IT WAS 6:30 A.M. AND THERE I WAS IN THE JEEP HEADED FOR THE HOSPITAL AGAIN

ALONG ORCHARD HILL LINE

Another early start to my day as I found myself in the Jeep well before 7 a.m. heading for the emergency entrance at the Goderich Alexandra Marine and General Hospital but this time I at least did not have on my red plaid pajama bottoms.  My abdominal ultra-sound scan appointment just up the hall from Emerge was for 7:15 and of course I was customarily early and as sometimes happens I was taken in early.  When it comes to appointments I have learned it is always best to grab the earliest appointment of the day possible.  In fact I was seated in the ultra-sound waiting room before the staff was even there to turn the office lights on.  I was the only one in the waiting room so how nice is that eh:))

Shortly thereafter I was taken into a dimly lit room by a young female attendant and told to take my shirt off and lay on my back atop a high narrow raised bed sort of thing.  I was beside one of those Mossmagator machines with a bunch of colored light dials on it.  She proceeded to put a gob of something on my chest which felt cold and gooey and immediately began spreading it around with some sort of gizmo like device which I thought sort of resembled a microphone.  Well after all it was an ultra-SOUND procedure I was having done.  From my eyes to ceiling vantage point I didn’t have the greatest visual advantage to see just what it was she was using.  And I don’t recall hearing any whirring, beeping or clanking sounds coming from the machine either.

The last ultra sound I can remember having done was at the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tucson Arizona back in December of 2011 and I remember it took awhile as the technician kind of went around all over my abdomen up and down and side to side.  At that time it was large kidney stone I was having a problem with.   When I looked up my post about that hospital visit in 2011 I was surprised to see a few photos of me in the hospital with red plaid pajama bottoms on again)  AL Spends The Night In A Tucson Hospital 

DESPITE A HOT SUN OVERHEAD OUR FRONT PORCH ALWAYS REMAINS SHADED

However I wasn’t having a problem with anything this morning but was still surprised to be back up off that table in less than 5 minutes and on my feet headed out the door.  It was 7:15 and I was already finished with my 7:15 appointment and into the Jeep setting a course for home.  Only reason I had this mornings ultra-sound and Monday’s bone density test was due to the fact I have a new nurse practitioner now and she suggested I have these things done because of my age.  Being assured they were painless procedures I readily agreed to her suggestions.

DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE PIRATES IN THE BAYFIELD HARBOR

WELL APPARENTLY WE DO

SPOTTED THIS COUPLE IN BAYFIELD’S PIONEER PARK AND I THINK SHE IS TAKING THAT SIGN QUITE LITERALY

What a nice drive it was through the early morning mid summer countryside between Bayfield and Goderich both coming and going.  When I had left the house earlier Pheebs was standing at the door with her sad little face wondering why she wasn’t going with Dad in the Jeep.  Soon as I was back from the hospital I scooped the Scoobs and off we went.  Heat and humidity were building fast and it was already uncomfortably oppressive by 8:30 so we didn’t go too far for too long.  Through Bayfield then south-east for a few miles enjoying the scenery.  Not many photos again and we were back home before 10.  Pretty much stayed inside from there on in.

WILTED FROM THE HEAT

  

DROOPY

Will sure be glad when this current heat wave passes and we get us a good soaking rain.  Un-watered lawns are brown and looking out our windows today we could see plants, flowers, tree leaves and shrubs drooping from the heat.  I ventured outside for about 10 minutes this afternoon then quickly retreated inside again.  Phone rang later in the day and it was the Maitland Medical Center calling to say my morning’s ultra sound was fine:))

AN OLD ABANDONED RAIL LINE

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A doctor enters into a patient's room and informs the patient that he has good news and bad news. He then asks the patient which news he would like to hear.  The patient responds, "Doctor, give me the good news."  The doctor says, "Well we are gonna name a disease after you."

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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."

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“I used to work at a knife factory, but then it got dull.”

SOME DAYS JUST AREN’T ALWAYS MEANT FOR SAYING MUCH

It was Richard's turn to drive this morning so we headed off to Goderich, grabbed a couple coffee's to go and motored on out of town for a two and a half hour drive and chat.  Always refreshing, always interesting and always enlightening.

Tonight’s Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly photos were taken through my bedroom window Thursday afternoon.  The Butterfly is a bit blurry in some of the pics due to it’s fast fluttering movements.

Hot, hot, hot, so Kelly and I curtailed all outside activities and simply took advantage of our A/C again by staying inside today.  Same thing we'd do in the winter if it was cold, cold, cold outside.  Whether it's the extremes of heat or cold it's always nice to have the option of being in a controlled environment.

Nothing particular on my mind tonight so think I'll keep my post on the short side.  Not that there isn't anything to say, it's just that some days aren't always made for saying much..........:)) 

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Two elderly gentlemen from a retirement center were sitting on a bench under a palm tree when one turns to the other and says... "Slim, I'm 83 years old now and I'm just full of aches and pains. I know you' re about my age, how do you feel?"  Slim says, "I feel just like a new-born baby."  "Really!? Like a new-born baby!?"  "Yep. No hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants."

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A red head goes to her doctor and says that every time she drinks a coffee her eye hurts. The doctor prepared her a hot, fresh cup of coffee to see what really happens. She took a sip of the coffee and screamed, "Ouch, that hurts!" The doctor said, "I know your problem." The red head asked, "Is it bad, doctor?" The doctor replied, "No, you just need to take the spoon out of your cup before drinking your coffee."

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In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and then He rested. Then God created man, and then they both rested. Then God created woman, and since then neither God nor man has ever rested.

WISHED YOU COULD RIDE ALONG WITH PHEEBS AND I IN THE JEEP…WHAT A SWEETY PIE SHE IS

Knowing we were in for a hot day I had only a short window of opportunity to get myself outside and get a wheelbarrow load of Day Lilies re-planted.  The lilies around our place have greatly multiplied over the years and it was finally time to thin them out so with a firm grip on the wheelbarrow I headed across the road, down a little path through a stand of pine trees, across a mowed lawn to the Park's pond.  In a long grass area where I had planted some bamboo grass a few years ago I dug in 6 locations of orange Day Lilies.  What I hadn't figured on and had forgotten about was the hardened clay soil so I had quite a struggle digging the shallow holes for the lilies.  Within minutes my shirt was sticking to me.  If I was allotted 100 energy units for the day I used up about 40 of them right off the bat this morning.

Re-planted a few more hostas around the house and by 9:30 I had no choice but to retreat inside and jump into the shower.  Thought occurred to me I should see if there is such a thing as a waterproof recliner that I could drag right into the shower with me and just stay there for the next 3 or 4 days.  Heat warnings are out and it looks like we are headed into a steam bath.  Yuk and double Yuk:((

THESE LILIES HAVE SEVERAL NAMES WITH 2 OF THEM BEING DITCH AND DAY LILY

LILY PHOTOS TAKEN NEAR HOLMESVILLE THIS MORNING

With her face flat on the floor and a big impatient look on her furry little face Pheebs watched me like a hawk when I walked into the kitchen after my shower.  Would I head straight away for my relaxing recliner or would I head instead into the sunroom, pick up my cameras and grab my hat.  When she saw me do the latter she instantly burst into her happy face overdrive doggy dance with tail a twirling faster than a couple super turbo charged double helicopter blades.  Say that one with a mouthful of gravy:))

BEANFIELDS ARE LOOKING GOOD

AT THE END OF A FARM LANE THIS CHILDREN’S SCHOOL BUS SHELTER PATIENTLY WAITS FOR SCHOOL BELLS TO AGAIN RING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER

I BET ALL 3 OF THOSE ‘JOHN DEERE’ MACHINES ARE AIR CONDITIONED FOR SURE

Another beautiful morning for an all windows down Jeep ride.  Again there was no point stopping at the Hullett Marsh due to the building heat and biting Deer Flies but we did stop for a leg stretch at an area trail head which was once the location of a Potter's home and business back in the mid 1800's.

OLD BROKEN POTTERY AT THE SITE

THE BURNS POTTERY SHOPPE AND HOUSE ONCE STOOD ON THIS SPOT

ABOVE GOOGLE MAP SHOWS THE LOCATION OF BURNS POTTERY IN RELATION TO GODERICH AND HOLMESVILLE ONTARIO (CLICK ON MAPS TO ENLARGE)

IN MY SATURDAY POST I FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE LOCATION OF THE LAKESIDE FLEA MARKET SO HERE IT IS IN RELATION TO GODERICH (LOOK FOR THE YELLOW PIN NORTH OF GODERICH NEAR THE LAKE)

I don't know who loves our morning drives more, Pheebs or me but we sure do like getting out together.  I can't even begin to describe what a wonderfully sweet and bestest of ever great little Pal she really is.  I wished you could be with us riding along in the Jeep just to see her sitting right up there in the passenger seat with that big happy face smile of her.  Wished you could see how she tips her head back and looks at me, wished you could see how she gently rests her paw on my arm sometimes gently pulling it towards her for a tummy rub.  Wished you could see her disappointment when some of the gas station attendants forget to give her a doggy treat and her exuberant excitement when we get home and she races across the driveway for the house to hurry up and find Mom.  Happy, happy, happy she is 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  In the 5 years Pheebs has been with us we have never even seen so much as one angry second come out of her.  Not one.

  

SPOTTED NORTH OF CLINTON THIS MORNING, A COUPLE GOLFER GALS ON A SILO AND THIS STRANGE LOOKING OWL IN A TREE….CAN YOU GUESS WHY THE OWL IS LOOKING STRANGE??

I WAS HERE FIRST!! …… NO I WAS HERE FIRST!!

Not a lot of photo taking this morning but we did manage a few shots here and there along the way.  As with writing it's always a daily photographic challenge trying to come up with un-repetitive things and I do notice I have a tendency to repeat myself both in my writing and photos.  But it's a welcome challenge and one I do enjoy creatively trying to do things slightly different each and every day:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned. I couldn't concentrate. Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the axe. After that, I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it - mainly because it was a sew-sew job. Next, I tried working in a muffler factory, but that was too exhausting. Then, I tried to be a chef - figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just didn't have the thyme. I attempted to be a deli worker, but any way I sliced it I couldn't cut the mustard. My best job was a musician, but eventually I found I wasn't noteworthy. I studied a long time to become a doctor, but I didn't have any patience. Next, was a job in a shoe factory. I tried but I just didn't fit in. I became a professional fisherman, but discovered that I couldn't live on my net income. I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining. So then I got a job in a workout center, but they said I wasn't fit for the job. After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a historian - until I realized there was no future in it. My last job was working in Starbucks, but I had to quit because it was always the same old grind. So, I tried retirement and found that I'm perfect for the job!

FEELING MUCH BETTER TODAY SO STARTED ON OUR FRONT YARD RENOVATION PROJECT

IT WAS A GOOD DAY FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME IN OUR FRONT YARD WITH MY SHOVEL AND RAKE

It was 4 a.m. when our land line phone went bonkers jarring both of us out of a sound sleep.  Erratic ringing followed by exceptionally loud bursts of static after the answering machine cut in.  Had to pull the wall plug to silence all the noise.  Not an ideal way to start our day.   When re-plugged later the phone worked fine again.

DECIDED TO START OUR YARD RENOVATION WITH THE FLOWER BED CLOSEST TO OUR PORCH

BEFORE STARTING THAT BROWN EARTH AREA WAS TOTALLY FULL OF GREENERY

Another nice refreshingly cool morning found me out in our front yard with gardening tools in hand.  Over the years a lot of our green growing stuff has grown over other green growing stuff so today I started on one particular flower bed in front of our porch thinning it out, digging it up, and starting anew with a few different ideas.  I began moving some of the hostas and flowers flattened by falling pine trees last week to new locations.  By 11 a.m. I was basically a ball of paste and had to retreat into the coolness of the house.  Surprisingly, after an hours rest in front of my big marvelous cooling fan I was re-energized enough to head right back outside into the hot sun transplanting more hostas.  However when retreating into the house again around 2 it was right into the shower I went and that was it for any further outside activities.  Oh my how that recliner of mine just feels sooooooo great some days.

TRANSPLANTED A BUNCH OF HOSTAS

GOING TO CHANGE-UP A FEW THINGS IN THIS POND CENTER AREA AS WELL

Goderich's Maitland Medical Center called this morning with the results of my bone density scan I had Monday in Clinton.  Everything was fine and the lady on the other end said it was unlikely I would be breaking any bones in the next 10 years.  I asked her if I could try some bungee jumping now but she didn't recommend it.  She probably wondered if maybe I should have had a brain density test instead of a bone density test.  I bet they will make a note on my chart for next time.  

 

Happy to say, with the exception of my daily arthritic aches and pains, I am feeling once again back to normal.  No sick feelings today, no slight headache and my energy levels are coming back up despite our hot and uncomfortable humid weather.   Am so much looking forward to a month from about now when our late summer weather will finally finally begin shifting into the coolness of early Autumn……………….. 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Three women are about to be executed for crimes. One's a brunette, one's a redhead, and one's a blonde. Two guards brings the brunette forward, and the executioner asks if she has any last requests. She says no, and the executioner shouts, "Ready . . . Aim . . ." Suddenly the brunette yells, "earthquake!!" Everyone is startled and looks around. She manages to escape. The angry guards then bring the redhead forward, and the executioner asks if she has any last requests. She says no, and the executioner shouts, "Ready . . . Aim . . ." The redhead then screams, "tornado!!" Yet again, everyone is startled and looks around. She too escapes execution. By this point, the blonde had figured out what the others did. The guards bring her forward, and the executioner asks if she has any last requests. She also says no, and the executioner shouts, Ready . . . Aim . . ."
The blonde shouts, "fire!!"

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Little Johnny's father noticed that Johnny was spending way too much time playing computer games. In an effort to motivate Little Johnny into focusing more attention on his schoolwork, his father said, "When Abe Lincoln was your age, he was studying books by the light of the fireplace."
Little Johnny replied, "When Abe Lincoln was your age Dad, he was The President of the United States."

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A four-year-old girl was learning to say the Lord's Prayer. She was reciting it all by herself without help from her mother.  She said, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us some e-mail."

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Ivana!
Ivana who?
Ivana be rich!