WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY AWFUL WEATHER DAY

IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO SEE THE ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS BACK AT THE FEEDERS AGAIN  

With a few things to pick up in Goderich I headed off under a drizzly, cold rain.  My usual stops, but I noticed down at the harbor on the road out to Rotary Cove that they were in the process of taking down the Rotory Cove Arch that has been there for quite a few years.  May it had become unsafe over the years.  

 A COLD AND WET DRIVE TO GODERICH THIS MORNING

 NOT A GOOD DAY FOR AREA FARMERS

 SAW THIS LARGE SHIP JUST OFFSHORE FROM GODERICH'S HARBOR

 IT'S THE ALGOMA ENDEAVOUR REVERSING INTO THE HARBOR TO TAKE ON A LOAD OF SALT AT THE SALT MINE

AIDING THE ALGOMA ENDEAVOUR IS THE TUG OCEAN A SIMARD

After picking up a few things in Goderich this morning, I headed off to Clinton to stop into a Glass place to get an estimate on the cost of replacing one of our sunroom windows.  The double-pane window sits right in front of the computer desk and is the main window I look out of and often take pictures through.  Air has gotten in between the two pieces of glass and compromised the window, making it dull and unclear.  Oh, I can see out of the window okay but all the colors are dull.  The estimate I received was over $500 for the window, plus labor and tax.  In other words, it would rip a big hole in a thousand-dollar bill.  Needless to say, I will just have to put up with the window the way it is, and that's it.  Soooooo, because of that window, what I've done is to move the hanging bird feeder that was directly in front of the computer desk, over a few feet where I can now see it through a smaller paned clear glass window.  Much better for pics now.

 ATOP MY TALL LADDER RE-HANGING THE BIRDFEEDER, WHICH I WILL BE ABLE TO CLEARLY SEE THROUGH THAT NARROW WINDOW BEHIND IT

I CAN NOW SEE THE FEEDER THROUGH A 'CLEAR GLASS' WINDOW FROM MY DESKTOP COMPUTER CHAIR

I HAD TO RE-ARRANGE MY DESKTOP TOO FOR A CLEAR VIEW OUT THAT WINDOW TO THE LEFT

Weatherwise, this has been a cold spring, and I think today epitomizes the many miserable days we have been having.  Yes, I'm crabbing about the weather again.  High winds, rain, and temperatures at night are bouncing off the freezing mark.  Miserable, depressing, and dismal would sum up today quite nicely.  I know, I know.....I'm crabbing, but some days the weather just needs to be crabbed at!!!!

Readers may have noticed a couple of unfortunate changes to my blog.  Because of a recent troll, I have had to make a change to my comment section.  Before, I had it set that anyone could leave a comment on my post, but I had to change the setting to where the blog's moderator (me) has to approve each comment.  Those comment approvals are supposed to come into my Outlook email program.  So far, I have not received any comments to be moderated, so something may not be working properly there.  Not sure.  After seeing a few of the same very nasty comments in my 'Shoutbox' as well, I had no choice but to remove the Shoutbox because there was no moderation feature with it.  The comments were gross, and readers do not have to read that kind of stuff. I have considered myself very fortunate over the years with my public blog, and my opinionated writing, sometimes to have escaped all the nastiness and ugliness of the internet's low-life creatures, but I guess it was only a matter of time until some morbidly sick low-life troll finally glommed onto my blog.  Why does there have to be so many mentally twisted, negative people in this world!!  I guess to some degree it has always been like that, but I don't think nearly to the degree where it is now, with the dark side of the internet making things a whole lot worse........

Al's Music Box:: The Last Farewell by Roger Wittaker.

 TIS THE SEASON OF THE DANDELION

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A man was bragging about his sister who disguised herself as a man and joined the Army. "But wait a minute," said the listener, "She'll have to dress with the boys and shower with them too, won't she?" "Sure," replied the man. "Well? Won't they find out?" "Yes the will, but who's gonna tell?"

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

- Is there anything worse than when it’s raining cats and dogs? Yes! Hailing taxis.

- If a child refuses to nap, are they guilty of resisting a rest?

- Did you hear about the kidnapping at school? It’s OK, he woke up.

- I could tell a joke about pizza, but it’s a little cheesy.

- What’s the best kind of bird to work for at a construction company? A crane.

- I used to be addicted to soap, but I’m clean now.

- I only know 25 letters of the alphabet.
I don’t know y.

What did the buffalo say to his son when he dropped him off at school? “Bison!”

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

The flower vendor was usually an old hand at unloading his last few bunches of flowers at the end of the day. Appealing to a businessman on his way home, the vendor said, "How about a nice bunch of roses to surprise your wife?" "Haven't got a wife," responded the businessman gruffly. "Then how about some carnations for your girlfriend?" proposed the vendor without missing a beat. "Haven't got a girlfriend." "You lucky guy!" The vendor broke into a big smile. "Why not buy both bunches and celebrate!"

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

Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery

MORE 'BIRDBRAIN' CHANGES ON THE WAY

 TULIPS ALONG BAYFIELD'S MAIN STREET

It was a soft southerly breeze that accompanied me on my walk this morning.  Cool, but not as cold as yesterday.  I made sure to have my heavier winter duds on, and that helped make for a pleasant walk in the morning's sunshine.  When I woke up at 6 a.m. this morning and glanced at the thermometer it was at 33F. Brrrr.

 TREES ALONG MY WALKING ROAD ARE COLORING FAST

 A KILLDEER ACCOMPANIES ME FOR A SHORT DISTANCE

 I'VE OFTEN WONDERED WHEN THIS OLD STONE FARM BUILDING WAS BUILT

After my walk, I slipped into Bayfield to stop and make an appointment for a haircut.  However, the Bayfield Village Clippers is closed Monday and Tuesday, so I'll nip back there Wednesday morning.  

 SOON, THESE TWO BOATS WILL BE PLYING THE COOL BLUE WATERS OF LAKE HURON

JUST WAITING FOR WARM WINDS AND SUNNY BLUE SKIES

 LOOKS LIKE THIS BOAT CAPTAIN HAS HUNG OUT A FEW THINGS TO DRY

 A LONG TELEPHOTO SHOT OF A BAYFIELD FISHING BOAT RETURNING TO HARBOR THIS MORNING

I also stopped at the Porters Hill Wild Bird Seed Co. and had a chat with Steve about my Squirrel, Grackle, and Crow problem at my bird station.  I was going to take it down today, but Steve convinced me to first try a squirrel deterrent mix he has that includes saffron seeds.  He gave me a 10-pound bag to try for free, so I will give it a whirl and see if it helps with my 'squirrely bird' problems.  As if the Grackles aren't bad enough at devouring the birdseed, a couple of hungry Crows have been coming in lately and vacuuming all the birdseed off the seed platform, plus, the Squirrels have been getting onto the station as well and sometimes knocking the seed container off onto the ground, much to the delight of all the other ravenous Squirrels waiting for the spilt birdseed feast.  Also, a fellow at the other end of the Park is in the process of revamping his backyard, and he dropped off six of his bird feeders for me.  I'm now in the process of cooking up a few ideas on how to incorporate some of those feeders into my 'birdbrain' system.  I'll see how it goes with the new feeders and different seeds.  In the meantime, I did move the bird station from its long time place in the lawn, about six feet to the west, which put it in the flower bed.  I've been thinking about doing that for a long time, and finally, today, that's what I did.  I then raked, seeded, re-raked, rolled, and watered the grassy area.  And, I've already noticed that the Grackles do not like the new seed mix, and that is going to be a big help.  The Red Wing Blackbirds are okay with it, as are the Mourning Doves.  Plus, I think my Crow problem has been solved as well.  So far, two thumbs up for the few changes I have made so far.  More 'birdbrain' changes on the way................

MOVING THE BIRD STATION FROM THE LAWN TO THE FLOWERBED

 I HAVE GRASS SEEDED IN THAT DARKER LAWN AREA

Al's Music Box:: What's Going On by Marvin Gaye.

 I HADN'T SET THE BIRD FEEDER ON THE GROUND FOR 10 SECONDS BEFORE THIS LITTLE CHIPMUNK WAS FILLING ITS CHEEK POUCHES

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Jack has died. His lawyer is standing before the family and reads Jack's last will and testament: "To my dear wife Esther, I leave the house, 50 acres of land, and one million dollars. To my son Barry, I leave my big Lexus and the Jaguar. To my daughter Suzy, I leave my yacht and $250,000. And to my brother-in-law Jeff, who always insisted that health is better than wealth, I leave my sun lamp."

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

I was cleaning out my closet and I found a swim suit that I had made out of sponges. I remember one time when I wore it. When I got out of the swimming pool nobody could go swimming until I came back.

----------------------------------------
I bought one of those little glass ball things with the snow in it. You know, you turn it upside down then you turn it back and it starts to snow. I bought one, except this has a snow plow that does it in rows.

---------------------------------------
- I busted a mirror and got seven years bad luck, but my lawyer thinks he can get me five.

- Why is it, "A penny for your thoughts," but, "you have to put your two cents in?" Somebody's making a penny.

---------------------------------
Just before Christmas, an honest politician, a generous lawyer and Santa Claus were riding in the elevator of a very posh hotel. Just before the doors opened they all noticed a $20 bill lying on the floor. Which one picked it up?  Santa of course, because the other two don't exist!

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

Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery