It’s been over two years since our trip to Arches National Park near Moab, Utah. At that time, we posed for this picture next to one of the great sandstone monoliths in the park. We also visited Monument Valley and stayed in our favorite Trading Post in Cameron, Arizona. We’re counting the minutes until our next visit to the land of the red dirt.

Click on the picture for a larger view.

Agapanthus, or Lily of the Nile, is a perennial flower that has gorgeous blue or white florets arranged in large globes that make this a wonderful addition to the garden. It is very popular California flower and in other places where it is fully hardy. Newer types have been bred for additional hardiness. The roots are large and fleshy, and the leaves are straplike, arising directly from the roots. Flower heads appear, one to a stalk, in clumps of two-foot stalks. (Description courtesy of How Stuff Works dot com.)

I took this shot while on a recent after-lunch walk. Click for a larger view.

There are over 200 varieties of Hibiscus. It is the state flower of Hawaii and the national flower of South Korea. This red Hibiscus flower is growing on a bush outside the Kinecta Credit Union in Manhattan Beach, CA. I captured this picture during my after-lunch walk. Click the picture for a larger view.

When Verna goes to the range, she always seems to have a lot of fun.

We always have a lot of fun at the shooting range when we go. But, it’s not always without mishap. Once in a while one of our guns will jam or misfire. Once in a while we will shoot the target off of the hook. And once in a while somebody gets hit by a ricocheting slug.

Image: slug and resulting injury on my forearm.

Note to self: roll down the sleeves when you’re up in the booth.

Click on the image for a closer look.

Have you ever seen those little cartoons in the rear windows of SUVs? You know, the ones of Dad, Mom, Nancy, Billy, Timmy, Spot and Kitty? When I look at those, I wonder if people realize they’re divulging private information about their family - information available to everyone that sees the display, including predators. Don’t you think that a pedophile might be interested in knowing your children’s names?

My opinion is that you should never allow household information out. Shred everything with any personal information on it before it goes into the trash and if you must have a rear-window decoration for your SUV, use something like the picture below to send a message to anyone that might have an unwarranted interest in your home and family.

Does anyone know where I can get one of these for my back window?

Today we stopped over to the Del Amo Mall for a preview of Armed Forces Day. The exhibits were still being set up, so we’re going back again on Sunday. The parade and flyover will be tomorrow. Verna took this shot of me posing by an Army Black Hawk Helicopter — A very cool machine. Click the image for full-size.