YES, THIS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR AND SOMETIMES I HEAR CROAKY GIGGLES

I missed the full Harvest Moon Friday night so Saturday night I drove out to a high spot of land just East of the junction of Tipperary Line and Tower Line Road.  Yes, there is a big satellite tower there.  It was not long after 8 p.m. when I saw the first faint beginnings of a large orange Moon far off on the Eastern horizon.  Although technically not a full Moon, it was the next best thing.  I did take a few photos but mainly I just enjoyed being out in the bug-free night air.  Oh, how I wish we had our own little place in the countryside with clear skies overhead.  Oh to hear only soft breezes whispering through the pines, Spring's peeper frogs, Summer's song-birds, and early Autumn's Crickets.  Oh Dear, sometimes I get carried away and wish for too much.  But then again, I've always been a Wisher.  Haven't we all:))

 THIS IS A TIME-LAPSE PHOTO OF AN APPROACHING SMALL AIRCRAFT....THE PLANE ENTERS THE FRAME AT BOTTOM LEFT AND EXITS THE FRAME TOP RIGHT....THE PLANE HAD ONE SOLID RED LIGHT, ONE SOLID GREEN LIGHT AND ONE FLASHING WHITE LIGHT WHICH IS THE DOTTED LINE....I HAD TO ADJUST THE DENSITY AND ENHANCE THE COLOR TO MAKE THE PLANES LIGHTS VISIBLE

After two days of sitting, the Jeep started right up with no problem this morning.  I am encouraged.  With Pheebs aboard, I figured we'd Jeep ourselves out to our morning walking spot but with raindrops on the windshield, we headed into Bayfield instead.

FOUR SAILBOATS IN THIS PHOTO

 A FISHERMAN CASTS HIS LINE BEING CAREFUL NOT TO SNAG HIMSELF A SAILBOAT

 WITH LAKE HURON'S CALM WATERS SUGGESTING NO WIND I'M SURE THE FOLKS ABOARD THESE SAILBOATS HAD TO DO A LOT OF HUFFING AND PUFFING TO GET SOME WIND INTO THEIR SAILS

 TIS THE END OF THE SEASON AND MAYBE THESE FOLKS DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD SUMMER

 THIS SAILBOAT WITH IT'S MAST TAKEN DOWN AND LASHED IN PLACE IS READY TO BE LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER AND TRANSPORTED TO IT'S WINTER STORAGE AREA

EMPTY BIRTHS ALSO SIGNAL THE END OF THE SAILING SEASON

With the raindrops letting up we headed for Bayfield's cemetery where we took ourselves for a short walk.  With my hip hurting right from the time I woke up this morning I had to keep my cane close at hand.  I probably aggravated it Saturday night by standing too long on the country road when I was fumbling about trying to take a few Moon photos.  I noticed a number of years ago that I could no longer stand in one spot for any length of time.  Both my legs stiffen up and become painful.

 ON BAYFIELD'S MAIN STREET THIS COUPLE REMINDED ME OF OUR EARLY BAYFIELD BUNCH DAYS WHEN WE TOO HAD THREE DOGS

 SUNBURST LOCUST LEAVES

There was no point in trying to catch any frogs today.  Or, should I say 're-catching' any frogs.  I've suspected each year that the frogs I catch and transport to the Park's pond may be, under the cover of darkness, making their way back to our front yard pond.  Some of these frogs I have been catching (or re-catching) are beginning to look just too darn familiar over and over again.  And, I also have a new theory to add.  When I catch the frogs I put them into a pail of water and I put that pail of frogs into the wheelbarrow and bouncingly wheel them along a narrow bumpy and sloped path through a stand of tall pine trees.  It's quite a ride for them and therein lies my new theory.  I think the little beggers love that jouncing ride to the big pond and after dropping them off they can't wait to get back to our front yard pond to get themselves caught all over again for another ride!!!!  Yesireee, I think that's what they are doing alright!  Last year I pumped all the water out of our little pond.  I might just have to do that again this year.  I also think those squooshy little green amphibians just like to stir me up:((  I swear I can hear their croaky giggles!!

 I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE CAUGHT THIS LITTLE FELLOW OVER THE PAST WEEK 

ON THE RIGHT IS OUR 16-YEAR-OLD 10 TON JUMP STARTER THAT NO LONGER HAS ENOUGH POWER TO JUMP-START A FIREFLY...ON THE LEFT IS OUR NEW LIGHT AND COMPACT JUMP STARTER AND CARRYING CASE

So, with my Senior moments obviously ramping up lately, here's another one.  Two weeks ago when I left Kelly behind at London's University Hospital, I stopped at Tim Hortons in Lucan on the way home and went inside for a coffee and a sandwich to go.  Of course, I walked up to the wrong end of the counter and had to be told to move over to where I could order what I wanted.  Flustered, I blurted out something about a coffee and a sandwich and the Oriental girl behind the counter went about getting together whatever it was I had ordered.  Now, I'm reasonably familiar with debit machines sort of.  Why do so many different places have to have so many different types of machines?!?!  So, being careful not to make eye contact with her, the girl rings in my stuff and I take out my debit card and hold it waveringly over the plastic window part of the debit machine and nothing happens.  I try inserting it in the bottom and again nothing happens.  The girl on the other side of the counter says, 'just swipe it Sir'.  So okay, I swipe the card back and forth again over the little window.  Nothing.  She says, 'no, you have to swipe it on the side.  By now the frustration with myself and my 'old man way's is ramping up.  I look but see nothing on the side with which to swipe.  In a slightly raised voice, but without screaming, she is now saying, no, no, no, swipe it on the side. (she forgot to add the word Dummy) I am staring at the right side of this foul machine but seeing nothing.  Damn, doesn't she know I have my driving glasses on and not my magnifying glasses!!  How inconsiderate. Feeling that everyone in the building is now looking my way to see what all the fuss is about, I am at the point of simply turning around and exiting the building in a cloud of my own embarrassment and frustration.  Then, I noticed it....a very slim, almost invisible, and barely perceptible to me, gap on the machine's right side.  Something in my fogged mind triggers a distant memory about swiping (no not stealing stuff) and I inverted my card and slid it through from top to bottom.  Hey, at least I got that part right.  Of course, I had the stripe on the wrong side and instantly knew I was only a millisecond away from having that Oriental girl leapfrogging over the counter and pounding me one right on the nose.  In a flash that would make lightning look like it was moving backwards in slow motion, I flipped the card over and zipped it through.  'Walla' it worked.  I was instantly comforted by the Oriental girl's laughter.  I knew she was laughing at me and not with me because I was not laughing.  Remember me mentioning my red tomato face.  She motioned me to the pick-up station four feet away and I grasped whatever it was I had ordered.  And, I may add, I was again careful to not make eye contact with the Oriental girl or any other person in the Tim Horton establishment as I hastily made my way out the door and into the safe sanctity of my car.  Yes, I am beginning to see visions of days to come when my once adventuress self will do nothing more than remain indoors and meekly peek outside from behind a curtain when no one is around to see what the weather is doing.............

A FEW PHOTOS FROM AROUND OUR PARK'S ENTRANCE THIS MORNING

 OUR MAILROOM

With my hip feeling better by mid-afternoon, Pheebs took me for a walk over around the Park's pond and beyond again.  Such a beautiful early October day it was as I stood in the forest with dapples of sunlight making their way through the overhead leafy canopy.  All was silent on this warm afternoon save for a few distant Crows.  Autumn's magic is again in the air and all around.  Yes, this is my favorite time of the year:))  

 OUR PARK'S HARD-WORKING AND CREATIVELY DECORATIVE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN HARD AT IT WITH  AUTUMN DISPLAYS

 THIS SILO IS ALL THAT'S LEFT OF A FARM THAT ONCE STOOD ON THIS PROPERTY

Al's Music Box:)) Michael Row The Boat Ashore by the Highwaymen from their 1960 album, 'The Highwaymen'.   Peter, Paul, and Mary also did a great job with this song.  There is quite a history behind this tune which stems from the American Civil War.  Wikipedia

GROANER'S CORNER'S:)) On October 1st we recognize the International Day of Older Persons! 

- An old woman is sitting at a bar when an older gentleman sits down beside her.  "So," he says, "Do I come here often?"

- What is a prize old people can win for aging?  Atrophy.

- I used to know a couple who grew fruit trees together.  They lived to a ripe old age.

- What’s the best part of old age?  That it doesn’t last very long.

- These are not gray hairs! They are wisdom highlights.

- One benefit of old age is that your secrets are always safe with your friends … because they can’t remember them!

- Age is an issue of mind over matter.
If you don’t mind getting older, then it really doesn’t matter.

- How is the moon like dentures?  Both come out at night.

- Now that I’ve gotten older, everything’s finally starting to click for me.  My knees, my back, my neck …

- I’ve decided: Whatever age I am is the new 30!

- What goes up but never comes down?
Your age.

- Of all your children, the only one who won’t grow up and move away is your husband.

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AND TWO PLEASANT SURPRISES TODAY

Despite a few wiffy-piffy cool cloudy and sometimes wet days, September has been a beautiful weather month and today was no exception.  Sunny with perfect 70F temperatures.

 A LOCAL FARMER DOING SOME SATURDAY MORNING PLOWING

With a few things to pick up in Goderich, Pheebs and I headed there straightaway this morning.  We took the Subaru because I am still playing it safe with the Jeep.  It was our usual route again with stops at the south end Esso gas bar, Food Basics for milk, and McDonalds for a coffee to go.  Down to the harbor we went and drove out to Rotary Cove.  

 THE SAGINAW IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE OLD LAKE FREIGHTER

 I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON THERE DOCKSIDE WITH THOSE TWO RED TRUCKS

 I'M GUESSING THAT CRANE IS WAITING TO LIFT THAT GRAY PIECE OF MACHINERY ON THE FLATBED TRUCK UP AND ONTO THE DECK OF THE SHIP 

 THREE SHIPS IN HARBOR THIS MORNING AND THE ALGOMA COMPASS IS ONE OF THEM

 THE BOW OF THE ALGOMA COMPASS ON THE RIGHT AND THE BOW OF THE ALGOMA NIAGARA ON THE LEFT

Heading back up the hill from the harbor and into town our next stop was on the Square.  Three of Kelly's children had put their heads together and decided to give their Mom a break from cooking so they ordered and paid for some frozen dinners from a restaurant in Goderich called Steve and Mary's On The Square.  Pheebs and I picked up those dinners this morning and with one last stop at the Rexall drugstore, we were on our way home.

 LADIES DAY AT THE LAKESHORE

 STOPPING ALONG THE BOARDWALK FOR A CHAT

Taking advantage of the nice weather I spent a couple hours puttering around outside.  Nothing earth shattering but I did catch six more frogs and transported them to the Park's pond.

 PADDLING ON THE PLACID CALM WATERS OF LAKE HURON THIS MORNING

 'SO BILL, HOW FAR DID YOU SAY IT WAS TO MICHIGAN'??

 IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A SPEEDBALL THAN A SPEEDBOAT TO ME

I let the Jeep sit for 48 hours before trying to start it a couple days ago and by golly it started right up.  Tomorrow morning with it being another 48 hour time span I will try it again.  If it starts right up I will begin driving it more.  I have the new mobile battery booster charged up as a back-up so I think Pheebs and I will be back in the Jeep again full-time as of tomorrow for hopefully many more morning Jeep rides:)))  

 I WONDER WHERE THE BIKE RIDERS ARE??

 OH THERE THEY ARE ENJOYING THEIR TIME AT THE BEACH

Kelly had her third good night's sleep in a row and despite the constant itching she is feeling a little chipper.  I just hope these few better days for her will last until Wednesday when we head to London.  She is going to need everything to go positive for her.......And two pleasant surprises today.  A neighbor lady came to the door with some piping hot butternut squash soup for Kelly earlier today.  And, late this afternoon the same lady brought us two turkey dinners from a Thanksgiving Dinner held at our Park's clubhouse today.  And those dinners came with the kind words pertaining to Kelly's upcoming liver assessment, "we're going to fatten Kelly up':))))  

 THERE'S A GULL HITCHING A RIDE ON A KIA

Al's Music Box:)) Deep Purple by Nino Tempo and April Stevens was a single released in 1963.  "Deep Purple" is notable for April Stevens speaking the lyrics in a low, sweet voice during the second half of the song while her brother sings. When the duo first recorded the song as a demo, Tempo forgot the words, and Stevens spoke the lyrics to remind him  The producers thought the spoken interlude was "cute" and wanted to include it but, according to Stevens, her brother was not as easily convinced: "He didn't want anyone talking while he was singing!" However, Nino must have come around and the song was recorded with April speaking the words......This song reminds me of high school days in the Autumn of '63'.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A fourth-grade teacher was giving her pupils a lesson in logic.  "Here is the situation," she said. "A man is standing up in a boat in the middle of a river, fishing. He loses his balance, falls in, and begins splashing and yelling for help. His wife hears the commotion, knows he can't swim, and runs down to the bank. Why do you think she ran to the bank?"  A girl raised her hand and asked, "To withdraw all his money from his savings account?"

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A six year old comes crying to his Mother because his little sister pulled his hair.  "Don't be angry," the Mother says, "Your little sister doesn't realize that pulling hair hurts."  A short while later, there's more crying, and the Mother goes to investigate.  This time the sister is bawling and her brother says..."Now she knows."

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A doctor answers his phone and hears the familiar voice of a colleague on the other end of the line.  ‘We need a fourth for poker,’ said the friend.  ‘I’ll be right over,’ whispered the doctor.  As he was putting on his coat, his wife asked, ‘Is it serious?’  ‘Oh yes, quite serious,’ said the doctor gravely. ‘In fact, there are three doctors there already!’

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