All the roses are blooming like crazy here. I love the multi-colored Joseph's Coat.

I love them EVERY day....so thank you all for giving me such pleasure. You all are so talented...it is just like getting one of those "Taste of Home" magazines (no ads) .... I can't remember the name of the magazine...just remember how hard it was to part with them.

In much of SE Asia, it is very common to see spirit houses. They can be very small and plain all the way to large and elaborate. The spirit house provides shelter for spirits that could cause problems for the people if not appeased. The shrines often include images of people and animals. Offerings of food, drink, incense and flowers are left to nurture the spirits. In return the spirits offer protection and good fortune. I was out walking in Bangkok one day when I came across this spirit house. Apparently, the spirits visited in the form of pigeons that day.

Jim, we went through the canal in January and somehow I missed seeing that lighthouse. I'll blame it on trying to see over all the bodies that were also trying to see what was going on. We were out on deck by 7:00a.m. and that still wasn't early enough - the early birds beat us to all the good spots!