JUL 9, 25 ( 2 / 3 ).. PATTI'S FLOWERS .. SUMMER 2025 ..

Patti and I know all to well that not everyone is able to follow us each and every day. So if you missed Part 1 that we published last Sunday, and would like to review it, please click onto the below link..

https://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2025/07/jul-6-25-1-3-pattis-flowers-summer-2025.html

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Over the past thirty (30) years, Patti has used four major planter boxes. Below is a photo of them from last year.

As all of you can well imagine, the above four planter boxes have become near and dear, friends, part of "Our family". Sad to say, their time had come because they are now too large and heavy for us to deal with and they were well worn on the insides.

The first thing I had to do, was to dispose of our above near and dear friends each of whom was full of earth.

This.. Was.. A.. Job.. 

Below are the four (call them) elderly planter boxes I had to empty.

Scoop by single scoop, I removed the dirt from each of the elderly planter boxes, unloading their the earth into plastic bags.

One bag finished. I stapled the top shut.

Two bags finished. 

Three bags finished. The first planter box, an old friend, was empty of its dirt for the first time in thirty (30) years.

"Dad? What's happening Dad? Does Mom know what you are doing Dad?"

"Yes Dear Old Friend. Mom knows what I am doing. We both are so sad and sorry but we need to use fewer, much smaller and lighter in weight planter boxes."

Each bag full of dirt was "rather heavy" for me at age 88 years. So I would take just two bags, one in each hand for balance, and walk to our dumpster and drop them into it. Then I would return, and this was just a tad "tricky" for me, and take the third bag of dirt in my left hand, along with the old, somewhat large and bulky, planter box to the dumpster.

The below photo was taken with my back against the dumpster. In the distance is our white Suburban. A bit of a hike from the back of our Condo out front to our truck and then down to the dumpster.

I did not rush nor did I push the above project. Over four days I emptied and disposed of the four old friends.

The old and the new planter boxes.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

The time had come for Patti to begin putting one of the two Home Depot Flower Plants into one of the brand new, light and trim, planter boxes.

There you have it. Part 2 of this 3 Part Post showing our Summer 2025 Flowers.

Cap and Patti

JUL 6, 25 ( 1 / 3 ).. PATTI'S FLOWERS .. SUMMER 2025 ..

 Patti and I have so very many memories of the, not years, but several decades when, without fail, Patti lovingly planted and thoroughly enjoyed "Her Summer Flowers" here at our Condo in Anchorage, Alaska.

Then in the Summer of 2022, for several good reasons, Patti made the decision in late May to NOT plant flowers.

Then I had a dream. A dream that I could NOT forget. A dream that was so real that I actually thought it WAS real.

A dream where I bought and I planted Patti's Summer 2022 Flowers.

When I arose from the dream , I said to myself, "THAT does it. I am going to buy, if nothing more, one small plant and I myself will plant my one small plant into one of Patti's planter boxes. 

Patti WILL HAVE summer flowers the Summer of 2022!"

Just in case you are interested, you can read about our Summer of 2022 Flowers by clicking onto the below link.

https://bobbacaps.blogspot.com/2022/07/jul-28-22-pattis-flowers-summer-2022.html

Sadly, and neither Patti nor myself can remember why, but we did not have Summer Flowers in 2023. Oh but last year, the Summer of 2024, we planted flowers and showed and wrote about them in four (4) individual Posts.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Last Friday, on July the 4th, 2025, together Patti and I visited our local Home Depot Store and Patti very carefully and lovingly selected the flowers she wanted us to have this summer.

No! Not many people were out Flower Shopping on the 4th of July!

After getting a good overview of the flowers available, Patti selected her 2025 Summer Flowers

Our flowers cost right at $40.00. We received a Veteran's 10% discount so our bottom line cost was $36.00.

Off we headed home to our Condo to continue our process.

We will see you all in Part 2.

A very happy Patti and Cap

JUL 4, 25.. THE FOURTH OF JULY.. IT FEELS LIKE SUMMER IS HERE..

THE FOURTH OF JULY.. 2025..

Patti and I wish all of you a happy, joyous, and safe Fourth of July three day weekend.

Americans come together on July 4 to celebrate the nation’s birthday and Independence Day. On this day, most Americans enjoy grills in their backyards, at beaches, or in parks. Some partake in parades or marches and enjoy the fireworks that are often launched at dusk. We kick off the festivities with details, trivia, and anything else you need to know about Independence Day. Happy Fourth! 

In the 1700s, America wasn’t really a nation of ‘United States.’ Instead, there were 13 Colonies with distinct personalities. From 1763 to 1773, Britain’s King George III increasingly placed pressure on the Colonies as he and the British Parliament enacted a succession of draconian taxes and laws on them. Excessive taxes on British luxury goods like tea and sugar were designed to benefit the British crown without any regard for the hardships of the colonists. By 1764, the phrase “Taxation without representation is tyranny” spread throughout the colonies as the rallying cry of outrage.

There is a lot more to the story of our independence. If you would like to read more of the NATIONAL TODAY article, please click onto the below link.

https://nationaltoday.com/fourth-of-july/

Also, on our dotnet Post today, we published a fun story about Oatman, Arizona, and a 4th of July Tradition they celebrate today.

Below is a link to that Post.

https://babakaps.net/?p=71184

Again we wish each and everyone a happy, joyous, and safe 4th of July Holiday.

Cap and Patti

JUN 28, 25.. OUR WILD CRANES HAVE RETURNED FOR A YEAR 2025 VISIT..

 I was literally sitting here at our laptop, mentally "wringing my hands" and sad and frustrated because, so far, we have not published any Posts on Google Blogspot yet in June 2025.

Then (Who knows why? A nudge from a Guardian Angel?) I casually glanced outside and there they were. Two wild Sandhill Cranes en route North! 

Our personal, very first ever sighting of the Cranes here at our Condo, occurred two years ago on Saturday, June the 10th, 2023, when the below two cranes just casually wandered into our lives out in front of our Condo.

They seemed to have absolutely no fear of us!

Two photos showing last years Crane visit on May the 26th, 2024.

Voila! Our visit on June 28th, 2025.

In Early Spring, sandhill cranes migrate north and can be seen in a variety of states in the West and Midwest, including Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Montana, Illinois and Indiana. 80 percent of all sandhill cranes in North America use a 75-mile stretch of Nebraska’s Platte River during spring migration. From March to April, more than 500,000 birds spend time in the area preparing for the long journey north to their breeding grounds in Canada and Alaska.

As summer approaches sandhill cranes are usually spotted in the most northern regions of the contiguous U.S. and in Canada and Alaska. About one-third of the entire North American population of sandhill cranes breeds in the boreal forest of Canada and Alaska. Outside of the Americas, they can be found as far north as Siberia.

As fall approaches, the cranes then reverse this treacherous journey and start to head South again.

We are just thrilled to have seen the Cranes again.

Out in our back yard area.

The Cranes "were on the move" so I had to race out back to photograph them the best I was able to accomplish.

And off they strolled!

Not that they can hear us but.. 

"Cranes. Thanks so very much for your third visit with us!"

Cap and Patti

MAY 31, 25.. THE DETROIT, MICHIGAN ZOO..

 Let's begin with a hearty..

THANK YOU Ginny and THANK YOU Linda for being our guest contributors for this Post.

Ginny's sister Linda lives in the Detroit Michigan Metropolitan area and it was Linda who snapped the below photos she snapped recently at the Detroit Zoo.

A small giggle. Actually the Detroit Zoo is not located in Detroit. It is located in the two Northern Detroit suburbs of Royal Oak and Huntington Woods about 12 miles due North of downtown Detroit.

The Detroit Zoo covers 125 acres and houses 2,000 animals of over 200 different species. It was opened August 1st 1928.

The Detroit Zoo's general admission cost is $27 for adults (ages 13-64) and $24 for youth (ages 2-12) and seniors (ages 65+) when purchased at the gate. 

However, tickets can be purchased online in advance for varying prices depending on the date and time of visit, ranging from $14 to $24 for adults and $12 to $21 for youth/seniors. Parking at the Detroit Zoo costs $8 per vehicle. 

Along with Ginny and Tom our Laughlin, Nevada friends, I was born in Detroit and raised in or near Royal Oak, so the Detroit Zoo is like a lifelong friend. Patti has also enjoyed several visits with me.

THE DETROIT ZOO..

It is one very beautiful venue.

Thank You again Linda and Ginny for sharing these photos with all of us.

Cap and Patti

MAY 13, 25.. BEAUTIFUL ARIZONA HIGHWAYS..

Patti and I returned north to Anchorage, Alaska from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, last April the 24th.

Oh BUT we still have very close friends such as Ginny down in Laughlin, Nevada and that part of the country that continue to send us great photos.

Below are some great photos that Ginny snapped on a recent drive from Laughlin over to Kingman, Arizona, on Arizona Highway 68.

Ginny's grand daughter is named Evelyn.

How Is That For Some Wonderful Guest Photos from "Our Ginny".

Cap and Patti 

We are NOT talking while the flavor lasts!