IT WAS A GOOD JOB FOR A COOL SPRING DAY

Unnoticed by me over the years, a nasty vine had crept across the ground near the southwest corner of our unit and then slowly and stealthily made its way up a 20' pine tree.  It grew steadily over the top of an arbor at the corner of the house as well.  Last summer, for the first time, I noticed that it had ascended the pine tree and completely covered the top of it, and in fact broke off the top 10 feet of the tree.  And then, a few days ago, when there should have been the sweet aroma of lilac branches, there was a mass of small, twisted, dead branches.  On further inspection, I found the lilac tree to be dead because it had been overpowered and smothered by this unknown invasive vine.  So late yesterday, I began the arduous task of cutting down and removing the four trunks of the lilac tree, plus all the entangled vines and dead branches.  No easy task for sure, and I ended up taking two full utility trailer loads of twisted branches and snarly, entangled vines to the Park's recycle area.  It was a good job for a cool Spring day.

 THIS WAS ONCE A NICE LILAC BUSH

 THIS IS ONE OF THE NASTY VINE SHOOTS

THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO UTILITY TRAILER LOADS OF TANGLED BRANCHES

A drive to Goderich for Lorraine and I this morning.  Stops at the 360 Bike Shop, Giant Tiger, coffee to go for me at McD's, Food Basics, Dollarama, and Walmart.

I PLANTED THIS RED BUD TREE ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO

 LILACS IN THE BACK YARD

Thanks to readers for hanging in despite me having to remove the Comment Section and the Shout Box.  My Google stat numbers haven't dropped so I know folks are still reading.  If anyone has any suggestions on how I can fix Blogger's 'Comment Moderation' feature, I'd be happy to hear from you.  With the moderation feature, readers could still comment, and all I would have to do is approve those comments.

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 I LOVE ALL THE FERNS ON THIS PROPERTY

GROANER'S CORNER:((  The 12 Steps Of A Web Addict::

1) I will have a cup of coffee in the morning and read my PAPER newspaper like I used to, before the Web.

2) I will eat breakfast with a knife and fork and not with one hand typing.

3) I will get dressed before noon.

4) I will make an attempt to clean the house, wash clothes, and plan dinner before even thinking of the Web.

5) I will sit down and write a letter to those unfortunate few friends and family that are Web-deprived.

6) I will call someone on the phone who I cannot contact via the Web.

7) I will read a book... if I still remember how.

8 ) I will listen to those around me about their needs and stop telling them to turn the TV down so I can hear the music on the Web.

9) I will not be tempted during TV commercials to check for email.

10) I will try and get out of the house at least once a week, if it is necessary or not.

11) I will remember that my bank is not forgiving if I forget to balance my checkbook because I was too busy on the Web.

12) Last, but not least, I will remember that I must go to bed sometime... and the Web will always be there tomorrow!

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The first-time dad was taking a turn at feeding the baby some strained peas. Naturally, there were traces of the food all over the baby.Personalized Joke Generator
His wife comes in, looks at the infant, then at her husband, who is just staring off into space and says, "What in the world are you doing?" He replied, "I'm just waiting for the first coat to dry, so I can put on another."

- What starts with a Y and ends with an X?
Dyslexia

The secret to a long marriage is that we take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes on Tuesdays. I go on Fridays.
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I never understood the concept of summer school. The teachers going to go up there and go, OK, class, you know that subject you couldnt grasp in nine months? Were going to whip it out in six weeks.

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Church Bulleten Board Bloopers::

- The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict.
- The Lutheran men's group will meet at 6 pm. Steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread, and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.
- Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
- This afternoon, there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.


Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
Due to weather conditions, there will not be any “Women Worth Watching” this week.
The church is glad to have with us today as our guest minister the Rev. Shirley Green, who has Mrs. Green with him. After the service, we request that all remain in the sanctuary for the Hanging of the Greens.
Don't miss this Saturday's exhibit by Christian Martian Arts.

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Over breakfast one morning, a woman said to her husband, "I bet you don't know what day this is." "Of course I do," he indignantly answered, getting up from the table and going out the door to the office.  At 10am, the doorbell rang. When the woman opened the door, she was handed a box containing a dozen long-stemmed red roses. At 1pm, a foil-wrapped, two-pound box of her favorite chocolates arrived. Later, a boutique delivered a designer dress. The woman couldn't wait for her husband to come home. When he did, she exclaimed, "First the flowers, then the chocolates and then the dress! I've never had a more wonderful Groundhog Day in my life!"

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery

THE LITTLE CHAP WAS QUITE EXITED

 A BALTIMORE ORIOLE DROPPED BY THIS MORNING

I had gone to the well of words Tuesday and found the well dry, hence, no post.  Plus, I hadn't taken any photos.  Most of the day had been sunny and humid, but by late afternoon, storms rolled in, and areas south of us, from Sarnia to Hamilton, had severe weather with tornado warnings.  Funnel clouds were spotted in the air, and the storm left a lot of damage in its wake.  Power outages and downed trees in London.  We had wind and rain, but that was about it.  Oh, and Lorraine and I did get out for an E-bike ride through the countryside in the afternoon.  All paved roads of course.  But oh my, one big wind gust almost landed Woodsy in the grassy ditch on the other side of the road.

 UNDERNEATH OUR REDBUD TREE AFTER TUESDAY EVENING'S STORM WENT THROUGH

From Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday's short sleeve shirts and shorts, I was back to a T-shirt, long sleeve shirt, and my Winter jacket this morning when I attempted a walk.  Key word there was 'attempted'.  With high winds trying to blow my car door closed, I managed to get out, but only took about 6 steps and then climbed right back into the car, turned around, and went home.  Oh, I could have pushed myself through the cold wind, like years ago, but this is now, and if I'm not really into doing things that aren't enjoyable and comfortable anymore.

 ON THE WAY OUT OF THE PARK THIS MORNING, I NOTICED A FEW COLORFUL CRITTERS

And, by golly, for the first time this year, I was finally able to mow some of the grass I have planted.  Hey, and I even sharpened the lawnmower blade this year, and I hosed off the battery-powered motor.  I was on a role.  Late this morning, Woodsy heard a bird chirping outside, and asked me if I knew what it was.  I didn't.  Moments later, she called for me to come into the sunroom.  There, on the windowsill, sat a Baltimore Oriole chirping up a storm.  It kept pacing around and looking in the window, and we couldn't figure out what it was looking at.  Back and forth it went, constantly chirping at something.  Lorraine slipped out and put a slice of Mandarin on the sill, but the Oriole wasn't interested in food, and it wasn't until I slipped outside with my camera that I realized what had its attention.  The Oriole was totally focused on.....itself.  Yes, it was seeing its own reflection in the glass, and that had the little chap quite excited.

 THE ORIOLE SEES ITS REFLECTION IN ONE OF OUR SUNROOM WINDOWS

 A DOUBLE REFLECTION

Al's Music Box:: If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lightfoot.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Actual exchanges between pilots and control towers::

Tower: "Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on frequency 124.7"
Eastern 702: "Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure. By the way, after we lifted off we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end of the runway."
Tower: "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff behind Eastern 702, contact Departure on frequency 124.7. Did you copy that report from Eastern 702?"
BR Continental 635: "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, roger; and yes, we copied Eastern... we've already notified our caterers."

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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 parts for another one."

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The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one's gate parking location, but also how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747... call sign Speedbird 206.
Speedbird 206: "Frankfurt, Speedbird 206! clear of active runway."
Ground: "Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven."
The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.
Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"
Speedbird 206: "Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now."
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?"
Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark, And I didn't land."

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While taxiing at London 's Gatwick Airport , the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727. An irate female ground controller lashed out at the US Air crew, screaming: "US Air 2771, where the hell are you going? I told you to turn right onto Charlie taxiway! You turned right on Delta! Stop right there. I know it's difficult for you to tell the difference between C and D, but get it right!"
Continuing her rage to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically: "God! Now you've screwed everything up! It'll take forever to sort this out! You stay right there and don't move till I tell you to! You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about half an hour, and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you! You got that, US Air 2771?"
"Yes, ma'am," the humbled crew responded. Naturally, the ground control communications frequency fell terribly silent after the verbal bashing of US Air 2771. Nobody wanted to chance engaging the irate ground controller in her current state of mind. Tension in every cockpit out around Gatwick was definitely running high. Just then an unknown pilot broke the silence and keyed his microphone, asking:
"Wasn't I married to you once?"

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A Pan Am 727 flight, waiting for start clearance in Munich , overheard the following:
Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?"
Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak in English."
Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?"
Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war!"

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Al's Doggy World

Meanings::

Al's Art Gallery