KELLY’S WILDFLOWERS

Kelly, on her bicycle armed with a pair of clippers this morning headed out of our Park & down the road a short distance returning 20 minutes later with a saddle bag full of cut wildflowers.  In a few minutes she had them in 2 vases sitting on a table.  On a gloomy cloud covered rainy Monday it was a nice way to bring a little of natures outside flower sunshine inside:))

 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Checking the menu, a restaurant customer ordered a bowl of vegetable soup. After a couple of spoonful's, he saw a circle of wetness right under the bowl on the tablecloth.  He called the waitress over and said, "It's all wet down here. The bowl must be cracked."  The waitress said, "You ordered vegetable soup, didn't you? "Yes."  "Maybe it has a leek in it!"     (it’s OK to Groan now)

JUST GOT THE JEEP’S DECALS ON IN TIME AS THIS MORNING I ENCOUNTERED A FARMER…….ON HIS PROPERTY ‘OH-OH’

BAYFIELD’S SATURDAY NIGHT SUNSET AT PIONEER PARK

Despite Saturday night's cloud cover I did take a drive over to Bayfield's Pioneer Park to see if London’s ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY had came to Bayfield anyway & they had.  Nice sunset over the lake as a couple fellas set up two telescopes just in case the clouds parted later.  There was a bit of clearing in the East.  Waiting for darkness I did manage a few sunset photos as well as a few candid pics.  Probably about a dozen people there to watch the sun go down.

ONE OF THE ASTRONOMERS SETS UP HIS 80mm REFRACTOR SCOPE…SAME AS MINE I SOMETIMES USE TO TAKE BIRD PICS WITH

LARGE WHITE SCOPE IS A 12” REFLECTOR TYPE..…I ONCE HAD AN 8” CELESTRON SCOPE BUT IT WAS TOO LARGE FOR CARRYING AROUND IN AN RV SO TRADED IT FOR THE SMALLER NIGHTHAWK 80mm SCOPE I HAVE NOW

THIS IS THE OWNER OF THE LARGE WHITE SCOPE & THE SAME FELLA WHO PUT ON THE HUBBLE PRESENTATION

As darkness fell one of the Astronomy fellas set up an image presentation on a large gray sheet tied between a couple poles.  I think he used a digital projector.  Theme of his presentation was the Hubble Telescope & he gave a talk along with images on Hubbles history & followed that with slides of Planets, Nebulas, Star Clusters, & other various deep space objects.  Great pictures & an interesting talk by a knowledgeable Astronomer.  I stayed for as long as I could but with no place to sit down I found standing in one spot for over half an hour was beginning to bother my legs.  Normally I would have simply sat down on the grass but with my recent bout with dizziness I figured I had better just stay on my feet.  Despite the cloud cover about a dozen people turned out for the slide presentation. 

FELLOW ON LEFT IS THE KNOWLEDGEABLE & EXPERIENCED ASTRONOMER FROM LONDON…..I DIDN’T CATCH HIS NAME

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE…..I TOOK THESE PICS OFF THE SCREEN HE WAS PROJECTING THE IMAGES ON

SATURN AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY HUBBLE

A few stars did finally become visible overhead so don't know if they got to see anything later through the telescopes or not because I finally had to step back into the darkness & quietly slip away making my way back to the Jeep.  Felt sooooo good to get off my legs & sit down in that soft Jeep seat.  A few minutes later I was home.  Took Pheebs out for a few minutes, forgot about my dizziness problem & bent right over & down to scruffle her ears.  Became aware instantly things were beginning to slowly spin so stood right up & fixed my gaze on a Cedar tree branch ahead of me & the slow spin stopped.

ANOTHER HALF DOZEN BARNS THIS MORNING

Spent the night in my recliner & woke up feeling very tired again & a little under the weather.  Our cloud cover cleared around 9 so figured I'd take Pheebs for a short  country drive & see if that would pick me up.  Grabbed a coffee & muffin in Clinton & headed out but after about 10 minutes I felt like just going home.  On the way I drove up a dead end section of country road & parked the Jeep.  Wanted to get Pheebs out for a run & I was needing a leg stretch anyway.  Beautiful sunny Sunday morning with a warm breeze & a picture postcard rural green landscape stretching out before us as far as the eye could see.  Just kinda one of those special moments.  And then I was an ATV heading for us................... Oh-Oh

CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A LUSH GROWING SEASON

 

I right away suspected it was a farmer coming to see what I was up to & sure enough he pulled alongside & shut off his engine.  Thought it very coincidental that in my Saturday post I had talked about that very thing happening & the reason I like to have our bayfieldbunch decals on the Jeep.  Well I needn't have worried because this fellow turned out be a very friendly chap.  In fact he reminded me so much of our good Montana rancher friend Mike Clark. (JANNA & MIKE) Same laid back manner with an easy personality & he even looked a lot like Mike.  This fellow who's name was Herb could easily have passed as Mike’s brother.  We chatted about a bunch of things & when I expressed my interest in photography & always looking for interesting things to photograph he said, "well if ya got a minute I can show you an Eagles nest".  With that he led the way in his ATV down a long winding lane through forest & dell over hill & dale until we finally reached a clearing right beside the Maitland River.  We were still on his property & he had cleared & fixed up a spot beside the river where he had a 37' Travel Trailer set up.  Just the most peaceful spot you could imagine with the sound of water tumbling gently over rocks in the slow moving river.  He pointed across the opposite bank & a tall tree saying that is where the Eagles nest is.  Despite summer's leaves I was able to get a shot of where the nest was.  He said 3 sizeable baby Eagles had just flown the nest a few weeks ago.  We chatted for a bit more then it was time for Pheebs & I to be on our way.  I led the way back up the lane with Herb following in his ATV.  Winding along I saw a white pick-up truck ahead blocking the way but it was OK as I stopped & Herb drove up from behind & introduced me to his son.  Minutes later Pheebs & I were once again on our way home.  Twenty minutes later we pulled into our driveway.  Had planned on washing the Jeep but just didn't have the energy to do it. 

FOLLOWING HERB OVER HILL & DALE THROUGH FOREST & FIELD

EAGLES NEST ACROSS THE MAITLAND RIVER

Didn't take me long to stretch out in my recliner & let my overall tiredness from these past few days take me to an afternoon quiet place.  We'll see how Monday shakes out......................

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Several days ago as I left a meeting at our church I reached in my pocket looking for my keys. They were not there nor in any of my other pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing. Suddenly I realized, I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the parking lot.  My wife has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. Her theory is that the car will be stolen. As I burst through the doors of the church heading outside I came to a terrifying conclusion. Her theory was right. The parking lot was empty.  I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen. Then I made the most difficult call of all.  "Honey," I stammered. I always call her honey in times like these. "I left my keys in the car and it has been stolen."  There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard her voice.  "Ken," she barked, "I dropped you off!"  Now it was my time to be silent.  Embarrassed, I said, "Well, would you come and get me?"  She retorted, "I will as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A BETTER DAY BUT I’M STILL TAKING IT SLOW FOR NOW

TONIGHT’S PHOTOS ARE FROM FRIDAY MORNINGS DRIVE

Spent the morning in my recliner watching TV just taking things slow & being careful not to do anything that might trigger any dizziness because it is that dizziness which brings on those sickening waves of nausea.  By early afternoon I wasn't feeling quite as queasy so ventured outside for a walk around & that went fine.  Being careful not to lower my head below my waist I slowly bent over a bit & picked up a couple things on the ground & that too worked out Okay.  Figured I'd try my luck at putting some decals on the Big EEE as well as the Jeep.  Took it slow & managed to complete that project without any problems except I put some of the decals on a bit crooked.  I'll blame that on my balance being off a touch.  Had I tried that project 2 mornings ago I probably would have put the decals on sideways & upside down.

Main reason I like to have these identifying decals on the Jeep Liberty (had them on the Wrangler too) is that it gives me some measure of credibility when I am out in the country with my cameras driving along slow on back country roads.  Like pretty well most places one goes these days there are bad people out & about on these very same roads.  Illegal & hidden grow-ops in farmers fields, druggie meth labs, guys stealing farm equipment & sometimes cattle.  A slow moving or stopped vehicle on a country road is always viewed with suspicion by the farming community & I understand that.  If a farmer stops or comes running down his farm lane after me or if police are called about a suspicious vehicle I at least basically have ‘who I am’ on my vehicle.  Bad guys don’t put anything on their vehicles identifying themselves.  I have never had any problems with anyone over the years but there’s always a first time & if all of a sudden police cars come flying up behind me with lights flashing I’m hoping my bayfieldbunch decals will at least help ease their minds right off the bat that I am not a druggie, a marijuana grow-op guy or somebody out looking to steal half a dozen chickens or a couple ATV’s.  Well, that’s my theory anyway………………………..

CANADIAN FLAG DECAL ON THE FRONT

CANADIAN FLAG DECAL ON THE BACK

REASON FOR CANADIAN FLAGS ON THE RIG IS SELF EXPLANATORY…WE LOVE YA CANADA PLUS I’VE ALWAYS FELT IT’S A QUICK ID FOR THE BORDER PATROL IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN STATES CLOSE TO THE MEXICAN BORDER WHENEVER WE ARE DOWN THAT WAY:))

Thanks to everyone for their helpful advice, suggestions, & links regarding my possible case of Vertigo.  Kelly has gone through those links today reading each one & we both now feel better informed about what could be going on & what to do about it.

 

SEED COMPANIES PROUDLY DISPLAY WHERE THEIR CORN SEEDS HAVE BEEN PLANTED…ALSO THESE ARE TEST PLOTS FOR THE SEED COMPANIES

MINIATURE PONY

I've had my eye on our cloudy sky all day hoping it will clear before nightfall.  Members of the Royal Astronomical Society of London are offering a great star gazing opportunity with telescopes at Bayfield's Pioneer Park tonight.  That is if the cloudy sky clears up.  Their theme is '25 Years of the Hubble' telescope.  I plan to attend………….weather permitting.

 

SCORED MYSELF A FEW MORE BARNS FRIDAY MORNING AS WELL

AFTER THE WHEAT IS HARVESTED THE STUBBLE IS RAKED UP INTO LONG ROWS BY A MACHINE…..THAT ROAD TO THE RIGHT LEADS TO OUR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY SPOT

ANOTHER MACHINE COMES ALONG SCOOPING UP THESE ROWS OF STUBBLE MAKING STRAW BALES OUT OF THEM…SOME BALES ARE BIG & ROUND LIKE BELOW WHILE OTHERS CAN BE EITHER SMALL OR LARGE RECTANGLES LIKE THE LAST PHOTO IN MY POST

Most folks our age will for sure remember the old TV western, 'Gunsmoke'.  There was kind of a rough & tumble character on there by the name of Festus who was played by actor Ken Curtis.  I didn't know this but Ken Curtis was actually a member of one of my all time favorite harmonizing song groups, 'Sons Of The Pioneers'.  Came across this You Tube on Facebook today of Ken Curtis singing the well known western tune, 'Tumbleweeds'.  After listening to this I went right away to my CD collection & dusted off my Son's Of The Pioneers' disc.  I never tire of these fellers & their great harmonizing:))  Thank you Susie Fasig Smeal for the link to this:))

SPOTTED THESE 2 LITTLE FELLERS ABOUT A QUARTER MILE AHEAD BEFORE MOM RAN OUT & SCOOPED THEM OFF THE ROAD

SORRY ABOUT THE BLURRY PHOTO ON THIS ONE BUT IT DOES SHOW MOM LEADING THE KIDS TO SAFETY

And a surprise in the mail a couple days in the form of a $95 cheque from Camping World regarding our stop at their Williams Arizona facility this past March.  Readers may remember the annoying & perplexing problem we were having with our rigs refrigerator at the time.  Stopping at Camping World we had them do a service on our fridge with special attention paid to the problem we told them about.  They did not find anything wrong with our fridge.  A month ago we took our rig to Gammons RV Parts & Service in St. Thomas Ontario & he quickly found the problem to be a piece of insulation blocking the exhaust vent & he simply found that problem by climbing atop our rig, removing the vent cover & with a flashlight peering down the vent pipe.  Camping World personnel obviously did not do that.   Kelly sent Camping World a letter a week after Gammons solved the problem & also included a photocopy of Gammons bill stating what the problem had been.  Two thumbs up for Camping World in reimbursing us the cost of the Williams refrigerator service on our fridge.  Isn't it nice to win one for a change.  Reminds me of the time when I made a mistake about what kind of a new toilet to be installed in our Damon Challenger & Lazydays plus Camping World in Tucson teamed together & corrected my mistake with another new toilet & didn't charge us for the exchange.  That was a big two thumbs up for Lazy Days & Camping World that day:))   Anyone interested in that little toilet fiasco back in December of 2011 can read about it here…..Oh No Al Makes A Big Toilet Decision Mistake & We Have Been De-Throned.

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Well, a Girl Potato and Boy Potato had eyes for each other, and finally they got married, and had a little Sweet Potato, which they called 'Yam.'  Of course, they wanted the best for Yam.

When it was time, they told her about the Facts Of life.  They warned her about going out and getting Half-Baked, so she wouldn't get accidentally Mashed, and get a bad name for herself like 'Hot Potato,' and end up with a bunch of Tater Tots.

Yam said not to worry, no Spud would get her into the sack and make a Rotten Potato out of her!  But on the other hand she wouldn't stay home and become a Couch Potato either.  She would get plenty of exercise so as not to be skinny like her Shoestring cousins.

When she went off to Europe, Mr. And Mrs. Potato told Yam to watch out for the Hard-Boiled guys from Ireland and the greasy guys from France called the French Fries.

When she went out West she was to watch out for the Indians so she wouldn't get Scalloped...  Yam said she would stay on the straight and narrow and wouldn't associate with those high class Yukon Golds, or the ones from the other side of the tracks who advertise their trade on all the trucks that say, 'Frito Lay.'

Mr. And Mrs. Potato sent Yam to Idaho P.U. (that's Potato University) so that when she graduated she'd really be in the Chips.  But in spite of all they did for her, one-day Yam came home and announced she was going to marry Tom Brokaw. Tom Brokaw !!!  Mr. and Mrs. Potato were very upset.  They told Yam she couldn't possibly marry Tom Brokaw because he's just.....……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… A COMMONTATER