THE BIG BAD SCARY STORM THAT WASN’T

Gentle rains came in the night leaving a welcome overcast in the morning.  That welcome overcast kept the Sun from breaking through and turning our already humid air into a real steam bath.  I quickly took advantage of the cooler temperatures hauling out the garden hose along with a bucket of soapy water and finished washing the Motorhome, a job I had started a few days ago.  Nice to have that big Elephant done so I can now move on to other things.  We’ll start on the interior soon as cooler weather settles in.

A VERY MUCH MOST CUTE LITTLE TOAD ON OUR DECK TODAY

I had no sooner finished the wash job when old Sol burst through the trees and immediately began driving up the temperature.  Jim the tree cutter guy had rolled in earlier and began stripping the second tree.  With a Bobcat he was able to pick up the bulk of the branches and haul them away while I contributed my 2 cents worth by cleaning up the road and piling up a few branches for his next load. 

I WAS UP IN THIS TREE BUCKET A COUPLE SUMMERS AGO AND TOOK A FEW AERIAL PHOTOS OF OUR HOUSE

 

WELL THAT’S 2 OUT OF 5 TREES STRIPPED SO FAR

 

THIS IS THE BOBCAT MACHINE THAT SCOOPS UP ALL THE BRANCHES AND HAULS THEM AWAY

While raking up some small pine branches I came up with my own very simple common sense little weather theory.  If you have to turn your furnace on to stay warm then it’s too cold outside.  If you have to turn your A/C on to stay cool then it’s too hot outside.  Yup, sure makes sense to me.

I WAS ABLE TO HELP A ‘LITTLE BIT’ WITH THE CLEAN-UP

Shortly after 1 p.m. Kelly and i were in the Jeep heading for the Jeep dealer in Exeter Ontario.  Sure glad we didn’t have our 06 Wrangler which never did have A/C.  With summers getting hotter it was another factor in selling it a year and a half ago.  Okay so what the heck were we doing at the Jeep dealer in Exeter eh.  Say, you don’t suppose we were maybe fixin to trade the Liberty in on………………………

Nawwww, we just took the Liberty over there to see if they could cancel the ‘rolling locks’ feature which I have absolutely hated ever since we bought it.  Every time the Jeep gets up to 15 MPH all the doors and hatch automatically lock and that really fries my raisins!!  I do understand the security feature and especially for female drivers in heavily populated urban areas.  But I aren’t a female and I are the principle driver of the Jeep in a non urban threatening environment.  I’ve tried for a year and a half now to remember to flick the lock switch up every time I get out of the Jeep so that it doesn’t keep itself locked up like Fort Knox all the time.  How many zillions of times have I gone to open a door or the hatch and pulled my arm right off because the dam things was locked!!!!  Anyway it was not to be today.  Despite their best effort at Exeter Jeep they could not cancel the rolling locks feature.  They said it was highly unusual for their machines and codes not to work in solving that rolling lock problem.  On the way home Kelly suggested tying a big red balloon to the door handle to remind myself about flicking the lock switch to the ‘up’ position upon exiting.  Do I think that will work??  Likely not because I’ll end up sitting in the seat staring at the big red balloon wondering, “now who the hell tied a big red balloon on my door handle”!!

HERE’S THE PROJECTS STRAW BOSS KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS

The day was exceptionally humid so I wasn’t surprised to see a large storm cell on our live computer radar site building over Michigan and heading our way.  It was late afternoon and we were already hearing distant thunder out over the lake.  Because of today’s excessive humidity weather warnings had already been issued for our area advising of possible tornados.  Leaving Pheebs at home I grabbed my cameras and headed on over to Bayfield’s Pioneer Park.  Dark turbulent clouds to the west and the storm was obviously on it’s way.   I thought for sure we would be in for a good smasher with high winds driving the storm ashore with gusting force.  Strangely enough the air remained dead come and the sinister looking clouds did not turn into anything fiendish.  Did see some good lightning though but was unable to capture it photographically.  I probably stood there on the bluffs overlooking Lake Huron for close to 40 minutes waiting for Mother Nature’s big show to come slamming ashore……but it never happened.  The storm rolled in like a big old lazy sheep.  When the rain slowly started I walked back to the Jeep and headed on home.  Rain finally did get heavy for maybe 10 minutes with thunder and lightning overhead.  The storm slowly trundled it’s way eastward and half an hour later we had shafts of sunlight piercing through the pine trees.  And that was that…..

I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH A FEW PHOTOS OF THE BIG SCARY STORM THAT WASN’T

ANOTHER STORM ENTHUSIAST LIKE MYSELF PATIENTLY AWAITS THE STORMS ARRIVAL

A FEW HARDY STORM WATCHERS

“WAS THAT THUNDER I HEARD OVER THERE”

“I DON’T THINK THIS STORM IS GOING TO AMOUNT TO MUCH”

GROANER’S CORNER:))  A man stumbles up to the only other patron in a bar and asks if he could buy him a drink. "Why of course," comes the reply. The first man then asks: "Where are you from?" "I'm from Ireland," replies the second man. The first man responds: "You don't say, I'm from Ireland too! Let's have another round to Ireland." "Of course," replies the second man.
I'm curious, the first man then asks: "Where in Ireland are you from?" "Dublin," comes the reply.
"I can't believe it," says the first man. "I'm from Dublin too! Let's have another drink to Dublin."
"Of course," replies the second man. Curiosity again strikes and the first man asks: "What school did you go to?"  "Saint Mary's," replies the second man, "I graduated in '62."  "This is unbelievable!", the first man says. "I went to Saint Mary's and I graduated in '62, too!"
About that time in comes one of the regulars and sits down at the bar. "What's been going on?" he asks the bartender. "Nothing much," replies the bartender. "The O'Grady twins are drunk again."

COFFEE BREAK COUNTRY TOUR AND WE’RE HAVING SOME BIG FRONT YARD TREES CUT DOWN

WE ARE HAVING A FEW TALL PINE TREES TAKEN DOWN IN OUR FRONT YARD

Another enjoyable country road coffee break tour for my good friend Richard and I this morning.  My turn to drive so headed up through Amish country enjoying all the beautiful mid summer scenery along the way.  Many of our interests and topics are still along the same lines they were as far back as 35 years ago with the only difference being in how we now look at things from a different stand point in these Senior years.  Our conversations are always interesting, meaningful, informative and enjoyably invigorating.  Nice to have a long time trusted best friend like that.  They are few and far between………………….

WE ENCOUNTERED A LAYER OF FOG ALONG THE LAKE HURON COAST LINE NORTH OF GODERICH

A NICE DISPLAY OF PETUNIAS ON A COUNTRY PROPERTY

Living in a pine forest we are surrounded by of course, pine trees.  It is those very trees that make our 5 Seasons Park so attractively beautiful.  The trees were planted many years ago as a reforestation project and some of the trees are showing their age in various ways such as uneven growth which can cause them to take on a lean.   Leaning pine trees over residents homes is never a good thing and the park owners have been busy this summer taking down any troublesome trees posing a threat.  Park employee, neighbor and resident of the Park Jim rolled in late this morning with the Park’s big long boom arm machine which enables him to begin the process of removing trees.  He first goes up in the bucket and chainsaws all the limbs off the tree then proceeds to work his way down cutting the tree in certain lengths until he reaches the bottom then drops the last section.  He does a great job and is very careful not to drop branches into flowerbeds or onto roof tops.  We have 4 trees in our front yard coming down plus a few others on neighboring properties.  One of our front yard trees is leaning towards the house and the other 3 coming down will allow more sunlight into our front yard making it possible to plant some cedar trees finally.  The pine logs are sent off to area sawmills where they are turned into lumber like 8 and 12 foot 2x4’s etc.  Some of the bigger pine logs can be sold for the manufacture of log homes and cabins.

PART OF OUR ROOF LINE CAN BE SEEN IN THE TREES TO THE LEFT

 

THAT’S JIM WAY UP THERE IN THE MACHINES BUCKET CUTTING TREE LIMBS

  

DURING PAST WINTER STORMS HEAVY SNOW LADEN PINE BOUGHS HAVE FALLEN FROM THIS PARTICULAR TREE BREAKING OUR STEETLIGHT AND SNAPPING OFF THE TOP OF A SMALLER EVERGREEN TREE BESIDE IT….THIS PROBLEM IS NOW SOLVED

NOTICE THE LEANING TREES ON THE RIGHT…. THE HEAVIER ONE WILL BE TAKEN DOWN

Don’t know why it is but I have never had any great desire to travel anywhere off the North American continent.  There are countless wonders of the world to see & experience worldwide but my interests have never really spurred me on to travel off in search of them.  My Mother traveled to Hawaii & countries in Europe years ago but I just have never had a hankering to go to those places.  I think I would find being in a country that didn’t speak the language I understood kind of intimidating.  I get the feeling many European countries are very crowded with masses of people.  Well, that sure wouldn’t work for me.  And driving on the wrong side of the road…..what’s that all about!!  No, I think I’ll just stay put here in Canada & the United States.  Lots of great wonders to see right here at home in our own 2 great countries.  We drive on the right side of the road & I can understand what folks are talking about most times.  Prefer the lifestyle & freedoms we have as well.  And for the most part I know what I’m eating.  I get the feeling in some of those countries you had better hurry up & eat what’s on your plate before it hurries up & eats you.  Nawwww, think I’ll just keep my boots on the ground, kick up a little South West desert dust, hike me some forested mountain trails, & drive me along some nice relaxingly quiet country roads right here at good old ‘home sweet home’……………….:))

GROANER'S CORNER:((  An old Indian, Charlie Two Shirts, rowed up to the dock on a Lake Chugwalla. He tied his boat up and unloaded his fishing box that was full of fish.  The Game warden was standing there and said: "Charlie there aren't that many fish in this lake. How did you get those?"  Charlie said: "Oh it is an old Indian method. Come with me and I show you!"
The Game Warden got in the boat and Charlie rowed out to a spot. He opened his tackle box and got out a weighted stick of dynamite, lit the fuse and tossed it overboard. Moments later there was a muffled explosion from below and several fish came floating up. The Game Warden said: "Charlie it's illegal to use dynamite for fishing. I can arrest your for that!"  Charlie reached into his tackle box again and pulled out another stick of dynamite. He lit the fuse and handed it to the Game Warden and said: "Are you gonna fish...or talk?"

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Q: What happens once in a minute and twice in a moment but never in a decade?
A: The letter "m."

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"I'm sorry," said the clerk in flower shop, "we don't have potted geraniums. Could you use African violets instead?"  Replied the customer sadly, "No, it was geraniums my wife told me to water while she was gone."

DID YOU KNOW SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO HAD NORTH AMERICIA’S FIRST COMMERCIAL OIL WELL….WELL WE DID:))

Another reason I prefer the movie theater experience is the quietness of the theatre itself and especially just before the movie starts.  Well that is until last night when I went to see Finding Dory that is.  Silly me forgot to remember that after all the movies main draw would be kids.  And wow was that theatre ever full of them.  Seemed like 10 adults and about 800 kids.  The darn things were everywhere but I didn't mind really as I sat there in my own quiet little space thinking back to the days when I was a kid at the Saturday afternoon matinees at Stratford Ontario’s own Avon Theater.  Winging pop corn boxes, jumping over seats, spilling pop, and hollering along with a zillion other kids like a bunch of howling Banshees.  Yes indeed it took me back and as I sat there patiently waiting for the movie to start I had to chuckle at the somewhat slightly tamer nature of this Goderich bunch.  All those kids sure made me feel my age though.

WHEN WE CAME UP BEHIND THIS FELLOW HE MOTIONED US BY THEN GAVE US A BIG FRIENDLY WAVE AS WE PASSED

BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW WE HAD OIL WELLS IN THESE HERE PARTS BUT WE DO ONCE ONE GETS SOUTHEAST OF GRAND BEND A FEW MILES

FURTHER SOUTH IN THE TOWN OF OIL SPRINGS NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST COMMERCIAL OIL WELL WAS DISCOVERED IN SEPTEMBER OF 1858.   WHO WOULDA THUNK EH:))  

GOLDEN WHEAT FIELDS STRETCH ACROSS THE LAND

Don’t know if you are able to read posts yet or not Retired Rod but if you are then a big ‘Hello’ from the Bayfield Bunch up here in Canada.  Kelly Pheebs and AL:))

QUEEN ANNE’S LACE

I did enjoy the Finding Dory movie and how nice to spend an hour and a half being happily entertained by a bunch of sea creatures.  Animation sure has come a long way from Saturday morning cartoons and this movie is a fine example of that.  Terry in a comment on my Tuesday post in part wrote, "My son-in-law, Victor, worked mostly with the octopus animation for this movie".   I thought the Octopus animation was some of the best in the whole movie.  Well done Victor as well as all the other folks at Pixar Animation.  Good stuff guys.

CAME ACROSS THIS FAMILY OF WILD TURKEYS AND I’M THINKING THERE WERE ABOUT A DOZEN OF THOSE LITTLE FELLERS

THEY WEREN’T LONG DISAPPEARING INTO A ROADSIDE FOREST

Knowing we were in for another hot day Pheebs and I were out early into the cool morning air.  I've always felt the best parts of hot days have always been the cooler morning and evening air.  Our country road drive took us down around the Grand Bend area earlier today.  It was an all windows down tour and we were back home by mid morning before the mugginess was upon us.  Rest of the day we spent inside staying comfortably cool and I'm already looking forward to Arizona's much healthier cooler weather this coming winter:))

 

In another comment on my Tuesday post Pat (Len Satic) wrote, “ That's an interesting mix of cammo you're wearing there, Al. ;)”  Well would you believe the bottom part of that cammo get-up is actually the bottom half to my pajamas.  They felt cooler and more comfortable than a pair of tighter fitting blue jeans.

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The math teacher saw that little Johnny wasn't paying attention in class. She called on him and said, "Johnny! What are 4, 2, 28 and 44?"  Little Johnny quickly replied, "NBC, CBS, HBO, and the Cartoon Network!"

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A buyer was considering purchasing an aging thoroughbred but wanted a veterinarian's opinion of the horse before finalizing the deal.
When the vet had completed his examination the potential buyer asked, "Will I be able to race him?" The veterinarian looked at the buyer, then at the horse. "Sure," he replied, "And you'll probably be able to beat him too!"

STARTED THE MOTORHOME CLEAN-UP AND OFF TO THE MOVIES TONIGHT I AM

Knowing I had only a few hours workable time outside before the day’s heat and humidity built up I was up on the Motorhome’s roof with a long handled scrub brush, bucket of soapy water and the garden hose shortly after 8 a.m.  Fortunately the roof was not as dirty as I had feared.  No moss, mold, or pine sap but enough dust and ordinary dirt to turn my wash and rinse water a dirty gray color.  I was probably on the roof close to 40 minutes scrubbing and rinsing. 

APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO TAKES CANDID PHOTOS

 

ONE HAS TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF ONE’S FEET UP HERE

YOU CAN SEE BY THE GRAY COLORED WATER THE ROOF WAS A BIT DIRTY ALRIGHT

GOTTA KEEP THOSE SOLAR PANELS CLEAN FOR SURE

An unexpected patchy cloud cover rolled in and that went a long way in keeping the humidity down for most of the morning so I was able to also wash the rig’s front cap including windshield.  Knowing better than to try and wash the whole rig I toned things down a bit and decided to wash the Jeep and Kelly’s Sunfire instead while I had the hose and buckets out.  I’ll maybe tackle the rigs rear cap Wednesday then work my way around doing the sides.  I have found now that I am aging I have to use my energy wiser in order to make it last longer.  Older guys will understand this while younger guys wouldn’t have a clue what I’m talking about.  Oh how I do remember those wonderful clueless years long ago:))

VIEW OF OUR FOREST SETTING FROM ATOP THE RIG

I REALLY DON’T KNOW WHY I BOTHER TO WASH THE JEEP WITH THE NUMBER OF DUSTY COUNTRY ROADS PHEEBS AND I ARE CONSTANTLY ON EVERY WEEK

MUCH EASIER TO KEEP KELLY’S PONTIAC SUNFIRE CLEANER THOUGH BECAUSE IT PROBABLY HASN’T SEEN A GRAVEL ROAD MAYBE EVER

As soon as I publish this tonight I am going to take myself out to see a movie.  I don’t care much for watching movies on TV even if they are big screens.  I like the big movie theater screens and the big movie theater sound.  I like the darkened setting with no distractions or interruptions of any kind.  Eyes, ears, and senses totally immersed and focused on the whole movie experience.   Some may recall the last movie I went to see in Goderich which might have been 2 summers ago.  It’s a 2 movie set-up and I walked into the wrong movie and got stuck sitting there watching a movie I had not set out to see and it was crap!!  I’ll be sure not to allow myself that Senior moment again!!  The last 2 movies I chose to see in ‘the correct theaters’ I didn’t like.  I’m sort of an old Star Trek fan from a millennium way back but the last Star Trek movie I saw ended any desire I might have at seeing any more Star Trek movies.   Same thing happened to me for the last Star Wars movie which I happened to see in Yuma last winter.  No more of those movies either.  Somewhere along the line I have taken a total dislike for all the over the top mindless violence in those kinds of movies.  Super hero this, super hero that.  Baaaaaaa Humbug!!

Tonight I am off to see the animated movie, ‘Finding Dory’.  I want to be entertained not by violence and endless fiery explosions, guns, blood and guts and all that mindless bunk but a movie I can smile about, have feelings for, maybe shed a tear or two.  I want to be carried away in a feeling good state of fantasy.  An intelligent movie with colors, characters, a heart warming sound track and a movie where I can walk out of the theatre with a big satisfied smile on my face feeling on top of the world because I have just had a total feeling good experience.  A movie with niceties.  Wish me luck……………..:))

WASN’T MUCH GOING ON FOR PHEEBS TODAY SO SHE TOOK HER TOYS OUT TO SOAK UP SOME SUN IN THE BACK YARD

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who's dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans.  Saint Peter addresses this guy, "Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?"  The guy replies, "I'm Joe Cohen, taxi-driver, of Noo Yawk City."  Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the taxi-driver, "Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."  The taxi-driver goes into Heaven with his robe and staff, and it's the minister's turn. He stands erect and booms out, "I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary's for the last forty-three years."  Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the minister, "Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom of Heaven."  "Just a minute," says the minister. "That man was a taxi-driver and he gets a silken robe and golden staff.  How can this be?"  "Up here, we work by results," says Saint Peter."While you preached, people slept; while he drove, people prayed."

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Giving a man his physical, a doctor noticed several dark, ugly bruises on his shins, so he asked, "Do you play hockey?" "No." "Do you play soccer?" "No." "Do you play any other physical sports?" "Not at all. I just play bridge with my wife."