BUT WHEN I SNEAKED A PEEK IT WAS 'POOF' 'POOF' 'POOF' AND 'POOF' 'POOF' 'POOF' AGAIN

 GRACKLE

Rain came in the night knocking out our power just long enough to have to reprogram all the timers yet again this morning but at least it brought slightly warmer temperatures along with it.  About time!!  A rainy drive into Bayfield for Pheebs and I to pick up a couple more bags of birdseed at the Porter's Hill Wild Birdseed Company  I thought the Grackles would have backed off our bird feeders by now, but no....the feeders are still being Grackleized.  The problem also is, the Grackles scare away all the smaller songbirds that are here now and it's the songbirds I would like to have at the feeders.  I get so frustrated with the Grackles that I sometimes go storming out the door, grab the three birdfeeders, and bring them all back into the house.  It's a poor solution that doesn't last long because I feel sorry for all the smaller birds.  Thankfully, I have not had any squirrel problems for quite a while to add to my birdbrain woes.

A WEST START TO OUR DAY

Skies began clearing around noon and we soon had sunshine overhead to boot.  And with those clear skies and sunshine came two things, 73F temps and humidity.  Not enough humidity to set me off yet and it was sure nice to finally feel some slightly moist warmth in the air again.  So, without further ado, Pheebs and I were off for our afternoon walk down to the south end of the Park and back.  Before we left I was determined to give readers a break and not take any more turtle, frogs, or Canada Geese photos.  So, walking past the pond I saw a pair of Canada Geese and 'poof' 'poof' 'poof' 'poof' 'poof' 'poof'.  Then I saw some turtles and thought oh no, 'poof' 'poof' 'poof'.  When we got home I tried to slip around our front yard frog pond with my eyes closed but when I sneaked a peek it was 'poof' 'poof' 'poof' and 'poof' 'poof' 'poof' again.  Sorry folks, some days I just can't seem to help myself.  I'll try to get through tomorrow's post without one single frog, turtle or goose.     

 I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE COUPLE THAT HAD THE TWO GOSLINGS OR NOT BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY LITTLE PUFFS OF YELLOW

A BIT OF TURTLE CROWDING HERE AT A FAVORITE TURTLE SUNNING SPOT

IT LOOKS LIKE A THREE-WAY FROG MEETING TO ME

SOME FROGS ARE DARKER THAN OTHERS AT TIMES AND IT HAS TO DO WITH BOTH TEMPERATURE AND THE COLOR OF THEIR PROTECTIVE SURROUNDINGS

 I CALL THIS GUY 'OLD GATOR JAWS'

Early Friday evening found Kelly and I at our Park's recycling area.  Kelly was on her cell phone dialing a number while I was about ten feet away near a pile of old bamboo grass I had dumped there the previous day.  I listened intently with my ears focused around that pile of grass.  But, all was silent and there was no response to the number Kelly had just dialed.  In other words, my cell phone did not ring.  So why were we there and why was I listening for my cell phone to ring??   I had realized earlier in the day I had lost/misplaced my cell phone and thought maybe it had slipped out of my shirt pocket when I was unloading all that bamboo grass from the utility trailer.  To make a short story shorter, I later found my phone in the pocket of a different shirt I had been wearing on Thursday.  'Walla', another one of life's daily mysteries solved.

A GRACKLE DRINKING AT THE PARK POND'S EDGE

 I SAW THE BUNNY AND THE BUNNY SAW ME....PHEEBS DIDN'T SEE THE BUNNY HEE HEE HEE

Ellen's Groove It's amazing how fast Ellen is progressing with her bass guitar.  Check out this short practice video on Dream Theater.  And, check out this short video of Ellen in a bass battle with Davie 504.  I don't think I've mentioned this before but Ellen is also quite an artist when it comes to drawing and painting as well.  So much fine talent all wrapped up in just one little person. 

Al's Music Box:)) Whispering Pines by Johnny Horton.  John LaGale Horton (April 30, 1925 – November 5, 1960) was an American country, honky tonk and rockabilly musician during the 1950s. He is best known for a series of history-inspired narrative country saga songs that became international hits.  Horton died in November 1960 at the peak of his fame in a traffic accident. On the night of November 4–5, 1960, Horton and two other band members, Tommy Tomlinson, and Tillman Franks, were traveling from the Skyline Club in Austin, Texas to Shreveport when they collided with an oncoming truck on a bridge near Milano in Milam County, Texas.  Horton died en route to the hospital, and Tomlinson (1930–1982) was seriously injured; his leg was later amputated. Franks (1920–2006) suffered head injuries, and James Davis, the driver of the truck, sustained a broken ankle and other minor injuries.

 MUSHROOMS IN THE GRASS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARK'S POND

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man observed a woman in the grocery store with a three-year-old girl in her basket. As they passed the cookie section, the child asked for cookies and her mother told her "No." The little girl immediately began to whine and fuss, and the mother said quietly, "Now Ellen, we just have half of the aisles left to go through; don't be upset. It won't be long."  He passed the Mother again in the candy aisle. Of course, the little girl began to shout for candy. When she was told she couldn't have any, she began to cry. The mother said, "There, there, Ellen, don't cry. Only two more aisles to go, and then we'll be checking out."  The man again happened to be behind the pair at the check-out, where the little girl immediately began to clamor for gum and burst into a terrible tantrum upon discovering there would be no gum purchased today. The mother patiently said, "Ellen, we'll be through this checkout stand in five minutes, and then you can go home and have a nice nap."  The man followed them out to the parking lot and stopped the woman to compliment her. "I couldn't help noticing how patient you were with little Ellen..."  The mother broke in, "My little girl's name is Tammy... I'm Ellen."

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A guy who had forgotten the dates for a number of his friends and relatives' birthdays and anniversaries, decided to compile a list on the computer and have the dates highlighted on screen when the machine was turned on.  He went to a number of computer stores to find a software program that would do the job but had no luck at the first few. Finally, he found one where the clerk seemed experienced.  "Can you recommend something that will remind me of birthdays and anniversaries?" the guy asked.  "Have you tried a wife?" the clerk responded.

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