June 29, 2020 - Monday - I bought a mixture of rocks, top soil, manure and potting soil for the new raised bed. The two bags of rocks and 3 bags of top soil didn't really make a dent but I don't think I could have put more weight in my car. Looks like I'll be going back to Home Depot for a bit more before I finish with the manure and potting soil.

June 28, 2020 - Sunday - Today I was at my friend's house for a birthday party for his little girl. There was another little girl that was so adorable. She came up to me without saying a word, reached out, took my hand and gave me a sticker and a sweet little smile. Made me miss Riley being little so much.

June 27, 2020 - Saturday - Today was a great day. I went to my niece's little boy's birthday party. I got to see friends I hadn't seen in a very long time. After the party I got to spend some time with my good friend and his daughter. The other day while Riley and I were in Home Depot she found this lamp coincidentally named Rylie. She was so excited.

June 26, 2020 - Friday - I went out with Zak this morning it was really overcast and these were all over the ground. I went back out with my camera and managed to get the brief moment when the sun was shinning.

June 25, 2020 - Thursday - My birthday present from Riley this year was the lumber for this raised bed. We finally had time to get out together this afternoon. The seedlings I have from the grape tomatoes are about 2 feet tall now and those are what I plan on planting. Hopefully I'll have a bunch of grape tomatoes by early fall. Riley's pretty awesome.

June 24, 2020 - Wednesday- The first time I saw Zak I thought it was cool how his eyes matched his rusty red coat. I also thought he had a handsome, friendly face. He's one of the biggest knuckleheads but that face gets me every time. His manners are worlds away from  where he was when I first got him but he needs constant work. This face gets him out of a lot of trouble.

June 23, 2020 - Tuesday - It was raining again most of the night and Zak was sleeping by my side all night long. He really does hog the bed. When we went out this morning I really didn't want to post another photo of these flowers but I thought this looked really nice. My lens was just beginning to fog when I took this one.

June 22, 2020 - Monday - Finally, a Caprese Salad made with my own tomatoes! It really does make a world of difference. Who knows how long I'll have to wait until more are ripe enough again. I have several growing but they're taking forever to ripen.

June 21, 2020 - Sunday - Today was a great Father's Day. I went out to lunch with Riley before she had to go to work. I then got to squeeze in a visit with a friend and her mom before going out to see Dad. It always great to spend time with family. I got to see my nephew and his family too. Watched a western with dad before heading home.

June 20, 2020 - Saturday - Went out to a friend's for a bit of a house warming party. His new place has a pool and a great spot out back to sit with a drink and enjoy a good cigar. Today was also a bit of a reunion with the other family from our Mexico trip showing up too. We looked at some photos and video from our trip.

June 19, 2020 - Friday - The weather started getting bad at the end of the day. It got really windy and I had to bring in some of the plants. When I did Zak made no attempt to go outside. When the thunder started this is where he went. This is the most interior place in the house and away from any windows. He's a big chicken.

June 18, 2020 - Thursday - Okay, I just love the look of these in the evening sun.

June 17, 2020 - Wednesday - I was watching a cooking show the other day and the lady used cookie butter made from these. Riley is a big fan of cookie butter but I'm not. I am however a big fan of these cookies. I usually only get them on airplanes and I never thought to look for them in the store. I got these on Amazon. Today was a happy afternoon.

June 16, 2020 - Tuesday - I've gone into the office a couple of times this week for the first time in forever. There are stickers everywhere. Outside the elevators are stickers that say no more than 4 people in the elevator at a time. These are inside the elevator. Your supposed to face opposite walls while you're riding. The back left reminded me of the end of Blair Witch Project.

June 15, 2020 - Monday - For a short amount of time the sun shines in the windows right onto the couch. I was taking a break and lying here with the dogs for a bit and got this shot of Biscuit. She has such a cute baby face in this photo. She's really become a lot less obnoxious and I think it's making her look sweeter too.

June 14, 2020 - Sunday - I have a really small back yard but in the middle of the little patch of grass I have is a pretty big crepe myrtle. It shades the patio during the hottest part of the day and right now it's dropping these flowers all over the yard. It looks like confetti all over the grass.

June 13, 2020 - Saturday - I picked a few of my tomatoes and a bunch of my basil. I had to buy some more tomatoes to make a caprese salad, but these little bites were really sweet. I have a few more larger tomatoes that are really close and one I lost to a bird I think. My brother has told me to bring them inside and let them finish ripening in a window.

June 12, 2020 - Friday - I met a friend for a belated birthday lunch. Her baby girl was able to join us before she had to go to work. I brought some cake with me to share. We are all fans of Linda's Fudge Cake. I've know this girl since she was about 4 years old. It's funny to see her driving and being a bit of a grown up.

June 11, 2020 - Thursday - So when I started this Photo of the Day project I went back in my photos to my birthday. My first photo in the collection was Riley and I at my b-day dinner. She had to work tonight so I stopped by to visit for a bit and get a photo with her. What a difference 10 years makes. I had no beard and almost no gray and Riley had hair.

June 10, 2020 - Wednesday - I know I've had two other photos of these already, but this thing keeps blooming and I really love the oranges and yellows and the way it glows in the evening sun.

June 9, 2020 - Tuesday - When I was adopting Zak I spoke with three different shelter workers. They all seemed like they didn't like him and were mad at him. He was terribly anxious and didn't have manners, but in the last week he's started coming up on the couch anytime I'm laying back and lying in my lap and going right to sleep. I don't think he's ever had a home.

June 8, 2020 - Monday - We've had Biscuit and Pancake now for about 5 years now. Pancake was so timid and anxious in the beginning and Biscuit was much more pushy and a bit obnoxious. Over the years Pancake has come out of her shell and is almost obstinate at times. Biscuit has become much more sweet and chill.

June 7, 2020 - Sunday - I have quite a few bundles of cherry tomatoes. These are the first bits that are finally ripening. This taking forever! Hahahaha. This is the first time I've grown vegetables and I must say it's really making me be patient.

June 6, 2020 - Saturday - When I was in Mexico I picked up a few of these. I smoked one on my last night there. I had forgotten them in my humidor until my friend recommended we smoke cigars this weekend. It was a great idea. The guac I made turned out better than ever too.

June 5, 2020 - Friday - I know I just took a photo of one of these the other day but this is another bloom. This part of my yard gets sun during the early part of the day and then just for an hour or so in the evening. I thought the colors in the evening light was just gorgeous.

June 4, 2020 - Thursday - This is the second ripe tomato from the plants in this pot. I have about 18 or so growing on this but they are taking so long to ripen. They are so sweet. I made a Caprese salad with store bought tomatoes and the last tomato and it was a world of difference.

June 3, 2020 - Wednesday - I go out back with the dogs everyday and out the back gate every day to get rid of the poop. I went out this morning and saw this growing right next to the gate. It wasn't there yesterday. I hope I get a few more of these though it's doubtful since Zak jumps all over these plants when I walk out the back gate. Great color.

June 2, 2020 - Tuesday - When I walked out with Zak this morning this squirrel was digging in one my tomato pots. He ran off to the tree across the fence. He was chattering the whole way up and stopped here to yell at me. He was clearly upset that I interrupted his breakfast. He didn't seem to be interested in the tomatoes. Maybe because they're not ripe.

June 1, 2020 - Monday - Back in early April I started taking care of a plant for my friend and coworker. A few weeks later it dropped a this little piece with some roots on it. I kept it in a shot glass with water for a while. I potted this a couple of weeks ago and it's now starting to grow. Looks like my friend now has a new plant.