Want to take a break from the news?
Here are the sidebar images from June.
How can it be literally half a year since we started doing these?
The pics below are in no particular order. Click on any image below to see the full-size.



by WaterGirl| 23 Comments
This post is in: Respite, Serenity Pics
Want to take a break from the news?
Here are the sidebar images from June.
How can it be literally half a year since we started doing these?
The pics below are in no particular order. Click on any image below to see the full-size.
by WaterGirl| 63 Comments
This post is in: Mostly Open Thread, Nature & Respite, Respite
As Liminal Owl wrote when she sent this to me, no hookers, just blow.
As someone who woke up sobbing in the night, I can attest to at least the first part of this quote that was made famous by Robert Kennedy when Martin Luther King died.
“Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart
until, in our own despair, against our will,
comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.”― Aeschylus
Still hoping for the wisdom.
In the meantime, this is about all I’ve got.
When Barney lifts his leg, does he think he’s flying? Or is he imagining that he’s flying?
Discuss!
Okay, one more thing. A picture of dust mop Henry from when he was a baby. trying to get Tucker to play with him.
This was from before Henry’s curly grown-up hair came in.
Mostly open thread. By which I mean anything personal or respite-y of any sort is welcome, but politics is not.
This post is in: Cat Blogging, Respite
Jesus God, I need a little break from everything in the news right now. Been in a doomscrolling loop.
In case you do, too, here is a respite thread, closely monitored by this cat The Child and I saw coming back from school this afternoon.
Talk about anything you want; try to avoid politics for an hour, lest Judge Ginger up there gives you a swat.
UPDATES: mali muso and family are about to adopt this Very Good Boy, and I thought you’d like to see the adoption center’s video for him. Meet Luke:
Also, commenter Joyce H mentions that the first book in her Regency Mage series, Mary Bennet and the Bingley Codex, is currently free to download and read on Kindle (device or via iOS app) until this coming Wednesday. If you love Jane Austen AND magic, this sounds like your ideal opportunity for escapism. This is the top UK review:
Support a fellow Jackal, stop thinking about The Horrors for a bit. Win-win.
You May Approach the Throne Respite ThreadPost + Comments (77)
by WaterGirl| 43 Comments
This post is in: Respite, Serenity Pics
In case anyone wants to take a break from the news, here are all the sidebar images from May.
In no particular order. Click on any image below to see the full-size.
Just enjoy the beauty, or also chime in with thoughts about a daily image in the sidebar.
How can it be June already?
z
by WaterGirl| 17 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads, Pet Blogging, Respite
Stepping into TaMara’s lane for a moment – while she’s hard at work editing her book – here’s a feel good story shared by hitchhiker.
Story by Kate Poss
There’s a whole lotta four-legged good juju at Ron Kerrigan’s home, which is a former Langley parson’s dwelling that was moved to Clinton years ago.
He shares his home with old dogs whose owners can no longer care for them, boards them for Dogs on Deployment and houses them for friends who can’t keep dogs where they live.
During an interview on Kerrigan’s porch, Qehua, Loki, Qoqo and Fenrir warmed themselves in the sun and occasionally asked for ear scratches. Kerrigan currently has five dogs staying with him — he’s had up to 10 at times; one of the newest is Qehua.
Kerrigan has kept a book, called the “No More Dogs” chronicle, which details the 69 dogs he’s adopted, fostered, boarded through Dogs On Deployment and had as guests “when friends go to Hawaii and don’t think to take me along,” he wrote in an email. Dogs on Deployment is a nonprofit providing a network of volunteers who care for the dogs while their owners are away serving the country. The numbered dogs do not include all the fosters and guest dogs, who are indicated by alphabet letters – all 26 – and now he uses the Greek alphabet to document additional dogs.
Kerrigan’s long-time friend Ela winters in Maui and volunteers at the Maui Humane Society walking dogs. Late last year, Ela stopped by to walk a blind dog, only to discover the dog was being walked by a friend. But another dog waited for a walk. Ela took one look and felt it was the reincarnated spirit of her beloved dog Stella who was killed 30 years ago when she lived in Alaska.
Click the link above to read the whole thing.
So many good people out there. I try to remember that, especially now with so much ugliness on display right now.
A Lot of Good People Out There, Here’s One of ThemPost + Comments (17)
by Major Major Major Major| 94 Comments
This post is in: Nature, Nature & Respite, Open Threads, Respite
Hello Juicers! Reporting in from fatherhood. Camille is four months this week…
…and doing great! She’s ahead on most of her benchmarks, starting teething, and still super chill, at least by baby standards. No complaints, 10/10.
Boy it sure is a disaster out there, though, isn’t it? Fortunately I’ve got a lot to keep me busy right here. Camille isn’t even the only baby in the neighborhood…
But they grow up so fast, don’t they? Ten days later…
They weren’t even there the last time I walked by. Flown the coop! I’m an empty-nester now. Oh, and the yard is coming along really well, too. Thanks to a big assist from TaMara a couple years ago, we now have these lovely and prolific irises, which gave us quite a show this year!
Other than that, been reading, working on the video game (just about time for the demo and kickstarter!), playing video games… specifically Clair Obscur, Blue Prince, Lies of P, and The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy… Been trying to avoid Doing Politics Online, with mixed success. Not much point arguing about anything with anybody. Just gotta keep the house in order.
And of course we still have the cats.
So let’s call this a respite thread, for all your respitey needs. Playing? Reading? Watching? What’s up?
by WaterGirl| 39 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads, Respite, Serenity Pics
In case anyone wants to take a break from the news, here are all the sidebar images from April.
In no particular order. Click on any image to see it in full-size.
Just enjoy the beauty, or chime in with thoughts about a daily image in the sidebar.
Open thread.