Yes, my son Russ and his family will be attending several World Cup matches, in Atlanta and Philadelphia in the next month.
Today's the birthday of my beautiful daughter-in-law, Michelle. She and my son, Russ recently went to NY city and attended a play "The Lost Boys."
Happy Birthday Michelle!
Some veggies aka volunteers (and employees) of Bounty and Soul food distribution in the Asheville area.
After the event...some more photos from Caroline's graduation last Sunday.
"Congratulations Caroline for graduating with a double major in International Relations and Public Health with a minor in German from 3 colleges at George Washington University. It has been an honor and privilege to watch you grow over the past four years driven by your passion for international cultures and your desire to help others, particularly those disenfranchised. You challenged yourself in multiple ways we are so proud of and are delighted at the friends and relationships you’ve made. We could not be more thrilled for your future and the impact you will undoubtedly make in the world."
- Mom, Michelle.
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Sharing with Saturday's Critters.
My family album:
Granddaughter Caroline
Many years ago!
And maybe they weren't having such fun...
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Sharing with my friends, few and far between, or near and newly met...with the old photos of sepia tones!
Sepia Saturday this week:
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Today's good news:
Today, [Mar 13] U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that federal agencies must immediately offer thousands of probationary workers purged from the government in the early weeks of Trump’s administration their jobs back. Mass firings from the Defense, Treasury, Energy, Interior, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs departments did not follow the law, Alsup said.
The government declined to make witnesses available to the court although Alsup had ordered the acting head of the Office of Personnel Management to appear today. Alsup told lawyers from the Justice Department that he believed they were hiding how the firings had taken place and who was responsible. “You will not bring the people in here to be cross-examined. You’re afraid to do so because you know cross examination would reveal the truth…. I tend to doubt that you’re telling me the truth.… I’m tired of seeing you stonewall on trying to get at the truth.”
Tonight, U.S. District Judge James Bredar ordered the administration to reinstate thousands of probationary workers in the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the General Service Administration, and the Small Business Administration.
Bredar said it was “likely” that “the Government has engaged in an illegal scheme spanning broad swaths of the federal workforce.” The government claimed it did not have to give advance notice of the firings because it had dismissed the probationary workers for “performance” or other individual reasons. "On the record before the Court, this isn’t true,” Bredar said. “There were no individualized assessments of employees. They were all just fired. Collectively.”
Thanks Heather Cox Richardson, Letters From and American March 14, 2025
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Also on March 13 from Boston MA:
In a 12-1 vote the Boston City Council approved a resolution making the city a sanctuary for transgender, gender diverse people and all LGBTQ+ people.
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And on March 16
A report released on this day in 2021 confirmed that Putin had authorized efforts to help get Trump get reelected in 2020.
And today is...
· Freedom of Information Day
· Black Press Day
· Lips Appreciation Day
· National Quilting Day
· National Panda Day
· National Artichoke Day
· Everything You Do is Right Day
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Family album:
Having a good time together!
Having a selfie, all lined up, with son, Russ on l, myself, 3 granddaughters, Caroline, Audrey and Kate. All taken by Michelle, my daughter-in-law in front, in Black Mountain 2022. We had a very short visit as they were on their way to Florida, where there were also freezing temperatures on the beach there, unfortunately.
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Today's art:
Marc Chagall "Lune rousse au Cap d'Antibes," oil, pastel, and watercolor on paper 1969
My poor planters are waiting still for some spring flowers! With 2 days reaching the 70s this week, it won't be long!
Sharing with Skywatch Friday
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Current events:
While it’s important to stay engaged, so is getting outside and connecting with nature to calm and soothe your busy brain. Logging off and connecting with people in real life will keep your support system strong for when things are tough. Protect your mental health by turning off notifications and taking breaks from your phone.
Practicing good news hygiene isn’t just about protecting ourselves – it’s about fostering a media environment that supports democracy and informed participation.
Current events, close to home - warning these photos are current but show damages remaining from Sept. 27, 2024's floods from Hurricane Helene.
When driving by the Swannanoa "business district" it's still full of the remains of buildings, and huge drop-offs looking down into the waterway where parking lots were washed away after Hurricane Helene.
