Full moon. (Click picture for larger view) 
"The full moon
cannot gain
a likeness to your face,
so God destroys it
time and again,
as if to create it
by some other means."
~ Hla Stavhana (c. 50 A.D.)
The full moon on a dark night, captured while resting between blankets of clouds. Shines full, with light so bright that shadows may almost creep across my back yard.
Submission for PhotoFriday topic "full". (end of post)
Bandana of courage from the "grooming spa." "Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened" ~ Anatole France
Max has made it two months since diagnosis and has just has his third Cytoxan pill. I know he is cute when in his curly, hairy state but it is getting warmer and he had sap and dirt on his coat. It was also hard to evaluate his skin nodules, so... last week Max made a trip to the grooming spa. Under the supervision of his vet, he took a little nap and woke up clean shaven, nails trimmed, bathed and smelling sweet.
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His large nodules are gone, reduced to only pinpoint areas with almost a scab-like covering. He hasn't lost any weight and eats anything put in front of him. His white count went lower than they wanted last time out so he had to have antibiotic for a week but you would never know to look at him that he is anything but healthy. He still has his football fetish and is totally spoiled. Until this last warm spell, with night temperatures only in the low 60's or upper 50's, he has spent nights in the sunroom with the cats. He is even getting used to riding in the car.
On our way to the grooming, there was an electrician's van in front of us; windows in the back with wire screens. I thought it looked a lot like the old dog catcher trucks in Mississippi. Max must have thought so too. He sat up, tensed, hair stood up and started growling louder and louder. I was going to pat his head but the look on his usually sunny face made me think twice. Finally, I just turned off and took a different route and he settled down. Hmmmm.. I think there must have been an incident with a dog catcher somewhere in his unknown past. He settled back down and nuzzled up under my hand for his head scritches.
Now he is still in his shy stage after the grooming, I suppose he feels a bit "nekkid". But Max seemed quite proud of his Easter Egg bandana. I told him he was most dapper with it on and that he quite outshines the cats in his attire. OK, so he is still obsessed with his basketball as well.
So Max will be visiting Friday's Ark with his good report and also his friends at the Carnival of the Dogs, hosted by Mickey's Musings. They have been so supportive and he really appreciates their warm wishes as do Nyssa and I. Thank you.
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Bruton Parish Church. Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.
(Click picture for larger view) "Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day, like a football, and it will be round and full at evening." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
This round window is at the end of Bruton Parish Church, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Worshippers here included U.S. Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Monroe and Tyler along with Patrick Henry and other representatives of the House of Burgesses. Reverend Rowland Jones was the first Rector and is buried beneath the church. He was Martha Washington's great grandfather. So much of America's early history took place here. It is a beautiful church and a wonderful place to really "feel" the past.
Submission for Thursday Challenge topic "round". (end of post)
Abandoned goose egg. (Click picture for larger view) "The present was an egg laid by the past that had the future inside its shell." ~ Zora Neale Hurston (American folklorist and Writer, 1903-1960)
This egg was sitting alone in the water at Mt. Trashmore. It was a large goose egg, perfect on the outside but the chick on the inside was dead. I've known people like this; beautiful outer facade but dead on the inside. What a sad ending.
I don't like sad endings and sometimes it only takes looking at something from a different perspective to find that happier place. So, I looked at it longer and realized that this egg also reminded me of our trip to Salzburg, Austria. There we found a shop that sold only one thing, egg ornaments. Eggs had been blown clean and then the outer surfaces were hand painted and a delicate ribbon strung for hanging. There were thousands of them. All colors, with infinite variety of scenes, pictures and themes. In one section were displayed eggs painted with all sorts of animal pictures. Another section of eggs had winter scenes of Austria and various Christmas motifs. Some of the eggs were painted with various native flowers and some had added lace, feathers and sparkling sequins. There were eggs painted as marionettes, and others with song and music. The variety was endless. While most were made of chicken eggs, a few were larger like this goose egg. We picked out our eggs and packed them in, yes, egg cartons for the trip back to the US. With careful handling and packing we managed to get them back intact, only losing one. Each year the eggs decorate our Christmas tree and we relive our trip all over again. This egg would have made a beautiful ornament.
Submission for LensDay topic "egg". (end of post)
