Work in Progress

Purple

Vortex

Staring into the very vortex of the spring pollen season. :-)

Turkey

I heard this morning that we have T-urkey to t-hank for t-ulips. :-)

Virginia Referendum

I don't think yesterday's referendum in Virginia was as much a victory for the country as a whole as it may have been for Democrats. Yes, gerrymandering is bad. But so, too, is totalitarianism. A democracy can still function with gerrymandering.  Poorly, to be sure. It cannot when ruled by a tyrant. 

Variation

Wordless

Flowers like this leave me wordless. 

Spring Fashions

Quilt

This past week, Williamsburg rolled out a 500-foot quilt celebrating the nation's 250th year of independence.

Dorm Renovation & Construction

New Growth

Morning Dew

Beauty

Still taking the time, occasionally, to breath in deeply and to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. Well, at least whenever I'm not choking on pollen. :-)

A Tulip Garden

Guarded within the old red wall's embrace,

Marshalled like soldiers in gay company,

The tulips stand arrayed.  Here infantry

Wheels out into the sunlight.  What bold grace

Sets off their tunics, white with crimson lace!

Here are platoons of gold-frocked cavalry,

With scarlet sabres tossing in the eye

Of purple batteries, every gun in place.

Forward they come, with flaunting colours spread,

With torches burning, stepping out in time

To some quick, unheard march.  Our ears are dead,

We cannot catch the tune.  In pantomime

Parades that army.  With our utmost powers

We hear the wind stream through a bed of flowers.

- Amy Lowell

Tandem

A very pleasant day to visit Colonial Williamsburg. Sun shining. Temps reasonable. All in all, a very enjoyable spring day.

Dogwoods

The dogwood trees are blooming here now. May I never be so distracted as not to notice.

Drive-By

Youth Movement

No Kings protestors are getting younger and younger.

Vote Yes

I think it is important that voters understand the limits this referendum proposal would set for redrawing congressional districts. I’ve added the italicized bits to emphasize what I believe are the sensible limits. Yes, it’s partisan gerrymandering, but only for a limited time and, importantly, in response to the same GOP gerrymandering in other states.

"The proposed amendment would give the General Assembly the authority to redraw one or more of Virginia's congressional districts before 2031 in limited circumstances. In the event that another state redraws its own congressional districts before 2031, without being ordered by a court to do so, the General Assembly would then be able to redraw Virginia's congressional districts. The General Assembly's power to do so would continue until October 31, 2030, and the Virginia Redistricting Commission would reassume the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031.

The proposed district map has been approved by the General Assembly and would take effect only if the constitutional amendment is approved by the voters.

A "yes" vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia's congressional districts, since other states have done so, in addition to giving effect to the proposed district map in time for the 2026 Congressional elections, and return the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031 to the Virginia Redistricting Commission." -- Virginia Department of Elections

Kool-Aid