"Rick" and "Ilsa"

I went out the back door the other day thinking I’d walk down the alley and maybe around the block, looking for something to follow the last photo note. Just on the back steps I noticed our two friends here down by the lavender.

They were birthday presents to Lynda -- was it in 2013 when I was riding along the Loire and wasn’t home to celebrate?  I think she enjoys them, but we never gave them names. I thought maybe it was time to do that. At first, it seemed the names should be German. I considered “Jürgen” and “Josefa.” “Jürgen” because I like both Jürgen Klinsmann and Jürgen Klopp, even though neither at all looks like the male figure here. And “Josefa” for no better reason than it starts with “J” and seems to go well with Jürgen. I mentioned the names to Lynda at dinner.  She didn’t go for either. So later, I went to the internet looking for possible famous movie couples. After more discussion, we finally agreed that our garden protectors would now be know as “Rick” and “Ilsa.” We both like the names. The air was chilly when I took the picture and Ilsa looks anxious, possibly remembering how the two of them ended up covered in snow last January. By contrast, Rick looks relaxed, focused on something, but not obviously worried about the coming winter.