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3.30.2021 4:30pm: Forrest UPDATE: Met with surgeon today. Right kidney to be removed Friday. Good news … his chest x-ray looked fine, and Forrest is otherwise very strong and healthy. Unknown is whether or not the growth on his kidney is cancerous. In any case, the kidney must come out. Will know for sure about cancer after the biopsy. We appreciate all of the puppy prayers, good vibes, thoughts and well wishes sent our way. Forrest, by the way, loves to ride in the Blazer and is a very well-behaved patient. Will update after the surgery. Thanks to all. 89/365

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3.29.2021: Once upon a time there was a hawk ... and there was a snake. This is a true story that happened today on Kennesaw Mountain. I saw a beautiful red-tailed hawk land in a tree next to the road to the top of the mountain. Being very patient (because I’m retired and have a little time on my hands) I watched the hawk as he was keeping his eyes on something on the other side of the road. My camera was ready. Suddenly the hawk sprang from the tree and streaked across the road. He pounced into the brush and commenced fighting for his lunch. It wasn’t much of a fight. Hopefully my photos tell the story. The hawk making his move … using is razor sharp talons to grab the snake … chowing down … and leaving the scene of the crime flying away up the mountain road. You may want to enlarge the photos to catch his intent eyes, talons at work, and beautiful feathers. I was only a few feet away and in one shot you can see him staring at me as to say, “I’m not sharing my lunch.” Note: no hawks were injured during this photo shoot. I cannot say the same for the snake. (See complete series of photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/spiffhappens/albums/72157718819057657

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3.28.2021: "I want to know, have you ever seen the rain?" 87/365

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3.27.2021: People often ask me, "with those short legs, how do Corgis run?" I answer, "they don't run ... they fly." (Jenny flying around in our yard.) 86/365

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3.26.2021: Most excellent spring day at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. 85/365

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3.25.2021: Before I rolled into bed last night. I watched the storms rolling through our area. 84/365

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3.24.2021: We’re in need of some good vibes and pet prayers sent our way. They discovered a huge mass filling the right kidney in Forrest. Most likely cancer. We are doing more tests at this time. Cancer or not, the best-case scenario is removing the kidney and Forrest living happily ever after. We’re not thinking of any other scenario than that at this time. As you can imagine, we were devastated when we heard the news. Forrest shows no signs of anything at all being wrong except for blood in his urine. He plays constantly with Jenny, demands his daily belly rubs, snuggles up to us when we need it (and right now we really need it), eats like the Corgi he is, and still gives a sly grin at me as I pick up his “business” in the yard. His constant smile brightens our day and hopefully, will continue to do so for many years. Thanks in advance for sending some good thoughts our direction. 83/365

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3.23.2021: Pretty proud of this photo I took today on Kennesaw Mountain. Always tough for me to catch a hawk zipping through the trees, but lady luck must have been with me. However, I don't believe that lady luck was with whatever this hawk was zooming in on. 82/365

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3.22.2021: Slow shutter speed day while hiking Kennesaw Mountain. Or ... I was not wearing my glasses. 81/365

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3.21.2021: Everything is selling fast in our neighborhood. I mean EVERYTHING! This beautiful half-bath was under contract the first day the sign went up. 80/365

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3.20.2021: Atlanta skyline ... the GREEN is coming! 79/365

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3.19.2021: Spring in the USA. 78/365

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3.18.2021: Breaking News! Photo just released of daring Prison Break. You heard it here first. Exclusive interview with alleged criminal mastermind tomorrow after his nap. Now back to your regular scheduled Facebook nonsense. 77/365

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3.17.2021: Just in case older hummingbirds have to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and decide they would like to have a snack as long as they are up ... we positioned our feeder so that a nearby streetlight would illuminate it. 76/365

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3.16.2021: Red letter date at the new Stately Spiff Manor. In October we moved in … and today, we relocated enough boxes to the attic to get BOTH of our cars in the garage! Whooo-hoo. It’s a tight fit, because we still have several things to move out of the garage, but progress is being made. Probably would have been done earlier but I spend too much darn time hiking Kennesaw Mountain. 75/365

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03.15.2021: Out with old ... in with the new. 74/365

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03.14.2021: Birds in our yard prefer "Shadow Bathing" over "Shadow Boxing." 73/365

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3.13.2021: Spring forward! 72/365

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3.12.2021: Imagine my surprise stumbling across a time tunnel in downtown Kennesaw. After walking through it, I noticed I had traveled back to the year 2010. I didn't stay long as everything was in black and white. Apparently, some sort of time travel anomaly. 71/365

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3.11.2021: I met quite a beautiful lady on Little Kennesaw Mountain. Her name is Coco. 70/365

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3.10.2021: Riding along in my automobile 

Forrest beside me at the wheel 

Gave him a treat at the turn of a mile 

I swear it looks like he had a big smile 

Cruisin' and playin' the radio 

With no particular place to go

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3.9.2021: Here comes the sun do, do, do ... Here comes the sun ... And I say it's all right.

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3.8.2021: Saw this couple enjoying each other’s company at Green Plantation, and thought of the song Janet sang to me at the altar almost 25 years ago. 67/365
Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be
When our time has come
We will be as one ...

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3.7.2021: Vulture School: "Pay attention class. When going into a steep dive, position your wings like this." 66/365

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3.6.2021: Forrest attempting to "nose in" on my area of the couch. 65/365

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3.5.2021: I stopped to watch a crew pouring concrete when, for some reason, my mind began to wander and I began thinking about Jimmy Hoffa. 64/365

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3.4.2021: Sunny sky ... 70+ degrees ... good time to wash the ride. 63/365

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3.3.2021: "Anyone who has ever stopped to watch a hawk in flight will know that this is one of the natural world's most elegant phenomena." - John Burnside (Kennesaw Mountain) 62/365

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3.2.2021: Legend has it that shortly after midnight giant rabbits roam the remote areas of Kennesaw Mountain. These fierce rabbits are often destructive and unlike Big Foot, have never been photographed. However, it you are lucky, you may stumble upon signs of these elusive creatures. 61/365

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3.1.2021: "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down." -- Carpenters (and Jenny) 60/365