Ray Balestri
@raybalestri.bsky.social
an old man carrying flowers on his head, wears velour trousers, totters, 3 thirds asleep. Or as my first born, learning to talk, called me, Mommy's friend daddy.
Posts limited to plants, animals, and art. (Comments on others’ posts are a different story.)
Posts limited to plants, animals, and art. (Comments on others’ posts are a different story.)
Is this a real account?
January 3, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Is this a real account?
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone. (Flower arrangements by my talented wife.)
December 25, 2024 at 9:06 PM
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to everyone. (Flower arrangements by my talented wife.)
Sunday morning paper reading with dogs and amaryllis.
December 22, 2024 at 2:39 PM
Sunday morning paper reading with dogs and amaryllis.
Christmas cactus coming into bloom right on schedule.
December 20, 2024 at 7:34 PM
Christmas cactus coming into bloom right on schedule.
Note from the poet ee cummings (who was eschewing capitalization and punctuation long before texts and tweets) to his wife Marion Morehead (with doodles). It says, “doctors all wrong it was only gallstones everybody amazed and delighted I expect to return tomorrow or next day love ESTLIN”
December 19, 2024 at 8:51 PM
Note from the poet ee cummings (who was eschewing capitalization and punctuation long before texts and tweets) to his wife Marion Morehead (with doodles). It says, “doctors all wrong it was only gallstones everybody amazed and delighted I expect to return tomorrow or next day love ESTLIN”
When my son was 5, he wanted to borrow my phone to take some pictures. Here they are:
December 17, 2024 at 8:32 PM
When my son was 5, he wanted to borrow my phone to take some pictures. Here they are:
Burning bush in my back yard. I’m afraid to get too close to it in case God calls out from it and commands me to lead His people out of Egypt. I have too much on my plate this weekend as it is.
December 14, 2024 at 8:27 PM
Burning bush in my back yard. I’m afraid to get too close to it in case God calls out from it and commands me to lead His people out of Egypt. I have too much on my plate this weekend as it is.
I prefer to read the Wall Street Journal through a light blue glaze.
December 10, 2024 at 4:01 PM
I prefer to read the Wall Street Journal through a light blue glaze.
Decorating the Christmas tree with Jewel’s Christmas album playing in the background and the photographer father double-fisting rum-spiked egg nog and cognac.
December 10, 2024 at 3:19 AM
Decorating the Christmas tree with Jewel’s Christmas album playing in the background and the photographer father double-fisting rum-spiked egg nog and cognac.
Christmas season officially starts when the bar is decorated.
December 7, 2024 at 8:10 PM
Christmas season officially starts when the bar is decorated.
The Wall Street Journal just revealed that Bluesky is a “left-wing social-media site.” I feel like Bluesky should have warned us before we signed up.
December 7, 2024 at 12:38 PM
The Wall Street Journal just revealed that Bluesky is a “left-wing social-media site.” I feel like Bluesky should have warned us before we signed up.
Cheap champagne in plastic cups bundled in camo Snuggies on a chilly post-Thanksgiving boat ride.
November 29, 2024 at 11:32 PM
Cheap champagne in plastic cups bundled in camo Snuggies on a chilly post-Thanksgiving boat ride.
Sunday morning flowers from my wife’s garden. (Something to make all the work I have to do today more bearable.)
November 24, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Sunday morning flowers from my wife’s garden. (Something to make all the work I have to do today more bearable.)
Dried tobacco leaf.
November 24, 2024 at 4:17 AM
Dried tobacco leaf.
Monarch caterpillars in our garden. I wonder if they have any idea the transformation they’re in for. They go to sleep and wake up as gods.
November 23, 2024 at 11:49 PM
Monarch caterpillars in our garden. I wonder if they have any idea the transformation they’re in for. They go to sleep and wake up as gods.
Fall grass in the early morning sunlight.
November 23, 2024 at 4:30 PM
Fall grass in the early morning sunlight.
Consummate artistry, coupled with a steady hand.
November 21, 2024 at 6:52 PM
Consummate artistry, coupled with a steady hand.
I figure if I can replicate this pose, I will be forgiven anything.
November 19, 2024 at 12:39 PM
I figure if I can replicate this pose, I will be forgiven anything.
Marion Morehouse, painted by her husband, ee cummings.
November 18, 2024 at 2:37 PM
Marion Morehouse, painted by her husband, ee cummings.
There’s no biological or evolutionary reason for fish to be colored like this. The only logical explanation I can think of is, someone wanted us to be happy.
November 17, 2024 at 5:00 PM
There’s no biological or evolutionary reason for fish to be colored like this. The only logical explanation I can think of is, someone wanted us to be happy.
Thursday morning pick-me-up. This little volunteer somehow escaped my wife’s ruthless Roundup sprayer and has thrived among the rocks. (The pretty blossoms were a savvy defense mechanism, because no way we’re going to pull him up now.)
November 14, 2024 at 2:55 PM
Thursday morning pick-me-up. This little volunteer somehow escaped my wife’s ruthless Roundup sprayer and has thrived among the rocks. (The pretty blossoms were a savvy defense mechanism, because no way we’re going to pull him up now.)
How many magic mushrooms did God consume when she/he/dog decided to create succulents?
November 13, 2024 at 5:34 PM
How many magic mushrooms did God consume when she/he/dog decided to create succulents?
That Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (and Night) happened a week ago. Let’s look at some pretty orchids.
November 12, 2024 at 4:15 PM
That Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (and Night) happened a week ago. Let’s look at some pretty orchids.