Thursday, May 28, 2026

OH WAIT, YES I CAN BELIEVE IT:((

POPPIES ARE IN BLOOM
A brisk north wind on today's big, bright sunny morning found me with a light nylon jacket on, happily walking along my country road. There was a comfortable bit of warmth in that wind which made the walk enjoyable.  Following that, I was off to Goderich.

WILD PHLOX ALONGSIDE THE ROAD
Home Hardware had called on Wednesday saying my patio screen door had been repaired and was ready to be picked up.  With an A&W breakfast coupon in my pocket, I made that my first stop.  I do like my bacon and egg breakfasts now and again.  A few weeks ago, I had to have a plumber in to get a stuck hose connection off.  That took him about 17 seconds.  He then hooked the new washing machine water lines up and that it was it.  He was only here about ten minutes.  This morning I stopped in to pay the plumber's bill in Goderich.  'Bang-Zoom', another $125 bill done gone!!  Following that, it was four more bags of cedar mulch at Zehrs garden center, and a quick stop at Walmart.  I saved the Home Hardware stop till last because I knew once I got the repaired screen door wrestled into the car, there wouldn't be much room.  It was a productive morning, and I was happy to be home.

 WHENEVER I ENTER AN EATERY, I ALWAYS LOOK FOR A QUIET CORNER FARTHEST FROM THE MADDENING CROWD, AND THIS MORNING THIS WAS MY QUIET CORNER AT A&W
 THESE POPPIES WERE ON PORTER'S HILL LINE 
 A CANOLA FIELD ALSO ON PORTER'S HILL LINE
 HOME AGAIN AND TIME TO UNLOAD THE CAR
I tried putting the E-Bike bicycle carrier on the Subaru this afternoon, but couldn't quite figure it out.  Oh, I got the carrier on the car okay, but I couldn't remember how to put the security bars and things on.  I'll have to stop into Goderich's 360 Bikes and Boards shop and have the nice folks there show me again just where and how those parts fit together.

 LOOKS LIKE THE BIKE IS READY TO GO, BUT THERE ARE FOUR IMPORTANT PARTS MISSING
Forgetting a few things in Goderich this morning, I was back into the town this evening.  While there, I slipped down around the harbor and out to Rotary Cove. 

 TOOK A DRIVE OUT TO GODERICH'S ROTARY COVE
I THINK THIS MIGHT BE CALLED LIGHTHOUSE PARK ATOP THE BLUFFS OVERLOOKING LAKE HURON
 THE ENTRANCEWAY TO GODERICH'S HARBOR WHERE THE BIG SHIPS ENTER AND EXIT THE PORT
 A FEW HORSES ON THE WAY HOME
 AND A SHEEP
And just a reminder to readers that my blogs comment section is working again, but there is a slight difference now.  When a comment is made, it doesn't appear in the blog right away like before.  I have to approve each comment, so it all depends on when I do that.  It will probably not be right away if I am not at the computer, and with each passing day, I am getting better at remembering to check my blog's dashboard to see if there are any comments awaiting approval.  I can't believe it took me over two weeks to figure out that 'no comments' problem!!  Oh wait, yes I can believe it:((

 A FEW FLOWERS I SAW IN GODERICH THIS EVENING
Al's Music Box:: Diamond Life by Sade.  One of my two favorite female singers, with the other one being k.d. Lang.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A truck brimming with Worcestershire sauce meanders through the quaint Welsh town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, en route to Rhosllannerchrugog in Wrexham. Unexpectedly, it collides with a Nissan Qashqai.  Veering uncontrollably, the truck subsequently smashes into a car from Llanfihangel Tre’r Beirdd, injuring two Otorhinolaryngologists inside. As one, already grappling with Schistosomiasis, succumbs to a myocardial infarction, an bystander, dialing emergency services on his Huawei, hastily reports the chaotic scene. The dispatcher inquires, "Can you tell me what happened?"  He responds, "It's hard to say."

-----------------------------

The skydiving instructor was going through the question and answer period with his new students when one of them asked the usual question always asked: "If our chute doesn't open; and the reserve doesn't open, how long would we have till we hit the ground?"  The jump master looked at him and in perfect deadpan answered: "The rest of your life."

- “The flipside of contagious gum disease is an infectious smile.”
--------------------------------------

A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?" 
She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by."  "No," he said, "I mean, what is the foundation of this case?" 
"It is made of concrete, brick and mortar," she responded.  "I mean," he continued, "What are your relations like?"  "I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so do my husband's parents."  Becoming frustrated, the judge said, "Do you have a real grudge?"  "No," she replied, "We have a two-car carport and have never really needed one."  "Please," he tried again, "is there any infidelity in your marriage?" 
"Yes, both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don't necessarily like the music, but the answer to your questions is yes." 
"Ma'am, does your husband ever beat you up?"  "Yes," she responded, "about twice a week, he gets up earlier than I do." Finally, in desparation, the judge asked, "Lady, why  do you want a divorce?"  
"Oh, I don't want a divorce," she replied. "I've never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He said he can't communicate with me!"

---------------

Meanings::



Al's Art Gallery










Wednesday, May 27, 2026

I TOOK MY E-BIKE FOR A RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST

 I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY FROGS IN MY FRONT YARD FROG POND FOR OVER A WEEK
With a beautiful Tuesday evening going on, I didn't feel much like sitting in the house, so it was off out to my walking road I went about 8:30.  To the west, old Sol was wrapping up another day with a reddening sunset.  Not wanting to go home after my walk, I drove to nearby Clinton and scooped myself a coffee and a donut to go at Tim Hortons.   With the moonroof open and front windows down, I took a slow drive northwest of Clinton through sleepy twilight forests and farm fields.  My happy place and favorite time of day.  I always marvel at the beauty of nature, regardless of what hour it is. Farmers were busy in the fields with lights on their tractors bright enough to rival the illumination of stadium lights.  Daylight soon gave way to night as I slowly ambled along, not only listening to my music, but catching the sounds of many Spring frogs as I passed by them in their forest and swampy area habitats.  And all the while from above, a hazy Moon did its best to alight its moonbeams upon my shoulder through that big retangle opening in Subie's roof.  It was a warm evening, and the calming darkness surrounding me made for yet another fine ending to this old fellow's shortening days here on Planet Earth. 

A COUNTRYSIDE SUNSET
 PASSING BY A CEMETERY NEAR THE HULLET MARSH I WAS ABLE TO FIND A FEW PHOTOS
 THERE ARE TWO PLANETS IN THIS iPHONE PHOTO....JUPITER IS THE BRIGHT SPOT AT THE TOP OF THE COMMUNICATION TOWER AND VENUS IS THE BRIGHTER SPOT LOWER DOWN TO THE RIGHT
 FARMERS WORKING THEIR FIELDS AT NIGHT ARE EASY TO SPOT WITH THE ARRAY OF LIGHTS ON THEIR FARM MACHINERY
Another fine Spring morning for a walk, so I took full advantage of that.  Didn't see any little yellow Fairy Butterflies though.  I'm sure the winter wheat field running along the west side of my walking road will soon be harvested.  Home again, I didn't waste any time firing up my power washer, and continued cleaning patio stones both in the backyard, as well as the front yard, where I have a few patio blocks around the outside water outlet.  Disappointed that a couple of Rhodendron plants have died, and due to the Redbud tree's poor showing this year and last, I'm thinking it may be in the twilight of its years as well.  I'm going to have to get a new blade for my Swede saw because I may have a lot of cutting to do soon, starting with a number of dead branches on the Red Bud tree.

 LATE AFTERNOON IN THE FRONT YARD
Our cool, cloudy morning turned into a warmer, sunny afternoon, and I fired up my E-Bike for a ride down around the south end of the Park where there is a hardwood bush.  In that forest is a rough road cut through the bush many years ago.  Kelly and I, with Max, Checkers, and little Cora (Motormouse) would often walk that loop road on our daily morning walks.  This afternoon, I took my E-Bike for a ride through the forest along that partially grown-over road.  So nice to be out under tall towering trees at this time of year with all the Spring songbirds overhead singing and flitting about.  And here's the best part....no bugs and biting insects!!  All and all it was a nice afternoon ride, and I never even fell off my bike once:))

 FLOWERS IN THE HARDWOOD BUSH THIS AFTERNOON
Ellen's Groove:)) This is not a music video today.  For anyone interested, this is the story of Ellen and her meteoric rise through the music industry.  It is the story of her early beginnings, her dedication, her personality, and the people in her life who have made it all possible. Ellen's Story

 SPOTTED THIS HELICOPTER FLYING LOW AND SLOW ALONG A POWERLINE IN OUR AREA THIS AFTERNOON
Al's Music Box:: Nature Boy by Nat King Cole.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A Sunday school teacher was giving her class the assignment for the next week. “Next Sunday,” she said, “we are going to talk about liars, and in preparation for our lesson I want you all to read the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark.” The following week, at the beginning of the class meeting, the teacher said, “Now then, all of you who have prepared for the lesson by reading the Seventeenth Chapter of Mark, please step to the front of the room.” About half the class rose and came forward. “The rest of you may leave,” said the teacher. “These students are the ones I want to talk to. There is no Seventeenth Chapter in the Book of Mark.”

------------------------------------

- What happens when you wear a watch on a plane? Time flies!

- Valet drivers love the limo scene.

- Mr. Bailey saw his son's shiner and demanded, "Scott, who gave you that black eye?" "No one gave it to me dad," replied the spunky lad. "I had to fight for it."

-----------------------------

Three vampires walk into a bar. The bartender looks at them suspiciously, but he decides to serve them anyway. "What'll it be, boys?" The first vampire says, "Blood. Give me blood." The second vampire says, "I, too, wish for blood!" The third vampire says, "Give me plasma."The bartender smiles and says, "Got it. Two bloods and a  blood-light."

-----------------------------

The American Kennel club has decided to recognize these new breeds of Dogs that are the result of cross-breeding::

- Collie + Lhaso Apso: Collapso, a dog that folds up for easy transport.

Bloodhound + Borzoi: Bloody Bore, a dog that's not much fun.

Pointer + Setter: Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet.

Kerry Blue Terrier + Skye Terrier: Blue Skye, a dog for visionaries.

Pekingese + Lhasa Apso: Peekasso, an abstract dog.

Newfoundland + Basset Hound: Newfound Asset Hound, a dog for financial advisers.

Terrier + Bulldog: Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistakes.

Bloodhound + Labrador: Blabrador, a dog that barks incessantly.

Malamute + Pointer: Moot Point, owned by... oh, well, it doesn't matter anyway.

Collie + Malamute: Commute, a dog that travels to work.

-------------------------



Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery