SUNDAY MORNING DRIVE THROUGH MENNONITE COUNTRY

CANDID PHOTOS OF WHAT I SUSPECT IS A FATHER & SON ‘FISHING LESSON’ THIS MORNING AT LAKE WAWANOSH

I like wandering up through Mennonite country Sunday mornings.  Lots of buggy tracks on the gravel roads with folks headed off to gathering points for their Sunday morning services.  No churches in the area so I figure they all congregate at a designated neighbors farm somewhere.  Despite many tracks I only saw one horse & buggy on the road.

SAME BUGGY, DIFFERENT LENSES…300mm TELEPHOTO & 18mm CROPPED

I managed to add another 48 barns to my growing 'old barns' photo file & I noticed something different with the Mennonite barns.  Many of them have horses near the barn where other barns it is unusual to see animals except maybe for cows.  And always big healthy looking horses in the nearby fields.  Mennonite farms always look very well kept, neat, & clean.  Houses are always white with green trim.  Barns vary in color but red seems to be most popular.

Pheebs & I made half a dozen stops along the way but with each stop we were swarmed by mosquitos.  Seems to be a particularly bad summer for mosquitos & todays growing humidity brought the miserable things out in droves.

A FIELD OF CANOLA

Feeling better today & I think my many trips up & down our tall step ladder while washing the Motorhome may have contributed to my elevated leg discomfort Saturday afternoon.  Thinking back I shouldn’t have even bothered mentioning it.  That’s what can happen to a daily Blogger when trying to think up things to write about at the end of a slow day.

PHEEBS RESTS IN THE SHADE OF AN EMPTY HAY WAGON…NOTICE THE STEEL WHEELS

 

PHEEBS MEETS A NEW PAL AT LAKE WAWANOSH >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Noticed this morning how in the area I was traveling through it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep wind turbines out of photos.  This was brought to my attention again this morning while trying to photograph barns.  I take the majority of my barn photos from the drivers seat so I am limited as to my angles & quite often in the background are wind turbines sticking up over top the barns.  Sometimes with a slight overcast haze in the air like this morning I don’t even see them until I get home & open up the photos in my Picasa photo editing program.  Power lines & towers used to be & still are one of the biggest bugaboos for landscape photographers but with the way wind turbines are mushrooming out of the ground in our area they are quickly becoming the biggest bugaboo of all.

HADN’T EVEN NOTICED THE 3 WIND TURBINES AT TOP RIGHT WHEN I TOOK THIS PHOTO & I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS PIECE OF MACHINERY DOES

I THINK THIS IS A HAY RAKE

We just might head out & have us look at a well known local cheese making operation in the morning then drive ourselves on over to a historic Lake Huron lighthouse.  And when I say 'we' I mean Kelly's coming this time.  Much more interesting for her than just driving up & down dusty country roads with Pheebs & I when we head out on our weekly photo oriented Jeep drives.

Sunday Morning Drive Through Mennonite Country VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

When you click on the photo album a page of photos will appear.  Click on the top left photo making it larger.  Now you can choose to see the photos in a slide show format by clicking 'Play Slide Show' at the top or view them one at a time by clicking the arrow at the bottom.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  One month into Marine Corps training in San Diego, we were preparing for a ten-mile march in 100-degree weather when a jeep drove up with a large radio in the back.  "Who knows anything about radios?" our drill instructor asked.
Several hands went up, and anticipating a ride in the jeep, recruits began listing their credentials. Everything from a degree in communications to a part-time job in a repair shop was declared.  The DI listened to all the contenders, then pointed to the most qualified. "You," he barked. "Carry the radio."

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- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

MOTORHOME CLEAN-UP TODAY & SORE LEGS SEND ME TO MY RECLINER

ALTHOUGH LATER TO BLOOM THIS YEAR OUR BACK YARD PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS IS PUTTING ON A FINE SHOW

With Kelly on the inside on the end of a vacuum cleaner & me on the outside on the end of a garden hose we managed to get our Motorhome cleaned up this morning.  I still have water spots to clean off all the outside glass but that can wait.  By the time I was done washing the rig my legs were sore & I had to go in the house & sit down.  Nice to see all that road grime off the Motorhome & yes the big advantage of a white surface is that it hides all those water spots.  As much as I like the big fancy paint jobs on the high end coaches I'll bet they are a real job to keep clean.  I know this because I can always see spots I missed on the few darker painted parts of our coach.

OUR STELLA D’ORO DAISIES ARE IN BLOOM AS WELL
Despite a perfect weather day I spent most of it in my recliner.  Usually my legs only bother me for a bit then the aching lets up & I'm good to go.  But not today.  Had it been cold, rainy, & damp I could have blamed it on that but it was sunny & warm so who knows.

AND WE ALSO MANAGE TO GROW US A CROP OF VARIOUS MUSHROOMS EACH YEAR TOO
Short post tonight so I'll leave you with a another ‘Homes of Bayfield’ photo album.

Bayfield Homes Part 2 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

When you click on the photo album a page of photos will appear.  Click on the top left photo making it larger.  Now you can choose to see the photos in a slide show format by clicking 'Play Slide Show' at the top or view them one at a time by clicking the arrow at the bottom.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A man asked his wife, "What would you most like for your birthday?"  She said, "I'd love to be ten again."  On the morning of her birthday, he got her up bright and early and off they went to a theme park. He put her on every ride in the park--the Death Slide, The Screaming Loop, the Wall of Fear. Everything there was, she had a go. She staggered out of the theme park five hours later, her head reeling and her stomach upside down. Into McDonalds they went, where she was given a Double Big Mac with extra fries and a strawberry shake. Then off to a theater to see Star Wars--more burgers, popcorn, cola and sweets.  At last she staggered home with her husband and collapsed into bed. Her husband leaned over and asked, "Well, dear, what was it like being ten again?"  One eye opened and she groaned, "Actually I meant dress size."

MORE THAN EVER IN THIS DAY & AGE I AM REMINDED OF MY BOY SCOUT’S MOTTO MANY YEARS AGO…….‘BE PREPARED’!!

THURSDAY NIGHT’S HEAVY ATMOSPHERIC MOON JUST UP FROM THE HORIZON

It was cool enough Thursday night for me to wear a jacket over top my flannel shirt which in turn was over top my short sleeve summer shirt.  That cool night air also kept the mosquitoes grounded & made for a much more pleasant experience when Pheebs & I drove out to Tower Road Hill about 9:30 p.m.  Big okra Moon just climbing it's way over the eastern horizon with planets Jupiter & Venus slightly visible in the darkening west.  The road this hill is located on is called Tower Line Road & the spot we go to once housed a collection of old tall radio towers years ago.  I remember seeing them but they are gone now & in their place stands a tall modern communication tower.  A short lane leads into a small building housing what sounds to me like a large electric generator or something.  We park at the head of the laneway & I set up my tripod & camera on the road.  All the times we've been there I only ever remember having one car go by.

HERE’S THE CREW ON ‘TOWER HILL ROAD’ THURSDAY NIGHT

UMMM, ARE WE GOING HOME SOON DAD >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hauled out my 80mm Stellarvue Nighthawk telescope, attached an Antares adapter, & snapped on my Nikon D3100 camera.  With my camera set-up mounted on my Manfrotto telescope I first took a few photos of the rising Moon.  With a warmer heavy summer atmosphere I knew my Moon shots would not be crisp like the ones I am able to take in Arizona's cooler clear winter air but I've included one of the shots anyway.  From there I swung my camera/telescope around & pointed it West.  Couple shots of Jupiter & Venus which of course appear as simple white dots in the night sky.  Looking to the south & despite the glow coming from a past waning full Moon I was able to faintly make out the constellation Scorpios with the Planet Saturn above it.  Below along the horizon line were the many red flashing lights atop numerous wind turbines.  Also stationary red lights atop a string of power line towers.  I was able to catch the lights as well as Scorpios & Saturn.

BRIGHTEST DOT AT THE TOP IS PLANET SATURN WITH THE FAINT CONSTELLATION ‘SCORPIOS’ BENEATH IT & NOTICE ALL THE FLASHING RED LIGHTS ON THE HORIZON

PLANETS VENUS ON THE LEFT & JUPITER ON THE RIGHT…VENUS MAY BE THE BRIGHTEST BUT JUPITER IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST OF THE TWO, IT’S JUST MUCH FARTHER AWAY

THE CONSTELLATION SCORPIOS WITH THE SLIGHTLY BRIGHTER HEART OF THE SCORPION ‘ANTARES’ AT LOWER LEFT…SATURN IS THE BLUISH DOT AT THE TOP

A-HAAAA AT LAST, UFO’S COMING IN FROM THE SOUTH-EAST…AWWWWW NUTS, TURNS OUT THOSE LIGHT APPARITIONS WERE SOMETHING ELSE…DANG IT ANYWAY

While taking these photos I kept hearing a distant sound I thought sounded like single & full automatic gunfire somewhere southeast of my location.  Thought it odd until I noticed a couple flashes in the sky right on the far distant horizon.  Fireworks!!  Judging from the fireworks location well south of Clinton Ontario I figured folks in Vanastra were having themselves a nice night of fireworks.  I estimated Vanastra to maybe be about 5 miles away as the Crow flies.  To my eyes the fireworks were about the size of pin pricks or a marble at the largest.  Swung my camera/telescope around & managed to get a few low shutter speed shaky pictures.   Next week some night when there is no Moon in the sky I would like to try my luck at getting a few photos of the Milky Way.  This night sky photography is all new to me so we'll see how it goes.  Pheebs & I were back home by 11.

SURE WISHED I COULD HAVE TOLD YOU THESE WERE SOME DEEP SPACE OBJECTS I HAD PHOTOGRAPHED BUT ALAS IT IS ONLY FIREWORKS ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY

 

 

 

Pheebs & I were again back in the Jeep first thing this morning scouting out some more country barn photos.  Also started another file on old country school houses.   East of Hensall Ontario we stopped at a hilltop cemetery to stretch our legs & give Pheebs a run.  Every summer I like to stop here for a walk around.  Nice view of the surrounding countryside & I always find cemeteries quiet & naturally relaxing peaceful places.

AND YES WE HAVE OUR OWN ‘BOOT HILL’ HERE IN HURON COUNTY

 

THE TOMBSTONE HIDDEN IN THE CEDARS AT LOWER RIGHT IS THE STONE ON THE RIGHT BELOW

 

A LARGE IRISH ‘EMPIRE LOYALIST’ FAMILY ON THE LEFT & HERE ON THE RIGHT LIES THE LARGEST IMPORTER OF DRAFT HORSES IN CANADA

A PICTURESQUE RURAL COUNTRY CEMETERY
Our travels took us south of Bayfield through wind turbine country & we saw company crews laying more groundwork along country roads for future turbine construction & installations.  Our scenic & pastoral rural landscape sure has & still is............changing.

Thought I would throw in a few pics of my camera/telescope set-up in case anyone was interested in seeing what I was using to take a few of Thursday night’s photos.

SCOPE CONFIGURED FOR TAKING PHOTOS

SCOPE CONFIGURED AS A TELESCOPE

 

  

WIND TURBINE IN A WHEAT FIELD >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I wouldn't call myself a news junkie but I am in the habit of keeping in touch with what is going on in the world & what is going on around me.  For me it is television news which is most convenient & several times a day I flip on an hourly news channel to see what is happening with the world's latest madness .  And yes I have to use the word 'madness'.  For anyone staying in touch with global events I think they will understand what I am saying.  Of course there is a relatively easy solution to this.  Simply do not watch, listen to, or read the news.  Just ignore what you do not want to hear.  Block out all the bad stuff & simply live in a bouncy little happy bubble.  Convince oneself everything will be fine.   What you don't know won't hurt you right?  Wrong!!   Having a reality based interest in things my thoughts may differ from many others but  the looming, ongoing, & growing madness in the world right now is plainly staggering.   It takes me back to our Boy Scout's motto many years ago.........Be Prepared!!

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A father finds his four year old daughter outside brushing their dog's teeth using his toothbrush. Dad asks, "What are you doing with my toothbrush?"
The daughter replies, "I'm brushing his teeth. But don't worry dad, I'll rinse it out when I'm done just like I always do."

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With animated movies like "Antz" and "A Bug's Life", I wondered: do their characters have soliloquies, or do they have pest asides?

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A newlywed farmer and his wife were visited by her mother, who immediately demanded an inspection of the place. While they were walking through the barn, the farmer's mule suddenly reared up and kicked the mother-in-law in the head, killing her instantly.
At the funeral service a few days later, the farmer stood near the casket and greeted folks as they walked by. The pastor noticed that whenever a woman would whisper something to the farmer, he would nod his head "yes" and say something. Whenever a man walked by and whispered to the farmer, he would shake his head "no" and mumble a reply.
Curious, the pastor later asked the farmer what that was all about. The farmer replied, "The women would say, 'What a terrible tragedy' and I would nod my head and say, 'Yes, it was.' The men would ask, 'You wanna sell that mule?' and I would shake my head and say, 'Can't. It's all booked up for a year now.'"

GREMLINS IN MY BLOG!!!!

Not sure what has been happening in my blog but I think there are Gremlins at work again.  Hadn't noticed anything unusual until I received an email from a reader Wednesday saying she could not find my camera information which I had on our right hand side bar under 'AL's Cameras.'  That info was definitely there a couple days ago but when I checked Wednesday night it was gone.  I managed to re-instate it today but it's not quite the same as before & I had a hard time inserting it.  This is not the first time I have had odd things going on in the right hand column of my blog.  I've had fellow Blogger's blog sites vanish off my 'Fellow Bloggers' list plus my 'Search' bar has disappeared a couple times as I recall.  No rhyme or reason for anything.  Makes me wonder if anyone else is having any blog problems at the moment.  And I also hadn't noticed my Wednesday night's Van Egmond House album did not work.  Thanks to Jean out there in BC for bringing that to my attention today.  I will try re-doing the album in tonight's post & see what happens.

The following paragraph is a repeat of my Wednesday night Van Egmond House write up.  Last week I stopped in to have a look at the historic Van Egmond House  in Egmondville Ontario.  It is easier for me to leave a few links below telling of the house rather than me re-writing & interpreting it.  I was only in the house a short time but was impressed with it’s condition both inside & out.  The folks who have taken it upon themselves to restore this area landmark have done a wonderful job in keeping it as close to authentic as possible.  Many artefacts & displays well laid out.  I think it was the old wide planked wooden floors which caught my attention first as well as the unmistakable memory provoking smell of a century old house especially noticeable in the basement.  With an occasional creaking floorboard I was aware how my senses were transported back in time.  This generally occurs with genuine old buildings & I have always enjoyed that feeling of historical authenticity.  And the Van Egmond house is a pleasure for the senses indeed.  I didn’t bring my tri-pod in the house with me so some of the images are a bit on the soft side as I tried hand-holding the camera to photograph some of the rooms using natural light.  At some point I may return to the Van Egmond house with my tripod in tow & try for some sharper images.  In the meantime here a few photos of what many area residents are convinced is a haunted house.  Like many things on the side of unusual I remain very opened minded when it comes to the topic of ghosts & things that go bump in the night………………………..

Links >>> Van Egmund House Foundation --- Anthony Van Egmund

 

Van Egmond House Egmondville Ontario Canada VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

When you click on the photo album a page of photos will appear.  Click on the top left photo making it larger.  Now you can choose to see the photos in a slide show format by clicking 'Play Slide Show' at the top or view them one at a time by clicking the arrow at the bottom.

After publishing the blog Wednesday night Pheebs & I did slip out to see if we could catch us a sunset & see some Planets but alas it was too cloudy & we were back home 20 minutes later.  Looking good tonight though so thought we would try again.  I haven’t been happy with my Nikon D3100 camera so it has been languishing in the bottom of my camera bag for the past year or so.  I’ve had it in my mind for quite awhile to try my luck at some astro-photography & this camera might just be alright with that.   Hauled out the D3100 this afternoon, dusted it off, mounted it on my tripod & configured the settings for making a start at learning myself some night time photography.  We’ll head over to Moon Hill, set things up, & see if I can get any images.  That’s if I can stay awake until it gets dark & the mosquitoes don’t get us first.  Well that’s the plan anyway, might work might not………….

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Phrases and their definitions straight from a real live cowboy...

The engine's runnin' but ain't nobody driving.
(Not overly intelligent)

All hat, no cattle.
(All talk and no action)

We've howdied but we ain't shook yet.
(We've made a brief acquaintance, but not been formally introduced)

He's got tongue enough for 10 rows of teeth.
(Talks a lot)

He looks like the dog's been keepin' him under the porch.
(Not the most handsome of men)

As full of wind as a corn-eating horse.
(Prone to boasting)

You can put your boots in the oven, but that don't make 'em biscuits.
(You can say whatever you want about something, but that doesn't change what it is)