EGO? NO....A NEED AND A DESIRE? YES:))

MARSH MARIGOLDS IN OUR FRONT YARD

Too windy and cold for me to be out for a walk this morning, so with my old winter jacket on, I headed outside to plant my Dianthus flowers.  Still more Hostas and ferns to be relocated, so I didn't waste any time in doing that.  Spread more bags of mulch and relocated some heavy rocks as well.  And, probably for the umpteenth time over the years. The predicted six days of rain hasn't happened, so I watered my grass seed too.  Thankfully, we did have a bright sunny day, but the temps barely broke 50F......then there was the wind chill factor.  Yes, it was another winter jacket day, but that's okay because I got a lot of stuff done again.  I am so fortunate to have this ever-changing landscape/gardening hobby of mine.  In fact, I am super fortunate to have all the enjoyable hobbies that I do have.  If I really think about it, I are a pretty lucky guy.................

 OUR NEIGHBOR MONICA/S MAGNOLIA IS NOW IN FULL BLOOM

PERRIWINKLE IS THE DOMINANT PLANT ON THIS PROPERTY

 A TRILLIUM FLOWER UNDERNEATH OUR EAST FACING LIVING ROOM WINDOW

I was asked one time, 'Why in your blog do you always write about yourself? (My short answer to that is, it's the one subject I know most about:))  Again a question.....'Is it a way to satisfy your ego?  Well, to that, I have to say this.  The ego question almost made me chuckle.  When it comes to the ego scale, you will not find me anywhere near the top of the class.  Seeking attention?  Nope, I much prefer the background rather than center stage.  Asked again, but, why would someone post a daily blog if they were not comfortable with attention?  Good point.  Well, here's my clumsy answer.  I not only have a desire, but also a need to be creative.  Now, I'm not a master craftsman or anything like that, but I do have a bit of a knack for a few lesser things.  Nothing outstanding of course, but at least I have a few of the basics.  I know which end of a camera to look through, I can spell cat and dog with no problem, and I do know how to stitch a few okay sentences together sometimes.  I have a solid sense of music, a laughable sense of humor, and I have always been a bit of a curiosity seeker with a wandering sense of curiosity.  To know that people out here find enjoyment in what I write and take photos of gives me purpose and a sense of accomplishment.  Those are two things that are important to me, and each day I turn out a blog post, I feel I am doing something positive for someone somewhere.  And that, in turn, brings me enjoyment and satisfaction.  And that is more important to me now at this latter stage of life than it ever has been.  Yes, my blog can easily swallow up three, four, five, or more hours of my day, but it's a positive outlet for the creative nature in me that I enjoy sharing with others.  And I thank all of you, kind readers out here, for giving me the incentive and opportunity each day in this chaotic world to maybe shine a little light into your life.  Ego? No.....A need and a desire?? Yes:))

I'M WORKING ON A LITTLE PROJECT AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY

 MY RECENTLY PLANTED JAPANESE KERRIA PLANTS ARE REALLY BEGINNING TO BLOOM

 ME NEWER FLOWERBEDS ARE SLOWLY TAKING SHAPE

Al's Music Box:: Do You Believe In Magic by The Lovin' Spoonful.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Two lawyers, Jon and Amanpreet, head out for their usual 9 holes of golf. Jon offers Amanpreet a $50 bet. Amanpreet agrees and they're off. They shoot a great game. After the 8th hole, Amanpreet is ahead by one stroke, but cuts his ball into the rough on the 9th. "Help me find my ball. Look over there," he says to Jon. After a few minutes, neither has any luck. Since a lost ball carries a four point penalty, Amanpreet secretly pulls a ball from his pocket and tosses it to the ground. "I've found my ball!" he announces. "After all of the years we've been partners and playing together," Jon says, "you'd cheat me out of a lousy 50 bucks?" "What do you mean, cheat? I found my ball sitting right there!" "And you're a liar, too!" Jon says. "I'll have you know I've been STANDING on your ball for the last five minutes!"

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Q: Why do dogs make terrible dance partners?
A: They’ve got 2 left feet!

Q: Why did the poor dog chase his own tail?
A: He was trying to make ends meet.

Q: What did the Dalmatian say after he ate his dog biscuits?
A: “Ahh, that really hit the spots.“

Q: When a dog has a fever, what’s the best thing to feed him?
A: Mustard—it’s the best thing for hot dogs.

Q: What do dogs do after they complete obedience school?
A: They get their masters.

Q: Why couldn’t the dog get the apple?
A: He was barking up the wrong tree!

Q: What did the dog say when he sat on sandpaper?
A: Ruff!

Did you hear about the dog who was fined for delivering puppies on the side of the road?
She was given a ticket for littering!

Q: How can you tell the difference between a dog and a tree?
A: By their bark!

A large number of dogs escaped the SPCA today. Police are looking for leads.

Q: Are dogs good at science?
A: Well, Labs are!

Q: Why do dogs float?
A: Because they’re good buoys!

Q: Why was the dog such a good storyteller?
A: He knew how to paws for dramatic effect!
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- “I wanted to take home the left-overs from the BBQ, but someone else foiled my plans.”

- After a quarrel, a wife said to her husband, "You know, I was a fool when I married you. The husband replied, "Yes, dear, but I was in love and didn't notice it."

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery

ONE OF THE LAST THINGS KELLY SAW BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY

 DARK SKIES LOOM OVER A PLACID LAKE HURON THIS MORNING

Monday evening it looked like it was shaping up to be a nice sunset so I grabbed my camera and headed out the door.  At the Park's entrance, I decided at the last minute, instead of heading into Bayfield, I'd head out to my walking road and take my legs for walk.  Glad I did, because my legs were definitely needing some exercise, and I got a sunset picture to boot.  It was such a nice, reasonably mild evening that I decided not to go home and instead, I took myself for a country road drive.  Well, why wouldn't I?  After all, I had just spent over an hour this afternoon washing and cleaning the car.  What's a little dust eh.  From my walking road, I headed into Clinton and slipped through Tim Hortons Drive-Thru snagging myself a small decaf coffee and a double chocolate donut.  I call them 'dubba bubbas.  My travels then took me northwest of Clinton, with my destination eventually being my night sky spot.  Meandering west, I could see a major thunder and lightning storm going on to the south.  Big lightning flashes high in the clouds.  I estimated the storm was traveling east somewhere between Sarnia and London.  Finally, at my viewing spot, I then began seeing lightning bolts on the horizon and worried that the storm might be getting closer, I headed for home to close my shed doors just in case.  Turns out the storm missed us and continued its way eastward.

 MONDAY NIGHT'S SUNSET SEEN FROM MY COUNTRY WALKING ROAD

 IT'S NOT OFTEN I EAT A DONUT ANYMORE, BUT WHEN I DO, I LIKE THESE DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ONES THAT I HAVE ALWAYS CALLED 'DUBBA -BUBBAS'

Six a.m. was an early start to my day with an 8 a.m. appointment for an oil change at Goderich's Napa garage.  I had my fingers crossed that it wouldn't be raining, and it wasn't.  The Napa garage is only a block from McDonalds so I always like to walk down there for breakfast while the oil is being changed in the Subaru.  So, that's what I did.

 THIS WAS THE FIRST I'D BEEN IN McDONALDS SINCE THEIR RENOVATION LAST YEAR

 JUST ACROSS THE INTERSECTION TO THE NORTH OF McDONALDS, THEY ARE BUILDING WHAT I THINK IS THE TALLEST STRUCTURE WITHIN THE TOWN'S LIMITS

 ALSO ON THE SAME SITE WILL BE SEVERAL POSSIBLE FOOD EATERIES I THINK

 BY THE TIME I WALKED BACK TO THE NAPA GARAGE, SUBIE WAS JUST ABOUT DONE

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS I PICKED UP  IN GODERICH THIS MORNING

While in Goderich this morning, I slipped into Home Hardware, Walmart, Zehr's Garden Center, and the Bank.  The Bank was a necessary stop to see if they would give a loan to buy a bag of Jube Jubes.  In between those stops, I managed to swing down around the harbor as well.

 THE ALGOMA COMPASS TAKING ON A LOAD OF SALT AT THE GODERICH SALT MINE

 I THINK THEY NEED TO GET A COUPLE DECK HANDS OVER THE SIDE TO CLEAN UP THIS MESS FROM THE SHIP'S REAR ANCHOR....OR, AT LEAST I THINK THAT'S AN ANCHOR

 A LOT OF TULIPS IN THIS GODERICH LAWN...MAYBE THE RESIDENTS ARE DUTCH FOLKS

From Goderich, I headed directly to Vanastra's Good Choice where I had bought the appliances.  I showed the fella there video (with sound) of the washing machine's 'wash' cycle and he  said he's heard that sound before and it is the newer-energy-saving way washers work nowadays.  Well, I did do two loads of laundry with it yesterday, and everthing seemed to turn out okay.  So, I guess I will just go with the flow, so to speak.  On my way from Goderich to Vanastra, I passed by Huron Hospice, and that is where Kelly passed away in December of 2024.  I snapped a quick photo going by, and in that photo, you will notice a red car at the right-hand side of the building.  Just around the corner behind that car, and down to the last room on that side, Kelly's room was located.  Her bed faced the outside window, and one of the last things Kelly saw before she passed away was those pine trees on the right side of the photo.  She loved the outdoors.......

From Vanastra, and after my busy morning, I decided to slowly lollygag my way home along the back roads, enjoying Spring's scenery under cloudy skies and a few wandering raindrops. Even managed to take a few pictures along the way.  

ROADSIDE FORESTS ARE BEGINNING TO TAKE ON SOME NICE SPRING COLORS

 TRILLIUMS ON A FOREST FLOOR, AND TRY AS I DID TO MAKE THIS PHOTO DARKER, MY PHOTO EDITING PROGRAM WOULDN'T DO IT.....IN FACT, I AM HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE PROGRAM WHICH IS EVIDENT IN SOME OF MY PHOTOS

AND, IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT IN THE MONTH OF MAY, WE HAVE MAYFLOWERS

 A PROFUSION OF MARSH MERRIGOLDS

 FARMERS WERE BUSY IN THEIR FIELDS THIS MORNING, AND MONDAY NIGHT I NOTICED BRIGHT LIGHTS IN SOME FIELDS MEANING THE FARMERS WERE BUSY BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL

 I THOUGHT THIS BIG GREEN TERRA-GATOR COMING OUT OF A LANE WAS GOING TO BOBBLE ME UP

AFTER MAKING A FEW ADJUSTMENTS TO HIS SEED PLANTER, THIS FARMER SPRINTS BACK TO HIS TRACTOR

Al's Music Box:: Two back-to-back songs from Johnny Mathis...Chances Are and It's Not For Me To Say

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged. However, while working as a student nurse, I found one elderly gentleman already dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet, who insisted he didn't need my help to leave the hospital. After a chat about rules being rules, he reluctantly let me wheel

him to the lift. On the way down I asked him if his wife was meeting him. 'I don't know,' he said. 'She's still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown.'
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- I don't worry about Friday the 13th.
It's bad luck to be superstitious. On Friday the 13th, I dreamt that a horse in armor was chasing me. It was a Knightmare.

- What’s the scariest thing to do on Friday the 13th? Check your bank account.

- Whats a good pasta to make on Friday the 13th? Fettuccine Afraid-O.

- Monday the 13th sounds much worse than Friday the 13th.
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There are two kinds of people. Those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery