THIS GETTING OLDER STUFF IS DEFINITELY THE PITS!!

THIS IS THE ONLY PHOTO I TOOK TODAY AS I HEADED OFF TO THE PARK'S RECYCLE AREA

Surprisingly, I wasn't stiff and sore from yesterday's yard work when I woke up this morning.  But, by noon it was a different story.  A short drive into Bayfield and back with a stop at Foodland for some milk.  Back in the Jeep, I noticed a slightly odd noise when I started it.  Oh-oh, I thought.  I drove to the Bayfield Garage just in case and parked on the east side of the garage and shut the Jeep off.  Starting it again it made a noise, the engine stuttered, and then started.  I shut it down and started it three more times and it started fine.  What to do?? What to do??  Decided to take my chances and head home.  I had occasion to start the Jeep three more times in the next hour when I hooked up the utility trailer and hauled a load of brush to the Park's recycle area.  It started fine all three times.  We did call the garage to get a quote on a starter, so we'll see what they say.  In the meantime, Pheebs and I will drive the Subaru until we figure out what we are going to do about the Jeep.

 HERE'S A FEW PICS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT INTO MY BLOG OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO

IT'S A GOOD THING THIS FELLOW HAS HIS HELMET ON TO PROTECT HIS HAT

 AT LONDON'S WESTMINSTER PONDS AREA LAST WEEK I SPOTTED THIS CHILDREN'S GROUP GOING BY.....I SURE HOPE THEY FOUND A WASHROOM FOR THAT LITTLE GIRL

 HERE'S A BAYFIELD FELLA TAKING HIS JOHN DEERE TRACTOR OUT FOR A DRIVE

 SPOTTED THIS OLD RV BLISTER SOUTH OF GODERICH AT THE BLUEWATER BEACH COMMUNITY

I didn't do a whole lot of front yard work this morning because my hip and both legs stiffened up to the point where it was just too painful to continue.  I came into the house shortly before noon thinking that was the end of my day.  Never even made it to my recliner.  I noticed the birdfeeder outside the sunroom was nearly empty so figured I'd just slip out there and fill it up.  I don't want angry birds making nasty faces at me through the window.  An hour later after ending up trimming our basswood tree by the porch, I re-dragged myself back into the house with the aid of my cane.  It's the first time I've had to use the cane again in over a month.  Most of the rest of the day was spent in my recliner reading. This getting older stuff is definitely the pits and it's not getting any better!!!! 

Al's Music Box:)) How Deep Is Your Love by the Bee Gees from the album, 'Saturday Night Fever'.  1977  Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys spoke positively of the song, stating, "I always liked the Bee Gees very much. 'How Deep Is Your Love' is ... one that I think is really great ... I turn the radio up a little bit when it comes on."

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Here's a great exercise for one's arms.  Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax. Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.  After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-pound potato sacks. Then try 50-pound potato sacks and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-pound potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. (I'm at this level.)  After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.

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Teacher: "Your spelling is really improving,  Henry.  I only counted three mistakes."  

Henry: "That's great!"  

Teacher: "And now, let's check the second sentence."

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'LOOKING UP' AND THINKING ABOUT THINGS

A few nights ago looking out our sunroom window I spotted a half Moon through our pine trees.  I realized it had been a while since I had last been outside and seen the starry night sky.  So, without further ado, I donned a jacket and headed for the Subaru.  Pheebs was having a big snooze so I didn't wake her.  With the moonroof open and the dash lights on dim I cruised out into the countryside with moonbeams dancing their way through the open roof all the way.  I pulled over at our usual country road walking spot, shut the car off, and stepped out onto the road into the beautiful shimmering moonlight.  A few clouds scudded across the Moon giving the whole scene an ethereal feeling.  Being out at night under the stars brings my mind a whole welcome set of pleasantly inquisitive thoughts.  If only I could discipline myself to come out more often and spend that special time under the stars just simply 'looking up' and thinking about things:))

It was cool enough for a light jacket this morning and we had the Jeep's heater on for a while until the Sun got up a bit.  With my hip hurting from Sunday's front yard renovation work, Pheebs and didn't do our walk and I think that was quite okay with Pheebs.  I've noticed over the past few months that she actually prefers the shorter Jeep rides now as opposed to the longer ones we used to do.  I guess I kinda do to so it works out best for both us guys.

THE BEANS ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROAD ARE RIPENING

 THE BEANS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD (WITH A FEW LOST CORN STALKS) ARE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF BEAN AND HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO SHOW SIGNS OF YELLOW RIPENING

 SPOTTED THIS WILD TURKEY OBVIOUSLY PARTAKING IN IT'S MORNING BEAN SALAD BREAKFAST

Home again I was right away outside on the end of my weed whacker, lawn mower, clippers, saw, and wheelbarrow.  Sawed down a couple Sumac trees and took some branches off a couple others. The idea is to open up our yard a bit to more sunlight and give it a brighter airy look instead of so much cave-like shade.

 THIS IS THE SECTION OF SUMAC TREES I CUT DOWN

 YUP, THAT'S MY TRUSTY DULL AS A BAG OF NAILS SWEDE SAW

 SUMAC BRANCHES ARE COMING DOWN

 I ALSO DEMOLISHED THIS WAY OVERGROWN HYDRANGEA SHRUB AS WELL

Periwinkle/Myrtle has been encroaching on us each year so this morning I decided it was time to fight back.  With that, I tackled a big patch of it with my weedwhacker and then my lawn mower.  Next, I will get into that area with the roto-tiller and see if I can bust up the Periwinkle root system a bit. 

 TEN MINUTES BEFORE TAKING THIS PHOTO THIS AREA WAS TOTALLY OVERGROWN WITH PERIWNKLE.....I WILL BE RELOCATING THOSE HOSTAS SHORTLY

 NICE TO SEE SOME ADDITIONAL SUNSHINE IN OUR YARD

 THE SUMACS I CUT DOWN HAVE MADE WAY FOR ADDED SUNSHINE IN THIS AREA

 THE LADDER IS LEANING AGAINST A SUMAC TREE

I lasted until about 1 o'clock this afternoon when the moderate humidity took its toll on me and I had to quit for the day, retreat into the house, and throw my sorry old sack of aching bones into the shower.  I think just about the next best thing to a cold glass of skim milk is a refreshingly cool shower on a hot and humid summer's day.

 I HAD QUITE AN AUDIENCE OF FROGS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON MY ACTIVITIES TODAY

 BEFORE CUTTING A PATCH OF GREENERY DOWN HERE THE POND WASN'T VISIBLE FROM THIS POINT

 I THINK OUR FROG PONDS GRAND POO-BAAH IS SMILING APPROVINGLY OF MY EFFORTS

Al's Music Box:)) Diamond Girl by Seals and Crofts from the album, 'Diamond Girl'.  1973

SOME BEAN FIELDS ARE RIPENING FASTER THAN OTHERS

GROANER'S CORNER:((  A spiritualist who'd recently been widowed met a colleague and reported excitedly that she'd just received a message from her dead husband - asking her to send him a pack of cigarettes.  "The only thing is," she mused, "that I don't know where to send them."  "Why not?" asked her friend.  "Well, he didn't actually say that he was in Heaven - but I can't imagine he'd be in Hell."  "Hmmm," responded the friend. "Well, maybe I shouldn't bring this up, but. . . he didn't mention anything about including matches in the package, did he?"

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- The actor who played the lisping stammerer in The King's Speech is my Firth choice for Oscar.

- Why did the little Moron tip-toe past the medicine cabinet.....so he wouldn't wake up the sleeping pills.

- Why are you so happy?" a woman asked the 98-year-old man. "I broke a mirror," he explained. "But that means seven years of bad luck," she told him. "I know," he grinned. "Isn't it wonderful?"

- Vicky was at a business conference. During a break, she decided to call home collect. Her six-year-old son picked up the phone and heard a stranger’s voice say, “We have Vicky on the line. Will you accept the charges?” Frantic, the six-year-old dropped the receiver and came charging outside screaming, “Dad! They have Mom! And they want money!”

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THE ROCKS CERTAINLY WEREN'T AS HEAVY THEN AS THEY WERE TODAY

 WILDFLOWERS ALONG THE ROADSIDE

With our sunny morning temperature sitting at 53F I had to put myself on a long-sleeve shirt before Pheebs and I headed out.  Our wanderings took us to Goderich and back and we didn't even stop at Walmart.  Now, how's that for an accomplishment.

 A SUNNY SUNDAY MORNING ALONG GODERICH'S LAKESIDE BOARDWALK 

 ANOTHER SCENIC SUNDAY MORNING DRIVE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE

Home again, and with the cooler morning air spurring me on I decided to tackle the next phase of our front yard renovations.  Next to our frog pond I had dug in a small plastic pool liner about 10 years ago and filled it with sand and dirt for water-based plants like Marsh Marigolds, etc.  Over the years it became overgrown with weeds and grass and stuff.  Today was the day I decided to weed-whack everything out of that area, remove all the rocks around the plastic liner, and dig it out of there.

 IT'S ALL THAT GREENERY IN THE CENTER I INTEND TO REMOVE

 I USE THE FRIDGE CART TO MOVE THE HEAVIEST ROCKS

 HERE I AM ABOUT TO DIG THE MUD OUT OF THE PLASTIC LINER

 MISSION ACCOPLISHED AND NOW I JUST HAVE TO SMOOTH OUT THE AREA

 ALL SMOOTHED OUT

Some of the rocks I removed from this area I had originally put there as far back as 18 years ago.  Of course, I was 18 years younger at the time and the rocks certainly weren't as heavy then as they were today.  It wasn't long before I was 'a hurtin' all over but I kept going until I had that area roto-tilled, raked out, and rolled.  If our cooler weather hangs in I hope to get more done in the coming days.    

 I THINK SOMEBODY MUST HAVE GOT A HOLD OF MY CAMERA

Al's Music Box:)) Calypso by John Denver from the album, 'Windsong.  1975  "Calypso" is a song written by John Denver in 1975 as a tribute to Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his research ship, the Calypso.  It was featured on Denver's 1975 album Windsong.

 IT WAS A REAL NICE LOOKING DAY

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An incompetent counterfeiter spent all day making his funny money. At the end of the day. he realizes he spent all his time making $15 bills.  He figures that the only way he's going to get anything from this batch of money is to find a place where the people aren't too bright and change his phony money for real cash.  He travels to a small town and walks into a small Mom and Pop grocery store. He goes to the old man behind the counter and asks him, "Do you have change for a $15 bill?"  The old man replies, "I sure do...How would you like that? An eight and a seven or two sixes and a three?"

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Q: What do you call two men hanging from a window?
A: Curt and Rod.

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There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the country.  "Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk.  "Only the Ten  Commandments." answered the lady.

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