Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Complicated”

May 26, 2026May 26, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 48 Comments

Today, I readomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 147. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word nearest to my finger is “complicated.” This is our prompt today.

“It’s complicated.”

“All I asked was how come you two are not together.”

“And I’m telling you there are complications to an easy answer.”

“I mean, you and he are always together.”

“Today we are not.”

“What happened? Is he sick?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“I guess I’m not going to get an answer.”

“As a friend, I guess you deserve an answer.”

“As a concerned friend.”

“Well, you know how he and I have worked together to build our house.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“And you know how delightful the property is with the beautiful lake and all.”

“I do. It is a special place. You two have done wonders.”

“We have had a slight argument.”

“Oh goodness, what about?”

“He thinks we should move and start another.”

“Why on Earth should you do that?”

“According to him, it is our duty to the environment.”

“So where is he now?”

“Off scouting another location. One that would benefit from our skills.”

“You mean a barren place with a trickle of water.”

“Exactly.”

“You guys do build nice dams for sure.”

“I just wish we could settle down in one place.”

“Maybe someday.”

“It’s not easy being a beaver.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do on Memorial Day

May 25, 2026May 24, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

As in years past, I firmly believe that we should not forget the sacrifices of those who have died in service to this country. All ten points are the same.

Do not forget those who gave their lives so you may live in freedom.

Our flag honors those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

Views of the Neighborhood – Texas Flora

May 24, 2026May 23, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 62 Comments

Today, we will view the Lakeway Walk of Texas Flora. There are 26 stops, so we won’t make all of them today. We’ll do half this week and the rest next. Also, the display cards are under glass, so the photographs are as good as I could make them. We are catered by Embers of Austin, and our entertainment is Johnnie Lee and Lane Brody.

Plantain Stack – Buttermilk Pancakes, Plantains, Whipped Cream, Plantain Pecan-Infused Syrup

Churros Toast – Dulce de Leche French Toast, Brioche Bread, Candied Pecan Multi-Grain Crunch, Piloncillo Strawberry Syrup, Fresh Strawberries, Mint

Ember Steak & Eggs – 8 oz Filet Mignon, Enchilada Sauce, Eggs “Your Way”, Black Beans

Chorizo Hash – Ground Chorizo, Diced Red Peppers, Poblano Peppers, Shallots, Beef Fat Potatoes, Egg, Salsa Dona, Hollandaise

Chilaquiles – Red Chile Sauce, Corn Tortilla Chips, Lime Crema, Eggs, Cilantro, Avocado

Wagyu Steak – 10 oz Market Cut, Ember Tortillas, Grilled Fennel & Onions, Salsa Dona

Josper Chicken – Orange and Guajillo Brine, Pollo ala Brasa, Achiote Chimichurri

Josper Burger – 8 oz Akaushi Wagyu, Oaxaca Cheese, Escabeche, Chipotle Aioli, Pork Belly, Brioche Bun

So, let’s get going.

Here is what the path looks like with the stations on either side. Let’s walk.

Texas Sage.

Agarita evergreen.

Mountain Laurel.

Yaupon Holly.

Lacy Oak.

Flame Acanthus.

Chinaberry.

Texas Persimmon

Texas Ash.

Pecan.

Cedar Elm.

Southern Live Oak.

Golden Bamboo.

Escarpment Live Oak.

Shin Oak.

Texad Redbud.

Turk’s Cap.

Time now to relax with food and entertainment.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “May your…”

May 23, 2026May 22, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

“ May your day be wonderful” is the message on the touchscreen of the coffee machine. For the life of me, I can’t imagine why the machine has started to provide motivational messages. The last software download must have led to the idea that we humans can change our emotional state at will. Oh well, it is a nice sentiment, and a touch of the two coffee buttons is a more practical way to alter a mood. The aroma of the magic elixer provides a hopeful sign that the day may, in fact, be wonderful. The first sip quells the 50-story fall climax of the grand piano feeling in my head, brought on by the lack of caffeine.

The second sip, as we have grown accustomed to hearing, is coupled with the cacophony of the Westminster chimes of the doorbell and the instantaneous iPhone unhealthy noise warning sound of Twiggy and Tempeste, believing with all their heart they are doing a good deed in causing eardrum-bleeding mayhem. A quick toss of a handful of kibble into the soundproof room and a slam of the door restores a kind of hush all over the world.

A look at the security monitor confirms the cause of the ruckus. Heckle and Jeckle, the yellow-billed magpies, fill the screen. Knowing that any discussion with these two will be fruitless, the security shutdown process has begun.

The B-2 bomber squadron and the F-35 escort must be called off. One call does it. The tank corps and gunboats are told to stand by. The Apache helicopters are rerouted. The electric shock fence is turned off. The drawbridge over the quicksand is lowered. The robot attack dogs returned to their charging station. The laser-guided machine guns on the roof are set to caution. The nest filled with rattlesnakes was put away. The bucket filled with 1000 marbles is locked down. The tear gas canisters shut off. The electrified welcome mat set to off. The fall-away sidewalk into the pit filled with spikes is locked. The hornet’s nest closed. The water cannons are set to safety. Bear traps are set to off. Peregrine Falcons perched on the roof above the front door were fed. The vat of boiling oil set to warm. The front door is opened.

It’s hard to tell who’s who, but one magpie had the envelope, and the other had the clipboard. Each gave me their item, and the clipboard was returned with a signature where indicated. Both held out wings in an obvious hint for a tip. “You don’t need to wait for permission to succeed, ” was my tip for the day. Stepping back through the front entrance and closing the door, the envelope from Linda Hill is opened. Here is the message:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “may your…” Use the phrase “may your” in your post. Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post https://lindaghill.com/2026/05/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-23-2026/.

“Heckle and Jeckle? I haven’t seen them for years.”

“I know. They made their first appearance in 1946, so they are 80 years old.”

“I can see why you invited them to the post.”

“What do you mean?’

“Old guy like yourself.”

“Well, as a kid, I liked them.”

“Hard to visualize you as a kid. Where did you watch them?”

“On TV and in comics.”

“TV? Was it invented when you were a kid?”

“Of course, it was. We had a black and white 10-inch screen.”

“Hard to imagine.”

“As near as I can remember, we had that thing for about seven or eight years.”

“How could you see anything?”

“It seemed okay to me.”

“May your eyes thank the heavens that you didn’t strain them too much.”

“Yeah, we weren’t allowed to watch TV much, so I guess I survived. You order an Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Just, no.”

“Aw, come on. I’ll ride on the back. You’ll have a seat.”

“Well…. what is the catch?”

“No catch.”

“Come on.”

“Okay, a small one.”

“Hit me.”

“There’s a trailer.”

“Okay, that’s no big deal.”

“With a tree in it.”

“Don’t tell me.”

“Yes, we need to plant it.”

“Oh, man. How long will that take?’

“Will only take an hour, if.”

“If what?”

“If we don’t have to use the jackhammer on hard ground.”

“I’m not dressed for this.”

“Take these overalls and gloves and oh yes, these goggles.”

“Goggles? What for?”

“You are doing the jackhammer.”

“Just shoot me in the face.”

“The goggles will protect you.”

“Fine. Let’s go.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

May 22, 2026May 21, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 62 Comments

A bull moose passing through Gary Verbrugge’s yard – credit, supplied by Verbrugge to the Spokesman-Review

Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network.

Man Gathers Up Family Acres Home to Moose and Mountain Lion and Returns Them to Indian Tribe

By Andy Corbley –May 21, 2026

Early in May, GNN reported how Australian and US citizens have amassed 85 million acres of private land specifically for conservation.

From the Spokesman-Review comes the story of a man in Washington state who’s about to make it 85,000,885 by donating his own patch to the Kalispel Indian Tribe.

Having spent his whole working life in urban areas during a 30-year career with the Social Security Administration, Gary Verbrugge longed for the natural world he remembered from his youth, where he lived on land his relatives bought after moving from Iowa in the early 20th century.

After taking early retirement to help with his parents’ ailing health, he bought more land and a neighbor’s cabin and went home to see what had happened to his father and uncles’ forest.

It turns out that the forester they entrusted with managing their land was more interested in making money from timber sales than in ensuring the health of the woodland.

A year later, in 2007, Verbrugge partnered with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy to turn 605 wooded acres he owned into a conservation easement. In 2025, he bought another 280 acres directly abutting his own land from his nieces and nephews, and added them to the package.

The idea, explained by the INLC’s conservation director, Michael Crabtree, is that the Conservancy acts “kind of like the third party that makes sure the rules are being followed,” on behalf of the owner, who has stipulated he wants to see the land preserved in a natural state.

Though Verbrugge, who lives alone at 72 years old in the forest, has no heirs to pass the property to, he found a suitable inheritor in the Kalispel Indians, who said they would carry the responsibility of keeping the land in good health forward with “profound gratitude.”

As to the land itself, the Little Spokane River runs through it, along with several creeks home to bull trout. In a subdivided and developed area, Verbrugge’s woodland is a haven for elk, deer, moose, wolves, cougar, bobcat, and eagles.

“To see the wildlife, where they’re not aggressive, they’re not scared, they’re just at home, is the reward,” Verbrugge told the Spokesman-Review, who enjoys catching glimpses of his sylvan neighbors with trail cams.

Today’s good news story points out that individuals with a heart can make a difference in preserving valuable natural resources. Today’s JohnKu talks about individual effort in conservation. I hope you have a restful weekend.

It doesn’t take much,

To help the Earth get healthy . . .

Recycle does work.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Check out the New Fence

May 21, 2026May 20, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 116 Comments

“Tempeste, why aren’t you testing the fence?”

“For one, this tasty leaf needs to be finished.”

“Is there a for two?”

“Well, from here it looks mighty wicked.”

“What do you mean, ‘wicked?'”

“It might be electrified.”

“Dad would never do that.”

“He would get pretty excited when I busted through the old one.”

“Yeah, but this looks like it is made pretty well.”

“It does look substantial. I don’t see any wires.”

“For heaven’s sake. It won’t be wired.”

“But it is all creepy and black. You can hardly see it.”

“Go ahead and touch your nose to it.”

“If I get shocked, I’m going to be really mad at you.”

“Well, you satisfied it’s not electrified?”

Sure am. Now I have to figure a way out of here.”

“I can’t believe you. You have everything you want. The fence is because you eat every leaf you can find. Why not stop the leaf habit, and I’ll bet the fence would disappear.”

“Twiggy. If I could stop the leaf habit, I would. You are right about having everything right here. It’s just there are so many leaves outside this fence.”

“How about forgetting about the leaves and just enjoying the day. A few will blow in that you can pounce on.”

“So true, sister. Alright, I’ll forget about the great escape. Why are you smelling that chair?”

“Great. I’m smelling this chair cause someone used some kind of cleaner on it.”

“That sounds like normal behavior. And you get on me about leaves.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Content”

May 19, 2026May 18, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

Today, I randomly opened The Eternal Road – The last stop to page 253. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word nearest my finger is “content.” That is our prompt.

“Well, you look content.”

“Makes you jealous, doesn’t it?”

“Not really. I have had enough to eat, and the expanded content of my stomach tells me it is nap time.”

“I’m not sure I understand the concept of enough to eat.”

“What do you mean?”

“I always feel hungry, is what I mean.”

“You are kidding.”

“No. Even when I have just finished a big meal, I could eat more.”

“That is a sad situation.”

“Tell me. MY content factor is usually pretty low.”

“I’ve always wondered why you seem to be moving all the time.”

“I guess I’m trying to forget my discontent.”

“I don’t understand why you remain so thin.”

“Must be the metabolism.”

“I’m surprised you don’t take food from others when we are dining.”

“That wouldn’t be right. Besides, I may be hungry, but I’m not a fighter.”

“You would definitely get into fights, taking food from others. So when do you get extra food?”

“I don’t. I just live with it.”

“Well, I’m sorry about your condition.”

“I appreciate your sympathy. It’s no laughing matter.”

“That is a sad state of affairs for a hyena.”

“Tell me.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do Working on the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869

May 18, 2026May 18, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

More of the historical backdrop for this set of Top Ten Things Not to Do. This post was published on September 24, 2018. I hope you enjoy. it

The Top Ten Things Not to Do Working on the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869

10. If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not forget to double-check your measurements. If you do, at best, you can correct any mistakes before the East meets the West. At worst, the Westbound group will be in Promontory Summit, Utah, and your Eastbound group will end up in Provo. (You only missed the union by a few hundred miles, Ferris. Maybe you can cut over before the three-foot snows.)

9 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not borrow Tiny the WWF champ’s sledgehammer. If you do, at best, Tiny will not know you have it. At worst, Tiny has been seeking help for his inability to let things go, but has not addressed the part about possessions. (If you can, Forest, I would sneak that hammer back into Tiny’s tent since it looks like he is in stage ten of a meltdown looking for it.)

8 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not forget your gloves. If you do, at best, you might be able to buy a pair. At worst, you will be using a shovel to dig out the rail bed for twelve hours a day. (It might be a good idea to get those hands wrapped somehow, Fredrik. Otherwise, I think you may be out of a job.)

7 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not light up your cigar as you are pouring gunpowder into the blasting holes. If you do, at best, the wind will save you. At worst, you will get a lesson in flight long before the Wright brothers. (That ringing in your ears means you are lucky to be here, Fakhir.)

6 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not complain about the food. If you do, at best, no one will listen. At worst, the cook, who is a graduate of the Culinary Institute, has a huge knife and very tender feelings. (I think it might be time to try out those new running boots, Flint. I don’t think an apology is going to work this time.)

5 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not decide to sleep out on the prairie even though the stars are beautiful at night. If you do, at best, the mosquitoes will drive you back to camp. At worst, your slumber will be disturbed by growling noises you have never heard before. (Those are wolves, Finnigan. Playing possum won’t help. I would get up and run screaming back to camp.)

4 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, I would not try to introduce s’mores at the nightly campfire. If you do, at best, your fellow workers won’t pay attention. At worst, you won’t have enough to go around, and the resulting riot will get you fired. (Now that you are way out here, Findlay, how are you going to get back to San Francisco?)

3 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not start singing, “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” If you do, at best, you won’t remember the words and will stop. At worst, you’ll get to the part about Dina blowing her horn, and the rest of the workers will want to know who Dina is. (Looks like you have a credibility problem, Flynn. Everyone wants to meet Dina. You’d better figure out who is going to play Dina.)

2 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not think you can organize a union of workers. If you do, at best, your boss will stop you before you get too far. At worst, the railroad company and the government will escort you off the job and on to a buckboard heading back to civilization. (I guess no one told you, Fabian, that this was going to be dangerous, unsafe, hard work, and you would only get minimum wage.)

1 If you are working on the first transcontinental railroad, do not party too hard after the last spike is driven. If you do, at best, you will have a killer headache the next day. At worst, you might miss the train back to your city. (Well, Fachnan, it looks like you might be asking the local tribe of native Americans if they have room for a blood brother. Don’t be too surprised if they are less than friendly. You just finished a railroad through their land without their permission.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Photographer Debbi Varela

May 17, 2026May 16, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

Today, we are visiting the Lakeway City Hall Art exhibit. There is an exhibition by photographer Debbi Varela of Lakeway. We are catered by Rough Creek Lodge Restaurant of Glen Rose, Texas. Our entertainment is Survivor.Menu

California White Bass – Santa Barbara Mussels, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Grape Tomatoes, Chef’s Salami, Garlic Toast & Shaved Burgundy Black Truffle Salad
Red Chile Glazed Swordfish – Shrimp Quesadilla, Wilted Beet Greens, Toasted Pepitas & Butternut Squash Sauce
Skillet Roasted Chicken Breast – Creamy Wild Rice, Pancetta, Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash & Pan Mushroom Gravy
Locally Raised Red Wattle Pig -Sampler For Two, Grilled Chop, Seared Loin, Smoked Shoulder, Rutabaga Puree, Pomegranate Sauce & Garlic Sautéed Dandelions

Hanger Steak-8oz -Marbled & Full Flavor

Rib Eye-12oz -Marbled & Full Flavor
Filet -7oz – Lean & Lite Flavor
Green Bean – Potato-Cheddar Casserole & Green Tomato Chutney

Everyone on the bus.

Here is the gallery. Notice how much light. The photos are behind glass making taking photos of them difficult. I did get them all.

About the photographer and the exhibit.

About the exhibit.

Under the Same Sky.

Holding Space.

Seen.

Momentium.

Golden Silence.

Grounded.

The quiet Strength within.

Growing Through Conflict.

Balance.

Working Together.

The Wins We Share.

I hope you enjoyed the exhibit. It is now time for food and entertainment. I hope you have a great week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Sweet”

May 16, 2026May 15, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

The coffee machine sits quietly waiting for its first command of the day. A touch of the two coffee images on the touchscreen brings the sweet sound of beans grinding. In 14 seconds, the magic elixir that quells the evil caffeine withdrawal pain pours into the cup. The first sip quiets the sound of a falling Mosler safe crashing into a five-story greenhouse that is in my head. The second sip is accompanied by the predictable cacophony of the Westminster chimes, the doorbell, and the baying of the hounds of Baskerville, portrayed by Twiggy and Tempeste. A quick toss of a new bone into the soundproof room, followed by a door slam, brings the peace train back home.

A glance at the monitor shows that Clarabelle the Clown is on the front porch. Knowing it is silly to ask it to leave the envelope, the security shutdown process is begun with a sigh.

The B-2 bomber squadron and the F-35 escort must be called off. One call does it. The tank corps and gunboats are told to stand by. The Apache helicopters are rerouted. The electric shock fence is turned off. The drawbridge over the quicksand is lowered. The robot attack dogs returned to their charging station. The laser-guided machine guns on the roof are set to caution. The nest filled with rattlesnakes was put away. The bucket filled with 1000 marbles is locked down. The tear gas canisters shut off. The electrified welcome mat set to off. The fall-away sidewalk into the pit filled with spikes is locked. The hornet’s nest closed. The water cannons are set to safety. Bear traps are set to go off. The Peregrine Falcons perched on the roof above the front door fed. The front door is open.

Clarabelle gives me a honk and passes the envelope and clipboard. After the signature, we trade the envelope for the clipboard. Clarabelloe has a hand out in the classic request for a tip. “A positive mind is stronger than a negative thought.” Is the tip left with Clarabelle as the front door closes. The envelope is from Linda Hill. Inside is a message. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “sweet.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2026/05/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-16-2026/

“Clarabell? From the Howdy Doody show?”

“Yup, the very same. I used to watch it on our 10-inch TV screen.”

“In black and white?

“Of course.”

“What year was that?”

“The show started in 1947, and I think we got our first TV in 1948.”

“You were a kd.”

“Yup. Seven years old when I began watching.”

“Do you remember anything about the show?”

“Only that I sent away for a Clarabell cut-out figure. It arrived about 100 years after I sent in for it.”

“Did you like it?”