It’s Saturday. I’ve been on the road this week. I was going to skip this post, but something caused me to want to participate in this challenge. When I read this prompt, my most recent photo was a very happy sight. So, we are at the bar, for a short visit, trying to work Linda’s prompt, a little news and a big smile into Linda’s SoCS prompt.

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘the last photo you took.’ Take the last photo you snapped. What’s the first word that comes to mind when you look at it? That word is your prompt. Enjoy!”

If we were having a beer, I’d be in a very good mood, and not just because you’re paying.

“Good afternoon, my young friend. I have taken the liberty of ordering for you since you were so kind as to include me in your treat for Teagan last week.”

“Thanks David. It was fun having Teagan visit.”

“It was. Has she started her new serial yet?”

“She put something out there for us. You can take a look over here.”

“Send me that link, so I don’t forget.”

“It’s on its way.”

“Here you go boys. A John Howell’s special with all the fixins and a tall cool Corona.”

“Thanks Cheryl. Cheers Dan.”

“Cheers David!”

“If you don’t mind me saying, Dan, you have a look of contentment about you today. What’s up with that?”

“I am content, David. We did a road trip to Pittsburgh this week, and things went pretty well.”

“Western Pennsylvania? That’s a long drive. So, no traffic? Good weather? It can’t be the Pirates, they lost three horrible games to Milwaukee.”

“Yes, but they beat the Philadelphia Phillies, and we were in the stands to see them win.”

“That would give you a good feeling. Was it a good game? I mean besides winning.”

“It was for the Pirates. They spread seven runs over three innings, and they held Philadelphia to one hit.”

“Well, welcome home, enjoy the beer. Do you have pictures from your trip?”

“I do, but I won’t bore you with them today.”

“You know that means he’ll bore you with them later.”

“Ha ha, you’re right Cheryl, but I’ll try to pick out the good ones.”

“You boys want another round?”

“I think we should cap off Dan’s good week, Cheryl. Another round and give him a bowl of chowder.”

The pictures in the gallery were taken before I left for Pittsburgh. Some of the captions appear, but if they seem to end abruptly, you have to click that little ‘i’ in the circle to see the full caption.

59 responses to “A Reason to Smile – #SoCS”

  1. I have no reason to smile, the Red Sox have lost 3 of their last 4. 😩
    The Rose of Sharon is lovely. I don’t see many of those up here, must be too cold. And as always…. bunny!
    ❣️

    Liked by 2 people

    1. At least the Sox have a winning season.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. So far. Don’t jinx us!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Glad you and Faith had a good visit with your brother. Happy weekend – looks like a good one. :-)

    Liked by 2 people

    1. We had a great time. Still on our way home, but close.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Sorry about the Brewer/Pirate games, but you know I always root for the home team. The most excellent part for you, though, is sitting in the stands in Pittsburgh and watching your home team win. Hope you had a fun and safe road trip, Dan. Happy Saturday!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. No need to apologize. I like the Brewers better than the other three teams in our division. Watching a great home win was sweet. We could have gone to any of the four games. We chose well. I hope you’re having a good weekend.

      Liked by 2 people

  4. That picture of the clam chowder is making me hungry. I think I need to start thinking about breakfast. Always love your pictures.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. I wasn’t ready to get up either – maybe I was a cat in another life…
    Jeez, your Pirates lost as badly as my Red Sox did the past 2 games!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. We did. We lost three ugly games. But, we won the one we were at so I’m good.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Murphy's Law Avatar
    Murphy’s Law

    Your rose-of-sharon bushes are looking so beautiful. I love the shot of MiMi washing off any residue of you touching her paw! How dare you! MuMu only caring that she gets brushed before the road trip! She probably had her brush in her paws as soon as you pulled in the driveway. Lol. Maddie seems very pleased to have the couch to herself…..for a little while anyway.

    Glad you and Faith were able to have this mini getaway. And now it’s back to same old, same old.

    Enjoy this awesome weather today. Have a happy, relaxing weekend.
    Ginger

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Ginger. We are still on the road, but we’ll be home soon. I’ll brush MuMu. MiMi always cleans herself where I pet her. I wash my hands 😏

      I think Maddie will be happy to see me. The cats????

      Like

  7. By interesting coincidence, I’d been thinking about contentment in one of the posts I’d been not writing. A good thing to feel. About baseball I know nothing but I know about playgrounds, and that one is very inviting. And, if loitering in a park is against the law, I’m in trouble. The photo of chowder and beer will have us all grabbing for that spoon!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Sorry about the food photo. It’s making me hungry now. We made a good choice to see that game. That felt good. I like your comment about the posts your not writing 😏

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Google calls that Rose of Sharon color ‘Magenta Chiffon.’ Sounds pretty enough to eat, doesn’t it? MiMi cleaning her paw where you’ve touched her–that cracks me up. Why do cats do that?! Glad Smokey had plenty to eat. You did leave a little bowl of nuts for him, right?! Enjoy the rest of the weekend, Dan.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’m sure the Editor fed Smokey. He tries to convince me she doesn’t feed them. She buys the peanuts, so…

      MiMi cleans herself any time I pet her 🙁

      Magenta Chiffon? I was in between red and purple. Thanks.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. haha! Oh, Smokey….Like Faith’s cats tell you she feeds them breakfast at 2:30 in the morning!

        Liked by 2 people

        1. They’re all working from the same script.

          Liked by 1 person

  9. Welcome back, Dan. A trip to Pittsburgh is always a treat. I’m going to be looking forward to the photos. I love the chowder.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks John. Still on the road but we’re close. I’ll be sharing photos all week by the looks of things.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Who’s driving while you are answering comments?

        Like

        1. Faith – we’re making good time 😏

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Okay then. Tell her hey.

            Liked by 1 person

  10. I’m glad you’re safely home and had a good trip to Pittsburgh, and you saw a game! He-Man and my kids always liked doing that too when we would go to visit his parents.

    That color pink I think of as Magenta. That bush looks very lush and gorgeous.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks Deborah. I rushed this post a bit. We aren’t quite home but that game was one of the best I ever saw. Beating the Phillies is always good. Thanks for confirming magenta. I think that’s in the Crayola box of 64. I work out of the box of 16.

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Home now – Thanks!

          Liked by 1 person

  11. Welcome back, Dan. Huge thanks for the mention.
    I hope your mini vacation created good memories. The gallery is particularly lovely. Now, get some rest. Hugs on the wing!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. It’s always my pleasure to point people in your direction. We’re almost home. Long drive but fun visit. Thanks.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Your roses of Sharon are marvelous. I guess if you’re at that park, you must be playing or doing something with purpose, so as not to be loitering. They must’ve had some issues.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’m usually loitering. I take Maddie in there to wait for other people and dogs to pass. The rose of Sharon plants are all doing well. Thanks JoAnna

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Pirates got a couple of good young arms for Richard Rodriguez. Hopefully he’ll shore up our bullpen, which is the worst I’ve seen since the Ghastly Boys in the late ’80’s.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Our “closer” had an era of 5.3 – not a confidence builder. He got into trouble but got out. Fortunately Crowe pitched 6 solid innings

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Contentment — wonderful capture of the experience. Thanks for sharing the photos, always beautiful. Have a great weekend, Dan. 😊

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Gwen. It was a great game.

      Like

  15. So good to know your trip was good, you got to see a winning game and content is a wonderful way to feel! 👏🏻👏🏻

    Liked by 3 people

    1. It does feel good, Cheryl. It was a great trip.

      Like

  16. From the photo I would call that color fuschia!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Ha! There’s a word I’ve never used 😏

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I so rarely do! 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Definitely sounds like contentment to me. I could really go for a bowl of that chowder – yum!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks. I could go for some chowder myself.

      Like

  18. I am late to the game, but always a pleasure to read your post, Dan. Do you prune your Rose of Sharon bushes? They are so lovely. Mine have gotten leggy it seems.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks Maggie. We haven’t done a good job of pruning them, but we hacked away at them a bit this year. With all the rain we’ve had, we got tired of having to walk around the sagging branches. We are planning to prune them back a ways in the fall. That may spoil next year’s appearance, but we can’t let them get too big, or they will get trashed in a good storm.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Ours are overgrown. It will be time for a good pruning this fall. We pruned our blueberries too late and they did not produce well this year

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Yeah, the buds are already set, but we have to do something.

          Liked by 1 person

  19. Congrats on a nice week of adventures! I remember your Rose of Sharon bushes from last year’s photos too – they look like they’re doing well this year! I bet they are fragrant too?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The bees must think so 😊

      Liked by 1 person

  20. And you were there to see the Pirates win! Hooray!! I hope your week on the road was a good one, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It was, Jennie. We had a great time.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. It sounds like a fun time away, Dan. Nice to see you back. It is a bit strange to have a no loitering sign in a park, but I assume the don’t want people hanging around doing things like drinking. Or hanging around kids too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The no loitering seems odd, but I guess there’s a good reason. We did have a fun time. It’s good to be home.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I always like getting home too.

        Liked by 1 person

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