MY ANNUAL FROG ROUND-UP STARTED TODAY

Richard had a Doctor’s appointment this morning so we didn’t get out for our semi-monthly backroads coffee tour.  However, Pheebs and I did but it was a short one again.  Needed some apples so we slipped up to Goderich, did the harbor beach tour plus a lakeside walk in Rotary Cove then home again.

YEP, AUTUMN IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER

NICE WALK BY THE LAKE THIS MORNING

THESE SUMAC TREES WILL SOON BE A FIERY RED

I cleared off all the old shed shingles earlier in the week but there were a lot of shingle nails left that had to be pulled out so I set upon doing that today.  Using a pry bar and  mainly my left arm I was able to get all 12.6 million shingle nails out.  I will tarp the shed roof tomorrow and at some point Mike (the fellow who fixed the leak under our mobile a couple weeks ago) will come over shortly and repair the shed roof then shingle it.  He dropped the new shingles off yesterday.

Someone asked in a comment about getting a wrist brace but I’ve already done that.  It’s when I take the brace off to put on my work gloves that I have been running into trouble.  The brace actually works great when I have it on and am careful.  Kept the brace on today while pulling out shingle nails.

FEELING A BIT TIRED THIS MORNING PHEEBS AND I WALKED ALONG AT A SNAIL’S PACE

 

It was a good day for catching frogs.  Looks like we have more frogs in our front yard pond than previously thought.  I was able to net 4 today and transport them in a big bucket of water to our Park’s pond.  All 4 frogs I caught were whopper frogs.  No little fellers in the whole bunch.  They all looked well fed.  Zippy in a comment question asked, '”Do you go to the big pond and catch the frogs you need each Spring?”  Good question but no we don’t.  It’s always been a mystery to me as to where the frogs always come from each Spring.  Do some of them actually leave the big pond and hop the 300 yard or so to our little front yard pond.  I honestly don’t know.  The bigger mystery of course is how the Koi (Goldfish) got into our pond.  I have a theory about that so I simply call them Tamarack Fish:))

‘OH BOY OH BOY IT’S MOVING DAY’

‘MOVIN SCHMOVIN I WANT TO STAY RIGHT WHERE I AM!!’

‘MOVING?? WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT MOVING. I LIKE IT HERE’

‘NOT ME I LIKE TO TRAVEL SO LET’S GET ER ON’

'LETS NOT BE TOO HASTY HERE BOYS AND GIRLS’

‘WHO’S BEING HASTY, NOT ME’

‘COME ON YA BUNCH OF OLD TOADS LET’S RUMBLE’

TWO FROGGIES IN THE FROG BUCKET BUS PATIENTLY AWAITING TRANSPORT TO THE PARK POND

'HEY DO THEY HAVE A DAIRY QUEEN AT THE BIG PARK POND?’

‘YA THEY GOT EVERYTHING OVER THERE INCLUDING BUG BURGERS WITH FLIES’

‘OKAY I’M IN THE BUS LET’S GO’

R’EMEMBER TO TIP THE DRIVER BOYS JUST LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR WHEN WE TIPPED HIM RIGHT INTO THE POND……..RIBBITTY-HAR DE HAR HAR

‘HEY WHERE’S EVERYBODY GOING, DID WE MISS SOMETHING?’

‘YOU YOUNG-UNS ARE ALWAYS IN SUCH A BIG HURRY TO GO NOWHERE’

Another beautiful day here as we slide through these quiet relaxing days of mid September.  For me it is always the best time of year and I suspect it will forever be.  Oh how I love the sound of Crickets.  Their harmonious chirping fills the  night air heralding the official coming of Autumn.  Our forests will soon be ablaze with color.

SUMAC LEAVES

Just think in 4 short weeks it will be mid October already.  Our Doctor appointments will be behind us and I have my fingers crossed we will be in the midst of travel plans and loading up the rig for yet another adventurous season in the great American Southwest……….:))

‘Y’ALL HAVE YERSELVES A GREAT DAY NOW YA HEAR’

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Before my daughter went on her first date, I gave her 'the talk.'
'Sometimes, it’s easy to get carried away when you’re with a boy,' I said. 'Remember, a short moment of indiscretion could ruin your life.'
'Don’t worry,' she said. 'I don’t plan on ruining my life until I get married.'

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- “A good meteor shower can really rock your world.”

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Wikipedia: I know everything!
Google: I have everything!
Facebook: I know everybody!
Internet: Without me you are all nothing.
Electricity: Yeah, keep talking...

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Geese!
Geese who?
Geese what I'm going to do if you don't open the door.

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BARN BLOCK QUILTS, WHAT AND WHERE ARE THEY?? FINALLY A WEBSITE TELLING WHAT AND WHERE……….

SUNSET AT DEER PARK LODGE 

Weather folks said our earlier morning cloudy skies were the northern edge of Irma.  By noon we were under clear sunny skies again but the miserable humidity is creeping back in.  Wrist was too sore to take many photos so Pheebs and I simply plodded along enjoying the scenery.  Back home I couldn’t do much of anything so it was just a light low key puttering day for me.  However I was encouraged to see Kelly doing some ‘pre-travel stuff’ in the Motorhome and that helped pick up my day.  I’ve been a little snarly with myself over this stupid wrist problem!! 

LOOKS LIKE ‘BOBSY TWINS’ COMBINES AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE CROP IS OR WAS

As Pheebs and I make our way around the countryside in the mornings I am seeing more and more barn quilts appearing on barns, houses, and driving sheds, etc.  Here is a Huron County website with all the counties barn quilts, their locations, and information about them and what they mean.  HURON COUNTIES BARN QUILT TRAIL.  Looking over this site I recognize some that I have already taken photos of.  After reading the article I decided to group all my barn quilts into a photo album and you can now find them on my side bar under ‘PHOTO ALBUMS’ entitled  BARN BLOCK QUILTS

TAKEN ON THE BRONSON LINE THIS MORNING I DO KNOW THE ‘S’ STANDS FOR THE FARM OWNERS NAME, S’TECKLE’

BREEZED BY THIS ‘NEWER ORDER’ MENNONITE SCHOOL AT RECESS SOUTH OF BAYFIELD ON THE BRONSON LINE THIS MORNING

LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE HAVING A GAME OF VOLLEYBALL

Typing is bothering my wrist so it’s a shorter post tonight…………………….

GROANER’S CORNER:((  During a recent power outage my PC, Laptop, TV, DVD, IPAD, and a new surround sound system were all shut down. Also, my cell phone battery was dead. To make matters worse it was raining and I couldn't play golf.
So I go to the kitchen to make coffee, OOPS, the coffee maker requires power, so I sit down and talked to my wife for a couple of hours.
You know, she seems like a nice person.

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- A hair raising experience sounds pretty good to a bald guy.

- You had a zero gravity experience???  No weigh.

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Every morning, one of the secretaries in an office opened the newspaper and read everyone's horoscope aloud. "Gwen," said the boss finally, "you seem to be a normal, level headed person. Do you really believe in astrology?"  "Of course not. You know how skeptical we Capricorns are."

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Rome!
Rome who?
Rome is where the heart is!

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FLORIDA JEAN BATTLED HURRICANE IRMA WITH TWO MOPS AND A BUCKET

It was about 8 p.m. when Aunt Jean called from Florida Monday night to tell us she was doing fine.  Aside from a lot of small debris constantly hitting the side of her condo her only concern was the water seeping in under the front door pushed there by relentless wind gusts.  With two mops and a bucket she was able to keep that water seepage under control.  Other than that she said everything went well and she was even able to fall asleep around 3.a.m despite the winds howling at her door.  It was so good to hear her voice on the phone last night.  Jean asked me to thank all the readers who expressed concern for her and her safety. 

 

Kelly’s sister and husband had a large awning ripped off the front of their mobile home in Clearwater while they stayed with their son in a stronger house not too far away.  Last we heard they still didn’t have power there.  Seems to be some damage to neighbor Monica’s carport in Frost Proof but she doesn’t know the extent of it.  And it looks like Cherie and Chris’s boat survived hurricane Irma down there in the Florida Keys at Marathon.  A big relief for them.  Technomadia

AND YES THAT IS PHEEB’S VERY OWN COUCH

If you really like Hummingbirds you will really love this You Tube….. Slow Motion Hummingbirds.  And I liked Desert USA's latest edition with two articles about places Kelly and I have been to many times.  A Night on Ghost Mountain of course was particularly interesting to me since we have hiked up there a number of times.  Type ‘Marshal South’ into ‘Search’ on our sidebar for all my posts over the years about Ghost Mountain.  And The Night They Shot Mangas Coloradas takes place in a historical area we are very familiar with from our ranch sitting days near McNeal, Bisbee, and Tombstone Arizona.  Type Fort Bowie into our ‘Search’ bar.  Or Fort Rucker, Tombstone, Bisbee, Cochise Stronghold, John Slaughter Ranch, or, or, or….. We have soooooooo many great memories from that whole southeastern area of Arizona and I’ve posted about every one of them from early 2008 to early 2012.  You can find all my posts under ‘Archives’ on our side bar right underneath the ‘Search’ box.

Not too much going on around here today.  Pheebs and I did get out for a short drive but I was anxious to get back home and get the shingles off the second half of our shed roof before the sun got up over the pine trees and made the job too hot for me.  On our way home from Goderich we passed Kelly on her way to Goderich.  I did get the shingles off the second half of the shed roof but dammit I hurt my wrist again and had to go inside right away and ice it.  That’s probably going to put a hold on things for another couple days.  Very annoying!!

ON OUR WALK THIS AFTERNOON I NOTICED GATHERINGS OF MUSHROOMS ON THE FOREST FLOOR

I WAS  HOPING THESE LITTLE FELLOWS WERE TRULY SPACE ALIENS COME TO EARTH TO RID THE WORLD OF ALL IT’S HUMAN EVILS

It will soon be time to begin my annual frog round-up.  Our front yard pond is not deep enough for frogs to survive the winter so each year I have to catch the little green fellers and transport them over to our Park’s big pond where they can get down deep into the mud.  I’m thinking there may only be half a dozen frogs in our pond this year and that number is way down from years ago when I had dozens of them to catch with my net.  Maybe I will begin that round-up tomorrow.

OUR PARK’S POND

Still no movement on this winter’s travel plans yet.  Unlike other years we somehow seem to have a kind of shadow hanging over us.  I don’t know if it’s a cloak we have pulled over ourselves or what.  Maybe things will kick into gear in a few weeks or maybe next month at this time.  Or maybe I’ll be out shopping for a new winter coat with a parka and a pair of size 10 fleece lined snow boots:((

GROANER’S CORNER:((   I was in a couple’s home trying to fix their Internet connection. The husband called out to his wife in the other room for the computer password. “Start with a capital S, then 123,” she shouted back.  We tried S123 several times, but it didn’t work. So we called the wife in. As she input the password, she muttered, “I really don’t know what’s so difficult about typing Start123.”

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A man dies and goes to Heaven. He gets to meet GOD and asks GOD if he can ask him a few questions.  "Sure," GOD says, "Go right ahead".
"OK," the man says. "Why did you make women so pretty?"   GOD says, "So you would like them."
"OK," the guy says. "But how come you made them so beautiful?"   "So you would LOVE them", GOD replies.   The man ponders a moment and then asks, "But why did you make them such airheads?"   GOD says, "So they would love you!"

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Knock Knock!
Who's there?
Halibut!
Halibut who?
Halibut going out for a drink.

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AN EMAIL FROM AUNT JEAN AT 4:41 THIS AFTERNOON

A NICE SEPTEMBER MORN IN THE HULLETT MARSH

I tried several times to contact Aunt Jean but her phone was still out so we had to assume she was alright and waiting for her power to come back on.  At 4:41 this afternoon we received the following email from Jean.   “Hi Allan & Kelly,  Our power just came on about 20 minutes ago. Was going to call you right away but noticed there was hardly any charge left in any of the phones.   I made it thru the storm just fine, no damage. Will call later to fill you in on my long night.   Right now I'm going to start putting things back in the fridg, & figure out what I'll have for dinner.   We still don't have water, but I'm well stocked so no problem. Tell you more when the phones are back in order. Talk to you soon.    Love you.....Jean”

Another beautifully clear September morn as Pheebs and I again headed northeast of Clinton with a couple stops in the Hullett Marsh.  What a treat it is with no pesky bugs in the air.  For me September and October are the two greatest months of the year to be comfortably out and about.  We wandered half a dozen gravely roads north and east of the Marsh finally arcing our way slowly back home around 11.  What a great way to spend 3 enjoyable hours I thought to myself.

TOOK THIS PHOTO FROM A VIEWING STAND IN THE MARSH…..DID YOU NOTICE THE PHEEBS

IT’S NOT OFTEN WE SEE PHEEBS AND THE SHADOW COWBOY IN THE SAME PHOTO

Back home I immediately set to work removing the old shingles on our shed roof with a pitch fork.  It was high noon and soon became to warm for me but I at least got half the roof done.  With a bit of luck and some extra cool weather energy I hope to get the other half of the roof shingle free Tuesday morning. 

Sometimes while out wandering the country roads with Pheebs I can’t help but contemplate how truly lucky I am.  Despite my complaining, blusterings, occasional rants, plus my moaning and groaning about the aches and pains of aging both mentally and physically I would have to admit these are probably some of the best days and years of my life.  The other best time for me was around the age of 40 and of course many pleasant childhood memories.  I’m married to the only person in the whole world who I could possibly be married to who understands me, my impatience, and my grumpiness.  I also have the absolute most bestest little dog in the entire Galaxy.  The Pheebs:))  We certainly aren’t wealthy folks by any means but we don’t lose a lot of sleep stressing over money matters either.  We have a nice cozy place and live in a sleepy little community in one of the nicest areas of all southwestern Ontario.  A comfy Motorhome takes us to and fro from the southwestern United States for the winters each year and our summers are spent in quiet relaxation.  

THE INTERNATIONAL PLOWING MATCH BEGINS NEAR THIS SPOT ON SEPTEMBER 23RD AND IT IS NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST OUTDOOR AGRICULTURAL CELEBRATION…..RURAL FOLKS IN THE AREA ARE ALREADY DECORATING THEIR PLACES

THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF TWO DIFFERENT CROPS PLANTED TOGETHER WHICH IN THIS CASE IS BEANS AND CORN

NOW IF I HAD A PLACE IN THE COUNTRY THIS IS THE KIND OF BARN I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE

I’M THINKING IT MAY BE HAY BALES IN THOSE PLASTIC WRAPS

NOT SURE IF THAT IS SOME KIND OF BIG MANURE SPREADER BEHIND THAT TRACTOR OR NOT

HMMMM, MAYBE IF IT’S FOR SALE WE’LL MAKE AN OFFER EH:))

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS VEHICLE IS OR WHAT IT’S USED FOR BUT IT WAS SITTING AT A FARM IMPLEMENT DEALER NORTH OF SEAFORTH

I don’t miss the working world one tiny bit.  No longer do I have to get up when I’m told to get up or go to work where somebody else tells me what to do.  No punch clocks, no deadlines to be met, no work related responsibilities.  I like being free and the one in charge of what I do all day.  My decisions - my way.  I’m fortunate to have 3 enjoyable hobbies that combine to make my days rewardable.  Photography, writing, and travel help keep the hounds of boredom at bay.  I take photos of what I want, I write what I want, and I travel wherever I want.  And I do it all at my own pace.  My decisions - my way.  I spend the majority of my time hanging out with myself, Kelly and Pheebs.  No desires to run off visiting people or join any special interest groups.  No obligations to be anywhere small or large groups of people are gathered.  When Pheebs and I are wondering through our beautiful countryside in the mornings the thought of how truly lucky I am is never far from my mind, even on the down days.  After all those turbulent years long ago I am thankful to whatever guiding force there may be here in this vast and unending Universe of ours.

I’M WONDERING IF ANYONE KNOWS WHAT KIND OF BIRD THIS IS?

Here are a couple short You Tubes of my son Sean.  First one is a Biographical Interview with Sean and the second one is a song Sean wrote then teamed up with a good friend to sing Weightless and Empty.  A pretty talented guy and he’s now into writing and scoring music for Canadian movie productions.  And here’s his current personal music project, Kings On A Ledge.

ONE OF TWO OLD IRON BRIDGES IN THE MARSH

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Two retired professors were vacationing with their wives at a hotel in the Catskills. They were sitting on the veranda one summer evening, watching the sun set.  The history professor asked the psychology professor, "Have you read Marx?"   To which the professor of psychology replied, "Yes, and I think it's these pesky wicker chairs."

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“My washing machine broke down this morning, but I didn't get too agitated.”

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Did you hear the one about the man who opened a dry cleaning business next door to the convent? He knocked on the door and asked the Mother Superior if she had any dirty habits.

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Knock Knock
Who's there?
Sore Ewe.
Sore Ewe who?
Sore Ewe gonna open the door or not?

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Q: What was the inspiration for MG's famed octagon-shaped badge?

A: The shape of founder Cecil Kimber's dining table. MG stands for Morris Garages.

Q: In what year did the "double-R" Rolls
Royce badge change from red to black?

A: 1933

Ford, who made the first pick-up trucks, shipped them to dealers in crates that the new owners had to assemble using the crates as the beds of the trucks. The new owners had to go to the dealers to get them, thus they had to "pick-up" the trucks. And now you know the "rest of the story."

And unfortunately folks this brings to an end all the auto trivia I had:((

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