Flower Friday : : Rudbeckia

The water heater is fixed. It's a tankless one so it seems that it shouldn't break but it is actually rather particular. The plumber turned off and turned  it on again and it worked. (Peter's comment..."yep that's the default fix for any technology") so we probably didn't have to go without bathing for two days, but he blew out a pipe which he says was installed wrong (Don't they always say that?) and we have hot water again. 

While I was sitting outside this morning I heard the train horn. The tracks are five miles away on the other side of town, so apparently the "quiet zone" can't be implemented. According to the newspaper this morning, "Passenger trains, commuter trains, light rail systems and subways were nothing new for most people who experienced the first day of SMART's 'soft launch' on Thursday. What was new was the fact that it's finally in the North Bay"

Federal officials still have to complete a review of the positive train control system which automatically shuts down the system to prevent emergencies.  "There is more work to be done, so we cannot estimate at this time when final approval will be granted...." Apparently it's ok to let people ride the train before its approved as long as the ride is free. Nothing about this project has made sense to date. I suppose there's not reason to think it would start now.

I wonder if they will have any passengers at all when official service begins and the fare is $9.50? It doesn't seem to go anyplace very useful to most people.

The rudbeckias (coneflower) are growing in a pot outside our patio door and are delightful to see. By kneeling on a very hot stone, for a very short time,  I managed to get a quick shot of them against the blue sky. I put a picture in extras of a few smaller ones with dahlias that are in our entry.

Being able to have flowers around gives me such pleasure. Many thanks to Biker Bear for continuing to host this excuse to keep photographing them.