SOME DAYS I’M 16 AGAIN AND OTHER DAYS I SEEM TO BE PUSHING ABOUT A HUNDRED AND FIVE

I’M THINKING THIS MIGHT BE A BLACK SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY

It was a short Jeep ride for Pheebs and I again.  I didn't find the morning's cloud cover too inspiring so couldn't quite get myself into a traveling photo mode.  A couple gravely roads southeast of Bayfield and we were home again.  Spent about 3 hours cleaning up and re-organizing things in our back yard.  With a bunch of dry pine needles raked up it was quite a smoky campfire I had going on.  Legs were bothering me so I packed it in around 1 p.m.  And that was it for another day as far as any further outside physical activity was concerned.  Some days I’m 16 again and other days I feel like I’m pushing a hundred and five years old.

IT WAS A NICE SATURDAY MORNING FOR A BACKYARD CAMPFIRE

OUR PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS WILL BE SPORTING BRIGHT YELLOW BLOOMS SOON

IT’S QUITE A MOSH OF PLANTS WE HAVE IN SOME OF OUR FLOWER GARDENS

 

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OLD WEATHERD STUMPS

EVERY ONE OF THOSE FIREPIT STONES I BROUGHT FROM THE OLD FARMHOUSE NEAR FULLARTON WHERE THEY FORMED A FIREPIT FOR A FEW ‘SUMMERTIME STAR PARTIES’ NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO

 

I LIKE MAKING AND MAINTAINING PATHWAYS AROUND OUR HOUSE

PHEEBS IS WATCHING AND WAITING FOR KELLY TO COME BACK FROM THE LIBRARY

WAITING AND WAITING

Hadn't taken any photos this morning so I again slipped outside late this afternoon to see what I could find around the property.  Always seems to be something somewhere to take a few photos of if one looks hard enough.  The shores of Lake Huron are only a mile or so west of us and I must really try harder to get myself over there more often in the evening for some sunset photos.  It’s disconcerting sometimes how routines can set in and stifle one from thinking and doing things other than the daily routines they have a habit of routinely doing.  It’s a comfortably easy rut to sink into and a surprisingly hard rut to climb out of.  I think the hardest part is not knowing your in the rut in the first place.  Yep, gotta get myself out with my camera more often……………..

  

With the Spring bird rush all but over now about the only birds we are seeing at our birdseed station anymore are Blue Jays, Grackles, and Mourning Doves.  Oh ya then there are a pair of Crows who I repeatedly chase away by waving my arms and making frightening faces at.  Of course not to be outdone I see they are now beginning to simply stare back, flap their wings, and make equally frightening faces at me.  And of course I am the one now beginning to become genuinely frightened!!

KELLY’S DAUGHTER SABRA GAVE HER THIS FUSIA PLANT FOR MOTHER’S DAY

 

AFTERNOON TEA IN THE GARDEN

WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 5 RESIDENT FROGS IN THE POND PLUS 2 FISH

MR. AND MRS. FROG I PRESUME

And another great big thank you to all you folks out there who continually give me the inspiration to keep this blog going.  Thanks for your emails, Shouts, Comments, and Facebook Likes:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Now that I am older, here's what I have discovered:

1. I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.

2. My wild oats have turned into prunes and All Bran.

3. I finally got my head together, now my body is falling apart.

4. Funny, I don't remember being absent-minded...

5. All reports are in; life is now officially unfair.

6. If all is not lost, where is it?

7. It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.

8. Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.

9. I wish the buck stopped here; I sure could use a few.

10. It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.

11. Only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the bathroom.

12. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees.

13. When I'm finally holding all the cards, why does everyone decide to play chess?

14. It's not hard to meet expenses... they're everywhere.

15. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

16. These days I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter.... I go somewhere to get something, and then wonder what I'm here after.

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- “The storm chaser was so fascinated by tornadoes that he tended to get carried away.”

-  Sale! Sale! An antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs and large drawers.

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While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication,  Tom and his wife Grace listened to the instructor,  "It is essential that husbands and wives know each other's likes and dislikes."  He addressed the man, "Can you name your wife's favorite flower?"  Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "It's Pillsbury, isn't it?"

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IT’S NOT THE NEEDLE THAT SCARES THE BAJEEBERS OUT OF ME….IT’S THE WAITING ROOM!!

I didn’t hear any overnight rain but Kelly did.  Thankfully those passing showers ushered in much cooler temperatures and it was a treat to start the day off with a little warmth from the Jeep’s heater rather than a little cold from the A/C unit.  Cloudy skies cleared up about mid morning leaving us with a bright sunny day.

SOME BIG FARMS JUST SEEM TO KEEP ON GETTING BIGGER

SO DOES FARM MACHINERY

With our destination being the Goderich Maitland Valley Medical Clinic this morning Pheebs and I were off about 9.  No point in getting there too early and wind up at the end of a long line.  As it was there were 5 people ahead of me but luckily 15 minutes after getting there I was again on my way after leaving a couple vials of blood.  Actually I absolutely dread going there but it’s not because of the blood letting needle.  The new addition housing the blood lab is nice but the waiting room is waaaaaaaaaaaay too small and it’s a scary place for me to be.  No I don’t have claustrophobia but the chairs are jammed in so tight you practically have to hold the next person to you on your lap.  Then horror of horrors they might start talking to you and asking questions…..Hello, what’s your name, where do you live, how old are you and where did you go to school??  Married??  Where do you work??  Any Kids??  No!!  Well my wife and I have 15 kids and while I’m going to be here for the next hour sitting on your lap I’ll tell you all about them and if there’s any time left over I’ll tell you all about my life, my favorite sports teams, what church I go to and why plus I know you will really like hearing about my political views.  Alrighty then, our first child was born in……………….. ‘Arrgghhhh’!!!!

TURKEY VULTURE HIGH OVERHEAD IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AIR

A quick trip down around the harbor to breath us in some of that fresh Great Lakes air and we were on our way again.  One stop at Walmart and headed for home.  Passed Kelly going the other way.

THE SAME HOUSE KELLY PICKED UP THOSE TWO FREE CHANDELIERS SHE SCOOPED THIS FELLOW AS WELL

I must have ran another 25 mile Marathon in my sleep last night because I didn’t seem to have much energy going for me today.  Tired right from the time I woke up this morning.  I’ll have to see where I can get my name taken off the list for those long nightly runs.

OUR SUNBURST LOCUST TREE IS NOW FULLY LEAFED OUT

So what do I like about these following numbers….63, 66, 61 59, 60, and 64??  Well those are our predicted temperatures for the next 6 days  and with today’s cooler air and a nice afternoon breeze Pheebs and I were able to make it around our Park’s pine tree trail without any mosquitoes, gnats, blackflies, or any other kind of hot weather annoyances.  Even made it back without my shirt sticking to me.  For me these are bonus weather days for sure.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Have you ever wondered why foreigners have trouble with the English Language?
There is no egg in the eggplant
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England
French fries were not invented in France.
We sometimes take English for granted
But if we examine its paradoxes we find that
Quicksand takes you down slowly
Boxing rings are square
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
If writers write, how come fingers don't fing.
If the plural of tooth is teeth
Shouldn't the plural of phone booth be phone beeth
If the teacher taught,
Why didn't the preacher praught.
If a vegetarian eats vegetables
What the heck does a humanitarian eat!?
Why do people recite at a play
Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and
Drive on parkways
You have to marvel at the unique lunacy
Of a language where a house can burn up as
It burns down
And in which you fill in a form
By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!
English was invented by people, not computers
And it reflects the creativity of the human race
(Which of course isn't a race at all)
That is why
When the stars are out they are visible
But when the lights are out they are invisible
And why it is that when I wind up my watch
It starts
But when I wind up this observation,
It ends.

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I GOOFED UP WHEN I THOUGHT IT WAS MY TURN…..BUT IT WASN’T:((

KELLY RESTS IN A LITTLE AREA SHE MADE IN OUR FRONT YARD THIS MORNING

He’s nearly a decade older than me but his memory is obviously more intact than mine is.  I’m talking about my friend Richard of course and I thought it was my turn to drive for our country road coffee tour this morning.  So much so that I as usual when it’s my turn had the Jeep parked at the head of the driveway.  Well I was wrong of course and when he pulled up in his van I confusedly realized my folly and off we went.  Well let me see now, what year was I born, what’s my name, and just who am I anyway.  Don’t ask me, I may very well have forgotten.  But one thing’s for certain and just goes to show that wiser old fools most often have more marbles in their pocket than younger darn fools.

OUR IRIS FLOWERS ARE IN BLOOM

 

Nice warm sunny morning with a brisk breeze.  Didn’t think the humidity was quite as intense as the previous couple days.  Two coffees and two apple muffins to go at Shopbike Coffee Roasters and off we went.   Our travels took us south along the Bluewater highway down around the Grand Bend area.  Lots of free spirited conversation along the way and we were back home sometime after 11.  Another couple hours well spent.  Don’t ask me what we talked about……….I can’t remember:((

THINK I’LL CALL THIS …….’KELLY’S PLACE’

KELLY FOUND THIS OLD WICKER CHAIR IN THE DUMP, PAINTED IT THIS MORNING AND SET IT IN THE GARDEN….SHE ALSO PAINTED THAT BAMBOO BACK-DROP THE SAME GREAT COLOR >>>>>

Ever thought of fudging on your RV insurance??  Maybe telling your insurance company one thing then doing something else to get it cheaper.  There are probably people out there doing that but before you consider it you might want to read read Nick’s thoughts on the subject which he entitles Don't Do It.

THAT GIANT HOSTA IS THE LARGEST ONE WE HAVE

CAN YOU FIND THE PHEEBS

IT’S HIDE AND SEEK SHE IS PLAYING

Despite today's uncomfortable heat and humidity again I was able to spend a bit of time outside doing some raking and weed whacking.  Had been hoping for rain but it didn't happen so had to do haul out the lawn sprinkler and give my newly planted grass seed a watering.  In our gravely sand oriented soil water drains away fast so watering is sometimes necessary to keep things alive.

Nearly a month ago when on her way home from visiting her two daughters and one son in Cambridge for Mothers Day Kelly stopped in Tavistock and nabbed a couple ‘free’ chandeliers set out in front of a house for the taking.  I think I might have had a photo in of one of those chandeliers that night.  Tonight I took a few photos of the other Chandelier.  They weren’t in pristine condition and the wiring was kinda ripped out of them but when Kelly saw them she knew she wanted to bring them home and hang them outside.  One hangs from our Basswood tree and the other from our front yard porch.

KELLY HUNG A STRING OF TINY LIGHTS ON THE CHANDELIER

GROANER'S CORNER:(( An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled, "Stop! Acts 2:38!" (Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar, "Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you." "Scripture?" replied the burglar. "She said she had an ax and two 38's!"

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One day the pilot of a Cherokee 180 was told by the tower to hold short of the active runway while a DC-8 landed. The DC-8 landed, rolled out, turned around, and taxied back past the Cherokee.  Some quick-witted comedian in the DC-8 crew got on the radio and said, "What a cute little plane. Did you make it all by yourself?"  The Cherokee pilot, not about to let the insult go by, came back with a real zinger: "I made it out of DC-8 parts. Another landing like yours and I'll have enough pieces for another one."

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I was visiting my daughter last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. 'This is the 21st century,' she said. 'We don't waste money on newspapers. Here, use my iPad.'.  I can tell you this... That fly never knew what hit him!

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