KELLY'S MOTHER IS IN THE HOSPITAL

For as long as I can remember Saturday mornings have always been my favorite time of the week.  And this morning was no exception.  For Pheebs and I, our travels today took us to a section of the Maitland Trail running through a bush lot.  With our weather finally decent again what a treat it was walking quietly along a forest path bordered by a carpet of Spring wildflowers.  Mornings air was still with only an occasional scampering Squirrel rustling through last October's Autumn leaves.  Had I had a chair I would have liked to just sit awhile there in the forest savoring all the magic in the air around me.  It was a special Saturday morning and one which I will tuck safely away in my memory for cloudy days ahead.

 HEADING OFF ON A FOREST TRAIL

 LAST YEAR I COULD REMEMBER THE NAME OF THESE PLANTS BUT THIS YEAR....NOT SO MUCH

 TRILLIUM

 HEADING BACK ALONG THE TRAIL TO THE JEEP

From the Maitland Trail area we were back into the Jeep and headed about a mile west to a favorite spot of mine where I have taken many photos over the last bunch of years.  The winding country road passes between two small lakes/ponds and it is here where we always stop and take ourselves for a country road walk.  Lots of interesting smells for Pheebs and always a sprinkling of enjoyable photos for me.  As soon as I stepped out of the Jeep I was surprised at all the sounds of nature around us.  Red-Wing Blackbirds in the trees along the road.  I could hear the distinctive sounds of a couple Northern Flickers as well as what sounded like a brigade of Pileated Woodpeckers beating on trees with their sledgehammer beaks.  Canada Geese honking and several other distant sounds I could not identify.  The faint fwapping of a helicopter blade told me there were male Grouse nearby beating their wings in hopes of attracting a Spring bride.  Yes, it was a special Saturday morning alright and I so much appreciated that in these troubled times.

 THIS LOCATION IS AT THE CONJUNCTION OF LITTLE LAKES ROAD AND RIVER LINE A FEW MILES EAST OF BENMILLER ONTARIO

 THAT FOREST OVER THERE WAS ALIVE WITH THE WONDERFUL SOUNDS OF NATURE

 LOOKS LIKE THE OLD HURON COUNTY WOOD GATOR HAS SURVIVED ANOTHER WINTER

 TADPOLES ON A CULVERT PIPE WHICH CONNECTS THE TWO PONDS 

 LILY PADS SPRING UP FROM THE MUDDY POND BOTTOM

 MARSH MARIGOLDS

 SOON MUCH OF THAT SURFACE WILL BE COVERED WITH WATER LILIES

 SKUNK CABBAGE AT THE WATER'S EDGE

 THIS MIGHT BE A LONG NOSE MOSSY SNOUT FISH

 'I WAS HERE FIRST' 'NO I WAS HERE FIRST'!!

Home again it was disappointing to hear an inconsiderate neighbor's loud radio blaring as usual now that the warmer weather is here.  That annoyance will go on for the rest of the season right through to late October.  Jet aircraft overhead, vehicles trundling by, train horns in the distance, an occasional barking dog, machinery working somewhere, or folks mowing their lawns I can handle, but let somebody crank up their music or talk and shout in loud voices I go right through the roof!!!! I figure it must be payback because of all the people I surely annoyed back in my bad old drinking days:((

 HERE'S PHEEBS TRACKING DOWN SOME ELUSIVE TADPOLES AT THE POND'S EDGE

Kelly's 96-year-old Mother was taken by ambulance to a hospital near Spencerport New York Friday morning after waking up with chest pains.  She's doing good but they are keeping her in the hospital to do additional tests, consider options, and possibly do some procedures.  She is in good spirits and looking forward to getting out of there and going home.  Due to the Covid thing Kelly hasn't seen her Mother in over a year but was planning on heading across the border to be with her Mother for Mother's Day this year.  Kelly has dual Canadian/American citizenship.  She may go a little earlier than planned now and has already been in touch with the Lewiston-Kingston border crossing station east of Niagara Falls to see what is necessary for her going and coming back again.  She may leave Sunday morning or a week from Sunday, or sometime in between.  Depends on how her Mother's upcoming tests go.

 KELLY ON A 'ZOOM' CALL FRIDAY NIGHT WITH HER BROTHER PETER AND SISTERS REBECCA AND KATHY

Although not in the hospital, my 94-year-old Aunt Jean in Sarasota Florida is not faring too much better at times.   Despite her mind being as sharp as a tack like Kelly's Mom, her body is breaking down around her and her mobility has been seriously compromised.  Both Kelly's Mom and my Aunt Jean are fiercely independent people and live alone in their own homes.  Life is steadily becoming increasingly difficult for both of these fine ladies.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Hellmann's Mayonnaise - a bit of history.
Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank, and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great, that they declared a National Day of Mourning, which they still observe to this day. The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known, of course, as - Sinko De Mayo.

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- Anyone want to buy some exercise equipment?  I'm having a going-out-of-fitness sale.

- The economy is so bad that: Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

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BEING OUTSIDE HAS FINALLY BECOME COMFORTABLE AGAIN

 DESPITE THE COLD LATELY OUR MAGNOLIA TREE IS TRYING ITS BEST TO PUT ON A GOOD SHOW

It was just over 4 years ago on February 15th, 2017 that I bought my new Dell Inspiron laptop computer at a Best Buy store at the Yuma Palms Mall in Yuma Arizona.  (My post for the day I got my new Dell laptop) It's been a great trouble-free computer but when I turned it on Thursday night a message popped up saying that the battery was kaput and needed to be replaced.  I had noticed a while back the battery wouldn't hold its charge very well anymore.  The ContinuIT Computer Store in Goderich didn't open until 9 so I took Pheebs for a short drive around Bayfield this morning thinking I might take the computer to Goderich later.  However, when Kelly called they said they would have to order the battery and to bring it in next week.  So, it wasn't much of a Jeep ride for Pheebs this morning and we were back home shortly after nine.  About the only thing I accomplished all day was to hitch up the utility trailer later and haul a half load of yard waste to the Park's recycle area.  Pheebs and I did take our legs for a walk this afternoon and that was about it for the day.  Oh, our temperatures are coming up and it has finally become comfortable outside again:))

 A STOP IN THE BAYFIELD CEMETERY

 IT WAS THE LIME GREEN DOORS THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION AT THIS SHORELINE COTTAGE

 OUR FRONT YARD FROG POND

 PAINTED TURTLE IN THE PARK'S POND

 OUR HOSTAS ARE SHOOTING UP OUT OF THE GROUND

GROANER'S CORNER:((   Why do croutons come in airtight packages?  Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?

It's scary when you start making the same noises as your coffee maker.

Quitting pot? It was actually easier for me to become a vegetarian because friends never show up at my house with a sack of meat.

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I REST MY CASE LADS

 A QUICK CANDID DRIVE-BY SHOT OF A FELLOW PHOTO ENTHUSIAST ALONG LAKE HURON'S SHORELINE IN GODERICH

Thanks to JD's question and cousin Norma's reply in the ShoutBox I repeatedly recounted my age numbers earlier today using my amazing finger counting method and was quite quickly able to accurately confuse myself all over again.  More than once even.  Kelly, on the other hand, using a precise online Age Calculator was able to determine my true and correct age today as, 76 years 6 months and 15 days or 918 months 15 days or 3,993 weeks 5 days or 27,956 days or 670,944 hours or 40,256,640 minutes or 2,415,398,400 seconds.   I rest my case lads.  Whew, close call for me on this one eh:))

 MOURNING DOVE IN EVENING'S SUNLIGHT

 THIS PAIR OF GRACKLES ARE KEEPING A WARY EYE ON THE MOURNING DOVE

 I AM UNDER THE GAZE OF THE GRACKLE

With temps slightly above freezing under cloudy skies Pheebs and I made our way to Goderich around 9 this morning.  Hadn't been there for a week and I was worried I might have missed something major.   I was relieved to find everything the same as when we had last been there.  Doesn't take much to shake we Seniors up so with no big changes going on I was able to keep myself from blowing a gasket.  Two large ships anchored in Goderich's harbor with one being the Algoma Sault taking on a load of salt and the other being the Ocean Castle taking on a load of grain I presume.

 TWO LARGE SHIPS IN GODERICH'S HARBOR THIS MORNING

 OCEAN CASTLE'S CREW MEMBERS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE LOADING PROCEDURE

 THE ALGOMA SAULT IS AT GODERICH'S SALT MINE

 THE CREW AT ART'S LANDSCAPING IS WORKING HARD ON THE BOARDWALK COMPLETION

 A BEACH CLEAN-UP AT ROTARY COVE HAS LEFT A PILE OF DEBRIS TO BE PICKED UP

A quick stop at Walmart's Pharmacy to pick up a prescription and we headed for home with Pheebs window down and the heater directing all the warm air towards myself I could get.  I don't have a warm fur coat like Pheebs does.  I come from the two-legged furless lizard skin populace of old.  After snowflakes in the air, we did end our day under clear sunny skies but it's still very cold.  A big warm-up hopefully begins Friday.

 ROLLING OUT EAST OF GODERICH I SPOTTED THIS OLDER CAR

 SEEING MORE FARM MACHINERY ON THE ROADS

It was another cold and windy afternoon walk for Pheebs and I so we didn't go as far as we usually do.  At least it wasn't raining or snowing and the ground is drying up cutting down on the big mud problem around here.

 ANOTHER REFLECTION IN OUR PARK'S POND

 SO GREAT TO SEE THINGS SPRINGING UP OUT OF OUR FLOWER BEDS

 RHUBARB

With my research continuing I just finished an additional two books by indigenous author Dr. Ardy Sixkiller Clarke as she travels North and South America gathering together multiple stories regarding the age-old connection between Indians and the Star People.  Sky People: Untold Stories Of Alien Encounters In Mesoamerica and More Encounters with Star People: Urban American Indians Tell Their Stories.  For anyone interested, I recommend starting with this second book where many of what I believe to be true stories take place in the great State of Montana, home of the author.  And remember, to read these books it really helps to approach this fascinating subject with an open mind.  I have really enjoyed all three of her books and her writing style.  Simple and straightforward yet warm and understanding.  Her short stories of the people she has met are flowing and I believe as much as she does that the people she meets and records are telling her the truth.  Having never paid much attention to Indian beliefs and stories I am so glad I stumbled across these books a couple months ago.  So much to learn and these many stories have helped open my eyes and broaden my mind into helping me understand so many things I had previously ignored, tossed aside, or simply gave no credibility to.  Dr. Ardy Sixkiller Clarke is Professor Emeritus at Montana State University and former Director of the Center for Bilingual/Multicultural Education.   Ardy Sixkiller Clarke is a well-known and much-respected woman and author of the bestselling book,  Sisters in the blood: The education of women in native America.

 Y'ALL HAVE A NICE FEATHERY DAY NOW YA HEAR:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Hmmmm, could the following be Notable Quotes or Quotable Notes??

- You do not need a parachute to skydive; you only need a parachute to skydive twice.

- The truth is still the truth, if no one believes it, a lie is still a lie even if everyone believes it.

- You know that feeling you get when you meet someone & your heart skips a beat?Yeah, that’s Arrhythmia; you can die from that!

- There are three kinds of people:
.Those who make things happen
.Those who watch others make things happen
.Those who say “what the hell happened “?

- Unfortunately there is no lifeguard in the gene pool.

- The most dangerous animal in the world is a smiling woman sitting in silence!

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I accidentally used the dog's shampoo this morning...
Now I feel like a good boy.
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Little Johnny was having problems in English class, so his teacher, Miss Figpot, decided to stop by Little Johnny's house on her way home. She wanted to discuss Johnny's poor performance directly with his parents.  When she rang the doorbell, Little Johnny answered.   "Hello Johnny, I'd like to talk to your Mother or Father," she said.  "Sorry, but they ain't here." he replied.  "Johnny!" She said, "what is it with your grammar?"  "Haven't got a clue," Johnny replied, "but dad sure was mad that they had to go bail her out again!"

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