Finally Friday - The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley

 Flavia de Luce is back, as well as her sister Ophelia, and Dogger the estate gardener. It's fall in Bishop's Lacey, England but not quiet. Ophelia is to be wed and there's excitement in the air. 

back blurb: Flavia muses, "A church is a wonderful place for a wedding, surrounded as it is by legions of the dead, whose listening bones bear silent witness to every promise made at the altar."

Flavia, age twelve, is an expert in poisons, and has amazing detection skills. Dogger has his own skills and secrets, and helps Flavia in her endeavors. Her first case is a doozy - there's a human finger in Ophelia's wedding cake.    What?  Who? Why?

Alan Bradley delivers quite a journey for answers in The Golden Tresses of the Dead.  It's a hoot to read. 

Whatever Wednesday - The Odyssey

 Better late than never to review  The Odyssey.    WOW - fantastic movie. 

I was hesitant due to the running time of 3 hours.  Sounded like a slog. Nowadays, I find some editing needs to be done. Whatever made me think I should question the director, Christopher Nolan? He knew what he was doing. 

So, on a steamy hot Sunday - 9/6/26 - I decided to spend my hours in an airconditioned movie theater. Time well spent.  The cinematography is gorgeous. The acting is tremendous. The story moves along well. Each travel chapter brought back memories from my honors English class in high school.  I was never big into Greek mythology, but retained enough to appreciate this film effort. 

Matt Damon is our hero, Odysseus. He is perfect in this role.  Tom Holland as his son, Telemachus, is very good. Anne Hathaway is Penelope, wife and mother. It's a quieter but important role.  She has faith that her husband will come home and staves off the suitors circling for power.  John Leguiziamo as Eumaeus, the blind seer, is tremendous (very worthy, I think, of a supporting actor nomination).  There is a much deeper cast who play Athena (Zendaya), Calypso (Charlize Theron), and more - all integral to Odysseus fights, and travels to return home. 

Big thumbs up and highly recommended.  

Monday Moments - Hagley Museum

One final memory batch from my summer trip back east.  The Hagley Museum in Wilmington DE. 

The visitor center housed exhibitions featuring diverse stories of American innovation

Brandywine River offered water power for the production of gun powder

Pollinator garden

Water works area

Historic barn - weather vanes, a cooper shop, wagons, carriages, and antique vehicles on display

 Eleutherian Mills Residence - Ancestral du Pont family home

The grounds were gorgeous and the walking tour was very interesting.   The Powder Yard had an orientation center, the roll mills, 19th century working  machine shop, and black powder explosion demonstration. 

Excellent preservation of history.  My sister and I were there for a few hours and didn't see everything. (We got hungry and voted to leave for lunch - a yummy cheesesteak sandwich)

Wonderful day in Delaware. 

Finally Friday - Gooey Cinnamon Bun

so  - I know this is old news.  So much crap happens so  fast.  But remember when you know who got on another plane due to a possible threat?  But he let the regular original plane with his flunkies (department staff like our Secretary of State, Marco Rubio) and news folks, worthy journalists go ahead and fly.    ???  

Like, holy crap.  Frankly, day to day, I often feel as I read the news, that we are all on  that  decoy plane daily.  We are plugging  along, and so much out of  control stupid stuff is happening.  There are no adults in charge of  the mission, at this juncture.  America.  The United States of America is out of control and no one is steering. 

Thus - this gooey cinnamon bun from  Mario's Bakery  in Collingswood NJ is worthy of every bite.

Forget a diet.  Forget sugar.  Considering the world we live in - YOU deserve a very gooey cinnamon bun.  I can promise you....this was melt in the mouth yummy.  

What...Me... Worry?   nah....
 

Whatever Wednesday - Longwood Lily Pads

You gotta explore the new conservatory area and see the giant lily pads. 

You feel like you could scamper across the pond on these lily steps....

or sail away......

so  pretty

 quite magical

Longwood  Gardens is a delight. 

Monday Moments - Longwood Gardens 2026

Every year now, when I visit my sister in Delaware, we head to Longwood Gardens in PA.  She's a member and we can explore the gardens and then enjoy their nightly fountain  show.  This year the theme was Animated Music.  At  9:30 pm, the fountains light up to music and water dance to the music. There are also arcs of water with fire.  It's awesome.   

Meanwhile - here's some August garden glory

This is not part of the fountain show.  

Every corner is magical as we stroll the grounds
 

And me against a huge hedge. 

Plan to stay a few hours to stroll and explore. 

Finally Friday - September 11 2001

9/11/2001 

 Every year, this date just sears the soul.  Ray and I had been in NYC the  week or so before. We had enjoyed baseball - Mets and Yankees, US Open Tennis, Broadway shows, a tour of the World Trade Tower, and so much more.  We  had walked amongst the thousands of New Yorkers just living their lives.  

We  flew back to Texas on September 1st.    2001

Then, a sunny Tuesday, as I drove  to work my radio station KISS FM 106.1 reported a plane flying into a  trade center tower.  Say what?

Got to  work, and our small group gathered around a black and white tv.  Then we watched, with horror, the towers fall. 

chills, sadness, scared, amazement and awe, just every emotion possible and the question....why?.....how?.....now what......?

so much changed

and so much more could change, needs to  change.  Do  we learn from history?  

9/11/2001  Never Forgotten