Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for September 16, 2024

What with Scooter there, in the scene, I suspect the “thrusting” wasn’t entirely voluntary…

It’s not a forward thrust, but it’s a thrust.

Ted is a novice at the topiary arts. This one is his version of a bean bag chair.

I think Ted is embarassing his wife.

I guess that sometimes you just gotta do whatcha gotta do.

Good morning Balladeers!

Sadly for Ted, that’s poison sumac.

But Ted is selective about which nature he thrusts himself on, there was a rock pile a block back that went un thrusted. And he knows it will be trouble if he thrusts himself on Marjorie’s petunias. Marjorie’s well known for her deft broomstick technique.

if memory serves from my youth, thrusting yourself into a seemingly benign shrub can end up being rather painful!

At least Ted is wearing a modicum of clothing, unlike his neighbor Marshall.

Ted will shrub it off

If it bores the dog, Ted has been at this way too long.

Thorny nature thrusts back.

Are yew okay, Ted?

Ted’s valiant but futile attempt at landscape architecture.

Ted has been reading old English nursery rhymes:

There was a man in our town, And he was wondrous wise, He jumped into a bramble-bush, And scratched out both his eyes; And when he saw his eyes were out, With all his might and main He jumped into another bushAnd scratched them in again.

A cheery little tale for children…

ted enjoys practicing thrust falls, but usually ends up feeling bushed…

Looks like Scooter might have done a little thrusting himself.

Were it my hedge I would replace it with prickly pear cactus.

Ted is not thrustworthy as he keeps beating around and in the bush.