to snag a couple of pars and a couple of bogeys.

For *most* of the other holes I hung around double bogey.  (We shan't speak of the par 3 #7 hole.)

Walked off #9 after sinking a 1 footer for par and all was well with the world.

Enjoyed a lovely trip on the river recently courtesy of two dear friends...

Herb...

...and Sharon

They were kind enough to invite us to their gorgeous home...

...and we enjoyed good conversation and refreshments on their pontoon and beside their beach.

A fabulous evening with a delightful couple.

Recent sightings...

see it?

natural camouflage makes it hard to tell but there's a squirrel in there

lilies are gorgeous this year...

...and wonderfully fragrant, too

(wo)man made rainbow from Karen watering the flowers

a turkey getting a drink from the bubbling rock fountain

wind chimes playing their enchanting song in the morning zephyr

Rose of Sharon in bloom

saved the best for last...my beautiful great-granddaughter

And that dear readers is a wrap on this edition of the Atomic Monster Cafe.

As we plunge headlong into the last full week of July, I'd like to take this time to remind you of what's just ahead...

If you guessed, "an old silent movie - Million Dollar Mystery - from 1914" - well, no...but you've demonstrated an unexpectedly accurate grasp of silent movie history (how'd you manage that, anyway?)

But I'm afraid you've completely missed the point.

The train, see, is the month of August bearing down ominously and Norton there...well that's you laying around unprepared for what's coming, and Florence...well, lessee...Florence represents...um, well maybe you should stop trying to read so much into this.

I mean it's just a picture for crying out loud but it's a metaphor for the onrushing end of summer since August is just a week away.

I can tell you're not getting this so just forget the whole thing, but you'll be sorry...I tried to warn you...I did...

later, mcm fans...